ZX2Fast
05-15-2008, 03:03 PM
I bought my 1998 Escort ZX2 Sport in 2000 with just over 22,000 miles on it, for $9000. I actually got the car for my wife. I don't even like green. So, a friend of mine followed me back to Indiana from Virgina (I was in the Navy at the time) to deliver the car. My wifes said she didn't want to drive a stick so I left my 1988 Pontiac 6000 with her and took the ZX2 back with me. The little car started to grow on me and I enjoyed driving it. In 2001 we moved the ship from VA to CA. I took my car with me. In late 2001 I found the ZX2 EZ Board site. I also found Kemans' site and I modified the intake, following his instructions. That was my first mod.
In the summer of 2002 I got out of the Navy and came back home to Indiana. I found a job and started making decent money. Where I worked was less then an hour from the dragstrip in Indianapolis. I started going almost every week. While at the track I spotted another ZX2. I had been looking for a muffler that I liked the sound of and I liked the sound of his. He didn't have a muffler, he just cut the stock one off. So, that weekend, I cut off my muffler. Later that summer I bought a CTA Motorsports intake. Now that the car sounded like satan coming to get you, I started going to the track more often. That fall I installed a 700 watt inverter to run my drill and soldering iron if I needed them to work on a car.
In the summer of 2003 I picked up a MSD DIS-II system for the car and installed it. Now I regret selling it because I loved the rev limiter and timing settings on that thing. That year I also bought and installed a Ford Racing UDP and MSD Blaster ignition coil. In the fall of 2003 I installed a B&M shifter and ES stabilizer bushing. I also picked up an ES master kit and installed the rear endlinks from the kit along with a 19mm RSB. I ordered and installed an Eibach and Tokico strut kit.
In 2004 I installed a Fidanza flywheel, and an Exedy clutch kit and it sucked worse then the burnt clutch I replaced. So, I ordered and installed a Spec 2 clutch. That was when Trubendz started talking about making exhaust for us. I was 7th of 10 to put a deposit down and the 2nd to recieve the exhaust. I installed the exhaust and sent the pictures and video clips to Trubendz. They still use them on thier site. I also installed a blue Superchip that didn't seem to work as well as the POT's mod I replaced. Then I noticed the chip was CARB legal and that pretty much is the reason why it sucked. Anyway, when I had the tranny down for the clutch I gutted the cat and installed a MIL eliminator. I went to the National Escort Meet that year and posted the 2nd best ZX2 time, behind Mr. Weeyums. Later that fall I bought and installed a Hotshot header. That thing really woke the car up over the stock exhaust manni. I also installed the front ES swaybar links.
In late 2005 I sold the CTA intake and put my stock Keman back on. That was also the winter I made the rear reflector LED brake light because I got bored.
In early 2006 I got a dual cubby pod and a boost/vac guage for my A-pillar pod along with a voltmeter, A/F, and oil pressure guage. I bought a turbo off Ebay and started putting my kit together based on the Air Research Super 60. I picked up a Ractive strut bar from CTA Motorsports and installed it. That summer I got most of the kit on the car and I only need fuel injectors and a tune. That fall I got the injectors and tune but the car had issues running. I swapped my PCM to a 6-wire and bought an Xcal2 for tuning. I also picked up a S/R cluster for $100 and installed it.
In 2007 I installed a PG in the tranny.
So far this year I've installed the Civic radiator because the compressor keeps putting holes in the stock one and I've installed a HKS SSQV. Previously the car had a recirculated 1g Eclipse BOV. I finished the piping in aluminum as well. I have a Spec 3 waiting to go in now. I also installed one of the lower control arm ES bushings.
So far the engine is still kicking with over 170,000 miles on it and a base tune. I guess this car loves me or something. Check my signature for links to video and pictures.
http://a563.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/110/l_b1613c3d3c134268f2645aff4641867a.jpg
Power outlet.
http://a923.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/103/l_21579afd3ea82ac5d4e8cf76efb14592.jpg
Hotshot header.
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/365000-365999/365874_166_full.jpg
Turbo
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/365000-365999/365874_175_full.jpg
First pipe set-up.
http://a498.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/65/l_c2f22f63e3e44494c06ec22611027601.jpg
Second pipe set-up.
http://a224.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/85/l_2c196410c5daa40a5f1700d9a9d6f087.jpg
Previous FMIC pipe routing. Notice the different coupling colors.
http://a749.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/22/l_4fadd189942c762e53812c789f34ae5c.jpg
Current pipe set-up.
http://a911.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_e6f495da72c18e131ae436c41d9d4236.jpg
Current HKS placement.
http://a703.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/29/l_d6dee7d86b7c4549e836d3e8ff6203a6.jpg
Current FMIC pipe routing. Notice the couplings are the same color now.
http://a389.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/15/l_d4dacafff05b1384e4b316605ef66f5c.jpg
Civic radiator.
