“Im an engine guy” amen brother. Too many people get stuck on one engine rather than realize theres many ways to do the same task from all over the world!
More fanboys than car guys is what it amounts too, at least online. In person my experience has been very different. If I show up at a muscle car meet up, they all want to check out my car just like I want to check theirs out.
Buddy and I built a turbo zx3 for the track 10 years ago and I’m buying it this month. Have a built forged motor ready to go. Have a cosworth aluminum intake for it, Will find a better turbo manifold and bigger turbo, all new fuel components. Goal is 300 wheel for daily use and 400-500 wheel for showing off and losing all traction in all gears. Lol.
Or how about the newer 2L I4 Nissan KR20 vccr turbo platform the one with variable engine compression I’d love to see what you can easily squeeze out of it for power I’m not sure if anyone has modified one yet for power/racing/street strip
@@madmod ? not sure im formalised with that/QR25 engine platform please explain is that the same platform i asked about? im mostly a 60's dodge guy and or my focus in life as there's way to meany to choose from 👍😁😉 also i like the 3-rotor RB-20 Mazda but i don't have any JDM stuff right now i like learning from other platforms as to how i can modernist and modify my charger/440 or hemi platform
I’ve watched a ton of your videos over the years. I bought that book in 2003 I did not put it together that it was your book. I built my turbocharged zetec 14 years ago, 560whp and built another to over 600. Your book was a lot more inspiration than was the conventional norm at the time. We used aftermarket cams, custom short runner intake and one of the most extreme turbo “kits” ever put on a focus. 3.5” charge pipes 3.5” downpipe, 25psi with an air/air IC and a gt3582r turbo. I really do miss that car, it still had the factory AC, so a true street car, it even made 540 on 93 pump gas and 28psi
You know, I really love this guy's stuff. I have just discovered him on UA-cam but I have been reading his articles for 20 years. I used to subscribe to 5 car magazines and I think Richard eventually wrote for all of them. And no matter what magazine I was reading, if his name was in the author's spot on any given article, I read it. Now, after all these years, it is a real treat to listen to him, and when he said he is just an engine guy, I grinned ear to ear.
@@richardholdener1727 Your supercharged build motivated me to get a JRSC for it. That was great, blew it up at VIR, and swapped in a later Duratec I4. That is now a 2.5 from 2014 Fusion, big cams, blah blah. Just like you said, it just keeps on going. Thanks for the sharing the story. Really great. Go get an old beater Focus and show us all how you'd do it today.
One of my professors at Oklahoma State, Sam O. Powers, had a wise saying; If a little change has good results and even more change has better results, then too much is just enough.
I had a turbo zetec focus with a cheap ebay turbo, completely stock engine, 9 pound flywheel, lsd, stage 6 featherweight clutch, svt fuel pump, 42llb injectors .... about 230 at the tire .. it was a monster. Fun car with the right stuff.
The zetec is probably one of the most tuned 4 cylinders in modern times, at least on this side of the pond. In rally, racing, super 7 type of cars etc. Some with 250hp + in na form. Fun with some variation in here :)
Ran into a couple of kids playing earlier today; a 400ish HP billet wheel MHI 18g On a built head/stock block MZR powered MazdaSpeed3 running an old SVT Focus hatch on E85 and a 4 port nitrous setup. I was in the “work truck” which is a 16’ F-150 EB with Whipple Stage 1 and had a grand old time playing with the boys lol. Had to watch this excellent old school content after those cold weather activities this afternoon because the SVT actually got down pretty damn well. He was the slowest out of our 3 vehicles; the Speed 3 having the most top end, my truck in the middle and the Focus a bit at all distant 3rd, but he was just bolt ons and a 75 shot of spray with a early 2000’s Ford “import” so I was quite impressed.
I liked this video, and how you preferred a fun daily more than the max effort combination, and I think that's what a lot of people need to realise. A car you enjoy driving is better than a grumpy but quick car
ZX2 owner here. Older brother of the ZX3, kinda. Way more 90s tho LOL. First car for me cuz the focus SVT was too pricey lol. I'm so glad I kept it as my winter beater all these years. It's worth nothing to sell, but still so fun to drive, and hilarious to surprise ppl with the overall performance. Dat 2L Zetec doe. It's got some peaky 4-1 headers, the usual bolt ons, springs and struts. Ghetto looking sleeper at this point 🤣 Needs svt intake and FI doe 😁 Great stories all around👍🏼 Cheers!
I had a zx3 auto that I swapped a svt engine and transmission into. The zx3 ended up a few hundred pounds lighter than the svt ....that car was the most fun I had with my pants on😂🤣. Yeah, back in 02 perf parts were hard to find. I still have your book👍✌️
Well there were originally developed with a 8000 rpm redline. Something high like that. Adding boost could get you to 650 but 800 is really cool. I'll have to check it out.
I think I've got the lowest power turbocharged 2JZ on the planet. 470whp @ 17psi from an MP72. My friends have blown LS3s, fully worked over LS7s, twin turbo SBFs, etc... Everybody makes more power than me, but my car is squared away enough to honestly drive daily, and their cars spend a lot more time being worked on than being driven.
funny seeing what the Americans done with the st170/SVT block. These zetecs are very popular going into mk3/4 escorts and a bunch of classic cars. the normal 2.0l cylinder head on the SVT block does away with the VVT solenoid but losing the the air box will lose a little power high end. the turbo kit is interesting stuff. shall hunt your page for a link
Really cool, I love that every time you upload another video it is another engine I didn't expect to see a build up of. While that Zetec motor was a bit of a dog in stock form I put a ton of miles on an '01 Focus and it holds the title of lowest cost of ownership vehicle I have ever had.
