2001 Focus ZX3 Project
Posted by Dbracing91@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 41 comments
2001 Ford focus ZX3 with a manual transmission swap as well as a few other subtle modifications. KSport Coilovers, poly control arm bushings , poly sway bar bushings, clutch masters 6 puck stage 4 clutch, MSD upgraded ignition, massive speed light weight crank pulley, Steeda strut tower brace, battery relocation to trunk, modified K&N intake kit, SVT big brake kit in the front as well as SVT wheels & aluminum thermostat housing. I am preping a turbo kit and have a 1 owner SVT that I am rebuilding as well. Let me know what you think of my hot hatch. It’s been a good car and fun journey working on this platform.
justLeDuck@reddit
Just out of curiosity, what’s the difference between this and the SVT focus?
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
They share a lot! The main difference is SVT has variable valve timing , forged internal, 6 speed transmission, bigger brakes, lower stiffer suspension, 17 inch alloy wheels ( wider ) sporty interior and a body kit. Those are the main ones, but the engine block is the same, and so many interchangeable parts.
justLeDuck@reddit
Oh sick those SVT focus’s are cool, I have a turbo cobalt SS but I might eventually pick up a SVT focus just for the fun of it
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
I like the cobalt SS , cool car like the SVT ! Is your the turbo or S/C ?
justLeDuck@reddit
Turbo! It’s got a bunch of other goodies over the S/C versions too which is sick
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Nice, how is the aftermarket/ OEM parts for that thing ? With the SVT , it’s harder and harder to find parts. It has been easier for me to find standard ZX3 parts.
justLeDuck@reddit
Honestly? For all the critical stock parts. Pretty easy in my experience a lot of that is become of ZZPerformance and a very cool community that’s mostly on Facebook. ZZP makes a ton of parts to keep up with maintenance stuff on the cobalts and they’re very reasonably priced, and it’s pretty easy to go into the Facebook groups and ask if anyone has parts you can buy from them if you need something they don’t carry. The after market stuff is insaneeee for these cars a lot of options for very good prices, ZZP and OTTP are probably the best example of people who provide performance parts for cobalts. It doesn’t surprise me that the SVT focus is hard to find parts for I don’t think they got as popular as the SRT-4 or the cobalt SS. Eventually parts will probably start getting really expensive or difficult to find for the cobalts as they get wrecked or scrapped often since they rust out so bad or get the piss drove out of them by people with more money than sense
awirelesspro@reddit
Used to own a SVT Focus but the parts supply for the engine are completely non existent. Didn’t want to go through a swap so got rid of it.
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
That’s the major problem with the SVT, rare & only made for 4 years. The standard 2.0 Zetec still has a lot of aftermarket support. And can still get forged internals for Massive Speed and a few other specialists. And the MTX transmission can be rebuilt, the 6 speed from the SVT cannot - zero parts I can find.
ktmrider119z@reddit
Would you be interested in another SVT? Selling mine. In the midwest, tho.
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Shit… if I didn’t have 7 cars and 5 motorcycles , I’d be asking for your address right now. lol
Out of curiosity, what’s the condition?
ktmrider119z@reddit
2nd owner, 124k. Runs and drives great. Theres the typical midwestness underneath, but interior is good, just had alternator and AC done in the last 2 years.
Only issues is it needs the IMRC contact cleaned and could use a valve cover gasket.
Its been very good to me, so i want it to live on with someone who will appreciate it for what it is.
awirelesspro@reddit
Completely agree, its a shame cause my car was great except for the engine needed a rebuild because of low compression.
silenius88@reddit
Ford used to make a shock and strut kit for like 200 bucks! I wonder if they still make it. It was for firmer shocks.
ktmrider119z@reddit
Svt kit. Still available at steeda., straight bolt on.
driverdan@reddit
I had a 2002 Focus SVT, my first and only brand new car. It was really fun and a good intro to hot hatches. With a proper setup they handle really well.
