Need more go go

Ok first off dont send me hate mail over the name.I own a variety of vehicles and it is my favorite.I just got an 02 Focus ZTS that is a close second.This is a low mileage previously granny driven all around nice car.There in lies the problem.It is out of warranty and I want as much power as possible and still be manageable for my pregnant wife.I am sure you all know more than me about them than I do but here is the run down.It is a 2.0 16v DOHC Ztech 5 speed.The only thing I have done is removed the stock air box and put on a Kenne Bell cone air filter.(hand me down from the Neon).What else can I do.I looked at the exhaust and there is alot of restriction there but I dont wanna take out too much cause my wife hates the suond of a copletely open exhaust.Ok now you have a novel to read any help would be really appreciated.

N/A or boost... what's your budget and how far are you willing to go?

N/A and a tight budget.My wife is pregnant after all.If I go putting a 3000 buck turbo she'll probably go into early labor.

chip, intake, nice exhaust with a resonator and a silencer (quiet).. i wouldnt go for a header as that will make it louder.. you could do cam gears, UDP.. ported TB. that will give it more go.. if you want more just get a set of nice cams.

If your budget will allow I would also throw in a larger throttle body, like a Mac or Focus Sport 65 mm. Lets it breathe a little better and if you decide to go forced induction, it's one less thing to buy later. <www.batinc.net> was selling JR superchargers recently for $2k if you want some instant pick'em up. For a quiet hi-performance exhaust look here for info <http://www.focaljet.com/shootout_0.html>But I concur with sk8ter, intake and exhaust are the biggest bang for the buck. BTW sk8ter, it wasn't until another post I realized that your Mustang was a model. Nice job, and dopey me for not looking at the background.

lol

as i am looking at getting a little more punch from the 03 focus that i'm going to buy (just gotta find one lol) a websitethat i found that has helped allot is www.focussport.com, they have everything from superchargers to Cosworth na pakages to cams chips exhaust intake valvetrain etc etc and for te parts they also have dyno charts so you know what power you will be making well you can estimate as all cars respond differently) but i've found it a big help, and good luck (I'd go for a cam the one on focussport gained 17 hp)

Focussport is a great site, with a great reputation, and all around great parts and service...if you can afford it, get it.

Damn you guys rock now I have enough websites to shop till after my kid is born.I think I am going to go as far as possible with a NA enging before I go to forced induction.Next question is What about shaving the cyl head to change the compression after I get a little done to the engine?I dont know maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.Thanks guys

If you're seriously thinking F-I in the later term then don't shave the head. The Zetec already is running at 10:1 and pushing that higher means running premium gas automatically. I don't think the performance gain is worth the cost either when you could put the cash toward something like the exhaust system where you'll see much bigger benefits. Another site you might like to try is www.myzx3.com. Great advice and links.

another go fast for cheap mod is nitrous..

zetec's respond well to nitrous.

65 shot should be good for atleast mid 14's

http://www.focussport.com/cosworth-manifold.htm this is where you want to go assuming you have the cash to do so, 3 stages the first is a 27 hp boost, second puts you to 200 and third (to be released soon) is 230 and this way, you get Cosworth parts, Cosworth, being one of the best aftermarket companies in the world, so practicly gaurenteed relioability, but good luck dude, and have fun!

NICE.Like I said you guys really rock but looking at all theese turbos is driving me nuts I want one so bad.I just have to keep it calm fo now for the wife.She likes to get away from the mom mobile(05 Taurus ses) and get in a 5 speed and turn a few heads in a manual.Of course she hates the neon its too rough she says.Oh well less moles on my baby.Thanks again fellas

head from JohnP, nice cams, gears, udp, intake, plug wires(smooth the dile), shorty header, 2.25in cat back (not as loud as 2.5 but no real difference in performance unless you plan to constantly rev 6500-8000rpm)

not that you should take a Zetec past about 7300 without modding it allot more signifcantly, so it can handle the exra revs

yea you'll need a new valvetrain to SAFELY go over 7200

yea you'll need a new valvetrain to SAFELY go over 7200I think you mean't to say in your other post 7,000rpm instead of 8,000? :p

ya lets hope so

no, i ment 8k, that zetec can rev that high assuming he gets a new valve train, but its been dyno proven that unless you rev 6500+ you will see no difference in 2.25 or 2.5in exhaust.

i don't think a whole new valve train is in his budget, though.

no, i was just explaining the difference in the 2 exhaust sizes

ohh.. BTW.. why'd your old name get banned?

you do know, if you get banned and make a new name they will just ban your new one.. right?

assuming you do install a new valvetrain i still wouldent take the car past about 7250 or so otherwise your kinda running on borrowed time as far as your crank and rods are concerned, they really weren't designed with the idea of the car revving to 7500 or 8000

assuming you do install a new valvetrain i still wouldent take the car past about 7250 or so otherwise your kinda running on borrowed time as far as your crank and rods are concerned, they really weren't designed with the idea of the car revving to 7500 or 8000


Crank and rods will easily take 8000, its when you get to the 160+whp range that the rod bolts start to become an issue.

well i know that a small increase in rpm can cause a huge increase in the stresses on the reciprocating assembly, for example honda said when building the 2.0 in the S2000 the forces on the engine were double from 8000 to 9000 rpm, not to say that you need to make everything 2wice as strong to be able to manage it, but all engines will have a limit as to where they can rev before you get to pick hot metal bits off the asphalt that was once your engine, and in my personal opinion 8000 rpm is a little more than i would wanna rev a Zetec without some extensive work on the valvetrain and bottom end

i know guys w/ chip and full bolt-ons reves 8k daily, doesnt make power that high but has does 8k for over a year. the car was already designed to take 7200 rather safely

So I bought a cai but no real difference just the sound.Who in the general opinion makes the best udp for the Focus?I have an obx on my neon and couldnt be happier with it.

i'm not saying you can't, i was just saying that I personally wouldn't want to take a risk with something that my personal finances wouldent be able to replace

I didn't say it was recomended.

So I bought a cai but no real difference just the sound.Who in the general opinion makes the best udp for the Focus?I have an obx on my neon and couldnt be happier with it.

Focussport makes a nice one, as does Ford Racing. The bonus with the Ford one is you get a goddyear Gatorback fanbelt.

Ford Raceings is a over priced Esslinger UDP, the litterly paint it a darker blue and put a fordRacing logo on it