Hey here's something a bit different, i've got a 1980 escort currently sitting with no engine (stock 1600 pulled out about 4 years ago) auto trans ripped out and a bunch of random parts lying around including a set of minilite rims and a genuine rubber rs2000 spoiler.

Tomorro I'm goin to pick up my other engine I've had sitting at a workshop for over a year untouched, it's a 2L pinto with (and I quote from the guy I bought it from) motor has been run in and tuned made 87rwkw on the dyno, twin 45 webers, crank has been lightened by roughly 1kg, hypertechnic pistons, fully balanced rotating assembly, head has a custom grind wade cam, double valve springs and the compresion is 190psi across all cylinders

now what I'm trying to decide is, do i give the engine a mild rebuild, make sure all said parts are actually in there, find a manual gearbox, clean the car up and restore it as a weekend cruiser

or do I sell the engine, sell the car/and parts and walk away with some cash and lose 6 years worth of hopes and dreams?

I was hoping for some suggestions/rough build cost figures, inspiration, or just tell me to bite the bullet haha...

Cheers

Escorts are becoming so rare now, If you sell it you can pretty much kiss ever owning a decent one again goodbye. Selling my built Mk2 is one of my biggest regrets I put so much of my own blood sweat and tears into it. For me it was the most fun car I've even driven. Rebuild is my suggestion. If you're chasing a decent box I have a sierra 5 speed laying around.

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Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina.

sell it to me for $500

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MY93 Impreza GX 1.8L, 0hp, 0nm

Get your credit card. Go to burtonpower.co.uk and make it a beast.
I wouldn't sell it. Again they are hard to come by now and can be a great cruiser or also a great budget entry to motorsport.
If you need names of good engine builders etc let us know.

Rob

edit: you can get 200hp at the fly out of the 2l pretty easy and they will go all day.

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Subaruless

Finish it. I gave up a project mid-way through & now I just wish I had it back to finish it or just buy another one & start again.
Like it has been said, a clean escort would be hard to find if you ever decided to give it another shot.

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2000 Mitsubishi Evo Tommi Makinen - Diamonds are a girls best friend.
Tokyo Motorsports - www.tokyomotorsports.com.au

Another factor to consider is you know the condition of the body, if it were possible to buy another shell and do this at a later date, it wont matter how shiney the new project is as you dont know know whats either involved to clean it up or what hides beneath.

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

I would persevere with the build. From personal experience nothing is as satisfyifng as your own project car. I get to play with my latest build for about six weeks out of every year but the time that I do get to spend on it never fails to lift spirits. Don't be afraid to try new and unusual concepts with it either. It pays off in the end.

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Air is for pussies.

The accident that cause the write off of my modified twin cam 2L Mk 2 Escort 2 door was one of the saddest days of my driving life.

Great little car - as such, I would be keeping it and completing it if possible.

Thanks for the feedback guys, in terms of condition of the shell, it's gotthe usual rust on the intake plenum (for heater box) and a small patch of cancer on the rear right quarter panel...

Autopilot: how much would u be asking for the Sierra 5 speed? I haven't seen one advertised in so long (other than on the classicford forum for well over a grand)

One of the main reasons I have held on to it since the age of 15 (was originally my sisters first car but she never hit her license) and I have fought with my parents for so long to keep it stashed at their house is because I always knew they were a gem, and one day I'd be driving it around eith a huge smile on my fce. I always considered it to be the poor mans Torana but t the same time I'd choose my esky over an lx torrie anyday.

If people are interested I'll throw up some pics when i get home this arvo

again, thanks for the words of encouragement, I might actually get some progress happening soon

I'm glad to see some more people who love the older cars as much as I do, ive just never had the money to get the project off the ground, I'd love to see some pics of past projects that people have worked on/owned/still own. Would act as a good inspiration point