I have heard you guys talk about the header off a Escort GT that fits the Focus SPI motor. What makes it so good? Is it better than an after market header? I would like to know all the pros and cons of getting this part rather than buying an aftermarket header. Thanks for the enlightenment guys!


John

2002 Silver Ford focus sedan (with SVT badging) 17" Kazera KZ-T rims, front silver zinc coated drilled/slotted rotors w/ kevlar pads, Limo tint, black/chrome TYC Tail lamps, clear bumper lights and grill lights, SVT suspension kit, Ractive intake, Ractive 8mm wires, Ractive front tower bar.

Coming soon, headwork (I just bought extra SPI head and valve cover), exhaust system, BDR 60mm TB, super chip.... and the list will grow I am sure!

from what i have read it is one of the best headers for our engines, the foucus central one is designed poorly (i think). It seems like all the built spis are running them so they gotta be good. Best part about them? You can get them from a junkyard

The problem with the FC race headers is that they are designed for the incorrect ignition sequence. The FC shorty has a good chance of frying your car.

The Escort GT header is a good header. Good design. The problem with that header is that it takes a little modification to work correctly. i have not done this myself. but i think there is a small amount of cutting and welding. should be an easy job for any half way decent exhaust shop.

i think Jim (waterboy) is running the escort header. he should be able to tell us exactlly what he had to do for the install.



and yes, you can get them from a junk yard, if your lucky. i have been looking for one for a while, and havent found it.

Is there a particular Escort GT header to look for, or are they all the same..... I see a lot of 1.9 liter motors, different vin numbers and so forth. Does the header mount right up to the block and the cutting and welding are to get the cat to attach properly?

any 86-90 Escort GT header will work. Though i think all Escort GTs in those years probably came with the same motor. though i cant remember which one.

From my limited understanding, it will bolt up to the block, but requires some minor modification to hook up to the rest of the exhaust system.

Hopefully, Jim can give us more specifics.

Steer clear of the 91-96 GT as that engine (1.8L) is a Mazda engine and totally different from the Ford-built 1.9L in the earlier GT.

stear clear of any other escort. older or newer. the headers will not work from them. only from the 86-90 Escort GT

thanks for the heads up SVT4ME!

WATERBOY!!!! where is he. jeez. two threads, same topic, same out come. we neeed someone who has done it!!! someone who can give me a how-to,(so i can take it to an exhause shop, and then pretend like i did all the work by myself) JIM, help...

http://69.56.134.164//ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB43&Number=272908&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

http://69.56.134.164//ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB43&Number=273724&Forum=UBB43&Words=header&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=12&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=273722&Search=true#Post273724

http://69.56.134.164//ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB43&Number=277023&Forum=UBB43&Words=header&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=2&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=277017&Search=true#Post277023


Hope this link still works and the pics help. I just feel lazy and didn't want to retype all of this stuff.

pics arnt workin for me

so it appears that i need to destroy my cat to make this mod work. i believe i need the cat to pass emmisions, right. does this mean i am out for a header all together, or is my best be the fc shorty and then just replece my cat as need be? i really want to go faster, but need to stay cali legal.

I can help you guys out. We have a junkyard here that can get the part for you. If they don't have it they can get it. They have a website so you can search for the part you want. But the website is messed b/c someone got that damn yourname.net bullshit. The link is supposed to be www.livingstons.net but it keeps bringing up something else. I would just do a search for livingstons auto parts on google or something and you can get their number off of that and call them. They will ship the part to you. They are pretty good about getting parts that are in top shape. I know someone who used to work there and I got my parts either for free or at a very low price.

Very good to know.

I MAY have mine up for sale very soon. Let's just say I bolted something on today that will take the place of the header.

go go turbo!!! jim can i get first dibs? and will i still be emissions legal? i want it either way, just need to know if i need to switch when the smog test time comes.

The Focus is a ULEV as it is and will PROBABLY pass, but I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of a failure and all the associated BS that goes with it. I'd just swap it out for the inspection and then reinstall it afterward. Do you have spot inspections there? We do here, but they're so hit and miss.

And you sir will have dibs.

thanks very much. not sure bout the spot checks, we have to go to a location where they run everything they have out our poor little cars, clean air nazi's. they test everything all at once! def a nail biter. all i have had prior to my focus is older cars. 76 and 73 firebirds, and 69 and 65 vw bugs. those smog days were killer. always passed though. look forward to hearing about the turbo, and the sale of your header

XFocusX: what you could so is have a Cat Welded in-line with the exuast system after the Flex pipe, Get a hi-flow mangaflow Cat welded into the section after the flex pipe before the first muffler. This will allow you to run the Header, have the power, and still be emmisions leagal with the Cat welded in.

how much will that cost? aprox. i have a magnaflow, and i am not sure i wanna mess it up. i prob will though if it is not too much.

Well I have a freind who has a ZX3, and just put on a Race header, it cost him $60 for the Cat and like $40 to get it welded into his exaust, just find a good exuast shop to deal with, if they are good enought to deal with they will be able to do the Escort GT header modifications as well.

I've stumbled accross a few of these manifolds, if anybody is still looking please PM me.......

FC Race Headers have a bad design ?

Ok but, the gains is there !

I have one on my car since july... Power increase is there from +-3000RPM to 5200RPM... Sound is very hot with my magnaflow cat back.

So,who care about bad design....[rolleyes]

Maybe this will help:

The 2-1 welding:

Full shot. The bend from the second flange in is the part from the cat that you need to use.
I had to re-use mine on my turo setup, so if you want to back out X, I'll understand. I'm ready to let it go. What you'll get is the header to just before the first bend with the O2 sensor in it. The flex pipe I also re-used.

ok so you are not gettin rid of the whole part that i will need to get welded? you are just selling the header? i will have to pass then. i am not ready to do welding or pay to have that done. i will just learn to be content with my spi and its lack of power.

Yeah, I understand. It would need the bend from the cat to work. Our stock flexpipe will them bolt right on and off you go.