Focus gearbox and carrying weight

[gt_addict]

Hi guys,

I know this is probably a long shot but has anyone fitted a focus gearbox with the longer ratios, who still carry a a fair bit of weight on the van.

My van is solely a work horse really and has always got tools and materials on. I'm just wondering what it's like to drive in comparison to the standard box.

Cheers.

[g-man]

has it got longer gear ratios or just a higher diff ratio?......how much weight u carrying?

[Altransit]

Not in the Connect, but I can say that the taller (lower ratio) diff in the Focus is great for relaxed motorway cruising when 1 or 2 up, but if you load it up with luggage and passengers, then driving it involves a lot of gear changing between 4th and 5th, as it won't pull up hills in top gear
That's in a 90ps TDDi, but obviously a more powerful engine would cope with the higher ratios much better, but even the 115ps TDCi struggles a bit when loaded

[gt_addict]

G-man, You know what I mean lol. I carry 250kgs permenantly then another 300-400kgs of materials on occasion.

Altransit, blimey if a 115tdci struggles when loaded I don't think my van will do very well then I was just hoping to get some better economy out of it as I'm doing a few more motorway runs these days and would like to use a bit less fuel.

[Altransit]

When I say it struggles, I mean you notice a lack of sparkle when you accelerate when loaded, and to be fair, the 115ps Focus that we have only has a 1.6 engine
I've also noticed that my 70ps Fiesta van is very overgeared for local work, and you need it to be in 3rd gear if you want it to pull hard from 30mph, so these lower diff ratios aren't always better. A lot of the Mk7 and Custom owners complain of poor fuel economy, probably because they have to use the lower gears a lot more than those of us with higher diff ratios

[paul2012]

My ratio is 3.41, 3rd, 4th & 5th gear is longer than connects.

As for acceleration from 40 - to 70mph no problem in 5th & that's with a load of tools in the back.

See my vid here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylsypW6ovxw

At 60mph engine rpm is at approx 1700 rpm in 5th gear.

SWtechnologies has Focus gearbox in his connect

[gt_addict]

Well thank you for the replies guys I'f I need another gearbox I'll be looking at getting a focus one, or at least a 110sport one to try and improve economy on the motorway.

[Altransit]

40 - to 70mph no problem in 5th & that's with a load of tools in the back.

That's pretty impressive, the Focus wont pull from 1200 rpm, in 5th gear, fully loaded

[paul2012]

40 - to 70mph no problem in 5th & that's with a load of tools in the back.

That's pretty impressive, the Focus wont pull from 1200 rpm, in 5th gear, fully loaded

Connect TDCI's have a higher engine torque than Focus TDDI

Focus TDDI 90ps 175Nm - Same as Connect TDDI 75ps 175Nm

Connect TDCI 75 & 90ps engine torque is 220Nm - After 2010 - 90ps was increased to 235Nm.

ratio difference between 4.06 (Connect) & 3.41 (Focus)

Connect 4.06 gearbox
1st 14.900
2nd 8.672
3rd 5.879
4th 4.174
5th 3.114

F0cus 3.41 gearbox
1st 12.551
2nd 7.305
3rd 4.952
4th 3.516
5th 2.623

Ps Connect Sportvan gearbox is 3.80 which is the same box fitted to all 2011-2013 Euro 5 connects

[gt_addict]

Any chance we could Bookmark or make this kind of info a sticky at the top of the page?

[g-man]

good idea .....when he puts the ratios for the 110 in aswell, you could also mix and match diffs and gear ratios to suit

[paul2012]

good idea .....when he puts the ratios for the 110 in aswell, you could also mix and match diffs and gear ratios to suit

MtX-75 3.80 fitted to 110ps Sportvan & all Euro 5 75/90/110ps connects from 2011-2013.

1st 14.019
2nd 8.160
3rd 5.531
4th 3.927
5th 2.930

[gt_addict]

Are the later boxes interchangeable with the earlier euro3 engines?

[paul2012]

Are the later boxes interchangeable with the earlier euro3 engines?

The later boxes will fit straight in.

BUT......

Euro 4 (2006 onwards) & Euro 5 2011 onwards ) vehicle speed is calculated via ABS systems & gearbox not equipped for speed sensor.

Euro 3 2003 - 2006 There's a sensor on gearbox for vehicle speed.