Questions about the kit

[txjeepn]

I saw the "order form" at the top and there were some questions I had on the kit.

I was looking at the MEV ltd. website and it being a company based in the UK does the US kit come in LHD?

I also noticed that a kit option was for powder coating. Is the color up to the buyer (within reason ie black)?

Has any research been done to differences between the UK and the US focus? Or would this be something for the first buyer(s) to figure out?

Don't get me wrong these are great looking kits at a greatprice. I think the hardest part of this kit would be to track down a focus that doesn't have the automatic slush box.

[Karlo]

I saw the "order form" at the top and there were some questions I had on the kit.

I was looking at the MEV ltd. website and it being a company based in the UK does the US kit come in LHD?

I also noticed that a kit option was for powder coating. Is the color up to the buyer (within reason ie black)?

Has any research been done to differences between the UK and the US focus? Or would this be something for the first buyer(s) to figure out?

Don't get me wrong these are great looking kits at a greatprice. I think the hardest part of this kit would be to track down a focus that doesn't have the automatic slush box.

USA kit Comes LHD

Powder Coating Color is your choice within reason just need the color number (RAL) if you what to be specific.

From my research the UK Focus is very similar if not Identical, other than emissions and RHD.

[Gage]

What years of the USA Ford Focus will work?

[txjeepn]

The more I look into this kit the more it realy seems like one o the best deals going.

From ford a supercharger for the focus is only $3000
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=8902

And a replacement engine is only $2600 so buying a higher milage focus shouldnt be to much of a stretch.
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=4989

And the supercharger would put it in about the same power level as the 205HP atom that I drove when I went to Brammo with my deposit last summer. And that was plenty of a good starting point. It makes my S2000 seem slow.

[Gage]

Yes, get the highest mileage cheapest donor possible. Engines can be had for quite a bit cheaper than that at with low miles at salvage yard web sites.

Here is the wikipedia information on the Ford Focus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_(North_America)
It appears the car was largely unchanged from 2000 to 2007. Then 2008 to 2010 are considered the second generation. Are all cars from 2000 to 2010 compatible, or were there signifigant changes in 2008?

I'm going to hazard a guess that the Rocket supports 2000 through 2007.

Lets see what the experts say.

[Gage]

Searching autotrader.com I found 17 listings for 2000 to 2007 Ford Focuses Manual transmission cars with over 100,000 miles for $1200.00 to $5000.00 There you go. All your donor parts. Then a low mileage engine from a salvage yard.. Lets see what I can find.

I found literally dozens of original manual transmission equipped engines for with in zero to 5000 miles for $500 to $1000 dollars.

You can't beat Ford for a bargain Exo-car, period.

All parts appear to be cheap. You could have two or three low mileage engines for the price of one similar Honda engine. I say this from personal experience with quality Honda stuff.

[Karlo]

What years of the USA Ford Focus will work?

The UK Standard kit is built around the Zetc 1.8 Focus with the IB5 box.

2.0 L CVH/SPI 110 hp (82 kW) 125 lb·ft (169 N·m)
Standard in LX and SE model sedans through 2004

5-speed IB5 (CVH/SPI Engine only)

See link Below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_(North_America)

It looks like it might some trial and error for other Ford Focus set-ups.

The Focus forum might help me with some details.

[bolus]

And the supercharger would put it in about the same power level as the 205HP atom that I drove when I went to Brammo with my deposit last summer. And that was plenty of a good starting point. It makes my S2000 seem slow.

So you must have not bought the Atom then?

[txjeepn]

So you must have not bought the Atom then?
Nope. Had a bad vibe from the people there, it was July of 07 and I could not put my finger on it. I probably still would not have my car. I made the decision at that time to wait till after I did the AAE that September. And there were a few price hikes in that time and the price was getting just out of control in my opinion. So I got my wife a Miata for out anniversary in December of last year with the down payment I had.

I talked allot with the guys running the AAE and I have allot of respect for them on how they handled the cars and how they are handling the new production. I'm just not willing to pay the current price anymore.

[Gage]

I'm just not willing to pay the current price anymore.

The current $65,000 dollars for the base model isn't pocket change for you? :thumb2:

They were once advertised at 38k for the base model here in the states.

With that said, They are amazing machines.

[bolus]

Yeah, it's too bad what happened to Brammo. Everyone was so cool back in 9/06 when I bought mine. I wanted to work there for free just to hang out and watch the cars get built. Then they hired 71 people and went broke. What I wouldn't give to go back to 06' and take over and just keep the original core guys and keep on building affordable supercars.

My almost fully optioned '06 Atom was $68,000 now would be $100,000 even without some of the options I got (like recaros and a CF center console) that are no longer offered.

