Tom3i

*Thread copied over from a diff forum*

I've been after a project for a while now, was going to go down the corsa b route but ended up selling it to a lad off here when i bought my C (finance), worst decision ever

Recently flogged the C off so i've finally got some disposable income again

I've been looking around for a good base car to start, had a look at some Golf's, but for the price i was looking at they had had holes in doors and generally a bit to sCeNe.

I settled on this XR3i after looking at a few and got a scouser in a hoody to steal it for me





My Plans : Strip interior, replace the seats/rear bench if neeeded.

Sort out the leaking glove box

Replace part of the bulk head and battery tray.
Sills need a closer look at along with the o/s rear arch
Also looking at replacing the front floor pans
Rip out and replace the whole braking system along with calipers, disks and pads.
Replace fuel lines
Engine needs somework as the co2 sensor has been played with, the thermo switch? may be playing up also, prob replace the injectors, then hopefully it will be running smooth

Body wise : Looking at sticking some 90' spec kit on, not going for the RST replica, well as it's not one

Tom3i

Today's Job : Find the leak!!
The O/S foot well is soaking wet so today's job was to rip it all out and try and find where it's coming from, also have a poke about and look for rust.

Also took off the heater intake and battery to check out the rust hot spots! Looks all okay :look:





Some inside shots



You can still see the puddle abit from the carpet before i mopped it all.

I've had a quick poke about and am pritty confused... In the pic you can see the water but it hasn't came from the heaters etc nor anywhere on the floor.... I've took the heater intake off now so will check it's not leaking from the red in there!



Check out the travel

I now have two recaros back bench and the carpet in my computer room

Any other places to check for the leak?

Tom3i

Managed to find out the full extent of the rust today :look:

Few bits were a suprise but it's alot better then what i orginally thought!!


Bit of surface rust on the boot floor but it's solid!

Lurking in there is alot of fucking rust on the chassis leg/ Anti roll bar mounting points...

Some of the rear D/S arch

And the back of the D/S chassis leg, just seems to be surface rust

Off to work i went with a drill + attachent as i don't have a grinder
Got most of the rust back to bare metal then coted them in a gel which supposedly makes the rusty bits back to metal and then coated them all in an anti-rust primer

You can see the three holes better on this one at the front, i've just done it for the mean time till it's welded.

O/S arch

Also tried firing her up, after a poke about my mechanic friend found that the Distributor was leaking and the cap was near enough fucked thus making to contact with the dizzy itself.

After scrapping the front arch liners i think i'm just going to keep them out and paint them red then seal them, same for the underneath of the car, but with the black sealant

My project for this week is to repaint my front fogs, they've been CC'd really badly and it's flakey as fook! I want them back to matt black, would some wet and dry paper followed by some primer and then the hammerrite shizz do the job?

Also if you know anyone breaking an RS Turbo or 90 spec XR3I give me a u2u as i need a new boot

Tom3i

Haven't had much to do for the 3i as im trying to get it running.

After going down the scrappy to get a new distributor in the fucking rain i may add! i found a mk 4 escort stacked on a van managed to get it off to only go and fit it for it to be wrong

I've since ordered one from a breakers along with some new rear drum shoes, which should be here this week

I'm looking at fitting 2.0 mondeo brakes so will need at least 15" alloys. Planning on doing a track day in Nov so i was after some cheap alloys or steelys.

Managed to find these last night on Passion Ford from a lad about an hour away. Price was right so went and collected them.



He also was selling few suspension goodies


AVO Coilovers

also got some Spax rear dampers, just need some rear springs to go with them. Will get the surface rust off them before fitting

Tom3i

Update: Got the distributor today, fitted it all fine, ticked over but not starting! Trying playing with the firing order with the two set ups and it started for about 6 seconds but as soon as i stoped revving it went dead.

Cleaned and tested all the spark plugs, there's fuel and spark but wont tick over

Managed to get a compression test which im borrowing so will know tomorrow if it's something sinister. If it is the CVH is getting binned and a nice 1.8 Zetec is going in it's place

Tom3i

Got the front Chassis leg welded at the weekend and gave it a good clean, managed to get it back to Radiant Red! Also started getting some parts off such as front lower anti roll bar for sandblasting, going to geta few things done which includes the s1 alloys posted above ready for a refurb....

Whilst its all off im planning on purchasing some nice new poly bushes!

Useless without pics i know! I'll take some tomorrow!

Tom3i

So managed to get a bit more done today! Havent worked on it in ages!! So tried prepping the arches etc but got slightly off track and ended up taking the head off


The underseal on the arch lip is from way back when, didnt get chance to take the damper off and do around there but it will get done :thumbs:


Bit of a ridge there but nothing to worry about!

And thats how it finished!

It wouldnt start and we think it's down to low compression as the injectors are looking worse for wear and also the head gasket, so the compression probably wasnt being made thus not opening and closing the injectors fucking it all up!

Just been talking to Philip2 about re sending the head off so if funds allow this almighty beast will run
:thumbs:

m4tt274

iTrader: (2)

looks like a fairly tidy xr3i best of luck with the project :L

Tom3i

Any advice needed! Planning on getting the cvh running and smash it around Oulton park next summer! So need to sort the brakes out etc!

Should of copied/started posted on here sooner as i need more advice/guidance haha! Or anyone thats handy and local?

Tom3i

What easy brake upgrades can I do? I've always been told the mondeo set up but a few people on here have told me to get the cossy?

I'll need it to fir under 15's that's the only issue.

m4tt274

iTrader: (2)

cossy brakes will fit under 15's not sure how easy they are though to fit.
RS turbo/xr4x4 260mm brakes should be fine for an xr3i

stuboy

good start

Tom3i

Matt i thought the rs trubo had the same brakes? Are the xr4x4 a straight fit?

garyrsts2

this is a good looking project lad! il be watching this good luck with it

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Looks like a good project.Ive had 2 XR3i,s.Both were good cars.

Tom3i

Cheers for the comments! Need to pull my finger out big time haha!

Anyone fitted the AVO coilovers with the same fitment? Apparently i have to drill into the turrets?

Tom3i

So i think i might make the jump to a bigger engine, the car is my first project so what would be your suggestions?

Im scouring ebay to so any bargain would be great.

I'd prob get it rebuilt anyway so if the price is right