Dec T

Hi guys so ive got a little project in mind (well when i say little its probaby going to be a long term not so little project)

So me and the mrs have just moved into a house with a garage and i need to fill the garage with a project rarther than junk 😂

So at the minute I have a 2001 escort van i brought in december when i was self employed for work, I Also have a 2.0 duratec out of a ford fiesta st150 sat in my nans garage with 50k miles on it that i took out of ny old ST that i wrote off that had the engine flushed and new oil fitted prior to removal which i did plan to fit to a sierra when i got round to it but times and circumstances changed and i never got round to it.

But now my circumstances have changed again and i no longer need the van for work I just need transport to get to work, the van its self is in poor condition minus the shell which is pretty solid (as far as escort vans are concerned) and probably needs more spending on it that its worth to put it through the mot but its purpose was served and it served me well for what i brought it for.

So Ive always wanted to try my hand at drifting and im only getting older and rwd fords are only getting more expensive and being abit of a ford nut I would rarther stick with spending my money on onue so the idea is, stick the van in the garage when the mot runs out purchase a cheap rwd car (an old volvo or mx5 or whatever im not fussed itll probably get banged up anyway) stick some cheap ebay coilovers on it weld the diff and voila drift daily.

Back to the van so ive done a small amount of research but not a great deal due to trying to keep it alittle unique and keep costs down as and where i can without cutting corners so any advice is welcomed and as much info as i can geta suggestions etc are appreciated im in no way a mechanical genius but i can weld and im pretty handy with a spanner and would like to get as much as i could done at home myself.

Current ideas are as followed.

Engine: 2.0 duratec on bike carbs (i do understand boddies would be a better option but keeping costs down) run on megajolt, cosworth 200 spec cams

Gearbox: mx5 mk3 (heard these bolt straight up and can manage up to 300bhp no problem as i wont be figure hunting anything over 200bhp would be enough for me 250 bhp would be a maximum aim but im not a fussy guy

Cosworth tunnel

Mk5 rs2000 front end conversion ( would go cossie but again at somepoint it'll get a few dings and its cheaper to replace)

I would like to do some sort of jap suspension setup off maby a s13 or 14 mainly for cheap egay replacement parts and availability
Obviously i would need some sort custom engine/gearbox mounts shafts
Rear axle? Jap or cosworth again prices and availability would be a determining factor
Obviously i would need to strengthen it all up as im sure being a fwd van it wouldnt take kindly to the abuse it will probably receive so a full custom cage will be added

Breaks will be 300mm st170 calipers (have some in my loft) im sure ive missed a lot so any help would be greatly appreciated

gcfcos

Sounds like an awesome project. Best car I found for drifting when I used to do it was an e36 BMW, but you really need a 323i or bigger to make it useable and effortless

Dec T

Thanks dude id love an e36 to start out with but with the engine size, insuramce being quite expensive, tax being quite expensive im worried it may take up alot of my budget to run the thing (well the more money i can save the more i can spend on the van) as gay as mx5's are and as underpowered as they are i would probably end up saving 100-200 a month in total over the beemer even if i may look abit of a tit driving one but then again i could grow my hair long and bleach it blonde and blend in with the car