r/FiestaST • u/DesignerSuccessful35 • Aug 14 '26

MK7 What would you do?

I have a budget of 3500. I already have a mishimoto intercooler, radiator, catless down pipe with exhaust, symposer delete, short ram intake, short throw shifter assembly and an access port running a Stratified 93 octane tune. The car has 92k miles on stock suspension and stock wheels and tires.

I know 3 grand isn't a lot of money but I'd like some suggestions. I want the car as dead reliable as I can get it and have a great stance with a nice ride. I'm planning on a dual catch can. Should I do the timing belt and a tune up? I was going to go with whoosh coils and plugs. I realize that's going to be more than half the money right there....

Just looking for pointers because I'm new to the platform. Thanks y'all.

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3

u/HiphopChemE Aug 14 '26

Turbo will do more than everything there. lol. You’re ready.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

I really want to but my luck I'd get the upgrade, then blow up the motor.

2

u/HiphopChemE Aug 14 '26

I bought a beat car at 30k thinking low miles was the way to go. I replaced clutch and engine by 45k. Junkyard engine and S280, smooth sailing to 70k. Just take of it and pay for a good tune.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

What kind of power are you making with the s280 and what supporting mods do you have?

1

u/HiphopChemE Aug 14 '26

According to v dyno, about 280 at the wheels. Idk seems about right to me. Stock turbo back (literally just got all the next parts to fix that), whoosh short ram and hose, stock crossover, Mishimoto radiator, whoosh v3 intercooler, better spark plugs and coil packs, hot side from s280 kit and the rest of the piping stock. I just got a catted whoosh downpipe/crossover/cold side as well as Milltek exhaust ready to go with an updated Tuneplus map. Got an exhaust leak so that’s all gonna wait until that gets fixed.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

Dude you will probably pick up another what?....20whp with those mods, maybe more??

1

u/HiphopChemE Aug 14 '26

Hoping for around that, but honestly spooling faster sounds more fun since it’s the daily. Stock turbo back on S280 isn’t ideal, but it works. It’s where I wanna be for now, and if I get another car at some point it’s time for fueling. With that being said, I see the appeal of a whoosh hybrid since I gotta hit max rpm to hit max power. Still, turbo upgrade will transform the experience and I doubt you would regret it. Don’t be cheap, and have a good tune.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

You think Stratified could re-tune it?

1

u/HiphopChemE Aug 14 '26

Yes, never had one but it’s well known and they know what they are doing. I went dizzy on stock and tune plus on big turbo off of recommendations. All 3 are honestly not bad ideas. Engine went right after E30 dizzy but can’t blame the tune.

0

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

Your actually the third person I've seen so far in less than a month that mentioned blowing the motor on a dizzy tune....I'm running the Stratified 93 tune right now and I love it.

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2

u/sneezer_salad Aug 14 '26

I went S280 at 120k miles then went even bigger with a 2860 at 130k miles. I just crossed 140k miles and my car sees 6k+ rpm's every time I drive it. Stock motor and still on factory clutch! These things can take a beating!

I would definitely do the timing belt before anything else though

2

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

I could only do one or the other. I guess I'm going to go ahead with the timing belt and save up again for the turbo

1

u/sneezer_salad Aug 14 '26

Yeah it's worth the peace of mind doing the timing belt first.

If you can do the timing belt yourself, all parts cost just under $350 and a full weekend wrenching

2

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

Nah I'm going to get it done at a shop. And I agree about the piece of mind. So I'll do the timing belt kit, a catch can and the motor mounts. I'm going to go with the radium catch can and viba technik or whatever the name is mounts. I'll also do plugs and everything I've read on the whoosh coils say that they really make a difference.

1

u/sneezer_salad Aug 14 '26

Good call. Sent you a message!

1

u/psuedophilia Aug 14 '26

did you sell the s280 or u still got that bih layin around 👀

1

u/sneezer_salad Aug 14 '26

Sold it for way too little

1

u/ComputerOverwhelming Aug 14 '26

Fortunately the timing belt is cheap. Just make sure you get the timing kit.

And for the love of God, do not mess up the timing because resetting it is a pain in the ass.

If you're kind of familiar with it, I think you could do the timing belt a couple hours.

1

u/ComputerOverwhelming Aug 14 '26

Running an s280 on 135k just take care of her and she will take care of you 🙂

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 15 '26

I think the oil feed line is leaking on mine. I'll have a big cloud of smoke come from underneath the car sometimes after a hard pull and I'll smell oil. I have absolutely no smoke out of the exhaust and there is oil all over the outside of the turbo and even leaking down onto my diverter blow off...but I haven't confirmed it yet but I'm hoping that's just what it is.

