hello everybody, I used to own a fairly well modified escort rs turbo and after selling her to try and become sensible I just couldn't be without a toy in my life. Which prompted me to buy this little fiesta in this thread. I bought the car from a lad that had the car sat on his drive under a cover for about 2 years, I had my eye on it for a long time. And then I bought it, got her for a cool £900! it had a bump many years ago and was bought and repaired and then never used from that date on so in actual fact has had one 1 'real' owner from new. currently has 43,000 on the clock. this is just a little thread to show what I have been doing with it.

this is the day I brought her home. a completely standard untampered xr2i, with big plans!

 

I had a million and one ideas in my head as to where I wanted to go with this little thing having learnt what I learnt from my escort ownership but obviously my first plan to get ripping her apart so I could sell what I didn't want and from that point then start making her the way I wanted her so during a cold January the engine came out.

 

 

from this point my next plan was to start stripping the actual suspension down and hubs ect ect and clean them all up paint parts up where necessary and fit all new poly bushes, wish bones, steering rack, track rod ends ect ect.
I also bought brand new gaz coil over suspension.

 

 

 

 

from this point the old girl was back on her wheels and needed the rear end doing but again I had plans for that, I dropped the rear beam and had this and the anti roll bar shot blasted and I painted these and fitted them again with brand new coil overs and a set of poly bushes.

 

 

 

 

from this point I took the car down to my dads haulage companies garage so I could strip the interior out as its having a track look appearance to it and I had also made the investment of an engine and gearbox by this point.

 

after collecting my engine from Norfolk way from ap tuning. I got it home and began to set about fitting it to the car, I took the sump off and assessed for any damage ect and fitted all new seals and gaskets ect and made sure all shells were lubed up nicely as when I purchased this engine from gary at apt he said it was checked and had new shells and lubed up a few years back and never used so just to make sure retorqued it all up and then set about fitting it. some of you may recognise the engine a bit later on once its fitted but it really is a lovely piece of kit. I also invested in the best clutch techniclutch had to offer and all new vibratec mounts ect and purchased a cts stage 2+ gear box from g.e.a.r.s, I know these aint the strongest but I really didn't want the chop the car about and if it lets go then I will go quaiffe gearset as opposed to 6 speed. but here is the engine fitting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I purchased a tubular manifold from brian Hansen and proceeded with bolting this work of art to my head ect.

 

 

 

the interior also got ripped to pieces

 

 

I got the car home and started bolting bits and pieces on, one piece was the rocker cover which may be the give away to some people whose engine this once was.

 

 

car has from this point slowed up a little bit as have to progress as and when funds allow but my latest acquisition is a brand new turbo from turbo technics which I have fitted to my car and after a little more fettling will be all set to go.

 

 

 

 

at this point I am currently buying some compomotive mo 16 inch wheels to fit to this as they came up for a good price so I thought I would have them
but obviously there is still a large sum of money still to be thrown and this and it currently stands me at an arm and a leg so it takes time but my plan is she sees the road next summer and hopefully get her down to santa pod towards the back end of pod, but we shall see that's the plan. the next areas to be built will be rad intercooler and pipe work then the engine wont be too far away from being alive again still to decide on many other things as yet but we take things as they come.
Please guys any comments and opinions are welcome I appreciate people to take the time to look as at end of day that's what part of it is about. cheers.

 

Nice looking car. Is that Christians old engine?

 

Nice project!

 

lol first response got the engine right, yes its Christians old engine. bought the engine as bottom end, baffled sump, his head and his custom newmans cam and lifters as was run in his escort producing 360bhp nearly, im not going for those figures but I do want around the 300bhp mark.

 

lovely looking car and great engine will be watching closely

 

That'll go like a stabbed rat with that lump in it. You keeping the inside stripped and caging it?

 

Oh and do the rest of the bay some justice and clean that stat housing. It looks terrible!

 

That looks well. Nice exhaust manifold.

 

thanks for the positive comments people, it will be staying stripped, and as for do the engine bay some justice, could you please elaborate, because if im honest I have put hours into cleaning many parts and painting many parts under that bonnet already and It currently stands me at a fortune. and im quite happy with the engine bay?
keep the positive comments coming people, im hoping this little thing will really shift and really put a smile on my face. can't wait to see it running.