[RDY4WAR]

Well, here I am. I've been lurking about the site for a little while and decided to join. A quick introduction. My name is David, I'm 21 originally from State Line, MS but currently stationed at Fort Meade, MD. I'm a third generation Ford fanatic. My grandfather still has his classic '56 F-100 and my dad has had a number of Mustangs. I'm pretty much picking up on his note.

I have two cars; a 1993 Ford Mustang LX 2.3 which I am currently doing a 5.0 HO w/ AOD swap from a '91 Thunderbird (or I would be if the damn snow would go away), and 2007 Ford Focus ZX3 stage 2 turbocharged.

I've had the Mustang since I was 16. It was basically a hand down from my dad. The 2.3 engine had always been reliable and never gave me any issues. The crappy A4LD automatic transmission is a different story. It's been rebuilt 3 times and the parking brake still doesn't work. The biggest issue has been a 2-3 gear shutter shift. I drove the Mustang around throughout high school until I joined the Army shortly after graduation. After that it sat at my dad's for the following 3 years with a bad starter and no battery. My dad is eat up with arthritis so he couldn't do the wrench work to replace the starter so it sat. I drove down in September to pick it up and rescue it. Here's a few pictures of how I found it.





I replaced the starter and battery, gave it a fresh oil change, trans flush, radiator flush, new spark plugs, and put on new brake pads. I then drove it around for roughly 20 miles or so to make sure everything was in good working order and then drove it the 800+ miles back to Maryland with no issues. I cleaned it up a bit more after I got back, here's a few pics.




This past December, I discovered a leak from the rear main seal. So I decided it was time to go ahead and pull the motor and trans and proceed with a 5.0 swap. Here's a few pics on the progress with that.





I also disassembled the 2.3 to make sure the rear main seal was the only issue with it. I'm planing to part the motor out so if you know someone looking for spare 2.3 parts... this one has the dualplug head.






I picked up a pair of Hooker Super Comp equal length shorty headers. They were rusty as hell but a sander, some VHT silver paint and clearcoat, and a curing in the oven took care of that.

Before


After


I've also already picked up GT front calipers.


See the next post for info on the Focus.

[RDY4WAR]

Here's my daily driver / autocross car. It's a 2007 Ford Focus S with a Duratec 2.0 4 cylinder and MTX-75 5speed manual transmission. I bought the car brand new in February 2007 while I was stationed in Monterey, California. I bought it with the intention of it being a good daily driver since it got 36mpg and gas in Ca then was $4.89 for 87 octane. It wasn't until about a year later did I start to mod it. It has 44,000 miles, 25,000 of which are boosted miles. Here's a list of just some of the modifications I've made over the last 2 years.

Engine
FSWerks Stage 2 Turbo Kit
Garret GT28RS Turbo w/ internal wastegate
Cast turbo manifold
Garret front mount intercooler
Bosch 42lb injectors
ITG maxogen foam air filter
3" intake piping powdercoated black (suck-thru MAF)
2" charge piping powdercoated black
NGR Type-S Blow-off valve
2.5" downpipe
AEM UEGO wideband
2.25" Borla Stealth catback exhaust
Exedy Stage 2 ceramic 3-pok clutch
***Stock head, stock cams, stock bottom end, all stock transmission besides a custom short throw***

Wheels & Brakes
SVT 5 spoke wheels 17x7 (from a 2003 SVT Focus) with Saleen overlays on the centercaps
Dunlop Dizzera Star Spec Tires
EBC Drilled & Slotted rotors
EBC "greenstuff" ceramic pads

Suspension
Eibach Sportlines lowering springs (2.0" F, 2.2" R)
Eibach Sportlines shocks & struts
Steeda 24mm rear swaybar w/ poly bushings
FSWerks Rear stress bar
FSWerks Front lower stress bar
FSWerks Tower strut bar

Here's a picture from 2 days after I bought it.


Here's from about a year ago after I installed the turbo kit. I was on stock shocks/struts, H&R sport springs, and Azul speedstar wheels.









Here's how it sits today.







Thanks for viewing. Let me know what you think and feel free to give advice on the 5.0 swap. I'm always looking to broaden my knowledge and gain more experience. Thanks.

[CobraPhoenix]

nice rides. i have an 08 focus i thought about doing a turbo with, but my money goes to the stang lol

[RDY4WAR]

All of my money has been going into the Mustang lately as well. I'm undecided whether I want to keep the 5.0 fuel injected or convert it to carbureted. I've been trying to do a cost and benefit analysis but haven't gotten far. If I stay fuel injected, I have to find a A9P ECU and an engine wiring harness since the ones from the Tbird won't work. I haven't looked at everything I'd need to do the carb conversion yet. Any input?

[TheUNZippee!]

Nice rides. Interesting work on the Focus. They are quite underrated as far as potential goes, and they are fun to modify and can be made to perform amazingly well. One only has to look to the European RS Focus to see what they can really be capable of.

