modifying guide - Fast Ford

HOW TO MODIFY:
1.8/2-
LITRE
The ST170 and Focus RS often
overshadow the 1.8 and 2-litre
Focuses, but don’t think that you
have to own one of these ‘sport’
models to see good power.
With a number of engine
upgrades available, 400-plus bhp
is well within your reach, not to
mention all the possibilities in
between. So, whether you use your
Focus everyday or just as a track
The 1.8-litre Zetec produced around
115 bhp as standard, and the slightly
larger capacity 2-litre version kicked
out 130 bhp. Although not massively
powerful, they do provide a good
base from which to start modifying.
Let’s look at tuning the naturallyaspirated
route. You need to get the
air in and out of it as quickly as
possible, so an induction kit, or
performance panel fi lter and exhaust
system with a de-cat pipe will do this.
Add an uprated chip to make the
most of these mods. Engine
Advantages can supply the chip you
need for £450 all-in, this will then see
you with an extra 15-20 bhp.
Next, is a set of high performance
cams. Engine Advantages uses Kent
Cams’ Sports R variety, with duration
of 292 degrees and a 10 mm lift. With
this and the previous mods and you’ll
be looking at 30 bhp over standard.
After that you’ll need to start
working on the head. £400 will see
you with a nice skimmed, ported and
polished item, giving you another 6-8
bhp. The good thing about the Zetec
head is that it uses the same size
valves as found in the Focus RS
engine, so at this point there is no
need to start nailing in bigger valves.
/ MODIFYING GUIDE / FOCUS 1.8/2-LITRE /
FOCUS
Not massively powerful out of
the box, but there’s plenty you
can do to make your Focus fl y.
So, what are you waiting for?
ENGINE
toy, there’s a state of tune that
will suit you and more importantly,
your wallet.
Then there’s the wide range of
exterior and interior styling mods
available, so putting your own stamp
on your Focus isn’t a problem either.
Choose your modifi cations wisely
and you’ll soon be able to show the
ST170 and Focus RS boys a trick or
too. Want to know how? Read on.
Full-on race-spec lumps are available
which feature a lightened and balanced
bottom end, knife-edged crank, bigger
stainless steel valves, throttle bodies
and stand-alone management
systems. These will kick out a
whopping 230-240 bhp, but you’ll
probably have to sell a kidney to fund it.
Another route is turbocharging.
Engine Advantages does a low boost
turbo conversion for less than £3K,
and has recorded some impressive
results. Despite running boost at
6-8 psi, the fi rm had a 1.8-litre
Focus with this conversion that
produced 183 bhp.
The kit includes a T25
hybrid turbo, pipework and
manifolds, a front-mount
intercooler, alloy boost
hoses and an uprated chip.
There is a high-boost
turbo route. Prices depend
on the exact spec of the
engine, but it won’t be cheap.
You’ll need low-comp pistons,
strengthened con rods, more
headwork, different cams and
engine management, but 400plus
bhp is possible. For more info
on high-boost conversions speak
to Engine Advantages.
xxx
ENGINE SWAPS
If you don’t fancy spending
time and money fettling your
car’s original engine, there
are a couple of alternative
powerplants that will drop
straight into the Focus shell.
First up is the ST170 engine.
Depending on how cheaply you
can pick up an ST170 lump for,
the conversion normally costs
around two grand, but this price
does include the ST170 sixspeed
gearbox and ECU.
Another possible swap is to
drop the Focus RS engine in.
There maybe a few headaches
concerning the track with this
option though, as the RS Focus is
wider than standard, but if you get
the RS driveshafts with the
engine and ‘box, Engine
Advantages is confi dent the
problem could be overcome.
Prices for this conversion
would depend largely on the
cost of the RS engine, if you
can get hold of one at all.
However, it would provide you
with 212 bhp and an ATB diff
as standard, with a tuning
potential of 400-plus bhp.
If you fancy trying something
a little different, we haven’t
heard of a Focus with the V6
from an ST220 Mondeo in it.
Engine Advantages has yet to fi t
one but sees no reason why it
can’t be done.
Words: Jamie King
Photos: Gerard Hughes
RS transplant for easy bhp
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INTERIOR
There are a loads of different Focus
models about, including a number
of limited edition versions, so making
the interior of your Focus a nice place
to be shouldn’t prove a problem.
