wayneb911

Excelent work i think a few people may be asking you for custom dial faces!!

Bibs I know what you mean and i knew i would get a good telling off when i posted this but its a learning curve and one hopefully i will learn by and stick to my new decision. I think the Duratec is what i will go for. based on mixed comments from Punkys post and also Nigels email i am undecided as to which is the best route. Both have pros and cons. For ease the Jaguar sounds like a better start due to pipework and mounts etc but also the mondeo sounds like it will be relitevely simple as well and some jag parts will be interchangable. Possibly manifolds and engine mounts. I ave asked Nigel about instalation regarding the mondeo and how it goes in with the camshaft driven pump etc. Hopefully he will be able to drop me some images. On the other hand fiting the jag engine sounds long term a batter bet. Punky would it be possible to use the standard jag inlet manifold rather than change to mondeo etc making that a bit simpler? Height is not an issue as not to worried about using the standard engine cover after as i can make a new one similar sort of thing to hilly's This time i think i will gather more information on the two engines and then make a final decision from there. Sorry to waste everyones time and being a bit nieve with the rover engine. Hopefully back on track now and will see this one through. One thing not to fear though is this car will get finised and will not be left a mess. I cant do that to a car and have always completed my projects. New year new start.

Andy I really appreciate all your advice and comments. The reason for the mondeo version was to buy a whole car so i have most of the parts needed. Wriing hoses etc. I wasnt aware you could pick the jag engines up as cheap as that so i may start looking for one. Using the mondeo i would have planned on fitting jag manifolds and mounts if they could be used but again i may be better just buying the jag engine. On the adapter side is there a possibility you could do a paper copy of the adapter plate to post to me so i can line it up against my gearbox to see how it compares? Think this would be the best starting point for me and then take things from there. As the 2.5 and the Duratec share the same block im sure the plate will be okay on that side. Also the jag engine for not alot of money appears to have a huge increase in horsepower to the 2.5 .i I may actually be able to locate a new engine as my company may have some in storage which i might be able to get a good price on. Will see what i can find out.

Hi Hilly Fully understand what your saying and i really need to get to grips with this now. The right way for me is deffinatelly an engine conversion. What engine is best i think is now the Duratec rather than the V8. Few reasons, Cheapness of parts Reliability Modernisation. It has always been on my mind if i am actually doing the correct thing by putting the V8 in and at the same time i have always wondered if it should be a more modern engine that goes in. The more i read on the duratec and yours the more i think the modern route is better. Got me thinking actually about my engine when Matt came and picked up my old one. He said about a more modern engine and mentioned your car at the time but as i already had my engine i was set on it. Your 100% correct when you say i need to sit down and completely decide on what i want to do. As my project has started changing as i have gone by this is now the reasons for choosing another engine. I started off planning a carb turbo then decided to go EFI. Turbo's were going to sit close to fuel tanks as we new so lots of heat issues to address. Figured with all the alterations i was making along the way i would be much better fitting a Duratec as alot less issues and its EFI already so i dont need to start messing around with adding EFI etc. The Duratec has been well documented by Punky so there is plenty of pictures and information which i have read over and over along with your thread as well. One of the good things is i dont start my projects unless i plan to finish them no matter what changes i make along the way so never fear the Esprit will be back on the road and not off to the parts bin and im also still aiming for my 2 year target. Hopefully i will stick to this decision but i wont hold myself to that as i know what i am like.. Ha ha.

The Duratec route has been done by a couple of people already so their is plenty of information about and it also seems a safe bet and they are known as a good engine.

Standard ST24 engine produces 170bhp standard but easily tuned to 200 with not alot of money. I have seen some around 300 but not really looked into tuning. Just want the car on the road!

Andy I think its deffinatelly the right move and im already looking at a doner car that way i have pretty much everything. Chris I know the rover is a proven engine its a 3.5 but i think i have now made my mind up and the engine will be out in the next couple of days. Geir Over hear Duratecs are ten a penny and easy to get parts for even in the local breakers. A whole vehicle i can pick up damaged with a good engine for £500 or less. Deffinatelly the Duratec route now. Hopefully i will stick with that. Ha Ha!!

