1989 Escort 1.6L 3dr Estate Mini Update pg 7 12/5

[tri]

My first project:
Hi! First post, first project car.

Picked this Escort up on Monday, got big plans for it.. though I recognise they're going to take a while, and a fair amount of money (that I don't have, lol).

First thing I did when I got it home was stick 2 coats of silver turtle wax on her and stick an air freshener in it. The old lady who had it before me smoked (like a locomotive by the looks of things) in it, and it stinks like old ford plastics and cigarettes.

Heres some pics I took straight after.


^It's been reversed into a lamp post or similar at some point - so one of the first jobs will be a replacement boot.

^ The Alfa is what I was driving until I picked this up - bit of a difference in performance.. 170bhp to 90bhp (when new, GOd knows what it is now, lol (plus a 3 spd autobox, w00t)




^Most of the dents seem to be on this side - think the lack of spacial awareness might have been a factor



Before I divulge my ideas for the future, it would be nice to hear some from the community here - see if I'm thinking along the right lines so I don't drive around looking like an idiot

As for things that are already in motion, though: I have a bolt on K&N coming (oo chromey) and have my eyes on some lowering springs 30mm at the back, 40mm at the front - to improve the stance, and so I can still use it for picnics and camping, as this has become my main car aswell as my project, though it will go off-road over summer and a Probe will become my daily runaround.

Hope you guys like it/have some ideas.

[Fennec]

Lovely! 3 dr estate is the best! Keep it subtle would be my advice!

[xbo11ox]

Thats bloody lovely! Don't go overboard modding it is my advice.

[loon]

that is one fine car you'v got there
just lower it on 15s mondeo should fit and a repaint to sort out the dents ;D

[big end floater aka lb]

nice car amte as above keep it sleeper

[Neil]

clean as a whistle! i can't remember the last time i saw any MK4 as sweet as that. Rims & slam. mission accomplished!

[arthurbrown]

OOOOOOOOH!

Easy. Clear front lenses, red rears, 80mm drop, Ronal Turbos. DONE.

[reanimation]

Lovely! not a common sight at all these days, there were vans like this too I'm sure, have not seen one for ages! Looked like a polo in the first pic

I also agree don't go overboard, a sleeper would be nice, keeping as is would be acceptable, going mad if you have a clever or mad plan would be fun - see Streets 'project family dragster'!

I'm feeling a 'cleaning' mission or ugly locks and handles etc and a bit of a euro inspired look, but not Ronal turbo's don't work for me on Forruds

watching for plans announcement

[topghia]

nice car your starting off almost as i did with my mk3 it was a 1.6 3 speed auto with a lamp post dent on the rear lol anyway you will find you get terrible mpg with the auto box also it proberbly has a small carb and 1.4 spec exhaust system fitted this might sound silly but i converted mine to manual fitted a twin choke weber carb and a 4-2-1 ashley manifold and exhaust system and found i could do 17 second quater miles i had a top speed over 130mph and got a easy 80 miles extra out of a tank of fuel look up my car thread its lost on the site somewhere if you need any advice just drop me a pm ive had to many mk4's

[tri]

topghia said:

nice car your starting off almost as I did with my mk3 it was a 1.6 3 speed auto with a lamp post dent on the rear lol anyway you will find you get terrible mpg with the auto box also it proberbly has a small carb and 1.4 spec exhaust system fitted this might sound silly but I converted mine to manual fitted a twin choke weber carb and a 4-2-1 ashley manifold and exhaust system and found I could do 17 second quater miles I had a top speed over 130mph and got a easy 80 miles extra out of a tank of fuel look up my car thread its lost on the site somewhere if you need any advice just drop me a pm ive had to many mk4's

Thanks, the manual conversion is going to be the first technical thing to happen, though gotta locate the bits n bobs first.

- Also, thanks to everyone else for the comments, and as much as I like Ronal Turbos on the right car, I'm not entirely convinced this is the right car for them.

[Rich606]

Very nice, always liked the three-door estate. Guy around the corner from me has a very smart white Combi van (like reanimation was talking about) that I find myself lusting after.

Check out Captainwow's Escort Bonus, I reckon the diamond-cut RS Turbo dog-legs look the dog's danglies ;D

[penski]

What p-wizzle said.

Or stick a 302 V8 in it. I've heard they slot straight in...

*n

[tri]

penski said:

Or stick a 302 V8 in it. I've heard they slot straight in...

If that's true, my plans may well change

[stealthstylz]

I'd slam it 80mm at the front, 60mm at the back over these

cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-COMPOMOTIVE-ALLOY-RIMS-FOUR_W0QQitemZ160214005246



De-badge the bonnet and boot, get rid of the mudflaps then drive it.

Matt

[paulmi16]

That's very tidy indeed, I didn't know they did a 1.6 3dr, I thought they were all 5dr.

[Lopez]

That's incredibly tidy. My mate's mum had a blue one of those when we were in school.

0-60 in 12.2 seconds, 18.8 second quarter mile, Max speed 101 mph and a disgusting 25.6 mpg overall (Autocar test of the Mk3 version, 09/04/83)

[tri]

paulmi16 said:

That's very tidy indeed, I didn't know they did a 1.6 3dr, I thought they were all 5dr.

Same here, It's not even listed in Parkers or as an option on autotrader (hence it was advertised as a 5dr) Though the V5 says otherwise

[scottie]

i still love these cars heres my mk 3 from about 10 yrs ago, full xr3i running gear



scottie

[luckygti]

Very nice, and looks like it's in really good condition. Good buy. Lower it, nice wheels RS turbo interior, job done!!

[slater]

Nice, i keep trying to buy these but it never works out!