Focus camshafts

melbzetec · 25-05-2005, 03:54 PM

Has anybody played around with camshafts or adjustable cam gears? Most I've looked at sacrifice bottom end torque and power for top end. I think one from Ford Performance Racing Parts showed an improve in bottom and midrange power and torque, but couldn't tell if it was base spec or Zetec to begin with.

Like all of us ( or many of us), I want just a little more get up and go.

Any experience or knowledge?

murcod · 25-05-2005, 06:34 PM

Unless you get variable valve timing you'll generally be sacrificing something somewhere for gains elsewhere (if that makes sense?)

What about getting a custom chip done, they can give decent gains on Euro cars (providing you can find someone who knows what they're doing.)

melbzetec · 26-05-2005, 08:41 AM

I was looking at a Unichip, but Rob Herrod suggested to me that I'd see very little gain.

I spoke to APS who suggested going to Jim Mock to get one set up. I may still go down that road.

I also looked at a Bluefin from UK. 1. They don't seem to reply to emails 2. I think it's odd that no one seems to have one in Australia( at least that I've heard of)

murcod · 26-05-2005, 07:14 PM

You really need to find someone who knows how to reprogram your current ECU, and get it custom done on a dyno with 98 octane fuel to get real gains.

I'm not a big fan of Unichips- anything that intercepts the signals going to and from the factory ECU (trying to fool it) can't be as good IMHO. The sad part is nobody here seems to specialise in Euro cars for that sort of thing.

I don't know how good the Bluefin is, I've only read about it on European forums.

mitch_lx · 27-05-2005, 01:06 PM

unsure about camshafts
but if your looking for chips. www.powerchips.com.au

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In standard form, the Focus 1.8 produces 85 kW and 156 Nm.

Powerchip has a range of chips to suit your car, which can increase it's power to between 92 kW and 94 kW, and it's torque to between 170 Nm and 173 Nm.

The price of the Powerchip is AUD $889.90.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

In standard form, the Focus Zetec 2.0 produces 96 kW and 178 Nm.

Powerchip has a range of chips to suit your car, which can increase it's power to between 105 kW and 107 kW, and it's torque to between 194 Nm and 197 Nm.

The price of the Powerchip is AUD $889.90.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

In standard form, the Focus ST170 2.0 produces 127 kW and 196 Nm.

Powerchip has a range of chips to suit your car, which can increase it's power to between 134 kW and 138 kW, and it's torque to between 207 Nm and 213 Nm.

The price of the Powerchip is AUD $1,290.30.

zetec · 27-05-2005, 01:10 PM

Unfortunately there just isn't a market for tuned Euros here, they're either obscenely expensive for BMW and Porsche etc or just not there at all. Same with Focus-specific mods, we're still cracking the Turbo barrier with 1 built and 2 in build that I know of in the entire country. There are non Supercharged that I know of either. I was one of the first people to get a damn K&N, had to specially order one in and I gavve up on chips because Powerchip seem incapable.

One thing I've noticed with Rod Herrod, he doesn't seem to give much of a toss about the Focus. Hear me out here. He gave up on headers/cats, gave up on chips according to Steve there.... seems to me if it ain't a Falcon he don't wanna know. I know he has an exhaust which Steve has fitted (melbzetec) which I rate highly for driveability and comfort, but he doesn't seem to be too interested otherwise.

Just take some risks is all I can offer. I'd suggest talking to Marcus at Infocus, he has done pretty much all of this on his own car and it is a serious piece of kit.

b2tf · 27-05-2005, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

One thing I've noticed with Rod Herrod, he doesn't seem to give much of a toss about the Focus. Hear me out here. He gave up on headers/cats, gave up on chips according to Steve there.... seems to me if it ain't a Falcon he don't wanna know. I know he has an exhaust which Steve has fitted (melbzetec) which I rate highly for driveability and comfort, but he doesn't seem to be too interested otherwise.

Thats interesting to know as the Herrod exhaust is on my list. Wasnt sure what he had to offer, someone actually suggested the BA edit would work on a Focus which I find highly unlikely.

murcod · 27-05-2005, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

One thing I've noticed with Rod Herrod, he doesn't seem to give much of a toss about the Focus. Hear me out here. He gave up on headers/cats, gave up on chips according to Steve there....

He probably views the market volume as not being there- so, why waste time on something that won't return the big $$$?

It's a pity places like Fueltronics seem to have folded. I had a custom chip done on my Peugeot 306 S16 and it gained around 12kW @ the wheels! It helped that I was good friends with their main programmer and had free access to a dyno. He's since moved on and left them (if they even exist now?) to only do LS1 tuning from what I've heard.

