MK4 ESCORT CABRIOLET - Fast Ford

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fasttech / BUYING GUIDE / MK4 ESCORT CAB / fasttech Rear wings and bootlid are unique to the Cabriolet STYLE COUNCIL Like its brethren, the 1986 cabriolet benefited from smoother, more rounded styling and there was also the option of the SCS Lucas-Girling anti-lock braking system. The 1.3-litre-engined Mk3 cabrio had never sold well, so in facelifted Mk4 guise Ford offered just two models — the 90 bhp 1.6-litre Ghia and 105 bhp XR3i version. Disappointing sales meant the Ghia was dropped at the end of 1987 but while this model didn’t Original wheels were steels or latticespoke alloys on the XR3i. These are from a later Escort Si find favour with car buyers, they couldn’t get enough of the opentop XR3i. The cabrio really looked the part with the trademark XR bumpers, driving lamps and ‘dogleg’ alloys and even more pose value was added in the winter of 1987 when Ford announced the option of a power-operated hood. The options list continued to grow with a Quickclear windscreen and leather trim. Ford amalgamated these desirable extras into limitededition models. These cars included the ‘All-White’, ‘Duo-Tone’ and the commemorative ‘All-Blue’ model, which appeared in spring 1990 and celebrated the production of 100,000 cabriolets. KEEP ON RUNNING Aside from the optional ABS and minor changes to the suspension, the running gear of the Mk4 XR3i cabriolet was largely unaltered from the earlier Mk3 1600i. However, a significant change came in 1989 when the Bosch fuel injection was dropped in favour of Ford’s own EEC-IV fuel injection and engine management. These later XR3i cabriolets were easily identifiable by the EFi logo emblazoned on the castalloy inlet manifold, and the change included revisions to the cylinder head and camshaft timing, new plastic sections to the air intake induction running over the rocker cover, altered manifold and gas-flowed intake ports. Ford did the work in the interests of emissions and enabling the Escort to run on unleaded 95 octane fuel, but the changes also gave an increase of 3 bhp, lifting peak power to 108 bhp. The cabby had its flaws — the boot was relatively small and it was less powerful than the larger-engined Golf GTi cabrio — but Ford hit upon a winner with the Mk4. If you needed any evidence of just how good the Escort was as a INFORMATION HPI Back in the day, the Escort Cabriolet was a firm favourite with the illegal car trade, its high demand and strong values made it ripe for ringing and cutting and shutting. So, avoid getting yourself landed with a moody example by stumping up for an HPI check. It’ll cost you £39.99 if you do it online at www. hpi.co.uk or £42.95 if you want a nice operator to conduct the check over the phone on 01722 422422. If you’re looking at splashing nearly three grand on the very best example, consider an independent inspection. The RAC’s Essentials Plus inspection costs £204.95 for members and £227.95 for nonmembers. A cheaper option is the Essentials check, which highlights any major accident damage and “Enjoy open-top motoring for as little as a few hundred quid.” complete package, then it’s the fact that it sold so well without being a particular bargain. Even the entrylevel 1.6-litre Ghia cost over £10,000 in 1986 and the price continued to spiral over the years, culminating in the 1990 All-Blue’s eye-watering price of £16,500. It’s a different story 16 years later though. Values of the Mk4 cabrio have hit rock bottom and you can also covers overall mechanical and structural condition. This check costs £124.95 for members and £134.95 for non-members. Call the RAC on 0870 5333660 or log onto www.rac.co.uk. INSURANCE Paul is 29-year-old mechanic from High Wycombe. He wants to build an RS Turbo-powered cabby for the summer, so to get him on the right track he’s picked up a very nice and tidy 1988 E-reg XR3i Cabriolet. The Cat 2-alarmed Escort is well taken care of being garaged every night and although it’s his daily driver, the cabriolet is going to stay in pretty good shape as Paul’s a very careful driver with four years no claims bonus and a clean licence. Mk4 Ghias were only made between 1986- 87. Most survivors are the XR3i version enjoy open-top motoring for as little as a few hundred quid. It’s hardly the height of cool in 2006, but drop the hood during the summer months and the smiles- per-pound value of the cabrio