AWSX1686
AWSX1686 GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
3/28/20 7:35 p.m.
zilla916
zilla916 New Reader
3/28/20 8:39 p.m.

WOW, that is just crazy!

Pete Gossett
Pete Gossett GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/28/20 8:46 p.m.

In reply to AWSX1686 :

I'd forgotten all about those kits!

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa HalfDork
3/28/20 9:06 p.m.

I've wanted to do this for a while.

karplus2
karplus2 GRM+ Memberand New Reader
3/28/20 9:28 p.m.

There was a car show that I used to love that did a Kugel Kit on a ZX3. I am pretty sure it was filmed at Mid America Motorwerks near where I lived in central Illinois. I can't remember what it was called but I remember it being really well done. I am pretty sure one of the hosts passed away shortly after the show quit airing. Wish I could remember what it was called. 

Cool car.

Robbie
Robbie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/28/20 9:52 p.m.

Totally cool.

Professor_Brap
Professor_Brap SuperDork
3/28/20 10:31 p.m.

Know the car and owner. It's a nice car. 

chandler
chandler PowerDork
3/29/20 5:44 a.m.

I've often wondered if this kit could be retrofit to a Mazda5/3

Bent-Valve
Bent-Valve HalfDork
3/29/20 6:08 a.m.

I wonder how it would fit under a ZX2.

dherr
dherr GRM+ Memberand Dork
3/29/20 8:06 a.m.

That looks really well done! 

pres589 (djronnebaum)
pres589 (djronnebaum) PowerDork
3/29/20 8:45 a.m.

The ZX2 is an entirely different chassis so I don't think there's any chance of that swap happening.  Don't know about the Mazda 3  & 5.  Maybe? 

calteg
calteg Dork
3/29/20 5:28 p.m.

I have a memory of Sport Compact Car doing one of these swaps and it ended up being just barely faster than the SVT Focus of the era

djsilver
djsilver Reader
3/29/20 9:35 p.m.

I remember an article about the swap and the surprising part was that they had to lengthen the Mustang driveshaft by 3".  The Focus wheelbase was longer than the Fox body Mustangs.  

The swap I remember liking was when someone put and SVT motor and subframe in the back of a Focus.  Ford MR2!  

escort1991
escort1991 Reader
3/30/20 2:58 p.m.

The want is strong, SWMBO shot it down quick! I had a 2000 Focus sedan when we first started dating and talked about doing a V8 swap long ago. 

nderwater
nderwater UltimaDork
3/30/20 3:36 p.m.

You guys sound pretty enthusiastic about this car, but I don't really get it. Why go through so much effort and money to completely reengineer a twenty year old, dime-a-dozen econobox?  And give it an automatic transmission of all things?

Ian F
Ian F MegaDork
3/30/20 3:42 p.m.

In reply to nderwater :

Facebook ads can be weird with listings.  It's actually a manual, per the seller's description:

I always thought it was amusing Ford sold the conversion kit from their own Motorsports catalog.  I've thought it's a neat idea, but I have no idea how I'd be able to make it legal in the part of PA where I live (in the part of Pennsyltucky where the car is listed, testing rules tend to be more... relaxed).  The car was probably converted a number of years ago, going by the pictures.

Pete Gossett
Pete Gossett GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/30/20 7:10 p.m.
nderwater said:

You guys sound pretty enthusiastic about this car, but I don't really get it. Why go through so much effort and money to completely reengineer a twenty year old, dime-a-dozen econobox?  And give it an automatic transmission of all things?

The cars were still current when the kit was released, so that's part of it. Also the idea of a RWD V8 hot-hatch was/is basically unheard of, so there's that too. 

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
3/30/20 7:36 p.m.
nderwater said:

You guys sound pretty enthusiastic about this car, but I don't really get it. Why go through so much effort and money to completely reengineer a twenty year old, dime-a-dozen econobox?  And give it an automatic transmission of all things?

If that's a Kugel Komponants kit, (can't see FaceBallz Marketplace) its contemporary to that Focus.

Bent-Valve
Bent-Valve HalfDork
3/30/20 8:15 p.m.
pres589 (djronnebaum) said:

The ZX2 is an entirely different chassis so I don't think there's any chance of that swap happening.  Don't know about the Mazda 3  & 5.  Maybe? 

There is very little to no support for ZX2.I figured a good deal of cutting and fabricating would be required. So tonight I am cruising Copart, I just talked myself out of bidding on 2011 and 2013 Ford Foci? (plural of Focus?)

 

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