Supercharge6

So I've had a standard mk1 1.8 petrol focus for about 7 years.

I'm thinking of doing a power increase and want some ideas on the cheapest way to do it.

The 1.8 zetec will likely be giving 100bhp if lucky after 130K miles..

I'm looking to get power somewhere between 150 and 200hp.

Not looking for mega power, just a good usable power figure for daily driving.

This is a mini project specific to the car that I want to carry out.. and I'm not looking to buy another car to replace it.

So, what's the cheapest way to get to that power figure?

Obvious replacements would be:

Complete exhaust
Fuel pump
Management
Clutch

But as for the engine options and whether NA or FI..

Over to you lot... And remember, most cost effective answers for the bhp required please...

Cheers...

Paul_RS

iTrader: (4)

I know you don't want to change, but the most cost effective way to get that power is sell your car and buy an ST 170.

Supercharge6

... And then I see the price of st170's... Hmm... Yup...

Fil

st170s are bargins at the moment, either by a cheep one and cain it some more then throw it away / break it.

Or buy a decent one and in a few years time still get your money back, as per the 1st option they will become rare!

rsp36

ST170 Ł1000 ? Reliable with suitable brakes and suspension.
Focus 1.8 50-100% power increase ? Ł5000 ?? Plus brake and suspension upgrade.Reliability probably gone out the window.
I know you don't want to change,but anything else is economic suicide.

Caddyshack

Would you really want to spend Ł3k to Ł5k on a focus with 130,000 miles on it?

You would need to spend that to get the current engine to that level. Sell it and buy the ST170

rsp36 is bang on

Pitbull69

seen a few decent 170's going for silly money recently, one for 400 quid with tons of works done to it, so many bargains to be had, just gotta keep eyes open, but as above, Wouldnt look at putting 5k into your car, when the 170 is so cheap,

STeve

iTrader: (11)

agree with all the points above and with a little effort and not a lot of money you can get the 170 to creep up 200hp easy enough, or if you love your 1.8 that much drop a 170 drive train in it

cossynut2

Supercharge6, As others have said, your engine has already done 130k. What do you think would happen to it if you just increased its power level without a total rebuild? I doubt it will last very long before it packs up.Unfortunately what you are after will never be a cheap option. A standard Mk1 Focus is not designed to run at double the standard power without a lot of other modifications to the brakes, suspension etc.
Sell it and buy a car that has the extra power built in as standard would be my advice.

gingeRS

agreed but buy a car with a decent amount of power (or scope for it)

ST170's arent that great IMO