Not a lot of people know you can actually go to Ford and buy a whole plethora of performance parts for the Focus, everything from LSD's, superchargers, you name it.

I had a 2000 Focus, but it was just a DD for me.

Welcome to MM

[RDY4WAR]

Thanks, I appreciate it. BTW, you're avatar is hilarious! lol

I haven't dynod the Focus yet but if I had to guess, I would say around 220whp and 230wtq. I've only taken it to the drag strip once and that was before I got the tune dialed in and was only running 8psi. I ran a 14.209 @ 101mph through the 1/4 with tons of wheel hop and a horrid 2.38 60ft. As it sits now with the tune dialed in at 11psi, much better tires, and over 100lbs of weigh reduction later, I'd guess a 13.6 or 13.5 @ 106-110mph would be easily obtainable. The suspension just isn't built for drag though.

Here's a few more pics of the stripped interior.

[GTsetGO]

welcome to the site.

[BWAL]

welcome, that focus looks pretty badass

[TheUNZippee!]

Originally Posted by smithboy76908 Thanks, I appreciate it. BTW, you're avatar is hilarious! lol I haven't dynod the Focus yet but if I had to guess, I would say around 220whp and 230wtq. I've only taken it to the drag strip once and that was before I got the tune dialed in and was only running 8psi. I ran a 14.209 @ 101mph through the 1/4 with tons of wheel hop and a horrid 2.38 60ft. As it sits now with the tune dialed in at 11psi, much better tires, and over 100lbs of weigh reduction later, I'd guess a 13.6 or 13.5 @ 106-110mph would be easily obtainable. The suspension just isn't built for drag though. Here's a few more pics of the stripped interior.

Very nice work man.

Yeah, clearly not a strip car. I bet that thing handles like it's on rails though.

I'd say with an additional 3 lbs of boost and down another 100 lbs, and based off of that shitty 60 foot and the wheel hop... it would probably be better than mid 13's though.


Probably makes a wicked sleeper on the street though, huh.

[RDY4WAR]

Originally Posted by TheUNZippee! Very nice work man. Yeah, clearly not a strip car. I bet that thing handles like it's on rails though. I'd say with an additional 3 lbs of boost and down another 100 lbs, and based off of that shitty 60 foot and the wheel hop... it would probably be better than mid 13's though. Probably makes a wicked sleeper on the street though, huh.

Oh you bet! I've made a few people mad. My personal favorite was on I-70 outside Baltimore when a tool in a mid 90s Camaro SS decided he could take me from a 30mph roll. We did the 3 count honk and he pulled at first to about half a car length but when the turbo spooled it was over, I walked right by him, shifted to 3rd and kept pulling. We shut it off at about 100mph and I had an easy 2 car lengths on him. We ran it again and again the same result. The guy looked soooo pissed! lol

Another instance was at Cecil county dragway when I went up against a basically stock '91 GT. The driver was a cool older guy who was there for sport. He launched on me pretty good but I came flying by about the 1/8 and ran a 14.2 to his 14.5. He came by and commented on how he never would've guessed a Focus was capable of low 14s, that it looked like just your everyday Focus. I've considered calling it the Ego Killer but that just seems too cheesy.

It may only have about 250hp but it also only weighs barely 2200lbs with me in it. I don't need that much power. I've devastated a many a Mustang and Camaro, even a few Porshes, at autocrosses. The car is lightweight, turbocharged, turns on a dime, and handles like it's on rails!

[TheUNZippee!]

Zippy fits.

Believe it or not, my wife actually called my Focus that, and my screen name is kinda related to that, not to actual zippers like everyone thinks. Although some would probably say 'Zippy' is too cute and cheesy.

But then, it's easier to pull off cheesy when your car is a sleeper. lol

[sickfox]

Welcome to MM, Nice cars you have there. The look slow.


J/k man!

[RDY4WAR]

Eh, I just call it the triple B "Boosted Black Bitch!"

[Margarita Girl]

That Mustang looks like a great project car.

Welcome to Modded.

[cale2006]

well smith boy i'll give you my official welcome. I like all the pics man. Also when you get the chance we'll meet up on MW2, we have a pretty large crowd here that plays with each others guns...

[RDY4WAR]

Originally Posted by cale2006 well smith boy i'll give you my official welcome. I like all the pics man. Also when you get the chance we'll meet up on MW2, we have a pretty large crowd here that plays with each others guns...

Whoa, the military has a don't ask, don't tell policy for a reason! lol

Thanks for the welcome. I'll probably be on tonight sometime.

[Lefty]

to MM

[RDY4WAR]

Originally Posted by Lefty to MM

Thanks

[V8POWA!]

to MM. usually hate focus' but u made yours pretty sweet mayne, i like it.

[CozyWorld]

Welcome! I too know what it's like running between modding two cars... i have a custom 08 ROUSH and then for winter, I work on an 04 supercharged Monte Carlo... but I stick mostly to the Stang... Nice rides tho, hope you enjoy your stay!