Thanks for mixing it up and doing anything you want. I consider myself a car guy, and that means ALL cars (and their parts) are fair game! I'll never understand why some people get attached so hard to one brand at the expense of all others. The Australians have it right: have engine, put it in car.
i had your book back in the day and was one of the focus's running around in the early 2000's making 353whp. Tuned by Tom at Focus Power. I was really young and that car is what got me into modifying cars. Now i drive an ls swapped miata... i honestly wish i would have started with that back then when t56 transmissions didnt cost more than a miata lol.
Just brought my zetec powered cougar out of storage. It's a fun little motor, mines pretty unique with a Jackson racing supercharger (svt focus version with the m62). Makes about 10psi and really woke it up.
True engine fans unite! Great video Richard. I like almost any engine (Brit) though I do remember c20xe GM engines made 150hp na and 200hp on turbo (c20let) and everything since has seemed tame except gm x20leh from astra car made 240hp stock with a turbo. So yeah 118hp stock 2l seems luke warm. I like a good LS or big block mopar or even a 5l ford but I watch pfi speed too.
LOL! WOW! I've had your book on my shelf this whole time back from my Ford Contour days. My dream build was a twincharged setup with a turbo connected to a JRSC M62 and a built 4F27E ATX.
Do you know where that zx3 ended up after you owned it? I had an identical zx3, and the previous owner told me he got it from someone who was doing testing on the platform from Ford.
An “Engine Guy”....that’s cool. I worked in a well known dirt track (world of outlaws)engine shop back in the 90’s. Awesome job!!.....LONG hours working in assembly. Back then I always wondered how a rodeck (midget) 4 cylinder would respond from turbocharging. It was 165 cubic inches (mandated size).....and it was kinsler injected....albeit mechanical. Anywho, I’m rambling. I like your vids, Rich and I like your attitude.....keep up the great work.
I currently drive a 2005 wrx, it was tuned by a reputable shop, so it's stood the test of time; 100k miles+. I do look forward to putting a twin-scroll turbo on it. Should keep the response, or even improve it, and be a good daly driver Dyno power is one thing, higher output does not automatically turn a car into a better driver.
I need to finally go back and revive my 1997 Escort Estate with a 2.0 Silvertop. Back in a day it dynoed 150hp and a very flat 210Nm of torque, but then the IB5 crapped out.
Thanks Richard, really enjoy the oddball engine testing because that's what I've been doing. Not ever been a sheep and followed the beaten path, rather pick out something humble, cheap then turbo.
I'm with you, I just want every engine to have more power. Even though I'm partial to Chevy because it seems like they give you parts that will hold up to modifications. Great video as always.
Ha--love it! So ironic your choice of vehicles here. Just last night I drove my late brother's '07 Focus 2.0L from VA to NC which looks identical to the picture you flashed (with the exception of the extra two doors on mine). While I was driving the thought went through my head, "wonder what a reasonable turbo setup would do for this car?" My brother really loved that car which I helped pick out new. My thought then went to "I just couldn't tear up his beloved car..." So I guess it will be the 300 HP version for me ;-) Hey, do a GM 3.6L V-6. That's what I have in my '14 ATS. I'd love to surprise some stock V-8's and the twin-turbo models cost too much for me to trade up.
This is great advice for camshaft selection especially cars that want to cruise around thumpy camshafts are great sounding but many times make power a lot later so street light to street light they get beat and the gas those camshafts eat is crazy even just putting around no to mention fouled spark plugs just from idling I have found that if you want a certain camshaft do lots of homework on how long valves springs last with that cam and what rpm it starts working
Hey Richard can you have a build series on putting 90 mm twin turbos on a honda lawnmower?....wait for it.....wait for it. Im just kidding. If you did I would still watch it. Keep up the awesome work. Im going to download and save all your videos. Much better than reading a magazine article. technology is good!!! Thanks again Richard.
Hey man love what you do! I have a 04 focus se 2.0 auto. Do you have a list of what i need like a blueprint to make my focus have 300hp or 400hp? I drive this car daily to work. I have a old muscle car, but this will feed thebneed throughout the week. If i could do stock block and just bolt ons with a turbo kit, that would be ideal! What do you recommend? Thanks!
You can't make a daily driver Focus make 400 whp without spending a lot of money and your auto trans won't last, Just add a turbo and tuning to your stock motor
In the way, way, back when mid late 1990's, us guys with odd turbo combos dependended on Mr. Holdener's tests, and turbo Buick tests in magazines to give us some ideas when there was no internet. I followed the "Tiny Avenger" turbo 2.3 mustang series and speced the same turbonetics turbo for my Omni GLH in 1996-7. Had a turbo buick adjustable fuel pressure regulator, a foxbody 255lph fuel pump, porsche 944 intercooler mounted out front, and all kinds of crossbreeding😁 The old 2200 pound GLH Omni was a 350hp 390tq dynojet roll race monster way back when😁
@@richardholdener1727 Did it all learning from your magazine articles, your old tech section in mmff, and the turbo buick guys. Biggest ahahh!!! moment was sectioning a 2.2 head and seeing the big lump of uncooled, glowing aluminum in the heart shaped chamber that was causing spark knock .
In dynotesting, the tit in the heart shaped chamber became a glowing ignition source. It would eat pistons for no good reason before you could even hear it rattle.Modified the head to an open chamber, with consistent combustion chamber thickness. The revised combution chamber only ate up the center of the piston when knocking, rather than breaking the piston between ring 1 and 2 on the exhaust side immediately.
Do you think you will ever do anything with the chrysler 3.5? They sound pretty cool and the h.o came with a forged crank and no one ever does anything with them.
