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So what's done to iminhell's engine?

22K views 72 replies 26 participants last post by  iminhell1 
#1 ·
Cliffs,
- Stock zetec shortblock
- worked over SVT cylinder head (+ compression)
- FRIM Gen I
- SVT header
- 3" exhaust
- Adjustable cam gears
- 12# flywheel
- COP conversion
- 42# injectors
- P/S !
- Pretty good tune
- E-85 ? (no clue if or how much power this adds, and I won't get into any debate about it)


I've posted this a few times in various threads but have never made a thread of my own. It's about time I think.



First off, I'm a cheap ass. I don't really want to spend money unless I absolutely have to. With that in mind, all the work to my car has been done by me, apart from machine work and welding.


So,

I'm running a Stock (no EGR bung) SVT header. It's wrapped and covered by the stock heat shield. I found this to reduce underhood temps the best. I can nearly touch the heatshield after hard runs. It gets to just over 120*F surface temp. Will depend on the quality and amount of header wrap you use.
I had a local shop do the exhaust. It's ~2.5" flex that moves up to 3" from there back. 3" resonator and muffler. It's all crush bent exhaust, not a big deal being it's large pipe.
There is 1 O2 bung in the exhaust for my Wide Band Oxygen Sensor. I am not using the factory O2's at all.

I'm using a 70mm Pro-M Mass Air Flow Sensor and sample tube. The intake piping is 3" 6061 Aluminum and I'm just using Silicon couples I found online for the bends.
The Intake manifold is a First Gen Ford Racing Manifold; which only has to be modified slightly to fit the SVT cylinder head. To fit the standard zetec head it has to be slotted and dropped about 0.25". The runners have been ported, port matched and polished. The throat (section below the throttle body) has also been ported slightly and polished.
I'm using a 70mm Throttle Body from a Mustang and there is a 3" spacer between it and the manifold. This had to be done so the throttle linkage wouldn't rub on the manifold.
I made a Throttle cable bracket from erector set style steel. The throttle cable is from a 1994 Geo Metro, and only had to be modified slightly to work.
To fit the manifold you have to either use an adapter bracket to move the alternator down or come up with another solution. I choose the other solution. This is using a SVT alternator bracket and slotting the mounting holes. I used my die grinder and was able to remove about 0.125" which lowered the mount just enough to fit the manifold. It's tight but doesn't touch.

The Cylinder Head is from a SVT. The big reason I wanted this head was that stock it comes with bigger cams and larger intake valves. This is all recipe for more air flow potential and more power.
I spent a good amount of time porting and polishing the head. I also debured the oil return ports and coolant ports. The reason for this was to allow smoother oil drain back and coolant transfer.
The intake ports are nearly 0.125" bigger across and the roof was raised just as much. I only smoothed out the port floors.
The seats and throats have been blended and smoothed.
The entire port was brought to a ~300RA surface finish.
The intake valves are swirl polished and the ridge near the stem was smoothed. Faces are mirror polished.
Seats are untouched and were only blended with lapping compound.

On the exhaust side,
The ports were opened up all around, nearly 0.25" larger than stock.
They entire port was mirror polished.
The valve is mirror polished tip to face.
The seats were untouched and blended just like the intake.

The chambers were "deshrouded". The hump between the valves was cut down and smoothed (I don't recommend doing this though, it was a mistake IMO).
The entire chamber was mirror polished.

The head was then shaved 0.045".


I'm running adjustable cam gears because you need to to set the cam timing correctly when not using the SVT's VCT.

I'm running Ford Racing 42# fuel injectors due to the fuel demand of Ethanol.


Nothing else I have done really adds power. It's just there to avoid problems or because something broke and I got a deal on a upgrade part.
Things like the lightweight flywheel, Contour water outlet housing, lack of power steering, Jay Racing COP kit and CFM oil pump gear.


I have done all the tuning of the car with SCT Advantage III. A few people have helped me with what things to try and with better explanations of what certain things do. Which was a big help, thanks guys!






My future plans are building a new shortblock. I have a SVT block that might work, I haven't brought it in to see if it'll be salvageable.
I know that I will use Eagle rods (cost standpoint). But I'm still undecided if I want JE or Wossner pistons and what compression I want (will be 12:1+) ... actually there was a custom set I should have bought a while back [facepalm].
The crank will be lightened and knife-edged.
Want to switch to a 8# flywheel and actual performance clutch (it's a stock replacement right now).
I haven't decided if I want to do dry sump oiling or stick with a wet sump. The cost and safety factor of dry sump is very appealing and with the RPM I run it should be a nobrainer.
I want a 4.06 final drive and I'd like to fit the newer MTX75 1st gear. I'm actually looking into this currently. I already have a trans with a Torrsen (in my other Focus, [confused]).

My goal has always been 200whp N/A. I'm currently not too far off and I really think a bit better/more tuning and compression will reach that goal.

