It all started in a pub a colleague of mine was telling us how he bought a scort for his daughter as a surprise, had all the body work done and was just about to start the mechanical work when his daughter arrives home in Mk2 Golf she'd just bought.

Bang when the surprise and the scort was left in his yard forgotten for best part of
five years. A few pints later and my incurable disease for not letting things mechanical go to waste I said, "I'll have it" so the deal was done and folding passed hands. To the car yard with a booster pack & foot pump in one hand and a fresh can of juice in the other and she fired up with a couple of turns of the key With the tyres pumped up, the clutch free and the algae rinsed off the windows we took her back to her new home. The drive home proved that nothing obvious was wrong and she was a pretty sweet motor in need of TLC.

And her she is just after she was parked up in the drive for the first time a 1989 Mk4 Eclipse 1.3 HCS with about 94000 in the clock












In the beginning it was just a case of giving her a heavy service and sort the various bits that didn’t work right. Starter motor wasn't working, wipers wouldn't Self Park, rad was leaking etc etc. But it got to a point that the little niggles spawned other niggles so the plan of action is to methodically go through everything properly.

Many may say what’s the point in going to in depth bearing in mind it’s only a 1.3, and this has crossed my mind usually on a daily basis…. 8O

The reason I got it in the first place is that although I am 28 I haven’t had a car licence very long as I have always had bikes, so insuring something like an RST is out for the next year or so.

So for that reason I will be getting down and dirty with my little beastie, then hopefully in the future I can flog it and get an S2 or drop a bigger lump in this knowing all the hard work is done.

Now all that flannel is done here’s the plan:

1. Full underside resto
2. Get engine sorted with a mild bit of tuning
3. Sort last bits of rust and mank topside
4. RST S2 body work and wheels
5. Drop the ride height a bit
6. Some good interior work, plus some creature comforts

So when all done I will have a spotless 4dr S2 replica with a small but poky engine…. at least that’s the plan


SO THE UNDERSIDE RESTO BEGINS.....

I decided to got with sections at a time rather than all in one go that way I have found I can keep realistic goals and see things improvew quicker rather than do it in one go, (the motivation killer in any project ) So I started with the rear arches








The tierod nut was a bit of grief, loads of Plusgas and a 24" breaker bar all the way of :x



There you go the rear end out * * *







Now to the components that were treated with no mercy with an angle grinder and a wire wheel. Then de-bushed (ooo err) threads re cut and cleaned ready for a good few coats of Hammerite










Back to the arches which were examined for any rust and general mank



Then once cleaned and de greased some coats of red oxide were brushed on ready for the next stage a good stone guarding 8)






one of my other toys in the back ground *:twisted:



masked up ready for stoneguard





And finaly after the shutz has cured a goot helping of Hammerite to finish off, the paint match is'nt bad either * *



Thats it for now will update soon *8)[/quote]

 

Nice work there

 

kl why dont u put a bigger lump in

 

Very interesting - will be following this closely. I plan to do exactly the same as you are doing - except a 3dr. You can expect a few PM's soon then

 

i wouldnt use hammerite if i was u its crap and falls of

 

@Twins: Thanks for the comment, been reading up on your S2 for a while now top work mate, that engine bay is gonna look the nuts

@adscapri2: The reason I got it in the first place is that although I am 28 I haven’t had a car licence very long as I have always had bikes, so insuring something like an RST is out for the next year or so.

So for that reason I will be getting down and dirty with my little beastie, then hopefully in the future I can flog it and get an S2 or drop a bigger lump in this knowing all the hard work is done.

