apart from the obvious - number plate, front bumper, rear spoiler and same block as the FRST (with the crank position sensor hole) what else can you use to tell?

 

hi mate, interior is a light grey blue and red flake seats, the petrol gauge is on the left not the right, you have a fuel computer, the body kit different spoiler and front bumper, you have a front heated windscreen

 

forgot to note the interior

what about boltholes especially on the tailgate?

I remember reading something about that a while ago

 

boltholes? meaning?

 

i'm not sure, remember reading on someone's profile they had fannied about with the tailgate bolts "to make it a proper 90-spec tailgate" not just swapped the spoiler - seemed odd to me.

 

i would imagine there all the same
cuz it is same shell anyway,

 

i think thereally late ones had an interior light in the back aswell.

 

90 spec cars had alot more options like heated front screen, rear interior light, different front bumper and spoiler, trip computer, different dash pod, different interior, different header tank.
not all 90 spec cars came with it all though as some stuff especially interior wise was optional such as the trip computer, interior light etc

 

I have a F plate RS with heated front screen, headline is a lighter colour on 90 spec, later 90 spec and rear light in roof,

 

Yeah they're different...

 

The difference is that the top captive inserts on the '90-spec are higher up (about 3/4 inch) than on the '88 spec ones. However, people do just lay the spoiler in place and redrill the top holes if converting an '88 spec as the later spoiler covers the holes of the early one. The tailgate is identical all the way from 1986 to 1990 as a basic frame.

Standard main differences:
Front bumper and rear spoiler
Engine has CPS hole for later engine management
Rear interior light
Lighter rooflining and "Zolda" interior
Different spotlamp brackets
Radiator expansion bottle
Tailgate lift struts (changed slightly earlier but was in preparation for later spoilers)

Believe me, there are lots of other smaller differences, some of which I do not know unless I see them (along with some I probably don't even know about) and others I cannot think of @ this time.

Unfortunately, a lot of the options packs were fitted by customer request on early cars that became standard on later ones.

A prime example was a friend who brought his ERST '90-spec brand new from Ford and had all the options except fuel computer (G-reg). Another friend brought an XR3i on an F-reg and that had all the options except fuel computer and ABS. You can never really tell with Ford unfortunately....

 

Center console extension and chunkier handbrake grip,and the wipers had a intermitant timer adjust

 

Knew I forgot something

Wouldn't mind, but I put all those in every one of my MK4 Escorts and Orions over the years

 

christ! loads of differences then. even daft little ones

great info so far, cheers

 

The main difference that can't be hidden are the inner wings. They are much steeper on a 90 spec shell, consequently the header tank is bigger. You'd only notice it once you've seen and compared both 90 spec and pre 90 spec.

 

lol i forgot that aswell- i should know as mine and 1990 1600 ghia i worked on had the time adjust on it- cool feature thats even in my newer focus ghia

 

Front bumper, modified to allow more air to the radiator to aid cooling. It no longer has a rubber strip below it.
Boot spoiler, curves down at either side
ECU, was changed to the hearts and diamonds type. This can run 10.2 PSI of boost.
Interior, the seats and door cards were given new patterns, called Zolda. It is grey with blue and red flecks.
Roof lining and sun visors are a different colour, as are the speaker panels, kick panels, and rear quarter panels.
Intermittent wiper speed control was added to the right hand dash column controller. Supplementary manual produced by Fords to cover this modification.
Second courtesy light was added in the rear of the car roof lining.
Centre console, a second part was added to extend the length of the console, handbrake handle had a different cover.
Screen wash reservoir wash changed slightly, it now has a thicker neck and incorporates a plastic gauze to stop any debris from entering the screen wash reservoir.
Brake fluid reservoir updated.
Rocker cover changed, holes for the charge carrier bolts moves out a few inches.
Charge carrier, bolt holes to connect to the rocker cover moved over a couple of inches.
Dash clocks, the fuel and temperature gauges are reversed. Fuel on left, water temperature on the right now.
Oil dipstick pipe, end is now plastic rather than metal

 

didn't know about this. got any comparison pics?

my mate is looking at a car for sale as a 1990 spec - i reckon it was 88-spec with some goodies added so it's hard to tell and since the rest were options then this would be an ideal way to tell

 

Mine´s a proper 90´Spec (hearts & diamonds, header tank, Zolda, rear courtesy light, center console, fuel computer, fuel & temp gauges, intermitent wippers with variable speed, dipstick, roof lining, sun visors and all the other interior stuff... apart from the bumper and the spoiler obviously), but the rocker cover and the charge carrier are the same that all my friends with 88´s... and i don´t have heated front screen. Anyone could know why? The number plate is from 15th of march 1990, so... it could be a very very very early 90´spec?

 

My early August D plate had this fitted as an option so not always a good way of telling as it was available from first sales.

 

i read in a few places that there was a metal barcode on the cross member of 90 specs but i also heard from a lot of people that their 88-specs also had them and had never been welded

anyone able to clear this up?

 

No mate. These are on the mk3's as well.

 

don't think they have a CPS hole mate

im gonna go look at the header tanks on mine i have 90's and 88 cars lol

my 90's (late H plate) 3i had trip comp, heated screen,wipers, rear light, diff head lining, center console etc etc

also a fuel cut off under the spear wheel

i had a g plate car that had all the 90's stuff inside but was 88 exterior was 100% std never touched, this is what my engie came from and no cps hole

but my mate just broke a Grey g plate 88 out side 90 inside and that had cps hole but bottom end was red

 

If a pre '90 spec car had a CPS hole in the block and the block was red, it was a retro-fitted engine.

 

i luv the phrase 'retro-fitted', sounds all american and cool lol lol

 

the only true 90 spec where on h reg as alot of g were still 88/90 spec

 

i didnt no they had cps hole surely its gonna be easier to fit aftermarket management tho with that

 

i had 88 spec before now got 90 spec.

the spoiler on mine now has like tiny sort of rectangle holes on top of it (if that makes sense lol). looks like they are meant to be there though.

anyone else have these on there 90 spec

 

the spoiler is meant to be like that. all the 90 spec ones had these

 

thought so. wasnt 100% though.

 

i used to have an 89 G plate s2, mine had most 90 spec inside bar center console extension & 88 outside, my fuel guage was on the right & tempo on left, as did my mates genuine 90 spec.