orion project, any advice appreciated
 

i have recently bought a mk2 onion and being as i have some spare money to throw about and no mrs to tell me where i can throw it anymore i thought i would try and make it as unique as possible...it may sound stupid but i want a 4wd, 300bhp+ orion...the 300 bhp bit im not so worried about but the 4wd im not too sure about....would it be worth the hassle of tryin to get a 4wd system into it or would i be better off with just rwd?? (either way it cant stay as FWD!!) and if so what drive system would you reccomend with what engine?, i have spoke to a few people about it and they have all said the best engine to use for somethin like this would be either the 2l dohc out of the sierra or a 2l zetec from mondeo but i'd really quite like to have a pinto in it, as far as engines go what would you recommend? they have all (bar 1) also said the 4wd cant be done?...as you can tell im probably the furthest thing from an expert in this field so any advice or reccomendations would be appreciated.

cheers

If you want to use a pinto engine, have you considered xr4x4 Sierra running gear, failing that use a 2.0 pinto Sierra donor

Why not try rwd as it would be easier and engine and box from a scorpio 2.3 16v would be cool. then slap a turbo on it running lowish boost and management to suit

no mate i didnt even think of the xr4x4 running gear to be honest i have been looking into the 4x4 escort system as there isnt so much difference between the wheelbase's, but i spose you can interchange drive shafts between the 2 right?

yh i think this is the way im gunna go for now, im still in 2 minds wether i want to use a pinto or something a bit more modern, st170 or maybe the 220 if i can find 1, would a sierra/escort cossie box fit to an st lump?

Pinto will be expensive and parts are thin on the ground. other option is a zetec with a modded mt75 gearbox.

T5 2wd cossie box will fit zetec, 14 2.3 16v Granada lump and prob a st 170 lump

Just a point to note, escort/ mondeo 4x4 is a front bias system were as Sierra/ granada 4x4 is rear bias

Bank loan or raid savings, which ever is best then get a cossie 4x4 conversion from somewhere like andrew gallacher motorsport or A1 Rally.

cheers fella, that was my next question :)

ok, i'm at the point of cutting and welding and want to keep it minimal so could i use an already made transmission tunnel out of another ford (sierra, mk2 escort, cortina)? i have received some advice from an old boy down the road that used to do this sort of thing alot and he said he used to use the rear floor panels from the sierra and the rest from a cortina, again any advice would be much appreciated.