My multifunctional Mk 6 Escort Van

[Renegaderebel]

Hi there guys.

 

I'm Peter and I'm from Holland and I've been a visitor here for some time now, so it's time to start a thread here for the Van i bought last summer. It's got a massive 1.4 Petrol engine so there's no need for another engine (yet). If i want to play i can get one of of my 2 other Fords, a '73 Mustang Mach 1 351 CUI Cleveland V8 (5.8 L. about 430 BHP) and a '78 Mercury Cougar Brougham 400 CUI (6.6 L. about 300 BHP).

 

I've always liked the Escort Van but petrol versions are quite rare here in Holland, but after a six month search i found this one, a '98 Mk 6. It's striking colours came from the former owner the City of Zoetermeer. Because i'm not only using the car for myself but also for some clubrelated activities i'm trying to blend all this in the back of the car. So it's going to be a transporter/dogcarrier/minicamper.

 

 

Here's a list of my plans:

 

Respray (This will take a while though)

Pimp out the back of the van (Started)

Lowering

Digidash in Blue from an astra GSI (Partially done)

Change all dash lighting from green to blue (Started)

Red taillights

2 tone interior Black / Beige

Talking boardcomputer from Renault 25

Built-in computer with monitor in roof in the back

Some extra Amps & Speakers.

2 Subwoofers in (Grolsch, well i'm from Holland) Beerkegs (Ready to go in)

Homemade interior lights in the back.

USA lichts (Indicators in the front light up with headlights)

Maybe double din radio with DVD and Satnav

Flip rear axle

 

 

What i've done already:

 

Radio Mp3

El. windows & Mirrors

Bumper with foglights

Ghia Grille

Crystal Smoke repeaters

Laguna Splitter

Alloy's: 16'' Cossis

Leatherseats in Beige (F and R Saab)

Angeleyes

Modified Bonnet

Front Lowered 40 mm

 

I'll try and put up new pics as i go along. Hope you guys can give me some feedback. Here are the first ones.

 

 

 

This is how it looked when i got it.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/vanoud01.jpg

 

Bumper, Ghia-Grille, Saab seats and Alloy's I had laying around.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/vanbos-r1.jpg

 

Laguna splitter sorted.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/lagunalip-r.jpg

 

Saab Seats from the front.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/vanseats01.jpg

 

Seats from the back.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/vanseats02.jpg

 

Started with carpet in the back.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/escortback01.jpg

 

Then it was time for:

Pimpin' with Plywood!

 

I've seem to have chosen the wrong profession when i was young, should have learned carpentry, because building something threedimensional in the shed that has to fit in the car out front is a little more difficult then i thought it was. Anyhow, the largest parts are ready now and wil be covered with carpet these days. I've laid them out before installing for a trial fit.

 

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/vanback/escortback04.jpg

 

As you can see, only 1 of the upper sidewalls is completely finished. These go from nearly straight at the back to quite curved at the front behind the seats. That's why i made 2 pieces of curved plywood out of 5 layers of 5 mm. plywood. I bent them in their place in the van to get the exact curving of the van's walls.

 

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/vanback/escortback07.jpg

 

Here you can see the difference quite good. I didn't want to take the risk of putting them in under tension, they might start bulging outwards in time due to weather conditions.

 

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/vanback/escortback12.jpg

 

The curves were screwed an glued to the walls whilst placed in the van. I did this so if they ever have to come out, i just have to place them on the underlaying plank to line-up all the original screws with the holes in the van. The upper walls are a little twisted but that's sorted out when they're in the van and there's going to be another plank on top of the walls to connect the roofliner with the walls.

 

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/vanback/escortback14.jpg

 

All in all it's going to look like this. The plank on the bottom has no other use than just looks. I think it'll make the endresult look a lot more "original" and because it will be covered with thick black carpet, it will hide the screws that hold it quite good too.

 

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/vanback/escortback16.jpg

 

The boxes around the wheelarches are lengthened and curved outwards to line up neatly at the rear doors. I put hinges on the top to create some space for the jack, wheel nut spanner and some other stuff you need to have with you in your car these days. On top of the wheelarches are 2 shallow rooms where i will keep the struts for the caravan style bed.

