Fiesta ST stage 3 build
Discussion
griffin dai said:
All good thanks, hung over after Christmas but all good!
Looking forward to seeing the car, sounds like it’ll be a ripper. You just need Dad to pull his finger out with the RS now (keep telling him, think seeing my Saab blowing up put him off)
Haha, yeah, hopefully he'll tune the RS soon. Still absolutely gutted about your Saab, I was reading your whole forum literally a day or 2 ago. It felt rapid to be fair, just sad it ended the way it did Looking forward to seeing the car, sounds like it’ll be a ripper. You just need Dad to pull his finger out with the RS now (keep telling him, think seeing my Saab blowing up put him off)
As for my car, yeah it weighs around 1080kg so with hopefully 330bhp ish bhp and around 320lb/ft of torque it should be alright in a straight line. I'll take you out for a rip when it's done hopefully
TheJimi said:
Is the steering nicer than the the non ST models?
I had an ecoboost ST-Line hire car recently, brand new, and it was one of the worst cars I've driven in terms of steering. Way, way too sensitive and sod all feedback.
Admittedly, I do think It needed the geo looked at, but that wouldn't solve the aspect of over-assistance.
Hi there, I hope someone else in this thread can help cause I've had basically no experience in any other fiesta other than my own. I did used to have a Zetec S before my ST but my Zetec S was from 2007 so not exactly comparable. I had an ecoboost ST-Line hire car recently, brand new, and it was one of the worst cars I've driven in terms of steering. Way, way too sensitive and sod all feedback.
Admittedly, I do think It needed the geo looked at, but that wouldn't solve the aspect of over-assistance.
As for the steering in the ST it is quite light at slower speeds but really becomes much heavier the faster you go ( in my experience) The car is keen to turn but I wouldn't call it too sensitive. I think the lack of feed-back is due to electronic assisted power steering instead of hydraulic. It's not just these cars, it's the same in Golf Rs, Focus RSs etc.
Sorry about the lack of help, I hope someone here will be able to elaborate on this
Dylanaledhall said:
As for my car, yeah it weighs around 1080kg so with hopefully 330bhp ish bhp and around 320lb/ft of torque it should be alright in a straight line. I'll take you out for a rip when it's done hopefully
330 will be pretty manic 
I think mine was around 360ish & 470/480ish ft/lbs but was a fair bit heavier.LSD is a good shout and might be worth fitting the same time as an upgrade clutch, had the Quaife ATB on mine made a huge difference, could really get the power down, but there’s also a Wavetrac diff that’s meant to be awesome (wish I fitted that but didn’t know about it until a few months later) clutch I fitted the CG Racing 777 kit but not sure what’s available for the ST (probably loads!)
griffin dai said:
330 will be pretty manic I think mine was around 360ish & 470/480ish ft/lbs but was a fair bit heavier.
LSD is a good shout and might be worth fitting the same time as an upgrade clutch, had the Quaife ATB on mine made a huge difference, could really get the power down, but there’s also a Wavetrac diff that’s meant to be awesome (wish I fitted that but didn’t know about it until a few months later) clutch I fitted the CG Racing 777 kit but not sure what’s available for the ST (probably loads!)
Yeah I'll definitely look at either a quaife LSD or a Kaaz LSD ( apparently very good) just to try and limit the slip. Up until I go to an LSD the clutch should be fine as Fiesta STs come with an AP racing clutch as standard and can hold roughly 350bhp so I'm told. Pumaspeed have loads of uprated clutches available so I'll purchase when closer to the time. I think mine was around 360ish & 470/480ish ft/lbs but was a fair bit heavier.LSD is a good shout and might be worth fitting the same time as an upgrade clutch, had the Quaife ATB on mine made a huge difference, could really get the power down, but there’s also a Wavetrac diff that’s meant to be awesome (wish I fitted that but didn’t know about it until a few months later) clutch I fitted the CG Racing 777 kit but not sure what’s available for the ST (probably loads!)
I really hope you get another v6 Saab, was such a sleeper and sounded amazing
At what power level does the additional power become largely useless in the first 3 gears? My guess would be 250-270bhp given it’s a light(ish), small car. I think 250bhp in the little fiesta would be good fun and probably a good balance.