Once I have a built block then the fun will start. I've been pondering juicing the car, N2O. My goal if I do go nitrous is a 175 direct wet shot. Yes. That is enough to nearly double the power of the engine [giddy]. It won't be the first step for sure and will take me some hair pulling to work up to that big. From what I'm told a 100 shot should be a non-issue though.
And with this I plan on having a custom plate made to fit between the FRIM and head, bottom feed (there's just more room there).
Haven't looked into it too much yet though.


I'd like to have the new shortblock done by FF 2013 and I'd like to attend.
So there. I have set a goal and timeframe, for the first time ever.
 
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#3 ·
My goal has always been 200whp N/A. I'm currently not too far off and I really think a bit better/more tuning and compression will reach that goal.
Good work! That would be very impressive! I'd also love to see nitrous used on the engine too. I've been considering a small shot for my own build.

I'm going to subscribe to this thread for updates! Good luck on your build and try to take pictures of current and future work! I'd love to see what you're working on.
 
#4 ·
That sounds very impressive. Great job so far, and I hope you will keep all of us informed with how your build goes. There is a lot of very useful information (atleast for me), and I think it will help some people with other builds, as to what items they can use, and what not.

Thanks for the list, keep up the great work, and good luck with your future build.
 
#5 ·
It is impressive, and don't forget the Jesus Juice and eggs he eats every morning lol j/k

On a serious note he did a great job piecing the parts together and proving power is attainable. What limits most zetec's is the head even P&P and shaved still on barely meets what a SVT head is capable of. If SVT's weren't hampered by their gearing they would really be a lot quicker off the line. I'm really interested in seeing what a MTX equipped SVT would be like or his build. Wish I could ride in it lol
 
#11 ·
I have read your post about a dozen times! I can only hope and dream of the things that you have done, for now. I am still in the process of learning everything I can and how to mod my own engine. Impressive work, why did you leave out pics?
 
#19 ·
That is a gauge face from a Mercury Cougar.
What I did was buy a Cougar gauge cluster complete. Then I pulled it apart and swapped the gauges into the Focus cluster. Everything works right off the bat but, the tach is actually reads wrong. The sweep range is the same as the Focus. I have not found a way to correct that yet. The light comes on @ 7.5k.

The plan is to wire in the full Cougar cluster. I'm hoping that then the tach will read correct. I have all the parts to do it, have just been too lazy to make the swap harness.
 
#23 ·
Did the gauge cluster come from a V-6 Cougar? I know the earlier Fox body cars had a tach which could be switched from 4-6-8. There's a couple of these Cougars at the local yard and I may have to try this out. I'm also looking at E85 and high compression for power. Looks like your Focus pulls pretty good up top!
 
#25 ·
^it was you ... I couldn't remember who I'd bought it from. The cluster does infact read 0 miles; another reason I'm dragging my feet.

I have all the parts to do the proper swap, EEC-V pins, the trip controls, etc. Just no ambition.

It was a I4 cluster, wasn't it?
I'm not sure if it really matters though.
 
#26 ·
I'm honestly not sure with either cluster, both were bought through ebay and its been way too long since then to go back and check the listings. I always thought the new one was v6 but could be wrong. A part # lookup would probably shine some light on what those are

I remember reading that they can be swapped between engines, just the 99/00 to 01/02 swap could have a couple of minor lights lit (cruise etc). but that's on a cougar's wiring harness not a focus

sorry for not being of more help than that!
 
#29 ·
Makes ~170whp according to the dyno I did back in 2011/2012 (can't recall when).
Have been daily driving the car ever since. have something like 50,000 miles on it and still haven't opened the bottom end, something like 220,000 miles.

Car is starting to show it's age. Burning quite a bit of oil, but no smoke. Kinda odd. Still runs very strong though.

Decided it's not worth upkeep or further modifications as I'm going to swap a 2.5 duratec into the car. It's just a financially better move for me.


I would saw it's a very worthwhile mini-swap. Basically throw a SVT/ST170 head on the car with the zetec head gasket, the SVT exhaust/intake, delete the VCT and good a tune. Call it a day. Make 150whp all day long for cheap.
 
#31 ·
Sneaky?
Far from it ... I just don't do pictures. Other than that, most everything I know is in a post of mine somewhere.
... if not, you don't need to know it. LOL


http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=427458
and
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=427482

Are my planning/contemplation threads thus far. Tomorrow if I can get my happy ass motivated I may go pick an engine up. Found one with ~20,000 miles for $650 (not sure on a core or not). Looks like about the best deal I'm going to find locally and it's from a yard I trust (couple friends work there).
 
#33 ·
Ya. I haven't done anything but play with the tune for a couple years and I want to change it up. I found the threads Top Speed posted and that got me really interested. Started pricing things out and basically I'm a fool if I don't do a swap ... or more of a fool.

It sounds pretty damn simple, for me, and there is more of a market for Duratec parts than the zetec/SVT.

So save up your tip money, the intake will be off and waiting for you hopefully within the next month/and a half. If you still want it that is.
 
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