I had an '86 SVO...just a few minor tweeks and a little more boost (17-18lbs was the sweet spot) and let it loose. It would run around a stock 5.0 Mustang or Camaro...and the sound of the turbo 4 motor made it obvious...I just out-ran you with a 4-cyl. People that have never ran boost just don't know the level of joy it gives. Warning...tires are expensive!
Richard. That was a kool story. Do you have any inclination to test the Duratec/L series Focus/Mazda 3 etc engines? Perhaps a big bang! They have variable intake runners and some have variable cam timing too. I've seen plenty of them on the road and in the yard.
I had a co worker that had a focus and he kept buying focus magazines and eventually bought this book. He was kind of a dingus and never got anything done with the car but it’s funny knowing I kind of read some pages of that book at work.
Hi Richard, this is Richard from Australia, in your Focus performance book when talk about the Gude Escape, you said it has 36lb injectors and a recalibrated ProM maf. Is that correct? Stock ecu, stock timing with just injectors and maf? Im thinking about something similar for my own but in Australia the government is very strict and frowns upon using aftermarket ecus so that may be a better legal option for me. Thank you.
I have a customer that has a Mazda Tribute with a 2.0, the same engine as a Focus. His doesn't have ZTEC. He got 465k miles out of the original engine. He now has over 600K on the body.
Perfect timing just bought a hhr ss (Ecotec) turbo yesterday was planning on a ls4 swap. But interested in how much that little 2.0 can hold. You ever messed around with those?
The 2.0 in the HHR SS is essentially GM-USA's own American-market version of a SAAB/Opel engine found in a lot of Euro-GM performance models, they're very good little tuner engines. The engine has forged rods and a forged crank from the factory. The stock bottom end is good for at least 400HP (probably significantly more too) if you modify and tune it correctly.
Now I’m all pumped up to build my wife’s Focus ! Its a wagon , needs a big turbo w/hater pipe out the fender and chop it up into a Ute ! LoL 😂 too many ideas from this channel , Thanks Richard
That is why I am going with a moderate cam, GT45 turbo on a 5.3. 8-9 psi 600 to 650 hp, is way more than enough, and still streetable. In a 2500lb fox body it should be fun. Yeah, an S480 E85 and 20 PSI would awesome, but isnt my goal. Maybe the next build, or a dedicated Silver Lake dune toy with 900Hp will be next.
@@yowhatsup9909 gonna have to do it myself and find out it seems. I'll be looking for a VTEC 2.0l or 2.3l this year. Hopefully find a supercharger to match it this or next year, I know you can find old junkyard Ford Focus super chargers from old vtec builds, and I've seen turbos on them as said before. Guess I'll have to figure out the fitment and what not myself.
Richard Holdener which is better to build a 96 vortec balanced shaft 4.3 or a 89 pre balanced shaft engine. Would the 96 result into a smother operating engine
Love your videos, giving backstories and important details ect... I remeber doing the upper intake gasket like every over day on my buddies focus. I'd like to see a built Ford 3.0L V6 U code Vulcan engine. Has like 12:1 comp pistons stock. It's an outstanding engine, put well over 300 hundred thousand miles on my Taurus. And it would still get up and move pretty good wes electronic limited at 110 though uhg 😎
DEAR RICHARD I would love to see the difference between a tubular exhaust header and a standard manifold and a log manifold on the same turbo/engine to see if there’s any great difference if at all?!
@Lex Riordan they have a 4 inch bore, and the heads flow pretty well. Head gasket sealing and block integrity is an issue when you really push them. After market blocks have a Chev head stud pattern and they're stronger, but really expensive
I have your high performance focus book and just got done reading the section about the fmax turbo kit using the fuel pressure transducer and stock ecu. Could you go more in depth about that?
Any builder worth the title can make horsepower with anything, some engines have more potential than others, some have more restrictions than others. Look at a Ford 240 cubic inch six cyl out of a truck and compare it to a Ford 250 Cu in six. The 240 is slightly smaller, but it’s not restricted by the integral intake manifold that the 250 is cursed with. When I worked at a Parts Store with a Machinr Shop, one of the guys working there bought an older Ford Truck and found a 300 six to put in it, the larger brother of the 240. The head on the 300 was cracked, but the rest of the engine was ok, so he set about cutting the 300 head into slices and found where he could port the head and where he couldn’t and he also found that with some work he could put 351C or 352M 2bbl head’s valves in it. Unfortunately I left the compNy for better pay before that project was finished, so I don’t know if those valves were the right length, but valves can be made to fit you needs. Now around that time there was a bracket racer in Phoenix that ran a 13 second Ma Erik with a 300 six in it, and I believe there was more performance to be found in that engine, but the 250 would be lucky to make 1 hp per cubic inch. And I think it’s one of a few modern engines, and by modern I mean from the 1960’s on, that might not be able to make one hp per cubic inch.
