Conference terri::cars_uk

    Dont know of any steering bushes but I'll ask a few of my mates who
    have had the conversions done. They both have the later RS turbos but
    they had to change the suspension to keep the car on the road. But if
    you have this done beware the first time he had it changed to 40%
    uprated it was like drivin with steam roller suspension, so hes now got
    progressive dampers which he says are just the job if you need more
    info I'll find out what exactly they've got.
    
    
    Regards Martin

Whatever you do with the suspension and so forth there's one other very
important thing that you must do.

You must tell your insurance company what you have done, and be prepared to
pay an additional premium.

jb

    re -1
    
    But if only the chip is changed, how would an insurance company ever find
    out?
    
    I agree that a suspension change could be spotted, but I doubt a chip
    change - is it easy to spot if there has been a mod?
    
    Honest Craig...

>    But if only the chip is changed, how would an insurance company ever find
>    out?

I agree it's unlikely, but if they did find out you can just bet that it would
be the time when you'd run into the size of a Ferrari or something !

How much difference does this chip make, and how ?

Ignorant of Solent.

    Yup. if they did find out that you had modified the car and hadn't told
    them it would probably invalidate your policy.  And the time that
    matters is when you want them to pay for something.
    
    Ian.

 One thing that you may find is that many people wont insure the car, or will
add an extra premium unless the suspension has been done as well. When I did
my old Escort (just put the Webers, better exhaust, and a better Cam) my
broker told me that the only reason that the suspension mods I also did mattered
was to make sure that the car still stood a chance of staying on the road !!!!


		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Re .3
    
    How would they spot it ?   Look at the boost gauge !
    
    How much difference ? Depends on the motoor and the chip option
    (usually 50bhp on a 2-litre turbo.
    
    J.R.

    
    Re .7
    
    RS Turbos don't have boost gauges do they? I seem to remember someone
    asking about fitting one to one a while back.
    
    Mark 

    Thanks for all your replies concerning my RS Turbo. I would appreciate
    it very much Martin if you could possibly find out more info on the
    suspension mods that your mates have on their Turbos. I am hoping to
    have the chip installed this evening along with the stiffer bushes.
    If the car feels as though it might have trouble staying on the road
    then I will have to change the suspension set up in some way.
    
    As for insurance premiums (which do not come at all cheap over here in
    Northern Ireland - 950 quid for a standard RS Turbo !!) I don't think I
    could face another sharp rise just yet. As for the detectibility of a
    chipped car; this is very slim because the original electronic engine
    management system is simply reprogrammed to allow more boost to the
    engine and a higher rev limit of 7000rpm. An uprated turbo wastegate is
    the only other change. This is therefore the only visual mod that
    might be noticed - which may take a very trained eye. There is no boost
    gauge on the RS, so the increase of boost from around 6psi to 11psi -
    or so I am told, should be virtually undetectable unless the car is
    actually driven ;-). Therefore should I happen to (God forbid) smash 
    into the side of a brand new Ferrari (perhaps via the showroom window 
    under excess boost and revs with no suspension mods :-) ) then my
    engine mod may not be immediately apparant as I don't think my car
    would be drivable by an insurance investigator, who would most probably
    rather take the Ferrari for a spin instead - whether it is chipped or
    not :-)
    
    Regards,
    
    Gary.

    The first thing an insurance assessor will look for on a car of this
    type are mods to the engine management system.  These guys have trained
    eyes.  Your insurance would be invalid - no a risk I would like to
    take.

Ahhh Gi'day...�

			     11 psi boost? WOW!

Re: .9

Adding to .10 you probably also be charged and convicted of driving without
insurance.  This would likely involve a ban and subsequent extreme difficulty
(cost) in obtaining any insurance at all.

It is not worth the risk.

jb

    
    You should try running it with the wastegate completely bypassed.
    
    It makes for one helluva lotta fun. Not much good for the cylinder head
    or fuel consumption but if you plumb it in properly with a flick-switch 
    on the dash it can be useful ;-) 

    
    Wouldn't that also be a recipe for piston meltdown?
    
    Mark

    
    I've heard rumours that those sort of things happened ;-)
    
    Paul

    Hmmm, I have read all the comments on insurance and think I might place
    a tentative phone call to my broker (without quite mentioning my name) to
    see whether the expected "boost" in premium is directly proportional to
    the boost in psi. I'll just casually say that I know a friend who has a
    friend who has an RS Turbo and fancies a turbo-nutter boost upgrade
    chip and what will this do to his insurance, if indeed he could get
    insurance.
    
