kxkid

well i thought id introduce myself after many years of lurking round passion ford. the story so far is, iv owned fords since i was 16, had a mk3 fiesta, a mk1 fiesta, a mk5 escort, and a mk5 fiesta. i recently bought a 10 plate mini, in a kind of car share deal with my mum, she doesnt drive, but we split the cost down the middle.

Anyways, iv always loved my old fords, and since i can remember iv wanted a mk4 escort. but just could never find the courage to buy one. until about 3 weeks ago. i was trailing pistonheads late one night and found this car. and i just couldnt pass it up. less of the rambling and here is the details and the photos.

1980 ford escort L 1.3 sunroof model.
26,681 miles
FSH
11months mot
taxed
2 owners.
garaged its entire life.
original stereo, original spare wheel, and the 2 rear tyres are the originals.

the car is absolutely spotless. it has 2 patches of surface rust at the bottom of the rear wings about half the size of a 5p, but i work in a body shop so naturally this isnt a problem. there isnt another spot of rust on the entire car. couple of dings as youd expect for a 21 year old car. but every panels original. starts on the button runs like a dream as youd imagine.

im torn with what to do with this car. i have plenty of ideas but your input would be great. so heres the pictures.










well theres the pictures in all her glory. iv tooked her away in the garage now, until i can get insurance quotes. let me know what you think guys. send your ideas and thoughts this way

cheers Luke

Jimmyc

You jammy fcker, that's a minter in a super rare colour as well!

Well done!

Keep it nice and subtle standard everything but lower it, nice set of alloys and maybe an XR3i or RST lump

Search for BonusBoy aswell, he had one this colour and made a lovely car out of it! (accept for the chopped springs)

Just noticed It's a 5 speed too, nice find!

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

Unbelievable... wish I could come across something like this!!

You're a lucky lad, don't wank it up cause it looks like a complete minter.


Cheers,
Grant

AGAR-COSWORTH

As said, looks to be a really good find.

I'd drop a CVH turbo into it but keep it pretty much standard looking on the outside for some sleeper fun.

dazoriginal

thats clean

kxkid

i had to make a 420 mile round trip for it like haha. but i think itwas well worth the trip. i almost didnt go and get it, everybody telling me i was wasting my money and that i was stupid. but iv wanted one forever so im having one haha.

i was thinking. lower it 40mm, a set of rst wheels, or i have a set of 15" team dynamics arnage wheels in my garage that i took off my fiesta. and then obviously cvh turbo. but i want it to be immaculate throughout.

i'm just worried about my physical ability more than anything. i work in a bodyshop so i know my way around cars, and im able with a tool kit. i think im just lacking in self belief haha. but im sure with the guidance of a few knowledgeable people off here, and an encouraging hand from my mates its gonna turn into quite a nice car.

anybody got any tips and pointers. or if anybodys got anything for sale that may be of interest to me that would be even greater.

cheers guys Luke

phil robson

looks good, drop it on its arse on rs16i wheels and stick a zetec in, always wanted to do that to a mk4 for some reason

7sean7m7

Looks very clean mate! Personally all you need to do to a mk3/4 is just lower and change the wheels.. Rst lump sounds good to me though

carlfiesta999

2.0 zetec it reliable and still plenty of boot

7sean7m7

Or that

Twins

iTrader: (18)

Proper minter that ,saw that for sale the other week

jonny s2

iTrader: (12)

nice find mate!

dont ruin it

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

If I had that and was making a cheap but retro cool car out of that then:

- Dont change the exterior at all, no colour coding or anything.
- 2.0 Zetec Engine, more reliable than a CVH Turbo.
- 16" Flat Face Comp MOs.
- 90-spec Series 2 RS Turbo Interior.
- Decent suspension; shocks, springs, braces and bushes.
- Uprated brakes, biggest I could fit behind 15" track wheels.
- Subtle exhaust system.

That'd be about it I think.


Cheers,
Grant

kxkid

haha, that is a very specific list, something tells me thats not going to be cheap.
in my head im thinking.

1.6 cvh turbo
mondeo brakes
rs1600i/ rst wheels
s2 interior
de bumpstrip
bushes kit
strut braces
lowering springs
subtle exhaust

Less.

