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header?!?!?

851 views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  waterboy 
#1 ·
Does anyone know of a company that makes a Header for the SPI? Or, failing that, if there is a header available for a different engine that fits the SOHC engine. I.E. the factory header from the 87-91 Escort GT?

I can do an engine swap if I have to, but I'd rather not. See, my sister's fiance has an '04 WRX, and I let him drive my car. And I still haven't heard the end of how underpowered my car is, and he drove the car six months ago. I'd like my car to be able to at least get out of its own way. Since I really can't afford the Rex. . .
 
#4 ·
I would say ditch the spi and try and find a pzev but if youre going to build up the spi, make it actually make some nice power.. not many spi's being tuned.. I have one but not the cash to really fix up the motor, especially with an atx.. but after high school Im going to try and get a focus with a pzev..
 
#5 ·
I beg to differ, Neo.
The SPI or close cousin (the 1.6 to 1.9 Escort) have been around since before you were a twinkle in your Daddys eye. Ever heard of the Escort RS? It's capable of well over 260BHP.

If you know where to look, there are plenty of performance parts out there to be had. Most are from the UK, but some tinkering gets you places, too. I have a Mustang GT TB, a ZETEC injector wiring harness w/injectors, an AEM alt. UDP, a sweet cam that pulls nicely from 2500 to 7k, double valve springs, an Escort GT header, a nice port and polished head, an Accell coil from and Escort, Escort GT 10mm wires, NGK iridium plugs, ARP head bolts from an Escort 1.6 that are completely interchangeable,a Diablo chip based off the ZETEC LFQ program,IAT mod,ZETEC MAF and sensor,a CAI for a ZETEC to fit the TB, and a cat back from a ZX3 with a small extension to fit the sedan.

Soon to have an IHI from my T-Bird, intercooler from the same car, and boosting 5-10 psi. A little imagination goes a long way. Don't get fooled into thinking that just because you have the base engine you have to get the shaft. Not to. My lowly SPI keeps up with ZETECS just fine, and will smoke most of them.

There are more mods out there there other than the stuff you can find on Ebay. All you have to do is look for it and do a little tinkering.
 
#6 ·
Also, there a PLENTY of SPI and Escort turbos and at least one supercharged out there. One guy boosted his SPI Focus to 16 psi at WOT with no internal or fuel management changes (NOT RECOMMENDED) until it blew. The ZETEC is a good motor, mind you, but the SPI is more apt to take abuse without scattering. The parts are plentiful, and usually cheap. Try that with a ZETEC or a PZEV.

As the whole absurd notion of swapping engines. You'll spend a ton of cash and still just have a Focus. I love my Focus, don't get me wrong, but you'll spend upwards of 4k to swap the engine and you'll have nothing more than a stock PZEV or a ZTS for 20k+. Take that cash you were going to throw away on a ridiculous swap and get a port and polish, a cam, cat-back, and a turbo. You'll smoke most of what's out there and really not be stressing the engine too much. That means you'll still have it when your buddys overboosted EVO or WRX is on it's second or third engine or junk altogether. [?|]
 
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