Minnesota Focus Owners Club

so its has been a hot topic on other threads, which focus engine is the best
the zetec, SPI, or the Duratec (maybe if we want to go extreme there is the option of the 5.0 cammer )

from what I can tell, the Zetec may be the easiest and cheapest to mod, but the duratec may become cheaper than the zetec as time goes by. I think the turbo kit for the duratec may also be cheaper, but I am not sure.

I am going to say that its a bit of a toss up since the base duratec may be better than a base zetec, but it seems like there has been more done with the zetec even from the factory for the Focus.


As far as the SPI, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole. Even if you plan on making some good power (like jeffscort's escorts) you are still using an older and probably weaker design of transmission, and I dont think you can get a LSD for it. Besides that, a SOHC motor becomes a torque monster with boost it seems (read "breaks shit on track days")


Nick

hahahaha just a dumb thought... i wonder if we can do a d23 block wit a svt head swap?? hahaha i was just thinking about it cause my cousin's are doing a b20/vtec head swap and they asked me if we can do that wit a focus... hahahahaha just a weird thought.....

mars wrote: hahahaha just a dumb thought... i wonder if we can do a d23 block wit a svt head swap?? hahaha i was just thinking about it cause my cousin's are doing a b20/vtec head swap and they asked me if we can do that wit a focus... hahahahaha just a weird thought.....

almost anything can be done if you work hard enough, but who wants to try it

Currently the best engine is the one thats already in your own car.

the best motor. hard one to answer cus the engine is a tool, for a job. it all has to do with what the job is.


1. road race. id go with the z, it revs dam high, its durable for the long haul.

2. rally cross. see above.


3. drag. split port, more low end power.


4. try to find a rebuilt split port for under 1000 bucks. now look for a rebuilt z motor for under a grand. more zmotors huh? spit ports wont stay on a shelf, they go as soon as the show up.

i like the z. i have the best of both worlds, i got the split port method of intake mani, and i got the rev and smoothness of the z.

[quote="focinite"]
the best motor....

....more zmotors huh?....
quote]

Motors are electric.
Engines are combustion.

focinite wrote: the best motor. hard one to answer cus the engine is a tool, for a job. it all has to do with what the job is.


1. road race. id go with the z, it revs dam high, its durable for the long haul.

2. rally cross. see above.


3. drag. split port, more low end power.


4. try to find a rebuilt split port for under 1000 bucks. now look for a rebuilt z motor for under a grand. more zmotors huh? spit ports wont stay on a shelf, they go as soon as the show up.

i like the z. i have the best of both worlds, i got the split port method of intake mani, and i got the rev and smoothness of the z.

ok but what do u think about the duratec? better then both? worse? what?

mars wrote: hahahaha just a dumb thought... i wonder if we can do a d23 block wit a svt head swap?? hahaha i was just thinking about it cause my cousin's are doing a b20/vtec head swap and they asked me if we can do that wit a focus... hahahahaha just a weird thought.....

I don't think you can swap heads between the duratec and zetec motors (unless you are talking the zetecs labeled as a duratec). You can get a stoker kit for the zetec though.

Another option could be the 2.3 out of the mazda3 or mazda6. The SVT's computer may be able to control the variable cam timing that the Mazdas have (I think they have it). Tuning might be a bitch.

Deagle50ae wrote:

focinite wrote: the best motor....

....more zmotors huh?....
quote]

Motors are electric.
Engines are combustion.

dont be smart. it dont look good on ya!!

STtuner05 wrote:

focinite wrote: the best motor. hard one to answer cus the engine is a tool, for a job. it all has to do with what the job is.


1. road race. id go with the z, it revs dam high, its durable for the long haul.

2. rally cross. see above.


3. drag. split port, more low end power.


4. try to find a rebuilt split port for under 1000 bucks. now look for a rebuilt z motor for under a grand. more zmotors huh? spit ports wont stay on a shelf, they go as soon as the show up.

i like the z. i have the best of both worlds, i got the split port method of intake mani, and i got the rev and smoothness of the z.

ok but what do u think about the duratec? better then both? worse? what?

i like the dteck"ENGINE" for the beefy lower end, i dont have much expr. the 2.3s im used to are kent dirivitives in the rangers , but those are not slouchy either. d-teck"ENGINES" are good for throwing as much boost as possible at them, they are not the 5cyl "ENGINES" that are used by the wrc car but they will fit the bill. the d-teck"ENGINE" is more like the z-teck"ENGINE" as they make more of there power in the mid to top range. i still perfer the z overall.

ok another quick question then, since as far as i know the mazda runs the same d-tec as the focus is it possible to take the 6 speed manaul from the speed 3 (or 6) and swap it into a focus? (something about 6 speed man! )

i would have to do some looking but in theroy if its the same engine from car to car, then it should be the same bolt patern on the bell housing. but mazda likes to use alot of the euro, and jdm market stuff so there may be a differance. also they are built in different parts of the world and would also differ from this. example.. my wife has a 97 honda civic 4 door, i bought a header and tsudo cat back for a 97 4 door civic dx( her car ). i installed said parts and nothing fit at all, it was like it was for a different car. i called around and found out that her car is a canada vin code 2 ( i fucking hate the number 2!!!!! yall remembr my rant?) its one of 24 registered in the usa (pre nafta) so i still have the brand new tsudo cat back. point of the story, go buy a hollander exchange manuel!!! it will tell you whats what and if a rover tranny will fit in you 84 dodge d-50.

STtuner05 wrote: ok another quick question then, since as far as i know the mazda runs the same d-tec as the focus is it possible to take the 6 speed manaul from the speed 3 (or 6) and swap it into a focus? (something about 6 speed man! )

the focus' Dtec is BASED on the mazda engine. Im pretty sure the Mazda variant has variable valve timing and some other high-tech gadgetry that ford left out for it's econo car.
that being said, not a day does by that I don't think about buying some mazda parts and seeing if they swap because that would introduce a whole second world of modding possibility INCLUDING a an OEM TURBO setup. sweetness.

wow thats a gay thing to find out! but ya that would be so awesome to have it fit, then i would just have to find a speed3 or 6 that i could get it from to switch