Skold's FiST Build Thread: Best Bang For Buck Mods for $1100??

[jeff]

I looked everywhere for my "Jeff" signal but all I could find was the dang Honda Insight signal

Guilty as charged. The Fiesta is still my favorite car ever and I drive it regularly but the G1 Insights have caught my eye lately, I've bought and rebuilt 2 in the last few months, it's a crazy addictive and fun car to wrench on. My Fiesta build is long since done but fortunately I documented much of the journey on YT. Funny thing is nobody cares about my Insight build videos, people keep commenting that they want more Fiesta content.

Now, for that $1100 we could find you an Insight to start working on.......

 

[Intuit]

Re Warranty, something to keep in mind is, in the several weeks, months, year+ it may take to fight out a warranty claim, absent of another vehicle, you'll have either forked over for the repair (hoping for reimbursement) or and/or moved on.

Those making uncertified programming changes shouldn't be concerned with engine warranty anyway. Responsible for damage or not, that person then assumes the risks. Not said manufacturer and their paying customers.

 

[skold]

Re Warranty, something to keep in mind is, in the several weeks, months, year+ it may take to fight out a warranty claim, absent of another vehicle, you'll have either forked over for the repair (hoping for reimbursement) or and/or moved on.

Those making uncertified programming changes shouldn't be concerned with engine warranty anyway. Responsible for damage or not, that person then assumes the risks. Not said manufacturer and their paying customers.

This brings up a very good point and is somewhat a dilemma I am having with doing any mods that might cause me grief at the dealer. I've never modded a car like this before and also hate to take a car to the dealer for anything.

Another question for the folks out there...do you think a Dizzy Stage 2 mod done with recommended parts will shorten the life of the engine or anything else on the car? I really hope to get 200k + miles on the thing without needing any major repairs. One of the reasons I went with the FiST is the supposed reliability of the platform. I had a FoRS before this and the platform itself seemed a little less reliable in the long run. Thanks!

 

[bj2348]

Guilty as charged. The Fiesta is still my favorite car ever and I drive it regularly but the G1 Insights have caught my eye lately, I've bought and rebuilt 2 in the last few months, it's a crazy addictive and fun car to wrench on. My Fiesta build is long since done but fortunately I documented much of the journey on YT. Funny thing is nobody cares about my Insight build videos, people keep commenting that they want more Fiesta content.

Now, for that $1100 we could find you an Insight to start working on.......

I watch them Jeff!

 

[skold]

Heard my name called, here's a vid I made on this topic a while back. This is for more balance, sort of like upping your character's strength and armor and speed all +1 instead of throwing +3 at only one thing. Video game analogy, you get it. I'd throw in a bit more than my vid discusses and get the FMIC as well, very nice difference as it allows tuning of more power.

Just my ideas and taste, I go for the balanced approach.

Hey Jeff,

I've noticed throughout this forum over time that I pretty much always appreciate and agree with your posts. I think your overall approach, attitude, and mindset towards our cars seem very similar to mine, even if I've only spent a fraction of the amount of time as you on mine. I'll check out your videos and the link posted above to help make my decisions.

 

[akiraproject24]

This brings up a very good point and is somewhat a dilemma I am having with doing any mods that might cause me grief at the dealer. I've never modded a car like this before and also hate to take a car to the dealer for anything.

Another question for the folks out there...do you think a Dizzy Stage 2 mod done with recommended parts will shorten the life of the engine or anything else on the car? I really hope to get 200k + miles on the thing without needing any major repairs. One of the reasons I went with the FiST is the supposed reliability of the platform. I had a FoRS before this and the platform itself seemed a little less reliable in the long run. Thanks!

I think it would depend on how hard you drive it. I have that tune and love it. If you push it hard, it is asking more out of the moving parts which, due to physics would cause more wear through heat and friction. This is merely my own reasoning though. Not an engineer and fairly novice when it comes to cars compared to some on here.

Shortening your maintenance frequency i.e. fluids, plugs etc. will offset some of that.

 

[jeff]

Hey Jeff,

I've noticed throughout this forum over time that I pretty much always appreciate and agree with your posts. I think your overall approach, attitude, and mindset towards our cars seem very similar to mine, even if I've only spent a fraction of the amount of time as you on mine. I'll check out your videos and the link posted above to help make my decisions.

Cool, I all about balance and the law of diminishing returns, and keeping the car useable for one's application which in my case is street driving. Holler if you have any questions about anything in particular.

 

[skold]

Is $300 shipped for the Whoosh V1 Intercooler about as good as the price gets or do they go on sale? Thanks!

 

[bj2348]

Is $300 shipped for the Whoosh V1 Intercooler about as good as the price gets or do they go on sale? Thanks!

I paid $330 shipped for my V3 last Oct from Ron @ whoosh

 

[skold]

I paid $330 shipped for my V3 last Oct from Ron @ whoosh

How'd you get such a great deal? I'd pull the trigger on that if Ron would hook me up.

 

[M-Sport fan]

I think it would depend on how hard you drive it. I have that tune and love it. If you push it hard, it is asking more out of the moving parts which, due to physics would cause more wear through heat and friction. This is merely my own reasoning though. Not an engineer and fairly novice when it comes to cars compared to some on here.

Shortening your maintenance frequency i.e. fluids, plugs etc. will offset some of that.

Also, you could inform Jason to NOT go to that very 'ragged edge' of factory snail tuning, in order to find that very last pony, and foot pound of torque, in a 'concession to' (IF one considers 1-2 WHP/lb. ft. of torque a 'concession' LOL ) added reliability.

