I'm just about done appearance mods on the outside and the ICE is kinda where I want to be for now, but I wouldn't mind doing some more performance stuff. I was thinking about doing the following soon:
1. SPI Screamin' Demon Coil and Livewires or Focussport replacement wires (with NGK Iridium plugs)
2. Magnaflow Hi-Flow Cat and an SPI Shorty header (if I can bloody find one)
3. 50% UDP from escortfocus.com
4. Upgraded suspension package (probably Eibach)
5. Upgraded Cam and SPI Cam adjusting sprocket
Arg, now before anyone says "TURBO", no I'm not going that way since I have an autotragic. Plus I'm saving cash for a house/truck/mustang :rolleyes: .
Anywho, what do you guys think I should hit next? :unsure: Any other reasonable/feasable recommendations welcome. (selling the car and getting a ZTEC or SVT is not reasonable :D )
suspension, definitely suspension
The deamon coil is a waste of money, your plug wires/coil are fine, your really going to love the look and feeling of the suspension, also a UDP on your engine is a nice cheap mod that will free up some HP, not sure how much gain your going to get from a header, especially a shorty header.....
Maybe a cam, id be interested to see what it does for the SPI.... :)
*smack*
This is why you come visit. With coffee.
UDP for sure. It makes the most sense - it's the cheapest 10 BHP you can "bolt-on" to the SPI. Make sure you get the smaller belt.
Cam is a nice idea, and the medium cam from EF.com looks good. The downside is the overall cost, as they recommend that you get the new lifters, springs, seals and retainers. At that point, you'd pretty much need a re-flash and a couple of dyno pulls to get the tune right before you hit the road again. My reservation with that is that there's no-one around that I'd trust with that level of tuning... save Steeda - and they're not that familiar with SPIs. Just calling it as I see it.
The only SPI shorty header available has a messed firing order. You're better off with a header from a 89-91 Escort GT with a few tweaks. The Magnaflow hi-flow cat is a better idea.. a few extra horses, but beware as there's the possibility of a rice shower from the noise.
Suspension's a smart upgrade, and I'm still leaning towards the SVT retrofit. Again, with a full install you'll need extra work (4-wheel alignment) and that's extra cost. If the car's lower, you're going to want a shop that will align it right. So far, Anthony has found one of the only places specializing in lowered cars that I've seen.
Coil / wires - I still say nah. Only after everything else is done to the motor, because the factory replacement 8mms are great from what I can tell. I'd go NGK Iridiums and 8mm replacements.
NOS2Go4Me,Jul 21 2005, 10:16 AM Wrote:*smack*
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:wtf: :angry:
That does it you're sooo getting an atomic wedgie. :lol:
After all is said and done i'd get a tune, but you've pretty much mentioned every bolt on...But just a word of warning, i've heard from various focus owners that our autotragics like to choke and die at 145+ wtq. Its just something to keep in mind.
Best advice I can give. Keep your money in the bank. Keep it away from the depleting Focus value.
meford4u,Jul 21 2005, 02:50 PM Wrote:Best advice I can give. Keep your money in the bank. Keep it away from the depleting Focus value.
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Or buy a house :D
meford4u,Jul 21 2005, 10:50 AM Wrote:Best advice I can give. Keep your money in the bank. Keep it away from the depleting Focus value.
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this is always the smartest option when modding the SPI! ;)
seriously though, you'll notice more from a nice suspension and quality tires than you will from everything else combind.
shorty headers are not a good option on any focus! get a race header and weld a high flow cat into the exhaust just after the flex. this will sound better than a shorty and highflow and make more and better power!
the UDP along with the cam and cam gear are good ideas but that is a LOT of work for little gain.
after all that, a chip is pretty much your last option.
FS has done quiet a bit of work with SPI's as has McNews....
wires are a waste unless your current wires are shot, then replace them with basic wires like the FS ones.
a coil is an absolute waste of money, you will see little to no gain in anything from a coil on the focus. you'd get about the same gains as you would from some "typeR-GTR" decals. :rolleyes:
seriously, go with the suspension and tires, you will enjoy the car far more as the engine and tranny will mask mosat of the gains from the poweradders.
zetec engine.
found one for $650 new, sans tranny
suspension... or that zetec motor flo is talking about...
actually do
UDP and SVT suspension...
The UDP is one of the biggest single-gain boltons for the SPI. After that you can port-match the intake to the new 60mm BDR TB, and maybe PnP the head.
For biggest overall gains, Crane Stage 2 or higher cam with complete kit, UDP, TB (you have it already), PnP and port-matched intake-to-TB, and high-flow cat. Add some sort of SCT tune on that with 91-94 octane and you're hauling ass.
The Zetec drop-in would be a good idea, as power-adders for that are a dime a dozen, but beware the dreaded oil seep from the valve cover, and the fact you're going to want the FRPP transmission valve body upgrade almost immediately.