Resty · 28-05-2005, 01:52 AM

get the predator or SCT from capa. Then tell Tom focus-power to email u a tune to suit ur car. Those 2 are the best self tuners available for the focus that I know of. They should be easily available if u search for them. Check out focus fanatics in vendor discussions section. There is heaps of help and testimonials.

blah,
riz

Timmeh · 28-05-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

Unfortunately there just isn't a market for tuned Euros here

Maybe you should check this out:

www.tunedeuro.com

:eclipsee_

Tim

Resty · 29-05-2005, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbzetec

Has anybody played around with camshafts or adjustable cam gears? Most I've looked at sacrifice bottom end torque and power for top end. I think one from Ford Performance Racing Parts showed an improve in bottom and midrange power and torque, but couldn't tell if it was base spec or Zetec to begin with.

Like all of us ( or many of us), I want just a little more get up and go.

Any experience or knowledge?

Smoother curve all round, although, on a stock focus not worth anything to mention. Nothing special in the world of cams at the moment for the focus.

Im guessing only about 5hp-8hp at the most and those gains with build-up.

melbzetec · 03-06-2005, 02:47 PM

two interesting items (you be the judge)

Just got a email from Superchips in the UK saying they don't make a Bluefin for 2.0 litre Zetec. Bummer. That's obviously why no one seems to have one here

and

back2thefuture has just advised me that the Herrod Motorsport stainless steel catback, that I have ,isn't available any more. Herrods are no longer making them

I think the thing with Rob was that he found that there were no simple big hp and torque gains to be had with the Focus. Unlike Falcons where he gets big gains with simple bolt-ons, I think he found the Focus thing just too hard for little gain

b2tf · 03-06-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbzetec

two interesting items (you be the judge)

Just got a email from Superchips in the UK saying they don't make a Bluefin for 2.0 litre Zetec. Bummer. That's obviously why no one seems to have one here

and

back2thefuture has just advised me that the Herrod Motorsport stainless steel catback, that I have ,isn't available any more. Herrods are no longer making them

I think the thing with Rob was that he found that there were no simple big hp and torque gains to be had with the Focus. Unlike Falcons where he gets big gains with simple bolt-ons, I think he found the Focus thing just too hard for little gain

Correct, I called this afternoon and was told that they are NLA from Herrod. The reason given was that nobody buys them anymore, nothing was mentioned about the gains they do or do not get but I would imagnie that had a bit to do with it. From what I was told it is practically not possible get ANYTHING for a Focus from Herrod which is a major disappointment to me, as I was hoping to test Herrod gear out for myself and make a judgment on its worth.
The only thnig they did say was that a few Foci were decked out with full exhaust systems for Ford hwoever they seemed to think these were no longer in existence, and couldnt tell me what happened to them once they were finished building them.

melbzetec · 03-06-2005, 02:57 PM

That's the system I've got.

I know FiFi Box from some radio station from Sydney had one, because Ford had it setup to give to her for a while as part of a sponsorship. I suppose those cars went back into the Ford system and were eventually auctioned off

b2tf · 03-06-2005, 03:14 PM

No idea, but I dare say finding one of these systems would be harder than finding the proverbial needle. That and I dont want second hand stuff anyway.

zetec · 03-06-2005, 11:26 PM

As I've said, just copy the specs. 2.5inch stainless, twin muffler with a 3 1/2 inch chrome tip. Solved.

b2tf · 04-06-2005, 09:15 AM

I should clarify as Ive probably got a few people wondering why i dont want to design my own.

Initially I went down the Herrods path because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about - to see if their stuff is really as good as it is made out to be there's really only one way to dcide for yourself - try it. The cost involved was obviously going to be higher than if i bought another one but I honestly dont mind, I will only ever put proven stuff which is the best available no my car. After taking shortcuts no the Falcon, I wont do it again.
When Herrods turned out to be not possible, I started (and am in the process of) doing the search all over again.

