Transit Connect ST
 

Thought I might upload a few pictures of what I have started doing recently. As some of you may know I am the owner of an 05 plate Transit Connect TDCI 90PS. Sadly whilst on a trip to see my Dads Plane in Hampshire it died :cry:

Thankfully those boys in Orange were on hand to drag me home -

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Anyway to cut a long story short I have decided to convert the van to Petrol. I wanted to run Focus RS Mk1 Engine, Gerbox and Running Gear but sadly they are to expensive and too difficult to source. As a result I have purchased a 2.0 Duratec from an ST170.

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All of the above are currently enroute via the Uk Pallet Delivery Service and should arrive imminantely. As a result I have now started to strip down the Van.

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The intention is to get it back up and running ASAP as having no van is actually quite ifficult with it being my daily driver. As such the van will in essence be a standard ST170. I think once that is done I will look to buy a second Duratec 2.0 and tubocharge it with a view to edging out those Focus RS's that are out there.

I already own some Brembo six pots which were going to be for my Cortina but have decided to put them on the van.

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I will keep you all updated on my progress. (If you like that it !)

Chris

That looks like a great project mate looking forward to the updates good luck with it:clap:

sounds like a top project, can't wait to see some more

Cool project mate, not seen one with a ST170 engine yet. Should stick a powerworks supercharger conversion on it ;)

you could have bought my turbo'd st 5 pot lump if this is what you were going to do :cry:

And as if by magic :-)

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Hopefully have the lump out by tomorrow. Got shed loads to go off for blasting and powder coating.

Dojj, apologies I didn't know you had one for sale..... Richie Il pm you about the Supercharger when I reach that stage.

Chris

it's looking like a quick job :) don't worry about the engine, it's been sat in my garage for a few years now so it's not going anywhere :cry:

just waiting for the mrs to write the fiesta off and then i'm going ot bolt it into that if i get the time

How you going to get the 5 pot in a fiesta then Dojj?

Does the Focus engine loom just plug straight into the connect then?

A far as I can tell yes however ask me in a couple of weeks when I am trying to plug it all in :grin:

with a bit of jiggery pokery I would imagine :poke:

nice project, its not the norm which i like.

just so you know the st170 engine is actually a zetec ;) and its standard fuel system setup is not like a normal system either but theres no reason why you cant use a normal system (so long as your not using the st170 ecu)

I am using the ST170 ECU but I wasn't aware there was a difference in the fueling. Can you explain Phil ? I will have the ST170 tank and pump, is there anything else ?

The ST170 only has one fuel line to feed the rail, there is no return. If you've got the tank and pump then you should be fine :)

Cheers mate, I only had a small panic then :-)

as richie has said. looks like your all sorted then :top:

Here is one for you Focus lads then. I am debating the four or five stud issue. The Focus Mk1 being four and the Tranny 5. Do you know if the ST170 drive shafts share the same spline as the Tranny Connect Hub ? Just so I can keep my planning in advance ! Cheers

looking good mate fancy one these for new work van ,just desiel tho :grin:

Dingla, I couldn't recommend them highly enough. So much better than the old Escort Van. Chris

Looks a good project

Being a connect owner i'll be keeping an eye on this.Have already lowered mine on 18,s with cossie leather recaros in.Well done.

How did you lower yours ? I want to lower mine but it must still be able to carry the same weight as I some times fill mine with bags of plaster ! :-)

Quick update today but havent had much time. Continued to strip the van out. I have sheared a few bolts because they were quite corroded and seem to have misplaced my 11mm spanner which hasn't helped.

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As you can see from the pictures at some point the van has had a light front end impact. Thankfully though the chasis legs are nice and straight so no issues there. One thing I have found is the front cross member appears to be rivited or spot welded in place ? I don't remember my cossie one being done like this ? As a result I think the angle grinder be coming out tomorrow.

My Dad coming round in the morning so hopefully we have the old engine out by lunch time. I also went to the shop today and confused the check out assistant with my choice of purchase :-)


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Nothing will be going back on unless its new or painted :cool:

And to top the day off I got my delivery today, not bad two days from Newcastle Upon Tyne.

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All for now, update you later.

Chris

are you the same guy that had the rwd rs focus shell then ? or am i geting wires crossed :grin:

Dingla yes that was me

im waiting for the cage off who every you sold it to :top: sould be fairly quick with that motor in

I forget where the bloke was from now. Never did find out if he finished it either, do you know ? I think I will be looking about 160bhp in its standard set up as the ST170 never quite lived up to its name. As I have said though, I will buy a second engine, rebuild it and turbocharge it with a view to competing with some of you RS boys :-)

It's in London but up for sale again hence
Me buying cage mate

Where is it advertised ? I do regret selling it and not finishing it off....

I used FOCUS RS front springs,cups,bearings and mounts with connect shocks.The connect springs have a pig tail end so you need to use the focus rs cups and mounts and the connect shocks are tappered into the hub so you can,t just put a FOCUS RS leg on.
But you will get away with st shocks and lowered springs on yours if your using st170 hubs

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The rear is harder to lower,you need to take the beam off,measure the leaf spring plates and replicate them exactly 180 degrees on the underneath so the leaf spring sits on the bottm not the top,here,s my beam done but not moved the leafs underneath yet.
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Quick update.... Kind of lost my way with this build a little bit and I just left the van sat there for a while. After some much needed encouragement from the South West bunch I finally got my arse in gear today and got rid of the shagged power plant !

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Another decision I made was to move away from the 170 set up aswell so I flogged that engine on Ebay. I am now considering my options. Any suggestions on the way ahead please feel free but don't suggest cosworth. Been down that road in the past and don't want it for the van.

Will now continue to strip it all down and prepare the van for paint. Will keep you all updated !.

Chris

How come you decided not to use ST170 engine? If you wanted to keep it N/A, how about 2.0 duratec out of the mk3 mondeo, engines are cheap as chips, aluminium block so quite light weight, 150bhp standard and plenty of bolt on tuning upgrades available like throttle bodies etc.

Richie I decided against N/A which was one of the main reasons behind scrapping the 170 setup. I am looking at the black top zetec at the minute or possiblly even an ST2 lump. Chris

I.d get a focus RS engine into it, bolt in, 200bhp....no fucking about

rs will be simplest to do, st225 engine is too wide, needs the chassis leg modding iirc.

somebody started a thread on here a while back

Vroom, A16 good idea but they are like rocking horse shit. Am now back to turbocharging the ST170 lump or the black top Zetec. My bodywork fella just bin round. Engine bay being done in a couple weeks. That gives me 14 days to source a new lump.....

5 pot ST lump :top::top:

I've got a 5 put lump and gearbox and bits and bobs I've been trying to flog for ages and no one wants it, yet you lot are saying they are like rocking horse poo? I've been trying to sell it for about 18 months :cry:

Get the 5 pot bought off Dojj! :top:

No way in the world the ST lump will fit, would be a good conversion though.