Hi, in driving my (new to me) ff w/ SPI & ATX around it feels like the engine revs fine but the power is slow to get to the wheels. For this reason (also) I need to get a tach because I don't want to over rev the engine in getting to know it.

What can we do to get that power (<- LOL) down to the wheels?

Are there any mods for the tranny, torque converter, gearing, etc

or are we stuck with just trying to squeeze more power out of the engine in hopes that some of that trickles down to the wheels??

Thanks-

I'll let waterboy take care that....

lol yeah i'm sure he'll be on soon commenting away on this one

check around.. focus central pretty much has everything for the spi you can get..

Where is waterboy anyways? psshhh.....

As far as tranny mods... http://www.performanceautomatic.com/valvebodies.htm

That makes u able to burn out in 1st or 2nd gear apparently. wb said it costs about 3 hundred.

Originally posted by fokuzx3
check around.. focus central pretty much has everything for the spi you can get..

oh I have & do have a typical mod list planned (udp, TB, intake, exhaust) but am starting to also think about the HP meeting the pavement.

looking forward to waterboy's comments-
and anybody elses who would like to comment..

u sound like a smart man on the plans, i will be doing tb, intake and exhaust myself.

Originally posted by 03Focuser
Hi, in driving my (new to me) ff w/ SPI & ATX around it feels like the engine revs fine but the power is slow to get to the wheels. For this reason (also) I need to get a tach because I don't want to over rev the engine in getting to know it.



You have an auto. Put it in D and you won't over rev the engine.

Originally posted by jollyjohnj
You have an auto. Put it in D and you won't over rev the engine.

why, do they have rev limiters?
I'm curious because if you put your foot in it- it really winds up.
with better gearing these things would be rockets (relatively speaking LOL)

As for power to the wheels the basics are the valve body, torque converter and belive it or not a chip. The SCT works wonders for the atx, it changes the shifts to make them firmer therefor wasting no time and slaming the power to the wheels. What the focus realy needs is torque with out torque your HP is worthless. You can get a torque converter and valve body from www.performanceautomatic.com also try www.levelten.com.

As for the guages just use the search feature and type in ''Guage Swap" I promise you will find EVERYTHING you need.

Now about your plans they are dead on just remember this "Air in Air out" that is the quickest way to power..... Intake, header, exaust, the more air flow the better.

You are also gonna be considering a tranny swap down the line this has been discused many times its not worth the money and time, if you want a MTX get one NOW before you get to much into this auto. But waterboy and I are both running a atx except he is running alot faster than me.

All I can say is sometimes you will wonder why the hell you are doing all this to a spi, its slow, an automatic and hard to work with, but dont give up on it. It has great potential. My mods are below

Good luck and welcome to FF[thumb]

Here are a list of sites for you.......
www.escortfocus.com This is where I am getting my cam from
www.performanceautomatic.com
www.focussport.com
www.blackdiamondracing.com
www.aem.com
www.magnaflow.com
www.focuscentral.com I have not had any trouble from them but i was told there service can be pretty bad

Focusin: Thanks for watching my back. Between work and a little bit of kitchen remodeling I'm more than stretched thin.


Seems Focusin pretty much covered it. I run a second tranny cooler and B&M Trick Shift for fun. I have run this setup for over three years and no worries so far. Another lesser known tidbit is that the ZETEC automatic has a slightly lower gear for its final drive. If someone were to take that gear and put it our tranny, the result should be a bit on the top-end.

Air in, air out. Perfect. Go as finances allow. No Ebay intakes (BOMZ) please.

AEM makes an alt UDP for the ZETEC that works on our cars
BDR makes a TB, as well as an adjustable cam gear and crank UDP
FocusCentral makes headers and ORP's
Magnaflow and FocusSport make good exhausts
FocusSport makes the SCT with our programs
Escortfocus.com has the cam,springs, and some other goodies
Screamon Demon makes a killer coil
Magnecore makes wires to fit the SD coil
Level10, Performance Automatics, and Lentech make tranny upgrade kits
ZEX for nitrous up to a 50 shot
NGK Iriduim for plugs

I'm tired, I'm sure I missed something

so how much would it cost for a new valvebody and torque converter? and will this would raise up the level of hp the tranny can handle or not?