is immense. Don’t forget, having fun is what owning a fast Ford is all about, but if there’s the opportunity to enjoy a bit of sun then the experience is all the more sweeter. In its current standard spec, Paul pays £403.20 to insure his Escort fully comprehensive or £359.10 for third party, fire and theft cover. Quote provided by www. directline.com. CLUB XR Owners’ Club XROC HQ 9 Cope Place, Earls Court Road Kensington London W8 6AA 020 7937 7595 www.xroc.co.uk Ford Escort Owners’ Club www.feoc-uk.com Escort Cabriolet Club www.escortcabrioletclub.co.uk TECH SPEC XR3i CABRIOLET ENGINE Type: CVH Capacity: 1596cc Bore/stroke: 79.96 mm x 79.52 mm Compression ratio: 9.5:1 Max power: 105 bhp @ 6000 rpm (108 bhp for EFi engine) Max torque: 102 Ibf.ft @4800 rpm Cylinders: four, in-line Cylinder head: alloy Block: cast iron Installation: front-mounted, transverse Valve gear: two valves per cylinder, single overhead camshaft driven by external toothed belt, rockers, hydraulic lifters Fuelling: Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection (Ford EEC IV engine management/injection from September 1989) Injection: Ford contactless electronic ignition TRANSMISSION Type: fwd Gearbox: Ford type-B5 five- speed manual Internal ratios: 1st, 3.15:1; 2nd, 1.9:1; 3rd, 1.27:1; 4th, 0.95:1; 5th, 0.76:1. Final drive: 3.58:1 Clutch: 190 mm single plate clutch SUSPENSION Front: MacPherson struts, coil springs, telescopic dampers and 24 mm anti-roll bar Rear: independent by coil springs, lower wishbones, radius arms, and telescopic dampers STEERING Type: rack-and-pinion Lock-to-lock: 3.7 turns BRAKES System: hydraulic, with vacuum servo assistance Optional Lucas-Girling SCS anti- lock braking Front: 9.4 inch (239 mm) vented discs Rear: 8x1.5 inch (203x38 mm) drums WHEELS & TYRES Wheels: 6x14 steel or five- spoke alloy wheels, steels with pearlescent trims Tyres: 185/60 HR14 BODY Type: pressed-steel mono- coque two-door Escort Mk4 convertible shell PERFORMANCE Max speed: 115 mph 0-60 mph: 9.6 seconds FAST FORD APRIL 2006 0 1 4 4 APRIL 2006 FAST FORD 0 1 4 5
fasttech / BUYING GUIDE / MK4 ESCORT CAB / fasttech CHECKLIST ENGINE It’s not particularly willing or refined, but the cab’s 1596cc CVH is tough and relatively powerful. Treat it right and it’ll happily soldier on to six-figure mileage, but skimp on the basics and it’ll expire in a hot and oily mess. Regular oil and cambelt changes are the key to keeping the CVH alive. Ignore the oil, and the hydraulic lifters sludge up. If the cambelt breaks it can trash the whole head. Plumes of blue or white smoke are bad news — blue is oil being burnt in the combustion chambers while white usually indicates a blown head gasket. The majority are fuel-injected but you might find a rare carb-fed Ghia model. Both fuelling methods are reliable but will cost to put right if they’re running rough, and any glitches in the injection will need sorting by an expert. Of the two, it is the later EEC-IV set-up that can prove troublesome, suffering from a rough idle. TRANSMISSION BC gearbox is longlasting in the Cab The five-speed BC isn’t Ford’s slickest shifter but it’s a hardy unit that comfortably copes with the power of the cabriolet’s 1600 CVH, whether in carburettor or injected form. But, while it can shrug off the grunt of the motor, the transmission can do little about the wear that escalates as the miles pile on. Expect a bit of whine and some slop in the linkage of higher mileage cars, but if gears need to be forced home and there’s any noticeable rumbling then something is amiss. The synchromesh can also break down over time and the obvious indication is crunching between gears, particularly on the second to third gearshift. Check for clutch slip too as the majority of cabriolets will be showing at least 70K miles, making them ideal candidates for new clutches. A simple test is to try and pull away in third gear from a standstill, if the car stalls then the clutch is working as it should. Carb-fed Ghias are rare: most use fuel-injection INTERIOR BODYWORK The Mk4 Escort loves to rot and the cab is no exception. Rust is likely on the front wings and rear arches, while the bootlid and door edges go as drain holes get blocked. Look at the panel below the hood, as this often rots out. Inspect inner wings and suspension turrets, bulkhead, battery tray, sills, chassis rails and the floorpan. Genuine Ford panels are hard to source, but remanufactured