New Focus ST Info thread.

[pajoda]

Originally Posted by oddnutz

The only reason I was considering the COBB tuner was because of the negative impression I have of SCT due to the price of sct tuner for Falcon. Going to order a tuner and engine mount tomorrow then the only bolt ons I want are IC for more efficient cooling in our climate and a intake so I can hear the turbo, I will get the resonator deleted for exhaust sound. After that I will start looking at suspension and brakes.

Sounds like a plan.

[hazrd]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Hey guys and gals,

What do you think of my few hours of effort today?

image

Not exactly a perfect job, but I'm pretty happy with the look of it.

Craig H

Details?
How much vinyl did you use?
What were the hardest parts of applying?
Keen to jump on the bandwagon

[EVL BOS]

Finally got around to taking some decent pictures of EVIL ST lol also had the resonator delete performed last weekend and loving it, sounds tougher and has the growl they should have from stock. I'll try to resist more mods till after the warranty lol

[hugoti]

Nice pics Evl Bos. Pretty much the same as mine except different licence plates lol.

Been thinking about getting the brake capilers painted red and down the track will look at getting the mags painted black with a hint of red.

Anyone done the resonator removal in Perth? Interested in doing this.

[In Focus]

Any exhaust shop can do a resonator delete. I had mine (not a Focus ST obviously) done at Custom Exhaust Specialists in Osborne Park. A bit pricey at $150 but I wanted it done properly (I know they do a good job) and in stainless steel like the rest of the system. I'm sure you could get it done cheaper somewhere else, and it wouldn't be the toughest job an exhaust specialist has ever done.

[hugoti]

Can someone post a video of how their ST sounds with the resonator removed? Just curious to hear what it sounds like and whether there's drone.

[EVL BOS]

Originally Posted by hugoti

Nice pics Evl Bos. Pretty much the same as mine except different licence plates lol.

Been thinking about getting the brake capilers painted red and down the track will look at getting the mags painted black with a hint of red.

Anyone done the resonator removal in Perth? Interested in doing this.

thanks, haha yeah as soon as I ordered it I ordered the plates to go with it lol

sounds good, wish we could option the wheel and calliper colour like the UK can. I've been thinking black myself still debating lol

You can youtube the resonator removal on youtube theres plenty on there helped me decide on doing it

[pajoda]

Originally Posted by hugoti

Can someone post a video of how their ST sounds with the resonator removed? Just curious to hear what it sounds like and whether there's drone.

Did this myself, check out this link, first page has all sorts of exhaust videos.
http://www.focusst.org/forum/focus-s...st-thread.html
For the record I like the sound with the resonator removed. There is no drone and at cruising speed you can hardly tell you have done it, put the foot down a bit and it sounds much better than stock. Pretty sure that are other videos of this on the same site if you want to look around.

[DJM83]

Did whats called happy laps here in QLD today, its essentially 30 minutes on the track where you can 'have a go' to an extent without a race license and helmet.
To say i was apprehensive that it would disappoint me compared to my old modded XR5 was an understatement.
Now as the session went on i was more and more impressed, it had no trouble staying with modded XR5's and in the corners it really impressed me, a lot.
Now this wasnt a timed day im just basing my thoughts on the cars around me and their drivers. We couldnt push hard (maybe 7 tenths at a guess)
After having a go on a track all i can say it ford have done an awesome job with the ST the way it handles on a circuit and the way it corners is fantastic.

I love my ST even more after today.

[aratic]

Nice one DJM.

How do you find out about events like this? I'd love to take mine around the track, but it seems unless you know someone with contacts the opportunities dont come up

[DJM83]

Its fortunate we have a gal on our other forum that works for QR and has an XR5T and gets us on the track. QR hold them for a few different clubs. We have another one coming up in a cpl months at Queensland raceway

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by hazrd

Details?
How much vinyl did you use?
What were the hardest parts of applying?
Keen to jump on the bandwagon

Hey hazrd,

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you, been busy selling the Falcon and getting the St looking nice again (I drove it to work a couple of days last week, and she got all dirty....).