In the summer of 2002 I got out of the Navy and came back home to Indiana. I found a job and started making decent money. Where I worked was less then an hour from the dragstrip in Indianapolis. I started going almost every week. While at the track I spotted another ZX2. I had been looking for a muffler that I liked the sound of and I liked the sound of his. He didn't have a muffler, he just cut the stock one off. So, that weekend, I cut off my muffler. Later that summer I bought a CTA Motorsports intake. Now that the car sounded like satan coming to get you, I started going to the track more often. That fall I installed a 700 watt inverter to run my drill and soldering iron if I needed them to work on a car.
In the summer of 2003 I picked up a MSD DIS-II system for the car and installed it. Now I regret selling it because I loved the rev limiter and timing settings on that thing. That year I also bought and installed a Ford Racing UDP and MSD Blaster ignition coil. In the fall of 2003 I installed a B&M shifter and ES stabilizer bushing. I also picked up an ES master kit and installed the rear endlinks from the kit along with a 19mm RSB. I ordered and installed an Eibach and Tokico strut kit.
In 2004 I installed a Fidanza flywheel, and an Exedy clutch kit and it sucked worse then the burnt clutch I replaced. So, I ordered and installed a Spec 2 clutch. That was when Trubendz started talking about making exhaust for us. I was 7th of 10 to put a deposit down and the 2nd to recieve the exhaust. I installed the exhaust and sent the pictures and video clips to Trubendz. They still use them on thier site. I also installed a blue Superchip that didn't seem to work as well as the POT's mod I replaced. Then I noticed the chip was CARB legal and that pretty much is the reason why it sucked. Anyway, when I had the tranny down for the clutch I gutted the cat and installed a MIL eliminator. I went to the National Escort Meet that year and posted the 2nd best ZX2 time, behind Mr. Weeyums. Later that fall I bought and installed a Hotshot header. That thing really woke the car up over the stock exhaust manni. I also installed the front ES swaybar links.
In late 2005 I sold the CTA intake and put my stock Keman back on. That was also the winter I made the rear reflector LED brake light because I got bored.
In early 2006 I got a dual cubby pod and a boost/vac guage for my A-pillar pod along with a voltmeter, A/F, and oil pressure guage. I bought a turbo off Ebay and started putting my kit together based on the Air Research Super 60. I picked up a Ractive strut bar from CTA Motorsports and installed it. That summer I got most of the kit on the car and I only need fuel injectors and a tune. That fall I got the injectors and tune but the car had issues running. I swapped my PCM to a 6-wire and bought an Xcal2 for tuning. I also picked up a S/R cluster for $100 and installed it.
In 2007 I installed a PG in the tranny.
So far this year I've installed the Civic radiator because the compressor keeps putting holes in the stock one and I've installed a HKS SSQV. Previously the car had a recirculated 1g Eclipse BOV. I finished the piping in aluminum as well. I have a Spec 3 waiting to go in now. I also installed one of the lower control arm ES bushings.
So far the engine is still kicking with over 170,000 miles on it and a base tune. I guess this car loves me or something. Check my signature for links to video and pictures.
http://a563.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/110/l_b1613c3d3c134268f2645aff4641867a.jpg
Power outlet.
http://a923.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/103/l_21579afd3ea82ac5d4e8cf76efb14592.jpg
Hotshot header.
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/365000-365999/365874_166_full.jpg
Turbo
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/365000-365999/365874_175_full.jpg
First pipe set-up.
http://a498.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/65/l_c2f22f63e3e44494c06ec22611027601.jpg
Second pipe set-up.
http://a224.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/85/l_2c196410c5daa40a5f1700d9a9d6f087.jpg
Previous FMIC pipe routing. Notice the different coupling colors.
http://a749.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/22/l_4fadd189942c762e53812c789f34ae5c.jpg
Current pipe set-up.
http://a911.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_e6f495da72c18e131ae436c41d9d4236.jpg
Current HKS placement.
http://a703.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/29/l_d6dee7d86b7c4549e836d3e8ff6203a6.jpg
Current FMIC pipe routing. Notice the couplings are the same color now.
http://a389.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/15/l_d4dacafff05b1384e4b316605ef66f5c.jpg
Civic radiator.