[ex1z7]

So I've been searching around for other parts that fit into the Focus, as I was in hopes of making mine a little.. er.. better.

So far I've hard the MTX-75 is where I have to go if I want to stay 5 speed and get rid of the issues swapping the far more expensive 6 speed SVT trans, as the IB5 is lame, apparently.

Also, the SPI engine is lame, again, apparently.. I agree, as it seems to be the general consensus that it's more for fuel economy and not modifying, and doesn't yield the same results as the Duratec / Zetec / SVT in terms of accepting mods happily.. They all seem to take to things like a new intake great, whereas the SPI is like "so what.. I have a cone filter now.. want a cookie?"

My long-term plan, come winter next year, is perhaps an MTX-75 mated to a 2 or 2.3L Duratec engine swap,

My "oh I hope!" plan is the 2.3 out of the Mazda 6, the VVT little cutie. As it seems to look like it'll swap just like any other engine, but it's more power, and variable valve timing is cool..

So I was creeping on Wikipedia, and, says Wiki, MTX-75 trannies came in a whole host of cars.. And if the MTX75 and IB5 are compatible in the way of.. I can swap an MTX-75 into my IB5 equipped focus without many headaches.. Does that then mean.. I can swap similar parts over from Escorts, ZX2's, Mondeo/Contours, and the Mercury Mystique ?

Seeing as there are actually quite a few Ford's with the 2L Zetec, which, again was found in Foci.. Would parts from Zetec equipped cars work as well? Again, like.. transmissions, engines, intakes, exhausts, such and such?

the Focus sits on the C1 frame, the uh..C170, which I don't know if it shares any other - aside from perhaps the mazda 3 or 6, or both... But it's similar to the C1.. which sits the mazda 3 and 5, the volvo s40, v50, c30, c70.. and our Focus, though it says the international focus is on the same platform, and north american foci's are C170..

But it says subframes, suspension, steering, brakes, safety, and electrical parts are all shared... So would that mean I could put Mazda 3 suspension in a focus.. or an S40's brakes?

I'm really just curious as to what other cars parts can be ripped off of.. It seems the transmissions, MTX-75 at least, had a different way of functioning prior to 1998 in most cars, so anything after that is, from what I know.. the same as it is in 2002-3-4 whatever foci's..

Any light shed on this subject would be really, greatly, fantastically appreciated .. as I'm sure alot of other people here would be eager to know what else we can bolt onto our cars from other platforms without extensive, or any, modification..

OEM > * IMO, nothing fits like oem, and if I can modify my Focus with parts off other cars that fit as if they're meant to, I'd rather do that then buy after market..

[Focus man. Focus.]

Wow, you have quite a list of questions there and I don't think I can answer any of them but it sounds like you have quite an ambitious project ahead of you. One thing you might have to watch out for is intake and exhaust manifold locations. You might have to have some custom pieces made due to different engine bay configurations. But good luck with your projects and keep us all posted on how your making out.

[ZX3TUNING]

you will have a very hard time using a Mazda 2.3L ina a focus due to different control systems.
you would have to run a Mazda ECU and modify the hell out of the mazda harness to work in an engine and even then you may have a hard time with getting other area's to work propperly. not to mention that Mazda guys have a hard time finding parts that work with their cars...

your best bet would be to find a wrecked 2.3L ST or PZEV out of the US and get the whole front slip shipped up and swap it into your car... turbo, built NA, lots of options and the Ford ECU can be retained for all of them to harness the power.

you would see no benifit swaping the suspension out of the focus in favor of a volvo or mazda3 system.
a quality aftermarket coilover and sorted suspension package would yeild far better returns for the dollars spent and any problems are easy and check to fix with the Focus suspension.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FOCUS SETUP!!!!
The focus is still one of the best handling FWD cars ever built and you would be hard-pressed to do better with some hybrid abortion you or someone else manages to cobble together. :)

SVT brakes are your best option right out of the box.
big rotors, easy to find parts and still upgradable!

