Not just another Ford 'Escort'

[yellow2000S/R]

Figured I'd finally post my N/A build since I'm finally doing it. Cheaped out and just got the head milled .075". It's the max I can go and still maintain atleast .035" valve to piston clearance (Intake valve is at .037" with just a few * of adjustment, hope it performs well cause I don't have play).

Perfromance:
Crower custom grind cams (Focus Central race cams) Lift: .468/.454, RPM: 9,000+ (not going over 7,500 till I upgrade bottom end)
Custom PnP head
Head milled .075"
TONS of clearancing for cam lobes (see pics)
SVT Focus intake manifold
SVT Focus 63mm Throttle Body
30 lb injectors
Crower Ti Retainers
Crower Valve Springs
Focus Central adjustable cam gears
Energy Suspension HD endlinks in rear
3" Trubendz exhaust
3" in/out 18" long Yanaka Motorsports resonator
3" in/dual 3" out ebay muffler
Energy Suspension trans mount inserts


Transmission;
Spec Stage 2 clutch
Fidanza Flywheel
Ebay Shift knob
TWM shifter


Rollers/Stoppers/Suspension:
17x8 Motegi TrakLite 2.0 wheels (14.6lbs each)
215/40/17 Falken Ziex ze512 tires
Summit Racing extended studs
VMS Racing red lug nuts
Suspension Technique springs (1 coil cut off all around)
Nearly blown stock struts
21mm Escort GT swaybar


Stereo:
Pioneer deh-p6200bt head unit
Kicker 300.4 amps (x2)
Alpine 350.1 mono amp
12" Kicker CompVR sub
Kicker KS650 front speakers
Kicker 5x7 rear speakers


Exterior/Interior/Looks:
Smoked headlights (replacing with new Deop black housings)
Blacked inner turns (replacing with new Depo inners I'm blacking out)
Smoked tails
35% tint on side windows (drivers front needs redone)
40' of eDead80 sound deadening
Corbeau CR1 seats (Red)


Yet to put in/on: *In possession*
Crower Rods (may swap for Eagles cause they are lighter)
American CF Carbon Fiber Cowl panel
Sparco Flash5 Steering Wheel
Wheel quick disconnect
150mph S/R Gauge Cluster
Precision Brakes 13" big brake Front upgrade
Precision Brakes 12" big brake Rear upgrade
Wings West lip kit
Schroth racing harnesses (debating)
Kicker RMB8 midbass (debating)
Kicker KS35 speakers in custom pods (debating)

[yellow2000S/R]

Intake ports done, never snapped a pic of finished exhaust:

[jen.]

Props to you for having such a unique build. Definitely cool to see a modded escort cleanly done! Love how simple you've kept the exterior, too!

[cookiemonster17]

my ex had a black one and it would look sick if she had hers like urs....just don't like how far and big the exhaust is

[jen.]

Originally Posted by cookiemonster17

my ex had a black one and it would look sick if she had hers like urs....just don't like how far and big the exhaust is

The exhaust was one of the only things I wasn't a fan of, either but I also typically dislike the dual pipes so for me its more of a matter of personal preference. I think the only other place, if any, where I would add constructive criticism would be smaller wheels, but that may just be me. It kinda comes down to personal preference and I'm sure others will disagree with me haha. Car is really unique and has plenty of quality modifications, though! Definitely like what you've done to it. One of the nicest escorts I've seen, for sure!

[TalonTsi97]

Props on the build, i like unique stuff even if i don't necessarily like the car. My .02 cents are the wheels would look awesome in 16", and the muffler would look a bit better shortened and tucked up better. I'm a bit excited to hear it when finished though so try and get some videos up. Thanks for sharing!

[yellow2000S/R]

Originally Posted by cookiemonster17

....just don't like how far and big the exhaust is

Originally Posted by TalonTsi97

My .02 cents are the wheels would look awesome in 16", and the muffler would look a bit better shortened and tucked up better. I'm a bit excited to hear it when finished though so try and get some videos up. Thanks for sharing!

Exhaust is 'low' and slightly left because I mocked the rear lip up in place before I welded mounts on the muffler. It is mostly hidden and the tips only stick out ~1/2" past the lip when it's on. I promise it will look WAY better when the lip is on. I know it looks bad right now HAHA


Rims have to be at minimum 17", I THINK my brake kit will clear. Below pics are 18" rims.

[cmr076]

cool and different! Although I dont get why you would spend the money on new rods because they are lighter when you have subs/amps and wiring for the subs and amp in the car... the difference between the rod weight is probably less than the weight of the wiring for your subs and amps (power wire, RCA's, etc.

