which performance parts should i go with?

[Specialkpntbl]

ok i just got my 2000 se a few months ago. its a 5speed, and i am thinking about putting a cold air intake on it, completly re-doing the exaust (idk how to spell it), and new plugs and wires, and then some new springs, and some other stuff but im not sure what yet. BUT what i need help with is im not sure where to start, and which ones to get. and also on a side note....should i stay with my little bitty stock 15's or go with some 17's, but for other reasons than just looks.

ok...preciate it guys

[Mustangman25]

Keep the 15's now...if you're looking to go to the performance side of things, bigger wheels, especially on a small car like the Focus can have a negative performance effect. I would start modifying the motor first as the Focus allready handles well out of the box. I'd start with the intake, then the exhaust...just start with the normal bolt-on's, then see were you want to go from there.

[zx2srdotnet]

intake, header, exaust(2.5in), msd coil with ZX2 FR wires, short shifter, cam-gears, superchip. If you want rins then lightweight 15,16 or 17's over that the size of them will slow you down.

[Mustangman25]

I don't think that the order of the header/exhaust matters much, as they give you about that same gains on the Focus...I would throw throttle body in there towards the beginning as the stock TB on the Focus is a really small plastic POS. I've seen up to 8hp gains just from a new TB.

[zx2srdotnet]

only on turbo or highly moded motors on a basicly stock car it will only net 1-2whp

[Mustangman25]

Not to mention great increases in throttle response, even from an N/A motor...

[zx2srdotnet]

my friend has a ZX2 auto: header, intake cam, tuned camgear, full exasut, superchip, UDP, when he ran a 16.4 at the track, then 30min later he put on teh Gude TB then ran again. didnt gain anything, didnt even feel different.
same night another friend, ZX2 5spd. POTS mod and intake, put the same Gude TB on, again, didnt gain a single thing, didnt even feel or sound different

[Mustangman25]

That doesn't hold true with a lot of things I've read about new TB's...SCC put one on their project ZX3 and said that there was a much different thottle response. How is the intake set up on the ZX2's Zetec? I know Ford has different intake setups (i.e. the SVT's is much different from the stock ZX3's, even though they're both Zetec's...Maybe the Focus's intake responds better to a TB.

[zx2srdotnet]

the only good intake on the focus is the 2000 and the svt

[fordesigner]

The 65mm TB is really only effective on FI. You can port the stock TB and get the same and better results. All of the 65mm TBs that I've seen are not machined accurately enough. Talk with those that have them about the issues they have getting them set up properly. Eventually the computer will adjust to the 65mm TB. That's the best that can be said...

Unless your talking turbo or supercharger.


Stay away from plugs and wires and coils. They're just bling. A N/A car doesn't require a hotter flame front. They'll do nothing for you. For $3 you can port the stock TB, look for "How To" on the web. There's a couple around. Best bang for the buck. I prefer the Iceman intake or Volant. Cam gears if you can get to a dyno. 2000 intake manifold. F/R stage 2 cams. And maybe a chip to bump the rev limiter and speed limiter. After these a race header and exhaust will really help out, and don't forget the flex.

[zx2srdotnet]

Originally Posted by fordesigner

Stay away from plugs and wires and coils. They're just bling.

thats BS just the FR wires dramaticly changed the rough idle of my car it feels so much better now

[03Focus_Guy]

i would have to agree with him...their not all just "bling" sure you can get them in fancy colors and what not but their still gonna give you a hotter spark which means more power

[zx2srdotnet]

inless you NEED to upgrade the coil thougth dont, a stock zx2 with a MSD coil droped 2whp

[Mustangman25]

Did it have new wires and plugs running larger gaps? A hotter coil would do nothing without both of those...I don't know how a new coil could drop hp...

[redchev2005]

go with the full ct exhaust and then intake then upgrade you ignition.