Ford Exp?

[dfreeman616]

I thought I saw someone on here list some Ford EXPs in their signature, but can't remember who. I have one I'll be getting soon, so if anyone can point me in the right direction for an EXP version of CC, I'd appreciate it. I found expln7.com, but anything else would be great. If anyone wants the story on "my" EXP, here's my intro post over on expln7:

Yesterday, I was talking with my parents about their Volvo that has 250k miles on it and needs some repairs. Turns out my grandparents are giving them their extra car, so my parents offered up the Volvo to me. Then I heard something I didn't expect. My dad told me I could do as I please with his (my?) 83 EXP that's been sitting for quite some time, at no cost to me. I've known for a long time he wasn't ever going to get it going, even though he says he always enjoyed driving it, but had no expectation of receiving it anytime soon. 

Here's the background on the car:
It was given to my dad by the original owner because it wouldn't start in 1990, as long as he could fix it. Turns out it only needed a timing belt. I still remember when he got it because I helped with the belt, reaching in the tight quarters of the engine compartment where he had a hard time getting at. At the time, I was 4 years old and it was the first car I worked on. I was disappointed because he didn't wrap up til early in the morning and I had gone inside and fallen asleep on the couch, so I missed the test drive. We also swapped out the original base radio for a cassette deck with rear speakers and put the rear seat and belts from an escort in, which made it our family car for awhile. 

Around '95, it was parked due to loss of power while driving and then no start. Hasn't ran since then. It was parked behind the garage under a cover and up on blocks, where it sat until 2000 when my 9th grade applied science class had a final project that I could choose what to do, as long as I related it to science. So what did I do? Drag it around and put it in the garage and dig into what failed. Turns out the distributor rotor had failed and separated in the cap. To this day, neither my dad nor I can believe he didn't check that. Unfortunately, after sitting for so long the piston rings seized to the walls so I kept going in the engine and pulled the head for inspection, which is how it has sat since then due to lack of funds. Mice have also gotten into it, so it could take quite a bit of interior work at this point.

Now I'm faced with what to do with it. I'm capable of doing the work and have the tools, I'm a certified mechanic. I'd like to fix it, then park it in his driveway and leave the keys for him, but I'm not sure if that's feasible. It also might make a cool project for the fact that I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old son, if they're interested in it, and another 2 month old if he's old enough by the time it is finished (if it gets finished). By the way, the car is from California and only had a couple Michigan winters so there's pretty much no rust, add to that the fact it has largely been stored indoors and the body is in great shape for the year, aside from some minor damage to the hatch and tail lights.

The downside is I already have one project Jeep I'm finishing, as well as the Volvo they're giving me, and another truck I was looking to get as a project up until this news, and still want to fix.

So anyways, that's a bit about me and "my' car, and I'll see about getting some pics once it isn't buried and filled with junk.

 

[jeepsouth]

Had one of those for my first car, it was an 82 model. Had lots of fun in that car. Havn't seen one on the road in years. 

[Incommando]

It is a Ford Escort. Any info on the same year of Escort will apply and that may be an easier forum to find. http://expln7.com/ has the most buzz specifically about that version of the Escort and it seems you already found it.

[mnkyboy]

I have three of them.

 

[mnkyboy]

If you use facebook go here.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/351634211536595/

 

It tends to be more active then the web site.

[dfreeman616]

mnkyboy, looks like 82/83? i know they're mostly the same as an escort, but there are some parts that are specific to EXP/LN7 lines that I'll be looking for. That is, if I fix it up. I'm hoping its not too far gone from long neglect :(

[mnkyboy]

That one is an 85 turbo. I also have an 84 turbo and an 88.5 LC, I had an 87 SC as well but I sold it.

 

Mechanically yours is pretty close to an 81 to early 85 Escort but nothing really interchanges as far as body parts, the 86-88.5 Escort EXPs share more with the Escort but even those basically only share the front clip.

 

Nice thing with your 83 is it has the same 1.6l CVH as the euro Escort MK3 so there is a lot of aftermarket for it still.

83 is also the first year of fuel injection so if yours has injection it will be a little more desirable if you do end up selling it.

[KYMJ]

My wife had an EXP when we were dating in the early 80s, had already forgotten about it. She also had a Pinto, then a Chevette in collage. Poor taste in cars. She did have a cool 53 Plymouth in high school.

[dfreeman616]

yes it is efi and 5 speed, the angle threw me off with the hatch glass for yours.

[mnkyboy]

Nice, 83 was the first year for the 5 speed as well.

 

Not as rare as my turbo cars but its a good one as far as EXPs go.

Too bad its an EXP and not an LN7.