[ex1z7]

Anyone have any idea if theres a kit out there that deals with ITB setups for Foci ?

A buddy of mine just did a home-job on his Honda with some Fireblade TB's and I've seen it done on plenty of other cars, home jobs really.. Anyone know the amount of work getting it to work well on our cars..?

I'd love to get it done, but I'd also like to not throw codes.. Any idea's on what I'd have to do, or what to swap, so my gauges don't light up like a Christmas tree..?

I may just have to start piecing together myself a kit.. Get it all together then spend a weekend getting it to work, or bring it to a shop for help..

Any input would be great :P

[hardk0re]

I don't know if the cost vs gain is worth it, I doubt you'd see any gains with just that mod alone anyway.

[ex1z7]

hardk0re,Mar 14 2007, 06:49 AM Wrote:I don't know if the cost vs gain is worth it, I doubt you'd see any gains with just that mod alone anyway.
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Well ITB's, full exhaust, rims/tires, suspension, stereo, lip.. are all I really want to do to this car for the next year..

I'm thinking itb's + exhaust would net about 20hp combined.. which, cost vs power isn't really worth the potential 1500-2000 it'll cost for both, but I'm looking for driveability and reliability .. boost isn't in my plan just yet. Roasting tires and clutches gets expensive :|

I was thinking the typical honda route.. Get an intake manifold, cut it, connect throttle bodies to each plenum, use TB fuel rail, perhaps get some sort've FMU so I don't run lean/rich, and.. uh.. Well the few other things I'd need to do.

Throttle response would be fun.. And nobody can argue the sound is incredible :)

[02ztsian]

ITB For Zetec
However, not for Focus. There is not enough room between the engine and the firewall.

[darkpuppet]

skip the ITB and buy a supercharger... or turbo.

It's super complicated to set up and tune for.. even if you could get them to fit.. and the benefit is minimal.

you can drop the same amount of money into a powerworks kit and laugh at any ITBs that cross your path...

[Flofocus]

darkpuppet,Mar 14 2007, 02:22 PM Wrote:skip the ITB and buy a supercharger... or turbo.

It's super complicated to set up and tune for.. even if you could get them to fit.. and the benefit is minimal.

you can drop the same amount of money into a powerworks kit and laugh at any ITBs that cross your path...
[right][snapback]230504[/snapback][/right]

listen to this guy please.

[ZX5focused]

the two cars that i personally know of running ITB's are both running MEGASQUIRT to make them work

not worth the hassle....is it cool to say you have it? ya, but there is no real gain to it that cannot be established for less money and better results!

[ex1z7]

darkpuppet,Mar 14 2007, 01:22 PM Wrote:skip the ITB and buy a supercharger... or turbo.

It's super complicated to set up and tune for.. even if you could get them to fit.. and the benefit is minimal.

you can drop the same amount of money into a powerworks kit and laugh at any ITBs that cross your path...
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.... But I have an SPI.. Aren't those only for Duratec / SVT / Zetec's ?

[darkpuppet]

ooo SPI... um... yeah...

things are difficult for the SPI owner.. it's great for fuel efficiency, not so great for performance.

I'm unaware of any superchargers out for it, but there are a couple of people that have done turbos. Is it easy? no way.. can it be done.. sure!

Your biggest issue is going to be tuning tho..

I'm in Toronto and I bounced around between honda shops and mustang shops looking for a competent tune, and in the end, I did better on my own with the SCT Pro Racer package.. granted, things have improved, but be forewarned that any tuner in Thunder Bay will probably be clueless when it comes to tuning your focus (of course I can help you weed out the weiners).

is the car an automatic?

just curious. Depending on the age of the car, etc, you first modification might be to get a new used zetec or SVT car to build off of.

Anyways, don't give up hope.. there's things you can do for the SPI (and NOS2Go4Me can help ya a bit), but your choices are a bit constrained.

[ex1z7]

darkpuppet,Mar 14 2007, 02:16 PM Wrote:ooo SPI... um... yeah...

things are difficult for the SPI owner.. it's great for fuel efficiency, not so great for performance.

I'm unaware of any superchargers out for it, but there are a couple of people that have done turbos.  Is it easy?  no way.. can it be done.. sure!

Your biggest issue is going to be tuning tho..

I'm in Toronto and I bounced around between honda shops and mustang shops looking for a competent tune, and in the end, I did better on my own with the SCT Pro Racer package.. granted, things have improved, but be forewarned that any tuner in Thunder Bay will probably be clueless when it comes to tuning your focus (of course I can help you weed out the weiners).

is the car an automatic?

just curious.  Depending on the age of the car, etc, you first modification might be to get a new used zetec or SVT car to build off of.

Anyways, don't give up hope.. there's things you can do for the SPI (and NOS2Go4Me can help ya a bit), but your choices are a bit constrained.
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I was just thinking, but didn't want to post yet as I hadn't searched..

Someone mentioned getting a Zetec engine for 450, anything like that is really eye opening to the questions of is an engine swap a better choice, and if so, what are the troubles that I need to pay attention to, when attempting a swap..

I was thinking.. Zetec base.. boost.. cheaper then going through a few SPI engines.

*edit* woops, it's 5spd

[Flofocus]

yeah, I can get zetecs for cheap.

