starts with a t and ends with a o.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by arskiker:
starts with a t and ends with a o.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Also lets see what is the most cost effective way to get us to the 13 second club.

THis is where I hope true knowledge will be shared. From what we have experienced so far a "simple bolt on" forced induction modification is pointing in the right direction but their are many finer details in this mod. People who know how to make a Turbo or Super Charger rock please let us in

I will start with what I think is the least costly and easy.

Weight reduction
Easy things to do. Take out the passenger seat and rear seats and the spare tire.

Take some of the trim off of the engine bay.

This is easy.

Anybody else?




[This message has been edited by S. on Da 5 (edited 04-08-2001).]

 

REAL weight reduction is quite expensive as it becomes rather difficult to keep replacing components along the way. Unless you are willing to strip your interior (most aren't for good reason), you are lucky to even stay the same weight as stock, yet alone lighter. Lightweight wheels, body parts, seats, and glass replacement gets expensive.

Your best bet is to just keep increasing power. The most surefire way to get yourself into the 13s involves basic NA modifications, fuel upgrades, and a nitrous kit. Its also the most cost effective means available (at least in the short run).

If you were interested in designing your own turbo kit, then you probably wouldn't be asking the question in the first place. None of the kits available right now are all that impressive, IMO (but then again...one I built probably wouldn't be all that great either heheh). However, I do think this is the most promising route to take. Noone seems to put any care into fuel upgrades, so this is something that has to be factored in as well. Also, if you are pushing around 200fwhp you are most likely going to need a quaife LSD.

The jackson SC didn't seem to work out too hot on modified Foci. It was just too small for the task, and not really providing much boost. They are supposedly working on a 10PSI SC though, so hopefully they'll have better success with that. Z-engineering should be selling their centri.SC through FocusSport eventually, but I don't know if that will provide enough for 13s w/o a lot of other mods.

NA is really stretching it, and that would get expensive really fast. 13s is already pretty damn quick, and faster than my goals (I really just want low 14s and I'd be happy...hell that's matching the acceleration in a straight line of a Mustang GT!). A turbo and low nitrous combo (nitrous works like a super-intercooler) could work really well too.

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00 Ford ZX3 / 96 Ford Cobra
90 Yam FJ1200/ 85 Yam RZ350 / 84 Yam RZ350
Engine Forum Moderator -Chris-

[This message has been edited by Ducman69 (edited 04-08-2001).]

 

If anyone wants to get into the 13's and stay there, start at the bottom end and work your way through the whole motor. Everything must be stronger and lighter. I don't know what the crank can take but we all know the first thing to go is rods. I doubt they will hold up to forced induction or n/a hp enough to run 13's for long. A lighter crank will help rev just like a light flywheel. Some nice forged pistons to fit your application, high or low compression.
The real secret to hp is in the head. The parts are obvious. The port work is the trick. I've seen motors with money thrown at them that were average, and I've seen a couple of budget motors that ran much better than I expected. Shows what I know!

If your lucky, like me, maybe you have access to someone who does prostock headwork. It's almost magic as far as I'm concerned.
As the saying goes, how fast do you want to go, how much money do you have to spend.
Oops, almost forgot the most important thing. I think our fuel delivery problems will be solved soon. There is always the pectel from esslinger but I think we will see a cheaper solution.

[This message has been edited by 3redzx's (edited 04-08-2001).]

 

im not so sure 13's can be achieved in a NA Focus. but hell i didn't think 14's were either ... at least low ones. the guys just keep proving me wrong. CTZX3 is shooting for it. it may be overly optimistic but if you're going to set a goal why not make it a difficult one to reach right? i think he was going to Budds Creek today ... but he might get rained out. raining here.

 

More difficult goal means more money. Technically speaking 13s is possible. It's just that if you are ready to dump 20k-30k into the car to do it. I would say trade in your Focus and get a SVT Focus, then mod it through Ford SVT.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ZX3_Rochester:
More difficult goal means more money. Technically speaking 13s is possible. It's just that if you are ready to dump 20k-30k into the car to do it. I would say trade in your Focus and get a SVT Focus, then mod it through Ford SVT.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I doubt it wouldn't take $20,000 or more to do 13's in a Focus. Its costing me less than 1/4 that for the mods on my ZX2 which should put it into the 13's. 200 HP at the wheels naturally aspirated is mroe than enough.


[This message has been edited by BOSS122 (edited 04-08-2001).]

