ringa

hi everyone i need a bit of advice if any1 can help, im going to view a mk3 escort van with a mk4 front end on it also has a private plate which i have checked on dvla and comes back as a 1983 van in red 1.3 petrol, the van is now a 1.6 diesel in white with the mk4 front end, now if i was to buy this van i would rather take it back to the origional mk3 front end and understand the wings scuttle etc need changing, but has anyone got any tips on how to tell the van is a genuine mk3, and is there a chance this is a "cut and shut" what are the chances of this? any tips to see if it is? if it turns out to be genuine i know theres a hassle involved changing it back but fancy the challenge
any help appreciated
thanks

chimpo

i know early mk3s have the 2 bolts on front strut tops and later/mk4s didnt. not sure what age hey were changed at tho. may be that being an 83 plate this might not be the case.

ringa

yeah just had a look about and its seems the 83 mk3 had 3 bolts and the mk4 has a nut and big ring around it, thanks for that

nigel b

the mk3 and mk4 have different mounts for the upper steering coloumn

mk3 in 83 could be either 2 bolt or single