First off welcome!

If you want noise look into a drop in filter paired with the newmission mod. Will be far cheaper and give you more power than most intakes.

Next I'd recommend getting the RMM insert from FSWERKS (I think that's who makes it), only $8 and again a great bang for your buck.

For the high dollar items you will get the most enjoyment out of I'd first suggest a tune, and then lowering springs. Lastly if you want more noise but don't want to buy a full blown exhaust either looking into having a local exhaust shop add an axle-back exhaust or buy one of the pre-existing ones.

Hope this answered some of your questions. If you have any more feel free to ask. It really depends on your budget and what you want the car to do.

 

Next I'd recommend getting the RMM insert from FSWERKS (I think that's who makes it), only $8 and again a great bang for your buck.

Would a shop have to install the inserts? If so, roughly how much?

 

Thank you for the response! By the RMM insert, I did a quick Google search, I assume this is what you're talking about?

FSWERKS Polyurethane OE Mount Insert - Ford Focus 2012-2014

I looked over the Newmission mod, and I'll definitely look into it once I familiarize myself with the engine and parts a bit better. I also saw a sticky about exhaust systems, so I'll probably look into that in the future when I have some more money to play around with.

Have there been any major changes to this engine that would have to be taken into consideration given that some of the threads on the forum are several years old? That is my only real concern as I look at the engine mods.

 

No changes to date, so everything you find here still applies.

"snorkle delete" with a filter change is the most common quick Mod..

 

I'm going to suggest 3 mods that jburks suggested to me

Snorkel Delete, with drop-in filter.

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/...cs.com/forum/duratec-ti-vct-performance-2012-current/297795-snorkel-delete.html

I purchased the AEM air filter for $38.99 on amazon.

FSWERKS rear motor mount insert

Steeda rear sway bar

These 3 mods can be had for $200. I think the snorkel delete w/ drop-in filter yielded an 8 HP gain from the wheels on a dyno, so it's a great mod for the money. I've noticed better trottle response, and a nice increase in engine sound with the snorkel delete/drop-in.

 

i sugested them to him and i'll sugest them to you. lol

Drop in filter/ snorkel delete

RMM insert from fswerks

rear sway bar.

makes the car way better and all for around $200

then i would do a tune and start looking into spring and dampers.

 

No its an easy mod. All you need is a jack, 2 stands and a wrench.

 

And a rubber mallet to pound it in. There are good write ups on here

 

Thank you everyone for your responses.

Towards the end of the Newmission thread, I saw a few people talking about having either the snorkel delete or the newmission mod, but from reading them both they seem to be two different things. Are they exclusive with one another, or can they both be done? Sorry if this is a foolish question, I am new to this.

So far, and I think in this order (simply for cost and ease), I'll do the following:

RMM insert
Newmission and/or snorkel delete (pending an answer to my above question)
Sway bar
Tune
Exhaust or springs as money allows.

Look alright?

 

I'd say it looks perfect

 

they are different mods. the snorkel delete is up top and delets a piece of plasitic on the stock intake under the front cowling. the newmission is a piece of tubing that goes down into the fron triangle on the bumper. Do your research before you do them. No matter what i'd do the snorkel delete. I have never heard a bad thing said about that mod and it is dyno proven with a drop in filter to increase performance. I have heard the newmission mod in some cases has cause a decrease in MPG's on some cars. either of them will be useless unless you add a drop in highflow filter too. seems like a good list you got there though.

 

Alrighty. I'll look into them. One final question about them, then I think I have a good baseline to start with. Do either of them replace a CAI, or can they be used in conjunction with a CAI?

Luckily I have more mechanically inclined friends to help me. [wrenchin]

 

I have heard and experienced good results with a cold air intake, headers and also a free flow exhaust.

 

i am highly considering a header right now. i've got the custom tune and i think a header will add a nice increase in power.

 

honestly i dont think they would make a difference with a CAI since the CAI has a exposed filter already. Both of those mods are meant to "improve" the stock intake system. that's just my opinion though.

 

Snorkel delete, green drop in filter, rmm for starters. I highly recommend sway bars and possibly even a rear strut bar, getting nice wide tires is probably the best bang for your buck in my opinion but depending on your wheels that cost over 1k, but best of luck to ya

 

When y'all say a drop in filter, do you mean something like this?

FSWERKS Green Cool-Flo Air Intake System - Ford Focus Duratec TiVCT 2.0L 2012-2013

Or is the drop-in a bit more limited? Sorry, like I said, I am totally new.

 

something like this:

Green Filter High Performance Cylindrical Air Filter Green Color - Ford Focus/Escape 2012-2013 ? FSWERKS

 

Ah, okay. So one is just the filter while the other is a whole intake system?

 

correct. the factory intake is a true CAI system as long as you keep it sealed. thats why the snorkel delete is such a great mod because it allows even more air into the factory CAI set up.

 

Alrighty, sounds good. I'm mainly looking for a nice growl when it comes to the filter/intake, so from what I'm reading it should do the trick?

 

If you do the snorkel delete and do a green drop in filter you Will give yourself a nice aggressive growl for $60, it will also increase mpg by roughly 4mpg in my case and will increase throttle response

 

if you want a nice growl, go with the open eneded filter i linked. That's what i have. you will definitely hear it. It's a green fitler's filter. they offer a end cap on their website if you think the filter is too loud. That's what i eventually did for mine. it had a little to much growl,but it's cool, because with the end cap it gives you the option to go close ended or open eneded which i like. here is a link to my build thread that shows the end cap.

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/...m/forum/ford-focus-builds-general-showroom/382642-ruby-red-build-thread-15.html

 

I like the green filter with the open end, and closed cap option. My AEM is fine, but it's like being stuck with a hardtop, while others (with the cap option) drive by you with a convertible.

Another way to get intake growl/volume (especially if your filter is closed ended) is to remove the intake resonator.

 

yeah, my daily commute is all windy, hilly roads so suspension would make a big difference for me.

 

I was reading about headers in another thread, and someone mentioned that if you replace the headers you'll pretty much be unable to pass an emissions test? Seems like kinda a bad idea for me, at least for a daily driver.

Also, I'm focusing more on small things cause I don't feel like nuking the warranty within a week or two of getting the car, lol. For the time being, at least.

 

well it depends. in Cali, you will definitely fail emissions. In states like Washington where i live, as long as you are not throwing any codes then you can pass emissions. If your car is tuned, they can turn the check engine light off for not having a CAT so you can still pass emissions. it can void your warranty though. or part of it anyway.

 

This^^^^^^ I have my rear 02 sensor & egr turned off w/ my fwerks header.

 

Just ordered the RMM insert and the filter. Will probably start my own build thread within the next few days just for fun. Thanks again everyone!

 

nice! good choices. when you put the drop in filter in, do the snorkel delete too. which filter did you go with?

 

The green filter that you linked. Seemed to be a solid choice compared to a K&N from what I've been reading.

 

I think the green filter is a good choice too. I'd order the open/closed plug option if you could.

 

The Green Filter is great. Have had mine on for about a year. Adds a great little growl when you accelerate.