stevmo3691 Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 (edited) Hi all. I am the proud owner of a 1997 1.8 Ghia X 5 door in dark aubergine. It took me a while to find the 'perfect' example and racked up the miles in my bros diesel volvo v70 (thats the point of a diesel). After seeing many a tatty example including one that looked perfect on autotrader but had buggered wheels, engine running issues, fag burned interior, moving steering column and holier body work than the church, i found this car. Had the usual rust on arches, but very minor, but had sweet running engine, service history, and only 81k on the clock. Once i got the car home i had to wait till insurance certificate came through to tax it and drove it for a week (faultlessly) and then the doctor banned me from driving. I was gutted but took this time to start doing work on the car that i wanted. so i changed the cloth interior for a GTi half leather set, fitted new stereo, 2 12" subs in the boot, GTI dials, blue LED switches, K&N induction kit, parrot bluetooth kit, tinted rear lights, eye level brake light and re-conditioned GTI alloys Then i got the news i had been waiting for for 2 months. i was allowed to drive again. unfortunately the MOT had lapsed in that time so i gave the car a once over to get it MOT ready and whilst inspecting the rear brakes to see if i could sort out the high handbrake lever, i acceidently swung the torque wrench up into the chasis leg and it all crumbled into my face. The hole was around 4" long. i was devastated. but my dad told me to mot it anyway as he had spoken to the previous test centre (who for the past 2 years issued with no advisory's) and they said that it should be fine. Car failed on 4 things including that damage. also failed on snapped n/s front coil, corroded n/s brake pipe and damaged n/s brake hose. while i got all the work done i bought myself a p reg mondeo for £250 to keep me going. eventually got the escort taxed and tested in October having started in July! since then i have fitted black angel eyes, gti grill with blue neons behind, GHIA X full leather interior and have purchased ready to fit GTI skirts, spats and spoiler, Si 130PS cams and throttle body, scorpion stainless exhaust system with 4-2-1 manifold and decat, a ported and polished head, mondeo front brakes and RS2000 rear disc conversion kit. plans include getting ecu chipped, new inlest manifold, xenon 6000k headlight bulbs, a front centre armrest (most likely from ghia x mondeo), new steering wheel, new floor mats, uprated clutch, 16" mondy alloys and more custom touches as and when they pop in my head really. http://i5.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000o001O58f.jpghttp://i1.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000s001O58f.jpghttp://i0.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000p001O58f.jpg will add more pictures when i get a chance Edited March 20, 2010 by stevmo3691 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escortlew Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 looks smart - looks like you need to laquer those taillights to get the shine going, will look better imo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeM Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Looks like a good base mate and some nice touches. Will look better with the GTi kit and spoiler on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchkev Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 looks very clean that buddy, - also PM JDMsports, hes got skirtts and spats for sale on your colour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Very nice mate, looks a clean example! also PM JDMsports, hes got skirtts and spats for sale on your colour i wouldn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david91 Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Nice Motor Mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevmo3691 Posted December 26, 2009 Author Share Posted December 26, 2009 Thanks for all the good coments. I do intend to laquer the tail lights but just havent had the time between driving all over to collect parts, work and home comitments. My plan is to get everything sorted during the 2 weeks i have booked off in march which will include a full service (as i'm changing head and cams the cambelts being done). BTW if anyone knows someone good at repairing damaged skirts i would appreciate some help as person i bought them off said in good condition and they are far from. (nothing ever goes smoothly) My main goal with this car is to subtly modify it so its sort of OEM+ but has some extra bits on top. My use of a complete sony stereo system (headunit, speakers, amp, subs) is partly because i like sony products and partly because they are currently providing audio equipment to thenew range of Fords. Oh and you may like too know that the mondeo i bought only had about £50-£60 spent on it including front discs and pads (although i ended up with 2 sets so i tought i might as well fit them to the escort), floor mats, wheel trims and a leather steering wheel cover and was sold for £425, so the difference was spent on the scorpion exhaust system (£150 off ebay but guy selling was not very nice and hid damage to the downpipe in photos). Then some kind person reversed into my front bumper in mcdonalds drive thru (first time in ages i went there) and the resulting little scuff got me £250 off his insurance (just need to slightly re-align bumper and t-cut it) which allowed me to get the leather interior. I will Add more pics as and when, but too busy enjoying driving atm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevmo3691 Posted December 27, 2009 Author Share Posted December 27, 2009 heres a pic of the front with angel eyes, GTi grill and neons:http://i6.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000B001O58f.jpg and this is day light (with lights off)http://i4.