Fiesta Si 2.1 build
Discussion
Intended as a track car, me and my mate found this smart looking but rotten Fiesta Si for sale. Initially priced at £400, I managed to get the car for an absolute steal at £275. It needed an ignition barrel (couldn't turn the key) a fair bit of welding to the floor pan, N/S rear shoes etc amongst other things. Judging by the price some of the knackered pop plus' go for, it was daylight robbery what I paid! Here was when I picked it up with the good old daily sax

With the car collected and trailered back, it was time to start the work. Upon immediately seeing the car, I decided not to use it as a track car, but to build it into a road rocket that could be used daily and eventually replace my saxo.
Spec is as follows;
Poverty model Fiesta Si finished in Audi Sprint Blue with smoothed genuine cosworth splitter
Zetec 2.0 overbored to 2.1. Kent cams, Stage 1 clutch, RS1800 inlet manifold
Si gearbox
AVO coilovers
Mondeo GTI 16"
Many more plans to come, but for now here's the build so far.

One of many rust holes...


One of many welds....

After 3 long evenings welding, the next task was to get the old 1.6 powerhouse out and replace it for something with some meat.

A fully rebuilt 2.0 running XE bottom end and kent cams




Out finally, what a nut ache it was...

Forgot to take pics going back in but long story short, if anyone else out there is planning on this conversion, take the engine and box out together.....

First drive once it was running!

Blacktop rocker cover on and catch tank installed. Still needs plumbing in correctly but looks a lot smarter in the bay now I reckon.




#
The car is now completely road legal and undersealed. The car has some love again now (was off the road over a year before I bought it after epic MOT failure) Still a few little bits to sort yet, needs a quality exhaust system rather than the ridiculous fart can on it at the minute. Needs some ST150 brakes, new belt putting on it but so far *touch wood* it's proved to be a reliable little motor and doesn't half surprise some of the newer hot hatches. Very happy with it, updates to follow.
With the car collected and trailered back, it was time to start the work. Upon immediately seeing the car, I decided not to use it as a track car, but to build it into a road rocket that could be used daily and eventually replace my saxo.
Spec is as follows;
Poverty model Fiesta Si finished in Audi Sprint Blue with smoothed genuine cosworth splitter
Zetec 2.0 overbored to 2.1. Kent cams, Stage 1 clutch, RS1800 inlet manifold
Si gearbox
AVO coilovers
Mondeo GTI 16"
Many more plans to come, but for now here's the build so far.
One of many rust holes...
One of many welds....
After 3 long evenings welding, the next task was to get the old 1.6 powerhouse out and replace it for something with some meat.
A fully rebuilt 2.0 running XE bottom end and kent cams
Out finally, what a nut ache it was...
Forgot to take pics going back in but long story short, if anyone else out there is planning on this conversion, take the engine and box out together.....
First drive once it was running!
Blacktop rocker cover on and catch tank installed. Still needs plumbing in correctly but looks a lot smarter in the bay now I reckon.
The car is now completely road legal and undersealed. The car has some love again now (was off the road over a year before I bought it after epic MOT failure) Still a few little bits to sort yet, needs a quality exhaust system rather than the ridiculous fart can on it at the minute. Needs some ST150 brakes, new belt putting on it but so far *touch wood* it's proved to be a reliable little motor and doesn't half surprise some of the newer hot hatches. Very happy with it, updates to follow.
Edited by ProjectZS on Wednesday 9th September 22:11
Edited by ProjectZS on Thursday 10th September 09:12
Aphex said:
As a heads up, with that engine cover you'll have people on here scurrying off to find out what the car is registered as and will want to crucify you if its not declared 
It's just the standard airbox pipe, they never made a 2.0 sticker iirc. The car is insured and is in the process of going through with DVLA
Edited by ProjectZS on Thursday 10th September 09:54
ProjectZS said:
It's just the standard airbox pipe, they never made a 2.0 sticker iirc. The car is insured and is in the process of going through with DVLA
Bar the front bumper which is a matter of taste, I like it Edited by ProjectZS on Thursday 10th September 09:54
The first nippy car anyone in our college group had was a little Fiesta Si, good memories
Aphex said:
Bar the front bumper which is a matter of taste, I like it 
The first nippy car anyone in our college group had was a little Fiesta Si, good memories
Haha this is about 60hp up on the standard 1.6. I'm also not sure on the bumper, had an Si before and always loved the sleeper look so think I'll be putting the poverty spec pop plus bumpers on it The first nippy car anyone in our college group had was a little Fiesta Si, good memories
I love these things, had one as my first car for two years and many miles. Yours looks great mechanically but the horrid massive wheels, stupid blacked out lights and giant lip on the front bumper ruin it cosmetically for me, I think they look excellent completely standard. Does it still have the original seats?
TurboHatchback said:
I love these things, had one as my first car for two years and many miles. Yours looks great mechanically but the horrid massive wheels, stupid blacked out lights and giant lip on the front bumper ruin it cosmetically for me, I think they look excellent completely standard. Does it still have the original seats?
My thoughts actually but each to their own.Haha nice to see some of the opinions, it's actually a genuine cossy splitter but I myself aren't a fan. I love the base trim look to the MK3 so I'll be getting hold of a set of base bumpers and putting new tires on the Si steelies. The Si steelies are wider than any other Fiesta steelies and they look the b
ks with SX trims I think. Car has the standard wingback seats yes! Had recaro's in my old 2.0 loved them but the wingbacks aren't bad. Rear lights will also be changed for RS/Euro lights as I'm not a fan of the blackouts. Plus the fart can backbox but before anything else, yeah the brakes NEED doing. They're pretty woeful haha, my old 2.0 had an ST150 front set up and they were brilliant so that's what I'm after next
ks with SX trims I think. Car has the standard wingback seats yes! Had recaro's in my old 2.0 loved them but the wingbacks aren't bad. Rear lights will also be changed for RS/Euro lights as I'm not a fan of the blackouts. Plus the fart can backbox but before anything else, yeah the brakes NEED doing. They're pretty woeful haha, my old 2.0 had an ST150 front set up and they were brilliant so that's what I'm after nextMax M4X WW said:
This is my old one, sold it on last year. Bit of a sleeper..


