muz

Right, I though I might as well start a little build thread for my next 'Sub Project'. A little background, I bought a MK6 Escort RS2000 to use on the motorway as it's a long old way back and forth to Catterick, and the winters up there are not particularly forgiving. Besides the fact I didn't want to leave my pride and joy on an Army base.

So I bought this;



All was great....then the Army told my I couldn't take my car to Catterick for the first 12 weeks, then they told me I couldn't justify paying the insurance every month so had to cancel it. The tax had just run out, the MOT was due in May so I decided to sell it and then look for a more suitable replacement when the time came.
It sold on eBay, the wanker never contacted me to buy it, had 3 people view it, all very keen but wouldn't buy it without an MOT. Took it to my brother and it seems it had a very dodgy MOT last time round. Needed welding, the ABS light had been taken out as the rear ABS sensors were fucked, both rear wheel bearings had failed and been packed with grease as the hubs had ovaled due to it being to low, which left me with two choices, break it or re shell it...

I've decided to do the latter :mrgreen: So a deal was done and I've bought this (more pictures to come on Saturday when I pick it up).







It's a MK6 Escort, converted to MK5 with a Cosworth kit on. It's got fibregalss panels, however, they are full skins, not the half jobs so shouldn't have issues with cracking. The rear quarters go above the boot line as they should, it has the later fuel filler flap and it has no rot, bought as a bare shell, with glass, looms and carpets etc.

I've started stripping the RS2000 in preparation and bought some bits to make it a convincing rep.

Genuine bottom boot spoiler





Genuine front grill with unbroken clips





Going to use the Red Hex interior from the RS Turbo. I also have a genuine EsCos centre console I bought some years back.



Bought a bulge bonnet as I found a good un rotten one cheap, they look good and cossie bonnets are £300. It needs to done to some budget and rear disc beam which should be arriving any day.





I'll also be using the engine, Oz Supperleggera wheels (although I get the feeling that the Comps will find there way on it ), front brakes and coilovers





As for colour I'm undecided. If I can get a bodyshop to do it for the right price I'm going to stick to black, however, I'm quite tempted to paint it myself in Matte Grey....

Still need to find a front bumper and a few little bits but most of it's there to start building. 8)

Twins

iTrader: (18)

Oh cool project there ,always liked the car when taz owned it

s23rta

Nice one, I don't mind reps as long as their done right

Zetecfiesta

should be alright if done correctly!

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Will keep an eye on this! Liking matte colours at the mo, think matte silver looks the nuts!

Minirotty

Grey would be good.

SMILER258

Sweet project you have there

J1mbo

iTrader: (1)

Can I have that interior

kidsRS

iTrader: (6)

Any updates?

muz

I bought a genuine top spoiler off Jano which I'm picking up tomorrow when I collect the shell. Still on the lookout for a front bumper though and I think thats practucally it as far as parts go.

jamesst24

thats a good project mate very nice

pullo

nice one.

s23rta

There's a couple of companies that make fibreglass ones (good quality) they are on eBay, one company makes pretty much every panel in tvr quality fibreglass, worth a look maybe

muz

I'd rather a genuine one if possible, but if I can find a good quality fibreglass one I'd take it. Preferably one where the botom splitter is seperate from the bumper. I'll take a look.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Yeah right, heard that a few times before in the restoration game and it never is

muz

I took the RST off the road 3 years ago to change the gearbox

muz

We'll I made the trip down to Eastbourne yesterday to pick the shell up. left at 5:30am got home at 7PM. Was a looooong day.

Got it up on the ramp and checked over the underside. All very solid and looking good so I was happy. While I was there we were having a bit of a moan that we had to remove the subframe and rear beam then put mine on etc so I decided to just buy the lot. Made sense as it's all freshly powder coated, brand new drop links, track rod ends, lower arms, fully poly bused, all new ford bolts and mounts etc.

