The Oft Unloved Mk3 XR3i Restoration UPDATED 16-06-13
#1
The Oft Unloved Mk3 XR3i Restoration UPDATED 16-06-13
OK, so before we start, to answer the majority of questions in advance:
1) Yes I know it's not got an RS badge. Had an S1 for 4 years and whilst I enjoyed it, it never really stole my heart. And I never really cared for the 16i. Always been an XR man.
2) I'm NOT going to put a CVH turbo in it like 99% of XR3i rebuild/tuning advice on here says to
3) It's just as awesome as any other Mk3, and probably rarer because everyone looks down there noses at the humble 3i and cut them up to save the 'holier than thou RS types.
And for those of you who haven't left already because the above ^^^ has beaten them to the punch.....
Hello and welcome to my restoration / tart up of my early Mk3 XR3i.
My Dad bought me the car when I was 16. I learned to drive in it, and used it everyday once I passed at 17, all the while saving up for an RS Turbo (teenagers will be teenagers). Chucked it in me Nan's garage in late 2007, whilst I drove my S1, then my Evo, and now the EsCos.
Decided this winter to SORN the Cossie and give the 3i some long overdue attention.
There she is look, buried in Nan's garage, 4 very flat and wonderfully square tyres. So I decided the first port of call would be to pump the tyres up.
Hmmm....Tedious. Luckily Pete the builder who lives over the road from me Nan let me borrow this:
And within seconds all 4 tyres where round again
Oh no! I hear you cry looking at that very blurry picture, there are no seats and no steering wheel, how on earth are you going to move it?
Dah-Dah. An adjustable wrench and Nan's dusting stool.
Now here's the almost unbelievable bit, for the last 4/5 years it's never been on charge, never had fresh fuel and never had an oil service. The only 'storage' type thing I ever did was disconnect the battery. Once every 3-6 months I've started it, and it's always fired up without a jump, once the leads are reattached. Today not only did it start, but it drove! It was lumpy, smokey and smelly but I drove it out of the garage and onto the edge of verge so I could tuck the EsCos up in its place.
Then I moved it back onto the drive so Mr Plod couldn't tow it away for having a 2008 tax disc.
Then I had a brew and waited for my mate Bill to come pick it up and take it back to mine.
1) Yes I know it's not got an RS badge. Had an S1 for 4 years and whilst I enjoyed it, it never really stole my heart. And I never really cared for the 16i. Always been an XR man.
2) I'm NOT going to put a CVH turbo in it like 99% of XR3i rebuild/tuning advice on here says to
3) It's just as awesome as any other Mk3, and probably rarer because everyone looks down there noses at the humble 3i and cut them up to save the 'holier than thou RS types.
And for those of you who haven't left already because the above ^^^ has beaten them to the punch.....
Hello and welcome to my restoration / tart up of my early Mk3 XR3i.
My Dad bought me the car when I was 16. I learned to drive in it, and used it everyday once I passed at 17, all the while saving up for an RS Turbo (teenagers will be teenagers). Chucked it in me Nan's garage in late 2007, whilst I drove my S1, then my Evo, and now the EsCos.
Decided this winter to SORN the Cossie and give the 3i some long overdue attention.
There she is look, buried in Nan's garage, 4 very flat and wonderfully square tyres. So I decided the first port of call would be to pump the tyres up.
Hmmm....Tedious. Luckily Pete the builder who lives over the road from me Nan let me borrow this:
And within seconds all 4 tyres where round again
Oh no! I hear you cry looking at that very blurry picture, there are no seats and no steering wheel, how on earth are you going to move it?
Dah-Dah. An adjustable wrench and Nan's dusting stool.
Now here's the almost unbelievable bit, for the last 4/5 years it's never been on charge, never had fresh fuel and never had an oil service. The only 'storage' type thing I ever did was disconnect the battery. Once every 3-6 months I've started it, and it's always fired up without a jump, once the leads are reattached. Today not only did it start, but it drove! It was lumpy, smokey and smelly but I drove it out of the garage and onto the edge of verge so I could tuck the EsCos up in its place.
Then I moved it back onto the drive so Mr Plod couldn't tow it away for having a 2008 tax disc.
Then I had a brew and waited for my mate Bill to come pick it up and take it back to mine.
Last edited by the_frozen_one; 16-06-2013 at 03:59 PM.
#2
When it landed back at mine I had a quick look round to see what things were like
The engine is tatty but complete, and standard. (The manky looking rocker cover is waxoyl)
The colour tag is missing, always has been, does anyone know what info should be on there so I can get one made up?
The front badge is incorrect.
There's a really dodgy 16 year olds my first filler repair on the rear panel
The boot seal is actually door seal and probably seals sweet FA.
