Hi Folks welcome!


I bought this XR3i nearly 4 years ago and never got round to doing anything with it due to other projects on the go. But this year (halfway through ) is THE year (maybe) that I get it finished!







so the plan is to build it up as a car I can use for autotests, sprints and trackdays and generally beat on instead of using my daily drivers as I have done in the past.


no idea what an autotest or autosolo is? it is the cheapest form of organised motorsport you can do it can be done in a standard road car with no expensive safety equipment needed and no special licence required. cheaper than a trackday and bloody good fun! some pictures:









So the plan.


1)welding/ rust removal (I can't weld very well)
2)build a custom loom for the car (never done this before)
3) zetec (never done an engine swap, other than like for like)


progress should start this coming weekend with the commencement of welding which should be a learning experience. I will be using this thread and hopefully some encouragement and advice from you lot to get it finished.


thanks for reading
Mike

 

Sounds good I'll be keeping an eye on this.

I've done a few clubmans autosolos in the northwest in my ST that is also a daily, they're good cheap fun. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN_H1D2i29M

 

that looked like a nice clean run the ST sounds nice as well!


I prefer Solo's rather than autotests plus my local club run a loose surface one as pictured above but its a bit harsh for an everyday driver the last picture was taken just a second after the mondeo bottomed out and put a dent in the downpipe hence the expression lol

 

Looks fun

 

I would have got lost in all of them cones

 

that was my first thought but you do get the hang of it!

 

Quick update I am going to look at a donor car tomorrow a mk6 escort gti for the engine and wheels mainly.


also a pattern front panel arrived so I can repair the rust near the bumper mounting holes.


progress and pictures to follow over the few days!

 

picking this up tomorrow 69k on the clock but now i have to decide whether to scrap it for the engine for the mk4 or have this as my daily and scrap the mk2 mondeo instead

 

rotten!!




bit of an update struggled for time and motivation recently with a few family issues and my relationship going south!! what better than a bit of blue oval action ok so time to rip the cvh out!


first find a donor that I couldn't keep:

 

get the xr3 in its spot ready for cvh removal




bye bye!




meet your replacement

 

ready to go in




went with my standard xr3i box with a used Ap paddle clutch that we had in the shed. still needs an LSD but that can come later




and in!!

 

back on its wheels. have to mention a work colleague who can round and helped thanks Mr Woodford!




I was worried I would have to cut into this part of the mount but apparently its just the blacktop zetec.




this is the plastic zetec manifold from the '98 escort donor car clears the brake bar.




tight fit!




I used an alternator drop bracket with the zetec alternator

 

and that's where I am up to! more soon...

 

Coming along nicely,i have a mk4 escort with a 2.0l silver top in it for track days ,goes very well for what it is

 

at this stage the engine is staying stock except for running on omex I imagine later a switch to TB's and maybe a nice manifold, cams etc but for now I just need to be able to drive it!


handling and brakes are all I really care about at this stage just want to be able to chuck fuel in a pound round all day really!


mike

 

What lip is on your front Bumper? Looks badass

 

not sure I thought it was a stock xr3i lip? maybe someone else knows??

 

Looks to me like a mk1 Focus Rs

Cars looking like it's coming on well. Any updates??

 

updates/pictures on the way early next week lots of tasty bits have arrived, and progress is being made.


mike

 

Is it? cant seem to find one on ebay, i need one lol!!

 

had a standard bonnet re-sprayed Rosso red. will eventually remove the bonnet spacers as well

well the updates were a long time coming!!!


had a few bits turn up that will feature later in the build thread but I am saying nowt at the minute!


so:

 

started on the wiring these buzzbars are perminant 12v, Acc 12v and a third for GRD was added after this photo


drilled holes in the bulkhead for starting and charging loom, then another for engine management loom

 

did splurge on this Ashley 4 branch specifically for the 1.8 silvertop into a mk4. was told no blocking the breather hole you plonker by a friend so I had to come up with a way to fit a union for a hose take off


this is the solution, I cut off the old tin breather box leaving just the mild steel base then used a mocal oil cooler take off and welded it in from behind, problem solved

 

as of boxing day I have now had the car running briefly. the omex 600 I got from demon tweeks was supplied with no firmware (!) luckily my friend suggested we 'borrow' the omex from my uncles RST save the map load a base map and voila! it fired up for the first time in my ownership!


more updates in the new year!