focus st 2.5 project sleeper

[Magic919]

8cylinder said:

I know it's mainly to lower intake temps but any difference in the way it drove?

That's its only job. Unless you count looking good through the grill.

As you squash the air to create boost, it'll heat up. You need to offset some of that or the car (at best) will pull ignition timing to preserve the engine.

I fitted the intercooler, exhaust with cat and downpipe plus remap in the same weekend.

I ran it with a less aggressive map when the car was standard. That felt pretty lively at the time. After that you just increase power as you reduce driveability. It's fun though.

[8cylinder]

Looks like I Might play it safe and get the cooler.
It's running great just now,holds boost longer with the uprated recirc valve.

[Falsey]

These things tune very well, I had a 280bhp one (map, inter, exhaust, intake etc) but the noise they make means they are certainly not sleepers.

Sleepers dont pop and bang

[8cylinder]

They do sound superb especially when u come off the turbo!

[Gdgd]

Yeah.. no sleeper - they are fast and most know it Nice car though - love mine

[Petrolhead95]

Have you looked into Mountune? The MR290 kit dramatically increases performance. Tad expensive though.

[Hudson]

Standard IC at the bottom. Deffo worth an upgrade .


intake, 3" downpipe, intercooler and a decent remap should net you around the 300bhp mark. If your cambelt is getting on a bit then worth looking into getting the block mod done at the same time, more power = greater risk of cracking a cylinder liner.

[KingNothing]

I wouldn't touch mountune on a pre-facelift car, can get better bang for your buck by going elsewhere and if you can get stuff second hand even better.

Looks alot like my old car when I got it, ended up on about 320bhp, moved on to an RS now though.

[8cylinder]

Hudson said:

Standard IC at the bottom. Deffo worth an upgrade .


intake, 3" downpipe, intercooler and a decent remap should net you around the 300bhp mark. If your cambelt is getting on a bit then worth looking into getting the block mod done at the same time, more power = greater risk of cracking a cylinder liner.

Standard one is pitiful.
Take it that is just the radtec one with a dream science badge on it?
It's either the radtec one or airtec.

[CaptainMorgan]

All the hardware THEN do the software last. Looks like a nice motor, enjoy!

[8cylinder]

Decided to paint the lower bumper grills black,was never keen on the grey and plastic chrome look.







Kind of ditched the idea of a sleeper now,lol.
No lowering going on,probally just poly bush a few things.

Edited by 8cylinder on Sunday 5th April 18:51

[KarlMac]

I'd go with the eibach spring. only 15mm lower but make a massive difference to handling.

[8cylinder]

Had eibachs before,rate them pretty highly,might look into that.
Timing belt/water pump then cooler this month.

[KarlMac]

8cylinder said:

Had eibachs before,rate them pretty highly,might look into that.
Timing belt/water pump then cooler this month.

As mentioned above, speak to Tim Williams about getting the block mod done at the same time. Total cost inc belts and pumps used to be around £650.

When Volvo built the 2.5 engine it was based on the old 2.3, when they enlarged the cylinders they lost a lot of there strength, in high boost/high temp conditions its quite common in early cars for the cylinder liner to oval and eventually crack. The block mod adds so reinforcing ally shims tonstrengthen the liners.

[TheAngryDog]

Nice car op. Lots of good advice here as well.

It'll never be a sleeper but you could make it surprising. I'm hoping to do the same thing with my car.

[8cylinder]

TheAngryDog said:

Nice car op. Lots of good advice here as well.

It'll never be a sleeper but you could make it surprising. I'm hoping to do the same thing with my car.

Cheers,what have you done to yours so far?
Ideas shared are a good thing.

[TheAngryDog]

My car isn't an ST so I don't think it will transition so well lol

[Magic919]

We did intercooler, exhaust/downpipe/cat, remap, RS flywheel and clutch, Quaife diff and nitrous.

[KarlMac]

Magic919 said:

We did intercooler, exhaust/downpipe/cat, remap, RS flywheel and clutch, Quaife diff and nitrous.

Swap nitrous for RS injectors and you've got a pretty well sorted car there.

[8cylinder]

Yup the rs injectors seem a popular upgrade.
Will be happy with 280-300bhp.