Wanted one for years,so i thought why not get one just wanted to know What to look for il do the usual checks plus look for rust etc, is there anything else i Need to look out for

Cheers
Ryan

 

Rust will be everywhere on them. Good luck finding a good one. I really like fezza turbos.

 

rust is the killer of the frst check rear top mounts, filler cap, sills an the front foot well where the arch meets the floor you can usually feel it through the carpet and see it if you get under the car. They eat wishbones and the laden valves are f**ked on 90% of them.
They crack blocks/heads, crank sensor wiring melts, gear linkages are worn on most of them now but are simple to fix.

 

I will Deffo look out for rust,will i be able to Tello if the block/head is cracked?
What is a laden valve

 

I guess look for Mayo in the expansion tank and ideally do a cylinder leak down test or compression test at the least.

I guessed the laden valve is something that chnages rear brake pressure when loaded up with passengers and shopping (or big 1990 sub woofers)

 

you will need to spend big for a good example

 

I really loved these when I had a 205 gti originally but couldn't afford one back in the day. I still love the look of them.

 

laden valve switches the brake bias to the rear the more the back end lifts under braking.

you can buy a block testing kit where you suck up some coolant and it changes colour if there are any exhaust gasses present in it. mayo in oil cap is usually head gasket on cvh.

 

Good luck, I've even settled on the idea of something along the lines of a 2.0 zetec fitted instead, But cant find anything decent at a fair price and I have been looking for ages now. People are even trying to sell rebuilt rs1800's for Ł5-6k

 

Cheers for all the advice lads, not looking for a concourse my pockets aint that deep lol just as long as it in a reasonable condition, il buy a block tester and take it with me

 

Your problem is projects are just that.. If you genuinely want a running example you have too choose between big money OE, big money non OE or big money scrap.


parts are Extremely rare even the simple stuff, rot can be rife esp where you cant see, and if its been undersealed(street slang for a bodged over dog) then be VERY careful how much you pay...


You need to get behind inner front arch liners and look at pilars inner wings, also look for corrosion in sunroof gulley's, around scuttle panel, inner rear arch lower portions too inner sills, look for fuel leaks as the plumbing from tank was shite imop, lift rear bench, if tank access holes been cut be very wary.
Bodged alarms, melted relays....


huge list with them, bodykit hides sins....


I could literally go on all day, I know as I've one 99% stripped for a resto hahahaha.
Best of luck finding a good one, they are very very very rare even in scrap form fella so don't be mugged off...

 

I would be looking to spend Ł5k for a good one or you will be buying something that will need that in paint and restorations.

 

As said, getting a solid one will be hard and costly, but, and it is a big but, it is 100% cheaper to spend a bit more and get a solid one, than buying a cheaper one maybe in your current budget and then spending ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ fixing rust which in most cars wont add anything visual to the car and so feels like you have spent a load of cash and can't see what has been done.

 

RS1800 was a better and more reliable car

 

Id love a fez turbo! Mega rare. Prices are going crazy! If I had one id go down the zetec turbo route for reliability. Rs1800s are fetching good money now, I wouldn't say they are a better car but they are rarer and id love one

 

wrong the car is only as reliable as the owner if you take a stock rs1800 and stock frst and treat them the same they will last the same I seen frst 150-60000 mile still with original engines turbos and gearboxes.

the rs1800 was/is less tunable and slow however at 25year old i would stay away from an rst with silly mods its common knowledge that you can make 200hp on a stock engine but 165ish is more realistic and maintainable and pretty fast for a bean tin

 

RST fiesta was not well received on launch, rubbish handling and uncommunicative steering were just two issues.
Rs1800 replaced it it in 1992 and I believe these issues had been resolved and although it was less tuneable but we're talking about the car you bought out the factory, RS1800 has a good reliable engine which was if I remember quicker out of the box against an ageing crappy old cvh which most owners destroyed fairly quickly then replaced with a zvh, I've had both rst escort and fiesta also 2 rs1800 fiestas, the fiesta rst was poor, engine rebuilt twice and had only done 37k from new, after the second engine let go it got crushed, both rs1800's were great, no issues and are still around.

 

As said hard to find good ones now for a budget of 5k think you will be buying bit of a project theres a few on ebay mint one just sold for 15k unless your handy with mechanics and a welder be carefull what you buy or can cost a fortune to put right when looking make sure you check everywhere for the dreaded rot cars may look good on the outside but rotten as fook when you start pulling it apart anyway happy hunting

 

cant beat a FRST lol

read this link - as good for what to look for

http://www.fiestaturbo.com/buying-guides/buying-guide/

 

I just bought one after seeing it by mistake! not seen it for a whole month and looking forward to getting home to fit all my new parts all original parts of course.

Good luck finding a nice one!

 

I wasn't knocking the RS1800 as I would have one now if I could find a decent one at a good price. I just thought the FRST was more desirable to the majority of poeple and therefore was worth more.

 

It's always been more desirable, it has a turbo, if you can find a good one nowadays and keep it right it will always be a desirable car and hold its money well.

 

Hope u get a nice one mate and enjoy

 

reckon you should all post a pic up of your FRSTs for motivation

 

Ł3000 will get you a nice original one if your in no rush and wait for the right one to come up.
Had these two in recently, both really nice examples...

 

Some Very nice ones there Karl,i plan on polling round once i buy one as.your only round the corner from me

 

Excellent yes of course mate

 

Might pop round for a bit of advice of thats ok before i buy one

 

I like that white one.

 

Its someones of here cant remember his name

 

jk12 owns the white one he lives 5 mins from me, hes on our stands at shows

 

Stick your pics of your frst lads

 

Heres mine. Had it near 15 years now and use it everyday. Bit tatty looking atm but no rot box! Just needs paintwork on arch and bonnet but need to spare the car for a few days so its difficult to loose it lol! I love it lol!

 

Those wheels look the bollocks, are they jap wheels? Sure I seen similar on a Subaru on coronation street lol

 

I only had the one frst but I did not stick it in a oxygen tent like the anal brigade I got out in it in all weathers and had a laugh

 

285Andy. That looks well on them wheels

Steve you know how i feel about the you had.

 

Totally agree with 1PD, YES we need to keep one or two pristine and unused for posterity and conservation BUY my advice to the op or anyone looking to own and enjoy a FRST all year round is too stop faffing with bling, get the tools out, get it gutted, fully welded up and properly sealed and weather tight by seam sealing every one ford didn't, get it PAINTED underneath then pump it full of wax oil/oil mix...
Do that and ensure a FULL comprehensive re wire and she will be as good as any modern car is today.


Sadly no pics of mine as on phone lol plus its gutted hahaha

 

heres my rs1800.. not much standard on it though lol

 

Haha! Yeah there Japan racing jr11 8x16 et25's

Cheers gcfcos and glenn

 

cars from the past