Well good people of FF, i've been holding this post in for quite some time now, mostly because I've been hovering over y'all watching as member after member boasts about their turbo'd zetec/duratech; watching in pain as i sweat and bleed all over my poor little Split Port sedan.

Four months ago I got an outstanding job that required very little time to complete, leaving me with a burning pocket and the 3-year old pipe-dream of owning a turbo'd focus. Three years ago i knew nothing of 'transmission swaps', or 'piggy-back' tuning, so I started researching about a year ago into what it would take to boost my focus. Turns out..... a lot. lol

I won't say how much i've put into her because honestly even I don't know, i'd have to look over the past 6 months of receipts and emails. I know it's been quite some time since i was kicked out of my house by my supposed 'friends', fired from that high-paying job and forced to move home all because i was spending too much time working on the [:)][:)][:)][:)]us; and to be brutally honest, i'm [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]g elated. Never been happier. Don't need friends when you've got boost and a dream right? haha. well here she is:

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00363rear.jpg

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00371grill.jpg

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/baybaysm.jpg

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00374intcntr.jpg

As i said above, i've been nervous about the reaction i'll get on here, i used to be an avid member. I figured i'd wait til the project was in it's final stages, which is now. Tom and I are still tuning for peak power, right now i'm workin on getting a MAF i.a. I'll try to get more info up soon but for now i'm off to the freaggin' cider mill to meet with west coast relatives :(( [:)][:)][:)][:)].

Good to be back finally! better to be back and boosted lol.

Wow that looks good but then looks bad cause its so cluttered in there. I wanna see numbers and videos of everything when u get done.

Awesome work man! Thats a wicked looking snail in there. I do have a few questions if you don't mind.

Internals? Did you replace anything? Including the valve seats?

How much boost?

When are you going to put some wheels and tires on to handle all that hp? lol

I hate seeing stuff like this, me>[:(] turbo spi, zetec swap, turbo spi, zetec swap???????

^^What can I say? Some folks actually like doing things that others wouldn't even consider. When I had My 03 SE(ATX/SPI), this same thought crossed My mind, but as soon as I realized that components for this project were generally out of My reach, I gave up.

All said, it ain't pretty. Function>Form plays strongly here. I would like to see some #s as well. In any case, I like it, and I'm glad to see Someone with an SPI being stubborn enough to do this.

Awesome work man! Thats a wicked looking snail in there. I do have a few questions if you don't mind.

Internals? Did you replace anything? Including the valve seats?

How much boost?

When are you going to put some wheels and tires on to handle all that hp? lol

Internals stock for now, like i said i'm coming from environmental science to this, and all the defined knowledge i do have on wrenching has come in the past six months from calling shops, heavy heavy HEAAVVY research and stalking this very forum for three years dreaming to start this project.

That being said, i decided to take after this latent passion, enrolled at a local vocational school and my first semester starts the 27th of this month. I'm making damn sure to take my automatic transmission and engine repair classes first thing next semester. POINT BEING - i'd like to be able to conduct the repairs/swaps myself, and the right way, no bullshit.

My boost barely ever touches 5 psi (spring rated for 7.2lbs, and rebuilt the wastegate last month), and I don't drive in boost often so i'm confident the head/top end components will hold fine at least through this winter. The trans pressure increase has been kept moderately low for now(1-2/15%2-3/20%3-4/15%), she was slipping from 2-3 somewhat before the turbo went in. if i didn't loose my income i'd have bought the lentech terminator kit or at least TC/new 2-3 solenoid. for now i'll pray the cooler puts in work.

And to the last comment - har har :) she's sleeping bro! lol. I'm well aware of how fugly she may be right now with the stocks but i'm going to need new tires before winter hits so i'm gradually surfing craigslist/ebay for cheap wheels, but i wanna stay skinny, no track yet plus i have a feeling this winter is gonna be quite wet.

^^What can I say? Some folks actually like doing things that others wouldn't even consider. When I had My 03 SE(ATX/SPI), this same thought crossed My mind, but as soon as I realized that components for this project were generally out of My reach, I gave up.

All said, it ain't pretty. Function>Form plays strongly here. I would like to see some #s as well. In any case, I like it, and I'm glad to see Someone with an SPI being stubborn enough to do this.

Honestly i didn't know this was coming until after i completed the svt susp. install. Got hooked on spending hours in a garage, on top of countless hours online researching why i had to do the last part over and over again lol. Made soo many mistakes but learned so much in the process. Found a new passion and finally completed something in my life, at least mostly. Trust in the fact that if i had any idea what this would involve i'd have just sold it and bought a zetec.

The only reason i went ahead with the SPI turbo build was because i bought that pre-fabbed kit that ehancock had for sale about seix weeks ago. maybe longer i've lost track of time since. That "pre-fabbed" kit i bought needed to be re-fabbed in every way you could think of. PLUS the turbo was bad, and all but one part had bolts sheared off in them. i'd like to meet/talk to the guy who had this kit before hancock flipped it. numbers/videos will come shortly i promise, still tuning ATM.