 

If we look at it this way, the 130hp Zetec is only producing around 100hp at the wheels. Let's say start with that and you have intake, race header, exhaust, plugs, ECU, etc. all the basic mods for a car. They cost around 2000-2500 including installing. Next up, the moderate step, which is the engine internal, pistons, rods, cams, crank, valve springs, valves, etc. Just to rebuild it, it's around 5k-6k including installing, then you have port and polish, at least for 1000, now comes to the advance part, which is striping, changing the parts to fiber glass, they are not cheap, and my friend, they take long time to install. All the stuff plus labor plus custom made-to-go parts, I think 20k sounds about right, with no Force Induction, NOS, plain N/A. And IMHO, the mods above should give a car a steady, consistent minimum of low 13's.

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Mods: FocusSport Cool-Flo, spark plug wires, cat-back exhaust, JBA header, Esslinger intake and exhaust camshafts, cam gears, AEM underdrive pulley, Kent timing belt, ported/polished cylinder heads, MSD DIS-2 ignition, Superchips performance chip, H&R coilovers, Eibach sway bar kit, Energy suspension bushings, FocusSport front upper stress bar, Team Dynamics Motorsport 18" white wheels, BFGoodridge Scorcher tires, PowerStop cross-drilled rotors, EBC brake pads, APC Indiglo guage, APC M3 style mirrors, Autometer guages, 3A racing pedals.
Upcoming mods after winter is over: Aerocharger Stage 2 turbo kit, APEXi twin-chamber Blow Off Valve, AutoMeter Boost Guage.
Ice: Blaupunkt Neveda 168 head, speakers, and dual 12" subwoofers.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ZX3_Rochester:
If we look at it this way, the 130hp Zetec is only producing around 100hp at the wheels. Let's say start with that and you have intake, race header, exhaust, plugs, ECU, etc. all the basic mods for a car. They cost around 2000-2500 including installing.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Intake $200
header $450
custom 2.5" mandrel bent cat back $300
spark plugs might be $20
bigger fuel pump $200-$300
better flowing injectors $200-$300)
custom tuned computer chip $300 plus dyno time - (done after all the other mods)

that's under $1,600.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ZX3_Rochester:
Next up, the moderate step, which is the engine internal, pistons, rods, cams, crank, valve springs, valves, etc. Just to rebuild it, it's around 5k-6k including installing,
[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm actually going through a performance rebuild right now on my spare engine. Its a lot less than $5,000-$6,000. That includes 12.5:1 JE pistons, crower rods, lightened, balanced, and heat treated crankshaft, cams, valve springs, big valves, etc....

Now price of install varys depending on how much you can do yourself.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ZX3_Rochester:
then you have port and polish, at least for 1000,
[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A professional port and polish and the labor cost to instal big valves and race or street/strip valve springs is about $1000 on a Zetec engine. Anythign more than that for labor means you are getting ripped off.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ZX3_Rochester:
now comes to the advance part, which is striping, changing the parts to fiber glass, they are not cheap, and my friend, they take long time to install. All the stuff plus labor plus custom made-to-go parts, I think 20k sounds about right, with no Force Induction, NOS, plain N/A. And IMHO, the mods above should give a car a steady, consistent minimum of low 13's.
[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Unless you have a shop do everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, and not do anything yourself, then it might cost $15,000, but for a mechanically inclined person, it shouldn't cost more than half that. I already have my project budgeted out and figured out the cost of parts and labor. Then again, I'm starting with a ZX2, not a Focus, but there shouldn't be much of a difference.

 

Originally posted by S. on Da 5:
What mods will help us get there?

For those of you who are into serious Zetec tuning please share your secrets here. Or if this type of knowledge is too powerfull to share with us please at least point us in the general direction.

I agree that N/A will be very expensive to get 13's i have talked to a few people who have hit very low 14's with the GUDE engine block but i'm not sure how much it is. but the best bang for buck HP gainer is always has been and always will be the blue bottle. well no necessarily blue since right now venom and ZEx are leaving NOS behind with all their electronic safety features that if there is any abnormal pressure change or drop the nitrous is automatically cut. Also keep. also did ne one else know about fords automatic fuel cutoff in the ZX3's????? if not read your manual it is in the passenger kickpanel. activated when there is a sudden impact (ie crash) or jerk of the car.

