planning on doing the build!!

[gog]

Hi people, went to a car show at the weekend, and there was a chap advertising these cars!

at the moment i have a 2.0 focus mk1 which is on throttle bodies and producing 200bhp at the fly

Will i have any problems with fitting this to one of the cars?

Any recommendations on cars?

And what is the 'average' build cost of the frame and running gear etc as all the engine is done!

Also, what gearbox is needed?

And does anyone build these as a living for extra money?

Hope you can help

[roadtrackrace]

Hi GOG,

the two chaps selling these cars at the weekend were Paul and Leighton of Road Track Race

Enjoy the forum, I'm sure you will find a lot of useful info from the guys that have built and are currently building their cars.

RTR.

[mattsmev]

Hi Gog

It a great way forward to use what is obvioulsy a purpose built donor car. Gear box wise, As far as i can figure bith the MX an IB grear boxes have been used but the IB5 is the easier option.

Cheers

Mattsmev

[gog]

well, a lot of money went into the focus, so dont really want to just sell if i can do something different!

I also have the st170 brakes on the focus, will these fit? also i have the ap racing brake upgrade (320mm discs and 4 pot calipers, will this be way too much?

you say about the gearbox, and as stated, i have the mtx75 box. This has an ATB fitted. Will this ruin the driving of the car? Will it need to be removed? or just sell the box and buy the IB5? and finally, does the IB5 fit straight to the 2.0 block? (i would think it does as the 1.8 uses the IB5 box!)

[mattsmev]

Hi Again Gog

Brakes - you will use the rear focus brakes at the rear of the rocket, but as the front suspension is all very different it does not use any of the focus parts. I have used Willwood 4 pot callipers and peddle box and find it works well, but i will be going slower with less weight than you will (my 1.6 engine is quite a bit lighter).

I'll leave the gear box tales to those that have gone before. I found the IB5 has worked well, but i imagine there is a reason that Ford fit the MTX75 to the more powerful engines and i have broken a clutch plate at a track day even with a standard 1.6 engine.

enjoy

mattsmev

[The Joker]

Hello Gog,

You could use the engine, ECU, engine wiring loom, steering column and rear brakes from your donor. You can salvage some of the lighting wiring loom also. If you're planning on building a Rocket the MTX75 box in the 2.0L Focus is too big for the standard chassis. You can fit the 1.8L IB5 gearbox straight to your engine but you will need a 1.8L flywheel, clutch & cover.

The only problem is the durability of the gearbox at 200hp. As the car is light it may stand-up for sometime but its not a strong as the MTX box. I'm not sure how much stronger the ST150 internals are but may be more suited for this output. GSX160PARTS (on here) is running close to 200hp, he may know more. Your cheapest and safest option might be to fit the MT285 box from the ST170.

Your MTX75 with the ATB is effectively a Focus RS box and would fetch good money. I'd be tempted to go the SONIC route and keep what you can from the donor.

You can use your throttle bodies on the Rocket but the engine cover may need some modification.

The Sonic may be more accomodating of your MTX75 gearbox and throttle bodies.

Re; the brakes, you could theoretically use the AP calipers and rotors but these would be way too big for the car. My EVO8 had 320mm rotors and four pots and that could stop on a sixpence at 1400Kgs ! I'm running 280mm rotors on the front of the Rocket and these are really too big also. You's get good money for the AP's that would more that cover your whole brake set-up on the kit.

Target 7 to 8k for the rest of the build and you won't be dissapointed.

[gog]

thanx very much for the replies. it is a grwat help

i never thought about the getrag box from the st170

and with reference to the brakes that sounds brilliant. the best bit is they're the only ones that were made by AP with floating bells so could see near £700 for them!

also, that would mean i can sell off the st170 brake conversion from the zetec focus?