Now that I've paid for it and nicknamed it Lexi, I think a build thread is warranted. (I almost titled this thread "Lexi the Escort" but thought better of it.) Obligatory pre-acquisition build thread, activate!
This is a 1992 Ford Escort LX-E, meaning it has the 4-door sedan body but shares the Mazda BP engine, 4-wheel disc brakes, and other upgrades with the GT hatchback. Basically a sleeper GT. I've wanted an Escort GT for a long time and I've wanted an LX-E since I discovered such a thing existed. (I also want a Mercury Tracer LTS which is basically the same car but with Mercury badges, because they never should've let Mercury die, dang it.)
Anyway, here we go! Copart auction, front end damage, supposedly the engine will start up and that's all I know. Yeah it's an automatic but that means my mom could drive it, which is going to be how I try to convince her to come to next year's challenge with me. Maybe then she'll understand why I can't quit buying crap cars, lol.
Somehow it looks worse to me from this angle.
The rear bumper will also need some attention.
The interior looks alright, though.
Ahh, here's the good stuff. Ford-branded Mazda power. Just like the Probe and the Focus I already own, except this one is probably even more famous...the 1.8 liter BP, non-turbo, rated for 127 horsepower in this application.
The best thing about it is that the body panels shouldn't be too hard to source, and if anything needs bent back into place, well it'll be a fun learning experience. Now I just need to figure out if any of these wheels are sufficiently "Radwood" appropriate...
Top, center, purple. It has to be over the top to win.
A few of the others seem to modern.
In reply to Bent-Valve :
I pretty much agree, I think I'm leaning towards those ones. This was a selection of wheels I liked when I was searching for Focus wheels but couldn't find any in 4x108 so I got distracted and searched 4x100 instead, which led me to create a separate eBay list for them in the event I ever bought an Escort. 
The car is currently at a GRM member's house awaiting transport up here. Seems like the car doesn't want to move at all when put in gear, this sounds not good at first, but I did find one thing that might fix it without a total transmission rebuild:
https://www.feoa.net/threads/93-lx-auto-trans-wont-move-fixed.75698/
https://www.feoa.net/threads/atratb039-02-01-1991-a-t-g4a-el-4eat-low-pump-pressure.61690/#post-562998
Apparently there is a valve of some sort that relates to the fluid pump, and the spring in there is weak or goes bad or something. Worth a shot for twenty-some dollars.
http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/F4A_EL_GF4A_EL_Transmission_Pump_Valve_Kit_p/500-000033933.htm
Guess it's time to put my butt in gear and start calling transport companies.
Damnit man! I have a subframe crossbrace and passenger side mount bracket from a MX3 GS 1.8 V6 that will let you run a KLDE or KLZE in this!
I had intended to do so in a Protege or Escort like this but lost interest. Kept the parts ya know.....for you.
:)
bonylad said:
Damnit man! I have a subframe crossbrace and passenger side mount bracket from a MX3 GS 1.8 V6 that will let you run a KLDE or KLZE in this!
I had intended to do so in a Protege or Escort like this but lost interest. Kept the parts ya know.....for you.
:)
Well, that could still be on the table. Here's one idea I had: Swap the KLDE from my Probe into the Escort. Then buy a 1991 Mercury Capri (the FWD Miata wannabe) and swap the BP from the Escort into that. Then, take the 1.6 B6T out of the Capri, put it in the Probe, install a Rocketchip and an upgraded turbo, and crank the boost until it has more horsepower than the KLDE, so that way all 3 cars get upgraded in a roundabout way
Or, KLDE into Escort, V8 RWD conversion on the Probe. Or, BPT RWD conversion on the Probe. I've got lots of ideas. I just need to figure out how to, y'know, actually do anything to make them happen.
So this is much the same as the Protege of that generation? My mom had one with a 5-speed when I was a kid. I cried when she got rid of it for a 1998 MPV.
In reply to AxeHealey :
Yup, Mazda BG platform. Ford used it all the way up until 2003, with the ZX2 being the last of the line. Apparently the 90s Kia Sephia also used this platform
I dig it. I've always liked that grille.