[yellow2000S/R]

Rotating mass makes for a less rev happy motor. With the cams I have it should breath well into the 9k range. Oil pump and rod bolts would be first to go over 8,000 rpm

Also, I know a guy turboing his zetec that has Eagles and he's entertaining a straight trade. 1 of my crowers were lightly spun when I got them used but are worth ~$760 new, Eagles are woth $350ish and I only paid $325 for the Crowers used.

[Chris B.]

Reading this makes me miss my black S/R. It had less motor work than yours and stock compression and still put down 167 HP at the wheels. With a raised rev limiter, I'm sure you could get 190 HP at the wheels.

[c7scayman]

It is so clean

[yellow2000S/R]

SVT Focus intake manifold is on finally. I also pulled apart the ZX2 harness, swapped fuel pressure regulator, spliced FPS and TB pigtails then rotated injectors and 'tucked' the harness under the manifold, as well as put the thermostat housing and coil pack bracket on.

This is how it will sit till I get back in town in mid September. Aluminum valve cover, cam gears, and a catch can are at Liquid Powder Coats for powdercoating.

[Chris B.]

Are you going to put on adjustable cam gears?

[yellow2000S/R]

Originally Posted by Chris B.

Are you going to put on adjustable cam gears?

Yea, I have Focus-Central gears, I dropped the centers off at LPC to get dome with my Contour valve cover. Right now just stock Focus cams are on with holes drilled for the pegs that Crower puts in.

[JimH]

Originally Posted by Chris B.

Reading this makes me miss my black S/R. It had less motor work than yours and stock compression and still put down 167 HP at the wheels. With a raised rev limiter, I'm sure you could get 190 HP at the wheels.

I think 190 @ the wheels is being overly optimistic with some cams and a head job. And spinning 9K personally is pointless when you can make the seem peek power in less time keeping the revs lower.

If I remember correctly there was a guy named Tim from Florida who had much more work done, top and bottom, and still was shy of 190.

Just my $.02

Car looks nice though.

[yellow2000S/R]

Plenty of builds over seas pushing 190-210whp n/a and shop cars as well as a few private cars at 190+ whp. Its also SVT dual stage intake manifold (till I swap to ITB) and a SVT 'style' header with slightly larger primaries.

Massive put down ~190whp on a SVT focus engine with a 'stage 2 head' and stock SVT Focus cams.

Another recent guy is putting down 174 whp on a 00' intake mani that runs out of power (flow) in the low - mid 6000 rpm range and has stg3 crowers which are much less aggressive. He's only got .040" milled and I have .075".

[JimH]

I been around for a while and have yet to see an impressive ZX2 (not owned by a shop with unlimited funds) put out high NA numbers. Seen plenty of failed attempts. Nothing that anyone ever followed through with or made last more then a week. The only time these motors really made any leaps and bounds with with a turbo kit. Which is why I am curious why you would waste your money on a 200hp NA build. A $1,000 botch job turbo kit will net you that with 8psi.

I hope you prove me wrong.

[yellow2000S/R]

Originally Posted by JimH

I been around for a while and have yet to see an impressive ZX2 (not owned by a shop with unlimited funds) put out high NA numbers. Seen plenty of failed attempts. Nothing that anyone ever followed through with or made last more then a week. The only time these motors really made any leaps and bounds with with a turbo kit. Which is why I am curious why you would waste your money on a 200hp NA build. A $1,000 botch job turbo kit will net you that with 8psi.

I hope you prove me wrong.

I've got ~$800 into the motor so far with all those parts, work, and purchase of the stock motor. The cams were used and came with gears and I paid around $350 for that alone. I'll have under $1000 into it after I get all the parts to get the intake manifold working.

[yellow2000S/R]

Thanks to Martin at LPC!!!

Lollypop Red over Alien Silver on the cam gears and valve cover!

[yellow2000S/R]

It RUNS!!! Sounds SO different open header then before. Neighbors are probably pissed cause it was 4am when I got it started. Have the 19lb stock injectors in for right now but I'll be switching them out for 30lb prior to dyno/tuning.

Runs real choppy below 2000 rpm and stalls below 1,200. Need to swap the computer and start messing with SCT PRP for now. Still need to modify my exhaust to hook up and weld in bungs for 2 o2 sensors and wideband.

Idle vid, got the stalling sorted out for the most part, now to finish wiring and exhaust and new lower radiator brackets so it clears the header.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhOhPrIZ25Q