Found this MK4 XR3i which had sat in someone's garage for the past 13 years.
It is in lovely condition with just a few mods done to it by the previous owners, my plans are to return it back standard as it was when it rolled off the production line way back in the late 90's.

1st time out in daylight for a long time covered in dust!







right down to action.... decided to strip the interior just to see how solid it really was...



was pretty impressed with the boot floor (rock solid)



drivers floor pan were also pretty good too



passenger floor pan was also pretty good but there was a small weld patch where the floor meets the wheel arch (think I will get this re-welded while the carpets were up.)



at present all the interior seating is out getting valeted along with the floor carpet (drivers seat is at the trimmers getting repaired)

plan to tackle the dashboard and clean the plastics while waiting for everything to come back
will keep you posted on how I get on (oh by the way the bad boy bonnet is definitely going the journey)
Skoda....

 

Managed to buy a set of original Ford lattice wheels for only £40 from e bay. they need a blasting then powder coating silver but should look the dogs dodahs when there done!

 

Awesome well done mate, also good to see the car has got it's own rest thred too!

 

Good & bad news to report today.. got the interior back from the cleaners and wow he's wiped 23 years of muck away in just one day it smells fresh and looks brilliant, the drivers seat is at the trimmers getting repaired.



same again with the carpet....



Now for the not so good news, the front floor pans all the way along the edge (where it meets the sills) needs welding discovered this after having ago with the wire brush so it's off to the welders tomorrow to get sorted then hopefully I will then be able to clean the interior plastics then re-fit the interior will keep you posted.

 

Looks clean mate top car

 

Thanks mate ,just looked at your 86 mk4 project and it looks like it has gone in the same places as mine, must be a common fault eh

 

My blue one has a bit there too but your's doesn't look too bad though

 

Just a small update today....
Loaded the XRi onto the back of my old truck to take her to the welders
should have the car back by Wednesday happy days

 

Cor that's a handy bit of kit to have

 

Looks a mint base for a project

 

that's old Betsy she just keeps on going and going Don't think she would like to meet the men from VOSA though

 

Cool car. Is the osf wheel pushed back a bit.

 

no think it's just the angle of the picture mate

 

Things are starting to come together now... got the interior back from the upholsterer and also the welding got done far quicker than expected.
So today I took full advantage of this lovely Sunday and put things back together starting with the interior then a good was wax & polish.
think she is starting to look good now what do you think???.











[url=http://s568.photobucket.com/user/skoda169/media/6_zps8d5a94a7.jpg.html]









The next stage of the project is to do the engine and engine bay area, it really lets the car down badly IMHO any tips tricks ideas or he;p as to where to start would be good thanks..








things left to do are as follows... get the lattice wheels sand blasted and powder coated, remove engine clean / paint engine bay area de-grease engine/gearbox paint it and dress it up renew all water pipes for maybe red ones!


under seal the bottom of the car and get various parts sand blasted and powder coated I.E front and rear arms ETC then I think that's about it

still a fair bit to do but it's a work in progress and I enjoy tinkering on with her.
I have budgeted £600 for the engine bay area and to dress the engine up as for the under sealing I have allowed 5 hours for this work

 

Change the wheels quickly!

DON'T get red hoses

As for engine take it out (easy to do) one on the hoist you can tidy it up easily. Id paint the black, gbox etc.

Clean the bay up and your done!

Personally id get an exhaust on it or at least a back box but nothing too mad!

 

Oh and loose that bonnet and put some ambers on!

 

Advice taken fordmad.....these came today!
still looking for a decent bonnet!

 

those side repeaters dont fit too well.
on the whole a good car i had a white one many years ago.. that died the death and i stripped and stored in mums loft.

looks a good basis for a nice project tho.

 

It'll look so much better with those on trust me!

 

where did you get ambers from mate ??

 

+1 (and a big plus one) looking better every time I see it

Engine bay wise I am thinking of getting a steam cleaner, not the big industrial jobs but the more domestic variety. But I do agree to get the engine and the bay really sorted it needs to come out

 

Got both from e bay... below are the links...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1407751818...84.m1439.l2649

and the wing repeaters.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3009724440...84.m1439.l2649

I have been advised that they don't fit too well ,hang fire before you buy them and I will let you know if their a good fit or not! I plan to fit on Sunday.

