Sunnyknight

Hi folks,

Just joined up today after lurking on the forums for a good while. I'm wondering if you all could help me by pointing me in the direction of a REPUTABLE ford escort bodywork restorer.

The job that needs to be done as i can tell:-

1, Sills stripped & replaced
2, Both rear arches redone (pref using stainless steel (have known this to be done before))
3, Front wings replaced
4, Floor pans replaced
5, Underside of the car completely re-done
6, Engine bay minors re-done
7, Front and rear bumpers cracks & scuffs repaired
8, Boot panel either patched up, or replaced
9, Electrical wiring re-done (not a major issue, as of yet)
10, Resprayed

Yes, it is a major job, and yes i am willing to spend the money on it. However, i'm not looking to have my pants pulled down, if you get my drift.

The car in question is a MK6 Ford Escort 1.8si.

Travel is not really an issue. I'm based in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. I'd go north as far as Newcastle, maybe a little further. South... Well, as far as Newquay.

Regards

Sunny

rog

iTrader: (2)

What's your budget?

Sunnyknight

Well, considering 13 garages including Ford themselves have just said, it's too big a job, around 2 - 3 without respray.

Dependant on price and time taken, as well as reputation, i'd go higher

Twins

iTrader: (18)

I would recommend gaz up north ,he painted jim gibbs saff and has just done a full on resto on paul ripleys vw splitty camper ,and countless other jobs on cars on the forums ,all have been spot on in the pictures,i think his user name is escosgaz,his white escort cosworth was on the front cover of one of the ford mags a while back ,i take it the car holds some sentimental value

russ rs

3-4 k then 3k for spray job I recon to be top notch

russ rs

Try sprint body works in Birmingham mate they
Painted stigs mk1 escort

Sunnyknight

Sorry for being so blank, but have you got a number or address or website for Gaz / his garage?

I'm willing to shop around but his name has come up countless times before in posts, only i haven't a clue where he is based / contact info?

Yeah, it's been in the family around 15 years, so i'm looking to keep it. It was either repair the escort or, buy a cossie / mustang / rx7 / 8 / st170. Opened the door one day to see the front eyes and i nearly cried at how i let it get so bad.

Edit: No one under the name escogaz? Anyone know if he's changed alias?

Sunnyknight

Thanks mate, i'll look it up on the net and see what they quote.

Still looking for more recommendations.

More welcome.

RSmark84

ever considered scrapping the car and buying a MK6 RS2000 instead. Would work out less and a better car to be fair.

Or is there a reason for wanting the work done, ie the car means something to you?

Sunnyknight

Reason stated above mate

RSmark84

Ah yes i see, mutlitasking isn't the best thing to do.

Fully understand why now. You could always leave the car where it sits, just for memories and buy a Cosworth as you stated. Its an expensive job restoring cars, Sometimes i ask myself why im doing mine..... But i've had mine for 7 years or so.

Cragrat

iTrader: (4)

escosgazza,hes painted my 3dr

or try special k,hes restoring my 3dr atm (almost done),its top notch work

Sunnyknight

Hasn't been active for a year? :S

I'll have a look at special K.

Anyone else? Hitting a lot of dead ends right now, could do with more references

gingeRS

It seems an odd decision 1/2 of your restoration budget would buy you the minutest escort si you could find.

If you costed up the list in your first post you could see £6k plus to do all that bodywork

Nick 172 Sport

check out manny on here his restos are spot on do a search in restorations

Sunnyknight

It will not cost 6k

Phoned RT-Performance based in London and they quoted £2800 without a full re-spray (only where they've repaired, was quoting about £400 i think for partial) but as they're moving to Wembley, they had other priorities and told me straight up that they wouldn't get it done within a few months. It'd take much longer.

Sunnyknight

Some neat work. I've sent him a message, but he too has been inactive for a good while.

Any other input is valued.

gingeRS

You would need to paint every panel part from roof as you want all bumpers and arches repaired, along with all sills and you stated you wanted a complete underside restoration.

That's a lot of work

Nick 172 Sport

try manchesterclassic ford forum

Nick 172 Sport

last one i had done cost me 2k and it took months and months constant hassle and in the end it wasnt that good series 2 turbo

Sunnyknight

Cheers Nick, i'll have a look into it after i sign up.

bigchez

contact mark barber the escos registrar - he sorted virtually an identical resto on exactly the same car for a lad called adam from the central rsoc and is only based in stoke.

luke19790_3

How much did the ford garages want for the complete job?

Think you will looking at 5k + unless you can do some off the work.

