TomPengelly

I bought a mk3 xr2i a few months ago. It has a very good shell with no rot.

The previous owner raced it in a trackday trophy series- so was msa legal. It has an in-date seat and harness, plumbed in fire extinguisher, omp roll cage, battery and fuel cut-off ect.

Other mods included Gaz coilovers, polybushed all round, 57i induction kit, 4-2-1 exhaust manifold with stainless system (de-cat), 2.0 throttle body, inlet manifold, cams, 130bhp ecu, omex rev limiter, plastic windows, team dynamics wheels, yokohama adven tyes






















Someone asked me if i wanted a mk1 focus rs exhaust manifold for anything- so then i came up with an idea....

Anyway, ive collected a few parts to start the conversion. So far, sat under my work bench i have:

Mk1 focus rs exhaust manifold
Mk1 focus rs turbo
Rover turbo inlet manifold, adaptor plate, throttle body, injectors
Audi TT 1.8 20v turbo pistons
Prime Performance forged rods modified to fit audi pistons
ARP rod bolts
Devil Developments valve springs

Today i dropped out the engine.





Next im going to strip the engine and get the block bored for the pistons.

Next on the shopping list are basic rebuild parts- shells, piston rings, water pump, full gasket set ect.

Was going to use a mls gasket for a 1.8 blacktop??

Im also using an ib5 gearbox (from a ka) so will need to do a hydraulic clutch conversion once the engine is back in...

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Cool project. Did it go well before you took the engine out.

TomPengelly

Yeah it was good for what it was. Quite revvy and reponsive. Between 140-150bhp. Handled really well. I miss my old zetec turbo escort so decided to do another one...

Carlos-Titx

Love a mk3 fez.

Nice motor. Be an interesting thread for me.

TomPengelly

Block went yesterday to be bored. Rings and shells on order.

Picking a straight cut gear set and lsd up tomorrow.

Also bought an omex 600 ecu and bare loom ready to make...

sridgett

Wow!!! This looks cool to me!!!

TomPengelly

XRT_si

iTrader: (2)

Nice work!

sridgett

Now thats a man's workshop mate

TomPengelly

Over the last few days, ive had the crank checked and measured- that was all ok

Also had the block bored for the pistons im using, and painted it

And fitted bew rings and the new rods to the pistons








Also stripped the head and measured the face- luckily it doesnt need a skim. I Have devil developments valve springs ready to go back in. I cleaned the exhaust valved up and they are quite pitted, so have 8 new ones on order.

I also ordered most of the rebuilt parts- shells, gasket kits, water pump belt kit ect

This week i also bought a Helix paddle clutch kit and a focus rs decat pipe, clamp and gasket...














This weekend im hoping to build the short engine, put the head together and bolt the head down- and then get the oil return welded into the sump, then have to swap gear sets over- then its all ready to go into the car!

TomPengelly

Over the last couple of weeks ive built the engine and gearbox and its ready to go in the car once the vibra technics mounts arrive!

While the engine was out i decided to tart the outside up too. Spent HOURS de-stickering and prepping. Got it in priner tonight.

Got a couple of nights of flatting and re-masking to do, then should be painted by Sunday.

Im going for Ferrari Sikverstone Grey..



The stickers peeled the bad previous paint job off...











Had to go to bare metal- the paint was that bad...











Black primer. Looks better already!

xr2john

Looking good

brianscotty

Subscribing to this one. Looking good! Where abouts in Southampton are you?

TomPengelly

Cheers!

Just in Bursledon..

TomPengelly

Painted it today!

NEEDFORSPEED

very nice!

studabear

Nice colour choice.

frsjon

looks awesome crying out for a carbon roof !

TomPengelly

Carbon roof would be nice!!

robp-tt

iTrader: (1)

Looks really good tom,won't be long till its finished

TomPengelly

Thanks Rob, hope not! Cant wait to get it all done and down to Devils!

I fitted the engine today, so bolted that to the box ect and dropped it in, then took the car home...














Next on the list is to make a new window. I accidentally melted one when trying to remove the old one before paint!

jc2000e

great progress. love the colour too.

TomPengelly

Fitted new window today, and refitted mirrors, wipers, rear lights, repeaters ect, removed old fan and rad ready for new ones. Got some aero catches too so removed old bonnet catch.

I got some German rear lights (grey indicators)

bagginsRSturbo

iTrader: (1)

Looking good

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Its looking really well now its been painted. Good choice of colour.

TomPengelly

Painted and fitted rear bumper earlier.





Next on the list is to fit intercooler, ally rad and oil cooler, cut bumper to fit over everything, then paint that too...