I had an escort 4x4, had it for 2 years and never got it on the road, cost me too much, ended up rushing it and just wasn't happy with it. I stripped it and crushed it.
I now have an escort van. Been doing it very slowly and not rushing it.
Kept it diesel even though I had an rs2000 engine and everything to do the conversion but it is a work van and has to be good on fuel so petrol wasn't the way to go.

Don't look at your van and see everything that needs doing!
Aim to do one job, concentrate on that job, do it well then move on to the next job.
Before you know it, you'll be putting an MOT on it.

I have had my van since April last year. I still haven't heard the engine run yet.
I was told get an mot on it then do the work but I haven't, Its off road now and it will stay that way so it won't have to go off road again.