My Shed Mk1 Focus Ghia

[greenarrow]

jase_llan said:

Well, the good news is you can mate the Ka's gearbox to the ST150 engine... They're actually pretty much the same box anyway, just with different ratios and with the ST150 having shot-peened gears for 1st through 3rd.

I did not know that... interesting.. would the Ka gearbox be up to the 150 BHP though?

Actually the Fez gearbox is quite good as well. Its just the Focus one that is occasionally reluctant, mainly short shifting from 2nd to 4th which i tend to do a lot as 2nd is good for 60MPH and the engine is quite peaky, so once you've used the revs to get it up to speed, you don't really need 3rd.

[MC Bodge]

greenarrow said:

I did not know that... interesting.. would the Ka gearbox be up to the 150 BHP though?

Actually the Fez gearbox is quite good as well. Its just the Focus one that is occasionally reluctant, mainly short shifting from 2nd to 4th which i tend to do a lot as 2nd is good for 60MPH and the engine is quite peaky, so once you've used the revs to get it up to speed, you don't really need 3rd.

Is the shift cable mech adjusted correctly?

[stevemcs]

The water leak in the cabin will be the plastic scuttle panel on the passenger side, the pollen filter hides under it and you are supposed to replace the double sided seal otherwise it lifts and the water runs down the screen and into the footwell.

[MC Bodge]

stevemcs said:

The water leak in the cabin will be the plastic scuttle panel on the passenger side, the pollen filter hides under it and you are supposed to replace the double sided seal otherwise it lifts and the water runs down the screen and into the footwell.

I used part of a CD case (remember those?) to divert any rainwater away from filter when I fixed my leak back in the day after changing the pollen filter and using the proper sealant.

Ps. The Ford dealer managed to prevent any water ingress by only pretending to change the pollen filter during its service whilst under warranty.

[jase_llan]

greenarrow said:

I did not know that... interesting.. would the Ka gearbox be up to the 150 BHP though?

Actually the Fez gearbox is quite good as well. Its just the Focus one that is occasionally reluctant, mainly short shifting from 2nd to 4th which i tend to do a lot as 2nd is good for 60MPH and the engine is quite peaky, so once you've used the revs to get it up to speed, you don't really need 3rd.

For the price of a Ka gearbox I'd definitely be willing to chance it, a lot of people use them for autograss events where they tune them a fair bit anyway. I find the gearbox on my ST pretty lovely to use, short throw as standard and closely stacked ratios - 62mph is achievable in 2nd but mine revs to 7200rpm to get there.

[stevemcs]

MC Bodge said:

I used part of a CD case (remember those?) to divert any rainwater away from filter when I fixed my leak back in the day after changing the pollen filter and using the proper sealant.

Ps. The Ford dealer managed to prevent any water ingress by only pretending to change the pollen filter during its service whilst under warranty.

I found out the opposite way, they changed the filter but not the seal

[MC Bodge]

stevemcs said:

MC Bodge said:

I used part of a CD case (remember those?) to divert any rainwater away from filter when I fixed my leak back in the day after changing the pollen filter and using the proper sealant.

Ps. The Ford dealer managed to prevent any water ingress by only pretending to change the pollen filter during its service whilst under warranty.

I found out the opposite way, they changed the filter but not the seal

Fair enough. Not opposite, though. The Ford dealer didn't do anything to my car.

[Gallons Per Mile]

greenarrow said:

I did not know that... interesting.. would the Ka gearbox be up to the 150 BHP though?

Yep. I built a Ka-RS Turbo, using a Fiesta Turbo engine It was fine. Someone I knew back in the day used a Mk1 Focus RS engine in his Ka. That was running 250bhp without any issues IIRC.

[greenarrow]

stevemcs said:

The water leak in the cabin will be the plastic scuttle panel on the passenger side, the pollen filter hides under it and you are supposed to replace the double sided seal otherwise it lifts and the water runs down the screen and into the footwell.

I wondered that but it was the drivers footwell, the passenger one being absolutely dry, so I think it might be something else. Of course typically it hasn't rained for 10 days now so I've not had an opportunity to investigate further. I have noticed that a bit of the windscreen surround seal is slightly loose at the bottom drivers side corner and wonder if it might be this. Intend using some sealant on it and seeing where we go from there.

[greenarrow]

I read a test on Pistonheads this week where the writer commented on how the car felt very taut due to there not being very much wheel travel. It made me smile because one area where the Focus shows its age is in its ride height and wheel travel, assisted by balloon tyres...I mean who runs 65 profile tyres in 2020?! The Ghia in particular, has a higher ride height than the Zetec model and when you dive into a roundabout hard, you can really feel the car keel over. Ageing dampers and springs don't help either. Anyway I was wondering whether some new lowering springs might be the answer. Bit reluctant however as I don't want to mess with the ride quality......its quite amusing however. Cars just don't lean like they used to

Edited by greenarrow on Tuesday 31st March 12:20

[MC Bodge]

My year 2000 2.0 Zetec estate on 16" rims handled very well at the time.

