The miles are getting up there on my motor (about 126k miles right now EDIT: Just passed 170k 4/17/11). It's had a PWSC with their re-flash for the last 15k or so. I'm planning things out and slowly collecting up parts to build a motor. Not breaking the bank or having huge expenditures all at once is one of the goals too. I'm guessing I'm a year to 18 months out from having the motor complete and ready to swap (and a second car. Hurry up Fiesta! :lol
.
The list of parts on-hand so far:
- SVT block/crank with ARP main studs (with oil squirters of course)
- OEM head that's been Extrude Honed (started it's life at Focus Sport and has gone through a few ownership changes since :lol
- ZX3Tuning PWSC cams (was going to be Esslinger intake cam that I have kicking around)
- Pile of buckets for the head
- OEM head gaskets (got a deal on a couple on ebay a few years ago, though I'm not opposed to a thicker one to dial-in the CR)
- Focus Sport valve cover (a must!)
- XCal2 (suitable for adding the Pro Racer software to or employing Randy to tune)
- Exedy Hyper Single (currently in use in the car, w/ ARP bolts. Now soon to get a new disc after about 50k miles.)
- Innovate LC-1 and loggable electric Autometer boost gauge
- ARP head studs (on-hand as of Dec 2008)
- ARP main studs
- Massive cam cap bolt set
- Eagle Rods (on-hand as of Dec 2008)
- CFM Oil seperator
- Massive lightweight full size crank pulley
- Gold Coast Automotive timing belt guilde pulley
- Massive/SuperTech 10.6:1 pistons (on order as of this evening)
Planned:
- Clevite HD rod and main bearings
- New oil and water pumps, gaskets, seals and other assorted "wear items"
- Good head cleanup/valve job OR over sized valves. Also possibly upgraded springs and retainers. Open to suggestions on this one.
- Balance the rotating assembly
- J&S Safeguard (if I'm going to learn on and tune this myself)
- Higher flow filter to TB intake assembly with ITG filter
- Larger injectors
- Snow Performance WMI setup? Perhaps. :evilgrin:
- Whatever else I forgot :lol:
I'm looking for input on a few items at this point:
Should I just get a good valve job, clean up the head and call it good? Or would it be worth it to up the valve size to promote better flow with mild (OEM or the Esslinger intake) cams? Also, would some new springs and retainers be worthwhile? I haven't decided what a reasonable RPM to spin the motor to will be. I suppose if it's going to go more than sock they'd be a good thing to have.
Compression ratio, compression ratio, compression ratio. The only way* to get stock-ish non-SVT compression (mid 9's) with something better than stock would be SVT rod/piston assemblies. Of course the exact ratio of SVT pistons with a Zetec head seems to be a bit of a mystery still. :bang: Would I be better off picking up some low 10.x:1 pistons and Eagle rods? I know the roots-style blowers like a little more compression more than less. CFM has a great deal on some Focus Central/Probe 10.2:1 pistons which I could run with a thicker head gasket to drop the CR a bit. Or should I lower the CR and plan on getting a crank overdrive pulley and/or the Massive interchangeable pulley kit for the blower to make up for the loss due to lower compression?
I think the only way I'll try to tune this myself is if I lower the CR so I'm starting from a safer point than stock rather than a more aggressive and temperamental configuration.
*Alternately Focus Sport (and others I'm sure) can do custom pistons for a premium price compared to off the shelf units, which I'm hoping to avoid.
Edit to move a few items to the purchased list... Thanks Live Cashback for saving me 30%.
4/18/2011 Edit again to update the list after a couple years. :what: Left the rest of the discussion the same.
. The list of parts on-hand so far:
- SVT block/crank with ARP main studs (with oil squirters of course)
- OEM head that's been Extrude Honed (started it's life at Focus Sport and has gone through a few ownership changes since :lol
- ZX3Tuning PWSC cams (was going to be Esslinger intake cam that I have kicking around)
- Pile of buckets for the head
- OEM head gaskets (got a deal on a couple on ebay a few years ago, though I'm not opposed to a thicker one to dial-in the CR)
- Focus Sport valve cover (a must!
)- XCal2 (suitable for adding the Pro Racer software to or employing Randy to tune)
- Exedy Hyper Single (currently in use in the car, w/ ARP bolts. Now soon to get a new disc after about 50k miles.)
- Innovate LC-1 and loggable electric Autometer boost gauge
- ARP head studs (on-hand as of Dec 2008)
- ARP main studs
- Massive cam cap bolt set
- Eagle Rods (on-hand as of Dec 2008)
- CFM Oil seperator
- Massive lightweight full size crank pulley
- Gold Coast Automotive timing belt guilde pulley
- Massive/SuperTech 10.6:1 pistons (on order as of this evening)
Planned:
- Clevite HD rod and main bearings
- New oil and water pumps, gaskets, seals and other assorted "wear items"
- Good head cleanup/valve job OR over sized valves. Also possibly upgraded springs and retainers. Open to suggestions on this one.
- Balance the rotating assembly
- J&S Safeguard (if I'm going to learn on and tune this myself)
- Higher flow filter to TB intake assembly with ITG filter
- Larger injectors
- Snow Performance WMI setup? Perhaps. :evilgrin:
- Whatever else I forgot :lol:
I'm looking for input on a few items at this point:
Should I just get a good valve job, clean up the head and call it good? Or would it be worth it to up the valve size to promote better flow with mild (OEM or the Esslinger intake) cams? Also, would some new springs and retainers be worthwhile? I haven't decided what a reasonable RPM to spin the motor to will be. I suppose if it's going to go more than sock they'd be a good thing to have.
Compression ratio, compression ratio, compression ratio. The only way* to get stock-ish non-SVT compression (mid 9's) with something better than stock would be SVT rod/piston assemblies. Of course the exact ratio of SVT pistons with a Zetec head seems to be a bit of a mystery still. :bang: Would I be better off picking up some low 10.x:1 pistons and Eagle rods? I know the roots-style blowers like a little more compression more than less. CFM has a great deal on some Focus Central/Probe 10.2:1 pistons which I could run with a thicker head gasket to drop the CR a bit. Or should I lower the CR and plan on getting a crank overdrive pulley and/or the Massive interchangeable pulley kit for the blower to make up for the loss due to lower compression?
I think the only way I'll try to tune this myself is if I lower the CR so I'm starting from a safer point than stock rather than a more aggressive and temperamental configuration.
*Alternately Focus Sport (and others I'm sure) can do custom pistons for a premium price compared to off the shelf units, which I'm hoping to avoid.
Edit to move a few items to the purchased list... Thanks Live Cashback for saving me 30%.
4/18/2011 Edit again to update the list after a couple years. :what: Left the rest of the discussion the same.