Non cross flow can be ok. At the last shop i worked in the head mechanic, an amazing genius who rebuilds differentials and transmissions in half a day, he drove an early 80s f150 with the 300 straight 6. And that engine still ran like a clock. Gearbox wore out before engine
Richard thank you so much this video will be a massive help towards my project as ive just built a 1.8 silvertop zetec ( uk based here) and fitting it to a ford mtx75 4wd gearbox unsure if you had them in the us but ill be fitting it into a 1998 ford puma which i know you didnt get in the us. How would it be best to get in touch with you personally about some info as i have hundreds of question but no one in the uk is will to let the info go as the zetec engine is still widely used over here. Keep up the amazing work you do much love and respect from the uk
@@richardholdener1727 thank you for getting back in touch, well the main one would be what did you do to the oil pump? im only asking as ive noticed here in the uk that the stock oil pumps can fail anywhere between 320-400hp kind of a pot luck really, due to the issues with harmonics in the rotating assembly? Im considering on implementing a accusump system just in case as im going to eventually use the car in a time attack setting? And slightly unrelated have you heard or even worked with a ecu called speeduino? I only ask as im trying to find a somewhat cost effective standalone ecu for the build and keep hitting a dead end, These are the most pressing questions i have atm as there my main issues at this moment in time. next is cam shaft choice as there seems to me much more choices from the us then there are here in the uk. sorry for my essay kindest regards
@@biggemage12344 years and still no response. What kills the oil pumps in Zetecs is high RPM oil cavitation and sudden engine speed drops. First of all you should not raise the rev limiter above 7300RPM. All the people who pushed it closer to 8k or above have seen it fail. Light flywheel and pulley is a little bit less risky, but still pushing it towards failure with every hard gear change. I suggest to only lighten the flywheel just a little, but keep the stock balancer pulley. You need a little of the rotating mass to smooth out the jolty gear changes.
@@richardholdener1727 absolutely. ontop of this being my daily, i dont baby it at all. its got the year 2000 intake manifold, 65mm tb port matched, cold air, 4-2-1 svt header, 3inch downpipe (cat delete) that flows into a 2.5 magnaflow exhaust. even though these we econo-boxes in the day and werent meant for much, ford did a real good job with the engine. i just wish they had a better head design. i really am not a fan of bucket followers.. love watching your videos and the knowledge you share with us. thankyou for all the work youve done. Cheers :)
“Im an engine guy” amen brother. Too many people get stuck on one engine rather than realize theres many ways to do the same task from all over the world!
More fanboys than car guys is what it amounts too, at least online. In person my experience has been very different. If I show up at a muscle car meet up, they all want to check out my car just like I want to check theirs out.
Maybe they get stuck on one platform because they are easier/cheaper to make power with
Agreed, it’s annoying and immature the way people get when it comes to car brands. No brand can be the best at everything.
I have a 04 zx3 and I want to rebuild my motor. Any suggestions on how I would
Buddy and I built a turbo zx3 for the track 10 years ago and I’m buying it this month. Have a built forged motor ready to go. Have a cosworth aluminum intake for it, Will find a better turbo manifold and bigger turbo, all new fuel components. Goal is 300 wheel for daily use and 400-500 wheel for showing off and losing all traction in all gears. Lol.
More small motors please! LOVE THIS CHANNEL
How about my turbo 1.0L 3-cylinder sprint motor
Yeah, how about na and turbo sr20de and ve from Nissan
Or how about the newer 2L I4 Nissan KR20 vccr turbo platform the one with variable engine compression I’d love to see what you can easily squeeze out of it for power
I’m not sure if anyone has modified one yet for power/racing/street strip
@@richardprice5978 As much hate as they get, the Qr25 is a really decent specific output 4cyl too!
@@madmod ? not sure im formalised with that/QR25 engine platform please explain is that the same platform i asked about?
im mostly a 60's dodge guy and or my focus in life as there's way to meany to choose from 👍😁😉
also i like the 3-rotor RB-20 Mazda but i don't have any JDM stuff right now
i like learning from other platforms as to how i can modernist and modify my charger/440 or hemi platform
I’ve watched a ton of your videos over the years. I bought that book in 2003 I did not put it together that it was your book. I built my turbocharged zetec 14 years ago, 560whp and built another to over 600. Your book was a lot more inspiration than was the conventional norm at the time. We used aftermarket cams, custom short runner intake and one of the most extreme turbo “kits” ever put on a focus. 3.5” charge pipes 3.5” downpipe, 25psi with an air/air IC and a gt3582r turbo. I really do miss that car, it still had the factory AC, so a true street car, it even made 540 on 93 pump gas and 28psi
You know, I really love this guy's stuff. I have just discovered him on UA-cam but I have been reading his articles for 20 years. I used to subscribe to 5 car magazines and I think Richard eventually wrote for all of them. And no matter what magazine I was reading, if his name was in the author's spot on any given article, I read it. Now, after all these years, it is a real treat to listen to him, and when he said he is just an engine guy, I grinned ear to ear.
thnx for the support
FANTASTIC!!! I have that book and still have my Focus I bought new in Dec 2000.
Very cool!
@@richardholdener1727 Your supercharged build motivated me to get a JRSC for it. That was great, blew it up at VIR, and swapped in a later Duratec I4. That is now a 2.5 from 2014 Fusion, big cams, blah blah. Just like you said, it just keeps on going.
Thanks for the sharing the story. Really great. Go get an old beater Focus and show us all how you'd do it today.
One of my professors at Oklahoma State, Sam O. Powers, had a wise saying; If a little change has good results and even more change has better results, then too much is just enough.
I had a turbo zetec focus with a cheap ebay turbo, completely stock engine, 9 pound flywheel, lsd, stage 6 featherweight clutch, svt fuel pump, 42llb injectors .... about 230 at the tire .. it was a monster. Fun car with the right stuff.
they really are fun at around 200 wheel hp
stage 6 for 200whp? lol why? mine was at 250whp (escort zx2) and spec stage 3+ was plenty.
Thank you for sharing. I had that book and read every page, multiple times, back in the day. It was awesome to finally hear the back story to it.
The zetec is probably one of the most tuned 4 cylinders in modern times, at least on this side of the pond. In rally, racing, super 7 type of cars etc. Some with 250hp + in na form. Fun with some variation in here :)
I would love to see a Duratec 30 V6 boost build
Basically you'll have a port injected 3l v6 EcoBoost. The duratec line was developed as a either/or (with a turbo and with out) engine.
