Hello all

I have a solid mk4 1.3 escort popular 5 dr sat on the drive with 70,000 miles on the clock. I have always liked the idea of having a bit of a sleeper.

I have basic/intermediate DIY mechanic skills, plenty of tools and a good general understanding of how everything works etc.

In a nutshell, what would be the simplest way to achieve a bit of a sleeper?
Nothing tyre shredding but something that will be pretty easy to achieve without breaking the bank. I would also like to keep as many of the parts already on the car if poss (petrol tank, gearbox etc. if possible) and want to avoid any welding of engine mounts etc.

Any help appreciated

 

Why not just put a rsturbo lump in mate? i was made to go in the mk4 escort. and a good tuneably engine.

 

Yeah I know that's an option but I wanted to see peoples' opinions for anything simpler or cheaper?

 

understandable mate.

 

2.0 blacktop? Plenty of guides about and cheap enough for a bit of fun.

 

1.6 cvh on carbs?

 

Is this a worthwhile conversion? Is it straightforward?

 

Easiest option, but if it was me I'd stick a blacktop in there

 

Would it link up to my existing gearbox?

Do the engine mounts need modifying?

What else is there to be aware of during this conversion?

Cheers

 

Engine mount will need modifying, water pump pulley needs work, wiring mods, mods to the fuel system etc. Box can be made to fit.

 

what about a xr3i lump?

 

Not enough poke I'm afraid !

 

Well mate i seriously think mate the most power for the less bother would be a rst lump as was made to go it the car. i just cant think of a lump that will go strait in.

 

I am leaning towards rst lump. I need to start compiling a list of parts I need to source and in what order. If anyone can help with this it would be appreciated! Mfi or efi? Or if anyone has parts for sale pm me cheers

 

Why not try and find a crap body rst and take all the parts off it. there must be one in a scrapers or ebay or somthing. And then you got springs, brake's etc...

 

Problem with a turbo engine is the mfi crap, will need the tank changing to

 

So you suggest the 2.0 blacktop and keep my current tank, box and loom?

 

That's why I said a 1.6 cvh on carbs first

 

So here's the victim...

 

Very cool mate. Look in good nick. Do i also see a mk1 focus on escort cossie wheels? is that yours?

 

Yeah the escort is solid in all the right places !

I've had the focus 10 years now. The wheels are 16" mondeo. They actually look better than escos wheels imo...

 

Very cool got any pics of the focus?

 

Seems to be original spare?



Pretty clean!



Dreaded leak



Not too bad...

 

 

I've seen worse mate. A bit of hard work and tlc and she will be mint

 

Bit more...











Can anyone tell me what colour my car is?

Cheers

 

It should tell you on the chassis plate under the bonnet. you have somethings like X-1 than google it and you should find the colour.

 

Started to strip engine bay for cleaning...

 

Sorry about the pics, they're off my phone

 

Cleaned the expansion tank the best i can but still rust stains inside.
Soaked in a bucket of bleach, been in dishwasher, flushed with hyperchlorite acid, flushed with perchloric acid and finally had 30 minutes in a sonic bath!




Sandblasted thermostat housing...

 

Engine bay cleaned...







Re-sprayed alloys...





Bought a second hand windscreen at the weekend to replace my cracked one. Not looking forward to changing it as never done one before

I need to obtain some alloy wheel bolts and also get tyres on the rims.

I've also got some pressed plates to fit...

 

first 1.3 I ve seen with the anti skid kit on it

 

You should just get windscreen on insurance mate

 

The 2nd hand windscreen had a stonechip so i had a brand new one fitted today for £78

 

Same here. I thought it was only on S2s and on higher spec escorts.

 

I've had tyres fitted today to the mondeo alloys as seen in the pics above. Id already obtained alloy wheel bolts from an escort mk3/4 but the bolt washers seem far too small in the holes on the mondeo alloys.
Therefore can anyone tell me the actual bolts I need to fit these alloys and best place to get them (not from fords though lol)!
Cheers

 

I've now purchased some of the bolts i needed to fit the mondeo alloys. They are called 'ghia' bolts and i got them from 'speedshack'.

My question now is should i put a very thin smear of copper grease on the threads and face of the hubs or not???

 

Looks fairly clean mate, good project car

 

Right the car is now ready to be booked in for it's MOT.

The last thing that was annoying me was the exhaust bend before the back box was hanging a tad low! The problem was that there was no hanger in that area on the car. So i acquired a generic hanger and bolted to the chassis and simply bought a £2 exhaust rubber from the motor factors...

 

Well she failed her mot today...

Headlamp adjustment
Rear brake adjustment
50p size patch of welding on offside sill

Not too bad