Been thinking lots over the last few weeks and reading Hillys and Punkys conversions. Have to say i think i may have been swayed!! Im actually thinking of pulling the plug and going the V6 Duratec route instead for a more modern engine. Least i havent spent any money yet if i do decide to do this. Whoops.... I have a habit of changing my mind half way through things!! I have a strong feeling i will now as well!!!!!! Someone give me a slap please!!!

You will need alpine keys they normally come with the radio. Failing that some small slithers of metal to slide in the holes once you have removed the front provided that its a face off stereo. Or your local Audi shop will do it probable for free

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE HOPE ITS A GOOD ONE FOR ALL OF YOU!!!

Thanks Simon Hope your car is going well. Once this is done i plan to write a guide on everything as i did on the complete conversion of my 911 start to finish. Least that way should anyone plan the same in the future they will have all the answers in one place. Should have some more updates in the next few days. Jason What sort of pump are you on about and do you have any pictures? Only though about an inline pump to save on space again

Dont think its the starter as you normally get a clonk and thats about it. Slly suggestion but has it got fuel? Have you also fitted the correct battery. If the battery power is to low for the vehicle it wont be enough to crank it over. Easy way to check this is jump it off another car to see if pulling the extra power from another battery gives it a boost.

Managed to get out for a few hours. Started making some templates for the mounts but couldnt get them how i wanted so gave up for the day. Water pump has been modified and now i just need to get someone to weld the end over and then i can finish it off. Will fit an electric inline pump up by the radiator.

Luckily its a gas or gasless mig just need the regulator and gas. Will see how i get on without the gas first and may change after.

Picked up my new welder today. Christmas present from my lovely partner. Not welded for few years so hopefully i still can! Bought a Clarke MIG 90EN 30 AMP min 90 AMP max says capable of up to 4mm but im sure its more like 2.5-3mm max. Still hopefully before i go back to work i will get the chance to get out and practice and hopefully get the front engine mounts made for the V8.

Could be worse who ever owned mine has obviously had away themoney and re laid the carpet with house hold fluffy stuff!!! Looking forward to ripping that out..

Great work hope it all works out. Its nice when so much hard work finnally shows off.

So who do you trust??? I know someone or a few people actually who were locked up but now released who fleased huge ammounts of money from accounts. One of them worked for a bank in a very high position and actually put credit card applications through in other peoples names but the cards were never actually issued to the customer but to his friend instead who with the given pin numbers would raid the accounts. Bing that the accounts had also been given high limits lots of money went missing. This was some years ago when it was probably alot easier and less security. However i have also been a victim of this and had three amounts taken from my account early hours from London machines and the bank returned all the money after a months investigation!! I was out of pocket with bills to pay for this time and after the investigation they also paid the charges that i incured. One of our friends has also been a target 2 days befor christmas!!! Fu**in scum thats what these people are!!! Off with their heads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry forgot about that bit So does anyone know how Mark Irwin can be contacted?

Im wondering how easy it would be to recreate? Who knows where the moulds are. I have asked befor and the last time they were around was in southend?

Well i would do the conversion!! I think it looks great just needs a bit more of modern touch in certain places. Especially the hood side of it! Come to think about it has anyone ever attempted or thought about a targa conversion??? Im sure that would be alot easier?

Not been out in the garage for few weeks now. Seems man flu with a bit of extra feel like crap!!! has taken its toll on me. Feeling fed up now as want to get out there and fab the front mounts but being christmas i prob wont get a chance. Especially if i dont start getting better..

I have owned variouse CAT D cars and also bikes. When you think of the cost to repair something minor on a car like this then its easy to see how it could be deemed a right off. Think about how much a respray would be if someone keyed the car alround. The cost would outway the repair when its more than half its value etc. Nothing wrong with a cat D in my opinion. My R6 was cat D and lets face it with bikes you only need to push it over and the repair from an insurance point of view is uneconomical. Anyway there are lots of cars out there that have been pranged and repaired and not even gone through insurance so you would never know! Its only that its highlighted.

Yep i seem to frequently have a look! Probably one of the best convesrions out there. Oh and stop being a wuss and get out there. Nothing quite like slipping with the spanner when your hands are freezing cold !! Not that i have been out in my garage since the heater packed up !!

Great work Danny. What sort of money was the radiator?