1985 Escort Cabriolet Restoration - Summer 2010!
19-03-2004, 01:15 PM
#1
1985 Escort Cabriolet Restoration - Summer 2010!
It all started 3 years ago when i saw her in a car show room for £1995 and immediatly fell for her charms and beauty, anyhow back to the car 
Yep was 3 years or so ago now, maybe even 4 since i handed over 2000 of my hard earned to have a shiney red cabbie that has spent MORE time on axel stands than it has on the road!
Heres the first ever picture i took, just after i got her home
And at Trax a number of years ago (My fav shot, so far!)
Well 3/4/5 years down the line shes nearly back to better than factory condition and has been worth every penny (although i sometimes think i'm mental.)
The following pages are a brief insight into the trials and $HITE we go thru restoring a IMO wicked car
Bring on the summers and the years more useage i'm going to get
(think i might pass it down to my great grand children )
Sometime last in 2003.............................................. .....
Just received these back from the reconditioning place in Wrexham
No before picture tho, just afters!
Just gotta get my rotors and offset bells and away we go............well sooner or later.
I didn't ask for them to be so
its just how they were done!
Also just picked these parts up from the powder coaters (same one as TT used)
And yes red is my fav colour!
Hopefully can get things on the way now. 
Yep was 3 years or so ago now, maybe even 4 since i handed over 2000 of my hard earned to have a shiney red cabbie that has spent MORE time on axel stands than it has on the road! Heres the first ever picture i took, just after i got her home
And at Trax a number of years ago (My fav shot, so far!)
Well 3/4/5 years down the line shes nearly back to better than factory condition and has been worth every penny (although i sometimes think i'm mental.)
The following pages are a brief insight into the trials and $HITE we go thru restoring a IMO wicked car
Bring on the summers and the years more useage i'm going to get
(think i might pass it down to my great grand children
)Sometime last in 2003.............................................. .....
Just received these back from the reconditioning place in Wrexham
No before picture tho, just afters!
Just gotta get my rotors and offset bells and away we go............well sooner or later.
I didn't ask for them to be so
its just how they were done!Also just picked these parts up from the powder coaters (same one as TT used)
And yes red is my fav colour!
Hopefully can get things on the way now.
Last edited by BillyCabrio; 21-06-2010 at 10:00 PM.
23-03-2004, 01:55 PM
#6
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How much did it cost for all the powder coating, just as a reference see.
I had my rear wishbones done in silver recently and it cost £30, very good finish though
I had my rear wishbones done in silver recently and it cost £30, very good finish though
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27-03-2004, 09:18 AM
#8
Originally Posted by John Laverick
How much did it cost for all the powder coating, just as a reference see.
I had my rear wishbones done in silver recently and it cost £30, very good finish though
I had my rear wishbones done in silver recently and it cost £30, very good finish though
02-04-2004, 12:20 PM
#11
Regular Contributor
Looking good. It is possible to get the callipers and hub carriers modified so that you can use standard cossie discs.
About 1mm is machined off from each mating surface (both hub carrier and calliper) and the mounting holes in the hub carrier are modified to suit the slightly different hole positions and threaded top hat inserts made and fitted.
I'll stick it all on my site when I get round to it.
Regards,
Smiler.
About 1mm is machined off from each mating surface (both hub carrier and calliper) and the mounting holes in the hub carrier are modified to suit the slightly different hole positions and threaded top hat inserts made and fitted.
I'll stick it all on my site when I get round to it.
Regards,
Smiler.
02-04-2004, 12:25 PM
#12
Originally Posted by Smiler
Looking good. It is possible to get the callipers and hub carriers modified so that you can use standard cossie discs.
About 1mm is machined off from each mating surface (both hub carrier and calliper) and the mounting holes in the hub carrier are modified to suit the slightly different hole positions and threaded top hat inserts made and fitted.
I'll stick it all on my site when I get round to it.
Regards,
Smiler.
About 1mm is machined off from each mating surface (both hub carrier and calliper) and the mounting holes in the hub carrier are modified to suit the slightly different hole positions and threaded top hat inserts made and fitted.
I'll stick it all on my site when I get round to it.
Regards,
Smiler.
06-04-2004, 11:25 AM
#15
Regular Contributor
That's what I've now got on mine!
Our cars are going to end up looking rather similar, don't tell me you're going to go down the RS1600i route aswell?
I have found that my wheels won't actualy fit the cossie 4-pot calipers as they need more offset but that may be due to the fact I'm using standard cossie discs with modified callipers and hub carriers (not yet fitted). I'm going to have to either fit spacers or try a set of cossie wheels on it.
Failing that, I may leave the present XR4x4 front callipers on it and fit the 4-pots to the Corty.
Our cars are going to end up looking rather similar, don't tell me you're going to go down the RS1600i route aswell?
I have found that my wheels won't actualy fit the cossie 4-pot calipers as they need more offset but that may be due to the fact I'm using standard cossie discs with modified callipers and hub carriers (not yet fitted). I'm going to have to either fit spacers or try a set of cossie wheels on it.
Failing that, I may leave the present XR4x4 front callipers on it and fit the 4-pots to the Corty.