MTX is the way to gow however there are differences between them so buy the right tranny for the right engine... bellhousings are different for different engines that use the same tranny!


if it were me swaping out a SPI or tired Zetec, this is what i would do...

2.3L Duratec engine, harness and ECU + tranny all from the same car!
coilovers
rear strut bar
rear 24/25mm sway bar(no front bar)
SVT brakes

...and then build from there.



if you wanted to use a Mazda engine you would need to run a standalone or somehow figure out how to make the Ford and Mazda systems communicate. however... crazy NA mazda 2.3L Duratec with ITBs, standalone and 12:1 compression with a big lumpy cam would be a pretty cool project! ;)

[ex1z7]

ZX3TUNING,Mar 20 2007, 04:34 PM Wrote:if it were me swaping out a SPI or tired Zetec, this is what i would do...

2.3L Duratec engine, harness and ECU + tranny all from the same car!
coilovers
rear strut bar
rear 24/25mm sway bar(no front bar)
SVT brakes

...and then build from there.
[right][snapback]231336[/snapback][/right]

I was thinking verrryyyy close to the exact same thing when I was looking through ford racing parts.. but I was thinking, instead the coilovers, get that uhh.. dynamic package, that drops the car 1.5", I'm not crazy fond of the SVT suspension as I've heard around the masses that it's good if you just want a half inch drop and a better tweak, but if you want a good quality, all around suspension, getting like.. the H&R kit is better, as it lasts longer?

I'm going to keep my eye out for wrecked duratec's, I'd even be interested in a 2L dura, as they seem a little easier to find.. Not too sure on clips yet, shal have to do alot more searching.

The reason I was interested in the mix and match random car thing, is because I'm sure I've stated it before, I was a honda/nissan guy for a longggg time.. and all the cars I've ever owned had so many interchangeable parts that, if someone didn't make a better than other-stock part, you could use something from another factory vehicle and it'd work and be better than what you had.. Z32 brakes on a 240sx etc.

I'm for sure going to look into this alot more, till I get an engine, if I go that route this winter.. I'll slowly build till then - suspension, rims/tires, brakes, get my car handling and stopping right - before I need it to stop the power I'll be gettin'..

Gotta start small sometimes, I'd much rather have a car that can handle and stop, that only goes 120 easily, than a car that goes 200 and rides like a fischer price jeep..

[ZX3TUNING]

while i know where you are coming from there are lots of pitfalls with the focus. Ford and Mazda , while they may share the mechanical side of many cars the communication side rarely jives with each other like Honda or other japanese brands do.

i'm not saying it wont work but the cost is often not worth the effort over going with readily available parts for the car in question.
SVT brakes are better than the Mazda3 brakes. not enough brake for you(and that would be impressive), TCE makes a great 4 piston upgrade that would trump anything out there that is OEM on another car like a MazdaSpeed3...

as far as suspensions go, if you are spending the money on a project like this then don't waste your money on half the crap in the FR catalog.

lots of people on here will disagree but then again most of them just don't know any better....
SVT suspension upgrade is a joke unless you are on a low dollar budget. (sorry to the guys that love theirs)
the Multimatic/dynamic package is barely better but it does come with a bigger drop.

both are nice for taking granny to church or going to pick up groceries with the wife but both quickly get left behind when pitted against other kits in true handling contests.

Coilovers are not a must but in most cases are the best option for the end result if you are actually planning a real project. some sport kits will out perform some coilovers but those are few and far between and often cost the same as entry-level *QUALITY* coilovers.
You can never go wrong with H&R or Bilstein imho.

as far as clips go, i just suggested it that way you KNOW you have all the required parts for the swap. nothing sucks worse than getting the car 80-90% together only to find out you need this or those parts or it wont work and then you are back on the hunt...

if you like, hit me up on MSN and we can discuss...

[ZED_not_zee]

I waited two yrs to get my coilovers instead of just geting springs... I bought the eibach Sway bars and pro street S coil overs and it was the best money I ever spent...