Half of why the Atom was so cool is you could get a 911 turbo performance for $38000

Anyway, back on topic. I'm a fan of the Sonic & and R2 (not so much the rocket though)

[Gage]

Half of why the Atom was so cool is you could get a 911 turbo performance for $38000


Bolus, that should be someone's signature on the Atom Forum, a wistful and polite malcontent. Well stated perfect truth. That was why I raved about the car to all my friends. The fact that it was relatively affordable "super car performance" made it unique. Now it is just another super car...a HELL OF A FAST supercar, but standing in the same crowd as the rest just wearing less clothing than many of its siblings. I love em..just like I love Jet Air planes, space shuttles, and so on.

Oops. Hijack off.

The Sonic does look nice.

[JonCor2577]

Is shipping based from UK or from somewhere in the US?

[Karlo]

Is shipping based from UK or from somewhere in the US?

From the UK.

[cdmershon]

[QUOTE=Karlo;5231]
2.0 L CVH/SPI 110 hp (82 kW) 125 lb·ft (169 N·m)
Standard in LX and SE model sedans through 2004

5-speed IB5 (CVH/SPI Engine only)

It looks like it might some trial and error for other Ford Focus set-ups.
[QUOTE]

So does this mean that the IB5 trans will have to be sourced from an LX or SE sedan through 2004 while the Zetec will have to be sourced from a different Focus? Will they even match up?

[Karlo]

So does this mean that the IB5 trans will have to be sourced from an LX or SE sedan through 2004 while the Zetec will have to be sourced from a different Focus? Will they even match up?

The Current UK standard is the Zetec with IB5. The standard / more popular engine / trans in the USA will be Duratec / MTX-75 IMO. You can have it either way.

Cords Sonic7 the "first USA Sonic7" will be shipped with mounts for Duratec / MTX-75 even though he will be using a different trans.

Hopefully I have answered your question :)

[LexTalonis]

$1350 brand new 2.0 zetec
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-FOCUS-2-0-ZETEC-DOHC-ZX3-ZX5-COMPLETE-NEW-ENGINES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a 1Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1307QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14Q QhashZitem320360628549QQitemZ320360628549QQptZMoto rsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Karlo]

$1350 brand new 2.0 zetec
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-FOCUS-2-0-ZETEC-DOHC-ZX3-ZX5-COMPLETE-NEW-ENGINES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a 1Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1307QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14Q QhashZitem320360628549QQitemZ320360628549QQptZMoto rsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Looks promising for non donor build.

A high mileage car can be bought under $2k for the donor route.

[golftdibrad]

The UK Standard kit is built around the Zetc 1.8 Focus with the IB5 box.

2.0 L CVH/SPI 110 hp (82 kW) 125 lb·ft (169 N·m)
Standard in LX and SE model sedans through 2004

5-speed IB5 (CVH/SPI Engine only)

See link Below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_(North_America)

It looks like it might some trial and error for other Ford Focus set-ups.

The Focus forum might help me with some details.

So does this mean that the IB5 trans will have to be sourced from an LX or SE sedan through 2004 while the Zetec will have to be sourced from a different Focus? Will they even match up?

The Current UK standard is the Zetec with IB5. The standard / more popular engine / trans in the USA will be Duratec / MTX-75 IMO. You can have it either way.

Cords Sonic7 the "first USA Sonic7" will be shipped with mounts for Duratec / MTX-75 even though he will be using a different trans.

Hopefully I have answered your question :)


At the moment i'm going to build a rocket with a 2.0 zetec and an mtx-75 trans. I will of course report any fitment issues.

Now, I strongly believe there will not be any. Chassis stamps are very design intensive and expensive themselves to make, so I'm putting money on the fact that ford used the exact same chassis mounting points for both euro and us foci with the different engines and transmissions, and just changed the motor/trans mounts themselves. so if you use the mounts from you donor you should be GTG. The MEV order form eludes that the hard points for the durtec and zetec engines may be different; this is a good question for MEV designers but i suspect that the changes are specific to the kit car chassis no the focus. I say this because there are a few examples on the foci boards of spi to zetec to duretec swaps where the only snags were electrical in nature, ie the drivetrain uses the same mounts

My chassis is spec'd for a zetec and IB5, although i'm going to use an mtx 75 if at all possible, as its what came with the cars stateside. If not, the ib5 can be had for less than 300 bucks on ford boards and even ebay where good deals are alot harder to find as of late.

hope this helps!
-Brad

[cheapracer]

Awww I was hoping you would go for the VW 1.8T Brad.

[golftdibrad]

Awww I was hoping you would go for the VW 1.8T Brad.

Nope, biggest reason I got a kit vs. DIY was time saved in design and fab work. I will therefore use the drivetrain the kit was designed for. :coolnana: