Guest nofx Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 hey all, my first post. I have a 1976 escort panel van [MK II] I do not know much about cars, how much stuff costs etc.. basically I would like some help. (before I start, I know that everything is up to me. But I would like some valid opinions from you guys; what yous would do in my situation...) Here's the deal: I have roughly $3000 saved up (i go to school. only work part time 7hours week) and i would like to know what I should do first. I can get a real good 2K paint job done for $800 from my dads mate. Should I do that first? I also would like a fairly good wheels, but because of my budget, i can't spend too much. What should I get? What is a good/cheap Price? The interior is fairly good, just needs carpet and seats and a general clean Howmuch would it cost to get a console fitted in? New seats? Then probly the last part, the engine. It is a standard 1.3, Do I need to put any money into the engine, to increase the value? (I'm not too fussed on power/speed,) but do you think its pointless making it look better and leaving in a standard engine? well there is the situation. Thanks alot in advance. I hope some of you can help me out or give me some tips on how to do/get some stuff cheaper. Cheers. nofx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thminiman Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 the best bit of advice is that plan to only do everything once and once only. Plan everything before you start and get whatever parts you can before you start. the paint job will add a greater value to the car if you do everything, paint the engine bay, interior too and youll get alot more if u decide to sell it. as for wheels, look at the parts for sale section, i think theres a reasonably cheap set For Sale there that will look pretty nice if you lower the van a bit. Engine wise it is up to you really. if your not interested in power (yet) then just give the engine a good clean if you take it out and if its been sitting for the past while then do plugs, leads, distributor coil, new oil and flush the water sytem out after you put the new radiator in. As for interior, It all really depends how higher quality you want. A dash restoration can be very costly and if you research more into it you might become comfortable with what youve got. As for seats, take a look on trade me, again its sort of what you want it to be like, now-days you can pick up a set of bucket seats for pretty cheap but you migh prefer the standard seats or an older style of bucket, both of which may cost more than the buckets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Pretty much what he said^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Paint is always expensive, and it adds lots of life/value to the car if you get rid of all the rust and do a good prep before you paint it, so if you can get that done for cheap then go for it. I'd reccomend rolling the guards at the same time, alot of people have issues with rubbing if they put larger wheels on. 14s or 15s can look good, any bigger and it looks silly in my oppinion. Wheels are slightly harder to come by for escorts as they have a less common stud pattern of 4*108, keep an eye on trademe for a set of second hand ones. Interior can add up unless you do a few things yourself. Check out what I did: //oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=898& Carpet can be bought for about 200ish from knox auto carpets in aus, they have a website I think. I'm looking at some seats for myself currently, havent quite decided what I want, but I'll probably end up with some mitsi gsr/evo recaros or some newish integra seats or equivelent. I wouldnt waste too much money on the old 1300, your not likely to get it back when you sell. Good luck and welcome to oldschool Throw up some pictures of your car for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v3k Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 This is going to sound horrible but...... Never spend money on a car with the intention of getting it back. Doing up cars is a black hole for money. However, for the best chance at making your money back... Do things that tart it up, yes the paint job. Search buy-sells and trade me for tidy interior. There is a guy in CHCH who does new carpet for about $200. To keep cost down you will want to do work by yourself or with mates. A mechanic (or auto trimmer) will cost you are $50 an hour to get work done to your car. Some things cant be helped, but there is potential to throw alot of money away here. When you get new (second hand) mags, try to find ones with second hand rubber on them. (or at least get second hand ones through a shop). If you have no intention of keeping the car past christmas putting brand new rubber may be a waste of $5 - 600 dollars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Do paint, second hand wheels, lowered, recarpted, find mint dash, Take engine out and paint it and all nuts bolts and put a ramflo air cleaner on it for bling. Thatd make it look real tidy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nofx Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 cheers for the replies guys. im taking it all in to methodz100, how much would all that cost u rekon? keeping in mind i can get the paint job done for 800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 mags 500 paint 800 dash 100 paint engine 100 ramflo 100 Newer mint seats 100 Lowering 200 lowest cheap option remember all the other little shit that might stuff outr also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nofx Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 cheers mate, do you mean paint the engine or the engine bay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avenger79 Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 ramflo 100 whos that though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidian Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 though or through? i paid around 80 at ripco last time wouldnt buy another ramflo tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raizer Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 My ramflo was 90 with filter bout 2 years back from Repco. Its for the large oval kinda shaped one not the little shit single barrel one. I need another one for the Cortina, Where to get them cheaper??? Reasonable dash should be able to be picked up for $100 if wait around long enough. I meant painting the engine. Youll need a few cans of paint. the ones I used are proper VHT engine paint and cost $40 each. Maybe chrome the rocker cover also which is $50. Blocks are easy and cheap enough (trademe 30 for blocks brand new) U bolts are at least another 30$. Custom high tensile ones will set you back 80ish. The front springs. $30 I asume is for one spring? Is that compressed? In Rotorua it is $70. More details on this guy would be good. Also remember to add 20% to all that cause its always a good idea when modding a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 If your doing all htis on a budget I wouldnt bother with a ramflo, they arent anything special. Just cut up a bit of metal and buy a $20 standard filter. Painting the engine will make it look much tidier though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nofx Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 to paint the engine, do you need to dismantle it? and what is a block? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v3k Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 I think he means lowering block. For leaf springs (van will have these in rear) the block raises the axle in relation to the bottom of the spring leaves, hence the body of the car drops. i.e ~==O==~ Axle with no lowering block .......O (the dots are there just to put the O in the right place ~==[]==~ Axle with block in place (the O is the axle, side on, the = is leaf spring, the ~ is end of leaf spring, the [] is lowering block) note - my ASCII drawing is shit, this prob doesnt help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nofx Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 here are some pics for you guys, so you can get an idea of the work that needs to be done. [/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Doesnt look to bad. The front valence needs a tidy up (thye allways do) Whats wrong with the dash? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avenger79 Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 My ramflo was 90 with filter bout 2 years back from Repco. Its for the large oval kinda shaped one not the little shit single barrel one. does that adapt onto the s/u type carbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raizer Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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