Re: NorCal's I hope I can go to FR11 and meet some cool turtles build thread

[SVT3658]

I wish I had the time to do things to my car .... school and work take up pretty much all my time, 7 days a week.

When's your car going on the frame machine Brinton?

[NorCalFocus]

Thanks Brinton. I'm putting the poly front sway bar bushings on right now. Just had to eat dinner.

Josh just make the time!

[SVT3658]

Easier said than done, unfortunately

[NorCalFocus]

So MisterJohnson's bumper has been delivered and now thats one less thing in my garage. Right now I'm working on getting the car on the ground and drivable so I can paint the hood in my garage. I have a few things left on my list to do to be complete but will do those as I can.

I put in the ES poly sway bar bushings tonight.



The last week or so I've just been putting it back together little by little.



Here's the engine bay as she sits now. I painted my stock VC just to give me time to do my Contour VC. The gold was cobrawannabe's idea. I really like it and plan on doing the Counter one the same color. Also just put electrical tape on my CAI elbow to black it out until I get real black ones [giddy]

[J_Train]

looks good Chris

[Cobrawannabe]

YES! I think a white oil cap would be pretty cool!

[NorCalFocus]

Also a question for you euro whores, is this hole suspossed to be here?

[J_Train]

to make you ask questions lmao

[Kenzx3]

I'll have to look on the '03, BTW I intend on doing these similar modifications to the '00 sometime this summer when I decide to sit down with it and do some work to it so I'm following closely

[SVT3658]

looks great chris, and no i dont think that hole is supposed to be there

[NorCalFocus]

Thanks Ken. I hope this build inspires some more people.

Damn I was affraid of that Josh, thanks.

[SVT3658]

It really makes no difference, honestly. It's not like I would have ever noticed it if you didn't point it out.

Where'd you get the grille from?

[NorCalFocus]

I bought it last year from Cy, Kiaui Guy. I think my son took the screwdriver to it. The only reason I noticed it was because of the white rad support behind it. I had that nose part painted black before.

I'm just going to cut a small piece of plastic and weld it in.

[NorCalFocus]

Here's how she's going to look for a bit. Even tho the battery relocation isn't done I'm still very happy with the looks. The SVT header will be going in as soon as I get my last few pieces together.



I really would like the front lower. Yes I know I need coils but if I can go lower without them...







One problem I had when I cut my front springs was getting the "hat" to sit level on the spring. It would sit angled causing the hat and coil bearing to not sit correctly. So I came up with the idea of using a old rear coil isolator on one side of the spring to make it sit level. I cut a 2" piece and zip tied it to the spring and its been working great. I'm thinking if I can use this same idea and cut another 1/2 coil out of the front spring.


Does this count as tucking tire?




Lastly, I made these templates up and plan on making them out of thin sheet metal. Should I paint them black or white?

[SVT3658]

Looks so good Chris, your car has come a LONG way. I love it..

I say make the piece out of CF

[98LowRanger]

Wow, just read through this thread. Great job with the wire tuck and shaving! Your bay is look really cleaned up especially with the black heatshield for the manifold. For me that heatshield always seems to be one of the biggest eye sores on the Zetecs, but the flat black makes it blend in and look like it came from the factory that way (should have!). The gold valve cover really "pops" and along with the white strut brace and intake adds just enough color without going overboard. I think it is easy for people to over do it and paint too much. I almost want to say that the intake and maybe even the strut tower bar would look even better in the same shade of gold as the valve cover. I mean it looks great as is, but I am picky about introducing too many colors into a fairly small area. I like the gold and I know it ties into your wheels, but I guess I rather see the intake/strut bar also gold to really tie it in or the valve cover to go white so there is only white and black under the hood. Also your cover between the grill and core support looks great. Don't listen to Josh, CF is over rated I think it could look good white or black, but I am leaning more towards white. Keep up the great work man!