Where's Mike?

That thing is sick, great job!

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00374intcntr.jpg
forgot about this one.

Where's Mike?

That thing is sick, great job!

I'm here.......wondering why I can't see the original first post. #1 is shown as FF's post saying something about it all being cluttered.

That sucks ehancock's turbo setup was screwed. I was almost gonna buy it too awhile back. glad you got it all setup and running though.

Cool to see an SPI being turbo'd.........

so you're all wondering what I'm thinking right? well. because I've driven certain other cars I can honestly say I'm not gonna F with my engine anymore, aside from fixing the exhaust leak at the head.
[wiggle]

The main reason I decided to do a Zetec swap over a DSM turbo setup on my SPI was emissions here in cali. At least with the Zetec I can do a pretty nice N/A build and still look legal if I'm pulled over.


Also just incase your interested I have my IB5 stuff up for sale. So if you wanted to do a 5 speed swap for cheap let me know.

that would be a good idea.

and why can I see the first post now?

looks awesome btw.

I've just decided factory boost is easier/cheaper. LOL

Thanks guys. I used to live in Downey, CA (for four months in 2007). Liked the area so much I got some ink done and vowed to move back before I die lol. It's just too sweet waking up to the sun coming over the mountains and not worrying about how many stihl chainsaws your gonna have to re-chain this winter, or why your girlfriend can't understand how a flute on a chimney works! BAH! Can you tell I hate winter? lol One good thing here is the ice races on lake st. clair, can you say studded toyo's? lol

nice to see a atx guy jumping into the turbo world ;)

I like it, glad you didnt let other people turn you away from doing it.

now just throw a lentech tranny in this bad boy ;)

Blah, i feel bummed out the turbo needed to be rebuilt. I still feel sad we weren't able to install that on her car. What else had to be done to it to make it fit? The guy i bought it from was pretty clueless.

Have you driven in any other performance/quick cars? How does this feel compared to those?

Blah, i feel bummed out the turbo needed to be rebuilt. I still feel sad we weren't able to install that on her car. What else had to be done to it to make it fit? The guy i bought it from was pretty clueless.

Have you driven in any other performance/quick cars? How does this feel compared to those?

there were 2 bolts siezed/sheard off in the kit :

in the turbine outlet hookup
http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00160turbosiezed.jpg

There was another one stuck in the exhaust manifold to turbo inlet flange, here they both are pulled out. Had to torch then ez out them.

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00174siezed1-Copy.jpg

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00175siezed2-Copy.jpg

The downpipe>flexpipe flange was ALL sorts of messed up:

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00183flange-Copy.jpg

As a temporary fix I used this spacer made from .25" stock aluminium:

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00181Spacer.jpg

The oil dump hookup was way over-kill and dented to shit, so i fabbed up this one:

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00187oildump3-Copy.jpg

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00185oildump1-Copy.jpg


heres the wastegate, you can see the difference in diameter of the diaphram seats. the one of the left is obviously the old one, which was actuallly kinked due to the cap being tightened carelessly.

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af310/focusrs501/DSC00233WGrebuild.jpg

E - i wish i could compare it but this is the first turbo'd car i've driven, and i'm still getting used to the feeling of boost. The first turbo A/R(.42Turb/.48comp) spooled quick, and man i mean quick. It scared the shit out of me first run, but then again that was with the original wastegate setup so i was spiking boost @ 15lbs, i remember hitting 20lbs twice on seperate occasions, and blew couplers each run. This new turbo is horribly sluggish on boost compared to the last but once we get past this 3k cutting issue we'll see how she spools over a broader range. I'm amped, just ordered the MAF i.a. this afternoon. :D

i like every thing but the aluminum foil looking stuff all over every thing

i like every thing but the aluminum foil looking stuff all over every thing

And I like intact plug wires. They started to melt so i wrapped them in radiant heat wrap. This isn't a show car. :D

What size is that oil drain ?

And I like intact plug wires. They started to melt so i wrapped them in radiant heat wrap. This isn't a show car. :D

haha yeah i hear ya. but they do make heat wrap plug boots. (pretty expensive though0

What size is that oil drain ?

1/4". xs uses thrust bearings so my inlet fitting is pin-sized.

is your car fast even tho its auto? i might do this

1/4". xs uses thrust bearings so my inlet fitting is pin-sized.

Ever seen the restrictor hole for a ball bearing turbo? About 1/3 the size.

there is no way i would run a 1/4" return no matter what size the inlet was.

Sad to see this on another car but probably better fabbing up our own. Awesome to see someone actually did this tho. Us getting engaged and saving for a wedding I couldn't have did this right now. Would have had to wait a year.

very cool

bump this thread for any spi owner wanting to turbo.

Good job amigo! I had a similar experience when I bought my kit used, bunch of stuff was junk. I had the same amount of knowledge as you. Its so nice to finally get something together. Cant wait to see vids or dyno charts!

im workin on joining the turbo spi club so ya wont be alone. anyone else on here still with a turbo spi besides you and jeff?