The main reason I have for going with a brand name system is that I dont trust anybody round here to work no my car. There is a REAL lack of performance tunser/shops round here, and I won't pay good money for them to 'learn'on my car - I want it done right the first time around. Hence why I don't mind paying extra for companies or brands who know their stuff. As I was telling Timmeh yesterday, if I walked into an exhaust shop here and asked them to do a system for my Focus, they'd probably say "You mean Falcon dont you?" - hardly a confidence inspiring comment and definately not one that will get them the job to do on my car.

zetec · 04-06-2005, 11:44 AM

In that case your only other possibility is infocusmotorsport and the HiTech Muffler system designed by Lambros from Hitech mufflers. It's a similar system, but they're basedi n Sydney. Looking round $700-800 through Marcus. Give him a call.

b2tf · 04-06-2005, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

In that case your only other possibility is infocusmotorsport and the HiTech Muffler system designed by Lambros from Hitech mufflers. It's a similar system, but they're basedi n Sydney. Looking round $700-800 through Marcus. Give him a call.

Have done exactly that about an hour ago

. He was out but I left a message and I'll go thru the exhaust and chip options with him at some stage.

melbzetec · 05-07-2005, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resty

get the predator or SCT from capa. Then tell Tom focus-power to email u a tune to suit ur car. Those 2 are the best self tuners available for the focus that I know of. They should be easily available if u search for them. Check out focus fanatics in vendor discussions section. There is heaps of help and testimonials.

blah,
riz

Resty, what EEC-V code does your car have?

Have emailed Tom but haven't heard back. No one seems to like my code-XSU1- no one in US or UK that I've found seems to have a tune for it. Is your code typical? Or was Tom able to crack it?

I am all ready to get the Predator or SCT Xcalibrator, but no one seems to want to know my PCM code.

Should I keep hassling Tom?

b2tf · 05-07-2005, 08:06 PM

Hmmm interesting, keep us informed on your progress with that. I know Im interested.

Resty · 30-09-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbzetec

Resty, what EEC-V code does your car have?

Have emailed Tom but haven't heard back. No one seems to like my code-XSU1- no one in US or UK that I've found seems to have a tune for it. Is your code typical? Or was Tom able to crack it?

I am all ready to get the Predator or SCT Xcalibrator, but no one seems to want to know my PCM code.

Should I keep hassling Tom?

What's it for?? Just basic tuning no mods?? We are going with the EMS but that's for a turbo setup. Speak with Dynowog (Nick). He's on the forums here somewhere.

No don't hassle Tom. Won't be worth your time. He has nothing for our Focus, neither do SCT as I have stated above (I was wrong). There will however be something real soon when Nick gets his hands on some new software from SCT.

zetec · 30-09-2005, 12:34 PM

Surely it's possible, how the hwll did ASE tune their Turbo Focus? It must have worked...

Resty · 30-09-2005, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

I should clarify as Ive probably got a few people wondering why i dont want to design my own.

Initially I went down the Herrods path because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about - to see if their stuff is really as good as it is made out to be there's really only one way to dcide for yourself - try it. The cost involved was obviously going to be higher than if i bought another one but I honestly dont mind, I will only ever put proven stuff which is the best available no my car. After taking shortcuts no the Falcon, I wont do it again.
When Herrods turned out to be not possible, I started (and am in the process of) doing the search all over again.

The main reason I have for going with a brand name system is that I dont trust anybody round here to work no my car. There is a REAL lack of performance tunser/shops round here, and I won't pay good money for them to 'learn'on my car - I want it done right the first time around. Hence why I don't mind paying extra for companies or brands who know their stuff. As I was telling Timmeh yesterday, if I walked into an exhaust shop here and asked them to do a system for my Focus, they'd probably say "You mean Falcon dont you?" - hardly a confidence inspiring comment and definately not one that will get them the job to do on my car.

I got a stainless exhaust system for 380 mandrel bent from Daalder lol.

This is where we differ, I dont care about brand names when it comes to exhausts. So long as the quality is A grade and will last a lifetime I'll buy it. The only time I buy brand names is when the brand is clearly visible and if the brand is far more superior to other options. Once installed the sound was just what I wanted. Deep tone, and burbles on the down shift. Keeps the heads turning in the underground carpark at Knifepoint (Highpoint).

gerrs2000 · 20-10-2006, 09:00 AM

Does anyone know what brand of strut brace will fit a ST170 with a K&N Typhoon air filter.

FRA · 20-10-2006, 03:42 PM

Stage 2 or 3 camshafts, camshaft gear, underdrive crank pulley.
Thats bare minimum mods to start with.

Pieoter · 20-10-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote cams with duration and lift. Stages mean nothing. One companies stage 1 could be anothers stage 3 etc.

If your interested in cams give crow cams a call as they make custom grids to suite your specifications. With modern engine simulation software you can very closely emulate the real thing and get the gains your after.

Once you have breathing mods done going with a cam that is slighty more agressive can get some nice gains throughout the rev range.