Another Sonic Blue SVT

[stealthzx3]

those are going to look great.

[swansong]

Borla on! Sounds fantastic, it's exactly what I was hoping it would be. Basically, it sounds like stock, but deeper, throatier, and louder, but not too loud.

Borla Exhaust:


Stock SVT Exhaust (anyone wanna buy it????):


Some extra pics:

[stealthzx3]

will the stock svt exhaust fit on my zx3? i'd love to take it if so!

[swansong]

From what I've seen, the flanges on the SVT/Zetec are slightly different size/shape, and some people have had to modify them a bit to get the bolts to go through, but for others the holes line up and they just slap some gasket sealer in there and call it good. The other thing to note is that the SVT exhaust has to be cut between the muffler sections in order to get it out (good thinking Ford), so it will have to be welded back together when installing it. Might want to do some searching on how others have gone about installing the SVT exhaust on a Zetec, it's a pretty common (and cheap!) mod.

Other than that, I'd love to sell it to ya! It's sitting in my parent's garage 1.5 hours away right now though, but I'll be heading back there this weekend and can pick it up.

[stealthzx3]

pm'ed...

now wanna sell your euro grille?

[swansong]

Calipers painted! Decided to do that instead of the headlights this weekend because I want to do blue rings, but I'm having a helluva time trying to find Sonic Blue paint in a spray can. (Anyone know if there's a different between paint code SN and S1? Both are Sonic Blue, but S1 is supposedly SVT-specific)

Anyway, picture time:

I used this:


Primer/White paint, you'll see why in a bit:


After 3 coats of blue:


Used a sticker over the white, then removed to get:


Tape removed:


Front right, finished:


Back left, finished:


Whole car, finished:


This is what happens to a Harbor Freight 1/2" to 3/8" extension when you try to remove a caliper bolt. I left it on after this happened:


Oh yeah, got my reproduction SVT certificate printed and framed too:

[stealthzx3]

awesome calipers! and i would frame the certificate too.

the svt exhaust still has a resonator. what makes it sound different than a stock non-svt exhaust, the muffler? i would almost want to cut the res off and add flex pipe. but then i couldn't hang it in the back... hmm

[..:: sleestak ::..]

Nice work on the calipers!! Glad that worked out for you.

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by swansong

Nope, I don't mind. I paid $5000 for it, KBB says 'Good' condition price was $4400, but I felt this one was worth it since it was so well cared for. It also came with Michelin X-Ice tires on 16" Focus wheels, an SCT X3/FS3 tuner, and a lot of audio upgrades and goodies.

After poking around and gathering info on exhausts, I'm pretty much set on the Borla. Just need to wait for a used one to pop up for a good price!
To Hubster or anyone that has one:
Does the Borla drone at highway rpms/speeds, say 3k at 70?

it doesn't drone at all. if the fatory cat is still there it'd gonna be pretty quiet. even with an orp like on my car its not bad at all. come out to wheels and wings next wednesday at around 7 pm and you can take my car for a spin if you'd like.

[swansong]

Originally Posted by stealthzx3

awesome calipers! and i would frame the certificate too.

the svt exhaust still has a resonator. what makes it sound different than a stock non-svt exhaust, the muffler? i would almost want to cut the res off and add flex pipe. but then i couldn't hang it in the back... hmm

I'm not sure exactly what makes the SVT exhaust different. I believe the tubing is wider (2.25" vs 2" maybe?). It gives a great tone though, low and snarly. The Borla pretty much amplified and nastified the stock tone.

Originally Posted by ..:: sleestak ::..

Nice work on the calipers!! Glad that worked out for you.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Paladin

it doesn't drone at all. if the fatory cat is still there it'd gonna be pretty quiet. even with an orp like on my car its not bad at all. come out to wheels and wings next wednesday at around 7 pm and you can take my car for a spin if you'd like.

Have it on the car now, and nope it's not droney. I do have the factory cat, and the Borla resonator in place, so it's not a whole lot louder than stock. I'm debating whether or not I want moar lowd, either by going ORP/HFC or removing the resonator. What I do not want is to trade the awesome deep tone for the ricey sound.