As some of you may remember - over the summer i started doing an Escort RS Turbo project car. I'm really ready to cry now and sell it all in bits.

Just seems to have been one thing after another

First of all the grey RS shell was rotten beyond repair, so i got hold of another shell, sent the V5 off to the DVLA and got a letter back saying there was a problem. Held back on getting the new shell sprayed until i got the 'problem' sorted out, that took 3 months, the V5 arrived on thursday stating me as the 15th owner, (lot more than the bloke selling the shell told me i'd be). So now i can get the shell sprayed, went to check it over today and have found bucket loads of rust on it that wasn't there 3 months ago so the price of respraying it will probably double now and mean i can't afford to do it straight away and hence the downhill spiral goes on

But to top things off - i stripped the 'new' engine i bought off ebay a few weeks ago. Was listed as having Accralite forged pistons, lightened and balanced rods, race bearings and ARP rod bolts - all having done 8,000 miles. Bargain i thought for less than £300.

I've just stripped it and about the only thing salvagable are the rod bolts. If that engine's done 8,000 miles, it looks like every single one has been done at the pod a quarter at a time. The bores are scuffed, the bearings are worn 'extensively' and 2 of the pistons are melted on the skirt between the valve cut out and the top ring. Sadly can't be seen until it's stripped.

Pistons 2 & 3 have some scuff marks on them - but until they come back from X-Raying and crack testing at work - i won't know if i can use them.

£115 each without rings - so probably looking at £300 to put it right, before rods and before bearings

I really am in two minds what to do with it now - sell all the bits i can and get as much money back as i can - or bite the bullet, throw more money at it and try and get it done.

Just want to cry

 

hang in there mate, all will come good

 

Yeah, although, it would appear you got shafted on the lump

 

Sorry to hear that your not having much luck WILL but stick at it matey, your luck has surely got to be on the up after that little lot

 

Why not flog all the shite stuff that you've got and buy a complete Series 2 mate? Put the money you was gonna save for the respray towards it etc etc

 

Dan - idea was that i'd have a minter at the end of it - i bought one that i knew was a bit rotten for a grand as it had loads of stuff on it that would easily recoup that money, new 16" alloys and tyres, konis, polybushed ARBs, cossie rear disk conversion, mongoose exhaust, decent nick interior etc.

Scrapped the bare shell after i emptied it and bought a new shell for £500. Just the delay with the DVLA that stopped me getting it sprayed sooner.

Thing was, a mate's brother is doing it for me and quoted me £500. That's now gone up to £800.

So if everything had gone to plan i could have had a running, resprayed rebuilt RST for £2000...

But it's not lol

 

chin up lad , it will get there, totally up to you what to do though its your money, good luck and keep smiling!

 

Thing is, i want the car to be known for something, the top speed run out of a 1.6 CVH seems to be the current 'thing' - and a huge amount of respect to Tony and Christian etc. for doing it, but i'm thinking more towards setting the car up for sub 5 second 0-60's and around 13 second quarters.

To be honest, it's very rare i drive at over a ton anyway - not because i'm a 'big girl' or anything, but my license means too much to me - i'd rather stick to speed limits but get to them VERY quickly

As such, if i'm building an engine for this - i'm building a proper engine! I'm not pissing around with a build now, and then another one in 6 months, and another after that. If i'm spending money - i'll do it now and do it properly!

 

Keep at it mate, will be worth it in the end

Good luck

 

Good lad, you've got your head screwed on properly That's exactly the way I look at it

 

I know how you feel mate, my build has cost considerably more than it should have done, mainly due to having to buy everything at least twice

First Cossie engine - scrap
Diff - scrap
Shafts & Prop - scrap
Front brake calipers & hubs - scrap
Rear brakes - scrap
Steering rack - scrap

The list continues, there are far too many people eager to rip you off and post complete shite

Dont give up, just save up and buy new as it be cheaper in the long run