I'm glad to see someone building one of these.
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Thank you my friend! I appreciate the comment. I will keep posting as both my focus’s progress. I want to keep them forever. Modern classics
BPDU_Unfiltered@reddit
Good stuff! IMO it’s an underrated platform.
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Thank you 🙏 and I agree 100% . It’s the American Civic.
sunr1se79@reddit
More German than American, but it makes sense. When I had my svt I kept finding little design quirks that made me think of older VW and audi designs.
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
lol The car just works! And is amazing simple to work on.
OHNJNC@reddit
Bringing me back to the Focaljet days!
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
That’s where I found the instructions on how to do the manual swap. lol. 😅
AmateurEarthling@reddit
Man a ‘05 ZX3 was my first car at 16. I miss that thing. At one point I had at least 6 people in it somehow. Snuck my girlfriend out at high school. Then took it out on some trails, dented the crap out of the underside but it never got stuck even when my friends subie did.
Only got rid of it because the AC locked up and I didn’t have the money to fix it.
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
lol 💪 that’s a great story! These things are pretty damn solid! Idk if you saw the Donut media cross country tour but they praised the SVT platform in almost every challenge.
AmateurEarthling@reddit
Yeah I have nothing but great things to say about it. It’s a fun car. My now wife thought it was a minivan because I had it as my profile photo on Facebook back in those days. I finally got a real off-roader though, now I drive a ‘98 XJ. Wife has a ‘16 Sienna so it evens out.
RedMan542@reddit
It’s really a shame we never got the RS stateside.
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Agreed, we never get the fun cars
MCXL@reddit
This is an extremely stupid project, insofar that the platform has like no support or parts out there relative to similar things.
But it IS sick, and I always really liked this generation of Focus' looks, other than the chrome stretch on the headlight corners.
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
The SVT is a dumb build choice… parts for that are near impossible to find. The only thing I cannot find for the zx3 zetec is rubber and trim pieces. Everything else has been easy to find and lots of performance support from Massive Speed Systems, FSWerks, Marrasport_MFG and more.
And the suspension is the same all the way up to Modern Focus ST’s , so lots of suspension goodies and hacks. Mustang brake conversions are available, upgraded clutches … you name it, I’ve got almost all the support.
I’m about to swap the clutch pedal and master over to willwood set up for more strength.
shanerGT@reddit
This was my dream car growing up playing NFS Underground.. awesome !!!
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Hahah! Heck yeah, throw back! That is honestly what probably started this focus obsession I have. lol
smthngeneric@reddit
Nfs underground started my secret obsession with 2g eclipses. I have yet to own one but have worked on quite a few various dsm cars and evos and im not sure if ever will get one now. I'm happy to see someone else living out their nfs dreams
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Those cars are sick! But they seem high maintenance and a little expensive to modify now days. Super sick to see a clean one in the wild. And thank you ! I will post more as the turbo project progresses. Thank you for the support ✌️
bee_keo@reddit
First gen zx3’s look great!
I had an 05 zx3 with the duratec and manual transmission
and an 08 sedan, now a 22 maverick, but miss that hatchback with the stick
zozzy24@reddit
Oh hell yea! 01 ZX3 was my first car at 16 back in 09.
So much love for these old ZX3s!
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Thank you , Such a great little hatch back!
eejjkk@reddit
This looks like it's going to be a fun car! Hows that turbo oil drain going to work on pic 14?
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
It’s already fun! I can’t wait for boost. And this was me trying to mock thing up. I need to get different angles got the oil supply and drain. Saving up a a Mara motorsports high capacity oil pan with the ports for oil drain.
MyMotorStory_app@reddit
Thank you for saving almost classic Ford!
Dbracing91@reddit (OP)
Thank you ! by the time it’s a classic , this car should be fucking dialed in 👌and maybe worth something in 10 to 15 years. lol