Well, I've been driving the Focus a lot lately, with the Charger going through some repairs, and its 10 mpg taking a LOT more $$$ out of my pocket than the 23-24 mpg the Focus delivers in the mostly city driving that I do.

So, I decided that since it's paid off and I'm pretty much gonna keep it (at least another year or so), I might as well make it more "me".

I've already gotten hood struts installed and changed out the steering wheel to a leather-wrapped unit, with cruise-control buttons.

Cool fact: to make the cruise control work, we just had to re-flash the PCM and during the re-flash the PCM learns that it has new buttons and activates the cruise control feature ... no more servos/linkages ... all done through the PCM and electronic throttle bodies these days ...

So the chrome-trimmed headlights/tail-lights/front grille are the next things to be replaced with tinted lights/black grille, and a couple other small things.

The tint was done last Wednesday, and I left it home to cure in the Sun for the next 2 days, then today took her to work and finally opened the windows again after work. No issues with the tint [8D]

Yesterday I got the OEM tinted tail lights installed and the new 2.5" stubby antenna :), to replace the stock radio roof antenna which is about 12" long ...

Next to be installed will be the OEM tinted headlamps (eBay purchase ), OEM black-chrome-painted grille, OEM red-painted mirror caps, and hopefully a 1" or so drop. New front grille is already here waiting for the lights since it has to be removed for the lights to be replaced [thumb]

Also, I will be replacing the FOCUS rear lettering with black Focus badge/emblem off the new 2012 Focus and re-locating it.

The third brake light may have to be blended in somehow too ... maybe a light red tint ... then maybe some rims? [hihi]

Gonna be interesting to see what I can do with such a plain-jane-looking car ... lol


Now for the pics [:)] ... first pic is stock, then with yesterday's work done [:)] :


http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2009_8-22_Focus-2-1024.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-4_0003.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-4_0002.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-4_0004.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-4_0005.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-4_0006.jpg



And the previously-mentioned black hood struts [:)] :
(never mind the dirty engine bay ... lol)

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-4_0001.jpg

Any plans on dropping the car, looks like your off to a good start car looks great !

Any plans on dropping the car, looks like your off to a good start car looks great !

Thanks, and yes, I'd love to lower her a little ... what options are there ?

Thanks, and yes, I'd love to lower her a little ... what options are there ?

FRPP kit for lowering a DD. Pretty much the best all round kit for the money.

As of a few minutes ago, the back is clean and no longer has the "F O C U S se" lettering ... nice and clean ... [hihi]

The tinted headlamps showed up today [:)]

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-6_tinted_hdlmps.jpg

very nice. good luck with your plans

very nice. good luck with your plans

Thanks [:)]

One of the headlights has water spots on the inside of the lens ... anybody have a clue how to clean that off ?

Updated pic showing de-badged rear [:)] :

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-8_debadged-wCharger.jpg

It's naked! Just kiddin, I thought of getting a 2000-04 Focus badge, the original.

It's naked! Just kiddin, I thought of getting a 2000-04 Focus badge, the original.

Yeah, I've thought of getting one and painting it black before installation [:)]

One of these you mean, right ?


http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/badge.jpg

Yep, now it's 'retro'

Ordered the FRPP springs/shocks/struts/strut-mounts from Steve @ Tousley Ford today [:)]

Can't wait to get everything installed ... won't be till 2 weeks from this Saturday, but I can't wait !!!

Installed tinted headlamps and black-chrome OEM grille today. Love the new look!!!

See here (http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3708931#post3708931) for the pics [headbang]

I finally took a pic of the leather-wrapped/cruise-control-equipped OEM steering wheel ... lol

Sucks that the audio buttons on the right are dead, but at least I have cruise now ...


http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/steering_whl_cruise.jpg

Nice looking car man! Goodluck with all you do.

Water in the headlights is normal, just moisture.... You'll see cloudiness for about the first week or two, depending how long it takes for the moisture levels to equalize

Nice looking car man! Goodluck with all you do.

