Minnesota: '04 Screaming Yellow ZX3 EAP SVTF

[MCPunk79]

Greetings SVT world....

My name is Mike, and as the intro has stated i'm from Minnesota and I've just picked up my 2nd SVT Focus... this one is a European Appearance Package in the rare color of Screaming Yellow. It's number 1522 of 1978 built in 2004. The car has 64K on it. It was originally purchased in Florida, drove to California and has lived in South Carolina since '07.

I had the car shipped to White Bear Lake, MN. home of Tousley Ford. The car was test driven by Steve and serviced at the Quick Lane shop. The car needed a few bits and does need some additional bits (possibly a clutch and brake pads/rotors all around). The Timing belt will also be changed soon.

This car was purchased to be my daily driver. I have an '08 Mustang as a show car and a few other cars that I use as "cruisers" or "toys". Last summer I sold my Sonic Blue SVTF with around 93K on the OD. I did do quite a bit of work to it, mostly maintenance work to it. I think this car is quite a bit more sorted and will be a fabulous car once it gets all set-up.

 

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Nice car, you got a good one there. Thanks for swinging by

-Steve

 

[MCPunk79]

Thanks for taking the time Steve... Very much appreciated...

I'll be back!!

 

[gcassidy]

Nice. Looks like you found a good one. I spent a lot of time looking, they are not as easy to come by as I had expected.
And lucky to have Steve look at it.
Did it come with the sticker on the dash?

 

[MCPunk79]

Nice. Looks like you found a good one. I spent a lot of time looking, they are not as easy to come by as I had expected.
And lucky to have Steve look at it.
Did it come with the sticker on the dash?

Very true... a low mileage, STOCK SVT is getting increasingly difficult to find. I wanted one under 100k for sure... having one stock is all right too. I'm pretty thankful to be so close to Tousley Ford (now Autonation) and Steve for any information, issues or problems.


The sticker on the dash my friend put on the night we got the car... we were at a "boost for boobies" car show event when I got the call that my car was at Tousley Ford in White Bear Lake, MN. We rushed right over to get the car!

 

[MNCobra]

kool ride...where in MN are you from...I am from Blaine...

 

[Jsko]

Awesome car! I've been on the market for a lower mile Comp Orange EAP Focus for a few months now. It's almost impossible to find one. I did test drive one the yesterday day, and they are great little cars. If anything the test drive just made me more impatient.

 

[MCPunk79]

For those of you have seen my SVT on the other forums , the car has needed a new clutch since I purchased it this Spring (as told to me by the previous owner). The clutch FINALLY decided to over the last 2months, slipping in every gear under any heavy acceleration... making the car almost undrievable. COSVT03 (Chris) had me order the SPEC stage 3+ kit, as he has one similar to this and works wonderfully! I wanted something that would last and give me the option for further modifications (supercharger) in the future. The stage 3+ is good for 100k. I went with the steel flywheel to reduce clutch chatter.

disassemble:

cross member and cat/downpipe:

transmission out:

number:

OEM stock dual mass:

Car also had all the fluids drained; power steering, brake fluid and oil. Everything is now fresh and ready.

stock clutch, pressure plate and dual mass flywheel:

Dual mass flywheel:

New clutch and pressure plate:

installed:

also needed to install a passenger side CV half shaft... as the boot got cut during the timing belt change this past summer. O'Reily's had them for 55 dollars.

Car now runs like a completely different machine. After install drove it home 280 miles with NO issue. Clutch will have approx a 1500 mile break in period. Clutch pedal is about 1/4 stiffer than it was stock, which is fine for me.

Car will also now need a master cylinder as there was some leakage under the clutch pedal. That was the ONLY issue to be found after the install. Everything else went by relatively smoothly. New CENTRIC master cylinder has already been ordered.

HUGE thanks to Chris (COSVT03) and Matt (LOADED) for all the help with the install. I couldn't be more happy with it's current setup! Can't wait for what's next!

 

[MCPunk79]

NEW clutch

Thanks for looking!

 

[Steve@Tasca]

Love your car and especially love the fact that you're putting so much effort in to it.

Nice job!

-Steve

 

[MCPunk79]

Love your car and especially love the fact that you're putting so much effort in to it.

Nice job!

-Steve

Thanks Steve... I'm nowhere near done either. Suspension, tires and a BIG power adder, if I can find one, are all on the list for it in the foreseeable future. It's such a fun handling car and I've really enjoyed the community.

The only other thing I need to do is have the cosmetics worked out... dents, dings and chips.

 

[Steve@Tasca]

Thanks Steve... I'm nowhere near done either. Suspension, tires and a BIG power adder, if I can find one, are all on the list for it in the foreseeable future. It's such a fun handling car and I've really enjoyed the community.

The only other thing I need to do is have the cosmetics worked out... dents, dings and chips.

