Hello Oppo!

"FocusedMark" (focusedmark)
12/01/2014 at 18:33 • Filed to: None

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mark (formerly CalledThirdStrike here in the comments) and I am a 20 year old college student from Rhode Island. I currently drive a 2003 Ford Focus SE

My favorite cars are the older wagons and other boxy looking cars

I appreciate old Volvos and Mercedes and BMW's of all eras, I enjoy the classy look of them.

I hope to make a positive impact on the Oppo community and learn a thing or two along the way. I have been lurking for a long time and I have already learned a ton.

DISCUSSION (59)

$kaycog > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:36

Nice to meet you, Mark. Welcome to Oppo!

PS9 > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:36

Hey there Mark. So...uhh...whatcha got under the hood of that focus?

PNW Hoon > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:36

Hey Mark!

Total tangent question. How did you get invited to post to Oppo? My previous burner account died with my old work computer. And the Kinja help is not....really...helpful.

Thanks!

Also, that Volvo...is awesome.

Agrajag > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:37

Welcome.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:39

Welcome Mark, turn that SE into a ST and you can group yourself in with half the people around here. I know its tough for a college student, I'm just joshing.

The fact you like wagons will help you fit in around here.

Watch out for Nibbles.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:39

Welcome. A friend's brother had a Focus of similar vintage and liked it. He did end up slipping on black ice and hitting a tree in it though...

Your boy, BJR > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:40

Go fuck yourself, Mark.

(J/k)

Welcome! I'm the guy that sent a '73 Bimmer 2002 to the crusher.

I enjoy Lowriders and long walks on the beach.

FocusedMark > PS9
12/01/2014 at 18:42

4cy 2.0l exactly as it came off the line. no mods yet and I'm not sure if I will do anything to it.

FocusedMark > Your boy, BJR
12/01/2014 at 18:44

beaches and low riders are nice. and its a shame you had to send something that nice to the crusher.

FocusedMark > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/01/2014 at 18:44

believe it or not, my twin sister has an 02 focus in the same color, guess my dad thought it would be funny if we had the exact same car.

FocusedMark > PNW Hoon
12/01/2014 at 18:45

search "club openings" look for a post then comment on it.

FocusedMark > $kaycog
12/01/2014 at 18:46

Thank you $kay.

Your boy, BJR > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:46

I didn't have to. I wanted to because ________!

(Choose your own adventure)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:48

Haha possibly. On the bright side you have another one to sneakily steal parts off if something goes wrong...

FocusedMark > Your boy, BJR
12/01/2014 at 18:49

because... you enjoy crushing the hearts of young jalops who like BMW's? I kid I kid but hopefully after I graduate in a few years I can pick up a BMW to tinker with.

Tohru > Your boy, BJR
12/01/2014 at 18:50

IT WAS AN IRREDEEMABLE SHITPILE

PNW Hoon > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:51

Mark, you are the man. Thanks!

JR1 > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:51

Hi Mark! I will never understand how you like Volvo box wagons just like you will likely never understand why I like the Chevy SSR but that is the beauty of the hobby I don't have to and neither do you. Looking forward to our conversations in the coming future.

FocusedMark > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/01/2014 at 18:51

that is the plan. My father is thinking about getting a focus wagon for my mother now that the Mustang is in storage.

Tohru > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:51

Marky Mark and the Focus Bunch,

Run. Escape Oppo while you still have a chance. Oh, and if that Focus has the SPI motor in it, burn it to the ground. TRUST ME.

Your boy, BJR > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:52

that's a horrible accusation an really only like 30% why I did it.

Your boy, BJR > Tohru
12/01/2014 at 18:53

It really was, though.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:53

A full family of focii. People do seem to buy another once theyve had one focus. The guy who crashed his went out and bought another to replace it, that one now has 130k on it and runs great.

Tohru > Your boy, BJR
12/01/2014 at 18:54

I know. I saw. Which is why I knew the correct answer.

FocusedMark > JR1
12/01/2014 at 18:55

I cant explain my love except that I love straight lines on a car, its true that the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

GeorgeyBoy > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:56

Zetec? I miss my Focus.

jkm7680 > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:57

WELCOME TO OPPO, WE HAVE NO LIABILITY INSURANCE JUSTSAYING.

Your boy, BJR > Tohru
12/01/2014 at 18:57

I wonder if the original owner knew when he paid for it new that it was destined to become a stoner's weed/paraphinallia shed (back when I used to do that stuff), then be crushed.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:57

Welcome to Oppo!

JR1 > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 18:57

Very much so. I do enjoy the seats inside of the wagon you posted. The headrest rocks

FocusedMark > Tohru
12/01/2014 at 19:03

Sadly it is the SPI, its at 148k, somethings going wrong with it, I have a vibration at 55-60mph that comes and goes, lots of weird vibrations coming from the engine bay and the dash, very loud ride. I hate the motor with a passion but the only light that comes on and off is for a fan switch. It'll get replaced eventually but I dont think that its my problem.

FocusedMark > GeorgeyBoy
12/01/2014 at 19:04

sadly no, SOHC

FocusedMark > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/01/2014 at 19:05

I know that I'm hooked on them now after having this one.