Many of the limited edition models
had leather interior, so upgrading to a
luxury seating arrangement isn’t all
that diffi cult.
If you want a motorsport feel you’ve
got a few options. You could either rob
the lot from a dead Focus RS, if you can
fi nd one. If you fancy something a little
different from factory trim talk to
specialists like Demon Tweeks who
can supply you with products from all
the big name players within the
industry such as Sparco, Cobra, Recaro
and OMP.
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/ MODIFYING GUIDE / FOCUS 1.8/2-LITRE /
Buckets will set
off any interior
Colour-coding is an
easy personal touch
Want to keep the air bag? A
retrim will liven up the wheel

Upgrade brakes
to avoid fade
BRAKES
The standard Ford brakes on the 1.8
and 2-litre Focus are really quite
poor. You can improve them by
adding all the usual stuff: Fast Road
pads; better brake fl uid and braided
hoses, all of which will give better
feel and reduce fade.
However, if you want to stop in a
hurry you should look at a different
set-up completely. One of the most
common brake modifi cations is to
opt for the ST170 kit. The ST170 discs
are bigger, and when it comes to
brakes we all know that bigger
equals better. The real beauty of the
ST170 set-up is that it will all simply
bolt straight on, making it extremely
cost effective. Pumabuild is currently
doing the conversion for £450, which
includes all brand new bits.
As the ST170 also had rear discs it
might be a good idea to upgrade to
these too, but it will dent your wallet
to the tune of £500. If you do opt for
WHEELS & TYRES
When it comes to wheels and tyres
it really is up to you. However, with
the number of different styles
currently available, making your
decision could be a bit tricky. Even
if you wanted to stick with genuine
Ford items there is still plenty of
choice from the different Focus
models around.
What you use your car for will
infl uence your decision. If your
Focus is blinged up to the max,
you’ll need a nice set of chrome
rims to keep with the theme.
However, if it’s a proper track slag
then you’ll want a set of lightweight
competition wheels.
So, how big can you go? Well,
you can squeeze a set of 18 inch
rims with low-profi le tyres under
the standard arches, without
/ MODIFYING GUIDE / FOCUS 1.8/2-LITRE /
the ST170 brake set-up all round, fi t
a decent set of Fast Road pads as
the standard Ford ones aren’t great
and will cake your wheels in brake
dust in next to no time.
If the standard ST170
arrangement still isn’t man enough
for you, this can be upgraded too.
The standard 1.8 and 2-litre brakes
have the callipers attached to the
hub, so bigger discs are not possible.
However, the ST170 set-up had the
lug-type fi xing, and Amber
Performance can sell you a set of AP
Racing four-pot callipers and 330
mm discs to fi t for £1400.
Brembo four-pots found on the
Focus RS are a possibility, and can
also get the upgrade treatment.
An AP Racing kit including six-pot
callipers and 335 mm discs is yours
for £1700, but you won’t be able to
get wheels any smaller than 18
inches to fi t over them.
having to hack away at them.
Anything over this size will require
a certain amount of modifi cation to
the wheelarches, and may cause
problems when it comes to full lock
on the steering.
If your Focus is your everyday
car you’ll want some rubber that
will offer you grip all year round,
and there’s a huge variety to
choose from. If you only use your
motor in the summer for shows or
the odd bit of track abuse, a set of
Toyo R888 semi-slick track day
tyres could be the order of the day.
They’re not terrifi c in the wet, but
when it’s dry they will make your
Focus stick to the road like the
proverbial to a blanket. Tuning
specialists LPS can do you a set of
215/45/17s for £547 delivered.
Quality tyres help
with handling
EXTERIOR
With the Focus being almost as popular in the
US as it is here, there are a number of styling
products available from there too. A quick
search on the ‘net will give you loads of
bodykits to drool over.
If you don’t want to sit in front of a computer
all day, ESP Design has a huge variety of stuff.
Find the ad in FF and get in touch for a catalogue.
If chrome and stainless shiny bits tickle your
fancy, and you want everything under the
bonnet so clean you can eat your dinner off it,
give Auto Specialists a bell. It will be able to
take care of even the most severe bufty
tendencies, and has a huge collection of parts
for the Focus.