I recall going out in lots of FWD cars where going over a certain number becomes pub bragging rights but actually makes the car slower. I recall a Focus ST (2.5) that had somewhere over 300bhp and would spin its front wheels and scrabble around in anything less than perfect conditions. My then 255bhp Impreza was so much more capable across B roads than the ST and either he would hold me up or I’d disappear if I was in front at the time.
Unfortunately the engine let go in my Impreza at about 70k which gave me an excuse to justify a forged rebuild with upgraded everything and then it made just under 400bhp, it was a proper weapon at that power level but everything else had to be upgraded or broke (upgraded clutch and standard gearbox didn’t last long!).
Once I’d plowed a lot into it, it was sensational with its AWD platform and low weight allowing it to be exploited.
I would say after years of tunning cars, once you’ve gone over a certain number they (relatively) cost a lot to look after as components will continuously get worn out and fuel/running costs get high with significant bork factor for the engine (my engine rebuild cost 6k), gearbox etc.
With that said I kept it for 11 years although part of that was as a second car.
I recall going out in lots of FWD cars where going over a certain number becomes pub bragging rights but actually makes the car slower. I recall a Focus ST (2.5) that had somewhere over 300bhp and would spin its front wheels and scrabble around in anything less than perfect conditions. My then 255bhp Impreza was so much more capable across B roads than the ST and either he would hold me up or I’d disappear if I was in front at the time.
Unfortunately the engine let go in my Impreza at about 70k which gave me an excuse to justify a forged rebuild with upgraded everything and then it made just under 400bhp, it was a proper weapon at that power level but everything else had to be upgraded or broke (upgraded clutch and standard gearbox didn’t last long!).
Once I’d plowed a lot into it, it was sensational with its AWD platform and low weight allowing it to be exploited.
I would say after years of tunning cars, once you’ve gone over a certain number they (relatively) cost a lot to look after as components will continuously get worn out and fuel/running costs get high with significant bork factor for the engine (my engine rebuild cost 6k), gearbox etc.
With that said I kept it for 11 years although part of that was as a second car.
Edited by Scobblelotcher on Saturday 2nd January 10:22
Dylanaledhall said:
J4CKO said:
About 6 miles I think, im not proud, as long as I am having fun, I dont worry what I look like !
i think if the OP goes from his SFT t an M140i he will wonder what he has done, the BMW is better in a lot of ways and is nice to drive but Ford is so much more of a drivers car, standard vs standard.
Hi, I've just always liked the look and sound of an M135i/M140i. The entire package just appeals to me somehow. But, the proof is in the pudding and I'll need to drive one i think if the OP goes from his SFT t an M140i he will wonder what he has done, the BMW is better in a lot of ways and is nice to drive but Ford is so much more of a drivers car, standard vs standard.
These cars respond very well to tunning but again suffer limitations of the chassis/suspension.
Hi there mate like Macron said I run one as my track so let me know if you need any info as I have done a fair few upgrades to the car .
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18...
Scobblelotcher said:
I’ve owner a M135i (and driven several M140i’s) and it’s a decent car with an amazing motor. It is what I’d term an 8/10ths car. Once you go over that you find it’s flaws and they tend to become unhinged which is why many have unexpectedly left the road, I’ve always viewed this as it’s more of a GT car with the thumping engine and auto box (which most have) than an all out performance car. Don’t get me wrong in performance terms, the Fiesta isn’t a match but the ST is designed to be a drivers car whereas the M135i/40i cars are designed to be a compromise of performance and comfort which they do very well.
These cars respond very well to tunning but again suffer limitations of the chassis/suspension.
Hi there, seems you have quite a bit of knowledge around the topic These cars respond very well to tunning but again suffer limitations of the chassis/suspension.
As for the putting power down yes, if you don't have a good set of tires or an LSD you will spin until 2nd gear. When mapped properly, with an LSD and good tires you can get virtually no spin even in first gear. Even still, FWD cars certainly do better on a roll than from a launch. For example if you compare a Cupra 280 and a Golf R, they both have the same engine and if you launched both, the Cupra wouldn't see what direction the Golf went. However, from a roll, the Cupra is a faster car down to less weight and drive train loss.A YouTuber known as Officially Gassed put an upgraded turbo onto his Fiesta and he had R888r tires and he had no spin even in first gear ( and that was without an LSD). So I think if you invest properly into traction, spinning shouldn't be a huge issue.