@ AGAR-COSS: No worries I will have loads of pics and info of how I get on

@RIPPER: Now he tells me LMAO watch this space

 

With the arches pretty well done it was time to strip out the remainder of the back end, which is basically the tank and the zorst plus a few other widgets



A bit of spanneriing and plusgassing saw the tank lowered down on the car jack






A brief look at the underside revealed that she is pretty solid with just the usual mank and surface rust



With my growing box of bits to do and space being used up I got on with sorting the bits rather that carrying on with the car so when the underside is done it's just a case of assembly which lets face it is the best bit 8)

First of was the filler neck which cleaned up and given new pipes and clips, also the cable ties are done alot better than the spiders web that was there befor


after pic to follow



The tank was fully drained and sender unit etc stripped out ready for a good scrubbing







Tank and sender unit all new and shinny again to match the underside 8)



All done with the seals and sender unit on, ready to be stored for the rebuild 8)




Also been slowing collecting bits for the BM first of all some Ebay bargins

1. RS S2 88 Spec front bumper Ł25


2. Cylinder head Ł5


3. Inlet manifold and carb Ł20


4. New lowering springs 40mm Ł30


Not to mention these bits and bobs

1. Head set


2. Filthy stainless fastenings to put all the shiny bits together again


3. Sad I know but even the grease follows the blue theme


4. Rear wheel bearings


5. Brake pipe and unions, haven't decided whether to replace the lines or just cut out the bad bits


Thats it for now but will be back for more FILTH!

 

Looking good matey

 

So it’s been over 8 years so I thought it was time for an update

What’s happened to the blue eclipse then, was it just another un-finished project left to rust away to nothing…

NO! ‘Little Bluey’ is very much alive and well and almost ready to start it’s third chapter of its life since I bought it in 2004

So first this is what happened between 2005 and approx. 2006

Pic may repeat from the original post above but whatever

BRAKES

 

UNDERSIDE RESTO (REAR HALF)

 

REAR SUSPENSION

 

FUEL TANK

 

MIRROR MODIFICATION

This was a mod I did to give ‘Little Bluey’ a set of electric mirrors. Still yet to finish and fit these though

 

WIPERS AND MOTOR

One day the wipers starting giving grief and not self parking. So a replacement was sourced and I restored the rest of the mechanisms

 

Then I lost my way a little, well not really it’s just a more modern Astra came up for grabs and a price I couldn’t say no to, so ‘Little Bluey’ was parked up and kept as the spare car should I need it, I would never sell it as it was my first car you see.

Luckily for me, and the Escort dad needed a daily hack so took it on which was perfect as I couldn’t afford to keep it on the road any more so it wouldn’t just sit there and deteriorate.

For the next few years dad used it mainly as a builders van as he was renovating his place at the time, then one day after it was turned back into car once more he looked it again in a new light.

The 80s Uwe Bahnsen lines and it’s gradual classic status began a love affair for Mk4s. Every week he would pop round with something else he had done, I dug out some of the parts I had been stock piling over the years an on they went including a set of RST alloys he had re-furbished, Along with sorting out the welding that needed to be done to the floor pan for Mr MOT man and a whole other host of things which I am sure he will remind me about after reading this

I am gradually teaching him to take pictures of his work for us to appreaciate

So here is a fairly recent picture of ‘Little Bluey’ at one of the “Brooklands Breakfasts”



So now that dad has got his own Mk4 ‘Little Bluey’ will be coming home soon and thus starting chapter 3. Watch this space…

But not just yet

 

Not that it matters now but nearly 10 years on so no it doesn't

 

Wow this threads been going a while but good to see it's not just been thrown to one side like many. Have your thoughts on future mods changed? Or you still going the same direction?
Epic update!!!!

 

When I first got 'Bluey' I was going down the RST sleeper route but now (maybe because I am older) He's going to be standard. I know these Eclipses aren't everyones ultimate special edition Ford but they are so rare in this condition and it's my first car so the idea is gradually going back to showroom fresh once I get it back

Plus I am almost in the position of getting a mint RST S2 to add to the collection with a bit of luck

 

Nice project matey. You like the colour blue.

 

Your attention to detail is superb, very nice job.

 

looking good m8