The go faster thread: Stage 1

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this thread is for those who want to learn to get alittle more oomph out of their focus, and to answer alot of the frequently asked questionson how to do so


The best way to start is to help your engine breathe easier, just like a marathon runner, your focus needs a good amount of air(both in and out) and fuel to keep it going, and the right amount of help can help it go faster
for starters we will discuss the air situation. The best way to get started modifying your focus is with intake and exhaust upgrades which we will discuss in this thread. each has been broken down into categories to help you w/ your choice in the right part for you


INTAKES
there are several types and styles of intakes, intakes are probably the easiest mod to do and require very little mechanical knowledge and skill to install. Each type/style/brand has its own pros and cons. The two styles we will discuss are

Short Ram
these are intakes which usually consist of a replacement metal tubing and filter, the box and snorkel are no longer utilized for this setup, these are one of if not the cheapest systems. These systems draw air from under the hood and inside the engine bay, creating a slight loss of gains in temperate weather, the difference is noticable in hot weatherd climates where the diferences in power during night time driving and daytime driving are just that.

some short ram intakes are

ZETEC
AEM: reputable company w/ decent quality parts, a few different generations are on the used parts market, some which use the stock MAF housing(older) and those that dont, the (older) tend to fit more adequately

NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE
HOW TO INSTALL
BOMZ: cheap ebay intake, advise to stay away from such products
MAC: cheap and good, these intakes offer a good build quality for low budget tuners

MY FORD PERFORMANCE (BLUE)
MY FORD PERFORMANCE (SILVER)
MY FORD PERFORMANCE (RED)
HOW TO INTSALL

STEEDA: overpriced MAC

STEEDAFOCUS

FocusSport: pretty much just a highflow filter and heat shield
NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE
K&N
MAD PERFORMANCE

SVT
AEM
MAD PERFORMANCE
K&N

MAD PERFORMANCE
STEEDA

MY FORD PERFORMANCE


Duratec

[Sponsor]

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CAI or cold air intake

There are two kinds of CAI, longtube and those which utilize a box similar to the stock system

Longtube CAIs
these are popular but not neccissarily the best, a long tube (think short ram but longer) extends usually downward toward the front bumper. Depending on where you live they could cost you your motor, these are notorious for flooding motors from the filter being submerged in puddles, a slight precautionary fix for this problem is to install a bypass valve which in the event of submergance wouldcause the intake to breathe from the engine bay, this also requirescutting of the intake for installation. Or one could seek a CAI shield from www.myfordperformance.com . The relocation of the MAF into this long tube has also been noted to cause cold start problems for many

some of these include

ZETEC(SPI w/ TB upgrade)
AEM: see short ram

NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE
HOW TO INSTALL
BOMZ: see short ram

NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE
INJEN: noted to be of good quality

SVT
AEM

FOCUSPERFORMANCE

Duratec
FocusSport
NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE
Focus Central

MY FORD PERFORMANCE
marcy motorsport

marcy motorsport

BYPASS VALVE DISCUSSED ABOVE

FOCUSPERFORMANCE 2.5"
FOCUSPERFORMANCE 2.75"
FOCUSPERFORMANCE 3"


Ray's CAI shield

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

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Box type
this is the alternative to the long tube CAI, these intakes typiccaly use a box(some the stock) similar to the stock one to keep out powerrobbing heated engine bay air by utilizing snorkels extending from the bo, outwards to the front of the car usually the grill. These intakes are known to be safe and effective and display consistant power gains through

these include

Focus Central: composite box, metal tubing, comes w/ SVT snorkel, has hole in top for use w/ ram air hood

FOCUSPERFORMANCE(BLUE)
FOCUSPERFORMANCE(RED)
FOCUSPERFORMANCE(SILVER)
ICEMAN: uses stock box, replaces stock tubing and snorkels, includes mini resonator duct

NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE
HOW TO INSTALL
VOLANT:good plastic tubing, plastic box, also has opening in top for use w/ ram air type hood

MAD PERFORMANCE
HOW TO INSTALL
has this scoop also now available

MAD PERFORMANCE

INJEN w/ box

MAD PERFORMANCE


another good mod is the cheap SVT snorkel for those w/ teh ZETEC or SPI getting a box type or similar intake

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

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Throttle Bodies
this part is a favorite for most. While the horsepower gain is minimal, the throttle response added by an upgraded throttle body is definatley noticable and a good gain for the money there are several to choose from. the install can also be tricky if you are unfamiliar w/ the part and work needed. if you are unsure, while this is one of the easiest installable pieces, it is better safe than sorry. *note* most automatics transmissionsfrom require special brackets

HOW TO INSTALL(ZETEC)


SPI engine
Focus Central 60mm tb
BDR throttle body (also allows use of ZETEC intakes


ZETEC
FC 65mm throttle body: billit, comes in color of choice, be sure to get correct year make

NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE 00-02
NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE ATX 00-02

ATX BRACKET
if you ordered one of the above w/o it (yes you must have it for an ATX from 00-02)

MY FORD PERFORMANCE


MY FORD PERFORMANCE 03 ATX/MTX

FC 70mm throttle body: race applications only, idle bypass has been deleted. for 5 speed