Pics















Terry also gave me some MK3 Mondeo front calipers, so need to source some ST170 front discs and it'll have a 300mm front brake set up. Can't do anything on it for a few weeks which is annoying but I'll work on it when I'm back.

dingla rs

iTrader: (2)

i live in catterick village mate ,looks like a nice size shed you got to work in

It's Czech Mate

Need to space out the rear wheels

Will be a cool little motor when finished

muz

I didn't like the colour of the beam and subframe but it's really growing on me now. Also as it's on KW coilovers the springs are yellow anyway.haha i'll have to pop in and see the FoCos one day when I'm up there.The rear wheels haven't got any spacers as I neeed longer wheel studs and they are only ET38 7J rims so so stick in a little. I think the compomotives will be going on though off the RST, I won't be able to help myself

darrenb16two

Looks mustard mate! Cant wait to see when all finished!

tezmanian devil

iTrader: (8)

was nice to meet ya dude, i hope all goes well with the rebuild, i'l deffinatly be keeping a eye on this.
if you ever want to sell it can i please have first dib's, soooo gutted i had to part with that shell

mercury grey minter

I think the bulge bonnet will spoil the overall effect.Could you not get stick on vents and cut some holes in a standard bonnet?

muz

My brother hates my Fords I buy, but he does like this one. Well, he said "yeah, looks ok mate I guess" which is good enough. Helped me unload it as well which turned out far easier than I thought it would be. Got some strange looks on the motorway though haha.

muz

nah, it would have to be genuine with something as big and obvious as a bonnet and I have got better things to spend the money on. Genuine bonnets aren't cheap and don't come up for sale often. I don't think the bulge bonnet will look too out of place when it's all painted. I'll get a genuine bonnet down the line though, just not yet.

Jimmyc

Liking this, how many projects is this now then Muz!?

muz

Only two now. This and the RST. I've got so much I still want to do to the RST though I need another car.

Jimmyc

Not so bad then
Whatever happened to the silver mk3, was it jdcrst's old one?

muz

It's gone back to Jon actually, so I'm happy.

muz

Well "Challenge Annika" build the car in 2 days over the bank holiday didn't go to plan. Got called away to do stuff with the girlfriend as apparently "that's what couples do" I did however manage to completely strip the RS2k in the time that I did have so everything except the wing mirrors have been removed ready to bolt onto the Fakecos.

I also managed to get a few hours in last night to degrease the engine, box, steering rack and gearbox mounts. The engine was absolutely filthy! The webbing on the gearbox was full of slabber grease which was also all over the gearbox mount, steering rack and fuel filter bracket. The old subframe and lower arms were also caked in it, I have no idea how so much got all over the bay!
I ended up using a highly corrosive industrial oven cleaner neat on a stiff brush and a pressure washer and went over the engine and gearbox about 5 times before it was a standard I was happy with. Although this car will be in no way bufty, I can't bolt dirty, greasy engine components back on. It at least needs to be clean and some of the rusty bits like the driveshafts, engine mount etc will get a quick coat of Hammerite before re fitting.

Crap pic, but you get the idea.



Can hopefully fit the RS2000 fusebox and loom tomorrow as I still have to remove the dash and full XR3i loom out of the fakecos, so will be a long day with not a lot to show for it.

I have also decided to de lock it and thinking about painting it Radient Red so I have matching Escort RS Turbo and Escort "Cosworth"

Carlos-Titx

Nice project, will look shit hot when done!

You based at Caterick then? Some of works trucks are kept up there, the Oshkosh with KBR.

Turbo Al

iTrader: (1)

good project. always fancied a replica but its hit or miss if they are done right

scottyrs

iTrader: (1)

looks a good base mate good luck with it

muz

I'll be training in Catterick, based in Cardiff, live in Hereford lol.



Exactly. I've had two replicas before. One fibreglass (the crap 1/2 panels which are crap) and one with metal panels and you could tell the difference with them. The metal panels one was much better. Unfortunately both were rotten!
This ones not badly put together to be fair and as I'm using genuine parts it should look convincing. Especially with the genuine interior as most people just keep the RS2000 seats and as its on a P plate mk6 but now a mk5 should throw people off.

Mark B

I'd keep the lower spoiler n forget the whale tail, make it a bit different and not a total copy.

Maxwell

fuck a cossie replica....WRC FTW

cossie604

iTrader: (2)

lol your building one and I've just starting breaking one Ive got a banana pod and a couple bits ending on ebay tomorrow Your's looks like it's gonna be a belter when done!

muz

The full RS2000 car loom went in Wednesday along with the PAS rack, gearbox mounts, water hoses, fuel filter and bracket, just waiting for my Haynes manual to arrive so I can convert the MK6 loom plugs to fit all the MK5 dash switches etc then the interior and engine can go in.

Come on guys, shall I keep it Gloss Black or go Radiant red?

Jimmyc

Go for black

Really not a fan of mk5 Escorts in red, just doesn't suit the shape for me, plus every cossie rep i seem to see is done in radiant red and i think for some reason it seems to show up and make it easier to spot the flaws/differences between the real thing and a rep. Dunno why, maybe it's just me lol

Minirotty

No better colour for a car than black.