[4x416v]

So my diary starts today, I have had my Mk1 4x4 since February 2010 (had one before that but kept it standard) I have been planning big things for her for all this time as I wont rush a big project. I must start by thanking both Davey h for all his help finding the parts I needed and guidance so far, as these cars are very rare, and Percy for answering all my PM's about zetec Turbo options amongst other ideas.

The car is only mildly mod'ed with 4 x RS arch spats a Powerflow exhaust, Bomz induction kit, skimmed head, Fiesta RS 1800 inlet and a superchip and tinted rear lights. While I have been thinking about "Big Power" I have been collecting chassis parts to take the already good handling up to another level, I was taken for a spin in Davey h's 4x4 a few weeks back and after that I knew how I wanted my car to handle.

I have collected almost everything that I need for the chassis upgrades so now it's just a matter of fitting it all, I have:

4x wishbone (front and rear) Powerflex poly bushes

Front ARB Powerflex poly bushes

Uprated droplinks (front and rear) with Superflex polly bushes made by "Striker 1" on CEG.

Mk1 Focus RS wheels

21mm rear ARB (BAT) from the USA with Poly bushes

Bilstein struts with - 35mm Spax springs

Front strut brace

Rear Strut Brace

New top mounts and bearings.

I am waiting on the Bradness designed uprated rear arms (being crafted for me in Canada as I write this)

Percybiguns old vented bonnet to be treated with Hammerite on underside and re sprayed to my car's colour and fitted.

Morette lights to go on and cold air feed pipe along with the cold air feed trumpets to accomodate the batterey relocation to the boot.

I will be having the car resprayed at some point as it really needs it.

Also on my shopping list are ASBO brakes and Mk3 callipers and eventualy a Zetec Turbo conversion.

My car went in for an MOT today (passed with no advisories) but as I had noticed a knocking sound coming from the rear ARB as the standard bushes were knackered I though it made good sense to have the rear 21mm BAT bar with poly's installed to replace the original 18mm one. The BAR was not cheap to import from the states but it has truly improved the handling no end. and I cant wait to get stuck in and have all the other chassis mods done.

This is how the car looks now, you can see that a respray is very much needed:

Here is the BAT 21mm bar:

 

[Davey H]

Glad to see you have started a diary, already loads of quality bits to go on, at least you know how it is going to handle once all fitted.
Will be keeping an eye on this with interest. as the 4x4's are few and far between and it's nice to see another one that is going to be well looked after to. Also with the Bat rear arb not many people with them.

Keep up the good work mate..

 

[Bin_Man]

thats got the makings of an excellent project. There's a very good list of parts waiting to be fitted and it will be great to see this coming along!

 

[Dave6656]

Nice one

.. cant wait for you to come to Exeter in it and take Davey and myself for a spin haha .. got to remember the 2hr limit in the services though

 

[jaysback]

Thats a nice collection of parts you have there already.
Good to see another MK1 being brought back to life again.
Finding more that needs doing on mine - seem to be going backwards ATM.

Paint doesn't look that bad or at least on the rear end it doesn't.
Sure it won't come up with a machine polish?

 

[4x416v]

Thats a nice collection of parts you have there already.
Good to see another MK1 being brought back to life again.
Finding more that needs doing on mine - seem to be going backwards ATM.

Paint doesn't look that bad or at least on the rear end it doesn't.
Sure it won't come up with a machine polish?

The paint job is a certainty it really needs it, the bonnet, roof and boot lid need doing, however as I have Percy's old bonnet to paint and install anyway that's a no brainer, I can get another boot lid the same colour for peanuts so will be much cheaper than re spraying the current one, but the roof will be done at the same time as the bonnet.

 

[4x416v]

Nice one

.. cant wait for you to come to Exeter in it and take Davey and myself for a spin haha .. got to remember the 2hr limit in the services though

yes will have to keep a tab on my parking times!

 

[4x416v]

Glad to see you have started a diary, already loads of quality bits to go on, at least you know how it is going to handle once all fitted.
Will be keeping an eye on this with interest. as the 4x4's are few and far between and it's nice to see another one that is going to be well looked after to. Also with the Bat rear arb not many people with them.

Keep up the good work mate..

Thanks mate, after experiencing your car, I knew exactly how I wanted mine to be like. I am Looking forward to having all those parts installed and feeling all that grip and balance.

 

[4x416v]

thats got the makings of an excellent project. There's a very good list of parts waiting to be fitted and it will be great to see this coming along!

Yeah I cant wait to take it to the shows next year once it will be near complete, this year I will be going to the shows in the Mk3.

