What's the maximum boost a near-stock 170k Zetec can handle?

[n00btard]

I'm going to FI my focus in a couple weeks, and I'm wanting to know what are the safe limits for a daily driver.

My 2000 Zx3 and MTX75 have recently been rebuilt, but it's rather high mileage. The car is nearly stock --the fist mods of significance are an SVT suspension, new seats, and slotted rotors. I'm bone stock on the clutch --but I have all new cabling and a new wiring harness.

What can I safely do to this car? The engine is good --just old.

[Sponsor]

[starfuryt550]

I wouldn't run more than 10-12 psi at that point prolly for safety's sake

[n00btard]

Originally Posted by starfuryt550

I wouldn't run more than 10-12 psi at that point prolly for safety's sake

That's about what a JRSC BBK generates, yes?

[1turbofocus]

The max I would push it would be about 230HP , depending on wha turbo you have will depend on what boost it takes to get to 230HP

The jrsc may do 10-12psi but it wont make near the torque/power of a turbo making 10-12psi

Tom

[focusmaniaczx3]

more than that it depends on how your compression looks. you can rent a compression tester from autozone or something like that and you get the money back for the rental when you return it. if you have even compression numbers across all cylinders +/-10 psi then you are good to go.

if you want more power then you need a built bottom end. forged pistons and rods. you can get combo deals on both together sometimes on ebay for about $700-$800. after that you can practically put as much boost to it as you want. at about the 330whp mark i think you need to upgrade the fuel system if you want more. it isnt really that hard or expensive to do either. top speed actually sells a kit for that and if you ask nice tom may have something lying around that could get the job done. after that i cant think of anything limiting the hp the engine can take other than the crank. but i dont think tom ever broke a crank until he had one well over 800whp... is that right?