Master of MPG or Escort MK4 diesel,still alive!

[totti]

Hi!

You drive a lot and want a propper Retro Car?Than this is one of the best cars ever......

My workmate is sick from his MK4 Golf GTI.....nearly no part that don't have to renew the last time.....

So I talk to him to go the retro way ,his first car was a MK2 Fiesta Diesel,to get another one.

So I held my eyes open.....and on mobile.de this turn up:

1987 Escort Mk4 1,6 diesel,one owner,only done 79500km for 300euro

Nowadays they get thin on the ground so we made the 350km (one way!)trip to have a look.









It was not on the road for years.....but as you expected with a new battery it startet at the first turn of the key.

Inside it only need a good clean....



But there is some rot in the common areas...





So we went home .....



At home I have a closer look...



After removing the rear bumper.....



somebody "fix"the rear quarters with dog tape





So we make a shopping list and order all the right bits....

Cut out the rot....



some patches....



This part is hidden by the rear bumper,so it only has a "repair"standart.Plan is to do the arches and the sills propperly in spring.

After removing the mud flaps....



more to follow....

Thanks for looking

cheers

[rodney]

not many around over here either,.

[hairnet]

tin worms got them all

that doesnt look bad.......bargain for 300 yoyo

[luckygti]

Oh yes, I can see this being a top car for these days of silly high fuel prices any plans other than a general tidy up?

[rodney]

its crying out for a td from a mk5 escort,.

[monster]

can honestly say you chose the right car for his requirements. These old mk 4's are so reliable, will go on and on. A couple of years ago i took my old 1.3 down to wales from edinburgh then over to london and back and it never missed a beat. Took it all over the country infact and it only died after it got stolen. I hope in Germany the young ones don't have as much of a tendency to steal these as they do over here, thats the only thing that puts me off old fords.

[ontheway]

us kids don't actually know how to steal cars anymore we just take old ladies handbags with the keys in all the talent has gone I'm afraid lol

[djefk]

The gearing on that isn't bad for a daily! 3000rpm at 75mph-ish (which is my preferred cruising speed regardless of vehicle age / engine / number of gears) - I'd imagine that uses very little fuel and is pretty quiet?

In short - A superbly practical cheap runabout! Nice job!!

[totti]

Hi!
The 1,6 diesel engine is very reliable....i heard of some that done more than 500.000km without fails.It's developed by Magirus Deutz in cologne for Ford.A legendary company!They make normally bigger engines,even for ships and lorry's.And you see that at the 1,6.All is made heavy and rock solid.The injection-pump is gear driven.From the pump there is a small belt to the cam,that never wear out...
On the other side....it's not the perfect choice for a bank robbery.....

You can leave the car overnight at the street with the key in....nobody will steal it.Maybe in Berlin or Hamburg it will be......

So,i have to go in the garage.....

cheers

[welshpug]

the timing arrangement sounds much the same as the Endura DI engine that is still used now, chain from crank to pump and a short belt from pump to cam.


do the mk4 rust less over there than here? I remember reading that German made fords lasted longer due to different metal source !

[totti]

Hi!

Maybe the german made ones rust not soo bad...but overhere the winter is much harsher and they put a lot of salt on the streets.....


I think in the end they rot the same speed....


The right quarter.....cut out,fresh steel



Primer...



sealed&stonechiped....



Very important.....rustprotection from the inside


The rear chassis rails are almost done..... :)they are mostly totally rotten.

Plan is to make it ready for MOT till January.....I think that's no problem.

Update tomorrow!

Cheers

[totti]

Hi!

Today i fixed the front wing....

Thanks to the mudflaps...



I found a donor wing from a Alfa Mito at work....I thought it will be a good idea to cut out a piece and weld it into the escort

.....epic fail



after some adapting....



The sheet metall of the Alfa is sooooo thin i need 1 hour to weld it in....

In the end it looks like that....



After that some work to relax....

Renew the wheel cylinders...





Cheers

[grizz]

Looking forward to this one finishing as Ratlook..... ;-))

[ScORTED]

the speedo is in km/h thats about 75mph which is flat out for a 1600 endura
nice to see a tidy mk4 escort not being turned into an rsturbo, however due to the MO i can't mention its engine

[totti]

Hi!
The photo from the speedo is at my Van behind the Escort.Myone is 1,8 diesel with 60 bhp.....but it's same geared like the 1600.
...no photoshop

Yes,no Rs turbo or something else....bog standart

...maybe some lowering ;D

cheers

[AB car pix]

Brilliant cars, only let down by their desire to rust!

Never had a diesel one though, bet it's stupidly cheap to run...

[totti]

Hi!
Yes,very cheap.Only Tax is expensive for old Diesel cars.But this one is upgradet with a catalyst,so you pay only half of the normal money.

And,hey only 5 liter fuel on 100km

Today i was busy in the garage.
Fit the new rear bumper and remove the badges...



A little paint for the wing-repair....



My workmate cleaned& polished the hole day....



White indicator's...... ;D



A right Mirror......





.....the Uk -plates are only for show

Yesterday i fitted a new cam belt,all filters and new brakes at the front,oil etc....

Ready for german TÜV

My mate can't wait to get the plates on that excellent Retro Ride....

Cheers and a happy new year!

[Brigsy]

Looks tidy enough like!

[totti]

Tach!

Tüv passed!!Without any problems! ;D

Now it's time for some lowering springs.....

Cheers

[totti]

Hi!
Long ago since the last post....
The car is runing perfect....18000km since January
It only needed 2 TCA's and 2 new front Shock-absorbers

And there was some LOWERING...... ;D

But now i have to do the wheelarches and the left sill properly.

Normally i don't do such things in the summer....when the weather is fine it's to hot in the garage....
But my mate is in the US for 4 weeks....so he don't need the car.

Cut out the rear sill......OH



The inner sill needs some new metall too...



Remove the door.....



fits good....



Cut out the wheelarch and test-fit the panel...



Don't look to bad....

More to follow

Cheers