There are a few turbo kits out there for it or that are close enough that they're only a pipe or two away from a perfect fit.

There's always a used JRSC or Powerworks too.

-Steve

 

[MCPunk79]

There are a few turbo kits out there for it or that are close enough that they're only a pipe or two away from a perfect fit.

There's always a used JRSC or Powerworks too.

-Steve

I've had my eye on a PowerWorks s/c since I had my first SVT… we had one for sale on the MN. Focus forum but that was about a year ago… I like the PWSC since it has it's own intercooler, and appears to be a bit more rare than the other setups, which I also like.

It's going to be a while before I can actually find one…. But Chris is down for the install and I'm hoping I can find one in the next year or so? Should give me the 250hp/200tq that I'm looking to get. I'll also be looking at installing the Quaiffe differential around that time as well. My main plan is to make this car everything it SHOULD have been coming from the Ford Factory… and making it a true SVT/Focus enthusiasts "wet dream". epper::banana:

 

[breoland]

Love the screaming yellow...I just picked up an 04 svt zx5 red eap with just under 100k miles. going through the process now to get it all squared away
I love it

 

[MCPunk79]

Greetings SVT Focus owners!

We're in the midst of ANOTHER Midwestern winter here, and what a "doozy"! Temps here have dipped down into the BELOW 30-40 degree mark here. I haven't run my SVTF all that much, as i don't completely trust it coming from Florida/California weather. I replaced the battery this winter as the previous battery had been giving my problems. I went with Interstate.

I haven't posted too many pics of my SY '04 SVTF lately, so I posted a few (albeit crappy cellphone pics). Prior to the cold and messy weather I waxed the car to keep it protected, took off all four wheels and cleaned up the suspension and undercarriage, plus gave it good, thick coat of WD-40 for extra protection from the elements. I have a nice, heated garage and am able to clean the car quite diligently. I only work 2.4 miles away, so it's nice to get the car home quick and have it cleaned in no time. The car starter I have installed works wonderfully as well and helps a great deal!

The only modification I can boast since the install of my clutch this past fall is my "all season" floor mats and my NEW shorty antenna. When the Spring/Summer arrives, I have a grocery list of ideas/projects: I have a Pioneer double din App Radio II ready for instal. I need to get all the dents and rock chips repaired on the car, then at that time, have a company do both window tint and a clear bra for the front end.

BIG plans for the car haven't changed: I'd like to do a PWSC with a custom TB and an FSWerks Stealth exhaust. I'd like to throw in a Quaife LSD and a STS from CFM, throw on some Pilot Super Sport tires and call it good, daily drive it and have a blast!

 

[gcassidy]

Good job.

Shame about the bad winter the midwest is getting hit with. It's not as bad here in the Mid-Atlantic area, but we get wet, slushy winters with lots of crap put on the roads. And I drive my SVTF 50 miles a day, and it has to stay outside.

It's holding up well, though, and it goes through the car wash whenever it gets warm enough.

 

[MCPunk79]

Yes, the weather here is a pain, thankfully when it's REALLY cold out… my car is nice and clean. I can wash it with some waterless wash in the garage, so it's all set. I keep it OCD clean all the time. I'm enjoying the heck out of it this time around, it's a blast to own.

 

[luke1333]

if you dont mind me asking how much did you pay for it? always wanted an svt focus for a dd

 

[MCPunk79]

with 61k miles on it, I paid 7G's for it… knowing that it needed both a clutch, and brakes/rotors all around. I wish I would have paid about 500 less, which the previous owner did agree too, then recanted. A week later we settled on 7 and I had it shipped to MN. from Greenville. Low mileage SVTF's are getting increasingly difficult to find. They're out there… but getting difficult to find in the EAP rendition with the highly sought after colors; Screaming Yellow and Competition Orange.

I honestly enjoy it SO much. For under 10K, I think it's one of the best "bang for your buck" car out there. It has a "fun factor" all of it's own. And like Steve@Tasca says, if you take good care of it, it will take good care of you.

 

[luke1333]

with 61k miles on it, I paid 7G's for it… knowing that it needed both a clutch, and brakes/rotors all around. I wish I would have paid about 500 less, which the previous owner did agree too, then recanted. A week later we settled on 7 and I had it shipped to MN. from Greenville. Low mileage SVTF's are getting increasingly difficult to find. They're out there… but getting difficult to find in the EAP rendition with the highly sought after colors; Screaming Yellow and Competition Orange.

I honestly enjoy it SO much. For under 10K, I think it's one of the best "bang for your buck" car out there. It has a "fun factor" all of it's own. And like Steve@Tasca says, if you take good care of it, it will take good care of you.

Yeah i know they are so hard to find. Before I bought my beater cavalier I tried to find a focus and they had 150k miles for $5000 & not even a rare color. I do love the yellow and orange although sonic blue is nice too. Maybe one day I can find a low mileage one