Ford Focus Mk2 [ST] Estate Sleeper - Build Thread
Discussion
Six Figs said:
Whats your biggest sleeper surprise.
Making a new RS4 sweat, until we pulled away from a junction and and I couldn't get any traction and he overtook (he gave me a thumbs up later 
)Getting destroyed (and I mean completely) by a standard looking Golf R , but it then turned out that it had 600-ish-bhp. Six. Hundred. Brake. Horse. Power. In a Golf!
However fast your car is, there will always be someone with a faster car.So to catch up with a few things that have happened with the car:
First is traction. The steel wheels on the car are full sized spares from Peugeot which can take a 215 tyre, which is 10mm narrower than the standard car I think (correct me if I'm wrong). After lots of measuring and estimating that if I had roughly 20mm spacers and the original tyres were 10mm wider, then I should be able to run 30mm wider front wheels. So I bought another set of front wheels and sent them away to Essex to be banded. I choose to have the additional width put on the inside of the wheel as the outside was already flush with the wheel arch, and I didn't think the deep dish look would suit the car.
When the wheels arrived back I painted the fresh metal and then wrapped them in a set of 245/40/17 Pilot Sport 3s, which I later upgraded to a set of PS4s when they came out. I was surprised what a difference there was between the 3s and 4s.
Traction is greatly improved: I now only get wheelspin in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear (and 4th and 5th in the wet)!
First is traction. The steel wheels on the car are full sized spares from Peugeot which can take a 215 tyre, which is 10mm narrower than the standard car I think (correct me if I'm wrong). After lots of measuring and estimating that if I had roughly 20mm spacers and the original tyres were 10mm wider, then I should be able to run 30mm wider front wheels. So I bought another set of front wheels and sent them away to Essex to be banded. I choose to have the additional width put on the inside of the wheel as the outside was already flush with the wheel arch, and I didn't think the deep dish look would suit the car.
When the wheels arrived back I painted the fresh metal and then wrapped them in a set of 245/40/17 Pilot Sport 3s, which I later upgraded to a set of PS4s when they came out. I was surprised what a difference there was between the 3s and 4s.
Traction is greatly improved: I now only get wheelspin in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear (and 4th and 5th in the wet)!
seiben said:
Welshman Adam said:
CHR15 G said:
We need to do this. Please tell me you still have the car, despite my slow reply?
And despite my even slower reply to you, I still have the car. And could possibly arrange for another of the same spec and colour to be there. Only took a year for me see your reply, sorry!
Ok, I've read back and it's a drag race between a standard, diesel, grey Focus and mine. When's the Santa Pod SS?
littlelewis6 said:
Just sat and read the thread from start to finish, absolutely great build, have probably seen the car at a few Sunday services and never even given it a second glance!
Will you be going to the Silverstone Sunday (Monday) service? Would be great to properly appreciate the build in the metal.
I've realised that I need to leave the bonnet open at Sunday Services to at least give people half a chance! But after all, that is what I was aiming for...Will you be going to the Silverstone Sunday (Monday) service? Would be great to properly appreciate the build in the metal.
I hadn't planned on going to the Silverstone SS, but you're now the second person to ask so I may change my plans.
Welshman Adam said:
CHR15 G said:
It's been so long that I've forgotten what we are supposed to be arranging!
Ok, I've read back and it's a drag race between a standard, diesel, grey Focus and mine. When's the Santa Pod SS?
Just looked up the Sunday Service list, Pod's not on there unfortunately. Whereabouts are you based? I'm in Kent, just near the QE2 bridge.Ok, I've read back and it's a drag race between a standard, diesel, grey Focus and mine. When's the Santa Pod SS?
So picking up where I left off (a little while ago), this is the rest of the story of what I've done to the car.
First off was to try and quieten it down a little bit and add a bit more refinement. Whilst the car is fine to drive day to day it still has Ford levels of refinement as opposed to say an Audi. I decided that the easiest* (*wasn't easy) way of doing this was to add some more sound insulation, so I stripped out the interior again.
Gave the carpet a jet wash and shampoo whilst I had the chance:
Addressed a few areas of surface rust under the carpet:
Then I had to move the car around (not on the road). Never, ever drive your car like this: it's a terrible idea.
And then I installed two boxes of Dynamat on the inside, which was not quick or easy. And I don't really know how much difference it made either...
First off was to try and quieten it down a little bit and add a bit more refinement. Whilst the car is fine to drive day to day it still has Ford levels of refinement as opposed to say an Audi. I decided that the easiest* (*wasn't easy) way of doing this was to add some more sound insulation, so I stripped out the interior again.
Gave the carpet a jet wash and shampoo whilst I had the chance:
Addressed a few areas of surface rust under the carpet:
Then I had to move the car around (not on the road). Never, ever drive your car like this: it's a terrible idea.
And then I installed two boxes of Dynamat on the inside, which was not quick or easy. And I don't really know how much difference it made either...
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