Escort van

[Crooner]

Right. I'm now using the escort van from work, and strangely liking it. I've had a bit of a mad idea.. I have use of a spares van at work that has surprisingly rust free shell. Would it be possible to transfer everything off a well specced Escort car into the shell. I'm thinking petrol auto, a/c etc. Is there any reason why it wouldn't work?

[JeeExEll]

1. Yes it would.

2. No there isn't, none at all.

Go for it, sounds good. All basic stuff to swap over.

A 'standard Ford spec' Escort Ghia van, I really like the idea. No silly aftermarket wheels or tat.

Could actually be worth a bit of coin in the future if you do it right. The parts are still available very cheaply at the moment but are disappearing fast.

 

The sort of project the late Hendry would have loved.

A 'special vehicle order' van ordered from the factory.

[Faker]

Escort si or gti as a doner

[sutty2006]

Yes. Do it.

[twosmoke300]

At least the side skirts would hide the rotten sills . I was welding these up for their first MOT !

I’d have it on a ramp and give it a really really good check over before spending any money and time on it .

 

But if you go ahead please make sure it has a bad boy bonnet for the full 90’s look

[stuboy]

i helped my exmate with his, and nearly bought it off him, but i want a smiley transit instead

[Crooner]

I was thinking more full ghia trim, not sporty at all, so it would probably only appeal to me! I would end up spending a year swapping all the bits for it to end up with the kind of spec than new vans have anyway. I was also thinking of that dark metallic brown (B.L. Brazil metallic) for full 'I quite like it, but I wouldn't have it myself' spec. Paint cost is the main prohibiting factor, as I dont do bodywork myself. Still thinking....

[Crooner]

Oh, and definitely no alloys. Steel rims all day. May push to a set of chrome rimbellishers.

[Joey spud]

I think a petrol van is a winning idea.

 

Back in the early 90's a mate had a new 1.6 petrol Astra van and he was mocked for not buying a 1.7 diesel.

 

But back then the petrol version was far quieter,much quicker and an altogether better van for doing daily runs around the south east.

 

Even the fuel consumption was similar.

 

My first job was at a Vauxhall dealership and i can remember a customer ordered a pair of B reg poo brown 1.6 diesel Astra vans both fitted with GM 3 speed automatic transmissions.

 

As expected these poor things were absolutely awful.

[sierraman]

Getting it resprayed properly would cost a fucking bomb. Bizarre as it sounds if it’s sound, I’d hand paint it. Decent brushes and the body preapared properly will get you a decent finish.

 

As above though I’d check for the grot first.

 

Also strictly speaking you’d end up on a Q plate unless you retained the ID and some parts from the rust free shell.

[Crooner]

 

My first job was at a Vauxhall dealership and i can remember a customer ordered a pair of B reg poo brown 1.6 diesel Astra vans both fitted with GM 3 speed automatic transmissions.

 

As expected these poor things were absolutely awful.

 

That's just the spec I'd have. Good idea, but thoroughly disappointing.

 

Other query, I have no experience of the CVH transmission. I dont want to do all this work for it to grenade in 10k?

[mercrocker]

Years ago one of my then step-daughters boyfriends had one of those Escort Combis based on the Mk4.   Quite apart from what I shudder to imagine went on inside it it was a neat ride and I have mentally toyed with the idea of something similar ever since.   Been looking askance at Astra vans lately....I reckon the upgrade plan for an Ecky van is a sound one.

[Iamgroot]

I love this idea, I keep being tempted by manky escort vans on eBay for similar attention from me