Summer Project advice

Scooby45

Hi all,

1st thread so apologies if etiquette is broken!

I'm just about to buy a MK5 Ford Escort (1991) 1.3l petrol
as a project car for the summer.
I have some vague ideas of what I want to do with it but
nothing solid as of yet. Ultimately I would like to keep it road legal and
insure it as a second car (€€ dependent).

I plan to completely overhaul the engine; port and polish, reseat valves,
redo timing belt, change the air filter and play with the carburetor's settings etc. Was also told to get a spark advancer but not sure about its practicality.
I would like to strip out the interior, add a roll cage and bucket seats etc
but that could be going too far in terms of NCT and insurance.

Basically I'm looking to hear from anyone who has done this in the past,
or has some advice on any modification listed above or that they could add.

I know there are forums galore for ford enthusiasts but I'd heard good things
about the lads and lassies on this section of Boards so thought I'd start here.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance!!

Mar4ix

start with punto, simple engine, go for 1.2 8v, mk1 punto. i done it, easy to work on it. little or no electronics. if want more headaches, get mk2 punto with same engine, more sensors. cheap enough buy one. plenty parts.

p.s. or go for this... lol http://www.fiatforum.com/punto-ii/141920-punto-hayabusa-power.html

Scooby45

Hi, Thanks for that. I'm getting the escort for free as a friend doesn't want it taking up space in his garden any more! Its running but is out of NCT 12 months. I had a punto several years ago, cost me more than I earned that year to keep on the road!

Did you make your own roll cage? Was the car road legal afterwards? Was it NCT'd and insured?

Thanks

Holy SH*T is that a hayabusa engine?? If I had the time/money/ability to do that I would certainly attempt it!

Scooby45

Scooby45 wrote: »

........ has some advice on any modification listed above or that they could add..........

It seems an awful lot of work to an engine that is essentially a heap of sh1t, a reliable and frugal engine but nonetheless a heap of sh1t as engines go.

If you are investing such time in a Mk5 Escort would a 1.6i (at least) transplant not be an idea. In the late 90s I worked with a lad who had an Orion 1.6i Ghia that he had chipped with small induction and exhaust mods and it was a very decent car to go for what it was

Is the car a 3 door?

Scooby45

My budget is quite small at the moment, would ideally like to work with what I have. It has about 60BHP (when new) so with a good tune up, piston polish, maybe a rebore etc, and if I strip out all unnecessary weight, it should be nippy enough.

Also, I grew up with carburetor engines, watching my grandfather work on them (he was a Ford mechanic) and so would like to get some hands on experience with breaking down the engine and rebuilding it.

I also plan on changing the exhaust and intake, possibly a custom exhaust, most likely a K&N panel filter (if they make them for this year) or a simple induction kit.

I think it might be a 5 door, not too sure. Its very early stages of the project (so early I havent seen it)!!

Henry Ford III

The old pushrod engine isn't great tbh, and tuning won't get that much more from it either.

The bodyshell (assuming it's a 3 door - if it's a 5 door don't bother) should be able to accomodate several alternative engines. The 2.0 DOHC i4 for example. There's a lot of work involved though.

Scooby45

Henry Ford III wrote: »

The old pushrod engine isn't great tbh, and tuning won't get that much more from it either.

The bodyshell (assuming it's a 3 door - if it's a 5 door don't bother) should be able to accomodate several alternative engines. The 2.0 DOHC i4 for example. There's a lot of work involved though.

Just found out it's a 5 door. I would love to change the engine
but I feel it would be a job best suited to a mechanic or someone
who has a mechanic close by who can lend a hand. Also seeing as
it is a 5 door i think I'll stick to what I've got. I'm not looking
to race the car at all, just to have as a second car that I could
mess about with and enjoy driving without the fear or damaging
something that could leave me without a car for work. Also if it all goes
catastrophically wrong (very likely) i can scrap it and be only slightly out of pocket.

Surely I could restore it to all its former power of a whopping 60BHP
at the very least, maybe squeeze a wee bit more by grinding the ports,
polishing the pistons and changing intake and exhaust?

Either way I appreciate your input and thank you for it. I think I'll
take the car anyway and see what I can do.:D