2014 Ford Fiesta ST project

[koozy]

Razor approaches modding with a lot of common sense and analyzes his data pretty thoroughly. You can tell that this isn't his first rodeo. I'm a big fan.

Yep, I remember him back in 2003 on EvolutionM.net. When I saw him on here and that he acquired a Fiesta ST, I suspected it was going to be good, and at least enlightening.

 

[razorlab]

Razor approaches modding with a lot of common sense and analyzes his data pretty thoroughly. You can tell that this isn't his first rodeo. I'm a big fan.

Thanks for the kind words!

If you guys are interested, here are links to some of my other projects I have done in the past:

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/09...n/483013-project-2010-ralliart-sportback.html

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo-x-dyno-results/675792-razorlab-s-simple-build-s.html

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/loft-evom-car-talk-corner/645153-2013-golf-r.html

 

[iso100]

Today I learned that there are electronic bypass valves. Crazy.

 

[razorlab]

Today I learned that there are electronic bypass valves. Crazy.

There are also electronic wastegate actuators.

BMW uses them.

 

[jayroddrumz]

That looks promosing!

 

[RAAMaudio]

That might just be the ticket, the GT2554 is simply to small, the others a bit to big, I have posted this many times on more than one forum, wishing they would offer something better, very glad they are!

I will see what my cyborg does which may be all I want but if not quite there and their new one does it then I just might go that route instead of the AFR as I have all the supporting stuff already built!

Thanks for the info

 

[RAAMaudio]

I would prefer to plumb the BOV back into the system as I do not want to hear it, I like things stealthy, my exhaust is very quiet for a full 3" TBE.

If I did this I wold have some work to do but a pretty easy task.

 

[ryst]

Thanks for the kind words!

If you guys are interested, here are links to some of my other projects I have done in the past:

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/09...n/483013-project-2010-ralliart-sportback.html

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo-x-dyno-results/675792-razorlab-s-simple-build-s.html

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/loft-evom-car-talk-corner/645153-2013-golf-r.html

Holy crap, +100 horsepower just from going to E85 compared to stock, and so much torque everywhere. That's damn impressive. Ethanol is definitely the magic that makes FI happy.

 

[razorlab]

Holy crap, +100 horsepower just from going to E85 compared to stock, and so much torque everywhere. That's damn impressive. Ethanol is definitely the magic that makes FI happy.

Hahah, yea the Evo 10 has a real turbo stock. It's a 36-38 lb/min turbo.

The RA Sportback has a pretty small turbo stock, 25 lb/min, still larger than a FiST 18-20 lb/min, it also weighed about 900lbs more. But you can see the parallels in the power curves to our FiST. I put on a 52 lb/min turbo to gain 180whp. That car was very fun.

 

[razorlab]

Figured I would give an update on the BC coilovers I installed a couple weeks ago.

I've been driving them to/from work all this week. Approx 50 miles a day. I also drove them to/from and on the track last Friday.

The setup I went with was custom:

7k front (392lbs/in)
6k rear (336lbs/in)

I also ordered it with a set of 5k rear springs (280lbs/in) just for the hell of it if I wanted to swap them in.

For reference, the Bilstein coilovers I had on before where:

5k front (280lbs/in)
4k rear (224lbs/in)

And stock:

Front 171lbs/in
Rear 143lbs/in

So I basically upped the spring rate 200lbs/in front and rear.

This is probably the upper limit of spring rate for the street. It's not super harsh but it's very firm and quick bumps and sharp drops are not dampened as much as stock or even the Bilsteins. You will get a shock. On smooth pavement the setup is smooth as silk. The resonance and oscillation of the stock suspension over freeway expansion joints and rippled pavement is 95% gone. There is a small amount of added road noise going from stock and bilsteins with OEM top mounts to the all metal BC top mounts. You really have to listen for it though.

The car corners pretty flat with little body roll. It's not stiff enough that a bumpy mountain road upsets the car, it still works well in that situation, which was important to me.

On track I won't review too much yet since I've only been to the track once so far with the car and with the BC coilovers. However I do feel that the dampening is only ok for the track. The car didn't feel very planted in most situations. Over all it just felt like the car was running not high quality suspension, well, because let's be honest, it's not. So no big surprise here. Not a lot of communication and feel with this setup. It's not horrible. Probably a little bit better than stock but way less body roll.

The car was pretty neutral on track most of the time with this setup and spring rates. Next event I will play with rear tire pressures to try and dial in a little more rear play.

The more I get comfortable with the car on track and get faster with it, the better I can give a review of the suspension. If I continue to track this car I will look for another suspension at some point, maybe KW V3 or hopefully some Ohlins R&T's if they end up making them for this platform.

 

[ryst]

On track I won't review too much yet since I've only been to the track once so far with the car and with the BC coilovers. However I do feel that the dampening is only ok for the track. The car didn't feel very planted in most situations. Over all it just felt like the was running not high quality suspension, well, because let's be honest, it's not. So no big surprise here. Not a lot of communication and feel with this setup.

