1st gen GSX into an Escort

[jdexter73]

Ok, here's the situation, my work / dui car died this weekend and I'm back driving my 2nd gen Talon. This sucks because it's keeping me from finishing the body work I had planned for this summer. Anyway, I like the DSM ( worship ), and thought that if the scorts dead why not make it cool. I know anything can be done w/ money and time, but the details are foggy at this point. I want to put a 1st gen gsx under the Escort body. There's a ford tx-3 that has turbo awd ( mazda gtx ) in Austrailia, but too much to import here. And if I ever broke anything, it would suck ass to find parts. This makes the gsx perfect. But how do I keep it from twisting in half. I also need to know if anyone has the measurements for the suspension mounting points. The wheelbase for the Escort is 98.4, track 56.5 and 66.7 inches wide. The gsx has a wheelbase of 97.2, tack of 57.7 front / 57.3 rear, and is 66.9 inches wide. I'm pretty sure this is close enough to work with. Any thoughts ?

 

[psychlow]

Ok, here's the situation, my work / dui car died

You have a car you specifically drive when you drive drunk?

 

[jdexter73]

Oh yeah, much rather wrap a p.o.s. around a pole that the Talon. Just kiddin', I just call it the dui car ( seemed funnier than p.o.s. ).

 

[psychlow]

Gotcha, makes more sense.

All it takes is a lot of time and a lot of money, and you could do it. Gonna have to fab up all sorts of crap, and figure out how to get everything to work (speedo/gauge cluster, electrical stuff, etc)

It'll be a huge PITA, but can be done.

 

[jdexter73]

I figured that if I did'nt change anything from the original gsx set-up ( gauges, trans, wheel size, etc. ) it would be pretty straight forward swap. That end I'm not really worried about, I'd get a wrecked gsx and go to work. It's the drive train and how to keep it from leaving the new body. I think I could cut out the bottom end of the scort, and weld in important pieces from the gsx attached to a new sub frame / full body cage. I have a 2nd gen tsi ( front wheel drive ) which does'nt tell me a lot about the set up of a 1st gen gsx. If you happen to find yourself under the hood, and or in the hatch, could you tell me how far apart the center of the strut towers are. Also, I would like to know dimensions of the engine bay. A guess at how big the tunnel for the drive shaft / exhaust is would help too. Thanks.

 

[boostaddictgsx]

where in IL are you, i would be glad to help out with this in anyway possible, if you need an extra set of hands, PM me, I live in CL

 

[boostaddictgsx]

where in IL are you, i would be glad to help out with this in anyway possible, if you need an extra set of hands, PM me, I live in CL

 

[jdexter73]

I'm in central Illinois, between Springfield and Champaign. I think I'm quite a way south from you. Is'nt Crystal Lake up around Chicago ? I'll definetly have to do alot of research before starting, but any help would be great. Plus, even if it does'nt work, I'd get to cut an escort in half ( cool ).

 

[IHeartTurbo]

I want to put a 1st gen gsx under the Escort body.

You're gonna have a hell of a time fitting a whole car under the hood of another car. My tip would be to just use the engine and drivetrain.

 

[jdexter73]

Actually the body panels and most of the unibody would have to be removed for what I'm thinking of. Then reinforcements ( roll cage / frame rails ) placed along what's left of the floorpan ( stretched 1 in. )and strut mounts. I could cut out the floor, fire wall, and suspension mounts from the escort and drop it onto the gsx. Because the basic drivetrain would be unchanged, I would'nt run into any problems with speedo, acc., whatever. I figure that if I get that far, finishing out the interior / floor pan would be easy.