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000D001O58f.jpg will add more of engine bay and interior at later stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeM Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Not sure on the blue neon to be honest, but the headlights are cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hezz Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 you going for the knight rider look!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchkev Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 police will love you if they catch you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff2007 Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Looking good mate! nice base! Black angels on black mk6's just look ace! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevmo3691 Posted December 27, 2009 Author Share Posted December 27, 2009 Looking good mate! nice base! Black angels on black mk6's just look ace!not black - dark aubergine looks black but in right light you see the purple - bit like cadbury's wrapper I might have been watching too much knight rider trick is not too let police catch me be even better with the underglow kit i have aswell - have 3 12" neons in the boot, 1 under each side trim and one under the amp and 2 for the front footwells - only for show use of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevmo3691 Posted January 1, 2010 Author Share Posted January 1, 2010 just to add some updated pics and details of change of plans i was planning to do mondeo front brakes but have sourced RS2000 front brakes so will use them instead and am not going to use the 4-2-1 manifold i got as its decat and makes mot a problem so will now save up and get an ashley one with 200 cell sports cat. picture quality is a bit crap as using my phone till i find the charger for my decent camera pictures now show my leather interior:http://i3.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000E001O58f.jpghttp://i1.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000G001O58f.jpg my alloy pedals, sony gigapanel headunit (wish they'd kept this technology going - 1GB flash memory in the fascia), parrott bluetooth kit, GTI gear knob and dials, white backed clock (gonna change it back to proper ghia one when i get one that works) http://i6.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000F001O58f.jpg this one you can see my tinted lights better, the flat style blade and the flat paint on the o/s quarter panel (after doing rust repair, painted and sanded down, just needs lacquering so waiting till warmer weather)Hope it'll look better with the 4" scorpion exhaust, spats and spoiler i have in the garage - just need to paint themhttp://i0.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000H001O58f.jpg as you can see, few things needed here - just the skirts, spoiler, spats, bigger wheels, RS2000 brakes, slight lowering - hope you like my colour coded ghia badge surround on rear doorhttp://i7.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000I001O58f.jpg needs a bit of a clean and i am re-painting the rocker cover with metallic black VHT paint (just waiting on delivery of another rocker cover). you can see the K&N induction kit, blue twin core performance leads, stainless steel spark plug cover, re-painted exhaust heat sheild (looked crap in rust)http://i6.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000J001O58f.jpg from the front i just want to tint the fog lights, add a front splitter and sort out the scuff on the bottom edge of front bumper on o/s (carefully taken picture to hide it ) - was there when i bought the carhttp://i1.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000K001O58f.jpg i love how well the zetec 1.8 pulls through out the rev band - already annoyed a few people - and when it has that little bit extra power it deserves, the brakes and suspension to match, it will be perfect - at least till i'm older and can afford to insure a 2.0 litre conversion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevmo3691 Posted January 1, 2010 Author Share Posted January 1, 2010 thought you might like to see what she looked like when i got her. this car was completely standard when i got it with loads of history (ex ford demostrator), had one keeper from then till '07 then previous owner had it till may 09 when i got it (they only sold it owing to job loss)these are the pics off the ebay listing http://i0.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000L001O58f.jpghttp://i3.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000M001O58f.jpghttp://i6.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000N001O58f.jpg if you look carefully at bottom corner of this bumper you can see the damage i was referring to http://i5.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000O001O58f.jpg still had original dealer plastic backing behind number plates http://i4.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000P001O58f.jpghttp://i3.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000Q001O58f.jpghttp://i6.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000R001O58f.jpghttp://i1.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000S001O58f.jpg other side was slightly worse than this:http://i4.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000T001O58f.jpg and this is what you call FULL service Historyhttp://i3.tagstat.com/image03/8/520f/000U001O58f.jpghttp://i2.tagstat.com/image04/8/520f/000V001O58f.jpg theres even a little token book worth up to £250 if i get anyone to buy a car from that dealer i can cash it in (one voucher already used) - with no expiration date sales invoices, receipt for everything (including front bumper replacement and paint work), all old MOT's, details of supaguard paint treatment (only lasts up to 7 years), and warranty booklet. can you guess why i bought it £700 for this was a bargain in my eyes - the wheels were even mint and had good pirelli P6000 tyres all round (wheel were mint till my mum drove my car back from hospital when i got banned from driving and smacked it into the kerb outside my house) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now