 

[sgking]

im very jealous. wish i could do it too!

the saloon mk1 is just lovley, and the mods you have are very well chosen. great car

 

[4x416v]

im very jealous. wish i could do it too!

the saloon mk1 is just lovley, and the mods you have are very well chosen. great car

Thanks mate, I am hoping to get more done very soon (when time allows) It is nice to bring out the potential of the car and get used to how it feels / behaves when all done.

 

[PRC Ghost Rider]

Cars like that would be starting to become quite scarce. Good find there. Mk1s never sold in huge numbers down here. Only LX and Ghia models were sold down here and most have seen the inside of a scrap shredder unfortunately

 

[jaysback]

Just realized that you have a tow bar on there with a RS kit.
Didn't think they fitted without hacking the kit to bits.
Thats a result, means I can still get my bike rack on the back.
Any more pics?
Looks like yours may be the same colour as the one I have just got.

 

[4x416v]

Just realized that you have a tow bar on there with a RS kit.
Didn't think they fitted without hacking the kit to bits.
Thats a result, means I can still get my bike rack on the back.
Any more pics?
Looks like yours may be the same colour as the one I have just got.

Yeah the tow bar was on the car when I bought it, it will come off at some point as I have no need for it, but it is a pretty good way to protect the rear RS bumper from damage in case anyone parks too close the her.

I will add more pics over the next few days, you will see what I mean about the re spray being needed on the roof.

 

[PRC Ghost Rider]

Bit manky is it?

 

[4x416v]

the laquere is gone and the paint has become chalky / matt like, but no rust though.

 

[DjFox]

My car went in for an MOT today (passed with no advisories) but as I had noticed a knocking sound coming from the rear ARB as the standard bushes were knackered I though it made good sense to have the rear 21mm BAT bar with poly's installed to replace the original 18mm one. The BAR was not cheap to import from the states but it has truly improved the handling no end. and I cant wait to get stuck in and have all the other chassis mods done.

Here is the BAT 21mm bar:

Hi mate,

Good luck with the BAT ARB, keep your old bushes, because you'll need them...There is not enough space there.. the ARB prone to knock with the torsion. Even with 4 bushes I still have the knocking. Hopefully it's a slight rubber knocking, and not metal knocking anymore... but it's boring to hear. Sometime I think to get back to the 18mm....but I have to agree that this BAT ARB is an interesting improvement with road handling.
Could you take plenty of pictures when you swap yours ? And keep us up to date with how it works ?
You can throw an eye to my topic : BAT anti roll bar
If you find floflex bushes, could you let me know ? because floflex don't build them anymore.

You have a really nice mondeo !

 

[Davey H]

Never had a problem with my 21mm bat roll bare, it's been on there over 2 years now, did squeek but that was down to the yank poly bushes, i fitted floflex ones and all good no more squeeking and never any knocks. Floflex never made the bushes i had mine custom made by them. Basically you just need normal poly mondeo rear anti roll bar bushes but with a 21mm hole in them.

 

[4x416v]

My car went in for an MOT today (passed with no advisories) but as I had noticed a knocking sound coming from the rear ARB as the standard bushes were knackered I though it made good sense to have the rear 21mm BAT bar with poly's installed to replace the original 18mm one. The BAR was not cheap to import from the states but it has truly improved the handling no end. and I cant wait to get stuck in and have all the other chassis mods done.

Here is the BAT 21mm bar:

Hi mate,

Good luck with the BAT ARB, keep your old bushes, because you'll need them...There is not enough space there.. the ARB prone to knock with the torsion. Even with 4 bushes I still have the knocking. Hopefully it's a slight rubber knocking, and not metal knocking anymore... but it's boring to hear. Sometime I think to get back to the 18mm....but I have to agree that this BAT ARB is an interesting improvement with road handling.
Could you take plenty of pictures when you swap yours ? And keep us up to date with how it works ?
You can throw an eye to my topic : BAT anti roll bar
If you find floflex bushes, could you let me know ? because floflex don't build them anymore.

You have a really nice mondeo !

[/quote]

I already have it fitted, it was fitted last week. I do hear an occasional kocking when driven over very bumpy roads, but 95% of the time I hear no knocking. It has made a nice improvement the car feels better balanced and it easier to attack corners, the supplied poly bushes have not started to squeak yet, but if they do as Davey says I will just swap them for the FloFlex ones drilled out to 21mm. Is your car fitted with the 19mm or the 21mm ARB ? I think your car would of had 16mm ARB so the 19mm would be better for your car. the Mk1 V6, TD and si models (including the 4x4 models) had the 18mm as standard.

 

[Davey H]

have you still got the standard rear drop links fitted ? as i don't think the old ford rubber bushes will be up to the new arb.. that might be your ocasional knock. When i first fitted mine it went on with standard drop links with superflex bushes and then when the rose jointed drop links arrived i swapped them. So never had mine fitted with standard drop link bushes