aftermarket parts are readily available. An ill-fitting hood will write-off an interior in doublequick time, so look for signs of water damage to the trim. Check for staining on cloth or leather seats and feel the carpet for dampness — a sure sign that water is cascading into the interior. Trust your nose too, if it smells musty and damp then the likelihood is that the hood isn’t sealing as it should, ideally there will be a gap between a raised hood and windows of no more than 1 mm. Seats can suffer from water damage: check closely Less than £200 will buy a new vinyl roof and around £250 will secure a mohair replacement, but fitting isn’t easy so think twice about a car with a mullered hood. If you’re lucky you’ll find a car where the hood has hardly been lowered, keeping it taut and retaining its proper shape. As well as the exterior of the hood, don’t forget to check its headlining as this can cost over £150 to replace. Good news is that the trim and plastics are hard wearing and because so many cabriolets were made, finding replacement trim isn’t difficult or expensive. Of course, if you need new leather trim for an All-White or All-Blue edition then it’s an entirely different matter. IDENTITY The all-important VIN numbers can be found in Ford’s favourite places — on the slam panel and stamped into the floor, the latter hidden under a flap of carpet between the driver’s seat and the sill. Inspect them carefully for signs of messing and make sure that they tally with the V5. ELECTRICS The ingress of water into the cabriolet’s interior is all too common; so double check that things like the powered windows and central locking still work. Second-hand motors are readily available but it’s extra hassle if you need to replace them. Inspect the front spotlights for cracks and see if they work OK as sourcing genuine Ford replacements can take time. The biggest thing to check — if fitted — is the operation of the power hood. It will only work when the car is stationary and the ignition key needs to be switched to the ‘off’ position. Once it’s activated to go either up or down it should move smoothly into place in a matter of seconds. Any choppy movements or groaning from the motor are bad signs, but second-hand assemblies can be found through eBay and various Ford breakers. Check the VIN numbers are the same for peace of mind Check the power hood goes up and down smoothly BRAKES Even though they’re the same as those fitted on the S1 RS Turbo, the performance of the cabrio’s vented discs is pretty poor. Whereas the RS had the power to kill the discs, the cabriolet relied on its extra weight to up the strain on its undersized brakes. Warping is the biggest problem but it’s easy to spot, as there will be judder through the steering wheel when the brakes are applied. Give the discs a visual once-over too; symptoms of worn items are reduced thickness, scoring and a pronounced lip on the edge. Rear wheel cylinders can fail and a pulling to one side under braking is a sign that one of these is shot. Pay special attention to any car that boasts the optional SCS SUSPENSION The cabriolet’s extra weight and its lack of a metal roof make it harder on its suspension than a comparable tin-top Escort. A sound cabriolet will give a firm-ish ride and although you’ll experience a little bit of a scuttle shake, a ride which rattles everything from the dash to the rear view mirror indicates that the car’s damping is well past its best. The effectiveness of the gas dampers can be checked by pressing down hard on each corner — a good condition unit will level the car after little more than one bounce. If the car looks to be sagging then it’s Standard brakes are the same as the S1 RS. Oh dear anti-lock braking system. Check its operation by simply stamping on the middle pedal — obviously, the brakes shouldn’t lock, but also feel for the characteristic pulsing through the pedal as the callipers clamp on and off the disc. Don’t worry if it seems a harsh action, it’s meant to be like this. the springs that are usually at fault. Uneven tyre wear, clonking from the front end and the car wandering all over the road point to the TCA bushes being shot. Suspension has a hard life, but at least it’s easy to sort FAST FORD APRIL 2006 0 1 4 6 APRIL 2006 FAST FORD 0 1 4 7
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MK4 ESCORT CABRIOLET - Fast Ford

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