Be different, let look into getting you a duratec :D

[NefCanuck]

Flofocus,Mar 14 2007, 07:05 PM Wrote:yeah, I can get zetecs for cheap.

Be different, let look into getting you a duratec  :D
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Dunno that you'd find many donors for a Duratec yet ;)

NefCanuck

[hardk0re]

Actually tons of duratecs available 400-600 at allot of wreckers. seems even more duratecs than zetecs :P

[ex1z7]

Flofocus,Mar 14 2007, 07:05 PM Wrote:yeah, I can get zetecs for cheap.

Be different, let look into getting you a duratec  :D
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What are the pro's for a Zetec as opposed to a Dutatec ? And vice versa?

Can I use my stock tranny with either? What about ECU? What about these and those parts..

To go Zetec from SPI what do I need to change,

and to go Duratec from SPI what do I need to change? :P

I don't know as much as you pro's do ;)

[Flofocus]

hardk0re,Mar 14 2007, 08:47 PM Wrote:Actually tons of duratecs available 400-600 at allot of wreckers.  seems even more duratecs than zetecs :P
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yep, same price as zetecs.

[Flofocus]

ex1z7,Mar 15 2007, 12:59 AM Wrote:

Flofocus,Mar 14 2007, 07:05 PM Wrote:yeah, I can get zetecs for cheap.

Be different, let look into getting you a duratec  :D
[right][snapback]230544[/snapback][/right]

What are the pro's for a Zetec as opposed to a Dutatec ? And vice versa?

Can I use my stock tranny with either? What about ECU? What about these and those parts..

To go Zetec from SPI what do I need to change,

and to go Duratec from SPI what do I need to change? :P

I don't know as much as you pro's do ;)
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These are good questions for NOS as I dont know much about the SPI. If the SPI has a MTX75 tranny, then your good to go with a zetec swap. I would suspect you would need a zetec ECU, but those can be found for cheap also. PM Nos, he'll know a helluva lo more than me on the subject.

[NOS2Go4Me]

I watched this thread the other day and thought it was going to be deadsville (no offense).

Let's get the easy stuff out of the way first. ITBs on a SPI - pointless. The SPI is something of a bitch to tune with anything other than standard methods of induction due to the fact it has a dual-stage intake stock. This actually places it on par with the SVT motor in operation (minus variable cam timing), but there's next to no aftermarket for it.

Your best bet is to look for more widely-supported cars (Escort and whatnot) that have SPI/CVH engines and carry over what you need. The header off the Escort GT (turbo) bolts up directly to the SPI in the Focus and makes a great jumping-off point. If you're ever on FJ/FF, PM Waterboy. That guy is a SPI tuning god. Same for Gigahertz and Rusty (Tin_Maddog). They all have massive SPI forced induction experience.

Now for SPI stuff you can do NOW that will improve the motor. You have the IB5 manual, so beware of MTX75 parts for the Zetec. Also, if you go Zetec/Duratec down the road, you're going to want to go to the MTX tranny as it's vastly superior. You may also want to ensure you have the correct (shorter) final drive from a Zetec to quicken acceleration and improve your holeshot.

Intakes for Zetecs will fit the SPI with a rubber reducer that brings the OD down to 52mm. You can get them at any hardware store as a plumbing piece. Get soft rubber, not hard PVC. Either go with a FocusSport ITG foam filter-based setup or K+N oiled surgical cotton filters. Anything beyond that and I'm not sure what your experience will be like. Any exhaust for the Zetec will fit the SPI cleanly and properly, as the exhaust pipe diameters on all stock first gen Foci are the same (save for SVT). MBRP makes a nice setup (I'm on my second one and second Focus), Borla is nice and so is Magnaflow. Others swear by FocusSport, but their system is aluminized and that might not survive as long as expected in Canadian winters.

Underdrive pullies are one of the more popular mods for serious N/A modders of the SPI. The motor really responds well after bolting one up and I drove for a year without any ill effects with a 50% reduction race pulley. http://www.escortfocus.com has them again, apparently. Throttle bodies are now as rare as hen's teeth, but they're a nice addition according to my bud Oscar the Grouch.

Cams are more exotic, but as you have the IB5 you should be good with a stage 3 setup and an X-Calibrator 2 reflash to suit it accordingly. The SPI is a SOHC motor, so the one cam drives intake and exhaust valves. It's also an 8V design, so it differs from the rest in that they're 16V motors and DOHC.

As mentioned above, the X-Cal 2 is nice because you can factor in for all mods you have with the tune and then just re-tune after you add another decent mod. Also, if you swap out motors you'll be able to flash to stock first and then be ready to tune the new motor with the same X-Cal unit.

If you're motor-swapping, motor mounts might be an issue. I've heard they're all the same between the Zetec and the SPI, but not sure about the Duratec. You'll need an ECU as well as the bolt-on accessories... just to be safe. There may be commonality between them, but FJ is your best source for info on that sort of stuff.

I had the opportunity to swap a couple of times, but I elected to just leave the motor in the car. It's a great "cutting your teeth" car as it's cheaper than the rest of the Foci while the knowledge you'll gain by modding it will apply directly to other Foci.

Enjoy it, because at the end of the day it'll handle just as well as any other Focus on this board. If you bought it to scorch the quarter mile, you bought the wrong car... unless you go turbo. :)

Good luck! I'm available if you have any modding questions or anything else - just ask!