GF has an Escort Wagon... Needs more power.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Ok so let me just say this right off the bat... I don't have the funds to buy a new car and she doesn't want to get anything except an SUV which I totally don't have the funds and neither does she... But I've been reading up on some of the more popular engine swaps for old escorts and could use any advice on some of these.

Ok baseline is this 1996 Ford Escort Wagon with a weakass 1.9L SOHC (86HP) and the damn thing can't get out of its way. It makes my mildly modded KA powered S14 feel like a jet plane.

The most popular is the 2.0L SPI out of the 97+ escorts, apparently if you do a hybrid (2L head 1.9L bottom) you can make mad power with a turbo. I can pick up one of these 2L with trans for around $400-500 and it drops right in with some very minor mods to the intake.

Then their is the BPT out of the old 323 GTX's which drop right in with minor mods and as long as you have the ECU and know a harness guy (which I do). I'd love to get my hands on one of these and do a mild rebuild and drop it in. These engines are capable of making power and would make the wagon into a total sleeper.

Then there is the 1.8L out of the Escort GT's which are kinda rare but it's a direct drop in and go swap.

If anyone has some old school escort knowledge please chime in. I really hate this car and until I can get the money to get her either an Xterra or a Murano I'm stuck with this POS and I drive it more than I drive my car (my car makes her physically ill from the noise and fumes(I love her to run rich))

[Nismo ZJ]

Then there is the 1.8L out of the Escort GT's which are kinda rare but it's a direct drop in and go swap.

Do it! Like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBv0WjxgdA4

[Chaotic_Warlord]

That sir is awesome, those 1.8L engines that the GT's have in them is pretty much a Mazda BP engine that is found in Miata's, Protege's and the older 323's. They seem to hold up to boost pretty decently too. I'm just wondering how the auto slushbox will hold up to boost.

[Nismo ZJ]

Yes it is. And just to add, that car is for sale locally. I kinda don't want it to sell so the guy will part out the turbo parts for me to put on my Miata.

Not sure about the autobox, he said it was toasting the clutch, haha

[raremotive]

Yes it is. And just to add, that car is for sale locally. I kinda don't want it to sell so the guy will part out the turbo parts for me to put on my Miata.

Not sure about the autobox, he said it was toasting the clutch, haha

My daily is a 1.9L Hatch. I rebuilt it back in HS. Only things I did was intake and a highflow cat. It scoots pretty fast for a tiny hatch.

[CodeRed]

Nice oogah horn

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

SFI is weaksauce...How about the ZETEC engines from the focus SVT or the later 2.4 duratec?Those are said to be pretty stout and the 2.0 svt engine comes with 170hp stock.Then if you find one of those factory nitrous kits...more power for it!

[MinisterofDOOM]

If you have to ask, you're doing it wrong. There is only one right answer to this question:

http://www.burtonpower.com/tec....aspx

[rodmod720]

If you have to ask, you're doing it wrong. There is only one right answer to this question:

http://www.burtonpower.com/tec....aspx

haha cosworth ftw!!!!

[Mr1der]

corksport still around?1.8 turbo might be fun.

or you can try to stuff a 2.5 Duratec V6 in there.

or tell her to buy a Mustang GT

let's be honest, for the money you'd drop on making it faster, you can get something that'll better suit her needs.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

The ZETEC from the f***us isn't a direct drop in, the 1.8L BP(T) and the 2.0L SPI are pull out and drop in with no changes needed to be done for the mounts or frame.

I would literally give my left testicle for an Escort Cosworth that I can use as a parts car, they are known to spank most anything that they come across with mild bolt-ons.

She either wants to keep the wagon she has (it was free) or I get her a Murano or Xterra, since a new (used) car is out of my budget right now and engine swap is more attainable. I also need to keep it as an autotragic because she can't drive a stick and honestly it's not worth the frustration it would be to teach her (she won't even put air in her tires because she's afraid of them blowing up)

I can probably get my hands on a used protege/mx 3 1.8L BP for dirt cheap but I'm not familiar with them. As far as the 2.0L SPI those are even more plentiful and I could probably get one as a crate motor for $600-1000

[Mr1der]

lol...a faster auto Escort?

dude.....

[Chaotic_Warlord]

lol...a faster auto Escort?

dude.....