I was just gunna say the 2.5 from an svt contour. Forged crank and sounded awesome. Just a happy little cobra wanna be
Bring me back to old days. Swapped a 3l duratec into ford contour and turbocharged it. Talking about was a fun car.
@@squiretaylor51 Yeah, I had a 3L SVT Contour as well. Oh boys... back to the CEG days.
Back in the day-The Sho Shop would hybrid the two and run the SVT heads and cams on the 3.0L short block-basically a stroker SVT
Ran into a couple of kids playing earlier today; a 400ish HP billet wheel MHI 18g On a built head/stock block MZR powered MazdaSpeed3 running an old SVT Focus hatch on E85 and a 4 port nitrous setup. I was in the “work truck” which is a 16’ F-150 EB with Whipple Stage 1 and had a grand old time playing with the boys lol. Had to watch this excellent old school content after those cold weather activities this afternoon because the SVT actually got down pretty damn well. He was the slowest out of our 3 vehicles; the Speed 3 having the most top end, my truck in the middle and the Focus a bit at all distant 3rd, but he was just bolt ons and a 75 shot of spray with a early 2000’s Ford “import” so I was quite impressed.
I only recently found you on youtube. But I've read that book repeatedly. Had no idea that was you till this video. Great stuff, keep it up brother.
Welcome aboard!
I read the crap out of that focus book back in the day. 2.0 pintos and Zetecs got me into engine building. Now I’ve got a bunch of Small Block Fords
I liked this video, and how you preferred a fun daily more than the max effort combination, and I think that's what a lot of people need to realise. A car you enjoy driving is better than a grumpy but quick car
Great story, thanks for sharing that. I had a turbo svt focus with a built motor, about 300 hp at the wheels. That was a fun car!
they really are-I like the SVT version
@@richardholdener1727 Hey, what ever happened to the foxbody coupe you were going to setup to break 200mph? That would be great video content.
ZX2 owner here. Older brother of the ZX3, kinda. Way more 90s tho LOL. First car for me cuz the focus SVT was too pricey lol. I'm so glad I kept it as my winter beater all these years. It's worth nothing to sell, but still so fun to drive, and hilarious to surprise ppl with the overall performance. Dat 2L Zetec doe. It's got some peaky 4-1 headers, the usual bolt ons, springs and struts. Ghetto looking sleeper at this point 🤣 Needs svt intake and FI doe 😁
Great stories all around👍🏼
Cheers!
I had a zx3 auto that I swapped a svt engine and transmission into. The zx3 ended up a few hundred pounds lighter than the svt ....that car was the most fun I had with my pants on😂🤣. Yeah, back in 02 perf parts were hard to find. I still have your book👍✌️
I have a 03 svt I'm wanting to turbo, what did you use to tune it?
I'm putting in a vote for a big bang 4.0/4.6 northstar. Keep the info coming!
They leak.
@@dingomanz7 so does every other engine.
Kevin England
The head studs are too short and rust out
Well there were originally developed with a 8000 rpm redline. Something high like that. Adding boost could get you to 650 but 800 is really cool. I'll have to check it out.
I think I've got the lowest power turbocharged 2JZ on the planet. 470whp @ 17psi from an MP72. My friends have blown LS3s, fully worked over LS7s, twin turbo SBFs, etc... Everybody makes more power than me, but my car is squared away enough to honestly drive daily, and their cars spend a lot more time being worked on than being driven.
That’s a dumb flex.
Just enjoy what you have.
Trying to keep focus while building the focus . Great story .
You are the man. Keep hitting us from left field sir.
funny seeing what the Americans done with the st170/SVT block. These zetecs are very popular going into mk3/4 escorts and a bunch of classic cars. the normal 2.0l cylinder head on the SVT block does away with the VVT solenoid but losing the the air box will lose a little power high end. the turbo kit is interesting stuff. shall hunt your page for a link
Really cool, I love that every time you upload another video it is another engine I didn't expect to see a build up of. While that Zetec motor was a bit of a dog in stock form I put a ton of miles on an '01 Focus and it holds the title of lowest cost of ownership vehicle I have ever had.
Same here had a 04
Thanks for mixing it up and doing anything you want. I consider myself a car guy, and that means ALL cars (and their parts) are fair game! I'll never understand why some people get attached so hard to one brand at the expense of all others. The Australians have it right: have engine, put it in car.
Vw Tdi
Because show me another engine that makes peak torque @1800rpm,
Over 100lb/ft of torque at idle.
And 55+mpg
i had your book back in the day and was one of the focus's running around in the early 2000's making 353whp. Tuned by Tom at Focus Power. I was really young and that car is what got me into modifying cars. Now i drive an ls swapped miata... i honestly wish i would have started with that back then when t56 transmissions didnt cost more than a miata lol.
I wanna hear more stories from days gone by.
Nothing beats a good story. 👌😊👍
I've got a 2.3 duratec in my lesser known 2006 focus ST. It's the NA ST everyone forgot.
I mostly drive my 5.0 mustang now.
Zetec? U r doing the lord's work sir
Just brought my zetec powered cougar out of storage. It's a fun little motor, mines pretty unique with a Jackson racing supercharger (svt focus version with the m62). Makes about 10psi and really woke it up.
True engine fans unite!
Great video Richard. I like almost any engine (Brit) though I do remember c20xe GM engines made 150hp na and 200hp on turbo (c20let) and everything since has seemed tame except gm x20leh from astra car made 240hp stock with a turbo.
