Learn Me: Ford Escort Motor Swap

As seen in the $2011 Classifieds, i am in search of a US second generation Escort Wagon so i can swap either a GT motor in or a twin cam off a GT. I havent done much research yet, was wondering if anyone had any insight into this type of project as im sure its been done before. I know the BP-ZE in the GT shares alot of other platforms. Just seeing what im eventually getting myself into...

Tried the Ford Escort Owners Assoc site? Especially this thread: Click Me.

Freaks.

Nice! 7 pages! Definitely gonna read thru them tomorrow. Thanks

Basically, you'll need hub to hub, transmission, ECU, driveshafts, etc. in addition to the motor. It's not as simple as yanking the 1.9 and dropping the BP in. Look for a GT front clip, to make life easier. The Boy and I looked into this procedure a couple years ago with his Tracer.

Which leads me to something else. There was a Tracer model that had the BP, I think it was the LTS

ISTR that you also need part of the motor wiring harness, as the 1.8 BP uses a VAM, the 1.9 uses a MAF. The main harness should be the same.

Could also do a 2.0 Zetec--lots more ZX2s than EGTs or proteges for parts source.

the celicaguyfromindiana will tell you about v6 swaps...I hope! I love those stories.

Clem

I heard the Kia Sephia's have the BP in it as well....

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: I heard the Kia Sephia's have the BP in it as well....

Yep, and a stronger transmission attached to them.

What you'll want is a wrecked 91-96 EGT donor car, and a 1st gen Kia Sephia transmission. You'll need to use the Kia axles at that point, too, since the spline count on the trans end is different. This is also good because you can use that setup with the Mazdaspeed LSD setup, too.

Here's the rub:

You can do all that if you want. For the work, you may as well just dump a V6 in there. Much as i love our EGT, the only reason to swap a BP in any FWD car now is for ease of boosting.

The V6 will take about the same work to get in the car, not cost THAT much more, if at all, and will make quite a bit more power.

But anyways, much as FEOA has a large percentage of well..... ignorance, that thread is a good place to start if you're set on the BP.

Depending on when you're wanting to do this, let me know. I'll have a BP w/ spare lower miles head, wiring harness, trans, mounts, blah blah blah in a month or two. Don't know if it'd be worth you making the trip up to get it, but it's food for thought.

PS: Don't do it. Go V6.

Bolt on DSM Turbo for the 1.9 or 2.0 spi.

See also another bolt on DSM turbo.

Wait- v6 swap? Into an Escort? What sort of v6 are we talking? Vulcan? Duratec? I have most of a Taurus that's about to drop its front cradle on the ground due to rust, but the motor is rock solid. I wanna say it's a duratec (I'm not 100% on it, most because I paid 100$ for the car and didn't really care....)

mndsm wrote: Wait- v6 swap? Into an Escort? What sort of v6 are we talking? Vulcan? Duratec? I have most of a Taurus that's about to drop its front cradle on the ground due to rust, but the motor is rock solid. I wanna say it's a duratec (I'm not 100% on it, most because I paid 100$ for the car and didn't really care....)

Mazda V6s.

KLDE, KLG4, KLZE, K8, etc etc etc.

Easy peasy with access to an MX3 GS.

I think that Taurus would be better giving up it's heart to a Contour.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mndsm wrote: Wait- v6 swap? Into an Escort? What sort of v6 are we talking? Vulcan? Duratec? I have most of a Taurus that's about to drop its front cradle on the ground due to rust, but the motor is rock solid. I wanna say it's a duratec (I'm not 100% on it, most because I paid 100$ for the car and didn't really care....)

Mazda V6s. KLDE, KLG4, KLZE, K8, etc etc etc. Easy peasy with access to an MX3 GS. I think that Taurus would be better giving up it's heart to a Contour.

second gen Probe GT, too, right?

None of which are the same as the 2.5l in the Contour.

Any potential problems getting it thru smog?

As long as it is same year or newer, has the new engine emissions controls, and is like bodied, car to car; truck to truck, you will be fine with the smog nazi's after some sort of referee says it's ok.

Hm. So now I need to find an Escort Wagon (preferrably that really manly pink color they released, I think they called it Dusty Rose?) that the tinworm hasnt found, and have my way with it.

alfadriver wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mndsm wrote: Wait- v6 swap? Into an Escort? What sort of v6 are we talking? Vulcan? Duratec? I have most of a Taurus that's about to drop its front cradle on the ground due to rust, but the motor is rock solid. I wanna say it's a duratec (I'm not 100% on it, most because I paid 100$ for the car and didn't really care....)

Mazda V6s. KLDE, KLG4, KLZE, K8, etc etc etc. Easy peasy with access to an MX3 GS. I think that Taurus would be better giving up it's heart to a Contour.

second gen Probe GT, too, right? None of which are the same as the 2.5l in the Contour.

The Probe had the KLDE yeah, but different mounts since the chassis isn't very similar to the Escort. The MX3 is a BG chassis like the 2nd/3rd gen Escort with very slight changes.

So... yes to Probe GT motor in Escort. No to duratec in Escort or Probe. Yes to Duratec in Contour.

mndsm wrote: Hm. So now I need to find an Escort Wagon (preferrably that really manly pink color they released, I think they called it Dusty Rose?) that the tinworm hasnt found, and have my way with it.

I think it was Sunset rose? They're extremely rare, too. More commonly found on EGTs, i think i've only seen one wagon that color.

Also rare is the really awesome Purple. "Iris Edition." On EGTs, (like the Sunset Rose cars) could be had with matching painted wheels.

I've seen that purple, and it would be a wonderful choice as well. I'm just more partial to pink, and strangely, they proliferate in MN.

mndsm wrote: I've seen that purple, and it would be a wonderful choice as well. I'm just more partial to pink, and strangely, they proliferate in MN.

If you find a Pink wagon, i'll be very jealous. I've never seen one. My girlfriend thought i was real weird when i fawned over a pink EGT in the junkyard a few months ago.

It's pink, but it DOES still manage to be somewhat manly. I have no idea how to explain it.

I bought a zetec from an junkyard for something like $250, and from all of my research, the 1.9 is the easiest swap from a 2.0 DOHC Zetec. Unbolt oil pan, pickup, flywheel and bolt those on to the zetec. Fab up some mounts and connect the thing where it needs to be connected. (okay, I may have simplified it.) Its a big swap in Europe. Check passionford.com forum

Downside to all of this is that the Escort is still FWD.

Now a AWD setup would be mad cool.

PHeller wrote: Downside to all of this is that the Escort is still FWD. Now a AWD setup would be mad cool.

AWD Protege parts are 'bolt-in'

^Downside to that is that then you're "stuck" with the BP.

Which isn't bad, but i'd much rather have my 2nd gen AWD Turbo Escort in turbo KLDE flavor. (good luck finding drivetrain to handle that)

Is the AWD Protege transaxle a G-series?

There was a turbo AWD Tracer (91+) in the Challenge IIRC. What transaxle is in the 4 cyl Escape?