[Acoustiman]

I have a 95 ford escort LX I want to start modifying. What should I start with? If anyone can help me out here that would be great. Oh yeah, I don´t know shit about cars and want to learn!
Thanx
Acoustiman

 

[2redscorts]

Hey Acoustiman! Welcome to FEOA.

That´s a really good question, and the answer depends on what matters most to you. Is you priority to make your scort faster, to make it look better, to make it more unique? Some mods have aesthetic (looks) as well as functional (performance) value, but there are many that will cost you HP even though they are marketed as performance parts. For instance, an exhaust header with the tubes bent wrong will actually rob power compared to your stock manifold. As a fellow LX owner, I bet the last thing you want to do is make your car slower. Also remember that anything you add to your car weighs something, and a heavier car will be slower and not handle as well.

Don´t get the idea I´m telling you to keep your scort stock. I just want to let you know of some potential pitfalls so you can steer clear of them. Bear in mind also that I myself am kinda new to this, so I´ll be learning along with you. I´m choosing my mods carefully cause they all cost money, and I want to make wise choices.

If you´re seeking more power, then I think most people agree that intake and exhaust changes are the easiest ways to get started adding power. Upgraded struts, coli springs, and sway bars will improve handling. Larger wheels and tires will improve roadholding as well as your scort´s looks. Adding parts from a GT, such as bumpers, driving lights, skirts, spoiler, etc. is another way to improve looks. If your paint is faded or scratched and body panels dented, then some bodywork and a new paintjob will go a long way too. Then there a lot of things you can do to dress up your interior.

Keep asking questions and reading the articles and posts on this site. Check out the cars in the Car Showcase, CarDomain sites, check the mods we´ve done in the Car Mod Journal, check out cars on EscortPower.com too. Decide what you like and don´t like, and then you´ll have some idea on where to start.
Hope this helps!

 

[Acoustiman]

Hey thanks a lot 2redcorts. That reply actually did help a lot and believe you me, I will be visiting this site more often reading up on everything about how to improve my escort. It´s not the most common type of a car to mod, but you know, its a good little car.

I just bought my first issue of Modified Mag and there is an advertisement from NOPI.com. Do you guys know if this is a decent store to shop at. It seems pretty easy to find what goes with what make and model car and the prices didn´t seem that bad.
Thanx again 2redcorts! I´m glad to be a member of this prestigeious site hahah.

 

[91scortgtboy]

Yeah nopi is a good website to buy from. I havn´t heard anything bad about them and I know alot of people who have bought stuff from them.
By the way welcome to FEOA. Theres alot of guys on here who really know their s#@t about scorts. So don´t be afriad to ask a question. No question is stupid unless it is never asked. But just to be curious what are you looking for to buy off nopi? I know of alot of websits that sell scort stuff. And look on ebay also. Type in ford escort. theres usualy about 40 pages of stuff on their. Anything else you want to know just drop a line.

 

[Acoustiman]

Well, primarily I want to upgrade my exaust and air intake. But also, I was just wondering where I can find more body kits than nopi has to offer. Also, what is the largest size rims I can install on my LX? I saw some slick looking rims on various members´ scorts here.

 

[James92Scort]

I´m sure NOPI is a good store to buy from but on December 14th when I ordered my KYB struts I thought I´d get them within a week, I STILL haven´t gotten them. Then to top it off, when I got my monthly statement from my bank it doesn´t show ANYTHING on there about 235 dollars to NOPI.com. I don´t know what´s going on, but apparently I have more money in my account than I thought. I´ll have to stop in and see if it´s there or not next week. This is really confusing and it pissed me off too. Welcome to my luck.

 

[muska59]

i´d hafta say a good start would be investing in a pair of clear corners and exhaust.

 

[Acoustiman]

What are clear corners?

 

[muska59]

they´re your turn signals

 

[Acoustiman]

got ya. Ok then. I think I may hold off on the exterior asthetics except for rims until I get the inner workings to my liking. I wish I could be doing this to a 67 Shelby GT 500 but hey, what´s a guy to do. haha

 

[Zeemax]

Don´t underestimate the effect of clear corners. Just installed mine and they look wonderful. And for $36, great value for the money. Plus its so easy to do, I swapped out both in under 10 minutes. BTW, got mine from ZXtuner.com. Fast shipping and the quality is good. In my opinion, it changes the look of the front end, makes it meaner and more purposeful. This is the way Ford should have made the Escort.

 

[siragan]

look schmook...
get a K&N and a new exhaust, run synthetic mobil-1 5W-30 or 10W-30 and you´ll be set. Then maybe a suspension upgrade, and upgrading the brakes. I think that looks should come last, personally.

 

[Acoustiman]

I am the epidomy of a newb, what is K&N?
Also, I was reading other posts and they´re saying that I can´t turbo my 1.9L SEFI because basically it will blow up and send shrapnal into unwitting spectators and myself included. If I do need to swap out my engine with another. What is the best bet for my 95 LX and how much am I lookin at?

 

[TheBlade]

If you want to do motor stuff, the 1.9 is a harder platform to work from. Might want to start putting the bucks away for an engine swap. Or do fuel and ignition systems.

 

[Acoustiman]

What are my options for an engine swap and again, what would it cost me?

 

[TheBlade]

K&N is a brand name, just like Sony. They were the first to make air filters made out of cloth instead of paper. (well the first to perfect it). They use an oil to increase airflow. hence power for nothing, with no drawbacks.

Most brands out now use the same technology so there isn´t a big difference. Ractive filters use K&N cloth and stuff.