[NorCalFocus]

Well I tried to get some free CF but it didn't work out. Kyle (volcomstone1966) has a trashed CF he's been chopping up so I may try it out. The only issue I have is the thickness, whatever I use has to fit in the grove of the grill.

I'm almost tempted to leave the battery where its at for balance. I'm affraid the drivers side would look way to empty compared to the passenger side.

But thanks guys! Its been lots of fun.

[NorCalFocus]

So I feel I should update this thread since my build isn't complete and now has more issues.

So I'm popping the 30amp fuse for the ignition. Focusguy on FF is helping me chase the wire down and will be getting me the route of the wire with All Data. When I broke down I called my pops to come and help me. Tried driving her home but only made it about 500 yards on another fuse. So we decided to tow it home. Pops has a Z71 with all tow goodies, so we put the tow strap on my strut tower bar. The first stop light we made it to, he took off way to fast and bent the plates of the bar. He's taking it to a steel friend of his to have it fixed. Its needs to be repainted now, but thats a lot better than ripping the bumper off, or something else. So she's sitting again, not by choice.

[SVT3658]

[Yocrew]

The only issue I have is the thickness, whatever I use has to fit in the grove of the grill.

Hello new sig. And chris, things could be worse. You could have to go get a new car.

[Kenzx3]

...And chris, things could be worse. You could have to go get a new car.

X2, shit happens man, if we all gave up when shit went wrong with our foci we'd be focus-less

[NorCalFocus]

Yeah thats true, thanks guys. I feel like going out and checking her out now.

[SVT3658]

do it!

mine's back to 100%, and I'm loving it

[NorCalFocus]

Well I spent a little time running back the wires. Haven't found anything yet. I'm wondering if it would be easier to find another harness and replace it. I bet Steve charges a ton of $$$ for them.


But I'll work at it a little each night this week and see what I can get.

[Cobrawannabe]

Good luck bud!

[NorCalFocus]

Well I haven't had time to really get into it and see if I could find anything. I'm going out of town for work for tomorrow and Friday. This weekend its on like donkey kong tho.

[NorCalFocus]

I fail hard Josh.

[SVT3658]

I fail hard Josh.

How so? Car still not running?

Did you actually cut anything when you did the tuck??


Don't feel bad bro, you're the first I know to do the tuck then drive the car. Nick did the tuck but AFAIK his car hasn't run yet. And HonHon did a tuck on his D20 but he put the harness in the bay and it didn't run so he said fuck it IIRC

[NorCalFocus]

I fail hard Josh.

How so? Car still not running?

Did you actually cut anything when you did the tuck??


Don't feel bad bro, you're the first I know to do the tuck then drive the car. Nick did the tuck but AFAIK his car hasn't run yet. And HonHon did a tuck on his D20 but he put the harness in the bay and it didn't run so he said fuck it IIRC

Thanks, but I was talking about your post in my build thread on FF

No FR, making lots of money comes first.

[NorCalFocus]

Well it looks like the car is okay for now. Whatever the short was its not doing it now. I drove the car about 10 miles today without an issue. So

[Rudel]

Check near your front axels. I had a wire rubbing against it one time....just thinking out loud.

[NorCalFocus]

Still hacking away at it. I had a bad headlight I fixed, but then the battery was dead. Jump started her and were good, but I'm thinking the battery could be my issue.

I'll head to evanzone to have a monkey check it out.

[SVT3658]

the progress


And I love "evanzone"

[NorCalFocus]

Well the monkey at Evanzone said my battery is no good. So thats more than likely the issue. Thats a huge relief

Sunday there's a drive going on with some of the FJ crew so I'll be doing that. I'm just going to take the battery out of the wagon for the trip. I love having two Focus'

[NorCalFocus]

Forward progress. I got the strut bar pounded flat and fitting right. Just got to strip the polish off and repaint it now. Electrical issue has been not an issue for the last two weeks. First cruise of the year tomorrow so we'll see how it goes. I got a stock SVT heat shield and painted it black. I decided its more stock looking and cops/SMOG shouldn't hassle me over the headers. I also tucked the radiator hoses along the back side of the rad support.