As for the M135i/M140i I know many have said it's more of a gt car than a b-road / track car. However, I'd be looking at getting an M135/M140 by the time I'm 25 so hopefully as I start to grow up
. While on this topic I would also like to try a Golf R, many say they're a bit dull to drive until you take them to stage 2 (410-420 bhp). I definitely want to drive one to see what it's like. Thanks
Kaveney said:
Hi there mate like Macron said I run one as my track so let me know if you need any info as I have done a fair few upgrades to the car .
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18...
Hi there, https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18...
Yes I had a read of your forum and your attention to detail is immense. As much as I'd love to turn my ST into a track weapon it's my only car so I need it to be practical and if I binned it into a barrier I wouldn't have a second car
. Yeah I probably will be asking for help as I still want to do decent upgrades
. Brakes is something very high up on my list. Compared to my old Zetec S the brakes on the ST are like shooting anchors out of the back. But still, they were only designed to stop a car with 180-200bhp so I'll upgrade to a Big Brake Kit before I go to stage 3.Thanks for reading
Dylanaledhall said:
Scobblelotcher said:
I’ve owner a M135i (and driven several M140i’s) and it’s a decent car with an amazing motor. It is what I’d term an 8/10ths car. Once you go over that you find it’s flaws and they tend to become unhinged which is why many have unexpectedly left the road, I’ve always viewed this as it’s more of a GT car with the thumping engine and auto box (which most have) than an all out performance car. Don’t get me wrong in performance terms, the Fiesta isn’t a match but the ST is designed to be a drivers car whereas the M135i/40i cars are designed to be a compromise of performance and comfort which they do very well.
These cars respond very well to tunning but again suffer limitations of the chassis/suspension.
Hi there, seems you have quite a bit of knowledge around the topic These cars respond very well to tunning but again suffer limitations of the chassis/suspension.
As for the putting power down yes, if you don't have a good set of tires or an LSD you will spin until 2nd gear. When mapped properly, with an LSD and good tires you can get virtually no spin even in first gear. Even still, FWD cars certainly do better on a roll than from a launch. For example if you compare a Cupra 280 and a Golf R, they both have the same engine and if you launched both, the Cupra wouldn't see what direction the Golf went. However, from a roll, the Cupra is a faster car down to less weight and drive train loss.A YouTuber known as Officially Gassed put an upgraded turbo onto his Fiesta and he had R888r tires and he had no spin even in first gear ( and that was without an LSD). So I think if you invest properly into traction, spinning shouldn't be a huge issue.
As for the M135i/M140i I know many have said it's more of a gt car than a b-road / track car. However, I'd be looking at getting an M135/M140 by the time I'm 25 so hopefully as I start to grow up
. While on this topic I would also like to try a Golf R, many say they're a bit dull to drive until you take them to stage 2 (410-420 bhp). I definitely want to drive one to see what it's like. Thanks
As for the Cupra vs Golf R comparison the R will leave the Cupra about 8 times out of 10 unless they both happen to be on an excellent road surface. Across a typically British road the R is far better suited at suddenly getting the power down and as soon as they both meet a typically B road, the poor Cupra may as well just give up.
As soon as you’re going to high(er) power applications even with decent tires and an LSD, AWD cars still have significant advantages even if they are lesser powerful but I would argue many FWD and RWD cars are often better drivers cars. My M135i was often fun but not that fast (it had the best tires and a LSD) against AWD cars. My 17 year old Impreza I owned at the same time was simply in a different league to it as was my Evo I previously owned in the vast majority of conditions. The Impreza understeered like crazy near the limit in its factory standard setup however thicker ARB’s and a few other changes gave it a more fun neutral balance.
I’ve owned lots of other tuned FWD cars that were also fun but prone to scrabbling around in less than perfect conditions. One of my other favourites was my tuned Honda Civic Type R (EP3) which had an amazing gearbox/engine combo and with a straight through exhaust, cold air intake and kpro, I loved it’s manic attitude even if it was very antisocial over 6k. My friend at the time had a supercharged version making 330bhp (mine was about 240ish) but both again were traction limited in a lot of conditions.
