Hi i have a mk3.5 (P reg 1996) 1.3hcs CFI fiesta

Not going to try big it up much it's slow as fuck ! just about crack 115mph down hill (Clocked on satnav my speedo was only showing 100mph)

I have fitted SI bumpers, and full SI spec interior
Rose jointed lower arms
Polly bushed everything possible with the "Cheaper" Floflex bushes
have GAZ adjustable shocks and 60mm Fiesta center springs to put on it
And currently search for a set of 15" escort GTI wheels to paint white and put it on




Not going to tune this engine as it's simply not worth it, in the near future it will get engine conversion
(1.6 silvertop on bikecarb/ESC setup)

But in the mean time i want to make the handling the best i possibly can, thing's i don't have that i think will help my handling are, Front upper strut brace, Rear Anti roll bar, Weld a plate or some box section in the open /under side of the rear beam to increase rigidity ?????


I have only had a quick look and can't see any kind of mounts for a rear ARB can my rear beam have one ?

And could anybody that as done the welded rear beam mod let me know how they did it - What they used - has it made noticeable difference on trackdays and back lanes ?


Cheers kieren

P.S any other suggestions to make my car handle even better much appreciated

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

About time you joined FSi lol

Rear ARB can probably go on, i cant remember what the poverty spec beam looks like though from when I had a 1.3 many years ago. But basically it comes with little brackets on the bushes - one goes on the suspension bolt and the other on another bolt on the beam (should be a little tap with a thread in it between front bush and suspension)..

Other handling mods would be coilovers, twin rear arb, rear strut brace, front lower strut brace.

The beam welding thing has been done before, but not a lot. Some people just put a mk5 beam on there because its stronger, plug you get more width on the rear end. But from what I have heard its a good mod. I know of two people who have done it over on fiestaturbo.

Engine wise, if you are going to go to all the trouble fitting a zetec, go straight for the 2.0... the 1.6 is useless for tuning. You'll chuck money at it and get a small result. Same as the HCS engine. Plus with the 2.0 you are already at 130bhp +/-

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

i welded the rear beam in my old red mk3 and it was the best mod i ever did, UNBELIEVABLE handling, on rails wouldnt be the word, just ask jason on here (spunkeymonkey) scared him a few times in the bends the thing was a pure go-kart! well recommended mate! only thing i would recommend is if you weld it, get youself a lower s brace as its so stiff that the shell sarted twising in hard cornering but the s brace helped that

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

i used the same thickness steel as the axle itself, 6mm roughly i think, ill try get some pictures, could be the same guy, from ireland like me?

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With coilovers you can adjust the ride height and damping and/or rebound. Plus the springs are different too. Usually suited to the shocks. All works well for the handling.

Where as lowering springs are literally just cut shorter and tempered so they are stiff and dont absorb bumps ect as well.

I went from spax setup to avo coilovers and the difference is unreal and it handled like a beaut on spax. The right is so much smoother and it handles much better too.

Lower braces usually come on the zetec models as far as I can remember at the moment. Not sure they came on the RST or anything. Probably did buy my brain is dead atm. They are usually refered to as an S brace as its S shaped. Goes between the bottom chassis legs and stiffens up the chassis.

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

They pop up every now and then. Generally only when people break cars. Keep looking and I'm sure you will find one!

Also, get under the car to see if you have the holes there for it to bold into, too. If you dont, then it wont be worth getting lol

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

Technically I suppose you could but it wouldn't really be wise because the chassis itself might be slightly different and you might just end up putting great bit holes in the floor lol

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

Yeah there is more than likely holes there, I dont see why there wouldnt be!

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My rear beam has no mounts for ARB looks like i have to just do the weld mod and live with that

_________________
WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

unless you find a cheap si rear beam?

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

s brace, does the 1.4 have holes for that? love the car man, like it on the white steelies!

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fifi

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WANTED:
MK3 fiesta lower strut brace/S brace
MK3 fiesta Rear ARB with mounts
MK3 fiesta Front upper strut brace

best get checking lol. they should be fairly easy to come by surely?

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fifi