Can't Leave This Standard!

[240karl]

Evening all, recently swapped my MGZS for a 2002 ka! Reason been, the missus wants to start driving finally so I found her a ka.

Thing is, I don't like it standard, I need to do something to it, I've been thinking along the lines of springs and a set of wheels off another ford.

Is there anything I could do that's a recommended mod?

It's a 1300 enduro.

Thanks in advance

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[Preecematt]

Evening. Bit out there but maybe an engine swap?? Pick up a decent engine from a car breakers and then all your usual induction/exhaust mods. Depends on your budget really. I always start off with induction, so straight away its a K & N induction kit, then straight through exhaust system with a 4 branch manifold, then a remap, all of that was done on my last car for £650. Then I upgraded the brakes off a gsi astra(mine was a standard astra) with the irmscher bodykit as well and I put some 17' alloys off a turbo coupe. Similar route for my Focus, except I won't be changing the alloys or the bodywork.

[240karl]

I'd love to go mad with the engine but for insurance reasons for the other half I better not. Ha, I do like driving it tho!

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[Preecematt]

Just get some pink fluffy dice and your sorted then

[stef123]

Well Karl, if it saves you some cash and modifying your car - what if I told you blokes are not meant to like the Ka, full stop

[240karl]

I know but it's so simple to work on and fix,

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[delboy]

just tidy it up and put some alloys on it. keep it standard as possible otherwise you invalidate your insurance of go buy a better model of car thats factory done

[Omendata]

Did someone mention induction lol

Waste of time mate - Induction kits DO NOT increase the performance of your engine its an old wives tale - those cheapo K&N induction kits on amazon and eBay

only increase the noise of your engine and can actually damage the engine especially the oil coated ones, they will also null and void your insurance - so if you are a baseball capped, windows down , techno blaring out person that likes annoying everyone around you then fair game but dont waste your money on that rubbish!

Modding a Ka hmmmm sounds a bit mad but how about an Irmscher body kit , flare those wheel arches - upgrade the calipers and springs but for goodness sake leave the engine alone or stick in something else you wont get much more performance out of these crap duratec lumps!

Pay attention to Delboy he is the expert on here and knows his stuff - watch what you do insurance companies are just looking for excuses to stick it up you!

[catmand00]

Did someone mention induction lol

Waste of time mate - Induction kits DO NOT increase the performance of your engine its an old wives tale - those cheapo K&N induction kits on Amazon and Ebay

only increase the noise of your engine and can actually damage the engine especially the oil coated ones, they will also null and void your insurance - so if you are a baseball capped, windows down , techno blaring out person that likes annoying everyone around you then fair game but dont waste your money on that rubbish!

Modding a Ka hmmmm sounds a bit mad but how about an Irmscher body kit , flare those wheel arches - upgrade the calipers and springs but for goodness sake leave the engine alone or stick in something else you wont get much more performance out of these crap duratec lumps!

Pay attention to Delboy he is the expert on here and knows his stuff - watch what you do insurance companies are just looking for excuses to stick it up you!

I'm not arguing with you here at all so please don't think I am but how can the oil coated filters damage your engine?

Considering the crankcase breather chucks engine oil directly into the air intake?

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[240karl]

I'll be checking the tappets and servicing the engine, then that bits out the way

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[Omendata]

The oil from the filter gets onto the icv amongst other sensors inside the throttle body - im not arguing either - maybe they do maybe they dont and im no expert but my burds cousin is a Lotus mechanic and he told me this as well as seeing it on youtube from Scottykilmer and ericthecarguy and they are experts so go figure! All i know is induction kits are a noise making waste of time that all the neds install because they want their cars to impress the ladees - massive exhausts to make up for their small penii as well roflmao

Yeah Karl tappets , some new sparkies (eurocarparts are doing a nice deal) - Just got a new set of sparks and fuel filter for less than a tenner!

Clean out the throttle body , map sensor , icv and for goodness sake get an obd tester it will save you hours of pain and save you a fortune in garage bills believe me!

When i bought mine even though the guy said it had no problems he was a liar as the obd tester soon picked up a faulty O2 sensor no1 (thats the lambda sensor) on the exhaust manifold and it causes most ka engine performance issues. oil filter and oil change 5w/30 synthetic and dont forget a nice coolant flush and some new antifreeze for the cold weather.

I suppose you could stick some Starsky and Hutch Torino lightning stripesdown the side and an eagle on the bonnet Jim Rockford style.

lol

Or do a vinyl wrap like this:-

I just cleaned my icv and map sensor and my streetka doesnt have an induction !Removed! kit and it was filthy - idle is now perfect so adding

these things is mental - hold on ill just dig out an old youtube!

[delboy]

on the tappets side of things , when you do an oil chagne add a bottle of wynns tappet additive in with the new oil as it will keep the tappets lubricated.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/fuel-oil-additives/wynns-hydraulic-valve-lifter-350ml

you can get it cheaper in other stores.