So yeah 118hp stock 2l seems luke warm. I like a good LS or big block mopar or even a 5l ford but I watch pfi speed too.
This why I drive big blocks . Cool build , keep up the good work .
I guess you love 10mpg?
LOL! WOW! I've had your book on my shelf this whole time back from my Ford Contour days. My dream build was a twincharged setup with a turbo connected to a JRSC M62 and a built 4F27E ATX.
Had a SVT Focus, really nice and I got way more interest than some b series Honda
Tom Lesperance is the Focus man around here in NC... He has done some amazing things through the years with the Focus platform!
Do you know where that zx3 ended up after you owned it? I had an identical zx3, and the previous owner told me he got it from someone who was doing testing on the platform from Ford.
An “Engine Guy”....that’s cool. I worked in a well known dirt track (world of outlaws)engine shop back in the 90’s. Awesome job!!.....LONG hours working in assembly. Back then I always wondered how a rodeck (midget) 4 cylinder would respond from turbocharging. It was 165 cubic inches (mandated size).....and it was kinsler injected....albeit mechanical. Anywho, I’m rambling. I like your vids, Rich and I like your attitude.....keep up the great work.
Thank you, for venturing out, into other engines! Everybody, knows how great, the LS is.😄
I test them all
Richard Holdener Ford 6.8 V10 2valve PI.
I would love to see you do another zetec motor!
I currently drive a 2005 wrx, it was tuned by a reputable shop, so it's stood the test of time; 100k miles+.
I do look forward to putting a twin-scroll turbo on it. Should keep the response, or even improve it, and be a good daly driver
Dyno power is one thing, higher output does not automatically turn a car into a better driver.
Now that’s what I’m talking about awesome episode man
The focus was made to be the civics rival. I just wished the focus got more recognition. I love both cars and own both a zx3 4 speed and a em1 si b16A
I need to finally go back and revive my 1997 Escort Estate with a 2.0 Silvertop. Back in a day it dynoed 150hp and a very flat 210Nm of torque, but then the IB5 crapped out.
Thanks Richard, really enjoy the oddball engine testing because that's what I've been doing. Not ever been a sheep and followed the beaten path, rather pick out something humble, cheap then turbo.
I’m a Focus fanatic thanks for the info
I'm with you, I just want every engine to have more power. Even though I'm partial to Chevy because it seems like they give you parts that will hold up to modifications. Great video as always.
Ha--love it! So ironic your choice of vehicles here. Just last night I drove my late brother's '07 Focus 2.0L from VA to NC which looks identical to the picture you flashed (with the exception of the extra two doors on mine). While I was driving the thought went through my head, "wonder what a reasonable turbo setup would do for this car?" My brother really loved that car which I helped pick out new. My thought then went to "I just couldn't tear up his beloved car..." So I guess it will be the 300 HP version for me ;-) Hey, do a GM 3.6L V-6. That's what I have in my '14 ATS. I'd love to surprise some stock V-8's and the twin-turbo models cost too much for me to trade up.
Modifying your Cadillac is 99% unrealistic hopes and dreams
This is great advice for camshaft selection especially cars that want to cruise around thumpy camshafts are great sounding but many times make power a lot later so street light to street light they get beat and the gas those camshafts eat is crazy even just putting around no to mention fouled spark plugs just from idling I have found that if you want a certain camshaft do lots of homework on how long valves springs last with that cam and what rpm it starts working
We need all these engines tested big bang style until they grenade.
Hey Richard can you have a build series on putting 90 mm twin turbos on a honda lawnmower?....wait for it.....wait for it. Im just kidding. If you did I would still watch it. Keep up the awesome work. Im going to download and save all your videos. Much better than reading a magazine article. technology is good!!! Thanks again Richard.
I always wanted to supercharge my mower with a smog pump
As much as I bad mouth the 4.6 in my crown vic, it's adequate for driving around in an air conditioned sofa.
YES THANKS FOR DOING THIS ENGINE!
So my question to you Richard is what would you do today with a Zetec motor compared to when you did it back then?
I'm pretty sure i could get more than 100 hp/liter out of an NA ZETEC motor with more effort-then 29 psi would give us over 600 whp
So I can strap a turbo to stock block and internals and make 300 at the crank?
YES
@@richardholdener1727 Yaayy I bought a 2002 Focus Wagon that's manual with the 2.0l Zetec so that makes me happy haha
@@miriciousvespyre and watch your stock rods eject out the block. anything over 250 wheel on stock rods is playing with fire. ask me how i know lol
@@vinny6_9 lmao
Anything on 04' 2.3 PZEV engines?
We see what you’re leaning against. Just f’n with ya, love the videos.
Hey man love what you do! I have a 04 focus se 2.0 auto. Do you have a list of what i need like a blueprint to make my focus have 300hp or 400hp? I drive this car daily to work. I have a old muscle car, but this will feed thebneed throughout the week. If i could do stock block and just bolt ons with a turbo kit, that would be ideal! What do you recommend? Thanks!
You can't make a daily driver Focus make 400 whp without spending a lot of money and your auto trans won't last, Just add a turbo and tuning to your stock motor
I like your style. My friend and I have a motto: If it has wheels, we fuck with it.
In the way, way, back when mid late 1990's, us guys with odd turbo combos dependended on Mr. Holdener's tests, and turbo Buick tests in magazines to give us some ideas when there was no internet. I followed the "Tiny Avenger" turbo 2.3 mustang series and speced the same turbonetics turbo for my Omni GLH in 1996-7. Had a turbo buick adjustable fuel pressure regulator, a foxbody 255lph fuel pump, porsche 944 intercooler mounted out front, and all kinds of crossbreeding😁 The old 2200 pound GLH Omni was a 350hp 390tq dynojet roll race monster way back when😁
I really like those-also the Caravans guys ran with the 2.2 turbos
@@richardholdener1727 Did it all learning from your magazine articles, your old tech section in mmff, and the turbo buick guys. Biggest ahahh!!! moment was sectioning a 2.2 head and seeing the big lump of uncooled, glowing aluminum in the heart shaped chamber that was causing spark knock .