Less than $800, plus installation. Performance Automatics claims up to 450hp with the right upgrades.

so for around 300 the ATX will hook up better?
I'm not looking to peel out - just apply hp better.
yesterday I was in traffic & the car in front of me was going 45 on the highway[?|]
so I stepped on it & it wound up but went nowhere[???:)] I let up a little & then only half way stepped on it & it then hooked up w/ only half the rpms that it used prior
(if that makes sense)
has anyone here installed this setup?
If not, I will do a writeup when I get to it (by Fall) several other mods are ahead of this one

i dont understand why ur car is having that prob. Maybe ur timing is off. mine runs damn fine when i hit it.

Originally posted by niccuh
i dont understand why ur car is having that prob. Maybe ur timing is off. mine runs damn fine when i hit it.
nope, it's not the engine, it has 44k on it & purrs
It's more of a tranny nuance I'd say

..still wondering what WB has to say [;)]

waterboy and I both pretty much told you what we know, but as for your problem does it feel like a slip almost like the gears are spinning but not engaged? I have that problem too, I usually downshift with the shifter to prevent that but becareful where you shift make sure not to overrev your car. If your cars computer is stock you have a rev limiter but you still dont want to hit it.

Originally posted by focusin
waterboy and I both pretty much told you what we know, but as for your problem does it feel like a slip almost like the gears are spinning but not engaged? I have that problem too , I usually downshift with the shifter to prevent that but becareful where you shift make sure not to overrev your car. If your cars computer is stock you have a rev limiter but you still dont want to hit it.

yup, if I get into the gas too quick it feels just like that. If I slowly give it the gas it feels much stronger?? I'm going to get the ATX fluid & filter changed this weekend. It has 44K miles & I do not know if it has ever been changed so I'll get it done to be on the safe side.

oh shit man does that... just dont [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]g rev like a ricer with a small penis and ur fine. It only does it sometimes but i mean its usually when im trying to [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)] with a ricer. yea i need mods.

Originally posted by niccuh
oh shit man does that... just dont [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]g rev like a ricer with a small penis and ur fine. It only does it sometimes but i mean its usually when im trying to [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)] with a ricer. yea i need mods.

re read my initial post [?|] . I'm not [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]*ing off, it's during normal driving when it occurs.
like simply giving it gas under normal circumstances to pass someone on the highway

Originally posted by 03Focuser
yup, if I get into the gas too quick it feels just like that. If I slowly give it the gas it feels much stronger?? I'm going to get the ATX fluid & filter changed this weekend. It has 44K miles & I do not know if it has ever been changed so I'll get it done to be on the safe side.

Yea you are supposed to change it every 30,000 miles, like I said if you are trying to pass use the shifter it connects alot better.

Good luck and tell me how it goes.[thumb]

Originally posted by focusin
Yea you are supposed to change it every 30,000 miles, like I said if you are trying to pass use the shifter it connects alot better.

Good luck and tell me how it goes.[thumb]

will do[thumb]

I think it may be a combo of me getting used to the car (I've only put like 500 miles on it)

& not the best combination of motor & tranny??

I'll try shifting like you say or even turning off the OD

eventually I think I'll splurge for the valve bodies kit below if I don't get used to this
http://www.performanceautomatic.com/valvebodies.htm

[:)~]

OD does not do much, I meant shift into 2nd but watch out dont overrev.

The Ford Dealer won't do a filter anymore. They just do a flush with some goo that's supposed to work miracles and then refill it. It's pretty hard to get all the fluid changed, as there is no access to the torque converter short of disassembly. Dealer is the best way to go if you're comfortable with your dealership. It'll run you about $79.00.

jim