Hi Guys,
I'm hopefully getting a Escort 1.8 Si within the next month going for it, because it's a nice car, and not do bad on insurance - at my tender age of almost 19

Wondering tho people, in the future, what could I do to it engine wise? Would like something Turbod, someone suggested a ZVH? I know nothing about engines needs to be something reliable, but also responsive and torquey.

What do you think? And what sort of dolla/ time am I going to be parting with?

(Any suggestions, no matter how costly - as long as not sillllly)

Cheers Dudes & Dudettes

 

Welcome to the board mate, post some pics up when you get the car where abouts are you based?

ZVH is a zetec bottom end with a CVH head [cvh is found in older fords].

Theres NO point doing that to yours because its a complete Zetec engine, with a better twin cam head on it anyway

They did two 1.8 Si's, with 105ps [103bhp] and the 115ps [113bp].

Start with an uprated exhaust and airfilter, sort the suspension then go for a chip and maybe cams

For big power, don't bother with the 1.8, swap it for the 2.0 zetec and either turbo it or add throttle bodies

Price wise for the turbo, I'd have thought you'd be looking at LEAST the Ł2k-Ł3k including, engine, turbo, intercooler, ancilliaries, machine work and new management.

I would have thought it would cost ALOT more if you;re not doing any of the work yourself

My advice, smoke the 1.8 si around for a couple years, build up a no claims bonus then buy one thats already been done, at a fraction of the build price

 

Cheers for the response yeh that sounds like a good idea, what you are saying makes sense.

The ones i've been looking at have been the 115 ps. Do you think throttlebodies on the 1800 would be pointless or could I get some nice results?

I was thinking one possibility would be Decent exhaust system, Cams, Throttlebodies and a Decent Engine Management system, what do you think? Don't know what sort of stats I'd get from that?! 0-60 in about 8s would be nice

 

I really don't know how tuneable the 1.8's are, but I'd have thought you'd have been getting sub 8 second times with those mods, should be looking at 170-180bhp?

Only thing is mate, you'll be spending more than the car probably costs to buy.

Why not just get an RS2000 and spend the extra on the insurance?

 

couldn't afford a nice one
and i've had a quote for insurance... it's silly

see i'm going to be running this 1.8 standard engine wise for a bit, until I get my extra yrs no claims - then going with adrian flux and hopefully get some nice engine mods done - that's the plan anyways

 

fair enough mate, have a word with Ballin off here, he got his mint S2 insured when he was only 19

Talk to the insurers when you get quotes and ask if suspension and brake mods make any difference to the premium? Also front and rear strut braces?

You'll be surprised how much quicker you can go when you can outbrake other cars and lose them round ze bends

I know its frustrating with insurance premiums when you've not been driving for long but PLEASE don't get so frustrated you go all MaxPower and stick lights and things on it

 

Its staying classy all the way dude

Styling wise, only gonna be the GTi skirts and rear bumper.

Thinking big brakes and coilovers - because If I keep it, then it'll all be good when I get the 2L in

Am I right in thinking throttlebodies and cams would also fit the 2L?