First off, the product I used to colour the lower lip was plasti-dip, not vinyl wrap. If you haven't heard of the stuff, check out this thread here http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11394736

I had a little black left over from the Tez wheels I did, and I had thought about doing this mod since before I picked up the ST, as it kind of reminded me of this http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring...s-rs-4-big.jpg

Anyway, the whole process took me about two to three hours all up. That included giving the lip a quick wipe down, then jacking the front of the car up (and that meant using the standard jack that comes with the car as my hydraulic jack won't lift the car without crushing the side skirts ) so that I could use the little black palsti-dip that was left to spray the underside of the lip as well. After the car was jacked up I roughly taped a plastic drop sheet to cover off any overspray, and then finely masked around the areas that I wanted to colour.

Then it was around 4 coats of plasti-dip each with a ten or so minute wait to allow the plasti-dip to dry.

On the passenger side, I removed the masking while the plasti-dip was still wet. On the driver side, I was a little late getting to it and a skin had started to form when I attempted to remove the masking. As I did remove it, the plasti-dip on the spoiler lifted a little, but it seems to have settled down a week or so later.

On the other hand, when I was taking the masking off the passenger side, because of the tight space, I accidentally touched the wet paslt-dip to the point that you could see the original paint through it. So this was touched up later with a respray of the area, but now it is a little rough. So I'm not sure which technique is better. In my experience to date, they both have their pros and cons.

A can of plasti-dip is just under $30, so this mod cost me around $5 and three hours of my time. Of course, if you were buying a can just for this, it would cost you a whole can's worth.

So far, it has weathered pretty well. I've now washed it a couple of times, and if you don't look too close, the finish matches the oem plastic inserts pretty darn well, to the point where some folk couldn't even pick the oem from the plasti-dip at a distance, even after I had told them.

I have a few more areas that I want to do this with on the ST, but I need to find the time. I had a go on the weekend with the rims, but I wasn't happy with the result at all, so it was removed pretty quickly.

Sing out if want any more info.

Oh, and I am more than happy for people to jump on the bandwagon

Craig H

[hazrd]

Thanks for that Craig. Top write up!!

[hazrd]

So yesterday I had a crack at the "front lip mod" that Craig (psychobimbo) did to his. I decided to use vinyl instead of plastidip:



Unfortunately, it didnt last long before the vinyl started to lift thanks to the cold and windy Melbourne weather.

I really do like how it looks (when not up close lol) so ill be peeling it off and getting it done properly by a professional.

The part that makes the application difficult, is how the lip curves around which causes the vinyl to crease. The creases come out easily, and the finish looks awesome. But, the weather kicks in and causes it to lift, forming the creases again unfortunately.

[phil545]

Hmm i like this, undecided how it would look on mine as I have the black splitter too. maybe play around in photoshop and see,

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by hazrd

So yesterday I had a crack at the "front lip mod" that Craig (psychobimbo) did to his. I decided to use vinyl instead of plastidip:

image

Unfortunately, it didnt last long before the vinyl started to lift thanks to the cold and windy Melbourne weather.

I really do like how it looks (when not up close lol) so ill be peeling it off and getting it done properly by a professional.

The part that makes the application difficult, is how the lip curves around which causes the vinyl to crease. The creases come out easily, and the finish looks awesome. But, the weather kicks in and causes it to lift, forming the creases again unfortunately.

Hey hazrd,

Looks the goods (from that distance ). Love the look that colouring the lower lip produces.

Seriously, give the plasti-dip some consideration, it works really well and you won't have any difficulties with the curvature of the lip as you did with the vinyl.

Mind you, if you are going with a paint job, that will work well too. The one major advantage I like about the plasti-dip is that it takes very little effort to be able to return it to stock condition. Something you don't get with a re-paint. And I also plasti-dipped mine on a pretty cold day. Mind you, I did do it in the garage so there was a little protection.

Originally Posted by phil545

Hmm i like this, undecided how it would look on mine as I have the black splitter too. maybe play around in photoshop and see,

Phil, I reckon yours would look great done, too. Again consider, the plasti-dip as you can then easily remove it if you don't like it.

Craig H

[martinijosh]

Any overspray from the plastidip also comes off instantly with a bit of bug and tar remover on a clean soft rag.

Did the wheels on the 6t the other day... easy.

[aratic]

I'm sure something like this would be pretty easy for a vinyl wrapper, and it would probably last a bit better than plastidip too.

I think the Mountune Focus has this done as well.