    I don't know about the suggestion of bypassing the wastegate
    though as this seems like a jolly dangerous thing to do. I would
    however like to hear more of such a conversion if there exists such a
    convertee. This person is however likely to be blind by now having been
    exposed to boiling hot synthetic oil, bits of melted down piston and
    various other pieces of CVH shrapnel being propelled through the bonnet
    and through the windscreen at goodness know's what psi :-)
    
    Regards Gary who_is_quite_a_young_chap_and_is_lucky_to_have_insurance
                 _for_his_standard_RS_Turbo_in_the_first_place.
    

    
    
    Garry,
    
    I used to have an RS and the mod, if used selectivley, was quite
    impressive. It's NOT recommended for continuos use.
    
    There are two other possibilities.
    
    On the wastegate itself ther is a screw which you can tighten to
    increase the boost by perhaps 1 p.s.i. or....
    
    You can disconnect the wastegate toggle bar, slacken the toggle itself,
    turn the retaining nut 10-15 turns to make the bar shorter and then
    retighten the toggle. Should be good for a few more psi.
    
    The above is all from memory (3 years ago), so if the power is reduced
    just perform the above the opposite way around.
    
    Cheers Paul

 Apparently another common way of increasing boost on an RS was to put a bicycle
valve in the pipe from the turbo to the brain, it then thought it had less
boost thanit did, and consequently it went quite a lot quicker until the pistons
melted because the mixture was too weak !!!!!!



			 Alan
			~~~~~~

    Thanks for your advice Paul about adjusting the wastegate. I'll have a
    look under the bonnet tonight... although I have ordered the chip and
    may wait until it is installed to see what exactly happens concerning
    the wastegate. I think I will be receiving a new uprated one from
    B.B.R. along with the chip itself. Or perhaps as you say it will be
    possible to toggle with my own ! - I say, I hope a girlie will be
    performing this difficult toggling operation on my wastegate :-)
    
    Thanks very much Paul your comments are appreciated,
    
    Cheers Gary.

�valve in the pipe from the turbo to the brain, it then thought it had less
    
    This is the same sort of thing as the 'gizmo' pictured on the glossy
    leaflet from Detection Techniques.
    
    I trust the guys at BBR, so if their chip is ordered, I would think
    that any further mods may hamper the resulting performance unless
    they indicate that it is worth trying.
    
    If you do play around with wastegate actuators/boost sensors, post
    any info. in here - but don't blame the BBR chip for any engine
    problems that may result.  If you have got a noticeable increase
    in power with the chip fitted, any further, minor, gains will
    probably be almost unnoticeable by comparison...
    
    J.R.

    I think you are quite right J.R. I won't attempt any of these mods
    because I have ordered the chip (which is on its way according to BBR
    yesterday). I also trust that BBR know what they are doing and when
    their agent chappie over here in Northern Ireland is fitting my
    upgrade, I shall metion some of the weird and wonderful suggestions I
    have been given through this note - Re bypass wastegate (!), insert
    bicycle valve, adjust screw, toggle with wastegate .. etc. 
    
    It might be quite funny to hear what he has to say about these mods and
    I shall keep you informed of the outcome. It will also be most
    interesting to watch exactly what is involved in fitting the upgrade as
    I shall be present. If he tries to insert a bicycle valve anywhere
    though, my suspicion will be aroused as for 345 quid I would have
    expected a whole bicycle :-)
    
    Gary.

 I think that the bicycle valve jobbie is normally a 'home tune' technique, or
maybe a backstreet garage type. I too would be extremely surprised if you found 
BBR doing any such thing.


		 Alan
		~~~~~~

 P.S. I know that my friends RSt had had the turbo wound up a bit, he didn't 
know what exactly had been done, and I couldn't work it out from his 
description, but it does sound like it could have been the adjuster on the 
wastegate that was mentioned earlier. Unfortunatley that mod was done before, or
maybe only just after he got it, so I have no idea what difference it made.

    Alan you say that your friend has had his turbo wound up in some
    manner. Did he inform his insurance company, and if so what increase in
    premium did he experience ??
    
    Some of the previous replies have warned me to inform my broker. The
    BBR agent told me that it was up to me whether or not I informed my
    insurance company as the conversion is visually undetectible ("It'll be
    your secret" as it says in their magazine ad).
    