Totally agree with you Woodstock it will look soooo much better.

 

Well I managed to get the orange indicators fitted a day early than planned
they are not a great fit, I had to modify the drivers side front indicator will keep them on until I manage to get some better fitting ones!
on a plus point I managed to get hold of some red strip for the front and rear bumpers which look great.

the red stripe on the rear bumper....



Front orange indicators & side repeaters along with front red stripe...







Getting there slowly but still a load of work to do on the car until I will be happy, however due to funds, nagging wife and juggling with work I have to stop until after Christmas

 

Ah that's looking better and better

The red fillet strip looks ace too. Just out of interest, was the fillet strip one of those rolls off of eBay?

Top work mate

Oh and how did you find the repeaters fit wise? Dad's cabby has got white ones which have gone smokers yellow in colour

 

Thanks mate I am really enjoying the project very much, my plan is to be driving her around by next summer though as mentioned I need to leave the engine bay until after Christmas.

Yes the fillet strip was from e bay I bought it Thursday and it arrived today well chuffed with it. here's the link if your interested.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3906659129...84.m1439.l2649

The indicators were not a very good fit I would not recommend them to anyone I had to cut a section out of the passenger side one as it was miles off from fitting, though the drivers side was a better fit!

 

Yeah thats the strip I have been looking at when you get a sec would you mind taking a few close ups of it fitted, especially where it is inserted into the ends of the channel on the bumpers. Just want to see how it looks as i am seriously considering getting some to replace the ones on the cabby and the eclipse

Yeah pattern lights can be seriously hit and miss, Had to fit a new headlight and found one of the adjusters sockets was made out of a really hard plastic which of course snapped when I pushed the ball into it

 

No worries will do that for you but as usual i am now at work but will get some pics uploaded for you 1st thing tomorrow.

 

looks like its taken shape nicely keep up the good work

 

Nice project.Good to see a std one rebuilt as original.

 

Really like that mate well done so far wish i had some enthusiasm to crack on with my projects but im always busy freezing my arse in siberia or spending time with the kids!

 

Thanks guys really enjoying the project so far , got the original decals coming today so a little job to do over the weekend.

I know what you mean about the time to do things bigryrs I work in excess of 70 hours per week have a wife and 2 kids to keep happy so I have very little time to do things but hey ho little steps!

 

Got the fillet strip sample today many thanks for sending it over. Looks just right to! Proper job

 

Personaly I'd loose the bonnet get some original stickers for the boot lid, red stripes for the bumpers and go with some 2wd saph 15s as they look like the original 14s

Looks rely nice tho

 

Need to get the rubber bit that sits on the sills too totally changes the look! Have a look at my xr3i thread

 

Right folks thanks for the replies all noted and getting there slowly but surely.... I now have an original mk4 XR3i bonnet (at the paint shop at the moment, also collected the original lattice 14" wheels (again getting shot blasted ready for powder coating next week.
managed to find an original working ford stereo (now fitted) and finally the crem de la crem...... I got hold of a genuine set of ford spot lights complete with brackets (done a 700 mile round trip just in case royal mail broke them in delivery)
from this.......



to this......



will post more pics once I get the bonnet n wheels back.

 

good to see youre putting it back to standard nice project

 

Top work there bud can't wait to see it with the bonnet on

 

a small but rather exciting update... I got my wheels back from the shot blasters this morning, this is the 1st time I have had anything shot blasted and WOW it's impressive to say the least.
whish I had taken a pic of the wheels before I had them done the difference is remarkable



They are now in the other workshop waiting to get powder coated can't wait

 

Well that's just plain filthy goodness right there. Nice one mate although I have to say I am a tad jealous as these are the rims dad and I need for the cabby! Mmm... 90 spec lattice

 

I was real lucky to get hold of these at the price I did (£40 on e bay) on the down side I travelled to London to pick them up!