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2000 Focus wagon 4.6 DOHC V8...lots of pics

45K views 148 replies 116 participants last post by  RedComet  
#1 ·
Hey all,

Since my car is almost finished I thought I would put up some pictures and a list of some of the work I have done.
I bought this car years ago knowing I wanted to do a 4.6 swap, the car had high miles which I didn’t care about but was in pretty good shape. I had a 2000 Ford Mustang Cobra crate motor (they never made the 2000 Cobra but did make the motors), it came with all the accessories, T45 trans, exhaust, engine wiring and computer. I bought some of the parts for the swap parts from Kugel and some I made up myself. I initially put the car together using the stock Focus front spindles and brakes and I think I was running like 255 rear tires. After the car was drivable I decided I didn’t like the way some of the things were done...like usual I couldn’t just leave it alone.

About this time I sold my business and bought a mail order convertible parts company, we added a website and started manufacturing new parts...of course the business took off...and the car sat. Recently I decided I could start spending some time in the shop so in the last 6 months or so I decided to make some changes to the Focus so I took it apart and started over. I had a stock 8.8 out of a Mustang but I wanted to run wider tires in the back, I narrowed it a couple of inches and welded 9” ends on it to get rid of the C-clips. I made some brackets and mounted 13” cobra front brakes on the back and put in 3.73 gears. In the rear of the car I cut the inner wheel tubs out and moved them in a couple of inches on each side, now I can fit 305-18 Nitto’s with no problems. In the front I cut out the shock towers and made new ones so I could use Mustang caster/camber plates. I made a new lower control arm so I could use Mustang ball joints and spindles, now I have 13” Cobra front brakes and spindles. I used Mustang front air struts and air ride shocks in the back so I can drop the car down if I want to. I changed the support that is used to mount the motor, I moved it back as far as I could to try to get as much weight back as possible.

I built a side exhaust using Roush Mustang mufflers that they used on the cars they built with side exhaust, I like the way it looks and it sounds pretty good too. I took the roof rack off and welded up the holes and I also removed the side trim and welded the holes up there too. On the rear hatch I took off the trim and welded in a recessed license plate holder, just wanted something different. The rear bumper is actually 2 bumpers plastic welded and 3M plastic bonded together, the stock one did not go down far enough and it looked funky.

The car has A/C and all of the other things that make a daily driver fun. I will get some better pictures soon, I still need to get it buffed out and get the windows tinted, grill installed and some other small things taken care of. The pictures here are right out of my shop, it hasn’t been washed or anything so don’t be too harsh on me! :thumbup:

You can see more pictures here http://s565.photobucket.com/albums/ss97/Focus4-6/

Thanks!
Hummer

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#7 ·
I am surprised it fits under the stock hood that well. What does the side exit exhaust sound like?
 
#11 ·
Holy s*** <- first words to come out of my mouth when I saw the pics. That looks really nice!
 
#17 ·
WHAT????? :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
 
#20 ·
Thanks everyone!
I actually like the way it turned out, sometimes when you build something you look at it and ask yourself, why did I do that? Not this time, I am happy with it. The motor fits under the hood with no problems, the tires hook 'pretty good' but you can smoke them pretty easy (why are these 2 black marks following me all over?). The car sounds great and revs fast, it has an aluminum flywheel too so that helps, I have to admit I like the 4.6 DOHC motors more every day. I will get some videos soon, the car also has front and rear video cameras so I should be able to get some good video.
Hummer
 
#21 ·
I am just awe struck.
Don't be too harsh on you??? This is the coolest Focus that I have ever seen, ever!!!
The color is perfect, the wheels look right and the drop on there is amazing. Great work on the side exit exhaust too. You will have to post some pics after she is all buttoned up.
NICELY DONE!!!
 
#23 · (Edited)
Nice! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Glad to meet another 4.6L swap owner on the forum :) Your build is so clean! Now I'm dying to get the RS flares on my car, it looks amazing on the wagon.

Btw since you're the only other person I know with a 4.6L swap on here, do you have any suspension noise when you turn the steering wheel all the way? The guy who installed my front coilovers said it might be a stress issue, not sure if you're experiencing the same thing.

EDIT: Every time I look at a V8 swap wagon, it makes me think about using a wagon instead of a hatchback... the factory fuel tank works beautifully with the conversion, no need for a fuel cell in the trunk.
 
#28 ·
Hello,

I don't have any noise from the front end but mine is set up a little different, do you have a stock style mount at the top of the coilover? I know the ball and socket in my caster/camber plates is close to the max when the wheels are turned all the way, maybe it is binding there? Glad to see another 4.6 swap owner, do you have any pics or a build thread? I have a 22 gallon cell under the floor on my car, way more than I need.

About the headlights...yep you are right!! I bought them when I first bought the car, I couldn't find any other lights that that I liked at the time, they will be changed in time.

I am in Florida, about 1 hour north of Tampa on the Gulf coast, just outside Ocala.

Hummer