Finally collected the car on the 4th August, brought it over to Ireland from Holyhead and then began the clearance (VRT process) to register as an Irish Rego.
Removed the LPG system as found out that it was approaching 10 years in 2022 and would require a lot of money to get it recertified, and my insurance company was reluctant to insure an LPG alternative fuel car.
So out came the LPG, necessitating a SQI Engineering report and Letter from my local Ford Dealer to state the car was now back to original specifications and running on petrol only.
Turns out the clutch kit is fine. Trackrod ends, wishbones etc were all past their expiration date so that was the cause of the feeling of a slipping clutch as described by the previous owner. Replacing of all those parts resulted in a nice smooth drive and despite having bought all the parts, at least they can be used at a later point in time.
Spent 4 weeks rebuilding the car, getting a rusty boot (where the LPG tank had been attached to the bottom of the spare wheel well) sorted, replacing the broken front bumper, replacing the broken LHS headlight washer motor, alternator, alternator to starter to battery positive cable, swapping out the SONY radio for the complete DENSO SAT NAV system and 6-disc mounted boot cd-player, removing the wooden base from the boot that had been previously used i beleive to mount a subwoofer, amp etc., removing seats to thoroughly clean the car in order to wash the carpets, removed the cabling from whatever non-stock radio that had been installed, replacing the front door cards with other non-cut ones (original had holes cut out for tweeter speakers of the aforementioned music system).
Got any surface rust from under the car scoured off and new paint plus stone chip applied, replaced all 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear brake calipers, replaced the handbrake cables and a lot of other smaller niggly things like filters (air, oil, pollen), oil (engine, gearbox, brake fluid, power steering etc), spark plugs, air intake gaskets, repair of the injector looms following removal of the LPG set-up, new battery (alternator overcharging melted the positive terminal plastic so the battery was too dangerous to reinstall), new rear disc brakes, brake pads as well as new front ST225 brake discs and pads as the original ST225 discs were slightly warped.
Had four wheel alignment sorted prior to its inaugural NCT (more stringent than the MOT) so car passed its first test trouble free.
Only real pain point is the Euro 1494.00 price tag for annual road tax
but really don't mind as the car owes me nothing now it's running well.
Awaiting a new starter (just to have as back up and bought a second alternator as well due to the increased difficulty in getting parts for the ST220 now.
Have a replacement sunroof motor on route, as well as spare cog teeth for the current broken toothed motor. After this, the only thing that needs replacing is the air con compressor motor which is leaking out oil (green) so looking out for a replacement one now.
Have to say, the V6 is a lovely quiet engine low down so really prefer the refinement of this engine.
No plans for exhaust upgrade to get more tone / volume increase as keeping the car totally stock.
Photos to follow and have the rebuild thread on instagram (@sonic_blue_st220) if anyone is interested in following.