Hi all.

I'm a complete newbie with my first ford. It's an ex police dog van; mk1 focus estate, 2.0 zetec, White, only 66k on the clock and in all round good order. I bought it because its perfect for my cocker spaniel puppy, but it's not exactly to my taste, so it'll be going through a swift and hopefully effective week of subtle adjustment.

I've had it a week, and in that time I've got lined up;

Calibre classic 17s
V Maxx coil over kit
Window tints
ST170 seats and steering wheel
Pioneer CarPlay head unit
Audio install; rainbow amp, Audison speakers, Hertz sub

First things first though, it'll get a good clean and polish this morning and then I'll get some pictures up.

 

Sounds good matey. You cant g wrong with a mk1 focus. Ive got a ST17O with nearly 135k on it and the wife has a 1.6 16v focus with nearly 140k on it. Hers has been a bloody good car. Its just a shame the bodywork is tatty now.

 

Hers....or the car? Or perhaps both

 

nice plan!
keep us posted...

 

Before the big 'pre-project clean'




Botched stereo where the police bits used to be. Ugly faded cloth seats and a very bobbly steering wheel.




One of the dog cages. 100% more interested in dogs than kids.




The back end. Something will have to be done about that exhaust.




Black at the back but silver on the sides makes no sense. It'll never last.

 

Looks a clean thing. Ive seem a few focus eatates converted into vans. The rear passenger doors have beem welded up to make them look like proper vans.

 

Cheers pal. Yeah it's pretty straight.

 

A good quick mod to fit is a intermittent wiper stalk. The focus ghia and st170 have them fitted. Its just a simple plug in and play mod.

 

The old cloth seats are out.




Say good bye!




ST170 leather seats in, they need a good clean but the bolsters are good.




The old bobbly steering wheel where it belongs; on its way to the bin.




Seats and steering wheel firmly in place. Really happy with how it's come out. Once it's all clean and the stereo's in it'll look pretty sharp in here.




The body work came up really well after a good polish. There are a few marks and knocks but it's 12 years old, and I'm not sure I'm invested enough to have it re-sprayed. I'll see how I feel at the end of the week then it's on its new wheels and coil overs.

 

Came up good that did looks a good wee project

 

My old mans got one of these in silver, got to say it looks better in white and will really look great once lowered. Whilst fitting the front coilovers it would make sense to fit st170 hubs and brakes

 

Thanks. Really does need lowering. Not sure if it's just an estate thing or if it's to do with the weight of the crates in the back, but it sits 15mm higher at the back. All spring kits seem to lower the front more so cool overseas the smart option. They should go on on Thursday.

I did think about the st breaks, but they were shot on the one I got the seats out of, so I've kept what's there. I think the breaks that are on it are probably OK for now, but if they do need anything doing while they are apart for the service I'll look into uprated bits. I think it's only a matter of time until I re-map it, so better breaks will be a must.

 

nice to see a car getting some love as the police conversions are quality and well built, just got a st170 estate as a daily runabout myself

 

An ST170 estate? Didn't even know they made them! Bet that's lovely.

 

they never made many and only meant to be around 80 left, normally a break st170s but when this one came along I thought I would hang onto it for a bit for a daily plodder

 

Oh nice. Good looking thing. Are the clear side indicators standard on ST's or are they added? They look good. Might have to get those for mine.

 

Today's update requires no pictures, but it's been a good one for peace of mind. Full service, no horror stories!

It was great to see it up on the ramps having the breaks stripped, cleaned and put back together. Disks and pads are both quite new, as is most of the rear suspension except for springs and shocks. Works out well as they're coming off on Thursday anyway when the coil overs go on. I'm not going crazy low, just want the thing to sit level, rather than the back end so high up. With it being used as a dog van it's not going to carry much weight, so the stilts at the back have got to go.

The silver tints are coming off tomorrow ready for limo black replacements. A job I'm more than happy to hand over to someone else!

 

estate spec is same as the car versions disc brakes all round half leather seats clear side reps etc, I have 3 sts here at moment and my mate up the rd has the same

 

Coming along nicely mate.

 

Are your wheels 16 inch.

Steve how many st17O estates have you seen with the heated leather seats? Can you get the estates with the bass box too?

 

Yes they are. Good condition too. Was debating either selling them or keeping for winter wheels. They'll need tyres though; the tread is legal but they stood for a while so are mis-shaped.

