ford zx2 s/r edition: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Dec. 19, 2008 2:48 p.m. maturbo951 None

Looking to purchase a ZX2 S/R edition and wanted to get some feed back and opinions on the purchase.
Dec. 19, 2008 2:51 p.m. John Brown UltimaDork

They are crap, you need to convince the current owner to sell it to me for $1000.00.

They are pretty freaking good cars.
Dec. 19, 2008 3:05 p.m. akamcfly New Reader

Mine is holding up very well after ~80,000 miles of less than kind treatment.

any specific questions?
Dec. 19, 2008 3:18 p.m. Tom Heath Production Editor

+1.

I like them very much.
Dec. 19, 2008 3:25 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

I saw one in the Target parking lot the other day.
Dec. 19, 2008 3:30 p.m. maturbo951 New Reader

Yea, want to start a solo car...seem like its a natural...so wanted to get some opinions. It is yellow , but thats cool. Is there anything I need to look for that was a gremlin on them?
Dec. 19, 2008 3:32 p.m. maturbo951 New Reader

In reply to akamcfly Do you solo yours.
Dec. 19, 2008 3:34 p.m. maturbo951 New Reader

Also, I know they come with a ton of aftermarket parts directly from Ford. But is there any other go fast I can add to it?
Dec. 19, 2008 4:43 p.m. PHeller Reader

You guys are funny.

S/R Package is: - B&M Shifter - slightly different computer program - Eibach Springs with Tokico Struts - "Daisy" Wheels - different intake - plug wires - fog lights - Borla muffler.

Cheaper power adders are a custom ECU Flash/Program, Underdrive Pulley, and Header.

Everything else starts a decrease in power/price.
Dec. 19, 2008 5:17 p.m. Varkwso Reader

rare cars really and worth latching on to.

I have only seen one at a track event. It was Road Atlanta a few years back. It had the blue hoses like the Mustang Cop cars....
Dec. 19, 2008 5:40 p.m. PHeller Reader

I think the S/R was comparable to the Neon ACR and Civic SI in production number, something like 6,000 or so all told, but their were more S/R's produced in a shorter amount of time.

Honestly, a normal ZX2 with about 200-400 in mods can easily outrun a S/R.

The factory modifications on the S/R's are not substantial enough to warrant people getting all worked up over them.
Dec. 19, 2008 6:40 p.m. iceracer Reader

The SR was a performance package that was available on '99 and 2000 models. 500 in '99 all were yellow. 1500 in 2000. I have one of the 500 red ones. Purchased new. The SR package consisted of an Iceman intake,Borla muffler, specially calibrated PCM, more agressive fuel map and spark advance. no governor. App. 10% power increase. Centerforce Clutch, some late ones had an Exedy short throw shifter Eibach pro kit with specific Tokiko struts Energy suspension bushings and motor mounts Four wheel disc brakes And some other trim and accessory stuff. I currently have 6500 miles on it. It is my daily drive except when I set it up for a track day, autocross or ice racing.
Dec. 19, 2008 10:20 p.m. billy3esq Dork

Cool cars, but, as noted, you can make a regular ZX2 faster than an S/R pretty easily. I think you can also get most of the special parts out of the Ford Racing catalog. Oddly, I've never seen one of these in person. I always wanted one, though.
Dec. 19, 2008 11:08 p.m. Carson HalfDork

David S. Wallens wrote:

I saw one in the Target parking lot the other day.

Me too! Different Target and different car I'll bet though
Dec. 20, 2008 6:33 a.m. PHeller Reader

Many S/R had AC, some had sunroofs, most had power options.

You could away with saving quite a bit of weight by buying a base model ZX2, probably would save you a good chunk of cash as well.
Dec. 20, 2008 11:41 a.m. iceracer Reader

Fords idea was to develop aftermarket parts that could be installed on any ZX2. The SR was to demonstrate that. One thing they forgot was a bigger rear sway bar, keeping the wimpy 13mm bar. A 19mm bar or larger makes a huge difference. They are available off other Escort models.
Dec. 20, 2008 12:02 p.m. akamcfly New Reader

maturbo951 wrote:

In reply to akamcfly Do you solo yours.

No I don't - too "house poor" for such things...
Dec. 20, 2008 12:04 p.m. jj New Reader

OK, My take on autocrossing a ZX2. I built a ZX2 for STS a few years back. It had all the usual bolt on's, plus the $1000 Ford racing coil-overs and sway bar. It did ok, but was usually mid pack. My previous car was a 97 Neon ACR with a similar set-up. It usually finished top three in STS, albeit a different region. Overall, I like the ZX2 but the handling is not as good as the neon. OTOH an S/R for a good price is a really good car. My ZX2 was reliable and got 35-36 mpg on the freeway.

As for horsepower. Intake/headers/exhaust, computer and an underdrive pulley was good for 128 at the wheels. The S/R has a cool 150MPH speedo too :)

Gude makes quite a few engine parts for the zetec.
Dec. 20, 2008 12:44 p.m. akamcfly New Reader
There's a wikipedia article on the zx2 with an s/r section.

~110 made in '99 all except two were sold in Southern California 2000 made in 2000 - 500 red, 500 black, 1000 yellow

Mine is yellow

A few items were missed by PHeller
- a centerforce dual friction clutch
- energy suspension sway bar and end link bushings
- 205/55-ZR15 Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
- four wheel disc brakes (no ABS on the s/r)
- cosmetic stuff like a leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter boot as well as a different gauge cluster with silver surround and 150mph speedometer (s/r PCM programming doesn't have the speed limiter)
- seat upholstery is also slightly different in the s/r
My s/r has a/c and power windows, remote locks, power moonroof,

Like iceracer mentioned, the rear sway bar is the regular zx2 13mm piece. I bought a 91-96 sedan rear sway bar (19mm) from a salvage yard (~$40) and a new set of energy suspension bushings ($29) to accommodate. The older GTs and Wagons have larger bars, but bushings are harder to find.

I also bought some 15" Konig Helium wheels to replace the daisy wheels - but I run the stock 205/55-15 size tires (had Proxes T1S but now I have Ecsta SPT). The Heliums are 1/2" wider and weigh less than the daisies.

Yes it's true that a regular zx2 can be made to keep up with an s/r. The big upgrade over the regular zx2 is the suspension and tires. The PCM is the other upgrade (ignition curve is more aggressive - requires premium gas).

Other power adders? There are some headers out there. JBA, Pacesetter and OBX make/made them. There was also a Kamikazi header a while back. Gains are questionable.

Trubendz makes a full cat back exhaust in aluminized or stainless steel.

there are some CDI ignitions out there as well as coil packs and wires from all the popular makers.

Under drive pulleys, adjustable cam pulleys and the like - focus zetec parts fit although the exhaust cam timing on the escort zetec engine is variable. You need an adapter for an adjustable exhaust cam gear and you lose the variable valve timing (and the PCM won't like it either).

zxtuner.com has cam shafts and other goodies.

There are some nitrous kits that will work with the zetec too, but you have to remember that the fuel system has no return line.

SCT made a PCM programmer. I don't know if they still offer it.

There are lots of turbo and supercgarger kits for the zetec focus, but non of them fit the zx2 because of the engine compartment layout. Plus, the programming would have to be custom due to the variable exhaust cam timing and likely some other differences. There are some turbo zx2s out there though...