I’m not trying to persuade you into doing anything else but maybe recommending you to focus on handling and braking before power so you can get the best from the car and if you want a lot of power an AWD platform is more suitable than trying to manage a FWD car.
I’ve spent a month in a Golf R and although I do really like them as they just do everything so well, they are not drivers cars. I think the downside of many AWD cars like Impreza’s and Golf R’s is they are just so competent they feel slightly underwhelming and the Golf also feels pretty dead from a steering perspective.
Anyway, let us know how you get on, all pics, videos and technical details welcomed! 😀
Edited by Scobblelotcher on Saturday 2nd January 10:57
Scobblelotcher said:
I watch Offically Gassed, Jamie is good fun, shame he sold his Fiesta.
As for the Cupra vs Golf R comparison the R will leave the Cupra about 8 times out of 10 unless they both happen to be on an excellent road surface. Across a typically British road the R is far better suited at suddenly getting the power down and as soon as they both meet a typically B road, the poor Cupra may as well just give up.
As soon as you’re going to high(er) power applications even with decent tires and an LSD, AWD cars still have significant advantages even if they are lesser powerful but I would argue many FWD and RWD cars are often better drivers cars. My M135i was often fun but not that fast (it had the best tires and a LSD) against AWD cars. My 17 year old Impreza I owned at the same time was simply in a different league to it as was my Evo I previously owned in the vast majority of conditions. The Impreza understeered like crazy near the limit in its factory standard setup however thicker ARB’s and a few other changes gave it a more fun neutral balance.
I’ve owned lots of other tuned FWD cars that were also fun but prone to scrabbling around in less than perfect conditions. One of my other favourites was my tuned Honda Civic Type R (EP3) which had an amazing gearbox/engine combo and with a straight through exhaust, cold air intake and kpro, I loved it’s manic attitude even if it was very antisocial over 6k. My friend at the time had a supercharged version making 330bhp (mine was about 240ish) but both again were traction limited in a lot of conditions.
I’m not trying to persuade you into doing anything else but maybe recommending you to focus on handling and braking before power so you can get the best from the car and if you want a lot of power an AWD platform is more suitable than trying to manage a FWD car.
I’ve spent a month in a Golf R and although I do really like them as they just do everything so well, they are not drivers cars. I think the downside of many AWD cars like Impreza’s and Golf R’s is they are just so competent they feel slightly underwhelming and the Golf also feels pretty dead from a steering perspective.
Anyway, let us know how you get on, all pics, videos and technical details welcomed! ??
100% agree with everything you say, I do like Golf Rs for their ability to just take off no matter the conditions or road surface. However, there is a bit of me that enjoys fighting for grip ( although won't be as fast as an AWD car) like you say, RWD and FWD tend to be the better driver's cars and take a bit more effort to get the best out of them. As for the Cupra vs Golf R comparison the R will leave the Cupra about 8 times out of 10 unless they both happen to be on an excellent road surface. Across a typically British road the R is far better suited at suddenly getting the power down and as soon as they both meet a typically B road, the poor Cupra may as well just give up.
As soon as you’re going to high(er) power applications even with decent tires and an LSD, AWD cars still have significant advantages even if they are lesser powerful but I would argue many FWD and RWD cars are often better drivers cars. My M135i was often fun but not that fast (it had the best tires and a LSD) against AWD cars. My 17 year old Impreza I owned at the same time was simply in a different league to it as was my Evo I previously owned in the vast majority of conditions. The Impreza understeered like crazy near the limit in its factory standard setup however thicker ARB’s and a few other changes gave it a more fun neutral balance.
I’ve owned lots of other tuned FWD cars that were also fun but prone to scrabbling around in less than perfect conditions. One of my other favourites was my tuned Honda Civic Type R (EP3) which had an amazing gearbox/engine combo and with a straight through exhaust, cold air intake and kpro, I loved it’s manic attitude even if it was very antisocial over 6k. My friend at the time had a supercharged version making 330bhp (mine was about 240ish) but both again were traction limited in a lot of conditions.
I’m not trying to persuade you into doing anything else but maybe recommending you to focus on handling and braking before power so you can get the best from the car and if you want a lot of power an AWD platform is more suitable than trying to manage a FWD car.