Sunnyknight

Ford told me it was too big a job for ANY of their accident repair centers (nationwide).

Not exactly sure how you're saying it'll be 5k or higher

Explain further please?

Sills replaced on both sides usually comes to £200 - 300?
Rear arches quoted £150 - £300
Wings £60 - £125
Floor pans - unknown
Underside - unknown
Engine bay £300 - £430
Bumpers £60 each - £110
Boot - unknown
Electrics - unknown
Respray full car £800 - £1500

Around £2k bar the unknowns?

gingeRS

see my comments above..........and the unknowns could easily be another few £k's

ford accident repair places do not do restorations.

Sunnyknight

It's who they referred me to over the phone and in person I pray that it won't cost another few ££££

Also, Gaz is a ghost on this forum. Is there any way of getting in contact with him that anyone knows of?

luke19790_3

Depends on how good a paint job you want, I was getting quotes around 2.5k. To do the underside is a big job

rallycross

its not worth doing all that work to that car, it never will be. Even if you get it all done it will still feel like an old car, and the rust will soon start to come back, only from different places. Also worth adding if you get a quote for £3k on a job like that it might end up being £5k by the time its all done.

Sunnyknight

Looks like i will be delving into the bank after all, something i hoped i wouldn't have to do

BigChuck

Looking at that list £5k minimum, your prices are a touch optimistic. I've seen people quoted £2k for a respray with not too much prep work, your asking for engine bay and underside resto as well, at that age the tin worm will have set in so that could mean a lot of new panels/welding.

You may be lucky and get someone to take it on as a side job and they work on it when they get a chance, that will bring the cost down but it will take a long time to get it done

Sunnyknight

Talk about kicking a guy when he's down

It's gotta be done, whether it's worth it or not (in anyone elses eyes). I love the car to death, and i'm about to say something i MAY regret. It's a 5 door love machine that i'll ALWAYS drive. I want to see it's beauty restored! There is no turning back.

Sunnyknight

No room for side jobs. Has to be a main job, simple as. If it goes above 6k without respray, then i'll have to seriously consider doing some of the work myself, which will be a pain in the backside.

Again, anyone got Manny62 or Gaz's info by which i can contact them? (Forum pm not catching them) Why are the great restorers away from this forum

BigChuck

He's not kicking you when your down, just giving a reality check.

It's your car and only you know what the car means to you, if your never going to sell it, then you can justify spending a lot on it.

Just think long and hard if its really worth spending 5 or 6 times the cars actual value getting the work done

phil_focus

I fully understand and apreciate the sentimental value the car is but I have to agree with Ginge on this one I think. Along with all the unknowns on your list easily costing a few grand it sounds like its been stood for a long time and will need mechanical repairs too. Have you factored these in because that can be from a few hundred quid for a good service to a couple of grand depending on what needs doing.

At a guess it may need all four wheel bearings, suspension bushes, ball joints, brake components, engine work perhaps?

And once its all done and you start driving it you'll spend ages faffing trying to sort out the niggles that crop up when a car has been sat for a long time.

I honestly think its too much hassle and expense for what you'll get out of it.

Sunnyknight

Mechanical? That's £££££ that i'll be spending, ONCE and ONLY once the car looks the part. Includes Engine rework, gearbox, clutch, mainfold, ss exhaust system, induction kit, Suspension kit (costs a ton!!!! ), Turbo charger / supercharger, brake disks / pads, tyres, rad, few more bits and bobs.

I want this car back to it's original state. Anyone else with input on garages that do restorations with a high reputation?

p.s. I love your sig. haha

gingeRS

i'll look forward to the resto thread in our restorations and project gallery.

fully restored escort (5 door ) with a supercharger and new suspension

you are getting more and mroe keyboard warrior by the minute

Brendan

iTrader: (1)

Moorland classic cars near Stoke-on-Trent. Stunning work for me there in the past! Looked concourse! They are a small garage so might require part payment up front, but their reputation proceeds them.

matts zetec s tdci

any pics ?

Sunnyknight

Thanks, and you being uncanny is not welcome.

By the way, some 2nd hand superchargers can be picked up as low as £350, turbochargers even less.

If i wanted to be a 'keyboard' warrior, i'd talk about engine conversion and 5dr to 3dr conversion as well as 2wd to 4wd.

Just because i have an ambition to get a nice job done, doesn't mean i should be slandered for it.

Edit: I'll get pics up of the restoration when it's gets underway.

Sunnyknight

I'll take a few in the morning to show the outer level of work that needs doing.

Beauty of a thing, once restored.