Dropped off to Herrod's this morning

melbzetec · 17-02-2009, 02:13 PM

Well, after about 2 years of gathering parts, I finally dropped my car off to Herrod Motorsport this morning to have the final install of my new trick head.

Should have it back by about Thursday. Fingers crossed it meets up to my dreams and expectations!!!!

For those not aware of the mod, I have:

Ford Racing CNC'd head with about 30% increase in flow, uprated springs, and larger exhaust valves
Milled .040" to raise compression
Ford Racing Stage II camshafts
Ford Racing cam gears
Kent cambelt
ARP cam bolts
ARP head studs
Cometic head gasket
Copper exhaust gasket
Billet oil pump gears
Ford Racing oil pump
Motorcraft 1 step colder copper plugs
New tensioners, pulleys etc
Followed by a custom tune from Rob

I don't want it to be a beast, just something a bit more serious than stock

Fingers crossed! Wish me luck!

819_FLY · 17-02-2009, 05:29 PM

Should go quite nice with that list thrown into it.... im asuming the cam gears are adjustable.... just checking

Velociraptor82 · 17-02-2009, 05:43 PM

I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing that whenit is finished.....

melbzetec · 17-02-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 819_FLY

Should go quite nice with that list thrown into it.... im asuming the cam gears are adjustable.... just checking

Yep, adjustable. With ARP bolts

DZFord · 17-02-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

I don't want it to be a beast, just something a bit more serious than stock

With these mods added to your car you'll have something very serious! Quite an impressive list of parts there...

I hope it all goes well, I'm sure the guys at Herrods will do a great job.

mohit · 17-02-2009, 09:25 PM

What sort of kilowattage are you expecting at the wheels after the tune?

melbzetec · 17-02-2009, 09:52 PM

Some of the guys in the US claim up to about 112kw at the wheels with this type of setup. Stock is about 74kw, mine is currently at 88kw. I'm looking for over 100kw hopefully. (I don't think my current camshafts are optimally timed from factory, so I expect to get a little simply from dialling the cams in, let alone the other mods)

From Factory the engine is rated at 96kw. If I get 96kw at the wheels, then tht would be good, but I expect more

melbzetec · 18-02-2009, 02:50 PM

Setback 1.

Despite supplying a bucketload of parts, I forgot to put the locking wheel nut back in the glovebox after SFS!!!! (Idiot!

: )

Which meant the guys couldn't remove the wheels which makes it easier to get to the engine (they're actually dropping the engine out to do the work.) That held them up for a couple of hours and they ended up dropping the engine out despite the wheels still on

Setback 2.

The Kent cambelt I supplied is too long, so they are getting a genuine Ford one but it won't be in until tomorrow. More time lost. (And I can't remember who I bought the cam belt from but it was marked as a 2.0 litre Zetec....maybe the old Mondeo one??)

But as I said to Rob, I'd rather a good job than a fast job.

:

Fredo · 18-02-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbzetec

Well, after about 2 years of gathering parts, I finally dropped my car off to Herrod Motorsport this morning to have the final install of my new trick head.

Should have it back by about Thursday. Fingers crossed it meets up to my dreams and expectations!!!!

For those not aware of the mod, I have:

Ford Racing CNC'd head with about 30% increase in flow, uprated springs, and larger exhaust valves
Milled .040" to raise compression
Ford Racing Stage II camshafts
Ford Racing cam gears
Kent cambelt
ARP cam bolts
ARP head studs
Cometic head gasket
Copper exhaust gasket
Billet oil pump gears
Ford Racing oil pump
Motorcraft 1 step colder copper plugs
New tensioners, pulleys etc
Followed by a custom tune from Rob

I don't want it to be a beast, just something a bit more serious than stock

Fingers crossed! Wish me luck!

Dude, seriously . . . "a bit better than stock"??
That thing of yours is already a piece or work, but it will be a fair bit better than "a bit better than stock"!
Envy is such an ugly word. Accurate, but ugly.
Can't wait to see the results.
Fredo

:

Mullett · 18-02-2009, 08:52 PM

One word: Boost. You know you want it

-RM.

melbzetec · 20-02-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mullett

One word: Boost. You know you want it

-RM.

No no no no no.

.........LOL

Boost would have been easier and cheaper. But I am liking the old school NA approach.

And now that I have raised compression, won't be going forced induction in the future. I know I won't get as much power as FI, but I am enjoying this journey.

I also sort of reckon that given Ford did a good job with the turbo on the RS, turboing the Zetec is a bit wannabe. My car was born, naturally aspirated, so I am just trying to improve on the breed, rather than change the breed.

.........well sort of makes sense in my head anyway

DZFord · 20-02-2009, 11:57 AM

There is definitely something old school and almost romantic about modifying a
naturally aspirated engine!

Any updates yet?

melbzetec · 20-02-2009, 02:15 PM

This is the email I got from John at Herrod's just a short while ago:

Steve,
The engine is back together and back in the car. All we need to do now is hook up wires, shift cables, clutch lines etc and then kick it in the guts. I hope to see it running by tonight, and then get Rob to tune it on Monday.

Regards,

John McAlinden
Herrod Motorsport

Love it!

Fredo · 20-02-2009, 02:28 PM

Oh Man! We . . er, I mean you gotta wait all week end . . . . nooooo!!
Fredo

:

Velociraptor82 · 20-02-2009, 02:51 PM

you'll have to put it on the dyno and show us the stats compared to stock. I'm very interested to see the differences.

