hi, i brought a escort van with the intensions in doing it up. i want to stick a better engine in but as this is my 1st project and want to do this my self id like some advive at what engine is best 4 me to do and egt etc. thanks

paul

 

first things first you never brought anything...you bought it.

what engine is in the van just now? is it a mk4 , mk6 or mk6 escort van.

how mechanically competent are you?

cheers Doug

 

haha sorry on the spelling, im shattered..... its a mk 6 escort van. timing belt snapped last night so im thinking ive got some cash to chuck at it might aswell start with the engine now. as far as being mechanically competent im not really its back to basic's as its some thing i want to learn about. my girlfriends dad on the other hand is a mechanic so is like my yoda on this project but id like to hassel him only as and when. am i better going 4 a better diesel engine or scrapping that all together and sticking a petrol lump in it? oh and its a 1.8TD engine.
so all advice will be taken in like a sponge as i am really new to this game.

 

Id go for a 2.0 zetec out of a early mondeo. Quick, easy readily avaliable engine! Pick them up for peanuts! Theres a few threads on here that show you how to fit a zetec!

You could go down the rs2000 route but there not so much of those engines about compared to the zetec and you will pay about 3-4 times as much for one but with 150 bhp well worth doing. I had a mk5 van with a rs2000 in 164bhp very fun!

Id go with the zetec tho if i was you!

 

thanks, i shall look into it.... a friend of mine did suggest that. just have to find a donor car now. im actually really looking forward to doing it even though i dont have a clue what im on with but i gues we all have to start some where hey.... lol

 

i'd go zetec too . you would be best looking for a mk6 escort gti and swapping all the bits for your first project...only hassle will be the tank mate.

 

Easy enough conversion tbh. Good look with it! Any problems theres loads of lads on here that will help you!

 

ive got my eye on a few on ebay.... thanks for te advice lads and i will hopefully keep you posted on how i get on. no doubt there will be some strong language at times but i gues its all part of the fun hey. lol....

 

for your first one it keeps it easy as swapping all the bits. you dont want to get pissed off right at start of your first project.

 

that is true.... although i have the patience of a saint so im told. so with the gti engine i take it all the mounts etc are the same. so is it a matter of a straight swap from donor car to my van? i dont have to strengthen any thing at all to stop twist of chassis etc?

 

Gti should be fairly simple as most things should be the same. Don't need to strengthen anything.

Gti's too be fair are slow even tho being a 1.8 16v. There only 115bhp. Probably the better conversion if its your first as that will be more simple then anyother

 

Plus if you do use a GTI you could use the front bumper, leather seats, skirts and white dials on the van.

Id buy a rotten gti take you van engine out and weigh the gti shell and van engine in thenyou will get a few ŁŁŁ back so it would be a cheap conversion!

 

thats it then i best get finding this donor then, there are a few on ebay but all seem to be pretty mint with tax and test so fetching decent money for what they are. i'll keep looking im not in any major rush, it will be a good way to kill some time until i get in the army aswell.

 

thats another thing, will the side skirt of a 5 door fit a van or will i have play about with them because i have seen them on vans but some 1 told me that they dont fit i didnt know if they had extended them or not.

 

Think a 3 door one would fit im not 100%.

A few Gti's in the scrappy and a few mot faliures come up on ebay so just keep looking

 

well i know what i'll be doing all over xmas now. lol thanks again pal

 

No worries!