I’ve spent a month in a Golf R and although I do really like them as they just do everything so well, they are not drivers cars. I think the downside of many AWD cars like Impreza’s and Golf R’s is they are just so competent they feel slightly underwhelming and the Golf also feels pretty dead from a steering perspective.
Anyway, let us know how you get on, all pics, videos and technical details welcomed! ??
Edited by Scobblelotcher on Saturday 2nd January 10:57
Before I bought my ST I was fancying an EP3 and turbocharging it. The only thing that put me was the fact they are a bit old now, although they are amazingly reliable ( I've seen some at over 200k on the clock and still going strong) I just was cautious of how many things I'd need to change on an EP3 at that age to make sure it could handle the extra power. Never driven one but would have loved to.
And as for the method of doing this, the chassis on an ST is ok from standard to be honest. I am definitely thinking of brakes before stage 3 though. Although some people only upgrade the pads, I'd rather be safe and have way more stopping power. I may drop the car on lowering springs ( not against coil overs I just don't see the point for my day to day, if I was taking my car on track I 100% would but I'm not looking at building a track car yet)
Leicester Loyal said:
Will be keeping a close eye on this, just bought myself a Fiesta ST a few weeks ago, although stage 1 is the furthest I'd take it I reckon.
Looking forward to future updates OP.
Hi there, really glad you've taken the time to read and yes I will be keeping everyone one here up to date on everything I'm doing to the car. Looking forward to future updates OP.
To be honest these cars are fantastic straight out of the box. My father who owns a mk3 Focus RS even likes how the car is in standard form. Stage 1 is a perfect little upgrade if you are fancying more straight line performance. Apparently with a stage 1 they do get a decent chunk of torque low down which will definitely make it more punchy. Have you decided on who will tune it for you?
Thanks
Dylanaledhall said:
Hi there, really glad you've taken the time to read and yes I will be keeping everyone one here up to date on everything I'm doing to the car.
To be honest these cars are fantastic straight out of the box. My father who owns a mk3 Focus RS even likes how the car is in standard form. Stage 1 is a perfect little upgrade if you are fancying more straight line performance. Apparently with a stage 1 they do get a decent chunk of torque low down which will definitely make it more punchy. Have you decided on who will tune it for you?
Thanks
I haven't even drove it yet buddy, but I won't bore you with that story, should hopefully be on the road by next week. I'll probably end up driving it as standard for at least a few months before even looking into stage 1, but it's definitely something that I might do one day. I've come from a Clio 182 so the inside of it feels so modern, even though it's only 8 years newer.To be honest these cars are fantastic straight out of the box. My father who owns a mk3 Focus RS even likes how the car is in standard form. Stage 1 is a perfect little upgrade if you are fancying more straight line performance. Apparently with a stage 1 they do get a decent chunk of torque low down which will definitely make it more punchy. Have you decided on who will tune it for you?
Thanks
Leicester Loyal said:
I haven't even drove it yet buddy, but I won't bore you with that story, should hopefully be on the road by next week. I'll probably end up driving it as standard for at least a few months before even looking into stage 1, but it's definitely something that I might do one day. I've come from a Clio 182 so the inside of it feels so modern, even though it's only 8 years newer.