Lovely example agree with the other suggestion,but I would keep the bumpstrips though

Twins

iTrader: (18)

2.0l zetec will be cheaper than a turbo lump ,and just as fun ,i have both

Jimmyc

I was going to say exactly the same thing, you're kidding yourself if you think an rst lump will be cheaper than a zetec. Mines cost me a fortune

neilscott83

I'd leave it standard why fuck about with it after all these years? Looks to nice to modify.

crumpet

agree with above! sell and buy an rst to fuck about with

Ryan_3

leave that interior

kxkid

why only reasoning with the engine, is simply because i know an rst lump just slots into place, no mither, no messing, id love a zetec, the idea of an old car running like a new car is a lovely idea. how hard is a zetec conversion? and whats involved. like iv said above im very capable. just dont have much self belief. need encouragment

Luke

crumpet

theres a guide on here which looks piss easy, zetecs are way more reliable than a cvh spesh mfi and are alot cheaper. If you dont have much self belief, I wouldnt go ahead with it, sell that bimi and buy a zetec s tdci, and with the money left over from the bimo buy a decent s2 rst

martinmilne

how much did you pay for it mate i would leave as is dont mess about with it maybe just 2l zetec but dont change interior or exterior

kxkid

what should i have paid for it? iv been wondering if iv given to much for it. im not really sure what its worth?
can anybody direct me to the zetec conversion thread? i cant seem to find it, that was my original idea but i just figured that maybe an rsturbo conversion would be easier...

crumpet

Il find it for you but the car as is with gen 26k with fsh is worth at least £1200.

https://passionford.com/forum/pictur...uid-guide.html

jonny s2

iTrader: (12)

wouldnt have thought theres a price you could put on these as there retro cool, do what you want with it mate just dont chav it up, ive had a few lol, zetec and rs turbo are similar work, but for an rst to be reliable is just gunna break the budget mate, zetec is more modern and i think more cost effective conversion

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Thats stunning mate i wouldnt even touch it.

matts1

RS Grant hit the nail on the head for it mate, plus the 2.0l zetec will be cheaper to do and if you pop it, there arent exactly in short supply so you can give it some stick in confidence.

RS lumps are great but also going to cost £££ to get good power and reliability.

If it was me I would make that everything i removed was kept so that if you wanted to, you could put it back to how it was should you want to.

Little gem that is so a quick reliable sleepers would be the way to go.

kxkid

slight update. yesterday, i got the escort insured so shes on the road £228 for the year haha. i nearly fell off my chair. footman and james is amazing. also i picked up a set of escort rs turbo wheels off a friend, not gonna fit them yet, as iv decided that anything done to the escort has to be mint, so im going to refurb them, im not sure what colour, any ideas?

ill post some pics up as soon as i get a moment.

cheers Luke

crumpet

grey centers and diamond cut,195 45 tyres, avos and cossie 2wd front brakes

Jimmyc

Excellent news mate, turbo wheels should look good.

Just to let you know that you probably won't be able to do any engine swaps under Footman & James, when i called for a quote and told them i'd basically reshelled my RS Turbo into and Escort Bonus shell they weren't interested in the slightest even though it's basically the same car as an RS turbo.
Think it was down to the fact that it was classed as a modification that increased horse power more than 30% or similar, worthwhile checking with them now if you plan to do a few mods

kxkid

the turbo wheels iv got have been refurbished badly and have a few scuffs on them, obviously painting them grey wont be an issue. but could i still have them diamond cut? or the face machined? if not ill either stick with painting them grey or silver, or i might get fancy with my masking and paint them grey and silver haha. if any could tell me id appreciate it.

cheers luke

gjh

Thats really cool, to be honest I'd be tempted to leave it standard quite a rare car these days, especially in that condition.

Zetec_mk4_XR3i

love it, spotted it on Pistonheads myself and was tempted!

Check out mine in my sig, I ran a 2.0 Zetec for a year and a half and it never once gave me bother, went very well, good on fuel and took a constant beating. After having a few RST's, I can safely say that i'll not rush to have another.

I'd suggest a 2.0 zetec, RST box, lowered on mint RST wheels with a mint RST interior

Also have a look in the Bonus/Popular thread for some inspiration:

https://passionford.com/forum/other-...ar-thread.html

Look forward to more pics mate

gcfcos

looks cool mate. if it was me id build a 2.0 zvh and run it on twin 40s. 8 valve much torque than 16 v

rstom95

you jammy git how clean is that !!!

kxkid

well here it is on turbo wheels. quickest refurb known to man, tyres pushed off, rubbed down, primed and painted and on the car in two hours. just took me a while to get motivated to do it. but heres the picture, just a quick phone picture until i can clean it and take a decent one.



going into have it tracked tomorrow, and given a once over by our mechanic, whats next guys? suspension? what would you reccomend? i dont wanna be £1000s into this car btw so lets keep cost relatively cheap.

cheers Luke