A rental 1.6 Zetec hatch also handled well.

A long term rental 1.4 CL saloon (abroad. Rare in the UK) handled more softly. There was a noticeable difference when I drove my own car whilst back at home.

[greenarrow]

MC Bodge said:

My year 2000 2.0 Zetec estate on 16" rims handled very well at the time.

A rental 1.6 Zetec hatch also handled well.

A long term rental 1.4 CL saloon (abroad. Rare in the UK) handled more softly. There was a noticeable difference when I drove my own car whilst back at home.

Apparently the Zetec (which you owned and which I owned back in 2009) has the same dampers as the Ghia, but a lower ride height. You do notice it, as one thing I remember from my old Zetec was that it didn't lean much in corners. Also the tyre profile was slightly sportier, 195/60/15 against 185/65/14 on the early Ghias. I think from the facelift onwards all 1.6 Focus upwards used 15 inch wheels.

That aside, they can all be chucked around with abandon and my Ghia goes round corners just as fast as I remember my old Zetec, just with a bit more lean!

[thebigmacmoomin]

MC Bodge said:

My year 2000 2.0 Zetec estate on 16" rims handled very well at the time.

A rental 1.6 Zetec hatch also handled well.

A long term rental 1.4 CL saloon (abroad. Rare in the UK) handled more softly. There was a noticeable difference when I drove my own car whilst back at home.

Zetec's had better suspension. Very noticeable when dad got rid of his Zetec Mk1 for a Ghia Mk1.5.

[s m]

Limpet said:

CousinDupree said:

Certainly does! It's like Ford continued on good work done by Peugeot on the 205/309/405 models, amongst other fine handling / riding French competition.. The 405 in particular was a strong influence on the first Mondeo and I guess the Focus from there on. Both a massive step on from the Sierra and dismal FWD Escorts.

I remember reading somewhere that the Peugeot 306’s chassis was benchmarked by the Focus development team. I’ve done lots of miles in both, and there’s a lot of similarity in how they drive.

[greenarrow]

thebigmacmoomin said:

MC Bodge said:

My year 2000 2.0 Zetec estate on 16" rims handled very well at the time.

A rental 1.6 Zetec hatch also handled well.

A long term rental 1.4 CL saloon (abroad. Rare in the UK) handled more softly. There was a noticeable difference when I drove my own car whilst back at home.

Zetec's had better suspension. Very noticeable when dad got rid of his Zetec Mk1 for a Ghia Mk1.5.

I think it depends on what you mean better - as per my previous post, both used the same dampers, so it comes down to springs, where the Zetec used lower springs than the Ghia. Certainly the Zetec is tauter, which feels nicer when your pitching into roundabouts etc, but having owned both myself, I would say the Ghia might be a tad better on a really bumpy backroad, where its better ride height and higher profile tyres means it never seems to get caught out over yumps and compressions.

I probably prefer the Zetec as a daily, but the Ghia is by no means bad.

[stevemcs]

I used Eibach springs on my Focus Ghia and it rode very well.

[MC Bodge]

<cough>Cut springs? </cough>

[greenarrow]

stevemcs said:

I used Eibach springs on my Focus Ghia and it rode very well.

Did it make a noticeable difference to the handling tautness? I'm guessing so.

TBH, I'm getting a bit obsessive here. Its a cheap £500 shed and I should view it as such. Very little point wasting money on aftermarket springs etc. Better value for money would be to replace the two elderly Firestone tyres on the back which feel very hard and IMO are undoubtedly compromising the handling balance. I can get a pair of Avons for £100 and might just do that once the quarantime is over!

[greenarrow]

s m said:

Ah yes, I remember that magazine article, wish I'd bought it!

..and what a tidy looking car for £350. TBH, if I got another Focus, the Mk1.5 Zetec in either 1.6 or 1.8 petrol would be the one......

[MC Bodge]

greenarrow said:

Did it make a noticeable difference to the handling tautness? I'm guessing so.

TBH, I'm getting a bit obsessive here. Its a cheap £500 shed and I should view it as such. Very little point wasting money on aftermarket springs etc. Better value for money would be to replace the two elderly Firestone tyres on the back which feel very hard and IMO are undoubtedly compromising the handling balance. I can get a pair of Avons for £100 and might just do that once the quarantime is over!

We have 15" Rainsports on our 56reg Fiesta Zetec. They work very well.