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

BBK throttle body: allegedly as good quality as FC

MAD PERFORMANCE

Jackson Racing 65mm TB

JACKSON RACING


SVT

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

Duratec
FC 65mm throttle body

NEW EDGE
PERFORMANCE


another low budget option for some is to port your stock throttle body, while there isnt as much gain as there is from using the bigger bore aftermarket throttle body, the price of you doing it yourself is certainly affordable by almost everyone w/ a dremel

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MAF
or mass air flow sensors, can also be upgraded as needed, as long as your intake allows so, the PRO-M 70mm is the general favorite here. This mod is best left until fuel upgrades are required(larger injectors) and should be calibrated accordingly

ZETEC
Pro M 70mm

STEEDAFOCUS
Pro-Flow
MCNEWS


Duratec
75mm w/ filter

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

intake manifolds
can also be upgraded or altered as needed. the popular bolt on upgrade for the 2.0 ZETEC is a swap for a year 2000 maniold, this year the intakes had round runners and yielded slightly more air flow. it is alos popular to port the runners of this befor the swap but little or no gains are yielded from doing so, the only part needing porting is the opening where the IM mates up to the throttle body when a larger TB is installed, this is correct procedure to port this opening prior install allowing full use of the added size of the TB.
other intake manifolds for this engine include

Ford Racing Intake Manifold: requires some machine work and SVT alternator bracket or grinding to fit ZETEC, but the best IMO

MCNEWS


Focus Central: composite short runner IM

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

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EXHAUST

now that the engine is getting more air in, we need to expel the exhaust faster(you know in w/ the good air, out w/ the bad air..), we can do this by upgrading the exhaust system. This involves upgrading to higher flowing, better sounding, louder, and sometimes better and long lasting materials.


figure 1(this is the ZETEC configuration)
source

Catbacks
To do so lets start off w/ the catback, even though its actually a flexblack(see figure 1 for stock focus conifguration) it is still reffered to as catback. This is the rear section which most ppl choose to upgrade for small power gains and sound preference

SIZE DOES MATTER
this is where wereally need to start thinking ahead at our total power goals and how much power we plan to achieve w/ our focus, and how we plan to achieve it. Somone not planning on going passed bolt ons would be perfectly fine w/ your average 2.25" exhaust. However those acheiving moderate gains through large natural aspiration projects, or forced induction, will be better off w/ 2.5" and 3" systems

ZETEC:2.25"
Magnaflow: one of thefavorites among focus modifiers, boasts good quality, a deep mellow tone, and good price, STAINLESS STEEL

MY FORD PERFORMANCE (HATCHBACK)
MY FORD PERFORMANCE (SEDAN)

BOSAL:allows for interchangable tips, mirror polished, STAINLES STEEL

MY FORD PERFORMANCE (HATCH)
MY FORD PERFORMANCE (SEDAN)
MY FORD PERFORMANCE (WAGON)

5zigen: coated steel piping(not stainless) w/ stainless canister muffler and high priced, made in Japan

MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCH ONLY)

JBA: known for decent products, aluminized or stainless w/ polished tip

MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCH/aluminizied)
MAD PERFORMANCE (SEDAN & WAGON/aluminized)
MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCHBACK/STAINLESS)
MAD PERFORMANCE (SEDAN & WAGON)

APEXi:stainless steel muffler, titanium particle powder coated mild steel piping, supposedly quiet

MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCH ONLY)

BASSANI: stianless construction, uses a glass pack muffler

MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCH)
MAD PERFORMANCE (SEDAN)

PACE SETTER MONZA: for those w/ the small budget, system uses corrosion-resistant aluminized steel

MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCH)

TANABE: overpiced stainless

MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCH)

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THERMAL: stainless, bit pricey

MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCH)
MAD PERFORMANCE (SEDAN)

FOCUSSPORT: cermaic coated mandrel bent aluminized steel tubing, know good for quality and the stealth option, which is just an added resonator pretty much

FOCUSSPORT(ALL)

MBRP: good quality exhaust, known for its rally car-like sound

MCNEWS(ALL)

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ZETEC:2.5"

BORLA: possibly the best system out there to some, million mile warranty, great stainless quality, great performance and sound
MAD PERFORMANCE (HATCH)
MAD PERFORMANCE (SEDAN)

MBRP: same as the 2.25" but in 2.5

STEEDA: basically a renamed Borla

STEEDAFOCUS

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SVT

2.25"
magnaflow

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

Bassani

MAD PERFORMANCE

Thermal

MAD PERFORMANCE

MBRP(also comes in 2.5")

MCNEWS

Focussport (coming soon)


2.5"
Borla

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

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2.3L Duratec

Focus Central
new gen systems surpassing the old, focus central seems to have worked out the faults in their systems and continue to make quality parts

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

Magnaflow
same quality and good price as the other systems, 2.25" Stainless Steel

MY FORD PERFORMANCE

Focussport
many options, just like their other systems, good quality

FOCUSSPORT



Borla
simply one of, if not the, best, 2.5" stainless steel

MY FORD PERFORMANCE
MAD PERFORMANCE