Focus Fanatics Forum banner

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
 
See less See more
9
  • Like
Reactions: bespurcell
#1,039 ·
this? do it. now. ok go.



mazda engine WTF? lol. Almost looks like a B series motor but I don't know anything about em.
 
#1,043 ·
got the new wheels and tires. i gotta get the front brakes on and get some lug nuts so i can put them on.







also got the new tires put on my sti
 
#1,045 ·
i had the same tires on the srt4 when i had it. they were super noisy on it. but they arent loud on the sti. they drive so much better and dont track like the protenzas that were on it
 
#1,049 ·
I am tempted to get those for my car, but I'm pretty sure traction would be a thing of the past if I do...what do you think, Matt? [:p]
 
#1,050 ·
Heh, they will work "okay", and probably last longer than another set of RE11's... and cost a lot less. With the power you have on a FWD, you're going to constantly have to make tough choices between longevity and grip. You already have to be very careful with the throttle with RE11's anyway, right? [burnout]
 
#1,051 ·
Not to take away from Tim's thunder too much, but yes, I have to have throttle control in 2nd gear. Jeff recommends Hankook Ventus RS-3. Little more than gForces.

Tim, maybe you should look into RS-3s for your next tire [thumb]
 
#1,056 ·
some one needs to look through the thread. these arent going on the front lmao...

as for the tires on the sti. im very happy with them. they are 100x's better than the protenzas. dont have to worry about traction on my car with 300awhp[cheers]
 
#1,059 ·
I saw a "rally edition" festiva the other day... Is that a real thing?

Btw I think the pics are down (maybe not) but was the front subframe all that bad to build?
Posted via FF Mobile
 
#1,060 ·
I've just spent the last two days (on & off) reading this long ass thread and I gotta say, very nice work, big props to you man, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread to see this beast completed

One question though, I read how you decided to use Mazda 3 spindles, was that only for the bigger brakes? Or was there advantages with the steering part of the spindles?
 
#1,063 ·
the 3 brakes are the same as the 2005-2007 Focus, and using Focus 2005-07 knuckles you can toss the SVT caliper and rotor on anyway. So he could in theory redrill the SVT rotors and have SVT brakes. But I would just stick with the 3/05-07 brakes because the pad selection is MUCH better.
 
#1,064 ·
the 05-07 2.3 mazda3 brakes are exactly the same as the svt.. exactly. i have svt calipers and mazda3 rotors.

the reason for the mazda3 swap was b/c i of the lug pattern, larger wheel bearings, and i had to change the knuckle any way to use svt calipers being that my car is a 03. so re-drilling was out of the question.

the madza 3 uses 10.5" (2.0 mazda3), 11.8" (2.3 mazda3), and 12.6" (mazda speed3) rotors. take your pick. i chose the 11.8 because they are same as svt and i had svt calipers and i couldnt afford the 12.6 mazda speed rotors/calipers.
 
#1,067 ·
i put the brakes on the front of the focus, got the lug nuts, and put the wheels on.

i might get some wings west wrc fender flares for the rear. depends on how it looks when it is finished







 
#1,075 ·
It's how I found out about Axxis ULT fitment. No way I would go with SVT brakes when you can get the ULT's on the 11.0"/10.5" brakes.

or carbotech ax6/xp8-10-12

or stoptech street performance

etc

cant get any of these on the SVT brakes. You are stuck with stock, HPS, HP+, or $$$$ Ferodo DS2500/DS3000, none of these come close to any of the above in feel and operating temperature range (I have driven them all in street and performance setting)
 
#1,081 ·
For a 4cyl Focus just get the rally brake kit its only $630 and you just need to slap whatever front pad you want on there (I sincerely recommend ULT's)

For a 626 try the 10.5/11.0" whatever it is, or just MS3 stuff, MUCH MUCH better pad selection in either case than the SVT/2.3 caliper.
Pete has me willing to trade down to "rally kit" front brakes. So if someone wants to go from rally kit to SVT front brakes, I would trade them.

I would only want to trade if your car has fresh bearings though, since mine are only a few months old
 
#1,076 ·
HMM I wonder then if I could get MS3 rotors and SVT or MS3 pads and calipers for my car... (626GT) same bolt pattern etc, but my rotors are 10.38" diameter
 
#1,077 ·
For a 4cyl Focus just get the rally brake kit its only $630 and you just need to slap whatever front pad you want on there (I sincerely recommend ULT's)

For a 626 try the 10.5/11.0" whatever it is, or just MS3 stuff, MUCH MUCH better pad selection in either case than the SVT/2.3 caliper.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top