That looks a thousand times better already!!!

So it turns out she's potentially up for sale. I have an operation coming up to pay for, which sucks but the Escort may have to go.



Hopefully I can sort something else out.

So far I have dodged the need to sell her, so the build to get her back on the road continues.

Been doing alot of investigation into some parts I need, next target is the halogen conversion kit while the headlight surrounds are off being sprayed.

I still can't work out where to put the gauges I want, without looking like a ricer. Still working on it.

I did fit the window winder part from Jaycees (thanks again, very nice to meet you and some great cars - especially the one in the works! I am jealous!), so the passenger window works once more. Woot!

I am yet to read up on assembling this diff as well, I need to work out what tooling I need to buy, if any, and get it assembled.

Jobs left until rego:
- New exhaust that actually makes it to the back of the car
- Replace the headlights with halogens
- Get new gauges and mount them
- Respray the headlight surrounds
- Re-assemble the heater box now that the core has been repaired and the resistor pack is made, and install it
- Soft mount the fuel pump, it's crazy loud

Other jobs:
- Get the old window tint removed
- Install the electronic ignition kit
- Give the car the Meguiars treatment head to toe

I still need to buy:
- VDO gauges
- Halogen replacement light kit

I'd also love to work out how to make this bad boy start more easily - the very high compression makes it difficult to start quickly, unless it has just been running. Maybe the electronic ignition will help?

Hi Timmeh.

Yes, electronic ignition only ECU might be better as you may be able to wind back the static advance when starting which should help.

The cranking and the fuel pump were my favourite things hahaha. I'm glad you've managed to keep it, if anybody was to buy this car off you it'd have to be me!

Thanks Paul, I'll look into it.

Josh - for sure! Ordered a full set of halogens for her today too. Sealed beams FTL.

So the sealed beam to halogen conversion, including fitting relays for low and high beam and fuses for both, takes longer than expected. Took me all night to complete the job.





I notice that the halogen replacements I have are a flatter type rather than the older more rounded type, but they were all I could afford at the moment and I am not sure if I care enough to chase up the more rounded ones. All the same to me.

Once I align them I'll fit the freshly sprayed headlight surrounds and it's on to the remaining jobs. I think I'll put the car on stands and tackle the reverse light, fuel pump soft mount, and diff replacement next.

Had a chance to do some Escort work inside (on baby duty), so I tackled the heater box. Although I had done the groundwork previously, I got all the bits of the heater box together and assembled it today, using a combination of parts from the one out of the car and a second one.

Heater core was soldered and pressure tested, vanes were stripped, repainted and foam strips reapplied to minimise vibration, cables were lubricated, the fan speed switch was disassembled, restored to working condition, and reassembled, and a new resistor pack made up.

All assembled now and ready to go back into the car. I had to assemble it twice, the first time I completely forgot about the heater core and was proudly admiring my work when I noticed. [:0] What good is the heater box with the heater core!



So probably will install it tomorrow.

Looking good Tim!

Ok so I couldn't bring myself to part with the car, so the build continues....

Jobs left until rego:
- New exhaust that actually makes it to the back of the car
- Get new gauges and mount them
- Soft mount the fuel pump, it's crazy loud

Other jobs:
- Get the old window tint removed
- Install the electronic ignition kit
- Give the car the Meguiars treatment head to toe
- Buy and fit a stereo

I still need to buy:
- VDO gauges