Big Will_

Well, after pulling the plug on the 500bhp Escort RS Turbo project and selling some bits i've funded a new project!

About 4 years ago i joined the Ford Focus Owners Club after buying a lowly 1.6 Zetec Focus. I attended my first show with it and got chatting to a chap called Ian with a brand new Focus ST170 in Panther Black with an EGR bodykit fitted to it - he had some great plans for improving the power...

Well, having stayed friends with Ian ever since i've seen the car develop and evolve into a 310bhp Supercharged ST170 with 285 lb/ft of torque, OMEX management, coilovers, 6 pot brakes, Defi gauges, Nitrous and a host of other well chosen mods.

So you can imagine my surprise when he popped up on MSN 3 weeks ago and asked if i was still looking for a Focus RS?

I replied that yes i was and he asked if i'd consider his car instead... A deal was struck and i picked it up a week ago!



Chris Todd @ Torque Of The Devil has carried out the work on the car so it has been done to a good standard

There are a few bits i will ultimately change...

In the meantime i thought i'd change the cambelt, auxiliary belt and crank oil seal just to be on the safe side.






Oil seal changed:



What could possibly go wrong?





The new auxiliary belt lunched itself on the M62 last night and wiped out the water pump pulley in the process...





All sorted by lunchtime today though


I'll get some proper photos of it soon

TimC

iTrader: (1)

Typical Ford, first week of ownership and it breaks something

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

Not a great start really is it unfortunately

Out of curiosity what size charger is on the focus? I'm only familiar with the Eaton units.

Cossie Helen

iTrader: (1)

Looks well hun


Tho i was suprised to see the AA photo

Big Will_

Its M62 sized i believe.

Ironic really - it was the M62 motorway that it did the belt on

There are a few bits and bobs i want to get done with it - but for what the car has cost me - it's a hell of a starting point

There's plenty of potential in the engine...

jonnyrsturbo

that looks sweet mate

aa van isnt that good though

simon170

Ian kept that quiet.

simon170

It is an Eaton. M62.

purple_fiesta

If it aint broke, dont fix it

BRAMMER

iTrader: (23)

Nice motor Will

Brian

iTrader: (2)

Looks nice mate


Brian

AJC

iTrader: (6)

what are the planned changes? Can imagine it bein a fun car

rs-tuner

iTrader: (1)

how does it drive will compared to a focus rs or similar

XRT_si

iTrader: (2)

Sounds a nice spec pal, not totally convinced on the looks though.

Whats in store for it?

simon170

Will show a bolt on modded FRS a clean pair of heels.

Big Will_

Compared to a mildly tuned Focus RS it feels far better in my opinion. Linear power all the way through and doesn't let up till the limiter.

Focus RS's tend to have a mid range punch and then tail off.

focuschivvy

nice car bet it whines like a whore! was gonna have my zetec at TOTD to have the supercharger put on, but opted out and put the rs engine in instead

CliffRS4

iTrader: (1)

Lovely looking car Will with some rather serious bits on it.

VileAde

Really nice car.....

ive got myself a ST170 engine for my motor, and i really want it charged! id like around 250bhp-300bhp

What is the spec of your engine that let you get over 300bhp from the ST170? so i know what ill need.

simon170

The most common failure is piston lands cracking, so you might want a forged set if you 300+ If you want more than 300bhp I'd got for forged rods.

The head doesnt need touching, its a totally different casting to the normal Zetec head and flows really well. Standard head bolts are fine, as is head gasket.

This car use the Big Boost Kit, but if you go for the normal kit, you can use standard internals quite reliably.

If your going to use the Getrag 'box, you'll need to ditch the dual mass flywheel as it doesnt last long under these power levels. Also a SPEC Stage 3 clutch is a good move (thats what in mine and Wills car).

Wills car is sort of the sister car to mine, as both the first ST170s to have significant power adders in Europe (as far as we know).

VileAde

Is this the powerworks supercharger kit?

apart from the supercharger kit what else have you tricked your engine with? larger injectors and cams...

simon170

Its still the Powerworks kit, but you can buy an upgrade kit (BBK) to run more boost. Ideally you want a stronger bottom end if you want to run the BBK reliably. The engine in Wills car runs standard cams and larger injectors. You get larger ones in the kit, but I think Ian (the first owner) swapped these for larger still.

PS my cars turbo not supercharged. I just know a fair bit about this car as me and Ian talked over future mods on both of them before we did them.

VileAde

How are you both keeping inlet temps down? you using chargecooler/intercoolers or water injection?

How do you like the turbo over the charger for this engine?

Jumbo

I remember this as 'evil bats' on ffoc, met him at TOTD. My mate Trev owns another supercharged one also built by Chris Todd, it's a green 5dr Ghia originally. Goes like stink!!! Not good news about the belt but good news its sorted... look after it mate, nice example you have

simon170

Wills runs a chargecooler for the S/C, I run an intercooler for the turbo.

I prefer the turbo for the extra power, but mainly the extra torque. But the S/C conversion is miles easier as a conversion. Bolt it in and away you go!!!

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

looking good will, seen the car a few times and ian always kept it in top nick.

ps, you have smudged oil on your chin

rst in breaking

iTrader: (2)

good luck with all what you do on this mate, nice to see somnething different

VileAde

Will you got any pics of that chargecooler placement?

Did'nt think the powerworks kit cam with one, thought the eaton unit was bolted direct onto the inlet man?

woolford

like this think i saw you road blackpool a week ago..

Big Will_

I'll take some pics when i get a minute...

The chargecooler reservoir is neatly tucked away next to the header tank.

The radiator for it is at the front in the opening in the bumper

STFUN

Hi gang, well I can confirm a few things about the car for you.
The blower itself is an Eaton M62 Gen IV based unit with a Powerworks housing and integrated chargecooler as designed by Cosworth/Mahle. As Will states, the cooling rad is situated behind where the lower grille would be, with a separate coolant reservoir and pump.
Injectors with the kit are 42lb/hr size, but we installed 60lb/hr sized ones after I ran some numbers regarding duty cycle and projected power.
Compression ratio was dropped to about 9.5:1, but plans this year (until I sold it) were to raise them again by fitting a 2.0 Zetec head gasket.
IASA custom pistons and Saenz con rods with an 85.5mm bore size (84.8 standard).
Chris Todd and Kester Cooke at TOTD carried out all the work in getting it to it's current spec.
Will has the current spec sheet if he wants to post it up at all.



Jan 2007 engine re-build:









2008 updates:

Big Will_

Great post Ian!

For those of you who hadn't guessed - Ian (ST FUN) was the previous owner

Rab

Nice car that one!

Not too keen on the bonnet, but the rest is awesome!

VileAde

Where did you get the powerworks unit from and how many benjamins did it set you back?

And cheers for the pics big help!

STFUN

I purchased the kit from ZX3 Tuning in Canada. Total cost of original install including Omex710 and mapping, labour and VAT was @Ł6000

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Nice job will! I remember Ian from my FFOC days, awesome car

What are you driving now Ian?

Rich

Big Will_

Ians got himself a nice ST2 in Blue and its already been tweaked!

Car was on Fast Ford stand at the weekend at Ford Fair...

There are some plans afoot for more power

sas

Looked good and interesting on Sunday Will.

I'll be watching!

Simon.

Big Will_

Booked on for the Fast Ford Track Day at Oulton Park on 8th October...

No pressure

Benni

I'll be coming to watch for sure then!

Benni.