Yours looks like a good cheap project/toy
Looks insane. I'm into screamer N/A engines to be honest, I am currently looking into carbs at the moment and headwork, turbo doesn't seem possible for me at the minute, I don't have the biggest budget but one day I'd like it forced. I'm happy with about 180hp, not sure what the best route is to get that

Yours looks like a good cheap project/toy

TurboHatchback said:
I love these things, had one as my first car for two years and many miles. Yours looks great mechanically but the horrid massive wheels, stupid blacked out lights and giant lip on the front bumper ruin it cosmetically for me, I think they look excellent completely standard. Does it still have the original seats?
I've had two 2.0 Si's. My first was a Cat C but had some very nice touches, genuine clear repeaters, genuine MHW's, recaro's etc. The previous owner has spent money in the wrong places on this, the splitter doesn't look right with no RS arches/skirts and the lights look like they've come right out of halfords. Bite>bark as far as I'm concerned, every copper looks at me the way it is so going to be putting standard items on exterioriacabu said:
I had an Si as my 2nd car, looks like yours still has the wingbacks in it?
Must go quite well as it is but a good base for a turbo...
my old RS1800 2.1zt

I bet that went like a scalded cat! I'd like to go down this route eventually but I have much to learn, this is my first extensive project involving any kind of engine modification so I'm a bit in the dark with it all haha. Good to see the kinds potential these cars have though!Must go quite well as it is but a good base for a turbo...
my old RS1800 2.1zt

ProjectZS said:
TurboHatchback said:
I love these things, had one as my first car for two years and many miles. Yours looks great mechanically but the horrid massive wheels, stupid blacked out lights and giant lip on the front bumper ruin it cosmetically for me, I think they look excellent completely standard. Does it still have the original seats?
I've had two 2.0 Si's. My first was a Cat C but had some very nice touches, genuine clear repeaters, genuine MHW's, recaro's etc. The previous owner has spent money in the wrong places on this, the splitter doesn't look right with no RS arches/skirts and the lights look like they've come right out of halfords. Bite>bark as far as I'm concerned, every copper looks at me the way it is so going to be putting standard items on exteriorIlovejapcrap said:
Max M4X WW said:
FiestaZS said:
I'm also not sure on the bumper, had an Si before and always loved the sleeper look so think I'll be putting the poverty spec pop plus bumpers on it
This is my old one, sold it on last year. Bit of a sleeper..

Stats ?
As part of work, I have to travel to milton keynes every few weeks for off the job training. I decided this time to take the Fiesta because I wanted to go FordFest which is only round the corner. Initially I was just going to park up in the visitors carpark, but a last minute stand pass and ticket popped up so I snapped it. On the trip to Milton Keynes however, things got a bit ugly....

One of my tires decided to go bang, so had to fork out for a new tire....Then I decided it was more money to actually pay for two nights at a hotel than It was driving all the way back from training on Friday, to then come back Sunday morning. So I ended up setting off for Fordfest at 5AM with a convoy.

Quick oil check at services.....

Only picture I got of my own car. Sure there's probably more taken by others.
Were some absolutely fantastic cars here though, many with thousands spent on them and put mine to shame. 4 weeks on the road however and it's doing well **touch wood** Didn't miss a beat down there and surprised a few unsuspecting cars.
I can tell my mate has been spending too much time around me, after about 8 classic minis he's gone and got the Ford Bug with this absolute kipper of an XR3i. By god it's rotten, never seen anything like it, rear legs, sills, arches, boot floor, battery tray. Not to mention some form of rodent eating away at interior trim. All for £600, should be an interesting project...

One of my tires decided to go bang, so had to fork out for a new tire....Then I decided it was more money to actually pay for two nights at a hotel than It was driving all the way back from training on Friday, to then come back Sunday morning. So I ended up setting off for Fordfest at 5AM with a convoy.
Quick oil check at services.....
Only picture I got of my own car. Sure there's probably more taken by others.
Were some absolutely fantastic cars here though, many with thousands spent on them and put mine to shame. 4 weeks on the road however and it's doing well **touch wood** Didn't miss a beat down there and surprised a few unsuspecting cars.
I can tell my mate has been spending too much time around me, after about 8 classic minis he's gone and got the Ford Bug with this absolute kipper of an XR3i. By god it's rotten, never seen anything like it, rear legs, sills, arches, boot floor, battery tray. Not to mention some form of rodent eating away at interior trim. All for £600, should be an interesting project...
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