Guest DutchKev Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 after owning the mondeo V6 which was a truly awesome car, i had a rather shocking phonecall come renewel telling me i'd lost ALL my NCB ( was a 50/50 claim that was buggered up by some stupid under righter, case still ongoing) i had to sell the mondeo so whilst that was going on, the mrs bought herself a nice little focus to run around in, but the focus was HER car, i had nothing so after much deliberating, she suggested i get myself a cheap banger to do up, so i hunted high and low on ebay, autotrader etc and being outbid numerous times on ebay i was ready to give up, but i fially found one ... in kent so took a toddle down there (3 hours later) and arrived, spoke to the guy and asked him if there were any problems other than the ones he had already told me about which were:- 1. car wouldnt engage 5th gear 2. both rear shoes need replacing 3. exhaust needs replacing he said everything was ok with the car but it had been stood for a year so the battery was as flat as a witches t*t, so bump started the car,, filled it with fuel and drove off. i made it half a mile down the road before the car cut out on me completely and i rolled into a layby and called out the RAC (who where usless c**ts) who bump started me and sent me on my way - i had to do a 3 hour journey down countless motorways with only 4 gears, a knackered gearbox and tracking that tried to kill me, but i finally made it home with this:- imperial blue 1.8 Si with only 57K on the clock, full leather interior, heated front and rear screens, electric front windows (work out windows in the back), power hood with no rips, tears, mould etc (toneu (sp?) cover included) 6 disk changer (but no stereo) and a few other things aswell all in all the car set me back a whopping £250 the car does need some (well, alot) of work, but it'll be off road for a while anyways. know issues (so far) are:- needs new gearbox (syncro in 5th gear has gone) needs new center section and back box (to be replaces or welded) needs new shoes on rear ABS warning light on (might need new pads or sensor cleaning/replacing) rust in usual place (bottom of front wings, along the top of sills) dent on N/S/R quater panel (can be pushed out easily) needs new wheels and tyres (will be going for 16" mondeo alloys with 195/45/26 rubber) valet and service general tidy up but as i said, i have nothing but time so these jobs will be done as and when comments and critasisms welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 had a chap out to have a look over the car and see whats what and i MAY have bitten off more than i can chew... turns out as well as the gearbox being shagged, the rear gearbox mount has snapped completely! notice anything sticking out of the bell housing? so......whilst the car isnt going anywhere soon i will be taking the front subframe off and replacing:- gearbox clutch lower arms drop links track rod ends ARB bushes CV joints disks/pads (will try to upgrade to 260mm, dont want the hasle of 300mm) there is a rather large K&N style filter on the front which will be replaced with the standard airbox and a panel filter instead and yes - that IS a pair of tights being used as a breather.... but today i did manage to get some things done..... i blanked the EGR valve off.. also toped the brake fluid level back up so now i have no more brake light on the dash just an ABS light instead... again, comments and critasisms welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Savage Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 At casual glance it looks like a bargain but obviously the work needed is reflected. I have to say I'm jealous of that leather Si interior. Keep us abreast of what's happening with the car and if you need any help, throw a shout in the forums. Welcome aboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allblue Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Look forward to see how you progress this one. Looks to have the potential to be a good car, I guess the bodyshell is solid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 cheers guys aye, body shell is solid bar 1 or 2 surface rust patched that will be treated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gavintwopies Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) Seems odd that the box has lost 5th??? maybe it could be the fact that the box is not sitting where it should and is forcing against the linkage preventing the engagment of 5th ........ just a thought. Also it looks like its been replaced via the 1/2 in 1/2 out bolt and the blue paint pen saying escort on the box too. As for the K&N filter i would be very skeptical about the MAF also as if the MAF is not secure and flopping around the heated sensor element inside can break very easy much the same as shaking a lit lightbulb.... get that std air box on asap or brace the MAF in place. Edited May 22, 2011 by gavintwopies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarineIguana Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 I love that blue and hope to see how you get on with it looks like a good base to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 cheers guys i unplugged the MAF whilst the car war running and the revs picked up - so looks like MAF is ready for the bin collection and hoarding of parts is starting to comence! i found a replacment gearbox complete with mount and all other gubbins for £30 - so thats now sat in the garden awaiting an overhaul (clean down, fresh oil etc) tomorrow im off to the scrappies to see if i can salvage an airbox, possibly focus rear disks and one touch relays to convert the hood to one touch up and down will update with progress soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gavintwopies Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Dont think the focus rear discs are a bolt on mod as if i remember there the same offset and mounting info as the granada rear calipers? if so i might have a set of rear disc conversion plates lying around for a mk5-6-7 escort....