Did you order from 2J racing and get the "custom valving"... To be honest I have no idea if they actually do the custom valving in house, but on their page it says they're custom valved for the spring rate, or you can specify "special instructions" http://www.2j-racing.com/fiesta-st/bc-racing-custom-spec-d-coilovers.html

 

[razorlab]

Did you order from 2J racing and get the "custom valving"... To be honest I have no idea if they actually do custom valving, but on their page it says they're custom valved for the spring rate, or you can specify "special instructions" http://www.2j-racing.com/fiesta-st/bc-racing-custom-spec-d-coilovers.html

Oops yea I forgot that part.

I ordered them direct from BC Racing. They have the best turn around times. Called them up and told them what I wanted. They have "custom dampening" for the spring rates. I put that in quotes because who knows if they really do that or not. It shipped the very next day.

Other places said at least a week to ship.

2J doesn't do custom valving in house. They call BC and tell them what they want. Same as me calling BC.

 

[RAAMaudio]

Great review, my only track experience with BC was on a highly modded Forester XT with custom built, invertied, full coilovers and they were great on track and on the street.

-------

My computer hiccuped and sent this before I was finished.

I was going to add I sold my BC's to order the KW V3 but when I asked for spring rates, what the valving could handle, it can be custom valved, custom spring rates, etc...

I found out they come with progressive springs, I would never want those for the track. I did not get the valving capacity or option or custom springs availability, cost, etc....

What I got was they would come as they are, Dropped Shipped from KW in Germany, and I would have to figure out what I wanted to run for springs and I forget the numbers but springs like swift would not fit. Not sure if it was front or rear or both but by then I just cancelled and refunded the BC payment, buyer was totally understanding about it.

 

[RAAMaudio]

My BC's have 6k front and 5k rear and might be a bit soft for my track needs but great on the road, I would probably be fine with what you have....I am going to call BC and see what they recommend with the valving as it is, I might have to stick with them.

I might consider some swift springs or just hold off until somebody comes out with a reasonable priced club sport type setup which I have heard not likely from KW.

 

[JohnzyST]

What track did you go to? Any over heating?

I had BC on my mr2 and liked them but my koni strut and trd springs felt better and cost a lot less. That's the only reason why I didn't buy them. The only coils that I think are worth it other than the kws is the bspecs. But not sure if they will fit.

I am always in Cali. And I always take the fiesta.

Figured I would give an update on the BC coilovers I installed a couple weeks ago.

I've been driving them to/from work all this week. Approx 50 miles a day. I also drove them to/from and on the track last Friday.

The setup I went with was custom:

7k front (392lbs/in)
6k rear (336lbs/in)

I also ordered it with a set of 5k rear springs (280lbs/in) just for the hell of it if I wanted to swap them in.

For reference, the Bilstein coilovers I had on before where:

5k front (280lbs/in)
4k rear (224lbs/in)

And stock:

Front 171lbs/in
Rear 143lbs/in

So I basically upped the spring rate 200lbs/in front and rear.

This is probably the upper limit of spring rate for the street. It's not super harsh but it's very firm and quick bumps and sharp drops are not dampened as much as stock or even the Bilsteins. You will get a shock. On smooth pavement the setup is smooth as silk. The resonance and oscillation of the stock suspension over freeway expansion joints and rippled pavement is 95% gone. There is a small amount of added road noise going from stock and bilsteins with OEM top mounts to the all metal BC top mounts. You really have to listen for it though.

The car corners pretty flat with little body roll. It's not stiff enough that a bumpy mountain road upsets the car, it still works well in that situation, which was important to me.

On track I won't review too much yet since I've only been to the track once so far with the car and with the BC coilovers. However I do feel that the dampening is only ok for the track. The car didn't feel very planted in most situations. Over all it just felt like the car was running not high quality suspension, well, because let's be honest, it's not. So no big surprise here. Not a lot of communication and feel with this setup. It's not horrible. Probably a little bit better than stock but way less body roll.

The car was pretty neutral on track most of the time with this setup and spring rates. Next event I will play with rear tire pressures to try and dial in a little more rear play.

The more I get comfortable with the car on track and get faster with it, the better I can give a review of the suspension. If I continue to track this car I will look for another suspension at some point, maybe KW V3 or hopefully some Ohlins R&T's if they end up making them for this platform.

 

[razorlab]

What track did you go to? Any over heating?

Thunderhill and while it was toasty, no over heating, Coolant hit about 220F:

 

[FocusMike]

After talking with ATP, they have decided to offer another turbo variation for their Fiesta ST turbo kits, the GT2560R:

http://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchan...tp&Product_Code=ATP-FIE-021&Category_Code=FIE

You can guess which one I am going with.

Hey razor are you planning on doing your own tuning for this kit?

 

[razorlab]

Hey razor are you planning on doing your own tuning for this kit?

Yes indeed

 

[ryst]

Razor, did you get my PM(s) ?

Also have you messed with AccessTUNER since the update? Any changes you're excited about that you've had a chance to mess with?

 

[razorlab]

Razor, did you get my PM(s) ?

Also have you messed with AccessTUNER since the update? Any changes you're excited about that you've had a chance to mess with?

Howdy, I did get your PM's. I haven't had time yet to get the file(s) ready for you yet. It's been a busy week. Soon!

I've had a small amount of time to look at the new tables. I'm really excited about the boost control changes, the timing table changes, and fueling. I was actually waiting to purchase my upgrade turbo until this update came out. It will make tuning the bigger turbo sooooo much smoother.