In dynotesting, the tit in the heart shaped chamber became a glowing ignition source. It would eat pistons for no good reason before you could even hear it rattle.Modified the head to an open chamber, with consistent combustion chamber thickness. The revised combution chamber only ate up the center of the piston when knocking, rather than breaking the piston between ring 1 and 2 on the exhaust side immediately.
If course it’s good.
It’s a vw engine, made to the size of a fat American.
Do you think you will ever do anything with the chrysler 3.5? They sound pretty cool and the h.o came with a forged crank and no one ever does anything with them.
I'm not familiar with those
I still have my focus book you did!
thnx for the support
Would you ever consider doing some testing on a Renesis Rotary? Seems to be one of the least understood engines of all time.
Do you show any methods on this engine upgrade plz
methods?
I had an '86 SVO...just a few minor tweeks and a little more boost (17-18lbs was the sweet spot) and let it loose. It would run around a stock 5.0 Mustang or Camaro...and the sound of the turbo 4 motor made it obvious...I just out-ran you with a 4-cyl. People that have never ran boost just don't know the level of joy it gives. Warning...tires are expensive!
Richard. That was a kool story. Do you have any inclination to test the Duratec/L series Focus/Mazda 3 etc engines? Perhaps a big bang! They have variable intake runners and some have variable cam timing too. I've seen plenty of them on the road and in the yard.
I had a co worker that had a focus and he kept buying focus magazines and eventually bought this book. He was kind of a dingus and never got anything done with the car but it’s funny knowing I kind of read some pages of that book at work.
Hi Richard, this is Richard from Australia, in your Focus performance book when talk about the Gude Escape, you said it has 36lb injectors and a recalibrated ProM maf. Is that correct? Stock ecu, stock timing with just injectors and maf? Im thinking about something similar for my own but in Australia the government is very strict and frowns upon using aftermarket ecus so that may be a better legal option for me. Thank you.
the car did have a detonation issues on the road because of too much timing-need a boost retard device
I have a customer that has a Mazda Tribute with a 2.0, the same engine as a Focus. His doesn't have ZTEC. He got 465k miles out of the original engine. He now has over 600K on the body.
Focus Central ✌🏻
I love this story.
I just bought a focus zx3 07 14k miles 2.0l and if there a way to contact u sir to help out to make that thing go faster.. that will be awesome ..
I just want it to go up to 200 to 300 hp just need advise and steps without going nuts on changing EVERYTHING
turbo
I have a zx3 and I love it
I want to squeeze some extra ponies, but it’s all stock
impressive! I'm working on a 2000 escort with a zetec and bought you book for ideas
Would of been a sight your make it run trolley lol
Great video Richard, the real benefit of hindsight is seeing what you can do better now lol
Perfect timing just bought a hhr ss (Ecotec) turbo yesterday was planning on a ls4 swap. But interested in how much that little 2.0 can hold. You ever messed around with those?
those have made serious power
The 2.0 in the HHR SS is essentially GM-USA's own American-market version of a SAAB/Opel engine found in a lot of Euro-GM performance models, they're very good little tuner engines.
The engine has forged rods and a forged crank from the factory. The stock bottom end is good for at least 400HP (probably significantly more too) if you modify and tune it correctly.
What was the best time out of the engine in the focus central drag car
they ran 10s na
Now I’m all pumped up to build my wife’s Focus ! Its a wagon , needs a big turbo w/hater pipe out the fender and chop it up into a Ute ! LoL 😂 too many ideas from this channel , Thanks Richard
That is why I am going with a moderate cam, GT45 turbo on a 5.3. 8-9 psi 600 to 650 hp, is way more than enough, and still streetable. In a 2500lb fox body it should be fun. Yeah, an S480 E85 and 20 PSI would awesome, but isnt my goal. Maybe the next build, or a dedicated Silver Lake dune toy with 900Hp will be next.
2500lbs with a turbo LS in a fox chassis doesnt sound very streetable xD
WHAT! you wrote that book! I bought that like 4 years ago!
Would the data gathered be applicable to the SVT Focus?
yes-
@@richardholdener1727 Awesome! Guna give this book a read!
I've seen super chargers put on these little focus engines, wonder if they could handle a twincharger set up with a small turbo and super charger.
noone twincharged these, so we might never know.
@@yowhatsup9909 gonna have to do it myself and find out it seems. I'll be looking for a VTEC 2.0l or 2.3l this year. Hopefully find a supercharger to match it this or next year, I know you can find old junkyard Ford Focus super chargers from old vtec builds, and I've seen turbos on them as said before. Guess I'll have to figure out the fitment and what not myself.
@@probablynotdad6553 if you do so, post some of it on focus fanatics, they will appreciate it here
How many miles where on the stock motor with the turbo setup thinking about boosting mine
45K if I recall
Any info on building a VQ40DE from nissan
I have not run one of those
@@richardholdener1727 is there a plan in the future to run one
What transmission did you use?
what about 05 duratec zx4? have any books on that? lol.
no sir
@@richardholdener1727 awww. I need you to magically appear and help me with my focus...whahaaaaa. whomp whomp whayayaooomp!! lol. /cry
2:07 Can confirm, raced my '03 Focus against my coworkers '04 civic, I lost
Richard Holdener which is better to build a 96 vortec balanced shaft 4.3 or a 89 pre balanced shaft engine. Would the 96 result into a smother operating engine
i LIKE THE BALANCE SHAFT MOTORS BUT i'M NO EXPERT ON THE 4.3L V6
Great story, now on to testing.