Thanks ajb ... more stuff coming soon [:)]


Water in the headlights is normal, just moisture.... You'll see cloudiness for about the first week or two, depending how long it takes for the moisture levels to equalize

Thanks but I'm not having a problem with water / moisture in the headlights ...

Today I got a new driver side heated/power mirror with a matching red painted cover and also scored a spare third brake light assembly for a painting project [:)]

The mirror installed :

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-19_mirror.jpg

Today I figured I'd go ahead and paint the spare third brake light assembly that I just picked up this morning, and I love the end-result ... I only laid down 2 light coats then 2 coats of clear. I started by laying down 2 coats of adhesion promoter / clear primer [;)]


Here's the new light with the stock piece, during the swap:


http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-19_pntd3rdbrklt2.jpg


And all done [:)]

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-19_pntd3rdbrklt3.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-19_pntd3rdbrklt4.jpg

Guess what showed up today? [headbang]

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee265/gpwebman/2010%20Focus/2011_6-20_FRPP.jpg




(yes, I always have my camera with me .... lmao)

Awwww shit ! moar low ! ftw [gunfire]

Awwww shit ! moar low ! ftw [gunfire]

Lol ... I can't wait to get lower!!! [headbang]

very nice. the red was my 2nd color choice when i got mine.

very nice. the red was my 2nd color choice when i got mine.

I cannot believe how freakin popular this color actually is ! ... lol

I see stock Sangria Red SE's EVERYWHERE!!!!

I simply HAD to change mine's appearance ... lmao

Sangria Red was offered on Focuses from Y2K to 2011, quite a long time!

Where did you buy the tinted head/tail lights and grill from?

Where did you buy the tinted head/tail lights and grill from?

The tinted headlamps I got off eBay - just search for "ford focus tinted" and you'll see the listings

The grille and tails I got from work, a Ford dealership [:)]

Finally placed my order with The Tire Rack [:)]

ooh just found your thread here.

How's the new focus badge gonna look?
Gonna do a keyless entry pad?

I'm going to steal some of your ideas.. [:p]

and I lol'd when I saw that you do the thing I do when I park with two of my cars at spots like those. You know what I'm talking about.. [neener]

ooh just found your thread here.

How's the new focus badge gonna look?
Gonna do a keyless entry pad?

I'm going to steal some of your ideas.. [:p]

and I lol'd when I saw that you do the thing I do when I park with two of my cars at spots like those. You know what I'm talking about.. [neener]

Yep, those are both my assigned parking spots, I own them with the apartment, if somebody takes a spot I can call the Police and have them towed [:)]

The new 2012 Focus badge is ordered, I should have it tomorrow or early next week at the latest. Then I have to sand it, prime it, paint it, clear it, and leave it alone for a day or so for the paint to cure ... I made the mistake of handling the stock Focus lettering after I painted them, and I damaged the paint ... apparently, not cured yet [facepalm]

Just wondering how difficult was the color matched mirror cap install? I have chrome caps and door handles and was thinking about getting color matched ones also.

Just wondering how difficult was the color matched mirror cap install? I have chrome caps and door handles and was thinking about getting color matched ones also.

I found it fairly hard to remove mirror caps without breaking anything, so I bought the driver side mirror with the right-color cap pre-installed, and I had the body shop at my dealership paint a pass side mirror cap, then I bought an eBay mirror with no cover, and when it arrived, I slapped it on there ... fit perfect of course, and now I have painted mirror caps on both mirrors [:)]

Hmm maybe you don't know what I meant [:p]
See how you parked so the drivers doors are accessible on both sides, BUT you parked so close together to leave as much buffer space as possible on the other sides where other people park? I meant that [:)]

Hmm maybe you don't know what I meant [:p]
See how you parked so the drivers doors are accessible on both sides, BUT you parked so close together to leave as much buffer space as possible on the other sides where other people park? I meant that [:)]

Yep, I know what you meant ... lol

I leave almost no room in-between the cars, but plenty on the outsides [:)]




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