What did you do to your wagon today?

'94 Wagon

1. Dash is 1/2 out to change the dead bulbs. I used this forum to find out how the speedo cable was connected to the cluster since I can't see it.

2. Have a steering rack I rebuilt to install in the next few weeks.

3. Need to get the A/C going again -- will start with the two relays on the bulkhead.

Just trying to keep it running reliably for now.

Well I guess I should have posted what I have done to my car lately (95 Ford Escort Wagon ) ...
1.) Took all the carpet out and pressure washed it ( Ill upload pics later but it looks 10000% better )
2.) Also I'm looking into installing HIDs on my wagon.
3.) Hmmmm ... Anyone know of any cool shifter knobs for a wagon ... oh and I need a inside door handle ( Inside back door handle on driver side ) if anyone has an extra or wants to sell one for a few bucks maybe we could work out a deal.

tilted steering collum

So I always hated the wheel angle in my wagon but it isn't adjustable but I figured out a way to do it.there are 4bolts that mount the colum to the underside of the dash.take those out replace them with longer bolts(about an inch longer)and sandwich spacers between the colum and mounts.the thicker those spacers are the more it drops the wheel down.I used some red loctite on the threads for saftey sake.that's how to lower that wheel so you're not rollin 18 Wheeler style.

^^^ good info ....

so today I cleaned my wagon and put a different shifter knob on for now ( its a cheapo from walmart with the LEDs ... like $13 )

Oh and that reminds me check out this shifter knob .. its cool but is way way way to pricey lol
Its called an Indy Cator and is like $150 ... wow 150 for a shifter knob lol

NightWulf said:

I need a inside door handle ( Inside back door handle on driver side ) if anyone has an extra or wants to sell one for a few bucks maybe we could work out a deal.

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If looking to replace the inner door handles and wanting to go black, the ones from a 90-94 Protege or 323 are direct fit, same with the black window cranks. You already got a shift knob, but the one from a 95-98 Protege are direct fit and about 1/2 pound heavier than the stock Escort one.

LOWETGT said:

NightWulf said:

I need a inside door handle ( Inside back door handle on driver side ) if anyone has an extra or wants to sell one for a few bucks maybe we could work out a deal.

Click to expand...

If looking to replace the inner door handles and wanting to go black, the ones from a 90-94 Protege or 323 are direct fit, same with the black window cranks. You already got a shift knob, but the one from a 95-98 Protege are direct fit and about 1/2 pound heavier than the stock Escort one.

Click to expand...

Alright thanks im going to go to the junkyard soon and ill be on the look out.

I made my '95 wagon start just by pressing the clutch (no key or anything), a system I plan to perfect (so starter only runs if the car is off, and doesn't keep running after car is started.) Unfortunately, we then found out it has a bent frame and is being taken off the road. It was convenient to save gas at long stops...

Truk said:

I made my '95 wagon start just by pressing the clutch (no key or anything), a system I plan to perfect (so starter only runs if the car is off, and doesn't keep running after car is started.) Unfortunately, we then found out it has a bent frame and is being taken off the road. It was convenient to save gas at long stops...

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Im sorry to hear that .. are you taking it off the road forever?

Repairs today

I replaced my exhaust manifold gasket, exhaust manifold flange gasket, egr tube gasket, and both O2 sensors. All in response to a minor exhaust leak due to gasket failure. (someone, who shall remain nameless, ran over a parking lot island, jarring the exhaust, and the jolt probably caused the gasket failure) The O2 sensors were just because it was a perfect time to do it in conjunction with the other repairs.

99 Wagon, 2.0 SPI, 98,000 miles.

NightWulf said:

Im sorry to hear that .. are you taking it off the road forever?

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Unfortunately so. I wanted to get another one, but luck hasn't been in my favor. It looks like I'm going to be buying a Focus wagon this weekend, although I'd much rather have another escort wagon.

Re: tilted steering collum

cincysam said:

So I always hated the wheel angle in my wagon but it isn't adjustable but I figured out a way to do it.there are 4bolts that mount the colum to the underside of the dash.take those out replace them with longer bolts(about an inch longer)and sandwich spacers between the colum and mounts.the thicker those spacers are the more it drops the wheel down.I used some red loctite on the threads for saftey sake.that's how to lower that wheel so you're not rollin 18 Wheeler style.

Click to expand...

I have the exact opposite problem, I always wanted my wheel to be up further, more 18 wheeler style, because my big gut is in the way

Truk said:

NightWulf said:

Im sorry to hear that .. are you taking it off the road forever?

Click to expand...

Unfortunately so. I wanted to get another one, but luck hasn't been in my favor. It looks like I'm going to be buying a Focus wagon this weekend, although I'd much rather have another escort wagon.

Click to expand...

these are unibody cars, you mean it has been wrecked and is bent underneath? mine could be, it's a cheapo $250 beater, could have been wrecked before, I never had it checked out, it rides fairly straight...

txescortwagon1993 said:

could have been wrecked before, I never had it checked out, it rides fairly straight...

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Yeah, the whole car was basically bent. The guy who was gonna fix it said he couldn't because it was bent in two places. Mine went fairly straight too, but with a front end alignment the main symptoms will actually be above normal tire wear. There's an easy way to check the frame though: straighten out the wheels and take the hubcaps off. Using a standard reference point (I used the front edge of the hub) measure the distance between the front and rear wheels. On a good frame, if done right, they should be the same. Mine was about half an inch off.

Keep in mind, bent frame is not the only thing that can cause it, but definitely something is wrong and should be checked out if the two sides aren't the same.

Well that sucks... It would be nice if you can find another escort wagon. We need as many as we can we are a dying breed

1/2 inch does not sound really that bad, maybe it is in the grand scheme of things, but it seems like a 1/2 inch could be made up somehow by like redirecting the rear wheels somehow. I dunno. Maybe not.

It wasn't bad driving, but it ate right through my brand new tires, that's why it was retired. If I could find a good body, I'd love it, but all I can find is in Florida! XD

Just take it to a body shop and have them put it on the frame machine. It will cost about $400-$500 and fix the problem.

I tried that, that was the 'bent in two places' problem. Frame machine won't do it.

I just installed new Motorcraft spark plugs and wires on my wagon. Oddly enough, I never got to experience my car with OEM plugs and wires as the po had prematurely changed them out.