My work in progress, brought the Escort in January, sorry if the start of this thread is a bit out of sorts. I copied it from another forum.


Picked up my new toy today. 1990 mk4 Escort 3 door 1.3 popular. Running a 1.6 efi engine, Rs turbo full interior, steering wheel, and brakes. Apex suspension and 16" alloys.....slight misfire to sort on engine, alloys will be changed for 15" alloys.....swapped the spots for some smaller ones I already had, and gave it a good clean.








Interior





Lovely Rs 4 spoke





Exterior after a good wash and wax, and spots swapped over. Looks good in pics, but has a few battle scars.

 

Managed to do a few jobs today.


First was to sort this bodge job





New bracket made and fitted, fuel hoses protected and secured.





Fitted a higher spec centre console, Handbrake cover etc


Before




After





Made a lead with 5amp fuse, to fit on isolator switch so I don't lose any memory in the electrical system. If you try to start the car, the fuse will blow.





Then a service, new oil and filter, k&n panel filter, spark plugs, 8mm silicone HT leads (2 of the old ones were broken, causing the misfire), new temp sensor (temp gauge now works), new coolant cap, just need to clean the engine bay now.

 

Well, worked 120hrs over the last 2 weeks without a day off....so dropped the Escort off at my brothers work to get new Gmax sports shocks fitted, rear brake cylinders and flexi hoses. And set up on the diagnosis machine.


Some better pics of wheels.








Overall pics, love the way it looks.

















Picking the car up tomorrow, had the new shocks fitted.

But the misfire has come back, so going to get in my garage. Check all connections, earth's, ignition and fuel. Put all fresh fuses and relays in. If needed, I'll do a compression test. Got a code reader on order, so can check any faults.

When the engine was in the donor car, it was running perfectly.....only started to misfire after the conversion (done by a previous owner). So it's either coincidence or something has been put out of place or broken.

 

Picked the Escort up first thing this morning, ride is loads better now.


Then a quick clean of both cars.





Decided to replace the cheapo coil pack with a Bosch one, as leads kept pinging off.....fired her up, ran loads better and when warmed up leads didn't ping off! Revved up a bit, backfire has gone, and idles better but still a slight misfire.





So, as mine is a early efi it has a Weber idle speed control valve that is meant to be cleaned every 10k miles....don't think this had ever been done!





All clean and operation checked.








Then I checked the breather hoses, the crankcase breather filter had broken down and blocked the hose between breather filter and air filter housing.





I have unblocked hose and cleaned it out, all other hoses are fine. Will get a new breather filter and put it all back together. Have also checked all electrical connections and cleaned with contact cleaner. Hopefully the car will run ok now, and I can get the co2 and emissions set up on a diagnosis machine. Fingers crossed.

 

Happy now, car runs smoothly (for a cvh lol), idles smoothly, gets up to temp and fan kicks in, no misfire or back fire.


Just need to change rocker cover gasket for rubber one, clean engine bay, clear old faults on ecu (when reader arrives), got a new oil cap on order (seal starting to go one old one), going to change cam belt too (just to be safe).


Fitted my battery cover.





Painted efi bit red.





Top half cleaned, and tidied up.

 

Started on the car again after work, stripped the intake, airbox, cambelt cover etc.....and cleaned head off. Got new rubber rocker cover gasket, drive belt, cam belt and a new oil cap.








Drive belt and cambelt look like they've been on a while, will get some more pics tomorrow.


All back together now and ran up, seemed to struggle to start with but once warmed up it idled ok.


Old belt, starting to get a bit thin!





All back together again, gave everything a good clean too.

 

Took the Escort for a 30 mile drive, drives loads better now.


Few pics on the way home.

 

Got a couple of parts to fit at the weekend, if I get time.





Red bumper insert (my insert is missing), and clear side repeaters (as there's already clear indicators fitted).


Also need to find the fault with the speedo, and touch in some of the deeper scratches. Few other little bits and pieces to do too.


Didn't get much done today, picked up a few other bits that were missing or broken.





Fitted the bumper insert and side repeaters. Not very good pics, but can't take her out till I finish 24hr call out.








Also touched in the worst scratches, ready to cut back and polish.


Not much of an update lol.....the car didn't have any owners manuals....so managed to find some at a good price on Ebay in excellent condition.





She's looking sweet after another coat of wax.....will take her for a run this week, if I get a chance.

 

Took the Escort for a run this morning, seems to be running better each time I take her out. Speedo is working again now after I had a fiddle with the speedo cable. Still need to clear error codes and check for new ones, reset base idle.....also need a new fuel pump as terminal posts are corroded and been fitted with the wrong type of connectors. When its warmer, ill start painting brake calipers, drums, and other components underneath. heres some fresh pics.
































Some new bits to get fitted.





New fuel pump has been fitted, and a small bit of welding done on the inner sill......my brother dropped it off at my mum and dad's, and it started coughing and spluttering again!

Walked round to get it, my brother and dad had the bonnet up. After 10 mins of running, it was back to normal lol.....think the ecu was just re-learning with the new pump fitted. Still need to re-set base idle speed, hopefully doing that Monday. As it's still running a bit rich.

Going to a show Sunday, so need to get it polished up....won't have time to paint calipers/drums etc.....so will have to go as 'on going project' lol


Got the Escort running quite well at the moment after the new fuel pump got fitted M-tech autocentre. Was a bit rough to start with, but soon sorted itself out (think the ecu just had to re-learn). Then my Dad plugged the code reader in, all old codes quickly cleared automatically. Passed with no codes on all tests.


