having seen Sarah & Dickos focus RS (450bhp) it does seem like a much more modern and reliable way to big HP. Exactly how much of a focus rs could you get into the s2? Obviously engine goes in and a few have put box in too, would any of the suspension/drivetrain be able to crossover too in a view to improving the way the car puts the power down as the focus seems much better at doing that than most escorts do. On a basic level, could the front end (turrets) of the focus be grafted in to the escort to ease fitment and ultimately gain better characteristics?

 

seems a whole lot of work when you could just buy a focus rs and have pretty much what your trying to make.

 

Fit the engine and box, run it on aftermarket management as you won't get the Focus stuff to work to my knowledge. If you use the box you'll have the quaife diff, or fit the diff into another MTX box. Then fit decent dampers, poly bushes at the very least, or better proper spherical'd TCAs etc.

Then, just man up and hold on tight

 

I don't really see a problem with the suspension geometry of the escort, you can buy enough stuff off the shelf you fully adjust nearly all aspects of the front end very easily and cheaply.

I think the focus puts power down well due to several things, one is geometry, another is big sticky tyres, equal length shafts etc, but its also a heavier car.

Not worth the hassle IMO, if you want a modern car it will be cheaper in the long run to buy one,

Rob,

 

If you want grip, buy a 4x4 cosworth and be done with it lol

 

would be cool if you could mount the control blade rear suspention subframe to the escort as ford performance parts america sells fully adjustable subframes

 

He's not trying to make his escort a focus though is he? people like s2's and dont like the frs! Ive had a frs before and tbh i prefer a nice escort turbo so with the reliable frs lump + box you have the best of both worlds! I bought a frs engine for my mk4 turbo pickup but sold it on due to a change of plan! wish id kept at it lol

 

granted that would be cool, just a shit lot of hassle.

Rob,

 

then i can have the pe cam cover back!

 

never I'll make it fit!!

 

Lol cmon now, be fair

 

i thought about this too, an uprated RST box would bolt straight up to the Focus RS engine (I assume as its essentially a black top zetec?) so that would be a big step overcome, then would just have to make up a mount as black tops are harder to mount in the mk4.

Then its the wiring, plumbing etc. Even a standard FRS lump in a mk4 would be a hoot!

 

if your going to all the bother of fitting a frs engine i certainly wouldnt be running it with an rs turbo box! total waste of time and money!

 

Yeah circa 450bhp through an old BC box lol

 

box suicide lol

 

I think his point was its a cheap easy reliable 250 bhp. U don't have to go for 450 bhp.

 

Not really, Id want 400 at least, got to be worthwhile! Im probably at circa 280 now. Just spit balling really, it seems there are ALOT of big power S2's that cant get power down and make good times or do 'very well' on track. Id like FRS but love my S2, had it 10 years now. So combining the more modern features of the FRS with my old escort does make sense to me. The FRS gearbox seems like a good option, it was more to see if the other bits, ie. struts, driveshafts, control arms etc would be feasable.

 

You can make anything fir, Steve, with a little fab work. I'm sure you coud get the whole front and rear suspension etc on one but it wouldn't be cheap unless you could do it yourself.

 

Mine has engine (ST170 turbo), box, shafts, diff, brake master and servo, s1 based suspension. That's the best you are going to get.

Rick

 

zetecs are so reliable its not true, mines done over 20k in the last two years and has been the pod loads of times! done ford fair 0-60 last two years and am on track in 3 weeks with it and its my only car and i need it for work (35mile round trip) a day.

 

Most definatley not a cheap reliable 250bhp, have you seen the price of Focus RS engines and box's, then all the fab, etc..??

 

ive already had the zetec turbo fitted in one of my escorts but only on an big bearing box lol, but as everyone knows the engine an box from a focus goes in relatively easy with modified mounts and shafts,

tbh id be looking at an 16i ARB, or a TT roll bar and some decent shocks to make it handle, trying to fit the focus suspension etc would be a serious pain and would defeat the object of owning an s1/2

 

I no of a few frs lumps for sale with manifolds on them for a grand.
So by the time yourve bought rods, pistons , valve springs ect your Gunna be over a grand.

Can't see any reason you couldn't get a focus front sub frame in there. But if I was going to do fabrication like that I'd be going rwd

 

I would agree with that. Lee can you drop me a PM please mate.

Rob,

 

the RST/FRS hybrid would be a great mix imo- classic styling and feel with the underpinnings and reliability of a more modern hot hatch sounds perfect!
i love my rst i just hope in a year or two the thing will get the love it deserves- mothballing cars is crap- mines been in the garage a year and counting- was reminded by the SORN paperwork coming through the post