FocusedMark > jkm7680
12/01/2014 at 19:08

I figured as much. hopefully I wont be needing insurance for anything knock on wood

GeorgeyBoy > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 19:11

Yikes. I know there's a valvetrain issue on those, if you haven't already dealt with it.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 19:33

Welcome. I certainly like your taste in cars.

Tohru > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 19:36

because... you enjoy crushing the hearts of young jalops who like BMW's?

No. THAT WOULD BE ME.

Kinja'd!!!

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 19:41

Welcome to the craziness that is OPPO!!

KirkyV > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 19:43

Know that, where I live, your car would be a rare - if not particularly valuable - unicorn.

FocusedMark > KirkyV
12/01/2014 at 19:46

even here this was a hard car to find. Most people don't want to get rid of their focuses, if they did it had electrical problems or was all banged up.

Thunderface > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 19:47

welcome!

Tohru > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 19:52

SELL IT

SELL IT NOW

I've had two SPI cars. Between them they ate 3 engines.

This was the most recent failure. SPI's can drop valve seats at pretty much any time over 100k miles. Your car has a ticking time bomb under the hood.

Kinja'd!!!

FocusedMark > Tohru
12/01/2014 at 20:03

ouch. That doesn't look all that much fun. I am driving a ticking time bomb 350 miles a week. Hopefully my vibration isn't that, but we have replaced 2/3 of the motor mounts and then we fixed the heat shield and the noise stopped for a little while, but now it's just at 55 and up which is frustrating since 80% of my miles are on the highway.

Tohru > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 20:37

I parked at a Gamestop and was in there 10 minutes. While I was in there, the valve seat fell out. Started the car, and it ate the motor. It can happen literally anytime.

mazda616 > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 20:39

Hello! I drive your car's distant cousin (Mazda3).

AM3R shamefully returns > $kaycog
12/01/2014 at 20:52

hey $kay, I lost my previous account (AM3R). Mind getting me authorship again? Much $kaybait will be posted!

FocusedMark > Tohru
12/01/2014 at 20:55

that's crazy. I hope that it doesn't happen when I'm too far from home. When your look up Ford Focus SOHC or SPI on Google most of the results are for the valve seat dropping or replacing it with a DOHC. Doesn't look too good for me but I am now aware of the situation and can only hope for the best. Thank you for the heads up about the motor, I never really looked into it since it's just to get me through college.

$kaycog > AM3R shamefully returns
12/01/2014 at 20:57

Of course! You're good to go now.

DeLM > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 20:59

One day I hope find the courage to quit lurking...

AM3R shamefully returns > $kaycog
12/01/2014 at 21:03

Thanks!! Btw, this is definitely gonna interest you, I picked up a cracked/bent wheel off of a Ford GT and I'm currently in the process of turning it into an office chair with a cheap race seat (on the hunt for a used recaro) for one of my best friends as a Christmas present. I'll post pictures when I finish!

Edit: pretty much like this

Kinja'd!!!

$kaycog > AM3R shamefully returns
12/01/2014 at 21:11

That's going to be a fantastic chair! I love it! I wonder how the wheel got damaged. Do you know if it's a regular wheel or the optional wheel?

AM3R shamefully returns > $kaycog
12/01/2014 at 21:21

thanks! If it turns out well enough I might try to make some for any interested oppo members. Fortunately the damage isn't bad enough to lead me believe the car was wrecked, probably just hit a nasty pothole.

I believe its the optional wheels (I'm no expert) but it's a split 5 spoke wheel. No sr20 right now, currently stuck at work!

$kaycog > AM3R shamefully returns
12/01/2014 at 21:42

Dang potholes. On this link, the optional wheels are the two top ones and the standard wheels are the two bottom ones. http://www.originalwheels.com/ford-wheels/gt…

AM3R shamefully returns > $kaycog
12/01/2014 at 21:50

Ah, thanks! It's the optional 18x9 front. Must've been one hell of a pothole, Im already thinking about how bad my local roads will get this winter!

PS9 > Tohru
12/01/2014 at 21:54

A fellow victim of the valve seat cancer. Mine was the second vehicle to die that year. When it died, it threw me into a pit of transportation-less strife and struggle that I have yet to emerge from.

Fucking bullshit POS valve seat.

$kaycog > AM3R shamefully returns
12/01/2014 at 21:56

Optional wheels are gorgeous! I too think about potholes this winter.

AM3R shamefully returns > $kaycog
12/01/2014 at 22:06

luckily I have a decent amount of sidewall on my wheels so I should be safe *knock on wood*

Tohru > FocusedMark
12/01/2014 at 23:53

Yeah, the 2.0 SPI is a terrible motor. I bought my purple Escort with a dropped valve seat. Swapped in the motor from my red Escort (died of differential failure and rust). Made it 12k miles and that motor dropped a valve seat - that's what the pictures are from. The second motor I swapped into it developed a loose valve seat after 15k. I replaced the head with a remanufactured head - the reman head had pinhole coolant leaks on two cylinders. I had to warranty the reman for another reman head, which was fine. I then sold it.

Seriously dude, sell your Focus. It will ruin you.

FocusedMark > Tohru
12/02/2014 at 00:05

Technically it is my dads, he bought them for us so we could drive to school. we have a lift and a big garage and we fix everything ourselves and he doesn't seem worried since it keeps running. Oh well I'll try to talk some sense into him tomorrow and maybe if we sell it I can get a hatchback with a DOHC motor in it