Bonjour! (and question)

[NoshBosun]

Thanks Guys, you've made some good points:

 

I do sometimes take the train to London, but I use the car when I envisage doing some big shopping (i.e. when I've run out of baked beans, and the like!).

 

The car would be kept in a garage in France, and in London it would be off-street parking. However, I probably need to think about a decent alarm system. Any suggestions on that front?

 

With regards to motorway driving vs town driving vs all-year-round reliability, would a more modern engine be better suited (something from the 1990s)?

 

Thanks again for all your help and advice thus far.

[Mexican Gerbil]

As far as security goes if someone wants to take your escort they will. If read stories of break ins, cars being dragged out off drive ways to get to garages. Even heard one time a car on a trailer and escort in garage, thieves removed car from trailer and put escort on and took trailer and escort.

 

I know someone who drives his every weekend to places but so many stories of them going missing I just wouldn't risk it. Long walk back from London to Paris.

[Vista]

With regards to motorway driving vs town driving vs all-year-round reliability, would a more modern engine be better suited (something from the 1990s)?

 

Thanks again for all your help and advice thus far.

The engines themselves, i.e. Pinto/Xflow arent unreliable in themselves providing they've been well maintained but remember that it'll be 40 + years old and you have no idea how well maintained it is. The weak points are the electronics, junk the points and condenser etc and equip it with a modern contactless electronic ignition system and you'll be doing yourself a favour

[Mexican Gerbil]

The engines themselves, i.e. Pinto/Xflow arent unreliable in themselves providing they've been well maintained but remember that it'll be 40 + years old and you have no idea how well maintained it is. The weak points are the electronics, junk the points and condenser etc and equip it with a modern contactless electronic ignition system and you'll be doing yourself a favour

And here's me throwing a spanner at it.......

The only time I've ever broken down is because the electronic ignition failed.

[stevegav]

I'd like to go electronic ignition but have heard of them being unrealiable and often failing, is this true ?

Sparkrite do 1 which allows you to retain the original points and flick a switch to change between the 2.

[colr6]

What about lumenition systems, always used to use those with no problems.

[NoshBosun]

As far as security goes if someone wants to take your escort they will. If read stories of break ins, cars being dragged out off drive ways to get to garages. Even heard one time a car on a trailer and escort in garage, thieves removed car from trailer and put escort on and took trailer and escort.

 

I know someone who drives his every weekend to places but so many stories of them going missing I just wouldn't risk it. Long walk back from London to Paris.

 

 

Are you saying that using one as a daily driver is just asking for it to get nicked?

[Mexican Gerbil]

Take a look at the stolen OSF page on this forum. OSF very popular in the U.K. and people go crazy for escorts and parts. I have no idea on the areas you plan to park the car. Out of site out of mind.

 

I've been followed home, wether it was someone who just liked the car and interested to talk about or some dodgy fella looking for where I keep it.

 

Mine has battery kill Switch hidden, solex door locks and a pedal clamp. Id love to drive mine everywhere and not have to worry about it but I've spent to much time and money on it.

 

One got nicked outside a pub last year? Sure that's on the forum.

[Vista]

Are you saying that using one as a daily driver is just asking for it to get nicked?

Sadly yes, at least over here in the UK.

 

+1 on Col's comment about Lumenition systems there was one already on my car when I bought it in 2004, not had any problems with it yet.

[Rally Pack 2000]

I have used the Allison/Crane Cams XR700 Electronic Ignition System for just under 30 years and its never let me down. I did swap the main module over once in that time as I was told it was gone only to find out it was a connection problem elsewhere but I left the new module in as I thought the older one probably was getting to the end of its life anyways. Getting rid of the pesky points was the one of the best low cost mods on my Mk2. Its ran smoother, idled better, has a beefier spark which Pintos like. The ones I hear fail are the tiny in distributor module type. Not ones with larger separate modules like Luminition and Crane.

[stevegav]

Cheers Col & Rally , i'll look into both of those . 

Nosh, get your mk1 and enjoy, you will love it. When you are staying in London i'd strongly advise on securing it in a friends garage. With the price of parts as they are, unscrupulous individuals and ebay. It wont last long on a drive way or street.

[NoshBosun]

Thanks guys. It's an interesting debate: keep your Escort safe n secure only using it from time-to-time vs enjoying it everyday but risk it being stolen... I think I am with the latter.

 

Thanks for the security equipment ideas too, I will certainly be looking into those, and more.

 

Around here in France I haven't seen any old skool Fords, I don't know if this makes it less desirable to would-be car burglars, or more desirable...

 

 

Going back to a previous point regarding the reliability (or otherwise) of older engines. Of course, there's no way of knowing how well an engine has been maintained throughout its lifetime. But can we minimise bad surprises by getting a reconditioned engine? And/or would a newer engine be more reliable, in general?

[Mexican Gerbil]

The reliability of the engine depends on what's happened to it in the past. Most people on here will champion thier favourite engine type.

 

You could fit a zetec engine which piston rings or head gasket about to go. As you've said, best get any engine you buy to an engine specialist to give it a good looking at.

 

it's really up to you and what your confident in.

[Mexican Gerbil]

The crossflow I ran in both escorts has done about 10000 miles in my owner ship. Fitted with a twin auto choke carb, 234 Kent cam. Everything else is standard. I rebuilt it last year as I had a different car to put it in. Only time I had to be recovered is when the electronic dizzy failed. I won't be changing it for a zetec.

 

My grandads old mk2 escort estate has been off the road for 5 years now. Has an original 1.3 crossflow engine. Once the battery has been charged it starts no problems and runs fine.

[Rally Pack 2000]

Cheers Col & Rally , i'll look into both of those . 

Nosh, get your mk1 and enjoy, you will love it. When you are staying in London i'd strongly advise on securing it in a friends garage. With the price of parts as they are, unscrupulous individuals and ebay. It wont last long on a drive way or street.

 

While Im happy with the Crane Cams XR700 system if I was to choose I would probably go with the Luminition. Its module is slightly smaller and simple grey cast looking that would blend in better under the bonnet. The reason I went with the Crane Cam one was that I won some vouchers at the time through my work and the store where you used the vouchers sold the Crane one (You couldnt get Luminition in Australia either back then). When I updated the module I stuck with the Crane again purely out of laziness. I didnt need to change the optical sensor in the distributor and also there were already screw hole on the inner guard spaced for the Crane module. Fitting the Luminition would have required a new set of holes and also leaving the other ones exposed. These cars start looking like Swiss cheese over the years with all the alarms and accessories that get replaced and removed over time. I try to have a no more drill policy unless absolutely necessary.

[NoshBosun]

The crossflow I ran in both escorts has done about 10000 miles in my owner ship. Fitted with a twin auto choke carb, 234 Kent cam. Everything else is standard. I rebuilt it last year as I had a different car to put it in. Only time I had to be recovered is when the electronic dizzy failed. I won't be changing it for a zetec.

 

My grandads old mk2 escort estate has been off the road for 5 years now. Has an original 1.3 crossflow engine. Once the battery has been charged it starts no problems and runs fine.

 

Thanks. You're right, it's a combination of regular maintenance and good luck!