Hi everyone from a newbie, I have just bought a 1990 ford escort XR3i which has sat in someone's garage for nearly 12 years.
I saw the car and just had to have it, I paid good money for it (£1500) but this reflects the condition of the car.
the bodywork is immaculate despite it being covered by a thick layer of dust
the engine bay is also very very clean not a sign of rust on the battery tray inner wings or any where.
it is not totally standard as someone has fitted an RS front and rear bumper which I plan to remove, someone has also given the bonnet an extra bit of metal and covered the front lights slightly given it a kind of bad boy look.
interior is mint and clean but a bit smelly also the parcel shelf has no holes drilled into it for ugly speakers and the car has it's original radio.
no history or any other information was given to me about the car but the last tax disc in the window was dated 1999.

I haven't had the car running yet as I plan to put on a new timing belt kit but I am excited to be getting on with this project
any help info on where I can source good replacement parts would be good
will keep you all posted on my progress and stick a few pictures up.

 

£1500 for a non runner??????

Mines mint and would struggle to get that if i sold it!!

Pics!!

 

thats mad money for the car mind

 

You'll see why I paid top money for it when I post some pics it has to be seen to be believed I reckon it is one of the best in the country and that's before I wash and polish it.
I will keep you waiting before I post pictures and do some before and after

 

1990? Would That be a mk4 or mk5? Get some pics up!! What plans you got for it long term?

 

Thats a mk4 id bet. Best had be for that money!

 

Any pics

 

That's strong money for a car with no history as well

 

well here goes the 1st picture of my new toy what do you folks think???
I don't think it is as totally standard as I first made it out to be but I love it just the same
all comments welcome oh the dog leg wheels have yet to go onto the car.....

 

the bumpers on that car are right mate because its a 90 spec car all thats missing is red strip on bumper tops

 

thanks for that, would it not have a red stripe along the doors too?? I am not very clued up on these old fords but just jumped in with 2 feet as usual!!

 

yeah black rubber strip with red stripe down side and lattice style alloys not doglegs
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=es...2F%3B592%3B444

 

IIRC (please correct me) but the boot spoiler is the right shape but I think the XR3is didn't have colour coded ones they where left rubberised

But I may be talking

 

£1500 wow !

 

Yeaps you ate correct the rear spoilers were rubber on the 3i and painted on the Rst.

 

Bad boy bonnet looks terrible!

£1500 think you've over paid tbh

 

looks strange with no side skirts as well

 

UK ones didn't have skirts, I think some spanish ones did though

 

Would definitely agree with you on the bad boy bonnet plan to change this as soon as possible
as for the price I am happy to get it for what I did as I got a load of spares including a full leather interior, spare engine & gearbox 3 sets of wheels and other bits n bobs like alternators starter motors lights etc etc

 

ok it sounds a bit better now : )

 

Looks tidy, standard bonnet, better wheels and lower it a touch, sorted

 

ive got mint standard bonnet few sets 0f 90spec wheels

 

few mk4 90specs ive broke over the years had the little rubber skirts on as well as the cabbys

 

can you post a pic of the 90 spec wheels I need please cause I am not sure what spare wheels I have when I got the car

 

Must be my mind but that made me think of something totally different

Anyway

 

am backward with computers and pics my lass does it for me there like sapphire cosworth but 14s

 

Have a look at my thread 2 below yours .. Thats what the wheels look like

 

Yes they are the ones

 

I remember the skirt he is on about, thin black unpainted rubber skirt that was riveted on. Had a very slight curve on it.

 

If you sell the leather interior u mention let me know!!

 

thats them wheels ive got 2 sets of

 

If its rust free then it's well worth £1500 not many left that are not full of rot, will be nice put back to a standard bonnet.

 

It's a shame you are so far from me as my old man's 90 spec cabby needs wheels and a bonnet...

Totally agree mate, when I first joined here I liked modding (though never in the 'bad boy bonnet' and neons type thing) but as I am getting older I am loving stock survivors or back to stock restos

 

Been racking my brains over what I want to do with the car so I have come up with the following ideas..... your thoughts comments would be appreciated

1. shot blast and powder coat the wheels white (I think it would look nice) not sure what set of wheels yet maybe the dog leg ones!.

2. lower her a bit, not to much maybe 35mm or so.

3. get rid of that horrible bonnet.

as the car has stood for 12 years I am going to do the brakes all round so maybe some kind of brake upgrade but not sure what yet.. any ideas.

that's it for now
cheers skoda.

 

me personaly would return it all standard

 

I hate white wheels
Don't lower more than 25mm or the it affects the ride quality

 

Lattice alloys .. An rs bonnet ..if you could get the original skirt that would help .. Stainless exhaust and k+n air filter

 

Return it to factory standard I reckon. Bit by bit do the underneath and brakes etc, but all standard. Would look awesome and obviously hold the best value!

 

Couldn't agree more, but if you do want have some modded items, keep or get hold of the standard versions when you can, a store them. Standard bits are really getting quite hard to find especially NOS. When/if the "back to stock" bug bites, and it may well do, you will be able to do it relatively stress free

 

Right folks just a small update for those who are interested in my project which has been named Elliott by the kids.
took him for an MOT today and WOW it failed on the following points

1. rear passenger wheel cylinder seized (will replace both)

2. hand brake not very good (possible due to the seized wheel cylinder)

3. 2 front tyres knackered.

nothing else nor any advisories
not bad for a car that has stood for over 12 years.


been out to my local motor factors and bought the following....

2 wheel cylinders

rear shoes

front discs & pads

complete engine service parts, plugs, filters oil and fuel filter.

once the above jobs are done and he's through the MOT then my next job is to remove all the interior inc seats, carpet's and door cards and get them professionally cleaned/vaxed to bring them up to spec.

Oh by the way what grade of oil do I need to put in the engine??