superbikerider1

Right then!

Had this Escort now for about 12 months and to be fair its in pretty good order! But after reading other peoples restorations its inspired me to have a go! Not looking for concourse, but as near as I can..

Still not sure whether to keep as an XR3i or go down the RS Turbo, ZVH or Zetec turbo? But will hopefully have decided that by time I come to that!

Will probably be a slow resto, but thought it would be good to document it for me an others to ave a browse thru..

So...

Hope do I upload pics!! I've got them it Photo Bucket?

Cheers, Kev.

gouch1

go to your pics in photo bucket and copy and paste them here

superbikerider1

Heres a pic before..

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_0221.jpg

Cheers Gouch!

superbikerider1

superbikerider1

And one where it lies after today!

Fraggle...

iTrader: (1)

Man thats looks clean op.

i say boost it like this badboy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pwu8...etailpage#t=1s

But keep it as yours looks now..

Love that cab, what a beast!!

Keep us posted op

superbikerider1

Yeah I'm tempted! Need to do more homework!

Kev..

steven8230_00

ive nearly finished mine it was the same as yours be for i started ive got about £25k in it now and has took me 4 years and still not done nms has it at the moment they have done a full 2.1 zvh engine build and are on putting a focus 6 speed box in it its so close i carnt waite good look with yours it looks very clean to start with

superbikerider1

£25k ! Wow! I'm in no rush meself, jus wanna do it right! I would like to go zvh I think? Keep the original cvh look under the bonnet, but better power an reliability!

steven8230_00

my advice would be buy the best and there for only once not like i did

bigryrs

iTrader: (10)

I took one of these in px against my zvh turbo combi van in october! White h plate tennis model which im away to tidy up good luck with the project!

superbikerider1

Cheers mate, good luck with yours..

rst cabbie

mine took me 2 and half years to build and £6.5k then i sold it big mistake wish i still had it

Fordmad!

Keep it original! There really thin on the ground now and would be a shame to spoil a nice one!

gouch1

keep it as standard looking as possible it looks a tidy base to start with good luck with it

superbikerider1

Cheers for the comments peeps!

Been busy removin as much as poss! Got lots of bits ready for basting and powder coating, an also lots of bits to be zinc coated..

Underside is cleared now, and most of engine bay, just waiting to source a crane to borrow an the lump is ready to come out!

Few pics as it is now..

Engine bay..



Underside..



Also cut off the rear valance as it was dented an rusted beyond repair!

Next is to get the engine out, then start stripping all the old underseal an paint from underneath an engine bay, then try an get then prepped an painted!

Not lookin forward to the graft of this part, but lookin forward to the end result! Any advice/pointers for this stage or any other are much appreciated!

studabear

Good to see another cabrio getting the treatment, I will keep a eye on your progress

superbikerider1

Started to strip the old paint underseal etc from one of the rear arches today using an angle grinder, with a twisted knot cup brush attachment..

Wow, hard graft! Took me over 2 hours to pretty much strip the inside of one arch! I thought i read somehere on here of someone using a heat gun and scraper, I tried this an got nowhere?

Anyone have any other ideas?? Or does this sound about right??

Will upload a pic either later or tomoz!

superbikerider1

Started with somethin like this..


Ended up like this..

SMILER258

thats looking good! just seen this project and i realy like it. Where abouts in cheshire are you? and i think you should keep it original. Its unusual to see one that hasnt been modified nowadays. P.s 2 hours to strip a wheel arch sounds about right. It sure is a long boring slog.

bigryrs

iTrader: (10)

im gonna have nightmares looking at the inside of your arch lol i done all that to my rs turbo pickup a few years back! what a shitty job i feel you pain lol

superbikerider1

I'm in Runcorn mate, It certainly is a long borin slog! Cant wait for it to be done so I can get some pain on it an fit some shiny new parts! Be worth it then! I am gonna keep it original, but with some nice rims an some sort of turbo lump (not decided on that bit yet) !!

superbikerider1

Thanks mate! Its a bad job but someones gotta do it! How did you get up to he top of the suspension turrets? Cant get nowhere near with the angle grinder!

atm

like a nice cabbie! especially a late 90 g or h plate, bladdered in underseal and rot free where it counts, why couldnt ford of done this to all their cars...