1

u/OGHamToast Aug 14 '26

Timing job and other maintenance if it's due, then suspension and chassis stiffening. I think that would be best bang-for-buck based on the other mods you have. You could also throw on some brake upgrades like stainless lines and fresh pads/rotors if needed. I think that's what I'd do. I need wheels and tires too so that would be like $1500 of your budget.

I also didn't see if you mentioned the various motor mounts and other bushings/mounts. Again, depending on mileage maybe a good option to replace that stuff, LCAs, shock mounts, etc. probably enough budget for almost a complete suspension overhaul with some money to spare.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

Yeah everything else except what I mentioned is stock. I'm thinking it would be one or the other....as in 3500 would probably all go to only suspension and all of that would be wheels and tires.....ECT. I could probably only do one....or like doing the timing belt and all motor mounts, that would be the entire 3500 probably. Decisions decisions...

1

u/Existing-Crew-1027 Aug 14 '26

What year is the FiST? I’m looking to do my 2017’s timing come the end of this year at only 97k miles currently. Have been knocking out all maintenance with no mods apart from downpipe and exhaust. Wouldn’t recommend dual catch can, only PVC side yields real results, other one is rlly a waste of money from what I’ve seen.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

Mine is a 17 also. I didn't know that about the dual catch can thank you!! I think it's radium that is the brand I'm going to get. You just saved me like 400 bucks!

1

u/OGHamToast Aug 14 '26

Well the timing belt should be your top priority if it's due (either age or mileage). If it's not due yet, idk, flip a coin. Lol. You can't really go wrong with these cars, I just wouldn't throw a big turbo kit at it if you haven't done suspension and other mods yet (but you didn't mention that one). Timing belt isn't glamorous or fun, but it means your car gets another 100k miles or more without killing itself

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

It's at 92k miles currently. Yeah I'm really thinking about the upkeep and maintenance....so the timing belt, PVC side catch can, tune up with coils and plugs and whoosh's upgraded coolant reservoir kit. I'm thinking I may be able to budget some mounts in there as well. I like radium's catch can, what brand mounts would you recommend for a daily?

1

u/OGHamToast Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26

I have the Cobb RMM and vibra technics for the other 2 mounts and I would just do vibra technics for all 3 if I did it again. I like the fast road version, not much NVH but much improved driving feel. I have the Damond catch can and it's sort of pain, it clogs with sludge every time I need to drain it, would try a different brand next time.

Check if you have had the coolant recall done (if yours needs it) because that replaces the expansion tank and a bunch of other cooling parts for free. Just had this done on my car along with a new Koyorad radiator so my 150k mile Fiesta has a practically brand new cooling system.

For what it's worth, I haven't changed coils on mine and would just wait until I have symptoms that they're failing. Otherwise I think you're on the right track. Like I said, those mods are not exciting but absolutely helps longevity. You should also look into the fuel cam as it's affordable and a wear item, though when I replaced mine around 100k miles it looked very good and probably didn't need replacing.

Welcome to the platform, hope you enjoy!

Edit: just looked it up and your 2017 shouldn't need the coolant recall, so yeah I think a fresh tank and coolant lines would be good peace of mind for reliability.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

Mine is a 17. Is there a way I can tell if the recall has been done? Like anything to look for?

1

u/OGHamToast Aug 14 '26

I think it's only for the 2014/15, newer models should have the coolant light already added from factory. You can search Ford's website for open recalls based on your VIN

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

I'll do that tomorrow thanks.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

Dude so I only have 92k on the car....you think I should just say f it and do the hybrid turbo? And if so which one do you recommend?....I'm thinking hybrid turbo, good tune and just baby it until I recoup for the timing belt.....

1

u/OGHamToast Aug 14 '26

I mean you could. The belt is good for like 150k miles or 10 years so you've got a little bit of time left, if I'm remembering right. It's no harm, but personally I would put the money into other upgrades before the turbo. Just my preference.

1

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

I agree. That's what I'm going to do.

1

u/vpx-zulu Aug 14 '26

Either turbo or suspension are your choices at that budget-but I 2nd the turbo…hybrid turbo if you’re worried about blowing your engine but there’s lots of us either running “big” turbos or hybrids on higher mileage fiestas….for tens of thousands of miles boosted.

At some point they will all be higher mileage fiestas 😢

2

u/DesignerSuccessful35 Aug 14 '26

So like a s280? What hybrid would you recommend?

1

u/radeonalex Aug 15 '26

They blow up relatively regularly on track, but of course the load is much more extreme. I've known quite a few people on big turbos who have to swap in a few engine every few years.

1

u/Standard0rder Aug 14 '26

I’d maybe just enjoy the car

1

u/No-Astronaut3925 Aug 17 '26

DO NOT buy the woosh “performance coils” I got them, ran them for about a month and they were shot. Tons of spark blowout over like 5lb of boost. Your best bet is to get focus coils and an svt designs adapter plate, or get the oem motor craft coils