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Turbo LSX Focus

310K views 1K replies 149 participants last post by  BoostedLM7 
#1 · (Edited)
ok im making a post of my plans. i was going to wait till i was finished to post this but i figured you guys would really like to see the progress more than just the results.

the plan: To build a turbo v8 focus with upwards of 800hp for less than or equal to the price it cost me to build the 4cyl to make 400hp. this is all of course based on the fact that i am doing it my self and not paying someone to do it. i done the same with the focus build and i plan to do this one as well.

Info on the Build:

Motor: 5.3L Vortec out of a 2002 Chevy 1500 truck from a salvage yard for 500 including wiring, ecu, manifolds, etc. i am not some one that looks at things by brand names, the only thing i care about is the power, reliability, cost, and sensibility of it. i am using a chevy motor because of how universal all of their parts are, how compact they are, the power they can make, how little they cost, and they are very reliable. the 5.3 was very easy to find, i have a ls1 IM for it, and plan to get a corvette zo6 cam. after the project is finished and rolling i will save up and build this motor and push the t76 to the limits.

a modular cobra or navigator motor are both very large, very expensive, and very complicated motors. the 5.0's are junk when it comes to making a lot of power.













Tranny:
TH400 transmission. very inexpensive and very strong. i do not plan to buy a tranny controller so i need a mechanically operating trans. the plan is to either swap to a 4l80e trans and convert it to full mechanical/and manual valve body and build it or to build the turbo 400. this will depend on funds when the time comes. i have this ordered from a local salvage yard for 350.

Rear end and suspension:
the same salvage yard will be supplying me with what ever i need out of a wrecked mustang with a 4 link 8.8. this will include the linkages, shocks, springs, brakes, and wheels. i believe their price is 350-400.

the 8.8 will be what i use till the motor and tranny are finished. then i will be switching to a cobra independent. i will not be tubbing and building a drag car. i will do my best to make this thing handle as good as it does now.

the front subframe will need to be modified, but i will be using the stock focus suspension. my plan is to cut out the section where the tranny will go through the subframe and reconstruct it to fit under. the rack and pinion will need to be in front of the motor so i will be getting a rack out of something that will fit. the stock spindle will work fine. i just swapped the driver and passengers sides to move the tierod hook up to the front side.


Engine managment:
megasquirt will be used because this is a budget project. i am very happy with the reviews i have seen and for the price i dont think i could get much better. it may not be able to do as much as many of the ems's available but it will be able to make a very reliable driver and work great for the power.

gauges:
just going with all autometer gauges.

fuel:
i already have a return fuel system, i just need to buy 4 more injectors and new fuel rails.

pics of the tear down:





what the engine with turbo will look like:


i will be posting every time i buy some thing and telling what i paid. in the end will post a full list of every part i purchased and a list of every part i sold and what they sold for along with what i paid.

hope you guys enjoy

Tim
 
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#1,239 ·
First update:

I ordered some 1.250 DOM tubing, 0.250 wall, 3/4 him joints and a few other things so that as soon as the car gets delivered I can start working on it...

First thing Im going to do is build some custom Arms using a spindle off a 5 lug sn95 mustang (or something like this). Just putting a bolt through the factory one is not going to work with the power I plan on making. Plus my wife and 2 year old daughter like to take my cars out when im stuck at work so everything must be right. I will not put anyone's lives at risk over spending the time and money to do it right...

Plus there is not much left on the car that is zx3 anyway so why stop now!!!
 
#1,241 ·
im happy to have sold the car to some one who has the money to finish it the way i wanted to. ive spent a long time working on the car and hope you enjoy my work.

the mustang front spindle is a great idea and was the last thing i was looking at when i decided to sell. every thing currently on the front you can sell on this site as a 5 lug conversion. it is mazda3 spindle and strut with eibach focus pro springs and focus top hat. mazda3 2.3 rotors and svt calipers and mazda lca with poly bushings. some people want to do a 5 lug for wheel options and you would be able sell a full front conversion.

i also sold the festiva lol

this car replaces both:
 
#1,243 ·
stock 1.8. keeping it pretty stock till i get all the parts for a ls swap, and i mean all the parts. to make the swap in a few days
 
#1,244 · (Edited)






these are the final pics of the car at my house and being loaded on the insane trailer the idiots brought for it. sad to see it go but needed to move on. man it looks mean out there
 
#1,248 ·
Ok, everyone still watching this build.

Im going to get the car runnng again with fresh gas and get my laptop setup with all the megasquirt stuff I need tonight after work. Sunday Im taking the car to the chassis shop ( which happens to be a good friend of mine). He is going to help me get the front end lined out so I can get this beast on the road.
 
#1,250 ·
Well with some text messaging from Turbo Turtle on how he wired the car, and from Cycle252 with a ton of help on the MS set up and updates.

THANK YOU BOTH!!!!

It is once again alive, it runs!!!!

So my chassis guy had to go out of town for the weekend at the last min so I spent the time getting it up and going again so it will pull itself on and off the trailer. Im going to get the brake fluid leak fixed this week. Then is off to Kevins shop so we can work on the steering!

I hope to have it on the road soon!!!!
 
#1,253 ·
or how about not lol... keep my thread alive! haha

glad you got it running. don't forget to weld or brace those steering links before you drive it.

there is one line in the rear that was leaking. one fitting where it come out of the tunnel and makes a turn toward the passenger side just needs to be tightened and the one on top the rear end is the main issue that i never fixed.
 
#1,260 ·
It is running and driving... Working the tune out and looking to get it to the track for the first race Feb 9th at Thunder valley raceway just outside of Oklahoma City,Ok... BUT only if I can get the tune worked out... This is a No prep/ No times race so I won't have numbers or times till sometime in the summer of 2013 so keep watching for them!
 
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