    Gary.
    
    PS. BBR seem to be the most trust worthy chip tuning company according
    to all the magazine reports I have read. I do not therefore expect any
    bicycle valves or "whistling bleed valves" and expect a high quality
    conversion.
    
    By the way I spoke to my local ford dealer who were whole heartedly in
    favour of me handing the car over to them for a 175 bhp chip
    conversion... but there was no mention of warranty invalidation. So I
    asked, and they said "Oh yes, once we know the car has been modified you
    have NO warranty" - 2 years Ford A1 & 1 years concurrent Extra Cover
    down the tubes. "No thankyou" I said after ascertaining that they get
    their chips from B.B.R. anyway, but charge an extra 67, yes thats SIXTY
    SEVEN quid for the privilege, whilst at the same time taking away my
    warranty - well done Ford, putting the customer first. How come when
    they shove a Turbo Technics kit on an XR2, XR3i .. or whatever that the
    warranty is NOT affected. Even though these engines were not designed
    to have a turbo. I think they just want to get their hands on our
    money, because a Turbo Technics kit costs a hell of a lot more than
    a chip uprate. So if prospective purchasers of said kit found out the
    cost and subsequently that their warranty was invalidated too, then
    they are quite likely to say bugger off, and buy a proper turbo car
    instead.
    
    Gordon, my B.B.R. agent says that the boost can be turned back down
    before a Ford service or warranty work, and then cranked back up again
    afterwards so that Ford don't know ;-)  .... but I say if they take
    your car for a spin and check where the rev limiter comes in - 7000 rpm
    on a chipped car, then they know that mods have taken place to the
    Engine Management System - No warranty.
    
    PS. sorry about the long PS.
    
    Gary who_feels_as_though_he_is_becoming_a_turbo_nutter_but_will_do_
         some_proper_work_when_he_gets_some_but_has_been_told_to_become_
         familiar_with_notes_anyway_so_he_is.
    

 I will find out. I don't think he menthioned the slight tune up, but then again
adjusting a screw on the wastegate is efficiency tuning rather than mdifying,
no idea whether he has told his insurance company abouth the chip upgrade he was
about to have done last time I saw him. I will definitely have to go and see him
when I have a car back on the road again.



		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Gary,
    
    Best thing to do is ring up a/your insurance broker and find out how
    much of an increase it will be - You can then work out if its worth
    telling them or not..
    
    Warrenty is no problem - they will only check if something major
    fails, if this happens swap back!
    
    Craig.. 

    Yes Craig, seems to be good advice on the insurance front. At present I
    am still waiting for the chip to come over in the post (perhaps today
    hopefully).
    
    As for the warrenty though, do you know if Ford dealers check the boost
    level at every service. If they do, then they will know of the mod and
    in the event of a warranty claim will fail to cough up. If they take
    the car for a spin, as is usual to check it is going OK, then they must
    notice the higher level of performance (as I have seen many cars in for
    servicing taken out for a blast up the road - notably the quicker
    ones). But as you say perhaps it is only when there is a major failure
    that checks for mods are carried out- which is the time when a valid
    warrenty is most beneficial. Still feel that the chip is a good option
    to go for as it is likely to bring the aging Escort RS Turbo back in to
    line with the performance of newer hot hatches - heres hoping.
    
    I was assured by the B.B.R. agent that it is a 100% reliable conversion
    and that he himself had a Phase II chip set up on his RS Turbo (i.e.
    increased boost, remapped injection, and big bore exhaust; don't know
    about the suspension though) supposedly developing 210bhp (197bhp
    without exhaust). All this with over 100,000 miles on a Mk I example
    which has an otherwise standard engine and clutch - without any 
    problems. Too good to be true ??
    
    He has offered to let me have a spin in his car when he fits my chip, in 
    an effort to convince me to uprate further to phase II (an extra 105
    quid not inc. stainless exhaust - which I know are bally expensive). I
    think I will be quite satisfied with Phase I though as suspension
    uprates are definitely necessary should Phase II be installed.
    
    Can't wait for the chip, if it comes today he will fit it tonight and
    if not, then "I will most definitely have it for the end of the week".
    Hope so, 
            
    Gary ;-)

Hi,

I'm mildly confused by references in this topic to Mk I escorts
with leccy ignition and chip upgrades.