29-04-2004, 03:23 PM
#17
Heres some piccies of the final preperation before the car goes off to the body shop. (sorry about quality, taken on a camera phone)
Christ
How bloody small are they!
Car is going in on Saturday morning (1st May) so will take and upload more pictures then....................with a proper camera!!
Christ
How bloody small are they! Car is going in on Saturday morning (1st May) so will take and upload more pictures then....................with a proper camera!!
30-04-2004, 04:34 PM
#18
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cool m8y, chelle's goes in on the 8th , so he better hurry up with yours 
Were gonna get the powder coating done after now.
Making hers a rolling shell this week ready for sat
, so he better hurry up with yours Were gonna get the powder coating done after now.
Making hers a rolling shell this week ready for sat
01-05-2004, 06:11 PM
#20
Right its Saturday evening and this morning i have been run ragged......
Pulling the car out of the garage in its bear like state, off to the bodyshop.
All loaded and ready to go...................
Last bit of prep by myself and a jet wash, just to help out a bit as it was mega dirty and its all being undersealed again.
I have also accquired this spoiler which is being fitted, still not 100% sure about it but hey, its too late now!!
Oh and heres some pictures of my garage..........
I know what most of you are thinking.................why are you bothering its only a hairdressers car, to be honest i dont know really.
Just think shes a great car!
Pulling the car out of the garage in its bear like state, off to the bodyshop.
All loaded and ready to go...................
Last bit of prep by myself and a jet wash, just to help out a bit as it was mega dirty and its all being undersealed again.
I have also accquired this spoiler which is being fitted, still not 100% sure about it but hey, its too late now!!
Oh and heres some pictures of my garage..........
I know what most of you are thinking.................why are you bothering its only a hairdressers car, to be honest i dont know really.
Just think shes a great car!
01-05-2004, 07:51 PM
#21
Meanwhile in downtown Sidcup..................
And heres a few parts that i'm also having fitted...................
Brand new front & rear bumpers.
S1 kit.
New front panel.
All new bumper end caps and bump strips.
As the car is now in the bodyshop i will try and update as and when i can, he does have a disposable camera - but will have to get the neg's onto a disc first.
To Be Continued......................................
And heres a few parts that i'm also having fitted...................
Brand new front & rear bumpers.
S1 kit.
New front panel.
All new bumper end caps and bump strips.
As the car is now in the bodyshop i will try and update as and when i can, he does have a disposable camera - but will have to get the neg's onto a disc first.
To Be Continued......................................
03-05-2004, 11:21 PM
#27
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Paul, I hope yours turns out pukker m8, if not then chelle wont be a happy bunny
Cant see why not though, the bloke seemed good and his work looks top notch judging by the pics of his previos stuff
Cant see why not though, the bloke seemed good and his work looks top notch judging by the pics of his previos stuff
04-05-2004, 09:51 AM
#28
Originally Posted by MadMac
Where can I get a tow bar like that!!!
Originally Posted by Benn 304R
Paul, I hope yours turns out pukker m8, if not then chelle wont be a happy bunny
Cant see why not though, the bloke seemed good and his work looks top notch judging by the pics of his previos stuff
Cant see why not though, the bloke seemed good and his work looks top notch judging by the pics of his previos stuff
Cos you may wanna 
if it is pants!!Like you say tho, all his previous looks good enough, i'm off up there before work to see if he's made a start and to drop some bits off.
04-05-2004, 11:42 AM
#30
Originally Posted by MadMac
You got that trailer from Ebay! wicked, I wan't one its just the right size!!
http://motors.listings.ebay.co.uk/Ot...istingItemList
There quite a few on here.
11-05-2004, 04:53 PM
#32
Right a teeny weeny update for ya's all as the cars due to be ready on saturday.
The 'New & Improved' front end.
My nice s1 kit - Yum
With my newly respayed grill!
In the prep'ing process, getting ready for a nice coat of sassy red
Rear bumber rubbed down and ready to go....
The boot spoiler is also ready to be fitted and it looks like all is going to plan..........I hope
The 'New & Improved' front end.
My nice s1 kit - Yum
With my newly respayed grill!
In the prep'ing process, getting ready for a nice coat of sassy red
Rear bumber rubbed down and ready to go....
The boot spoiler is also ready to be fitted and it looks like all is going to plan..........I hope
12-05-2004, 03:40 PM
#37
Originally Posted by Damo V
Sorry, but I agree with Wutang, drhandles are 2 mins each, also take out the rear window and rubber
Cheers for the comments tho............
16-05-2004, 12:22 PM
#40
Ok heres another update for to all.........
Rear Bumper
Front Bumper
The Spoiler!
It was sprayed on Saturday morning, he said that its got to be flatted down and polished yet - so it should be even more shiney!
Hopefully can collect Wednesday afternoon and can get on with the rebuild
Rear Bumper
Front Bumper
The Spoiler!
It was sprayed on Saturday morning, he said that its got to be flatted down and polished yet - so it should be even more shiney!
Hopefully can collect Wednesday afternoon and can get on with the rebuild