*beware,, LONG thread - its not quite up to par with what some of you guys do but its pushing my own personal limits*
Well my mk5 cab project never really got off the ground due to lack of cash, tools and space to work in so it was pretty much abandoned.
I then picked up a T plate mk6, 5 door escort finesse with a snapped timing belt and therefore a buggered 1.6 zetec engine. at the time my 2l fiesta SI was falling apart with rust so i decided to pull out the engine and fit it to the escort which i then used for several months and tbh was a great motor. 2l zetec, 4-2-1 manifold, decat, stainless exhaust, rs2k brakes, wingback seats and with steel wheels and bumper cracks on view - good for catching out the boy racers!
anyhoo the tax/mot ran out and i felt like a project so i decided to use this.
plan was to do something a little different but do everything myself. im not bad when it comes to fitting or removing bits, but bodywork and wiring i wasnt too hot at, but i figured it give it a go and see what i could do, doings the best way of learning eh? - plus i had loads of decent parts kicking about from cars i had bought and stripped!
planned spec list at the time;
S2 Escort RS Turbo sideskirts and arches
standard front bumper with undecided splitter
standard rear bumper with spats
duel exit exhaust
morettes
saph bonnet vents
smooth rear doors (on poppers)
wheels/suspension/brakes
front upper and lower strut brace
rear strut brace
polybushed as much as possible
lowered approx 60mm on avo adjustable coilovers
16" sigma alloys (azev copies) (possibly refurbed in black)
300mm pumaspeed front brakes
270mm rear disk brakes
interior
RS2000 (mk6) full interior
custom dashboard.
a few gauges.
and a few little personalised goodies.
Engine
s2 RS Turbo engine (MFI)
ive almost kept to that word for word! heres the piccies and info
(copied from other sites, so timeline is pretty much as you read it)
with the 2l fitted.
fez si seats.
RS2k brakes JUST clearing the steelies.
then tax/mot ran out and i started stripping it.
my 2 2l zetec engines
a few escort parts...
the central heating
suspension & wishbones stripped out.
interior stripped out
the turbo engine still in the cab
loom stripped back off
turbo engine out
no prizes for guessing who was doing all the work eh :P
**********************************************
so heres an update for what i have done.
cleaned up the block and fitted new water pump
sealed the inside of the car (escorts are prone to leaks and wet floors - just to stop if rotting from inside out, plus it gave me a chance to check the floor)
started on my custom centre console
from an escort and granada consoles
to a crossbreed
pic of the s2 RST skirts taped up to check how they fit.
then bought some vents for my bonnet
bit more stripping
then used the spray gun and a can of schutz to finish the inside.
decided what i was doing with my dashboard
now got that pretty much in, did it so that i can take the screen out if i want too. also fitted a twin gauge pod to the top.
centre console almost done, just gonna do a wee bit more then cover it with black material.
fitted the front arches, not a bad fit tbh. need a bit of trimming though, gonna extend the arch line onto the bumper a bit and smooth the skirts in to make it look like theyre meant to be there. the back arches will take a bit more work with it being a 5 door, need to think about how exactly to fit them.
i did have the engine for sale until a mate offered me a car for it. he took the engine and then fucked his own car so wanted to keep it to run about in for a while. he ripped the cunt a bit so i just took the engine back and told him to keep the car so its going back into the motor again. well once i get the crank sprocket i need (hopefully sunday!!)
really gonna try get this finished in the next few weeks. hate not having my own motor!
**************************************
wee bit more done tonight, and FINALLY got the crank sprocket i needed so the engine will hopefully going in 2moro!
back arches;
arch on and bit cut away so that door can open
the rest of the arch bonded onto the door;
door closed;
looks rough as fuck atm but will look better 2moro when its dried and i've fibreglassed it. should also get the 2 pieces to sit a bit closer together.
made a start on sorting out the loom. fuck me it aint for the faint of heart.
engine bay (with air con and zetec loom out)
********************************
polybushing started..
the difference between the cvh and zetec PS connections.
a bit more done to mould the arch in, need a little bit more work but its getting there!!
in the last pic where it looks as if theres a massive gap theres not. the white is adhesive (sp?). theres about a 4mm gap all the way round that'll i'll hopefully sort next time im at it.
