Orionzetec Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 It started with the white Orion which some of you probably know or have seen at shows during the past 7 years. Sadly this year became the last year as it failed its MOT on a list of things. Most were easily fixed but two which were giving me grief were Chassis rust and failing emissions. After failing the emissions test twice (even with a new lambda) I decided enough was enough. The car had covered about 200,000 miles (on 2 engines) and wasn’t the best base for my ideas. So instead of struggling on I decided to get an mk6 escort saloon. After much hunting I found what I was looking for, 1996 1.8 Ghia Saloon. In reasonable condition as the 2nd owner had looked after it well (the 1st was Ford) with the car collected from Peterborough I was back on the road again.With the white Orion safely garaged I started my plan of action. I had loads of ideas floating around my head (still do) about how to go about this new project.With no deadline or proper plan I just had ideas with no definite timescale or deadline. Then one damp & wet day in October on route to collect the misses from work a women in a golf+ decides it would be ok to pull out of a side road straight into my path!!! Whilst looking totally the wrong way! Great. Id only had the car 4weeks and it was already a mess! Luckily the insurance company wrote the car off as a category C which meant I could repair it. They paid out the full value of the car and for £80 I got to keep the car. So not a bad result in the end. I worked out the cost of the repair to be quite cheap actually!Being a front end accident it damaged the front panel, bonnet, headlight, foglight, bumper, Radiator, Air Con Radiator.All of which (except the front panel & Rads) I was going to swap anyway. So I already had the parts on the Orion. Working in the trade the front panel cost about £35 which isn’t bad is it!!! I’ve also decided to change both sill panels as they are showing signs of rust and Id prefer to do it properly now, than chase rust about in 12months time. The cost of each sill? £11!Rude not to change them then!The plan is to fit the RS bumpers from the Orion, along with the bonnet and morrette lights. I’ve got a set of genuine ford skirts to replace my fiberglass ones. Give the car a respray, maybe colour code the alloys, lower it a tad and then use it for a while before making a choice of engine transplant. All the work except the spraying and a bit of welding will be done by my own hands. Luckily I work for a company with a bodyshop and they kindly let me work on the car at night when there are less workers around.I’m trying to do this project on a smallish budget as funds aren’t great at the moment, doing a lot of the work myself will save a lot of labour costs though.Enough of my typing away, let the long days + nights begin! The Old Orionhttp://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Orion.jpg The New Escorthttp://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/newsaloon1.jpg The smashed up Escorthttp://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild2.jpg http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild1.jpg With the front stripped it became obvious that a new front panel was in order. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild3.jpg http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild4.jpg After a bit of work the old bent panel was removed http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild6.jpg New panel on http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild7.jpg A bit backwards but I then realised the wings would have to come off to do the sills Wings Off http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild9.jpg Once that was done it was time to move on to the next step.... The sills Ive only done one side and i dont want to do the other as the drivers side was a real bitch to do.Oh well i guess ill have to!! Sill No.1 offhttp://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild10.jpg New sill in its placehttp://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild12.jpg Also had a st500 in the workshop. No. 1 of 500Rude not to have a sit and play! Seats are real comfy Out of my price range sadly http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild14.jpghttp://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q164/orionzetec/Escort%20Rebuild/Rebuild13.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NATH-RSZT Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 (edited) the orion looks nice mate, keep the pics of the escort coming , Edited January 2, 2008 by NATH-RSZT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedgie07 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 loved the orion when i first saw it in a ford mag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 What's the rear bumper on the white one? Is that the RS accessory skin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1pukkadeal Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 liking the photo history ,keep it coming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Nice little read there matey, and like the white orion! Keep up the good work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marshy Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 stu ...yeah it is..OZ you know how i feel about the old car mate,seeing that car made me want an orion!! loved every bit about it. and if you do as well on the new one..i cant wait to see it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutley Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 always loved the white orion.. one of the best imo after lgr's that is (i have to say that or she would duff me up) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC-DNB Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 That Orion was the nuts mate! I'd love that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoastescort Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 the white one was the mutts nuts mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orionzetec Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 Cheers allGot a good few ideas for this one. Its not staying blue BTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Cheers allGot a good few ideas for this one. Its not staying blue BTW Oooh? White? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orionzetec Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 Ha Ha very funny. No not white. Make fitting the bumpers easier though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orionzetec Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 (edited) Not much progress due to illness More updates nxt weekFinally got a mk3 bootlid in good nick Edited January 17, 2008 by Orionzetec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Get better soon! wanna see some progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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