Hey everyone, today I just purchased a 2001 zx3 hatchback 5 speed ford focus! I have always been inlove with them, ever since I saw what they can do in rally's. Now, the mods on my car right now are mainly cosmetic, so I need some help in doing the engine stuff. Right now it has a body kit, tint, stereo system, short throw shifter, clear bumper lights, silver paintjob, and factory rims, you know, just the basic stuff. I bought her for 5700, and any help at all would be greatly appreciated! So, what should I go with first? Cold air, replace sparkplug wires/plugs, exhaust system?
Sounds like you picked up a sweet deal to start with! I'm not completely familiar with Zetecs, but I think all Foci appreciate an upgraded intake. You could also do UDP (underdrive pulleys), some people with those really like them.
I'm of the "breathe in, breathe out" mindset, so while I think exhausts are nice (tasteful ones of course!) I like to do intake first. But you certainly have a bunch of choices to choose from.
I will get pictures of her up soon, I just gotta pick her up tonight, well, my dad is getting her for me while I work to pay for her. lol. But yeah, I hear ya! And thanks for the input. It is really nice to see so many people as enthusiastic about focus's as I am! This is going to be a great site!
Well, I've owned a ZETEC and I'm now in the 2.3 Duratec PZEV and love my car(s).
There are an infinite amount of mods you can do to your baby and CAI would be my first step.
I'm not terribly fond of the UDP's for the simple fact that there is already a somewhat noticable 'draw' of power from the car sometimes when you're listening to your stereo, have your blower on etc...this can be fixed however just FYI.
65mm TB can be added for more ooph, but you notice that you'll have to feather your gas a little bit more. It's a noticable increase in air going in.
As lil duratec said, going w/ an exhaust is all fine and dandy, but if you're not compensating for the loss of backpressure you're really just costing yourself HP in the end. These ricers with their huge exhausts that you can hear sputtering and backfiring just don't have enough back pressure to get those HP numbers up.
Are you looking to race in any way? Auto-X, Rally, Road, drag? We have a bunch of everything in here.
Hope to see some pictures soon and I highly recommend checking into our Zetec thread in Focus Performance - there are tons of ideas.
Oh, btw - does your baby have fogs? If so, there's one quick mod you can do all by yourself. Just do a poke around for the 'fog mod' It's just a fun little thing. I can usually recognize a focus fan by the fact that they run w/ their fogs on all the time. I'm one of those nutz.
Post often!
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You need to first figure out whatyou wanna do to your car and what you wanna use it for. That will help in the order you add stuff. The intake , exhaust and TB are good basic starters. If you are goign with blue under the hood shoot me a pm or email, I have a blue Focus Sentral TB with maybe 50 miles on it before the car got totaled in a snow drift. They don't make Blue ones any more.
Welcome, like everyone else said first decide where you want to go with the mods. You can waste alot of money going one way then another. But intake and exhaust are always a good place to start.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
Got any pics of the new ride?
It's just a fun little thing. I can usually recognize a focus fan by the fact that they run w/ their fogs on all the time. I'm one of those nutz. 