DZFord · 20-02-2009, 03:19 PM

^ agreed! Very interested in the dyno results.

"kick it in the guts" - i love it!

melbzetec · 20-02-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredo

Oh Man! We . . er, I mean you gotta wait all week end . . . . nooooo!!
Fredo

:

No it's cool. We lost time with wrong size cam belts (which I had supplied) and missing locking nuts etc. As I said to John, I'm after a good job not a fast job.

Herrod have been great. My stuff ups have slowed it down (although I still can't figure the cambelt.....it's even marked 2 litre Zetec....maybe old Mondeo)

I have a dyno sheet from before this install (88fwkw) Stock is about 74fwkw I think (96kw at the fly). So will be interesting to see Dyno

Mullett · 20-02-2009, 09:17 PM

And I have full respect to you for it. A full-house NA motor is like nothing else on earth...

-RM.

zetec · 20-02-2009, 09:28 PM

Nice mate, very nice. I can't wait!!!

melbzetec · 24-02-2009, 08:04 PM

Note by email from Herrods today:

"She is up and going and running well. It has a nice little lumpy idle."

On the Dyno tomorrow morning for Rob to do the tuning.

Should be able to pick up tomorrow afternoon.

Getting itchy hands and feet!!!!

Velociraptor82 · 24-02-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbzetec

Getting itchy hands and feet!!!!

you and all the rest of us out there in forum-land

DZFord · 24-02-2009, 09:01 PM

melbzetec, there is a problem...your signature is too long with all the mods!

Seriously though, can't wait for a sound clip and the dyno results!

melbzetec · 24-02-2009, 09:06 PM

Mate you should talk!!!!!!!!!!

:

At the rate you're making mods, you'll have a brand new car within 18 months!! LOL

DZFord · 24-02-2009, 09:15 PM

Hey on my current PC monitor resolution, I'm only up to my second signature line, you've got three, almost 4!

Velociraptor82 · 24-02-2009, 09:21 PM

hahahaahha.

I took the next step up and created a whole web page dedicated to my car and its mods, leaving my signiture for more important info.....

melbzetec · 24-02-2009, 09:21 PM

Yeh?, well......ummm....eeerrr......well......you got me there Dan!

photn · 24-02-2009, 09:25 PM

steve, i cant wait to see it when it gets back, u need video file as soon it comes out of the building!@!!!

Fast Eddie · 25-02-2009, 01:22 PM

Just try and avoid 8 foot wide trucks in 6 foot wide spaces!!!! BTW I'm still awaiting my more-comprehensive dyno info from my tune.

Tj-zetec · 25-02-2009, 07:57 PM

I still think it was his missus with a can opener after he told her how much money he was going to spend at Herrod's in the coming months.

I'm under a similar threat at the moment.... except the car wont be the first thing opened.

melbzetec · 26-02-2009, 10:57 AM

Well she's back!

Redline is dyno when headers were installed
Blueline is when tune was done
Greenline is with cylinder head and cams

Good news: That is an 12.6% increase in power right across the range, with obviously a similar result in torque!! And a massive 31% increase in power since after the headers were installed. God knows what the increase is from stock! (I unfortunatly never dynoed mine at stock)

Not so good news: Frankly, in reality Rob and I were just a bit dissappointed. We were hoping to crack 100-105Kw. Rob (and some very experienced mates!) try everything to wring it's neck and get more out of it. But it is what it is. We have a couple of more things to potentially look at, but we'll see

Much more importantly, how is it to drive?

Well. you can certainly feel the power. Particularly in midrange. At wide open throttle (WOT) it is smooth and linear, and gets to the "redline" very quickly! Whereas previously the engine felt as if it was working hard, it now accelerates effortlessly. You can really sense the engine is breathing better. I especially have to take it carefully around corners!! If I apply the same throttle at the same point as I normally would, you could easily lose it

At half throttle, and at low revs it is not so noticeable, and almost seems as though there is a little lag. To be expected, since cams move the power up the rev range. But it may also need a new throttle body. Whilst the stock one in not restrictive, maybe more throttle response is needed. Not sure yet

It certainly has a lumpy idle, and a much much deeper exhaust burble. I may however get Rob to increase idle RPM just a tad....I keep thinking it's going to stall. (My wife says it idles like a truck!.....then raises her eyes to heaven and shakes her head....as she often does with my car!!!

:

)

Certainly the exhaust note is not raucous which is good, and I think still quite refined. Nothing ricer (or risotto!) about the exhaust note

I am still getting used to driving it, and so will get a better sense over the next few days (plus I only have 1 demerit point left, so am taking it very carefully)

Verdict? Honestly, not 100% sure yet. The power is clearly noticeable and smooth, but seems best at WOT (which is why I'm thinking a 65mm throttle body may help with partial throttle.) Certainly in mid to high rpm the engine response is excellent.

It is not a cheap mod, and frankly you can't push N/A much further and keep it streetable (well at least streetable for me). And as I said, Rob and I may look at a couple of other tweeks, but we'll see.

A big big thanks to Rob and John and their team. They always approach my plans with energy and enthusiasm, and treat my Focus with the utmost respect.

Rob, happy for you to add any comments you may have. This is one of the few head changes made to an LR Focus in Australia, so any observations from you would be invaluable