alright i found my information. a section 13 modification is not allowed while on my Ps which means anything that requires a mod plate not allowed.

I was looking to see what i could mod on my esky while staying in the P plate laws and so far havn't been able to find 'section 13' to read it, i'm thinking of a zetec conversion but this is what's gonna hold me up just like it will stop you putting an sr in.

I talked to an "expert"(term used lightly for government employees) and if you change the gear box, suspension and engine in a car from its orginal then it requires a blue mod plate L1 and any car that needs to be mod plated is restricted for p-platers.

I would say if you do a zetec conversion and get a shiny ford lable on the front of your car and on the engine and dont get it impounded no cop could work it out as long as you dont have a mod plate on it.
They are only cops... real smart.[^]

I was thinking the same thing i'm pretty sure no cop would know the difference, i'm already gonna change the diff, suspension, brakes, most likely the gearbox so i don't think a zetec will really matter.

Just saw yours is a 79 coupe like mine, have you got any pics of it? and your in brisbane too i'm from up the sunshine coast and every p plater drives a commodore so it's good to see someone else with an escort.

They will kno wen they pop the bonnet and see a new twin cam engine in it... Most police officers dont kno wat there looking but that will stand out to any1... Old model car with an injected twin cam...

Doing diff and suspension and brakes is not a hassel and ull get away with out modplating but u wont get away with an engine like that...

I'm not sure if I'm gonna go through with the Zetec but if I do it will be running carbs which could make it seem abit more normal to the police and I wouldn't mind one
of the bda look alike rocker covers, that might make it look old enough to not be questioned. Then again I'm still deciding between the Zetec or a hot pinto.

Its highly unlikely ull get away with a twin cam engine in an escort with out a modplate...

The money u put into a "hot" pinto ull make the same power as a lightly modded zetec... But then theres cost of buying zetec and fitting it etc

Jus get a worked pinto and put nitrous on it... Thats wat i had...

I've been exploring many options for my escort. The SR20DE looked good. The S15DE has the same power as an S13DET! More reliable, less cost etc.
The guys at extreme custom engineering will get the motor & box fitted in an escort shell for a very reasonable price.


I'm thinking along the lines of where I'd ultimately be satisfied in terms of power. Pinto, power but an extra 30kg, 2L silvertop zetec can be picked up cheap ($400) but the conversion bits aren't cheap and the power is moderate.

A 20V 4AGE would be my pick. The RWD conversion has been done so many times by the KE70 drivers. Tried and proven. And there's no denying toyota make great motors.

Nice work mate... Craig does awsum work has done all the fabrication on my car...

My escort will be back down there in a month or so... Wen is urs going in?

Hey Matt,

I heard about craig through Motsons performance in Coopers plains. (My van was being serviced at Europcar, I spotted the yellow MK1 across the road and had to go over for a chat!)

He said Extreme will put a motor and box into a shell for about $400, I thought that was very reasonable.

I have no immediate plans to engine swap my MK1. But it will happen, One day [:o)]