looks mint anyway, im only down the road myself too, crack on!

vroooom ptssssh

Good work so far, I've also been through all this on my series 1 rear arches didn't look bad so personally i'd have left them in original stonechip and re-painted! but nice to get them back to bare metal to see what's going on keep it up, and keep the faith, close the garage door and forget on the days that you cant be f*cked with it and feel like selling up, 'cos it will happen believe!

superbikerider1

Was gonna do a few hours tonight, but went in there an was just not feelin the love for it today, managed to scotch the inner wheel arch down, etch primer it then give it a coat of primer an walked away feelin a bit stressed with it all!

On a plus side this little parcel turned up today..

Full set of powerflex bushes!

If only I was anywhere near fittin them!

superbikerider1

Ha ha, Just read this an already posted that I'm not feelin the love for it today! Didnt take long!!

vroooom ptssssh

lol, wait til its a bare shell looking rough and needing paint, you'll ask yourself whyyyy

once it comes back from bodyshop ready to go back together and looking mint, you'll see the answer

superbikerider1

Little update! Was gettin fed up of strippin paint an underseal an thinkin i prob shoulda left it! As others have also said! So decided to strip it down an then decide the next step!

So now I have this..



Think I'm gonna leave the paint now to the bodyshop? But still not decided? There is areas underneath that have the original underseal missing? Like where its been jacked up an on axle stands etc? can I just paint on a rubber type underseal like the orihinal? Any advice on the best to use??

Cheers!

taz1787

iTrader: (8)

i'd say keep it standard xr3i in them colours etc as you have a limited ed model cab

Fordmad!

Keep it standard as possible mate. Ive just finished my xr3i and only mods are exhaust system and rs white wheels.

Im even spending £500 on rebuilding the engine even though i could turbo it for that but a standard xr is a VERY rare sight these days.

Few years and a standard one will be almost unheard of! Anyways good luck, keep the pics coming!

superbikerider1

I've already decided on the colour! Its goin Frozen White! But still standard looking, no RS kit or nothin, Just different wheels! I'm not keen on the 2 tone, an seen a few all blue, but I prefer white!

Cheers for the comments peeps..

xr4x4rs

iTrader: (5)

is nice to see a cabbie being restored not many people do them

heres the link to when i did mine to give you a run down on whats involved though looks like your getting there

https://passionford.com/forum/restor...17-2-06-a.html

this was still going and only thing changed on it was wheels when i sold it, but the lad scrapped it last month becuasehe broke it and couldnt sell the shell on without contacting me first else i would of bought it back

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Looks like a good car to stary with.Tbh i liek the silver and blue colour.

01dwilkinson

Looks a good base to start from. I wish i had never sold my xr3i cab, was prob one of my favourite cars that iv owned.

superbikerider1

Went to pick up some bits from powder coaters today, quite pleased with the results! Went for a pair of brand new Mk3 Mondeo calipers, so had them done too!



Also spoke to a bodyshop bout paint and think I'm goin with them! Cant get me in tho til may an reckon bout 2 month to get it right so wont be hittin no shows til 2013 I dont think!

But no rush! Want it right

Fordmad!

Makes me want to crack on with my powder coating now! If you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for it too be done did you have it shotblasted aswell as i want all mine doing.

Hows doing your car, was it the one i suggested or did you find someonelse?

superbikerider1

I paid £60 for everythin in the pic blasted an powder coated! Couldn't believe how cheap it was! But think my mate knos the lad who does it! It is the people you recommended yeah! So thanks again!! Spoke to him an got a good vibe from him an the price was decent too! But more importantly I feel hes gonna do a top job!

Fordmad!

Thats cheap! I want mine doing and polybushed aswell but might leave it till the tax runs out in sept now and just get some use out of it!

Yeah Dave is a top bloke and the 2 other lads that work there! I very much doubt you'll be dissapointed, i really couldnt fault the job he did for me and he's ALWAYS busy which is a good sign!

superbikerider1

Quick update!

Not much happened with the car, but a few bits arrived an built me rear drums back up! Probably a bit too early for all this but hey ho! Its done now!







some nice little bits! Cant wait to fit them!