luke_rsfesta

Hi everyone I thought it's about time I started a thread on my little project. I'm putting the puma engine into my escort. I don't believe there is a full thread on this conversion, looks like a few have started but not finished or gone zetec route. So I bought the escort a few months ago low miles in fairly good nick for what I payed and a boot full of spares and the little 1.3 engine runs sweet but as is the case for some old fords the need for more power was taking over. So I found the puma on eBay for a bargain £150 still moted and even enough petrol to get me home. Drove it back 120 miles with no issues. I even took the escort to pick it up, covering 240 miles in one night in the mk4 with no problems I was well chuffed. The last couple of weeks I have spent stripping down the puma for everything I need and then some, just in case. I've not taken many pics so far but will update as I'm going along. Comments welcome and enjoy

mattxr3i

I have often thought about this conversion as the Puma engine is nice and light with some decent power with the Racing Puma parts. Would make a good track car as the front end should be a fair bit lighter

Zetec_mk4_XR3i

Will be watching thread with interest mate, love base model mk4 escorts and also really rate the Puma lump so think it should be a good and cheap conversion!

I'm almost positive the Puma gearbox will bolt up to a mk4 Escort gearbox so that would solve mounts on that side, just be a case of fabricating the other side and that would be it in?

Done loads of mk4 conversions but mainly zetecs so will try to help where if I can, had my Bonus over 6 years now!

luke_rsfesta

Yeah I've read up quite a bit on the puma engine, seems a good unit, I just wanted to go a different way to the usual zetec conversions. Mainly because of cost. It's going to be a lot of trial and error so any help/ideas will be welcomed. I have some basic fabrication skills (had lots of rusty minis) and I've just got myself a new welder so I'm keen to get stuck in

studabear

Something different. I will keep a eye on this.

Sure I seen a thread on someone doing it to a mk2 fiesta, iirc they ran into trouble with the exhaust near the bulkhead/steering rack. Maybe a bit more room in the escort bay?

If your retaining the puma gearbox with the hydraulic clutch slave cylinder there is a good guide in the rs turbo section on here for converting to a hydraulic clutch.
https://passionford.com/forum/ford-e...8-04-10-a.html

luke_rsfesta

Thanks for that. Exhaust wise I think a 4 branch manifold should clear as the puma manifold and cat are a tad bulky

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

Should make quite a fun little car if you can get it in, will keep an eye on this.

Willka

Cracking project mate, good luck with it! I love the Puma lump, was advanced in its day and the same basic unit is still being manufactured

NobbyClark

Cool project!!

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Cool i like it. Will you be using the puma wiring loom too.

The pumas are a good car shame they rust like fook. The 1.7 enggine are good too.

Try and find a mk1 2ltr mondeo throttle body for it. There bigger than the standard puma ones. I did this mod on my old pooooma.

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

my old puma engined fiesta showed up a lot of higher powered cars in the wet in solverstone, even scalped an evo but he couldnt drive for shit

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Pumas are proper fun cars out of the box. They handle mint as standard.

luke_rsfesta

I will be using the puma loom glen it seems fairly straight forward, I'm sure I won't see it like that when it comes to putting it all in, my donor puma was in really good nick to be honest was a bit of a shame to break it only a bit of scabbing on rear arches and it drove great from where I brought it. I did contemplate keeping it but my head touches the roof I'm 6ft 5 I did read about the mondeo throttle body too. Is it a straight forward swap?

Piston Broke

Yes the silver top 2ltr is mate we used to do puma conversions in my garage a few moons back lol. They dont come up much but try getting a FRP inlet system, also you can take the limiter off the ECU by cutting a wire. good engines to tune and play with, just make sure you put a fresh cambelt on before fitting sounds norm but loads dont ................... also got a few puma engines in the garage and gearboxs if you need any parts.

luke_rsfesta

Ok great I'll try and get one from the breakers. The cam belt was changed 5k miles ago I have receipts, would you still recommend me changing it? There is a frp inlet on eBay but it's £800 bit out of my budget. Do you know which wire on the Ecu? I had it Upto 125mph and it still wanted to go I just ran out of private road

luke_rsfesta

If anyone has a puma and wants any body panels or glass for free let me know, shell will be scrapped soon

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Have a look on Projectpuma web site matey. There is loads of info on there.

When i fitted the 2ltr tb i had to take the inlet manifold off and bore the hole out cause its the same size as the standard tb.

It took me about 1.5 hours to remove manifold bore out and fit the tb. You have to swap the throttle position sensor round cause it catches and you have to swap the throttle linkages about. Its easy to do.

Im 6ft and a bit. I fitted a set of bucket seats so it gave me more room. I used the standard seat brackets and bolted them to some strips of metal.

luke_rsfesta

Small update. Swapped the cars round so the escort is in the garage ready to be stripped and had a bit of a tidy up

Piston Broke

When we mapped them to a stage 2 mark we used to cut the wire at the ECU side pin 58 a blue wire and used to heat shrink it makes a hell of a difference at take off. also you need to change the wiring for the reverse light in the fuse box if i remember. been a hile since we did a fiesta conversion lol

luke_rsfesta

Bit of a small update. Old engine is out. Trying to get a couple of hours here and there on the car so it's slow progress



Puma engine in. Kind of



Im hoping to get a full day at it the weekend so I can sort the engine bay out

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Cool engine winch.

luke_rsfesta

Thanks. It's a bariatric ceiling hoist. I acquired it from my old job

x19_turbo

Hi,
Do you have any updates about this swap, I want to start the same one and any info is much appreciated.
Regards,
Iustin

xr2john

Will be keeping an eye on this. Puma engine is so underrated. Should have definitely been in a production fiesta of the era as the puma is definitely a girls car.

Sorry if I offend anyone (Glenn) hahaha

cortinadale

Hi. I have a mk2 orion and the 1.7 setup. Hows your progress? What are you doing about driveshafts?? I remember seeing a mk4 cabby with this conversion

A5GHE

Hi Luke - I'm doing this conversion - can you let me know what parts you needed over and above what you could get off the puma ? Also what modifications you needed to do - any tips you may have ? Many thanks mate !