[Lenny]

Stock up the garage with a replacement passenger side wing mirrors,

Rear bumper and boot panel.

Then save the rest of the budget for when she gets a full license can purchase a mini Cooper S

[240karl]

Stock up the garage with a replacement passenger side wing mirrors,

Rear bumper and boot panel.

Then save the rest of the budget for when she gets a full license can purchase a mini Cooper S

That's the reason I got the ka, there's about 20 off them in my nearby scrappy!

Already got a new strut and wishbone which it needed.

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[Lenny]

That's the reason I got the ka, there's about 20 off them in my nearby scrappy!

Already got a new strut and wishbone which it needed.

My sister's first car was a Polo,

She snapped off the passenger wing mirror three times at the same place.

When parking outside of the local play school she would drive to street crossroads then reverse in to the end parking spot.

But forgot to watch out for the telephone pole on the footpath which cleanly took off wing mirror when reversing three different wing mirrors 😀😁😀😂😭

Anyways,

Some footwell lighting and illuminated ignition ring light would brighten it up for winter see Guide done on focus but principles are identical in the ka:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/34704-guide-fitting-footwell-lighting-to-your-ford/page__fromsearch__1

Also some dash cams may reduce the insurance premium see Guide:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/65147-guide-fitting-dual-camera-dvr-system-focus-mk2-mk25/?p=438442

Perhaps some Ford logo puddle lighting

Link: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/46244-guide-fitting-ford-projector-puddle-lights-mk2-mk25-focus-05-12-front-doors/

Even an umbrella holder in the boot door:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/67840-guide-fitting-boot-door-umbrella-holder-focus-mk2-mk25/

Rug Doctor will bring up the interior like New,

See Guide:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/47749-rug-doctor-review-cleanng-car-interior/

Some Hammerite smooth finish silver paint is cheap and great for brightening up the rear drums brakes and spacer section of the front brake discs,

Especially if fitting alloys.

You may like to view my SnagglePuss build thread as I've used alot of quality items to restore engine performance as well as flush the cooling system.

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/48340-snagglepuss-build-thread-lennys-new-whip/

I also recommend to eliminate contamination from the oil sump and help things run smoother;

I recommend purchasing 5 litres of cheap oil say Halfords brand for example.

drain existing oil

put cheap oil in,

Followed by a bottle of Xado Total Flush

run engine for 20 minutes,

Then drain the oil

fill up with Castrol brand

engine will run smoother,

Also use Xado Multi Cleaner prior to having fuel filter changed

the stuff really makes a difference.

Here are links to purchase the above items;

Since sterling is very strong compared to euro at present it's 5 pounds cheaper per bottle to purchase from Xado Ireland

Total Flush (for oil)

Link: http://www.xadoireland.ie/miscellaneous/atomex-totalflush

MultiClean (For Petrol tank)

Link: http://www.xadoireland.ie/fuel-additives/atomex-multi-cleaner-petrol

[Preecematt]

Did someone mention induction lol

Waste of time mate - Induction kits DO NOT increase the performance of your engine its an old wives tale - those cheapo K&N induction kits on Amazon and Ebay

only increase the noise of your engine and can actually damage the engine especially the oil coated ones, they will also null and void your insurance - so if you are a baseball capped, windows down , techno blaring out person that likes annoying everyone around you then fair game but dont waste your money on that rubbish!

Modding a Ka hmmmm sounds a bit mad but how about an Irmscher body kit , flare those wheel arches - upgrade the calipers and springs but for goodness sake leave the engine alone or stick in something else you wont get much more performance out of these crap duratec lumps!

Pay attention to Delboy he is the expert on here and knows his stuff - watch what you do insurance companies are just looking for excuses to stick it up you!

Ha cheap K & N kits, depends which one's you buy + you can buy them direct from K & N , the closed induction one's are better as they suffer less heat soak and the reason for the induction kits is because the standard one's are 90% restrictive and really your lucky if you see 5hp(tops) difference even after a remap which is necessary otherwise you'll run too lean. Also if induction kits are a waste of time, find a modified car that doesn't have one and look at Mountune, they sell induction kits. If they were a waste of time would they sell them?? No. Irmscher is Vauxhall for a start and expensive at that. Personally unless your going for massive power over standard, I'd leave the springs alone I'd get some better bushes though, Just get some bigger alloys and size to size they have less unsprung weight than steelis, calipers again I agree with as I got the one's off a gsi which were 304 or 308 on the front and 264 on the back, doesn't hurt to have better brakes. Insurance is irrelevant to even bring up as you should declare your mods anyway.

[240karl]

This is a ka not a disastra

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[Preecematt]

This is a ka not a disastra

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I know but I haven't done anything to my focus yet. I was using the disastra as an example as I did things to that,unspeakable things

[240karl]

Ha, I've done similar, you learn from the mistakes.

