St170 Cai?

Zig · 12-06-2010, 12:16 AM

Howdy,

Im absolutely stumped as to what cold air systems will indeed fit on my 2003 Focus ST170. Most if not all of the sites i've been looking at label their CAI's as available for the SVT, and to my knowledge the manifolds are opposite ways around between the ST and SVT (correct, y/n?) and thus will not fit. I know K&N offer the typhoon, but i can only find short ram versions.

What CAI's will definately fit on my ST170?
Any recommendations?

melbzetec · 12-06-2010, 09:49 AM

Welcome to the Forums Zig.

NO. The manifolds are not opposite ways around. So intakes for the SVT will pretty much fit the ST170.

To reassure yourself, take a look at the submitted photos of SVT engine bays on a site like www.focusfanatics.com.

Now a word of warning.The stock setup is VERY good, and most aftermarket CAI setups will deliver little to no gains. Be sure it will be worthwhile beore shelling out hard earned dollars

Two that will deliver gains are the Pipercross Viper, and the BMC Carbon Dynamic Airbox (although a quick search suggests BMC are no longer making a setup for pre 04 Focus'). Not cheap but you get what you pay for.(But hunt around for price. Fabre Australia stock the Viper and is usually pretty good)

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/PIPERCROSS-VI...-/120336711566

http://www.pipercross.net/fastroad/products_viper.asp

Check out focusfanatics above for SVT, and www.ffoc.co.uk and www.passionford.com for ST170 discussions. But beware, lots of opinions but very little facts.

I have the Pipercross Viper and it gave a 6% increase on power and increased torque across the rev range on a basically stock Zetec engine. But the fitment is tricky (had to alter the battery box) and I've never been 100% happy with the routing of the cold air feed.

Personally? I'd be looking at a reprogramming of the ECU, and maybe a vernier cam gear and dyno tune for the exhaust cam before I'd change the intake on the ST170 engine. This is a highly developed engine and it's hard to eek more power from it.

Good luck. Have fun!

Fast Eddie · 12-06-2010, 01:12 PM

To my understanding, Cosworth did the engineering on the ST170 Intake, correct? BTW I haven't spotted a ST170 on the road for many, many months now. Pity.

Zig · 12-06-2010, 01:57 PM

Thanks heaps guys. Im so bloody confused on the subject right now. I've previously made a thread in regards to a CAI for the ST over at an american forum and its doing my head in.

Here is the link ~ http://forums.focaljet.com/fswerks/6...tralia-qs.html

Read through it if you can and let me know if you think the cool flo race will fit.

DZFord · 12-06-2010, 05:27 PM

I just read through the Focal jet post. Massive confusion there!

Your car has a reworked Zetec engine by Cosworth. It is the same engine fitted to the American SVT. To confuse things, some engines may have "Duratec ST" written on it, but it is actually a Zetec engine. The Zetec engine is identified by the intake manifold at the rear of the engine, and the exhaust manifold at the front.

However, in the US, in 2003 (and in Australia in 2005) the Ford Focus was fitted with the true Duratec engine (known as the Duratec HE here and in the UK). The Duratec engine is identified by the intake manifold at the front and the exhaust manifold at the rear.

In terms of the FSWerks intakes:

The Cool Flo Race intake is make for the Duratec engine (American Focus >2003) and will therefore not fit you car.

The Cool Flo SRI / Heat Shieled option is made for the Zetec / SVT engine and WILL fit your car.

If I were you, I'd take melbzetec's advice and look at some other modifications, unless I absolutely had your heart set on a CAI for one reason or another.

DZFord · 12-06-2010, 05:29 PM

Actually, I've just found another option for you.

AEM CAI:

http://forums.focaljet.com/focaljet-...svt-focus.html

(Just be careful driving through deep puddles with this one!)

alky89 · 16-06-2010, 12:56 AM

To clear up a few things:

SVT = ST170

ST (America) = 2.3L Duratec - we don't get that one here

ST (Euro) = XR5 Turbo

melbzetec · 16-06-2010, 09:41 AM

Plus it just dawned on me that the way I have routed my cold air intake hose to the Pipercross will not work on an ST170, as the battery is larger in the ST170 and won't give anywhere near enough room.

So not a lot of choices.......therefore I'll stay with my initial recommendation. Spend money on an ECU tune and maybe vernier cam gear on the exhaust cam.