It is a known issue that OEM manifolds on the Ford Focus RS and Volvos can explode when running elevated boost pressures that approach 24psi. This is happening on new manifolds, so one can only imagine that this will occur more frequently over time, once the plastic has aged and suffered countless heat cycles. Because of this, after market intake manifolds for these cars are starting to appear. Today we will take a look at the Ford Focus RS manifold which fits the Volvo C30, and 2004 and up S40 and V40s.

Information: The F266MQ is a turbocharger that has been "tuned" specifically for Volvospeed's application. The compressor has a 66mm inducer, and large major diameter for efficient high boost operation. The MQ turbine wheel is exclusively available from Innovative Turbo Systems and features 10 blades, inconel 713 material and highest efficiency available. The wheel combination is optimized for spool-up and drivability

With this pulley in place the car seems to rev quicker, but it did not make 60ft times consistently faster. This is a good modification to perform if you are running out of ideas to free up horsepower, but should not come before modifications like the ECU, exhaust, and turbo.

Once installed correctly, this valve should help alleviate some of the stress on the turbo. The sound produced by this valve is a nice subtle one. Anything over 15 psi of boost produces a nice 4 chirp sound. Without installing a block off plate the valve made little to no sound. Also worth noting is the Bailey valve is not the loudest on the market. Depending on what you are looking for, that can be a negative or positive.

The true performance level of a fluid is hard to judge. Cylinder head temperatures (CHT) were lower at idle than with ethylene glycol (EG) coolant. Whether or not the fluid is capable of exchanging heat any faster then EG I cannot say. The base for Engine Ice is propylene glycol (PG) which is a less toxic base than conventional coolants. During a conversation with Mr. Kimmey, the president of Clyclelogic, it was recommenced that I do a coolant flush with a solution of 1:1 distilled water and distilled vinegar. I almost skipped the flush, due to how clean my coolant came out and the fact I flush my coolant every 18 months/15,000 miles.

If your hoses are in need of replacement, this is the way to go. Silicone has many advantages over rubber. There is a good chance these will be the last hoses your car will ever need. You will also be surprised by how soft your stock turbo hoses have become with age.

This simple piece can drastically change the look of your engine bay in just a few minutes. Installation is as simple as removing 4 bolts and the original cover then replacing it with the graphite cover. Constructions of the cover is very high quality. The carbon fiber pattern is laid out well, and the gloss is excellent. Built using the usual fiberglass backed graphite method the cover should last for years.

There are two reasons people buy manual boost controllers, either more boost, or to control spiking. For information regarding adding more boost, take a look at the Volvospeed Message Board. You will find feedback from several people regarding Dawes MBC. Because I did not use the MBC to add more boost, I cannot comment on that aspect. In regards to spike prevention, this controller works very well. I used to see spikes in the 3-4 psi range. With the controller in place, the largest I have seen was just over .5 psi.

While peek horsepower numbers may appear low, the under the graph hp is dramatically increased due to faster response and more low end airflow. After installing the bored throttle body, the car feels a little less like a turbo and a little more like a naturally aspirated vehicle. The off the line response feels less strained. The hp yield on this part varies widely with the previous level tuning of your car.

This upgrade changes so many parameters its hard to rate. The changes are all positive but are too numerous to go into in any depth. I would say the only drawback of this upgrade is the possible voiding of the factory warranty. If you are off warranty and your car is in good working order I would suggest giving PES a call. As a side note, this will put added stress on the vehicle. With that said it is in your best interest to pay even more attention to regular vehicle maintenance.