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[Preecematt]

Yea I'll second that, mainly when it comes to sticking/taking factory bodykits on/off and where to take your car to get things done to it. It was my first car to mod though.

[Omendata]

Waste of time why would they sell them - well because the vast majority of boy racers and noobs will buy them - profit is the motive i would imagine just like everyone in business these days!

Induction kits are a waste of money and are only bought by the pro modders to make the engine look nice - Ask Edd China he did a mod with one and admitted the same - Did you watch the youtube video - there are others testing hi end professional kits at £1000 and they only produced 2% gain even when the induction inlet is mounted directly in the light pod to minimize heat from the engine.

Yeah Irmscher was back in the old days when I had an Opel Manta GTE / GTJ and SR - I was just using it as an example but bodykits are another waste of time and money!

Yes on the bushes they wear out faster on a Streetka than anything for some reason!

There are loads of things like engine struts etc but is a Ford Ka really worth it?

Like the guy who put a v8 in a Fiat Panda - Fun too look at but he killed himself I believe.

Insurance isnt irrelevant as most folks wouldnt realise what things you add on can affect your insurance.

When I first started I didnt know that putting a K&N on my Dutton Phaeton S3 would affect the insurance or the bigger exhaust.

Not all of the forum readers are experts!

I have learned a lot myself from Delboy and others on here - no one knows everything!

[Preecematt]

Yes I saw the episode of Wheeler Dealers where they ruined the scooby the same could be said about exhausts, they worsen the performance until a remap(as said on wheeler dealers). I do and don't agree on the aesthetics of the induction kit, if it's the closed induction(effectively the same as the factory one) then yes they look nice but I think just the cones look stupid as there is to much space left in the engine bay. And I agree on the fact is a KA really worth it but then you have to ask, whats the point in modding any car. I'd rather modify my current run of the mill Focus rather than the ST or the RS. Look at how many scoobies/gsi's/evo's etc have been ruined by boy racers modifying them. With regards to the v8 in a panda, there is a lad around me, who has a really nice type r, done that much stuff it's unreal, really nice car though, anyway he can't handle the power, I've raced him before(lost miserably) and the thing torque steers everywhere. Its all good modifying cars but only to YOUR capabilities not just to be part of some cult and getting yourself killed.... NEE NOOORRR fun police

[Omendata]

Good another Wheeler Dealers fan lol

Cant disagree with any of that but for the fact I built my own kit car when I was 18 and all four of us had Duttons and Dax Tojeiros racing round Loch Lomond like loons and yes we did really stupid stuff like overtaking on the brow of hills but with a v8 and 500 kilos total weight and accelaration of 0-60 in 3.4 secs faster than a Ferrari F40 back then I have done my share of naughty so no I am not a member of the fun police I just dont feel very safe in this Streetka and its been a nightmare of problems since i got it. Problem is Im unemployed now so my Lotus Excel , Rover 820si and Dutton are off the road and now the Streetka has joined them all until I figure out whether the fuel pump is a goner or its summat else - Old cars and kit cars give you problems at least one every month and since I lost my dad its not as much fun working on em anymore! It used to be fun but now its a chore so if I sound like a moaning old git you are probably right!

[Lenny]

Good another Wheeler Dealers fan lol

Cant disagree with any of that but for the fact I built my own kit car when I was 18 and all four of us had Duttons and Dax Tojeiros racing round Loch Lomond like loons and yes we did really stupid stuff like overtaking on the brow of hills but with a v8 and 500 kilos total weight and accelaration of 0-60 in 3.4 secs faster than a Ferrari F40 back then I have done my share of naughty so no I am not a member of the fun police I just dont feel very safe in this Streetka and its been a nightmare of problems since i got it. Problem is Im unemployed now so my Lotus Excel , Rover 820si and Dutton are off the road and now the Streetka has joined them all until I figure out whether the fuel pump is a goner or its summat else - Old cars and kit cars give you problems at least one every month and since I lost my dad its not as much fun working on em anymore! It used to be fun but now its a chore so if I sound like a moaning old git you are probably right!

Sorry to read the above post Gary,

I sincerely hope things get better for you in 2016 mate,

This year has been a difficult one for a few of us.

[Preecematt]

Sorry to hear you lost your Dad Gary. At least you have some memories of working on cars with him. Yea being on the breadline is naff but not alot you can do about it at the moment, with the economy etc, I've had my hours cut back so I'm about £7-800 down a month and I work for someone who knows how to run a business lol. At least you have a semi eco car to run around in when you get it fixed. See I've never done any of this kitcar stuff, I wanted to, very badly but mum and dad never had the funds, same with football. Which is why my kids are taken to any form of racing/car show I can get to when work/funds and most importantly the other half permit. That's what putting me off a project car, the fact they go wrong a lot and when they do go wrong it costs a fair bit of money and plus the fact that I haven't got room.