I'm not planning on drag racing it, just want it to have enough power to get out of it's own way. If you account for age, wear and tear, and every other factor a stock from the factory 1.9L only has 88hp @ 4400 RPM and 108 ft/lbs of torque, so being that it's 14 y/o and everything else I'm probably down to 65 or 70hp and 80-90 ft/lbs of torque and that's probably at the crank, if this was a hatch or coupe with a 5 speed I could probably make do, but it's a wagon with a slushbox.

So yes I want a more powerful and faster escort wagon with an automatic. She likes it, it's her car, but I drive it more than she does so I want it to have more power and still be driveable for her, otherwise I'd just go get me a BP(T) and a 5 speed and call it a day.

[alms24sebring]

Wow I never knew Escorts could be modded like this. I just sold mine to my cousins girl and she wanted a faster motor and stuff. I thought she was trying to the hell out of it tho. The first day she bought it, she got bolt on racing pedals from advanced, dark 5% window tint (cop magnet). She was talkin about coilovers, rims and a motorswap, I was like WWHHHYYYYYY??? in the back of my mind.

I've always liked the idea of a sleeper a$$ Escort, but I didn't have any idea what to do. I didnt have any money anyways and the 240 comes first too. I needed the money so I sold it. Ill keep this thread in mind.

Btw its a 97 base model, 2.0L, 5-speed beater. It wasnt fast but it sure was reliable. I thought parts would be impossible to find, motor parts, turbo, accessories, etc.

Be sure to post if you manage to make a 8 second Escort!

[Chaotic_Warlord]

The 2.0L SPI found in the 3rd Gen escorts make stout little engines when turbocharged. If you make a hybrid using the 2L head and the 1.9L bottom they are capable of making big power due to the 1.9L having flat top pistons vs the 2L having dome pistons. Now that I've done some research I may try to get my hands on the 1.8L BP engine from a protege or MX3.

[raremotive]

The 2.0L SPI found in the 3rd Gen escorts make stout little engines when turbocharged. If you make a hybrid using the 2L head and the 1.9L bottom they are capable of making big power due to the 1.9L having flat top pistons vs the 2L having dome pistons. Now that I've done some research I may try to get my hands on the 1.8L BP engine from a protege or MX3.

My 1.9L block weighs more than my rb26 block.

[Dattebayo]

I thought parts would be impossible to find, motor parts, turbo, accessories, etc.

No way, dude... The Ford catalog has plenty of Escort parts.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Escort parts are relatively cheap too since they are old and their fan base is a smallish community. Keep in mind that the Escort GT is essentially a Mazda Protege/323 (just like the Ford Probe is essentially a Mazda MX6)

[pepegurr]

Those are great little cars, if your just looking to add a few more ponies Lazer cams USED to make a nice cam for these, im not sure if they still do but we ran one of these in our 94 5-door escort hornet car(dirt track). the 1.9l GT(think late 80's) cars also have factory headers that are bolt on. Add about 3-4* of timing and turn up the fuel pressure just a lil and you should be getting closer to 115-120hp with the above mentioned mods. BTW if you do get one of the lazer cams they are good to around 8500rpm.

[Dattebayo]

factory headers

HEADER

SINGULAR, not plural....

[zacmil]

or you can try to stuff a 2.5 Duratec V6 in there.

That would be pretty baller. My first car was a Contour with one of those in it and it was super fun. It could run with a V6 Mustang no problem. I have nothing but love for that engine.

[alms24sebring]

HEADER

SINGULAR, not plural....

ehh

I'm ganna get headers for my car. > I'm ganna get a header for my car.

Lets go back to the pair of pants example. 2 leggings, 1 item4 tubes, 1 item.

... I think that's correct. My Engrish teachers are turning me into a grammar nazi.

Back on topic..Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have sold it. ehh, I might get one later, who knows. Ive always wanted a sleeper car that no one would expect. I'm lovin the ideas I've heard for the Geo Metros and I still want one.

[Dattebayo]

I'm ganna get headers for my car. > I'm ganna get a header for my car.

Lets go back to the pair of pants example. 2 leggings, 1 item4 tubes, 1 item.

... I think that's correct. My Engrish teachers are turning me into a grammar nazi.

It's one piece, it's called a header. Headers is when you have two pieces.

By your logic, then you should call the exhaust mani pair off a V8 headerses.

[krimsonviper]

Chineses.