Dropping the
standard mirrors
is a good start
Tonnes of styling
parts about so
get shopping
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TRANSMISSION
The IB5 gearbox (1.8) and MTX75
(2.0) are pretty strong, and are
capable of dealing with up to 200-
250 bhp, so there’s no real need to
change them. If you want to speed
the gearchanges up a little a B&M
quickshift will set you back
around £100.
If you are intent on big power,
and the IB5 ‘box just isn’t going to
be strong enough for
Quaife ATB
— the daddy
The IB5 is a tough ’box but over 250 bhp
and you may need an upgrade
what you have in mind, then the
best option would be to throw in a
Focus RS gearbox. Not only do
they come with the ATB diff that
will help you put all of that power
on the road, they are also
incredibly strong. We have heard
stories of motors in excess of 400
bhp using the MTX75 Focus RS
‘box, with no problems at all.
SUSPENSION
When it comes to handling, the
Focus is in pretty good shape as
standard, but as ever there are
ways to improve. If you just want
to lower your car, the cheapest
option would be to simply swap
the springs over for some lowering
items. This is fi ne for looks, but don’t
expect any great improvements in
handling, if any.
For that you will need to bolt on a
full lowering kit, which includes
lowering springs plus a set of
uprated dampers designed for the
job. Amber Performance can supply
you with a SPAX sports suspension
kit for £275. If you want adjustable
damping a kit will cost around £400,
but will dramatically improve the
handling of your Focus.
If track days are your thing, you’ll
be looking at whacking on a set of
coil-overs, to give you better ride
height and damping adjustments.
These are also available from Amber
Performance for around £650.
Drop your Focus for
a super low stance
FAST FORD SEPTEMBER 2006
0 1 2 1

MINE ALL MINE...
This black beauty belongs to Steven
Ashby. He’s owned it for six years, yet
only started modifying it from
standard spec in the last 18 months.
“It started when I saw the bodykit
and wheels I wanted on the Internet. I
was searching around to fi nd
someone decent to fi t them and
stumbled across the FFOC. Since I
joined up it’s all spiralled out of
control,” he tells us.
This is the 2-litre version, and the
engine pushes out around 150 bhp
thanks to a BMC induction kit, Bluefi n,
OBX 4-2-1 manifold and de-cat, and a
Powerfl ow cat-back exhaust.
It stops quickly too thanks to the
ST170 brake upgrade.
Handling is taken care of by tasty
SPAX coil-overs, which even with
those huge 19 inch Kei rims, allows a
60 mm drop in ride height.
Performance isn’t the main
attraction of this Focus though — it’s
looks. A full Rieger RRX bodykit, carbon
vented bonnet and wings, and
some really trick
headlights
0 1 2 2 SEPTEMBER 2006 FAST FORD
/ MODIFYING GUIDE / FOCUS 1.8/2-LITRE /
that sparkle when light hits them has
made sure he won’t lose his Focus in a
car park.
The interior has had the same
treatment. A full retrim in white
Alcantara and black leather, including
those Cobra Sidewinders, and some
clever lighting in the roof, which is all
hooked up to the stereo, makes the
inside more elegant than a palace. ICE
is provided by an Alpine touch-screen
DVD player with screens moulded into
the back of the seats, a PS2 and a
custom boot install.
You’d think Steven would be happy
with what he’s got, but as is the way
with modifi ed motors he’s already got
a long shopping list of bits to come
next. These include custom door
cards, a custom dash with sat-nav and
an array of gauges all moulded in,
replacing the PS2 with a trick X-Box,
and topping the bill is either a
turbocharger or supercharger
conversion. We love it!
Steven’s done well with
his Focus engine bay
SPECIALISTS
Amber Performance
0845 2600015
www.amber-performance.co.uk
Auto Specialists 01375 850062
www.autospecialists.co.uk
Demon Tweeks 0845 3306245
www.demon-tweeks.co.uk
Engine Advantages 01376 502522
www.engine-advantages.co.uk
ESP Design 0870 7518000
www.espdesign.co.uk
LPS 01473 610102
www.lpsauto.co.uk
Pumabuild 0121 3562638
www.pumabuild.co.uk
TYPICAL PRICES
Uprated chip (fi tted) £450.00
SPAX lowering kit £275.00
Rieger RRX bodykit
ST170 front brake
£634.00
conversion
£450.00
Toyo R888 tyres
£547.00
CLUB
Ford Focus Owners’ Club
www.ffoc.co.uk