You should do a turbo 1zzfe build
Love your videos, giving backstories and important details ect...
I remeber doing the upper intake gasket like every over day on my buddies focus.
I'd like to see a built Ford 3.0L V6
U code Vulcan engine.
Has like 12:1 comp pistons stock.
It's an outstanding engine, put well over 300 hundred thousand miles on my Taurus.
And it would still get up and move pretty good wes electronic limited at 110 though uhg 😎
DEAR RICHARD I would love to see the difference between a tubular exhaust header and a standard manifold and a log manifold on the same turbo/engine to see if there’s any great difference if at all?!
I would love to hear your thoughts on GM's HFV6 engines Rich
I’m in the process of building a 2003 Ford Focus zx3 2L I wanna make 300/350 horsepower, what’s some things I gotta look out for?
ring gap, good intercooler, tuning
Your name is Holdener.....import and build a Aussie Holden red 308
@Lex Riordan they have a 4 inch bore, and the heads flow pretty well. Head gasket sealing and block integrity is an issue when you really push them. After market blocks have a Chev head stud pattern and they're stronger, but really expensive
Toranas are great cars
did you write the similar book on dodge neons
i had a 2.4 swaped self ported with crane cams
This engine would have been wild in an old Formula Ford car.
yes
Richard if possible do the 2.3 Turbo from the new mustangs. Also a 3.5 ecoboost be something else I like to see.
I have your high performance focus book and just got done reading the section about the fmax turbo kit using the fuel pressure transducer and stock ecu. Could you go more in depth about that?
Need to do an Aussie Barra 6 build !! Love ya work Richard .
I think the comment section would explode if he did that.
Any builder worth the title can make horsepower with anything, some engines have more potential than others, some have more restrictions than others. Look at a Ford 240 cubic inch six cyl out of a truck and compare it to a Ford 250 Cu in six. The 240 is slightly smaller, but it’s not restricted by the integral intake manifold that the 250 is cursed with. When I worked at a Parts Store with a Machinr Shop, one of the guys working there bought an older Ford Truck and found a 300 six to put in it, the larger brother of the 240. The head on the 300 was cracked, but the rest of the engine was ok, so he set about cutting the 300 head into slices and found where he could port the head and where he couldn’t and he also found that with some work he could put 351C or 352M 2bbl head’s valves in it. Unfortunately I left the compNy for better pay before that project was finished, so I don’t know if those valves were the right length, but valves can be made to fit you needs. Now around that time there was a bracket racer in Phoenix that ran a 13 second Ma Erik with a 300 six in it, and I believe there was more performance to be found in that engine, but the 250 would be lucky to make 1 hp per cubic inch. And I think it’s one of a few modern engines, and by modern I mean from the 1960’s on, that might not be able to make one hp per cubic inch.
Non-crossflow heads suck. Generally a huge limitation.
Non cross flow can be ok.
At the last shop i worked in the head mechanic, an amazing genius who rebuilds differentials and transmissions in half a day, he drove an early 80s f150 with the 300 straight 6.
And that engine still ran like a clock.
Gearbox wore out before engine
Richard thank you so much this video will be a massive help towards my project as ive just built a 1.8 silvertop zetec ( uk based here) and fitting it to a ford mtx75 4wd gearbox unsure if you had them in the us but ill be fitting it into a 1998 ford puma which i know you didnt get in the us. How would it be best to get in touch with you personally about some info as i have hundreds of question but no one in the uk is will to let the info go as the zetec engine is still widely used over here.
Keep up the amazing work you do much love and respect from the uk
ask away
@@richardholdener1727 thank you for getting back in touch, well the main one would be what did you do to the oil pump? im only asking as ive noticed here in the uk that the stock oil pumps can fail anywhere between 320-400hp kind of a pot luck really, due to the issues with harmonics in the rotating assembly?
Im considering on implementing a accusump system just in case as im going to eventually use the car in a time attack setting?
And slightly unrelated have you heard or even worked with a ecu called speeduino? I only ask as im trying to find a somewhat cost effective standalone ecu for the build and keep hitting a dead end,
These are the most pressing questions i have atm as there my main issues at this moment in time. next is cam shaft choice as there seems to me much more choices from the us then there are here in the uk.
sorry for my essay
kindest regards
@@biggemage12344 years and still no response.
What kills the oil pumps in Zetecs is high RPM oil cavitation and sudden engine speed drops. First of all you should not raise the rev limiter above 7300RPM. All the people who pushed it closer to 8k or above have seen it fail.
Light flywheel and pulley is a little bit less risky, but still pushing it towards failure with every hard gear change. I suggest to only lighten the flywheel just a little, but keep the stock balancer pulley. You need a little of the rotating mass to smooth out the jolty gear changes.
my zetec 2.0 has 300k miles on it and currently gets the same rated mpg/sometimes better after all these years.
they work well-amazing how long they last
@@richardholdener1727 absolutely.
ontop of this being my daily, i dont baby it at all. its got the year 2000 intake manifold, 65mm tb port matched, cold air, 4-2-1 svt header, 3inch downpipe (cat delete) that flows into a 2.5 magnaflow exhaust. even though these we econo-boxes in the day and werent meant for much, ford did a real good job with the engine. i just wish they had a better head design. i really am not a fan of bucket followers..
love watching your videos and the knowledge you share with us. thankyou for all the work youve done. Cheers :)