**************
back arch still needs a tad more work, managed to get a spare set of skirts and extend the set i had so that they'd fit. the s2 skirts are about 4 inches too small for the mk6. doesnt look too bad imo
*******************************
fair bit more done tonight.
zetec radiator out, RST radiator in, welded in brackets to hold it in and fited my intercooler roughly where it'll go. started clearing up the wires a bit ready to be tucked away.
welded up my exhaust, then had to grind off the towing eye and weld in a hanger to fit it. car sounds fucking awesome now!
it looks to be hanging a little low on the right in that pic which i never noticed so will sort that mext time im down.
started building the front end back up, new wishbones, track rod ends and ARB links, fitted front suspension too. once i finish my arches i'll get the arch liners cleaned up and back in. also got my remote start kit through today which i'll fit during the week, after all the wiring of the engine i feel a bit easier in attempting it myself.
next on the cards is to order new brake hoses and find a bush for my rear beam so i can get it fitted again, then finish the skirts and arches. after that i'll be welding up my rear door handles and fitting poppers and fitting the bumpers.
then its just interior to go!
**********************************************
wee bit more 2nite.
sadly the exhaust tone isnt as noticeable as i had hoped but i'll decide when i get her on the road ifi want to tinker with the exhaust a tad. still need to adjust the o/s pipe to sit up and in a bit which i'll hopefully get done 2moro.
fitted the back bumper for the time being, started smoothing in the spats, added the arch round onto the rear bumper and did a bit more work on the skirts. they still need a load of work to get them smooth but its getting there slowly. body work is something ive never did alot of so this is all new to me (as you can see from the mess i make and then have to spend hours cleaning it up - like the amount of evostick ive got the arches bonded on with lol!)
piccies..
its starting to look like a car again!
as per, comments welcome
**********************************
wee bit more done today.
from
to
it still needs a bit more work to smooth it in. did a bit more work to the skirt/arches you can see, and fitted the skirt at the other end.
tbh im getting pissed off again, i fucking hate having to sand down filler and use it tiny bits at a time to get something spot on. but as i said i want to do most of it myself so i'll keep on.
**************************************
all niter last nite..
old bumper trial fitted so i could see roughly where the cooler will sit. will need to be adjusted a bit to straighten it and so i can still get a fan in though
arches brought over onto the front bumper, still needs perfecting and alot of smoothing in and sanding down but its taking shape!
**********************************
right, ive got the finger out a bit now and started work on the motor again.
decided to flushthe bootlid to go with my smoother look, but the one thing i dont normally like about it is how the number plate always looks like an afterthought and is just screwed to the bumper, so..
i took the recess from a proton and moulded it into my bumper, still needs a wee bit of smoothing but doesnt look too bad imo, also did a bit more work smoothing in the spats and in sorting the flat spots on the skirts/arches. definately decided though.. i fucking hate sanding and will avoid it at all costs in future!
Started to build up my hubs again, so hubs, shafts, ARB links, TRE's, and new brake pipes all fitted just waiting for a 12mm drill bit 2moro so i can fit my 300mm stoppers, then its onto polybushing my rear beam and refitting!
piccies..
i still need door poppers like what was posted on here a few posts back. ive emailed that place 3 times and had no reply so i dont fancy sending them money, any other ideas on where to get them?
******************************
just got home from the yard, been down there since 1pm yesterday lol and got a load done.
got everything bolted back up and sorted my fueling issue, no more backfiring! but now she wont idle lol...
got most of the drivers side skirt/arch finished - just needs a few finishing touches and its done, finished the door handle too so one side of the car is almost done bodywork wise.
plate welded my boot and smoothed it in, still not entirely happy with it but primered it and stuck bumper on to see how it looked.
then got my rear beam and suspension bolted back up, did the front brakes the other day.
so she's defo taking shape, and its something a little different from the usual 'GTi/rs2k' rep!!
the bumpers still need a bit of work, and my sander broke so im gonna have to go buy another un. a big thanks to Craig for coming through and giving me a hand, i would never have got as much done without him.
piccies..
from
to
to
***********************
thats where im up to just now, hoping to have it done for Ford Fair, tbh theres not
that much to do but gona need to work like fcuk to make sure its there! Up till now i reckon the car and everything i have for it have cost me about £800, but theres been a fair few hours put in now!
opinions welcome!