And the local branch of Liquid/Envy set up shop in the boot (forgive me I was only 16)
And I have boy racer red brakes. Damn Halfords and it's cheap VHT paint.
The engine is tatty but complete, and standard. (The manky looking rocker cover is waxoyl)
The colour tag is missing, always has been, does anyone know what info should be on there so I can get one made up?
The front badge is incorrect.
There's a really dodgy 16 year olds my first filler repair on the rear panel
The boot seal is actually door seal and probably seals sweet FA.
And the local branch of Liquid/Envy set up shop in the boot (forgive me I was only 16)
And I have boy racer red brakes. Damn Halfords and it's cheap VHT paint.
#4
But the first job was to find the drivers front window. The last time I drove the car (down to it's resting place at Nans) it was all frozen up and I was a bit to forceful with the stuck window and it popped out of the winder and fell into the door. Miraculously it didn't smash and has rattled round in there ever since. I decided to fix the window so I could wash 5 years of crud off the car.
Whipped the door card off.
Found a completely undamaged window pane hiding inside...
As well as these 2 roller wheels.
Took the mirror and weather strips off and voila
One rescued window!
Popped the rollers back in, a few squirts of 3in1 here and there and after a bit of faffing
The car is water tight again.
Whipped the door card off.
Found a completely undamaged window pane hiding inside...
As well as these 2 roller wheels.
Took the mirror and weather strips off and voila
One rescued window!
Popped the rollers back in, a few squirts of 3in1 here and there and after a bit of faffing
The car is water tight again.
#5
I then thought sod washing it, I want to get stuck in.
Damn the predictably crap Mk3 boot struts, thank god I have 2 brooms.
Off with the inch thick MDF parcel (speaker) shelf
Out with the 3 amps and sub and all the cross overs.
Traced and unran/unrun (not sure on the grammar?) all the wiring I could get to from the boot.
Pulled this little stash of goodies out from where the passenger seat should be and fitted the carpet and shelf.
What a difference an afternoon makes!
By this time it was dark so I put the car in the garage and went for a celebratory Ruby!
And that's all for today, hope to do a bit more Friday afternoon.
Thank you all for looking,
Cheers,
Tom
Damn the predictably crap Mk3 boot struts, thank god I have 2 brooms.
Off with the inch thick MDF parcel (speaker) shelf
Out with the 3 amps and sub and all the cross overs.
Traced and unran/unrun (not sure on the grammar?) all the wiring I could get to from the boot.
Pulled this little stash of goodies out from where the passenger seat should be and fitted the carpet and shelf.
What a difference an afternoon makes!
By this time it was dark so I put the car in the garage and went for a celebratory Ruby!
And that's all for today, hope to do a bit more Friday afternoon.
Thank you all for looking,
Cheers,
Tom
#9
They are a rare old beast these days, see more of the RS's and XR3s
Yeah it's Titan Blue I believe? It's an XR3 colour and a few very early XR3i's were painted in it to use up stock after the model switch, so I'm told.
Found this factory sticker in the boot regards colour:
Just says metallic blue?
#10
I did ask nan to take one:
Too much reflection on the screen, can just about see my hand turning the steering wrench.
Don't worry about that homeless looking guy in the background, it's just Pete the builder come to fetch his compressor back
Too much reflection on the screen, can just about see my hand turning the steering wrench.
Don't worry about that homeless looking guy in the background, it's just Pete the builder come to fetch his compressor back
#14
Thanks, I love the colour too. Wouldn't of chosen it if I'd of been the one buying the car back then, but now I've got it I wouldn't have any other colour.
A well respected concours Ford restorer once told me "Never get rid of that XR3i, they were the best ones. The RS Turbos were all for show, the RS1600i's were quicker than the turbo's in most situations but horrid to live with, but the XR3i was great all round"
A well respected concours Ford restorer once told me "Never get rid of that XR3i, they were the best ones. The RS Turbos were all for show, the RS1600i's were quicker than the turbo's in most situations but horrid to live with, but the XR3i was great all round"
#17
Part of the Furniture
#21
sweet. yea get a decent underneath and then u can forget about it aye, then crack on with other mor visual bits n bobs!!! plus a tweak to the engine... sounds a good plan to me!!!
#27
Thats a cool little project... nice to see it was dry stored rather than sold or scrapped
quite a funny read too...
Keep up the good work pal !
dont see many xr's anymore, especially early ones in blue
quite a funny read too...
Keep up the good work pal !
dont see many xr's anymore, especially early ones in blue
#32
PassionFord Regular
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Takes me back abit i had a black x reg XR3 spent a fortune on it resprayed tuned engine ashely com full exhaust regret getting rid off it but looks like it has vanished
#34
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Thats quality to see.
Look forward to the progress.
My first car was an XR3, happy days
Look forward to the progress.
My first car was an XR3, happy days