 

That is interesting. I'm wanting to keep the overall look of the car pretty standard, while giving it a bit more of a stance. That's why I went for st170 seats and a std steering wheel inside, and the old skool bbs style wheels. If some of the estates (all be it not many) came with clear side repeaters, maybe I won't feel so bad about changing them. Hmmmm...

 

Dropped it off at the shop this lunch time for the audio and tints. Here are the pictures of what I'm starting with. The police were definitely not bothered about aesthetic when they fitted it out. I however, am.


The wall of the cage behind the seats, feels more like a cell than a van though. I've got no need for the window into the back so going to fill that up. The whole panel will be carpeted to make it feel a bit more like a cabin. The fan stays, but the wire will be hidden away.




The bracket is goingto make way for the sub, as are most of the wires for the fuses. Most of them are for police bits that are no longer needed. It'll be cleaned up and the amp will live there instead. The wooden panel they are attacked to will be carpeted too.




You can see where the facia was hacked away and screwed into for the police radio. That'll be swapped out for a double din pioneer CarPlay unit. I'll cover the holes on the dash with a holder for my phone. The lead is going to come out of the cigarette lighter (which will be disconnected first).




The audio install ready to go in! Oh and a tail pipe for the exhaust. It'll serve no purpose whatsoever other than to look more tidy, and it'll do for now. They had it laying around and it's free.

 

some serious purchase there...
well done with the interiors too !

 

Cheers. It was a bit of a bargain so I'm happy to spend well on making it look and feel nice. It was bought for the dog, I'm making it for me

 

Made a good start on the install today. When I say the install, it was more the un-install. So many bits came out that are no longer needed since it was decommissioned. So much came out; the old stereo, speakers, tons of wire, 1990's Nokia car kit, police radio, fuses, relays, all sorts.

The speakers are in, and I've fitted a camera into the back cage so I can check on the dog on long journeys. The tweeters have been positioned on the a pillars. Tomorrow morning should be fun putting it all together.

 

Looking good. Your definetly not hanging about with it that's for sure. Only thing about modifying cars is its a slippery slope.

I'm subscribed and wait for plans of an engine conversion

 

Looking good mate keep up the good work

 

If you find a siren my mate wants one for his track car

 

It sure is addictive. It's been a while since I got this into a car. If anyone would have ever said I'd fall for a focus estate I'm not sure if I'd have laughed or cried.

I'm pressing on with it so it's done before the missus finishes work for the summer. And because as standard it's pretty ugly. I don't want to feel like I'm driving my granddads car.

As for an engine conversion; it's only done 66k so this lump will stick around for a while. Wouldn't mind seeing what I can get out of it though... One day... Maybe...

 

Haha. Unfortunately they took that. Might have kept it for myself if they hadn't

 

Today's update; there's audio, carpet and tint!




Head unit with the CarPlay lead neatly hidden in the cigarette lighter




The cage wall in the cabin carpeted, along with the amp fitted to the lower section. That wire will disappear.




The silver tints have gone, and the black are going on.

 

Stereo system should sound awesome

 

It was a hell of a week, and there's a huge difference in the look and feel of the car. It's not finished as unfortunately the coil over kit that the garage ordered was the wrong one. So it's still on stilts, but that'll be sorted as soon as the right kit turns up.

Still; wheels, tyres, seats, steering wheel, carpeting, wiring removed, head unit, facia, speakers, amp, camera into the dog kennel, silver tints removed and black tints replacing them fitted. Stance aside, I'm delighted.

Whadya think?


Well pleased with these wheels and how they sit. Will look great when the arches are over them.




Sub, amp, carpet, all the old wiring removed. It feels like being in a car now, rather than a police cell.




The head unit sits brilliantly in the new facia, and the lead coming out of the cigarette lighter is a touch! Seats and nice steering wheel really add a touch of class.




My two vehicle set up.

 

looks nice now well done top job

 

That looks the nuts mate!! Well done!

 

Looking good mate, love the wheels...... Will look great on the coil overs.

 

Looking good!

 

Cheers. Yeah that's what I'm hoping, nothing too low, but getting that back end level with the front should seriously help the stance and the profile of the thing.

This time next week. Maybe. Hopefully.

 

yes, well done mate !

with coilovers she'll be great...
but with the new shoes, i do love her, even at that height...
(none of my business, but if it handled fine, i'd enjoy that for a while, before putting the coilovers on...)

keep us posted...