Hi all been away from the scene for about 5 or 6 years and had some sensible cars in the process. I used to have a Fiesta RS Turbo running around 195bhp so decided to buy myself a wee project to keep me out of trouble.

Managed to find myself a 1990 Ford Escort GL with a few mods, Mainly the Fiesta RS Turbo Engine lurking under the bonnet.









It's not mint but I wanted a good shell to start with that wasn't an RS Turbo as I was wanting to keep it as standard looking as possible so I picked up this Escort 1.6 GL.

Rot wise the rear outer arches and a seat bolt on the floor need done but everything else other than that is solid which is the most important. Although the front bumper , Stickers and the EFI conversion leads a lot to be desired but what can I say it's a project! Good base for my sleeper project.

We picked the car up from Ipswich and many say I took one heck of a risk driving it 400 miles back to Glasgow but it made it!

The car on the way up the road starting slipping the clutch like a maniac so we nursed it the rest of the journey home to make sure that it made it there!!

 

Once we got the car home I took it to my local mechanic to get it up in the air for a look and to let us have a look over it and I found more than I bargained for!! The whole undercarriage was caked in oil. Turns out the Sunp Gasket had been overtightened and was covering the flywheel in oil, After inspecting the gearbox it would appear the clutch has a fair bit of meat left on it but due to the main gearbox seal weeping and the sump gasket leaking it has leaked all over it.





Whilst I was under there I have also noticed that the exhaust is a complete mess and explains why the exhaust scrapes everythere I go!!



Also around now the rear gearbox mount gave out and took the driveshaft with it! So fitted a replacement rear gearbox mount and had the driveshaft reconditioned at my local transmission shop for Ł15 which I found reasonable.

After a look around on the bay I found myself a full Scorpion RS Turbo Exhaust for a complete bargain of around Ł60 but was in Lockerbie (90 Miles from me) and with the Scort still recovering from its transmission issues I took my daily driver down the Fiat Brava

Below is how I managed to get the exhaust up the road, I can imagine the looks we got lol!

 

Another a day another problem!, Tried to start the car this morning and after starting it immediately cut out again, had to hold the revs for around 2 minutes and it seems to have a heck of a lumpy idle to the point where it feels like it is about to cut out. Also when driving it hard it has a bad missfire on full boost which is even more annoying. After having a look around I seen the standard of the wiring that has been used and I feel finding this problem is going to be a little harder than I first thought! Here is a peek at the wiring!





This might also explain why the Revometer isnt working either but apparently I might need to do a bit more work with that

 

Was looking into sorting out the running problems with the RS Turbo engine but decided instead to go for another lengthy road trip down to Wirral and pick up the following from Davysaff (460 Mile Round Trip)!! Still cheaper than a courier

Got the following (Pics to Follow)

-Focus ST170 Based zetec turbo engine.
-65k ST170 bottom end with oil return fitted,
-Gen Ford Focus RS 1.8mm HG
-2.0 Focus head with std cams
-106 GTi valve springs.
-Alternator Bracket for RS Turbo Alternator
-Waterpump Pulley bracket
-New cambelt kit

Also ended up with an Alternator, Spare belts and pulleys and an Air Filter - Sound Guy really appreciate it.

Also getting a Stage 3 T3 for the conversion so beginning to take shape!

Plan on following Karlos G's guide and building one to the same spec as that with the KA box.

Also managed to get a set of standard but great condition standard bumpers to make the car look more standard again - Sleeper is taking shape! - Stay Tuned

 

Sounds like it will be a cracking wee sleeper, I will keep a eye on your build too.

I've done the same conversion to my cabriolet.

 

Thanks Stu, was happy with how solid the car is too, only needs outer rear arches and a small plate around a seat bolt on the floor.

The KA Gearbox, Engine Stand, Ka Starter, EFI Flywheel, RS Turbo Exhaust Manifold Adaptor ordered and got someone looking out a Stage 3 T3 Turbo for me too.

Will be good to get cracking on with it,

 

If its a sleeper, hide the intercooler.

And i cannot remember the last time i see a fiat brava on british shores

Plenty of them where i am working in Turin!

 

What a cool car but that front bumper has to go. It looks horrid. The escort will be an animal with that zetec turbo engine in it.

I used to work for a Fiat dealership and we used to work on them Bravas. If im honest they were a good car.

 

Karlos did my zetec conversion and he found the efi wiring was a total mess to, the was an extra bit on the boost monkeys ecu was we could get the rev counter working. What sort of power you going for?

 

Cracking project, will defo watch this one.

 

Deffo agree the intercooler needs to be a bit less obvious.

Are you changing the management?