 

[Remi]

How'd you get such a great deal? I'd pull the trigger on that if Ron would hook me up.

I also jumped on that deal. Whoosh also has sales every once in a while. I took advantage of a Black Friday deal.

 

[ronmcdon]

check their facebook page for deals.
https://www.facebook.com/whooshmotorsports/

missed out on their black friday bc was expecting they’d post here but didnt. they had a 12% off deal on intercoolers back in Jan 19 - 22. thankful they aren't instagram only specials but still wish they'd post specials here.

on the other had you never know what discount codes still work. Miester R had a 20 percent off black friday code for 2019 that I managed to take advantage of in black friday 2020.

 

[DoomsdayMelody]

Going from the stock IC to aftermarket is not that expensive and if you drive hard a lot it is worth it. It is easy to heatsoak the stock intercooler and especially in warmer climes. IMO

Eh, I think it’s dependent on how you drive the car also. While I am always looking for a secondhand IC, or maybe the whoosh v1, running around town, my intake temps rarely get more than 10-15 degrees above ambient. The only time I’ve actually had my mTune show a delta of greater than 20 degrees was on a fast backroad where I cover most of the ground in 3rd. My usual driving road is Calaveras Road by Sunol CA and I spend 80% of that in 2nd which means boost by gear essentially limits power to the point that heat soak isn’t really an issue.

That said, I don’t think the IC is a bad idea, but it entirely depends on OPs use case.


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[DoomsdayMelody]

This is what I am following:

https://dizzytuning.com/blogs/technical-documents/the-ultimate-guide-to-modding-your-fiesta-st

And you if you are not following @jeff on YouTube you should. He has an awesome set of dedicated videos on Fiesta ST mods and lots of good lessons learned wrt to budget and performance.

I mean a drop in filter is a waste of money... I know people like doing them but that’s like $60-$100 you don’t need to spend right there. Lotta ancillaries on there that are just not really necessary.


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[TemecFist]

Dont forget.........tires. That is the biggest change you could "feel" except for a tune.

 

[skold]

I mean a drop in filter is a waste of money... I know people like doing them but that’s like $60-$100 you don’t need to spend right there. Lotta ancillaries on there that are just not really necessary.


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Is this 100% sure with a Dizzy Stage 2? I don't want to waste any money on something that won't help or keep my FiST reliable. Thank you!

I'll post an update with my plan later...dealing with this Texas winter storm lately. Thanks for all who've contributed so far...VERY HELPFUL!

 

[ronmcdon]

I mean a drop in filter is a waste of money... I know people like doing them but that’s like $60-$100 you don’t need to spend right there. Lotta ancillaries on there that are just not really necessary.


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I get the sense a lot of the supporting bolt on mods on this car are a waste of money in terms of making power, unless you're upgrading the turbo.

saw no real difference in any way from getting combo of crossover pipe, st200 airbox, itg drop in filter w/ no tune. even the sound was pretty muted.

edit - want to be clear it's not my intention to single out the itg brand of drop in filters. doubt it'd be noticeably different with say a k&n.

 

[TemecFist]

I get the sense a lot of the supporting bolt on mods on this car are a waste of money in terms of making power, unless you're upgrading the turbo.

saw no real difference in any way from getting combo of crossover pipe, st200 airbox, itg drop in filter w/ no tune. even the sound was pretty muted.

edit - want to be clear it's not my intention to single out the itg brand of drop in filters. doubt it'd be noticeably different with say a k&n.

I agree with this. To me, it shouldnt really matter what "Stage" the tune is and what mods you have. The tuner is going to tune the car for AFR's, boost, etc, etc. Hes going to see how your engine is behaving when he sees your log and make adjustments from there, regardless of what mods you have.
I have a JST custom E30 tune, and changed the intake to an ITG full intake, re-data logged the car, and Brian said there were no adjustments that needed to be made even after installing a new intake. Ronmcdon is right, I dont think any of it really matters, "Stage" wise. Then again, I could be completely wrong. Lol

 

[Dpro]

Dont forget.........tires. That is the biggest change you could "feel" except for a tune.

good point

I agree with this. To me, it shouldnt really matter what "Stage" the tune is and what mods you have. The tuner is going to tune the car for AFR's, boost, etc, etc. Hes going to see how your engine is behaving when he sees your log and make adjustments from there, regardless of what mods you have.
I have a JST custom E30 tune, and changed the intake to an ITG full intake, re-data logged the car, and Brian said there were no adjustments that needed to be made even after installing a new intake. Ronmcdon is right, I dont think any of it really matters, "Stage" wise. Then again, I could be completely wrong. Lol

You are not, very few of the mods on the stock turbo setup add anything really. Ford did a pretty good job of building the stock setup to fit the Turbo so to speak. The majority of bolts are to eliminate the anti turbo noise features Ford built into the ancillary parts like the J pipe and whatnot. Its so funny as well because they worked so hard to make it nice and quite and unobstrusive and then went and stuck the sound symposer on it to make up for that . lol I think the whole idea was do not annoy the general public with whooshes and whistles and barks. lol
Though ya Jason at Dizzy did a extensive intake dyno test to see if any intakes added in appreciative power. A crossover pipe was found to be more significant than any intake outside of the 2j cowl mess.
So pretty much ya most of the bolt ons help hybrids and bigger turbo’s breath better but on stock meh just making it sound more like its true spirit a turbo car and less like the what me a turbo no stock setup.
I did the J pipe I did a crossover, I did the ST200 intake, I also picked up an ITG recently that I have not installed yet for shits and giggles may or may not keep it.
Though my S280 definitely benefits from the crossover pipe and the J pipe is now off because S280 had its own piping