[phil545]

Yeah im going the wrap route, booked in on the 24th :-)

[RSgerry]

Originally Posted by martinijosh

Any overspray from the plastidip also comes off instantly with a bit of bug and tar remover on a clean soft rag.

Did the wheels on the 6t the other day... easy.

image

looks sensational. I have heard the plastidip comes off the wheels easily as well if you change your mind. is this the case? is there any damage to the wheel finish or residue left over?

[martinijosh]

Originally Posted by RSgerry

looks sensational. I have heard the plastidip comes off the wheels easily as well if you change your mind. is this the case? is there any damage to the wheel finish or residue left over?

As long as you put it on thick enough (1 full can per 2 wheels) it will peel off. If you want to change colours you just spray over the top without peeling the old stuff off so you need less coats. No residue, actually lifts stains and grit out of the paint similar to a claybar.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by martinijosh

As long as you put it on thick enough (1 full can per 2 wheels) it will peel off. If you want to change colours you just spray over the top without peeling the old stuff off so you need less coats. No residue, actually lifts stains and grit out of the paint similar to a claybar.

Yep, that is my experience, too.

A couple of weekends ago, I plasti-dipped the ST rims in 'smoke'. After I did one wheel, I ummed and ahhed as to whether I would do anymore as I didn't really get the result i was expecting. So, after a quick validation check with the trouble and strife, off came the plasti-dip. The only areas I had trouble with was where the coat was very thin. In that case, the plasti-dip tended to tear rather than continue to peel away.

Craig H

[chrisorm]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Yep, that is my experience, too.

A couple of weekends ago, I plasti-dipped the ST rims in 'smoke'. After I did one wheel, I ummed and ahhed...

Didn't happen to take any pics with it still on did you?

I've been thinking of trying a smoke plastidip on my wheels just to see what it looks like before contemplating something more permanent.

Does it come off the tyres easily if you get a bit on them?

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by chrisorm

Didn't happen to take any pics with it still on did you?

I've been thinking of trying a smoke plastidip on my wheels just to see what it looks like before contemplating something more permanent.

Does it come off the tyres easily if you get a bit on them?

G'Day Chris,

Unfortunately, no. Smoke is actually a tinted transparent. For some reason I thought it was an opaque colour. Because it is a tinted transparent, I found it really difficult to get a nice even spread of the plasti-dip and therefore, the result was rather splotchy, ie darker in some spots than others.

Yeah, the plasti-dip literally just rubs off when you rub your hand around the tyre. The trick is to make sure that you do a good layer around the outer edge of the rim, and then you will be able to lift it easily off the tyre and peel a nice edge around the rim. See youtube for videos from dipyourcar.com on how to do this.

Hope that helps.

Craig H

[aratic]

I've used plastidip before and wasn't all that impressed with it. If you're wanting something that lasts longer than a few weeks get it done properly

[martinijosh]

Originally Posted by aratic

I've used plastidip before and wasn't all that impressed with it. If you're wanting something that lasts longer than a few weeks get it done properly

Put simply, you didn't do it right.

[aratic]

Probably right. Point is, you get what you pay for

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by aratic

Probably right. Point is, you get what you pay for

I really think it is horses for courses. If you are after a permanent solution, there is much better than plasti-dip. If you are after a trial (to see if you like it) or you want to ever return your work to original without great expense or you want to protect your paintwork (as you can with the clear), then plasti-dip would be hard to pass IMHO.

Anyway, this is probably not the most appropriate thread to discuss the merits (or otherwise) of plasti-dip. That is probably better done here http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11394736

Craig H

[MKE13]

On another note had a drive of the Focus ST's little bro today, the Fiesta ST...

Wow, what a little weapon!!!! Excellent, usable power, great handling and an awesome in car engine noise has won me over!!! (and the numerous easy tail slides around some nice tight corners may have helped myself come to that judgement)

Nice work Ford!

[aratic]

So Mountune have released the MT275 package including MTune for £1395 in the UK. No Ford support in Australia however.

Doing some maths, buying it direct from the UK by the time you pay duty and gst it's close to $3,000 at current exchange rate. So based on this if it ever came to Australia it's probably going to be nearer to $4,000 fitted at your local dealer.

If the wait isn't putting people off, the price might