This is the first time ive posted pics on passionford so they may not have worked!
After visiting a local bodyshop who had a 30,000 mile from new mk3 escort. I decided to fully restore it to concours MK4 spec, with rs running gear from a 90 spec car. I previously had a 90 spec black turbo when i passed my test ages ago and regretted selling it.









Loads more pics to come! Dont try this conversion it was a nightmare!

 

Why not make it into a S1 look alike or an RS1600i. It would be far easier and it would be a shame to go changing all the original panels when its all immaculate. The car would be worth more when its completed if you decided to sell too!

 

keep it a mark 3 they look

 

Leave it alone. Mk3 are well

 

mk3 mk3 mk3 mk3 keep it!!

Dunc

 

your mad. keep it as a mk3

 

Agreed! Mk4's look s**t!!

 

i think the fact thats he is using past tense phrases such as 'it WAS a nightmare' means he has already dun the deed people!! lol

i for 1 have always preferred the mk4 to the mk3, but different strokes 4 different folks. get these pics up dude, quite interested to see exactly wot has to b dun to change frm a 3 to a 4

 

more pics

 

i might of missed somthing here but what is the point why not just restore a mk4

 

I trusted the job of fitting the new panels to the local bodyshop who owned the car before me. For anyone attempting to do this there are many good reasons why not to try it! The following panels were changed for ford items:- bonnet, wings, crossmember, scuttle, rear panel between the rear lights, tailgate, all front suspension, front panel.

To top it all off the bulkhead is different where the steering column mounts. Also the bloody doors inside needed modifying to accept the Mk4 90 spec trim.









The bodyshop fitted the panels as shown









Check out the underneath, loads of waxoil!





Spent hours using a zip wheel to clean off the wax and underseal right down to shiny metal. Only a tiny amount of welding was need ed as shown in the photo of the passenger floor.



The painter the degreased the underside and applied acid etch primer then stonechip and primed the car as shown below.





Then repainted the car using the latest ford red called colarado.








MORE TO COME!

 

Looks nicely done mate, but seems to be a hell of a lot of work for very minimal gain!

 

Good on ya matey...

It is a lot of work as Dan says but the important thing is it makes YOU happy......Not anyone else,Take no fookin notice of the people slagging you off,i`ve built my last 3 cars from scratch and i know how much personal pleasure it has given me.....So give yourself a pat on the back mate,the resto looks fookin awsome......Can`t wait to see the rest of the pics.....

 

are you using genuine ford parts?? looks , always have prefered the mk4 to the mk3

 

I have definalty enjoyed doing the project. The bodyshop have been slow to say the least but allow me to work in their garage and use their equipment to work on the car. More pictures to come.

 

I have used as many genuine ford parts as possible cos the pattern ones never seem to fit right! The local dealer gives me trade discount. All the parts have been powder coated. The suspension parts shown are candy red. I have most of the parts now, the only things remaining to buy are the samco hoses, oil cooler, recon turbo and the fuel metering unit. A bargain at Ł850!!

I like the Mk4 shape but it would have saved a lot of time and money keeping it Mk3. But at least the panels are new and rust free. Many of you reading this are probably thinking why not buy an rst to start with. The main reason is that this one was so solid it had to be bought. When you see the results i think you will agree it was worth it.

 

Good on ya fella, looks like a top job! butr personally I would have kept it as a MK3 as the panels all looked mint anyway.... still, each to their own. Keep up the good work

 

each to their own mate, you can tell your gonna put a lot of effort into it well done!

 

sweet project there fella , would have been nicer to keep it a Mk 3 thi , IMO ,

But will still be a very clean , solid little car ,

Keep thge updates comming

 

Some more pics.












carnt wait to drive it. Luckily i have another Mk4 cabrio with a zetec 2.0 mondeo engine to use until its finished tho. Easy job installing the zetec engine in that, a weekend is all u need!! dead quick and rattle free, unlike that dirty cvh. More pics coming. Sorry to all the mk3 lovers out there.

 

Someone asked earlier why didnt i restore a mk4 in the first place. Back in 1997 my original escort turbo was visually a minter. Paid Ł4500 for it then. I will try and scan a pic for the forum. I fancied at the time having a metalflake custom paint job. However when the bumpers were removed the front panel was fooked, and the bit above the pedel box, also rust in the tailgate requiring a new one, and the sill on the passenger side! So that in mind what would one be like now!!! You can hardly view someones a car and strip it down. Which is why i chose to do the project. To some reading this it may seem to be a lot of work restoring a car but previously i was a vehicle builder in leeds, building challenger 2 tanks b4 the factory shut, so escorts are dead easy compared to a challenger!

 

PMSL,

You should have done a apph then if your used to building tanks , lol.

Jokin aside , top work fella , im only up in york if your ever in the area ,

 

Some amazing work has gone into this mate...Wish i could do that Keep us updated fella

 

Nice one dude


very hard work well done

I'd of gone for a MK4 too

 

 

i have to say that is spanking!!! nice work!!

Should of been mk3 though

 

great work as many of the lads reading this thread, we can understand exactly how much work has gone into the car in replacing all those panels! looks lovely after the red respray

i still think it was a waste of a mint mk3 shell personally, but fair play to you its your car

 

Just come across this thread ,amazing amount of work gone into this ,well done ,great find on the shell ,it certainly looks mint ,love the picture on the ramp in primer,and the powder coating ,just one thing ,i take it you are putting a personal plate on the car as the "a" plate wont look right .

 

yes a private plate will be put on the car when finished. Otherwise i will be asked about it every time i park it up!

Has anyone reading this got those bonnet raisers from ebay. I think they improve cooling by raising the back of the bonnet up. I have had to use them on my other car the mondeo engined cabriolet to allow the bonnet to clear. Every bloody time u pull up anywhere you get "your bonnets open mate"
So annoying!

 

will be making my way to see Lee @ fusion for some trick bits for the car very soon. Hope you have a kettle!

Does anyone know if Escort Cos wheels will fit this car??? Did a swap for the mintest set ever with nearly new tyres the other day. Have also another set of turbo wheels powder coated with new tyres. I love the Cos wheels but i think wheel spacers will be needed. They look loads better than the mondeo/escort smaller copys that are 15s.

Ignore the wrong date on the pic.

 

i agree with you there mate i remember the time i
had the piss taken out of me with my s2

looks well mint mate cant wait to see the end pics of it

 

Proper job that Got the astra to restore on the underside in the summer

 

Fawdy , ill do u a good deal mate ,

As for Cossy rims , its all in the tyres , i had a set on mune 35mm drop and no arch mods ,

u need 195 45 16 tyres , i hightly recomend Continental , dunlop also do them .

Hears a piccy of mine ( aubergine one ) and my mates , we both use the continentals .

 

Lee those two cars look the buisiness with those cossy wheels. Well impressed carnt wait to fit em on mine. Should have some pics of the painted car including the wheels in the next few days. The car has been painted and just needs the glass fitting. Should be an easy job as all the glass and seals are new.

My old boys project i am also doing. Its a 1972 lotus europa. Done at the same garage. Yes its is ment to be lime green, just not metallic as we have done it.

 

wow top job mate

 

cracking work

 

I will update with some more pictures as soon as the body shop is open after chrismas.

 

Both cars look stunning

 

what a stupid person you are, suprised you didnt put four doors on it

 

what a waste of a mk3 shell why didnt you just buy a mk4 mk3s are like rockin horse shit