gregxr3i

How she looks at the moment:



.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .....................


Right, thought I'd get my own thread up as I have with my previous cars on other forums.

In the past I've had two saxo VTR's and two corsas ( hangs head in shame ) but one had a redtop 2litre engine in, a seat ibiza GTI Cupra sport and a Toyota Starlet GT turbo until I recently decided to go with the flow and get a mk.4 escort. After a while of searching for one that isn't a rot box and hasnt gone round the clock I found this gem on ebay. I phoned him up, looked at it and put a deposit down

A mk.4 Escort XR3I 90spec with EFI, Low genuine mileage (78000), standard except for a headunit, no welding, good condition, interior immaculate, minimal corrosion to be fair, 12 months mot and 6 tax with a stainless backbox in the boot; got it all for £600!

HERE WE GO:

Got it home with no problems so the next day me and a mate looked round it checking for problems and took the tow bar off as its not 'cool'



No cars perfect ey? Found out that it needs a new CV boot, back brakes, downpipes got a few little holes in and could do with an engine clean up as its running a tiny bit rough on tickover but altogether its nothing! Also needs new doors as both sides someone has tried breaking in but ebay is my friend!





After a quick polish she was looking really good!



The next step was to get on the net and get some ideas.

Plans are:

( ** means I now have them )

Interior:

RS turbo interior
Gearknob **
Better speakers **
White clocks **
Dice for the R.V mirror **

Exterior:

Clear side repeaters **
Clear indicators **
smoked rear lights
2 new doors
RS turbo skirts and arches **
RS turbo bonnet (smooth where the ford badge is) **
Different alloy wheels
Laguna splitter


Performance:

Aftermarket Manifold **
Aftermarket exhaust system
Piper Fast Road cam (already have, just need to fit)
shocks and springs to lower 40mm **
strut brace front and rear
.................
.................
Any other ideas that come into play

Next step was to fit the backbox which came with the car until I can get myself a full system. Looks and sounds good enough for now



I found a seller who breaks escorts for fun by the looks of it. after a bit of this n that and a treck up to Telford from North Wales I picked up: white clocks, a chrome bonnet stay, clear side repeaters, a full bootlid with glass and spoiler off an '86 RST in red and a red set of skirts and arches of the same RS Turbo for £60!

Clocks, side repeaters and bonnet stay were fitted:







After a mate said he had a richbrook gearknob that would look good on the XR' he let me nab it off him and whacked that in also:




I am now amazed at how cheap to maintain, how cheap the bits are, how easy they are to get and how fun it is to not have power steering, although I do admit, 30 secs after I started driving it I nearly smacked a parked up brand new BMW, used to it now though lol.

After cleaning it like mad and a few more polishes she's looking great and can easily say it's my favourite car I've had so far!

Woke up late one morning to find out that the postman had delivered my clear indicators which were again from ebay so naturally I was straight outside to get them on.

The skirts and arches were bonded on.... has anybody else had trouble with this? they dont seem to line up great as if the skirts have shrunk. Where the arches are supposed to slip into the skirt, they don't go in much either side, so not overly happy but theyre on. one side looks great (can see in the pic) although the passenger side is horrible, skirts drooping in the middle at the moment, I'll have to try it again soon and have plenty of bricks handy to hold it up

BUT I'll get there!

Went out and bought her some new oil, filter and sump plug and got myself an oil drainer, something I shouldve bought a while back but hey I've got it now.

Gave her an oil change and again polished her up, cleaned inside and added an air freshner.... and as I said, I wanted my dice







Thats so far, but keep a look out for updates

Zetecfiesta

quite a good start mate!

gregxr3i

Cheers mate

Looking forward to plodding on though.

My mate Jay tightened up the rocker arms today as it was a bit rattley and put a new fuel filter on, running smoother now with the slight service.

Got my eyes on a four branch for it too.

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.

gregxr3i

If anybody has shocks and springs with 40mm or 50mm springs and AZEV A 16" wheels please contact me!

Cheers,
Greg

xrmalin

Youve made a good start id recomend a 4 branch manifold ive got a stainless magnex manifold and system on mine and it sounds beut
Just an idea for you though why dont you keep the 3i bonnet but smooth the badge off and jack the rear end up by an inch or so.
mark

gregxr3i

Yeh, ive got loads of ideas flying around. was going to make it a complete RS rep but I may keep the spoiler black as it does look smart.

Do you mean bonnet raisers?