Then got home, (drove so much better with new pump) washed, polished, waxed ready for a show on Sunday.


Even know it's got some dents and scratches it still shines nicely.

 

Some pics at Ryhope classic car show.











When I got a mile from home yesterday, there was a massive hail storm.....put lights on, and wipers. And the Rev counter went mental lol....everything was very erratic. So spent today cleaning up all the earth's, some were very tarnished. Especially the one for the head lights.

Fired up the engine, and up to temperature. Turned on lights, heater and radio (didn't put wipers on as screen was dry). Rev counter needle only raised a very small amount (normal). Tried switching everything on and off quite a few times, and all good. So hopefully that's sorted.

Need to order new cam and followers, as they are really noise....and effecting low down performance.

 

Fitted new front speakers today, and routed wires to the rear ready for when my ford adapters arrive. At least with the new fronts fitted a can now hear the radio.
Speakers fitted are standard size, so they fit behind Orignal grills. As my Escort is a Popular, it had no rear speakers. Which is why I need the adapters.
New speakers and wires, replaced all speaker cables.





Old speakers were past there best lol





New speaker in place.

 

My car does get dirty lol.....from Squires Ford meet today.








All clean again lol

 

New parts.
New camshaft & followers, just need to pick up some new seals, oil & filter.





New wheel centres.





Still waiting for my speaker adapters to arrive. Cam will be done next weekend as I'm on call for a week.


Badges fitted.

 

Looks good with you, I see you get stuck in! Is that a high lift cam or is it a stock profile?

 

Cheers, I like to do as much of the work as possible.....but sometimes I'm just too busy with work. And my brother has just started his own autocentre, so gave him some work. My Dad is a mechanic, so as soon as I could drive he taught me how to fix my own car. Still ask for help though.....he's coming over, to supervise me fit the cam kit. Just standard profile. Should be quick enough for now.

 

Nice! I like older cars, far easier to work on and understand, hopefully the cam swap will be simple enough for ya!

 

That's a very cool Escort you have there mate!!

Love what you've done to it so well done!

 

Yeah, me too.....drive a modern van all day, so nice to have two older petrol cars to have fun in.

I rebuilt a 1.6 cvh carb engine two years ago, so know I can do it.....just like the reassurance lol....doing the valve stem seals whilst I'm there too.

 

Thanks mate, I like the simple but effective changes.

 

Here's the one I rebuilt.

 

Speaker adapters finally arrived today.



One had a broken corner, so had to make a new piece and bond it in place. Will leave it to set before mounting the speakers.



Also needed 5" speakers not 4" so exchanged them for these.



Need to get some m4 screws tomorrow to mount the adapters to the parcel shelf supports.

 

Cool car this matey. Im just down the road from where you live too.

 

Cheers mate.......you know where I live? lol.....just noticed your in Darlo too.

 

Valve stem seals, and cam seals arrived today.....haven't mounted speakers yet, as didn't have time to get machine screws today.

 

Nice tidy car

Just wondering, why the kill switch on the scuttle?

 

Cheers mate, was already fitted when I brought the car. Will be getting moved at some point......it's in such a stupid place.

 

Rear speakers fitted.







Did make a little mistake though lol



Sorted now though, so set it up playing Faithless - insomnia.......hope my neighbours enjoyed some old school tunes lol

 

Engine flushed. Sump plug, and new filter fitted. All ancillaries except cam cover removed, ready to fit new cam, followers, and valve stem seals.

 

Coming on well, engine looks immaculate with you.

 

Cheers, it's getting there.....Can't wait to get the new cam in tomorrow.

 

New camshaft and followers fitted, well happy......so much better.

Old followers, most are bevelled at the edges and one is badly dished.



Camshaft is knackered, one lobe has worn right down!






Video, this is from initial warm up. Sound was amplified by the garage. Sounds really good in person.

 

Took the Escort for a test drive this morning, what a difference......really quiet, smooth, and a little flyer now!!! Soo happy!!!

Few pics after lol.

 

Smart escort this matey.

I take it you have the tool to do the valve stem seals without taking the head off.

 

Cheers mate, yeah used my Dad's one....he's had it years lol.

 

I had a 5DR one as my first car I bought it just after the terrorist attack in 2001. I was from a local dealer for £1000, It was pretty tidy gleaming Radiant red paint, 1.3L engine same basic spec as what yours was.

I sold it to my bother in late 2003 for £200, he wrote it off. Reg was G71 WFC, Last year I found the handbooks etc from it sitting in my parents shed.

Have you thought about a spoiler? theres a popular/1.6 sport model spoiler on there:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/escort-bon...8AAOSwxN5WZ~WO

 

Shame it got written off mate, have you still got the handbook. I'm after the owners handbook for a 90 spec, as the one I got is 1987 edition.

Yeah, I've thought about a spoiler but in two minds. I like it without.....and £120 is a lot of money for that spoiler.

 

I gave it to a friend who got a S2 without it I may have the audio handbook for it.

Just seen the ad. Its been updated to £110 posted. Maybe a cheeky offer of £100 post and see if he bites. They are good spoilers. What about an RS1600i spoiler?

 

That looks a very clean escort.

I'm almost certain I saw it on "scorted" on facebook?!

 

Ah well lol.....maybe, I'm normally cheeky with my offers on Ebay, will have to wait till I get paid though. If I was to put a spoiler on, I would like option spoiler like that one. Just not that price lol

Cheers mate, yeah you probably did lol

 

Looking good with you, bet it feels far healthier with the fresh engine work you've put into it. Must go like a new car again??