Hi Last year I built myslef my first car (a 1979 mrk2 escort coupe), simple stuff, a tiny bit of body work, an upgrade to a 2.0 pinto form a 1.6 then had it painted and got interior upulstered, So atm i have a nice 1979 Mrk 2 escort coupe imaculate body and looks real sleek. So I finnaly decided to see what was up with conversions. I have preaty much read all the threads about sr20det converions into Escorts but im only a p plater and figured 135kw or 150hp is more then enough for me in a road car. So was thinking more along the lines of a non turbo Sr20de and a 5speed manual gearbox.

I really just joined today to ask for some advice on what's best for me, what's the cost, what is the entirety of the work and is it worth get it fitted by an engineering mob?

I have seen a lot of links to the Turbovan site but its been down since I started snooping around these fourms.

Hey mate ive done the sr20det conversion in my mk2 escort it is alot of work n a fair bit of custom work to get it right and not rough...

As for n/a sr20 it would still go good in an escort and be quick on the street for wat it is... And would be a fair bit cheaper then doing a sr20det conversion because u can pick up an na sr20 pretty cheap and u dont have to worry about intercoolers,computer turbo, manifold etc

Ull need custom engine mounts, gearbox mount, all the wireing, tail shaft. the standard escort diff will cop an sr20de as long as ur not dropping the clutch heaps lol

Have u looked into the duratec/zetec conversion? Because i kno u can buy pretty much everythig u need for the conversion which would make it quite a bit easier... Or were u looking at dropping a turbo sr in once ur off ur p's?

Yer a Sr20det is something I would like to keep in my future options and I thought i saw some people mention converion mounts for Sr20 to escort for sale. I still have to go through all the options, I was just thinking cost effective mesures.

Im happy to spend the money to get it done properly. Not really in the living situation to do it myself though.

I kno 510 POM off here was doing crossmember to suit sr20 into escort... Maybe pm him n see if he is still doing them....

It wont cost all that much to put an n/a sr into an escort if u get on other forums: nissansilvia.com and secretdrift... Or maybe ebay... Ull pick up a rear wheel drive sr20de and box pretty cheap... Then sort the wireing etc get a tail shaft made which arent expensive and re do ur exhaust... Make sure u got a decent radiator as well cus the standard escort radiator prob wont cop it...


I got my mounts custom made have a look at my build thread its in the projects section...

I imagine its also necessary to move the brake booster and get a hydrollic pedal box, I would like to see what people have used in their own projects.

Thanks, ill deffinetly read your thread.

The engine mounts will be your first hurdle. My mate and I made our own, took about 2 and half full days to set-up and fabricate the engine and gearbox mounts.
There will be no room for the brake booster, so factor in a pedal box set up.
The standard gauges won't work with the new technology, allow for some aftermarket ones.
The gearbox won't fit in a manual tunnel. If you not lucky enough to have an auto shell, allow for some fabrication work.
Custom exhaust and tailshaft.
To do it properly you will need to get an engineers certificate for the mods, so best start talking to one now. They will have requirements like keeping all the factory polution gear.

The more work you can do yourself (or get a mate to do for you) the less it will cost, allowing more money to be fed into upgraded brakes and suspension.

Brett is on the money...

I use vl turbo engine mounts (the rubber bits) because sr20 mounts r like $450 lol so u can factor things like that into it to make it a bit cheaper also use a hq 1 tonner gearbox mount...

Booster will be thrown in the bin. Battery in the boot and tray cut out

So I have Priced up the costs of engineering and an a standard Sr20de conversion and not worth it for a daily driver.I believe I also overlooked QLD restrictions for P-platers and they dont allow for any blue plate mods. Im probbly just going to get my 2L pinto checked and cleaned and look at a new cam and carby.

Thanks for all the help. If only we could all afford cosworths?

Mmm thats tru with the mod plates in qld...

Jus start saving and gathering parts for an sr20det conversion... I wouldn't go dropping to much money into a pinto cus its not worth the money... Keep an eye out for 1 thats already got money spent on it and buy it will save ur self a poo poo load... Will still be quick for wat it is...

I can't find any "for sure" information about Qld p-plate restrictions. I'm a P2 licence holder and will be for the next two years. Does anyone know If restrictions allow me to have a mod plated car?

Also is there any particular place that is good for finding "worked on" pinto engines that have since been replaced?

Thanks for your help guys.