project Infrared collection thread. Goodbye, Farewell, Amen. 22.5.20

[sutty2006]

Its been wholey abused from day 1 me thinks. Fuel lines are on the brink of collapse, rear subframe is crusty. The trailing arm brackets have gone weak through rust. Rear flexi pipes are all perished, alloys need refurbing with new tyres.....

 

Ive just sat in it and fired the engine up.... my heart sank. she purrs like a kitten. I really wanted this to work, to the fact ive welded the chassis up this afternoon with 2mm plate. My welder is playin up, cant get a clean weld and dont know why, my mask has gone shit too.... I fear its telling me something but I just dont want to let go. I need to be told its the end of the road....... but.....but....

 

[sutty2006]

Am I doing the right thing by cutting my losses and breaking this? My heads in a right mess.

 

[rickvw72]

It’s repairable, like everything.

But it’s a lot of graft, and will also be money. 
 

Wont be east to fix and you’ll damage paint, if all rots not got out you’ll be doing it again.
 

On the basis of it’s a lot of work and effort to put right, id call it a day.

Unless you love it too much, which I’d guess you don’t or you’d do it no questions.

 

[BorniteIdentity]

Holy fucking moly. 

I think you repair a car like this when you really love it and/or it’s not easily replaced. There are myriad other reasons but they will usually fall into category 1.

It’s a Mondeo. They’re in plentiful supply literally everywhere for cheap. Knock on enough doors you’d likely get a better one for free, never mind half of what you’ll need to chuck into this. 

If it doesn’t fulfil either criteria at the top of my ramble, I’d get it on eBay tomorrow. Or bale it. And yes, I’ve gone full @sierraman but that’s had it. 

Chin up man. None of us go into this to get rich. Perhaps to take the sting out of it you could grab as much from this as you can and try and pick up another one? 

[sutty2006]

I got offered another Infra red hatch a couple of months ago for £1100. Ive put more than that into this without purchase price. Car as a whole is worthless but in bits its worth a lot more. Already got a fist full of people fighting for parts so I stand to make a good chunk of that back. I love the car, I love these ST mondeos, but I dont love repairing odd shaped panels that are essentially structural and need to be done to a very high standard. Like Rick said above, ALL that rot needs to come out, and thats all where the seat upright fixes to the body....... it goes reeeeaaaaaaal deep...

[BorniteIdentity]

3 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

I got offered another Infra red hatch a couple of months ago for £1100. Ive put more than that into this without purchase price. Car as a whole is worthless but in bits its worth a lot more. Already got a fist full of people fighting for parts so I stand to make a good chunk of that back. I love the car, I love these ST mondeos, but I dont love repairing odd shaped panels that are essentially structural and need to be done to a very high standard. Like Rick said above, ALL that rot needs to come out, and thats all where the seat upright fixes to the body....... it goes reeeeaaaaaaal deep...

You wouldn’t want to crash it, that’s for certain. 

Break it up. Let others live. You knows it. 

[sutty2006]

31 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

You wouldn’t want to crash it, that’s for certain. 

Break it up. Let others live. You knows it. 

That’s what goes through my mind. Crashing it (I’m not a shit driver, but there are shit drivers out there) and it folding up. I had a head on crash at 60 mph in one of these in 2011 and it saved my life. But that was a facelift with no rust at all. 

[Cookiesouwest]

1 hour ago, BorniteIdentity said:

You wouldn’t want to crash it, that’s for certain. 

Break it up. Let others live. You knows it. 

What he said ^^^

[fordperv]

Steve definately the right thing walking away, I remember the fight your tdci st put up against that audi and safe to say this one would be a final resting place if crashed with a big hit

[sierraman]

On 4/27/2020 at 9:04 PM, BorniteIdentity said:

You wouldn’t want to crash it, that’s for certain. 

Break it up. Let others live. You knows it. 

So true, you really don’t want to find out how good your welding is when the seatbelt mounts are pulling out of the body in a smash. Ages ago we had a Focus it had rotted the rear seatbelt mounts out, unless we’re talking restorations here it’s time to say goodbye once the integrity of the car is gone it’s bean tins. 

[sutty2006]

Well, it’s been a long road, it’s been a tough road. But you shall suffer no longer. The years have been hard for you, but you shall struggle no more. At the going down of the scrap value, and in the morning.....we will remember you. RIP old fella. 

[Split_Pin]

Just been through this thread, I feel your pain but that's a good decision.

I went through the same with my Clio 172 earlier this year. Got the rusty subframe replaced only to find more rust on the body. Thankfully no holes so I spent a week grinding and painting, only to discover the aux belt was on its way out which is a specialist job to replace. Got that done only to discover a previously chewed jacking point had developed into a huge hole in the chassis, sill and floor. The rest of the underneath was ripe as well. With a heavy heart, no doubt like your own ai decided enough was enough and sold it to a breaker. It's since been sold on but it'll never see the road again.

Onwards and upwards chap, you fought a good fight.

[BorniteIdentity]

1 hour ago, sutty2006 said:

Well, it’s been a long road, it’s been a tough road. But you shall suffer no longer. The years have been hard for you, but you shall struggle no more. At the going down of the scrap value, and in the morning.....we will remember you. RIP old fella. 

 

[Dick Longbridge]

Scary how some modern Fords seem to rot like it's the 1970s all over again. A neighbour has the previous shape W plate ST Mondeo which failed it's MOT miserably on rot. He had a mobile welder in his drive all day yesterday stitching in new tin. Forth Bridge springs to mind.

[Supernaut]

I hope you've kept that engine, considering how much work you put into it.

 

What else would that engine fit in...?

[sutty2006]

1 hour ago, Supernaut said:

I hope you've kept that engine, considering how much work you put into it.

 

What else would that engine fit in...?

 

Ive got someone collecting the engine tonight. Yes i put a lot into it, but ive more or less taken back what it owes me once the engine and interior sells. Was thinking of keeping it and finding a dead 220 for it to go in but cash is king right now.

 

[Supernaut]

2 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

 

Ive got someone collecting the engine tonight. Yes i put a lot into it, but ive more or less taken back what it owes me once the engine and interior sells. Was thinking of keeping it and finding a dead 220 for it to go in but cash is king right now.

 

Fair enough. Reality takes priority at the end of the day.

 

I had an idle thought... I wonder if anybody has done a V6 mkII Focus? I don't see why anybody would bother, considering the power available from the 2.5 5-pot in the ST, but still... It would be amusing.

[sutty2006]

I’d say the engine and gearbox combo would be too much for the front end of a focus, and like you say the power from a 2.5 turbo lump would easily see a 3.0v6 out. 
 

did have bloke wanting the engine for an escort van project but he fell of deaf ears a few weeks ago. “Yeah I’ll wire a deposit mate!” ............. nothing.

[paulplom]

Scary how some modern Fords seem to rot like it's the 1970s all over again. A neighbour has the previous shape W plate ST Mondeo which failed it's MOT miserably on rot. He had a mobile welder in his drive all day yesterday stitching in new tin. Forth Bridge springs to mind.

W reg is now 21 years old! I doubt your typical xr4i or equivalent would have survived as long.

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[paulplom]

And a French car needing specialist attention for a service item is just taking the piss.

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[Turbowomble]

To have gone so far, put so much work in and in the end have it all be for nought; my heart breaks for you, commiserations. It's a real shame, as good ST220s are getting to be thin on the ground due to falling victim to either the Barry squad or to our old friend tin-worm, as you've unfortunately found out. At least there's plenty of time to seek out another project and prep it for when This Whole BusinessTM comes to an end.