Rocket 2 - ST170

[buildityourself]

Jan 23, 2024 16:51:49 GMT carlyd said:

Can anyone tell me what the wall thickness is of the 50mm chassis tubes on the Rocket please and is it made from bright steel?

Can't answer for the rocket, but the Sonic7 is 2mm thick box section. My understanding is the important aspect is to use CDS steel not ERW steel for strength.

[carlyd]

A bit of an update, I just purchase a Focus ST170, the complete car.
I got a good deal on it as they seem to be going up in price now and it has a blowing exhaust and weeping steering rack, non of which I need. Found it on facebook and the guy even drove it to me. I now have everything I need to get the Rocket2 ready for IVA, I just need the time to do it.
The ST170 engine has had timing belt and water pump done 5k miles ago, but I will strip and and renew seals, gaskets and refurbish anything that needs it. It runs well though.

I only need Engine / Gearbox, Alternator, ECU, ignition (for imobilizer) and wiring loom as far as I know. I may be missing something so I will make sure I have everything.






The Engine looks clean, no oil leaks and just been for a blast up the road. Feels slow for 170 bhp? I know it's in a heavier car than the rocket and my daily drive has 430bhp so maybe that's just me.

[carlyd]

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the ST170 please?

[buildityourself]

Feb 9, 2024 15:21:13 GMT carlyd said:

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the ST170 please?

I've got one if you PM me your email. you might need fuel pump too?

[carlyd]

Will PM you thank you, thank you.
The Rocket came with an external fuel pump setup, but I will take it out of the car anyway thanks.

[carlyd]

I have now removed the suspension arms etc from the chassis as they need to be painted. Has anyone stone chip proof paint on the suspension arms? I am considering it as they do suffer from stone chips etc. I just wondered if the stoneship ruins the asthetics of the suspension arms too much?
Also my chassis is a flat grey powder coat, I assume it's a basic powder coat colour, does anyone know what colour it is? as there are a couple of bits I want to touch up. Thanks

[carlyd]

Over the bank holiday weekend I deceided to Strip the ST170 donor. It went well, I was very methodical in labeling wiring, (blue tape for all interior wiring and red for engine bay).
So the engine and gearbox is now out.
The engine is in great condition visually with no oil leaks and has just been serviced, it's also had a couple of new O2 sensors and stainless downpipe. I already have a stainless exhaust for the Rocket so I have a few parts to sell.
I still have the donor ST170 so if anyone wants any parts let me know.




Oh I am not sure what this is, can anyone help? it's an aluminium box, has an electrical connector and a cable that comes from it to the engine. 


The wiring looks like a nightmare to be honest. Can anyone advise, what is the minimum that I need to use the standard ECU?
Or is there a better way, other then dropping £1,000 on an OMEX ECU? If I do go the Omex route do I need any wiring at all? or does it all come with the Omex ECU?

Any tips on things to look out for on this engine as it's my first experience with Ford.

[buildityourself]

Thanks for the post, its sadly quiet here hearing what people are up to. 

I used the orginal full focus loom and fuseboxes and ecu for my Sonic. It was daunting to start with, but with patience and the wiring manual removed all the unrequired circuits and extended it as required. The best tip is to make sure you identify and mark every connector which it sounds like you have done. The ST has slightly more circuits as it has more options etc. The hardest issue is that the dash rpm and water temp and ecu warning lamp are driven by a data bus from the ECU to the dash.There are no specific wires for these from the ECU. To use a different dash you would need additional wires/sensors. For now i've used a cheap OBD2 plugged in digi dash to avoid this.

Have you got a closer image of the box? I'm pretty sure its this.

A176 Electronic Stability Program (ESP) module

engine compartment, LH side, rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 – C 2


make sure you keep the immobiliser sensor with the steering column too!

[buildityourself]

yep.



Stability/traction control module. without the wheel sensors its likely to report an error. 

It looks like if you need to keep it to work then you can just connect the BK/WH wire from it to earth to disable it. 

this is where it would have been good to check the functionality before removing the engine. ie disconnect it and see if it will still drive normally (no limp mode etc). 

[carlyd]

Thank you for your comments.
I could not see that module before removing lots of bit off the engine so had no idea it was even there.
I have taken it off and kept it anyway, so if need be I will add it to the Rocket. Pulling the cable which goes from that module to the intake manifold sounds like it controlls a flap inside the intake manifold??

I have the wiring diagram so will have a look at it. I did all the wiring with the standard ECU on my Honda engine and it is time cosuming but I managed it. There is a service on Ebay that trim the ST170 looms for kit cars specifically, they charge £195 so that could be an option. However if the OMEX allows different maps I may go that route as I am going to do some track days in this.

I am going to strip the unrequired parts off the engine today such as power steering pump, A/C Pump etc so I wll have a better knowledge of the engine. Can anyone recommend the belt size i need to run the engine without PAS pump and AC pump please?

Oh I must remember to take the fuel pump out of the car before it's scrapped too, although I do have an external fuel pump that came with the rocket. 

[buildityourself]

I did initially think it was this.

A166
Intake Manifold Runner Control (IMRC) module

but the manual implies that is in the intake on the engine. The way to tell is to check the connector type/wires each module in the wiring manual. Controlling this via aftermarket ECU adds complexity, but its desirable to keep it.

[carlyd]

Apr 1, 2024 19:10:53 GMT buildityourself said:

I did initially think it was this.

A166
Intake Manifold Runner Control (IMRC) module

but the manual implies that is in the intake on the engine. The way to tell is to check the connector type/wires each module in the wiring manual. Controlling this via aftermarket ECU adds complexity, but its desirable to keep it.

Thank you for this, is this required then? and what does it actually do? I managed to snap the lug off it that attaches the cable to it, although I assume I could buy that lug bit seperately as it comes off the actual unit.



I have a Haynes Focus manual but it's terrible. Is there a website which details the engine modules, sensors etc?

[buildityourself]

My understanding is that its basically fords version of the Toyota T-VIS system. Improves either top end flow or low end torque depending on the flap being open or closed. The wiring diagram basically identifies the modules (p206) and their locations else where etc but thats about. it.

[kiwicanfly]

The IMRC moves a plastic part inside the manifold to give long or short runners (the length of the air path before entering the engine).

Long runners give more power at low revs, short give more at power high revs.

The normal change over point is around 5500rpm and it is a simple on/off control. Oddly with the controller the manifold will default to short which seems weird to me as, when the cable end lug breaks off which is apparently common, the manifold moves to a position most suited to high revs!

On the subject of the ECU, you need a higher spec unit from OMEX than the normal engine requires, the 600 will not handle the VVC. I thinks it is the 710. However the 600 will handle the IMRC control.

I played about with the dual runner manifold on my normal blacktop then canned it and decided to go for ITBs.

[carlyd]

Apr 3, 2024 8:56:45 GMT kiwicanfly said:

On the subject of the ECU, you need a higher spec unit from OMEX than the normal engine requires, the 600 will not handle the VVC. I thinks it is the 710. However the 600 will handle the IMRC control.

Does the omex come with all engine wiring and plug and play or do I still need to chop some wiring in?

Thanks guys