Next project is to paint the hood and my temp trunk. I'm sick and fucking tired of looking at a satin black trunk lid. ED told Kyle and I another month or two before we get our shit. I don't want to bash them until I get my trunk, then I'll bash the shit out of them on FF and FJ.

Too pay off my debt to Todd for the wagon's wheels I'm painting a set of steelies. Here's some pics of my work.

BEFORE:


Our 2 part Epoxy in a Spray can. Stuff works so well.


PRIMER:




PAINT:




No Spray Can, Done with the Gun

[glowin3232]

Those steelies look flawless!

[NorCalFocus]

Thanks man. I've been getting alot better with the gun.

[SVT3658]

Those steelies look incredible!

[NorCalFocus]

Another update! Wow two days in a row.

Went for a nice drive/twisty day with a few other jetters today. I did 175mi round trip and had not one issue with the car. I now have been refuled on getting my list of goals I set out finished. I will be ordering my paint this week for the hood. I will also be prepping a few other pieces to get painted all at one time. Well my gold paint on the valve cover isn't holding up to the heat. Its not engine paint and its starting to bubble. So gold valve cover is going bye bye. But I have a better color planned.

Here's a few shots I took on a stop on the way home. Such a beautiful day in the California Gold Country.







Last picture with the ugly paint job'd hood.


Copied and pasted^^^but FLF gets updated shots of steelies.

Well after the paint dried overnight I took the wheels out into the sun and found they weren't dark enough. So I took the paint to the store to have them darken it, the kid didn't know how much to add and made the paint way to dark. So I brought it home and got out a can of left over red panit I had from before. I mixed up a custom one off color and here's what I got.

[Yocrew]

That darker red is much better.

[trailbikerider]

Love the red steelies! Also that front needs to come down more

[NorCalFocus]

Thanks James, I like it alot better too.

Blake its parked on unlevel ground.

[NorCalFocus]

I think the crap black trunk lid I have is getting painted white tomorrow. I just took stock and have just enough paint left over from my first custom hood. So that will at least clean it up for now. I'm going to pull the front springs and do some serious measurements and see if I can go MOAR LOW.

Also I got approval of color for the wagon's wheels today. Metallic purple!!!!

[NorCalFocus]

I didn't get time to cut the front springs anymore this weekend. But I did get my temp trunk lid painted white. Kyle and I also cut out the metal for the grill to radiator support piece. I'll be painting those when I paint my hood. I also got the strut tower bar re painted this weekend. I'll put it back in next weekend.

[SVT3658]

Looks SOOO much better!

[NorCalFocus]

Thanks Josh I love it too.

While taking it all apart yesterday I realized how good she looks without a spoiler. So when (if ever) I get my CF trunk it will not be getting a spoiler.

[slocussvt]

Looks good. Can't wait to see the CF trunk.

[NorCalFocus]

So this weekend work starts again. I got all my house projects done or on hold until later. I'll replacing my gas tank with a 02 tank/pump. I'm sick and tired of the fuel pressure cutting out on turns when I have low gas levels. I have one sitting on the side of my house so fuck it. Also going to try and fix my airbag light and door ajar light. If I can, I may even start the battery relocation.

Now my question to you. I don't want to be just another guy doing a fad but, I have a GT bump BMX sitting in my garage from my days of ridding. Should I paint it white to match my car or gold to match my wheels, and get a rack to sport for shows?

[SVT3658]

If you're gonna do it for the sole purpose of shows, I say no.

Progress is good! I really want to swap to an 05+ tank, because I've heard they hold 2 more gallons of gas

[NorCalFocus]

Yes it would be for shows and G2G's. I don't daily my car so it wouldn't be usefull any other way.

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