Guest rodge Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Hey, I bought my Escort in August and haven't had much time to play with it. I'm still trying to get it on the road. Here she is. Just needs the emissions sorting, two tyres and the brake pipes changing which hopefully will be done by Monday for the MOT. Then, I have no idea where to start. The engine seems ok, holds temp etc but I'm sure it can be improved. Interior, needs a little work but I am trying to locate some better seats for it. Exterior - Dont really like the colour or the wording down the side to it's coming off, but not sure what colour to paint it. Any advice on what to change on the engine to improve it (other than a replacement!) would be appreciated. Dave, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cabbytech Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Hi Rodge, Your cab looks to be in fair nick, do you have a colour in mind for it ? What are you wanting to do to the engine ? are you wanting more power from it, or just to sort the emission problem out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rodge Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Thanks for the reply. There are rust spots here and there which I am going to attack on the weekend and I am going to debadge the front. A bit of Filler and primer later and it's not going to look as pretty with Grey bits. I keep changing my mind over the colour. I was thinking Red and Blue 50/50 down the middle at first, then I went on to Black on top and silver bottom. Now I'm thinking sunburnt orange if tehre is such a thing, Think 206 GTI. that sort of thing. As for the engine. It has an indicated 33k which I cant decide is 33k or 133k. My suspicion is 133k, but between the last MOT and now, it has only done 100 miles. I just want the engine to run, and keep running. I'm not that interested in power as it's looks I'm going for. Was thinking of painting the rocker cover to start with and then go from there. Dave, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingergman Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 hi mate, id just change the wheels, those tyres are big lol, a decent set of alloys and pull the stickers off and i think it would look good, what engine has it got, mfi or efi ? if you are gunna paint it id go for a nice shade of light sky/baby blue, seen afew that sorta colour and imo they suit it lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rodge Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Guys, What is the biggest wheel size that will fit straight on with no messing? Dave, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest adamk Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Guys, What is the biggest wheel size that will fit straight on with no messing? Dave, iv 17's under mine with 205/40/17 no rubbing probs at all. also have had them on my hard top which is lowered 40mm, no rubbing either. but was a bit hard with the suspetion setup and poly bushing, so left em on soft top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 If the engine is running fine with no probs and as you said you are not after power, then I suggest you leave it alone, unless you know what you doing the best and most reliable engines are the standard one's. When it comes to colour I prefer lighter coloured cars but if you can keep a black car clean then that is my favourite colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingergman Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 i used to have 17s o mine, looked better than 15s but the ride was harsh, so its back on 15s lowerd 60mm and drives so much nicer, more comfy, only prob i had with 17s is that it nocked my speedo out around 6mph lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rodge Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 I have a few more questions to ask. Not sure if I should start something in a tech forum, but if you could help, please do. Oh, I have ordered some 15" wheels with 195/60/15 tyres. Hope that will make the tyre wall less HUUUUUGE on the eye! Anyway my questions are: 1) Will any ford seats replace the fronts in mine or might I have to drill new holes? Reason - I want to get a GTI interior or at leaset the Si interior seats in it. 2) How slow should the power roof go up and down? It seems to struggle especially on the Up part. 3) At what time should the fan kick in as the temp guage seems to fluctuate a lot on my Cabbie. Thanks, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DEG Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 hi, mate, cab looks good in that yellow i'd sort the body with a 90 spec front or get the matching rs front skirt for the kit you've got. bin the stickers and paint whatever needs tidying. wheels/tyres i think a 195 60 might still be a bit fat on the wall! rs turbos etc have a 50 profile as standard. i dunno what seats go straight in but someone here will. 3i seats go for nothing and they go straight in, if you have some cash get recaro rs turbo seats! straight in! the roof is pretty quick on ours compared to the golfs we used to have so maybe that needs looking at. and as for the fan, count yourself lucky it kicks in at all! my mates temp gauge dont work and he has a switch for the fan to just flick whenever he wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rodge Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Hey, Does anyone know if the seats from a M reg Ford Probe will fit into my 1988 Cabbie without too much aggro? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeMcCarthy Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Whats the seat base on the probe like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rodge Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 UPDATE: So, my Escort failed the MOT on 5 things. 1) nearside wiper loose - Not too dificult to fix 2) Nearside rear trialing arm rubber bush knackered - Ordered new one today 3) Offsider rear trailing arm rubber bush knackered - As above 4) Rear Exhaust mounting missing - Gonna have to bodge this one somehow 5) rear lamps affected by the operation of another lamp = Bad earth Here's what I've done today in pics Before After getting rid of surface rust, Anti-rust added Sanded down With Filler Need to sand it down, primer and paint it tomorrow. Then there are about 5 other areas to be getting on with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeMcCarthy Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 The MOT fail wasnt too bad could have been alot worse m8 when you doing all the other bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rodge Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Here's the bonnet ready for painting. Not perfect, but I'm happy with it onsidering i've only used filler once before. Next Job - I've noticed the carpets are damp and I want to replace them. Where do I get a replacement from, or do I just recover the floor with any carpet I want? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shaun Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Hi mate that's good only to fail on little things like that considering the age keep up the good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeMcCarthy Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Take the carpets out and give them a good clean they may come up a treat, failing that have a search on ebay something may come up you like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stally08 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 coming along nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rodge Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 HELP NEEDED!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been searching all over for the (last) part that it failed the MOT on. On the MOT form it says the rear trailing arm bushes. Any parts people I call ask if they are suspension bushes or some other type of bush. Cant find any on eBay either. Can anyone help me by telling me if they are part of the suspension or where I can get replacement trailing arms from. I've fixed everything else and am eager to get her on the road. Thanks, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeMcCarthy Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Have alook underneath to see if any bushes are perished it might give you a clue for what you need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stally08 Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 alrite m8 coming along nicely, what anti-rust did u use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingergman Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 ive tried that anti rust stuff before, if its the same stuff its Hammerite, looks the same, green gel. i fort it was crap personally, diddnt work for me, best off grinding out all the crap rusty metal and if needs be welding it, a much better repair in the long run! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mossop1 Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 the rear trailing arm is the long rod that bolts to the floor then the other end to the wishobone and most parts companys call em tie bars and the bushes are on ebay http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=mk4+escort+tie+bar+bushes&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=mk4+escort+trailing+arm+bushes&_osacat=0 im sure thats what youre after but if in dout go ask the mot tester to show what bushes they ment as they are normally helpful best of luck with mot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stally08 Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 i was looking at hammerite kurust but just wondered what that anti rust was but if its rubbish i will go for kurust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingergman Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 krust is alot better, altho still made by hammerite lol, strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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