AndyStarks

Hi,

I'm new here so I wanted to say hi and ask a few questions.

A bit of background - I'm a medically retired nurse who now builds camper vans as a hobby. I've also owned a bundle of Fords since my first car which was a mk2 Escort Pop, 2 door, WKN 828S. Weird how some things stick in your head.

I've got a mk5 Escort Chairman disabled accessible car that I am planning to convert to a camper.

Stop sniggering! 😜 I previously did a conversion on the mk6 version.

Anyway, the mk5 has a 1.3 HCS engine that is shagged by all accounts. So I need to replace it.

As it happens I also have a 2004 SportKa with the 1.6 8v engine sat rusting out in my yard.

Could this engine fit (or easily be made to fit) the mk5 Escort?

If yes - what do I need to do?

If no - what engine options do I have?

I'd really appreciate any help or advice.

Cheers

Andy.

PS my daily driver is a mk8 Fiesta so I'm definitely in the Ford family.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Quite probably, however I am sure the work required wouldn't be worth it, as they are very underpowered and not a particularly good engine. A puma 1.7 swap or even a 2.0 zetec would be a much better bet.

AndyStarks

Hi,

Thanks. The main reason for asking is that I have the 1.6 engine and won't need to buy yet another engine. I'm on a budget and trying to use the resources I already own. Also, anything has got to better than the 1.3HCS!

So, you reckon it's doable with the SportKa engine? Any hints and tips for the swap over?

Cheers

Andy

Turbo Zetec

iTrader: (1)

Swapping to the KA engine would be costly as you'd have to source management for it or remove it from a KA loom. You'd also need to fabricate engine mounts for it as the Rocam engine was never intended to fit into the Escort. It may even require a gearbox swap as i'm not even sure that they use the normal bellhousing bolt pattern. By the time you've messed around with all of that, you could have bought an escort 1.8 zetec engine with ecu and loom and stuck it straight in! would probably only be a couple hundred quid too.

AndyStarks

Thanks, Turbo.

I didn't realise I could drop a Zetec in to the escort.

The car has now arrived and it's the 1.3 CFi engine, if that makes any difference.

Would the 1.8 Zetec just drop in? Subject to having the loom and ECU. Does it matter the age of the donor car?

Sorry to sound dim, I'm not mechanical but I'm damn good at camper conversions which is what this will become.

Cheers

Andy

James Tanner

Hi Andy, I've got a mk5b chairman I've recently picked up with plans of a kinda day van conversion and just stumbled across your post looking at engine ideas for the future. Any chance you've got any pictures of your last one for inspiration once I've finally finish welding this bugger up 😊👍

LukeFHJ

I've had two Sport Ka's, both had rubbish engines. Unreliable, all have been hammered about. First one let off a load of blue smoke first start up, and the second was running on 3 cylinders with a nasty misfire, low compression too. Not to mention their rust issues, not that it'll bother you wanting the engine.