My '03 Focus

[emanon82]

About 3 months ago I bought my first focus (pov pack 1.8L). It was love a first drive. I didn't realise they were so much fun!! Now wishing I bought one years ago. Since then I've been looking at what I can do to make it even more fun. After making a list of what needs to be done, I finally pulled my finger out and started looking at a K&N pod.

After looking at the short ram kits available from K&N I couldn't find one anywhere in Aus. It was going to have to be imported from the UK and was going to set me back around $500. I wasn't too happy with the price so I just went down to Autobarn with a mate and got the filter. The bloke who sold it to us said we were going to have to buy an adapter plate but that sounded like too much work.

So we just got the pod filter which set me back about $130. Got back to my mates place and was surprised to find the thing clamped straight onto the air flow sensor. All in all about 2 seconds work and it sounds great!!

Here a crap pic of the final outcome.

Next to come will be exhaust...

[Fast Eddie]

Congrats on your purchase and glad you love your Mk1 Focus.

With suspension upgrades from the ST170 (like what I and a few other's on the Forums have done) Focus or Eibach they're even more fun to drive.

Is suspension changes on your List?

[emanon82]

Sure is mate!! Along with a set of 17"

[melbzetec]

Welcome aboard Emanon.

The LR Focus is a great car.

I always like the fact that it's distinct shapes and bodylines were as the designers intended...before it was "blanded" down a little (don't shoot me here guys) in the LS to make it more appealing for a broader market.

There is lots of knowledge about the LR on here, much learnt from trial and error and the occasional expensive mistake.

So feel free to ask the "dumb" questions as they are often the most important ones.

[melbzetec]

Also....hard to tell from the pic, but it appears that you've retained the bottom of the airbox and the cold air feed that runs into it?

If so, good move. Retaining the cold air feed into the pod.

You might think about fabricating an aluminium sheet to run from the rear fuse box to where your battery is (with a semi circle cut out for the hose prior to the MAF) with maybe even a rubber strip on top to sit flush with the bonnet, to create a heat shield to prevent hot air from the engine feeding into the air intake

[emanon82]

Thanks melbzetec,

I'm sure I'll have a multitude of questions over the next few months.

Yes I have retainted the cold air feed. I like the idea of the heat shield as well. Will be looking into that.

[Talldude]

Welcome!

The heat shield for the air intake is important, you actually lose power if an engine is sucking in hot air.

As for suspension upgrades the cheapest is getting ST170 or SVT (American model of the ST170) suspension, I have done that and it is easy to do. Or go the eibach set which makes the car sit lower.

Definitely get the shocks and springs together as a whole package way worth it.

For the 1.8 engine changing the cam will give you 15hp more! easy and cheap to do. But I can't remember which cam.

There are heaps of upgrades!

[emanon82]

Thanks for the advice dude!! I haven't looked too far into the suspension yet but will certainly be checking out the ST170 ket.

I haven't thought about the cam yet, would it be worth upgrading the breaks as well?

[melbzetec]

Brake upgrades are an expensive and complicated exercise in the LR Focus.

We can certainly head you in the right direction, but you're talking big dollars for a full on upgrade. (You have to swap out the front brake knuckles for a start and find rare as hens teeth ST170 replacements....... a big topic)

I'd stick with a good set of pads at this point

[emanon82]

Ah ok no worries, thanks mate