 

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/vanback/escortback19.jpg

 

Behind the wheelarches i've planned the 2 aluminium beer kegs which will house the subs. These will be welded in so they can't get stolen (you never know) I've made a start with the panels for the rear doors. After that i will get to the last parts, the B and C-pillars, roofliner and the parts over the side walls and the rear doors. So: To be continued........

 

In the meantime i've picked up a modified bonnet, angeleyes and Crystal Smoke repeaters from a clubmember who was selling his car. The bonnet was wrapped in carbon but that's not quite my thing so, knowing that is was plain black underneath, i removed the wrapfoil and this was the result.

 

From the front. (Note my security system between the seats!)

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/vanshoot40small.jpg

 

Side view.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/vanshoot44small.jpg

 

And the angeleyes fitted (with some new super bright Leds in the rings)

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/howtos/angeleyes10small.jpg

 

Then i got some new springs that bring the front down 40 mm. Here with the left side sorted and the right on the original spring to see the difference.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/howtos/verlaging01.jpg

 

So this is how it stands now.......

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/escortlast.jpg

 

I had this laying about and i'm trying to get it to work in the van.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/howtos/digi01.jpg

 

But first a makover as all my interior lights are to be changed from green to blue. I think it looks a lot better this way.

http://escort.renegadecountry.nl/pics/howtos/digi02.jpg

 

 

So thats it up till now! Let me know what you think of it, greetz from Holland.

 

 

Peter.

[m4rk3014]

Love this it looks great !!! don't suppose there is any chance of getting the Plans of the Wood Lining Kit and Wheel Arch Boxes complete with all Measurements PLEEEEEEEASE !!!

[Renegaderebel]

Love this it looks great !!! don't suppose there is any chance of getting the Plans of the Wood Lining Kit and Wheel Arch Boxes complete with all Measurements PLEEEEEEEASE !!!

 

 

Thanks mate. I've been thinking to make plans for others but i'm not a carpenter so i've got no ideas as to how i can make plans for the curved parts of the panels. But i will do my best when i've got a little time to spare and you will be the first to get some. Should i forget just send me a message, i'll do my best.

 

 

Peter.

 

@m4rk3014

 

Let me know where i can see your Van i love to see what others are doing with their vans. As far as i know i'm the only one doing something like this here in Holland.

 

 

Peter.

[lee grout]

Good job on boarding the back out. Will look good when carpeted, like that bonnet too. Not 'in your face' but nice and different

[badboyclub]

really like this think il keep an eye on this you planning on lowering the rear?

[Hezz]

really like this think il keep an eye on this you planning on lowering the rear?

 

Here's a list of my plans:

 

Flip rear axle

[badboyclub]

really like this think il keep an eye on this you planning on lowering the rear?

 

Here's a list of my plans:

 

Flip rear axle

 

knew i should have read it instead of just looking at pictures

[sidrick]

Good write up!

[sidrick]

Any updates on this?

[mess]

Wouldn't min an update myself, especially if you got the digi dials working in an escort.. i've got a set tucked away in the garage....

[scottybo]

what is that dash out of just out of interest?

[sidrick]

Looks like an old Renault unit to me.

[etrebus]

what is that dash out of just out of interest?

i think its astra gte if so they also fitted it to some saabs (possibly where the seats came from)

[sidrick]

what is that dash out of just out of interest?

i think its astra gte if so they also fitted it to some saabs (possibly where the seats came from)

 

You're right

[Renegaderebel]

Any updates on this?

 

Wouldn't min an update myself, especially if you got the digi dials working in an escort.. i've got a set tucked away in the garage....

 

Sorry Guys.

Have been quite busy the last few months, just not with the car. I'm taking over a Dutch Escort forum and it's getting a complete makeover. New site, new self made forumstyle, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, the lot! So this has taken up all my time so far. BTW we do have an Still empty English section and translating pages isn't a problem either, so if you want to check it out.

teamfordescort.eu/forum

The site is not ready yet, hope next week. Hope to have some updates soon too.

 

 

what is that dash out of just out of interest?

 

It's an Astra Dash, or rather an Opel as they are called here. Just customised, it's blue now instead of the standared yellow. Haven't been able to get it working yet though so the speaking boardcomputer from a Renault 25 is going in first. Will be the first talking Essi in Holland!

 

 

 

Peter.