NEW! The "Taboo" Transit Connect Build

[LostnTransit]

Here's a refresher:

Back in 2015, We purchased a new Ford Transit Connect XL Cargo. If one was to read the old post here it would show that we were attempting to do something with the van. But never got around to. We kept the van till April of 2020 then traded it in. We brought home a new 2020 Transit Connect 2.0L XL cargo.

There was two main difference in the 2015 & 2020 Connects.. First off, Ford got it right. We hated the dash display as one could not see the gauges. But then Ford Got it wrong.. The 2015 seats were more comfortable than the 2020 Connect. But we were able to make alterations to the seat with the use of 50mm Skateboard wheels. These wheels once placed under the rear of the seat frame rails. Lifted up and pushed forward the front seats. This small adjustment has made a world of difference.

After adjusting the seats, it was time to start in and do something crazy with the van. We went through 3 sets of different wheels ranging in size from 16'', 17'' and now 19''. Currently we're on 19''x8.5 AXE Wheels w/245/40/R19 Nokian tires. This has to be one of the best setup we've ever had on any car or truck we've ever own.

Then about 1 years ago, we get word or hear rumors that the 2018 Ford Focus parts could fit on the 2020 Connect. In order to test this rumor, we were invited to Hotchkis racing in the heart of NASCAR country. Once at the shop, we placed the van on the lift and dropped the Connect's engine cradle. We made way for the Hotchkis 32mm sway bar designed for the Ford Focus RS. The sway bar mounted up, except came in contact with the two main uprights locate and designed into the engine cradle. This meant that the rumor of a Focus sway bar fitting on the Connect was False. Thx to John Hotchkis for clearing up this false Rumor.

Oddly enough while searching for other options, we learn that there is another Ford vehicles that uses the same engine cradle as the Transit Connect. The 2013-2019 Ford KuGa (Escape) has an identical engine cradle. However the Kuga's 25mm sway bar would not be worth dropping the Connect cradle for the install.

But not all is lost, seems there is a company in Taiwan that offers a 28mm Performance sway bar designed for the KUGA, Escape & Focus. Assuming that the Kuga Cradle is identical to the Connect, this could mean the 28mm sway bar should fit the Connect.

Then we get word that Cobra Suspensions has a set of 40mm rear lowering springs for the van. Those springs just arrived last week and we'll be installing those in a few weeks. All that we've posted above took place within the last 2 years of owning the new 2020 Connect.

[LostnTransit]

It's now 2026 and a lot has happen since posting this.. first off the "cobra" suspension failed after only two years. This mean we were forced to come up with something better.I contacted a coil spring company and asked them to design a better, more reiged set of springs for the Van. Most told me to just buy coil overs. But I never liked these types of setup. I wanted to do something different but keep it static.

The coil spring company agree and designed a set of spring for the van that are 20% stiff and 2''lower than the factory springs. But this presented a problem. After installing these springs, and while on a bumpy road, the rear springs fell out all because the factory shocks couldn't keep these springs retained in their perch.

We did some searching and found that the Monroe magnum class 3 truck shocks had the correct up and down travel best suited for the van. using a crude setup of a steel tube and thick washers we were able to install the shocks and over the last 3 years this setup has worked but we a bit noisy at times. Ratteels or knocks could be heard coming from the rear end.

We then Hired Metric Fabrications to create a set of misalignment spacers or conical sleeves to make up for these jerry ridged steel tubes and washers. Sometime between now and 2 weeks from now, these newly designed conical sleever will be installed with a new set of Monroe magnum shocks on the van.

After the rumor about the Focus sway bar installed on the Transit Connect was debunked, After we meet up with John Hotchkis, he helped us locate a 28mm Hardrace sway bar for the van. we've had the sway bar installed on the van for 3 years without issues until last winter. We drove over a snowbank which dislodged the sway bar bushings. We'll have to replace this. Plus when I informed Hardrace about our findings. They decline to acknowledge this and refused to post any information about their 28mm sway bar designed for the Ford Kuga/Escape will actually fit on the 2019-2023 Transit Connect. Again and within the next few weeks we'll be installing a better set of bushings.

Along with this, over the last 5 years, the OE and aftermarket M10 end links kept failing.. some after a few months, while others just a few days.. Godspeed was the worst after driving through Canada. We decided we need a change. So we upgraded the end links to the more ridded M12 links found on the larger 250 Transit vans. This meant having to drill the mounting holes located on the sway bar and the strut mount as to allow the M12 end links to fit. This has been working like a charm.

6 months ago, we purchase a set of MRR Design wheels that were custom milled to our specs. We use these solid wheels for winter use and had the old Axe CS Lite wheels set to a platter in CAL. The plater repaired and chromes these wheel for us and 2 weeks ago after a 8 week wait, the wheels returned home.

So first things first.. we have to touch up the rear of the van in preparation for the new shocks with their new conical sleeves, then have them installed. Then it's off to have the old, but new chrome wheels mounted on the van, then the sway bar bushings..

One thing that's surprised us, is that I hard seen on the maverick forums that a company called Bomba Racing was offering a throttle body spacer to the 2.0L maverick truck. However, our van also has the 2.0L engine so we took a chance at installing the spacer on our van. A few modifications were needed but the spacers is on and working correctly. We've seen a slight increase in HP, Torque, throttle response. But even better, we've been gaining better fuel economy even with fuel prices above $5.00 now.

Lastly, 2 weeks ago, I spoke with a fellow who's going to help us do or complete several projects on the van. afterward the van should have a whole new appearance and color.