Oh haha, I'm sure you'll love it, I do think STs are the modern day clio 182 so I do hope it lives up to expectation Mine still puts a smile on my face nearly every time I drive it:
mongoose 3 inch cat back
ITG Maxogen cold air intake
ITG crossover pipe
Airtec Stage 1 intercooler
Collins Performance stage 2 map
Collins Performance symposer delete
Collins Performance rear engine mount
Collins Performance short shifter
Mishimoto cold side intercooler pipe
Mishimoto hot side intercooler pipe
Mishimoto PCV oil catch can
Forge recirculating dump valve
Airtec induction hose
Pro Alloy turbo intake elbow
Boomba Racing manifold spacer
Boomba Racing throttle body spacer
Mountune clubsport suspension
Mountune grooved front discs
HEL braided brake lines (front)
Mountune fast road brake pads (front)
Frentech slider pins (rear)
H+R 15mm spacers
Steeda adjustable droplinks
Powerflex Rear Beam To Chassis Bushes
Powerflex Front Wishbone Front Bushes
Powerflex Front Upper Engine Mount Insert
Powerflex Bushes for Rear Spring Upper Isolator
Powerflex Front Anti Roll Bar Bushes 21mm
Powerflex Front Arm Rear Bushes, Caster Adjustable
Powerflex Upper Transmission Mount Insert
mongoose 3 inch cat back
ITG Maxogen cold air intake
ITG crossover pipe
Airtec Stage 1 intercooler
Collins Performance stage 2 map
Collins Performance symposer delete
Collins Performance rear engine mount
Collins Performance short shifter
Mishimoto cold side intercooler pipe
Mishimoto hot side intercooler pipe
Mishimoto PCV oil catch can
Forge recirculating dump valve
Airtec induction hose
Pro Alloy turbo intake elbow
Boomba Racing manifold spacer
Boomba Racing throttle body spacer
Mountune clubsport suspension
Mountune grooved front discs
HEL braided brake lines (front)
Mountune fast road brake pads (front)
Frentech slider pins (rear)
H+R 15mm spacers
Steeda adjustable droplinks
Powerflex Rear Beam To Chassis Bushes
Powerflex Front Wishbone Front Bushes
Powerflex Front Upper Engine Mount Insert
Powerflex Bushes for Rear Spring Upper Isolator
Powerflex Front Anti Roll Bar Bushes 21mm
Powerflex Front Arm Rear Bushes, Caster Adjustable
Powerflex Upper Transmission Mount Insert
mooseracer said:
Mine still puts a smile on my face nearly every time I drive it:
mongoose 3 inch cat back
ITG Maxogen cold air intake
ITG crossover pipe
Airtec Stage 1 intercooler
Collins Performance stage 2 map
Collins Performance symposer delete
Collins Performance rear engine mount
Collins Performance short shifter
Mishimoto cold side intercooler pipe
Mishimoto hot side intercooler pipe
Mishimoto PCV oil catch can
Forge recirculating dump valve
Airtec induction hose
Pro Alloy turbo intake elbow
Boomba Racing manifold spacer
Boomba Racing throttle body spacer
Mountune clubsport suspension
Mountune grooved front discs
HEL braided brake lines (front)
Mountune fast road brake pads (front)
Frentech slider pins (rear)
H+R 15mm spacers
Steeda adjustable droplinks
Powerflex Rear Beam To Chassis Bushes
Powerflex Front Wishbone Front Bushes
Powerflex Front Upper Engine Mount Insert
Powerflex Bushes for Rear Spring Upper Isolator
Powerflex Front Anti Roll Bar Bushes 21mm
Powerflex Front Arm Rear Bushes, Caster Adjustable
Powerflex Upper Transmission Mount Insert
How much horsepower does that all make?mongoose 3 inch cat back
ITG Maxogen cold air intake
ITG crossover pipe
Airtec Stage 1 intercooler
Collins Performance stage 2 map
Collins Performance symposer delete
Collins Performance rear engine mount
Collins Performance short shifter
Mishimoto cold side intercooler pipe
Mishimoto hot side intercooler pipe
Mishimoto PCV oil catch can
Forge recirculating dump valve
Airtec induction hose
Pro Alloy turbo intake elbow
Boomba Racing manifold spacer
Boomba Racing throttle body spacer
Mountune clubsport suspension
Mountune grooved front discs
HEL braided brake lines (front)
Mountune fast road brake pads (front)
Frentech slider pins (rear)
H+R 15mm spacers
Steeda adjustable droplinks
Powerflex Rear Beam To Chassis Bushes
Powerflex Front Wishbone Front Bushes
Powerflex Front Upper Engine Mount Insert
Powerflex Bushes for Rear Spring Upper Isolator
Powerflex Front Anti Roll Bar Bushes 21mm
Powerflex Front Arm Rear Bushes, Caster Adjustable
Powerflex Upper Transmission Mount Insert
Macron said:
What does the manifold spacer do out of interest?
Impressive list nonetheless!
I was impressed by his list too, massive respect to the dude. I will wait for him to get back to answer your question but I think a manifold spacer may have something to do with increased air volume put through the manifold itself. I'm unsure myself so I'll wait for him to get back to you on that as I'm also interestedImpressive list nonetheless!
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