Every build thread needs at least one picture of the project on the trailer when it's being picked up.
Did all LX-Es have the GT grille? Mine doesn’t. I want to find one though cause asymmetric 90s style is the best.
In reply to BlueInGreen - Jon :
As far as I know, they didn't come with that stock. The previous owner must have swapped it, because all the LX-E pictures on the internet just have the regular grille.
I have grand plans for maybe switching to a Tracer grille/bumper/lights, so this one might be available. 
In reply to untchabl :
Yes! BTW how long do I have before you need me to take it off your hands, because I'm still working on the logistics.
Oh and I found something specific to this model of transmission that might fix the "box of neutrals" problem a lot easier than swapping a whole new one in. Keyword is might.
I don't think those are the stock wheels, either, as those came on the Escort GT's in the last year or two. I always really liked those wheels. Good luck with the build.
slowbird said:
In reply to untchabl :
Yes! BTW how long do I have before you need me to take it off your hands, because I'm still working on the logistics.
Oh and I found something specific to this model of transmission that might fix the "box of neutrals" problem a lot easier than swapping a whole new one in. Keyword is might.
No big rush to get it, as long as it doesn't become long term storage lol.
What did you find that might fix the transmission?
In reply to untchabl :
Essentially, there's this valve and a spring, that if it's not working right, causes the fluid pressure to be too low to function...there's an upgraded replacement from Transgo that "Addresses won’t move front or back, Low line pressure, and clutch burnup."
My fear is that the problem may have caused the internal clutch packs to burn out already. But, easy enough to throw the upgraded valve kit in there and see what happens. It's accessible from the outside of the transmission and held in by one bolt.
slowbird said:
In reply to untchabl :
Essentially, there's this valve and a spring, that if it's not working right, causes the fluid pressure to be too low to function...there's an upgraded replacement from Transgo that "Addresses won’t move front or back, Low line pressure, and clutch burnup."
My fear is that the problem may have caused the internal clutch packs to burn out already. But, easy enough to throw the upgraded valve kit in there and see what happens. It's accessible from the outside of the transmission and held in by one bolt.
An mtx-75 remove and replace also fixes that sticky valve. More fun to drive too.
Did the MTX-75 come with a bellhousing to mate to that engine? Smells like G-series time to me...
Yeah, I'm thinking it has to be a G5M or G25M or some variant of that. And then I need the pedal assembly and shifter assembly, and I might as well just buy a whole parts car if I'm going to do that...which leads back to needing to rent a garage...
In reply to slowbird :
Order the kit and have it shipped to me. I'll swap it in and see if that fixes the "box of neutrals" we currently have.
slowbird said:
Yeah, I'm thinking it has to be a G5M or G25M or some variant of that. And then I need the pedal assembly and shifter assembly, and I might as well just buy a whole parts car if I'm going to do that...which leads back to needing to rent a garage...
Im all about enabling car crap. Besides, Im broke fixing cars right now, and misery loves company!
Oh and my bad I thought it was a mtx-75 that fit that.
In reply to untchabl :
To quote the guy from the A-Team, I love it when a plan comes together.
In reply to Bent-Valve :
It's all good. I haven't ruled out a manual swap, it's just not Plan A.
I dont think on that platform its an issue, but IIRC correctly on at least the Protege the axle spline count is different on the hubs for a KLDE/ZE swap. One of the reasons I abandoned the idea. I didnt want to have to make custom axles. On that platform, the Escort I think is fine. Google it? Id really let them go for cheap! Basically shipping. Seth hooked me up, so I have to pay it forward if you so choose to go that route.
Chris
Hey more BG chassis love.
So G series is the manual swap, and if going KL you'll need Kia sephia axles for the transmission to work on account of spline count. If you go that route, you'd also be able to swap in a limited slip from a MSP, though they are getting more difficult to find.
Welp. I finally got this thing brought up here. (Thanks, stimulus check!) My eternal thanks and sincerest apologies to untchabl for his patience in storing this hunk of junk for 6 months.
I think I'm going to start by trying to fix some of the body damage, then beg people for help with the transmission later.