 

Has anyone tried playing with an aftermarket EFI system like the one from Electromotive (TEC II)? I'm sure it would allow you to be more liberal with your modifications because you could tune it without having to wait for a custom chip.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by max_burke:
Has anyone tried playing with an aftermarket EFI system like the one from Electromotive (TEC II)? I'm sure it would allow you to be more liberal with your modifications because you could tune it without having to wait for a custom chip.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I got my Import Tuner mag today and they have 2 short artices on ZX3's (turbo) they explain the diffculty on making a bolt on turbo with the focus fuel system. i just glanced at the article but it mentions about there is no fuel regulator and not return line. when i read the entire article i will post more details until then any one else who has read the article please clear up the mess i just started. lol.

 

Focus 545. I believe you are talking about the mag with the HKS turbo Focus. I don't remember who built the other one. That feature was actually in Turbo mag about 6 months ago. But you are right, there is some difficulty in designing a turbo brcause of the fuel system. Also the location of the cat. hinders the placement of a turbo.

 

Here's my solution...guaranteed to get into the 13's:

Trade it in on a 99-up Mustang GT. There ya go. Minimal exhaust mods and intake work will get the car well into the 13's. Thats what I plan on doing in another year.

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"You mean two words to me right now: Jack and ****...and Jack just left town." ~Ash, houswares

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PhocusZX3:
Here's my solution...guaranteed to get into the 13's:

Trade it in on a 99-up Mustang GT. There ya go. Minimal exhaust mods and intake work will get the car well into the 13's. Thats what I plan on doing in another year.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is to easy....

 

weight reduction, put the focus on a diet!!! i did!!!

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PhocusZX3:
And your point being?

Long tube-headers, high-flow cats, flowmasters, and a CAI kit on a new GT yields 285ft/lbs of torque, and just over 260hp. Total money invested is around $1500. I want to know what $1500 mod for the Focus will give the same increase percentage wise, and will get the same hp/$.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You forgot to mention that a new Mustang will cost you another $8000-$9000 over a Focus in the first place!! That brings your investment to $9500-$10,500 for 13's.

Why build a Focus to run in the 13's? Because it is cool! How many 13-second Focuses are you going to see every day (a 13-second Mustang is slow in this neck of the woods)?

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>How many 13-second Focuses are you going to see every day <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Well Dennis, if you move to near the drag in Austin, then maybe one a day?

The Focus and Mustang really don't compete against each other as they excell in different areas. Obviously, the design of the Mustang is more optimized for straight line acceleration than the Focus. RWD+Solid axle+big engine = good 1/4 time and future potential. But sometimes you get things like the tubocharged Miata guys obsession with racing Corvettes (don't ask).

My own goal is not really to be competative in drag racing, but as I find acceleration the only real weak point that I can find in the Focus, I obviously want to try and improve upon that as much as possible. If I can match a stock GT in acceleration, then I have achieved my goal. But I'm not going to ignore suspension tweaks to help out where the Focus already does surprisingly well. A little different motivation I guess...

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Red 2G SE:
Focus 545. I believe you are talking about the mag with the HKS turbo Focus. I don't remember who built the other one. That feature was actually in Turbo mag about 6 months ago. But you are right, there is some difficulty in designing a turbo brcause of the fuel system. Also the location of the cat. hinders the placement of a turbo.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

FasTrax is the other maker of the turbo. the HKS isn't available yet but the fastrax is for $3600 and run 6psi boost include intercooler, warrantee, instructons, you keep your A/C (great news) but is not smog legal (sorry to all you in cali) i remember the article in turbo but it is also in the may 2001 import tuner along with a dyno sheet and HP figures for all kinds of other compacts (cougar, si, Se R, 240)

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PhocusZX3:
And your point being?

Long tube-headers, high-flow cats, flowmasters, and a CAI kit on a new GT yields 285ft/lbs of torque, and just over 260hp. Total money invested is around $1500. I want to know what $1500 mod for the Focus will give the same increase percentage wise, and will get the same hp/$.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

hp/$ will never be beaten by nitrous. it is the greatest bang for buck out there. (not necessarily reliable) but hp for the money it is always #1 and for $1500 you got the nitrous for $500 and then $1000 to spend on reinforcing the internals. now ya figure how much more ya spend in gas a year and how much more the stang cost initially over the focus and the sport compacts will almost always come out on top.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by S. on Da 5:
That is to easy....
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

And your point being?

Long tube-headers, high-flow cats, flowmasters, and a CAI kit on a new GT yields 285ft/lbs of torque, and just over 260hp. Total money invested is around $1500. I want to know what $1500 mod for the Focus will give the same increase percentage wise, and will get the same hp/$.

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"You mean two words to me right now: Jack and ****...and Jack just left town." ~Ash, houswares