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 iirc the rear beam on the mk6 cabby is the same as the hatch, if so then the entire focus hub will bolt straight onto the escort hub, only difference is the rear wheels will sit slightly wider as the focus has a different ofset than the escort ive seen at least 5 sucsessful focus rear brake upgrades using the focus hub/disks/callipers/brake lines/handbrake cable and fitting seems straight forward guide found on various forums:- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- how to do st170 rear disc upgrade you will need focus st170/ghia rear disc hub setup focus st170/ghia rear calipers and pad carriers focus st170/ghia rear pads and discs focus disc handbrake cables focus rear flexi pipes For abs escort abs sensors and collector ring tools axle stands 30mm socket 1/2" drive 1/2" drive breaker bar 8mm socket 1/4" drive 10mm socket 1/4" drive 1/4" drive ratchet 13mm socket 15mm or 17mm socket 3/8 drive 3/8 drive ratchet 3/8 extensions 13mm - 17mm spanner hammer rivets and rivet gun brake fluid jack car up and place on axle stands remove wheels for cars with abs remove hub nut and remove drum remove the 8mm bolt for abs sensor inside the rear brakes you will see the abs sensor using 10mm socket and extension tap the sensor out through the hole (that's how you remove them with knacking sensor and cutting wire) for cars with and without abs (for cars with abs you will have to have the hubs machined by 7mm so the escort abs ring will fit on the end and the hub plate drilled to 14.5mm before you start stripping car down) slacken your flexi pipe off at the drum end remove the escort handbrake cable off the shoes and pull through the back plate at this point you can fully remove the escort handbrake cable slacken and unscrew the the four bolts holding the hub onto the axle and remove the complete hub unscrew the escort flexi hose from the drum rivet the focus disc back-plate onto the axle take the focus hub and bolt onto the axle using the focus bolts install focus rear disc install pad carrier and bolts grease up the outer plates of your pads take the focus flexi hose and screw into the escort flexi hose know screw the caliper and flexi hose together place caliper onto the pads and tighten bolts up install the focus handbrake cable from front to rear and tension double check make sure everything is tight bleed your brakes replace your wheels and try out your new brakes as you can see, its pretty straight forward - as long as the rear beam is the same as the hatch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gavintwopies Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Ah rite never herd of it being done before but that said i stuck with the mk3&4 escorts and only use mk5/6/7's for engines and such like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 (edited) been a while since i updated, but tbh ive only managed to get 1 or 2 things done with the lack of funds! as previously stated, got a replacement gearbox for her, also got some axle stands and a decent tool kit ready to swap the gearbox over (at some point) also managed to find me an ideal set of wheels.... 16" diomond cut RS7's and a little mock up of the wheels will sorta look like when fitted properly: but, as with every good find i have, another little problem rears uts ugly head. took my wheel brace out to swap the wheels over, put the 19" socket in and guess what - its to small! the fella before me has put 21" wheel nuts on, and 1 single STEEL wheel nut! its a wonder it didnt fall off... so now i need a full set of proper ford wheel nuts and locking wheel nuts before i can put the wheels on - bummer ive also found a guy close to me who (if he ever gets back in touch) will be selling me a decent stainless steel cat back system for the princely sum of £50 but on the plus side the car has been washed and waxed... only to get rained on the very neext hour. still, least the inside is clean... so, thats where it stands atm coments and critasisms welcome as always Edited June 30, 2011 by DutchKev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Savage Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I think someone has nicked your neighbours hanging baskets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tony.rose Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Like the look of her, I think you have grabbed yourself a bargain there!! Nothing wrong with using tights here and there. The broken gear box mount will be the culprit for loosing 5th gear, but we should just be cruising so no need for it any way lol!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingergman Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I think someone has nicked your neighbours hanging baskets. car is also looking good, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avul Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 hi kev, gd lookin car 4 the price m8 by the way r u sure that it has bigger wheel nuts? as it maybe that the orig ford nuts that should b on have a stainless cap on them & they always swell as the steel nut rust's, if it is that m8 just get a 19mm impact socket & hammer it on. let us know how u get on regards mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Deffo the wrong nuts fella, took the nut off the mrs focus and it fit straight on , 19" socket didnt even touch it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avul Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 well hope u can get them off ok then m8, keep up the gd wrk, looks like a gd car u ave there, bit of tlc & she'll b a gd un regards mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted July 2, 2011 Share Posted July 2, 2011 cheers! ikkle update, before: after: plus i got a complete new exhaust system ready to fit aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avul Posted July 2, 2011 Share Posted July 2, 2011 oh that looks better kev, much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingergman Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 its like spot the diffrence badge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Close, surrounding the badge.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingergman Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 ah yes, i really couldnt spot that lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avul Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 pmsl at stu!!!!!! oh stu i cant beleive u missed that, dooh that gave me a ryt chuckle..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DutchKev Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 little update:- RS 7's on also i swapped over the snapped mount from the gearbox to see if that made a difference with selecting 5th - and it didnt so ive got to find some help to swap the entire box over still, these things are sent to test us - onwards and upwards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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