Im definitely smoothing the badge off on whatever bonnet I have, the Rs bonnet has an 'evilness' to it with the vents which I like but I don't know yet

Rs Adz

looks nice keep up the up dates

xrmalin

Thats why i kept my spoiler black instead of painting it the body colour
yeah i did mean bonnet raisers
if your still after some insperation check out my resto xr3i thread
mark

gregxr3i

Just read the whole of your thread now, fair do's to you mate, gone all out on it.

Definitely gathered inspiration from it.

Should be undersealed in the next couple of days but I'll keep the updates

Greg

gregxr3i

Got sick of the sound of fuzzy crackling speakers so I took the original ancient Ford speakers out and replaced them, front and rear with ' Alpine Type E's '

Nice and clear now

drfaust²

Attractive project she(it) is very beautiful tone xr3i deeply the continuation

gregxr3i

Cheers matey

Twins

iTrader: (18)

Welcome to pf ,great start on the car ,looks much better

gregxr3i

Much appreciated, thanks a lot mate

gregxr3i

Just got myself a set of shocks and springs with a 40mm drop cheap (he thinks they're 40mm approx. 2 inch drop but he wasn't 100% so hopefully it'll work out good for me) . only GMAX ones until I can afford coilovers but at least it'll stiffen up as I feel like the poor cars going to fall over on roundabouts

(not mine obviously but pics are good )

marky_g

leave the rs kit off mate be prowd to own a 3i

go koni shocks you will be disappointed with gmax i was there just 2 soft

gregxr3i

I know I know, I've seen a few 1.3's around here, one rs turbo but no xr3i's so it would be an idea to leave it. im not screwing anything in so it could all be took off in future if I change my mind.

The suspension is only for now. got it for £50 so I cant complain, bound to be stiffer than standard anyways, was going for coilovers but can't really afford them at the moment

gregxr3i

Thinking about getting these:



Nice thick juicy red HT's

Check the bank tommorow and if alls good I reckon I'll have them

gregxr3i

Just got this in the post today.... and obviously its now on the car

Robs Frst

nice car rare in h reg

Daveysaff

iTrader: (9)

I've got a turbo bonnet if you're interested, badge smoothed off and vented. Its Mercury Grey though? I'm only near Birkenhead

Car looks really good, change of wheels and lower it and it'll look brilliant

gregxr3i

Thanks for the comments

Daveysaff - very interested in your bonnet although it'd need a respray obviously lol, but your only up the road which is a plus. How much do you want for it?

gregxr3i

I'll give it a good clean and use a proper camera today instead of my camera phone, get some decent pics up

marky_g

get i proper mop mate and some g3 compound then some hand glaze mine came up grate, expensive but well worth it.

h reg not that rear i had 2 lol

gregxr3i

Yeh now its lowered its getting a good day spent on her shining her up, need some decent stuff though

gregxr3i

It's been SLAMMED!

Got bored today, phoned my mate Jay (mechanic mate who loves working on mk.4 escorts as it's his favourite car which is handy ) and decided to get her stiffened up and lowered.

Went really well which I didn't expect so the old gals done me proud once again.

Only problem being that I got told the springs were 40mm ...... I DON'T THINK SO! ..................

But in all fairness, she looks amazing so I'm dead chuffed to say the least

Here's a few pics from today:

drfaust²

cooool

gregxr3i

a slight size up in wheels with a lower profile is on the list as the donuts don't look too impressive lol

hai07222

Looks better lowered, good job

Tonyt1t

low is the way toooo go

gregxr3i

Again cheers for the comments

xrmalin

Looks alot better lowered you just need to get some bigger wheels so you can have bigger brakes

danny_boy699

iTrader: (5)

looks spot on mate, i would get rid the of the gmax like, i have them on the g/f and they are too soft, konis are the way forward

gregxr3i

definitely getting bigger wheels! nice big brakes would be a good idea, just need a money tree

I don't think GMAX are too bad, a million times stiffer than what it was so it'll definitely do for now. at £50 I couldn't say no

They'll turn into coilovers eventually, again, just need more money.

gregxr3i

My big thick juicy KV85 Magnecor superduper HT leads came today also

Pics of them tommorrow all fitted.

I'm turning into a japanese tourist with my camera phone now I've joined this forum....

Ah well

Greg

danny_boy699

iTrader: (5)

at least ya having fun witth it fella

gregxr3i

Yup I sure am

gregxr3i

Fit my new red Magnecors this morning which has added a bit of colour under the bonnet BUT also eliminated the hesitation at low revs! wahey!

gregxr3i

I'm thinking about getting some rs turbo wheels for now and getting them sprayed black or dark grey....

Does anybody have any ideas for wheels that'll suit it? 16" max

gregxr3i

what do you lot reckon?