As the Mk I escort predates electronic ignition by a few years, and I don't
think there was ever an "RS Turbo" version, I presume we're really talking about
Mk 3 escorts here, and that "Mk I" refers to some sub-division within the Mk 3
lifetime... yes?

If so, what is the division that distinguishes a "Mk 1" Mk 3 escort?

Scott

    
    On RS Turbos the Mk 1 is the All White 'sharp nosed' (for want of a 
    better description!) model. The Mk 2 is the current, softer looking
    car.
    
    As Scott says the RS Turbo has only been available for the lifetime of
    the Mk 3 Escort (or should that be Mk 3 and Mk 4?).
    
    Mark

re. Ford service folks discovering chip mods.

I'd have thought that they could spot it very easily if they do any form of
engine management system diagnostics since these would show different results
for engines with chip mods. compared with the standard spec. thus invalidating
your warranty.


...art

Mark,

Thanks for the explanation... now all I need is the money to buy one... don't
suppose you could help with that too...?

Scott

    
    Sorry Scott, 
    
    I've got a Wife, Mortgage, 3 cars and a semi-refitted kitchen to
    support! :^)
    
    Ah, to be young, free, single and with time to build a kit car again!
    :^) (Not that I ever built a kit car when I was young, free, etc...)
    
    Mark

    re 29
    
    Yep a diagnostic check would probably show the mod, but this won't be
    a problem until a claim against the warranty is made - at this stage
    the original chip/bits and bobs are back on...
    Can they prove this always hasn't been the case - I doubt it!
    
    
    ..Craig 

    Back to earlier comments on BBR and 'bicycle valve' type of mods.
    
    When I had by turbo mod, I went to their premises for the work.
    There, they have a waiting room and a gym.  Being the slob that
    I am, I kept away from the gymnasium...
    
    In the waiting room is a TV and a video player (with lots of tapes
    showing Dave Brodie on a racetrack in various saloons).  As well
    as this, there is a large folder containing many letters of praise
    and copies of magazine articles reviewing BBR products.
    
    In the corner of the room is a cabinet containing many 'gone faster'
    bits which have been removed by the BBR workshops at the request of
    many of their customers who 'wanted the job done properly'.
    There are many 'bleed valves' in that cabinet, as well as holed pistons
    and other knackered parts.
    
    As has been said, BBR are highly rated - not so of some of the competition.
    
    J.R.
    
    PS - Didn't realise Ford fitted BBR chips.
    	 What's the slogan - Ford Charges You More ???

    
    Is this conference still being moderated ??????
    
    I remember when I mentioned fitting a re-mapped chip to an RS without
    mentioning to Ford with regards warranty,I got the old "deleted
    message",All-in1 "This is against company policy" business.Just 
    wondering..........................  
                                        Doogz

    Well chaps, on Saturday morning I had the Phase 1 BBR conversion done
    on my Escort RS. The BBR agent thought my car was a little quicker than
    most before he installed the chip. So we attached a boost gauge to it
    and took it for a blast. It was blowing at 8 p.s.i. - which is 2 p.s.i.
    more than standard pressure. It therefore transpires that the previous
    owner (a Ford manager) had turned the wick up to the max. possible
    setting for proper running with a standard engine management system. My
    increase of boost to 11 p.s.i. was therefore a little disappointing,
    having been spoiled over the last few months with 8 p.s.i. Never the
    less there is a noticable improvement.
    
    I had the stiffer steering bushes fitted at the same time which proved
    their worth, as I have experienced no torque steer and a more positive
    action. However at higher speeds a vibration through the steering wheel
    developed. On ivestigating further we discovered that an extra washer
    had been placed on the trailing edge of the front anti-roll bar at the
    drivers side. This washer I am sure, was put on by my friendly Ford
    dealer shortly after buying the car, when I experienced poor handling,
    pulling to one side and an off center steering wheel. When I collected
    the car from them all this seemed to be sorted out. But with the
    addition of stiffer steering bushes which locate the front wheels more
    positively, some of these symptoms have reappeared.
    
    We removed this extra washer which was quite shiny and new, but the
    problem has persisted. During the last two days of driving the bolt
    connecting the bushes and the roll bar has worked lose. I had to
    tighten it up last night. Mr. BBR is absolutely certain that the cause
    of this is a bent anti-roll bar. I am therefore going to try and get a
    new one under warranty (as it has evidently been like that since I
    bought the car). Gordon says that my dealer has got round the problem
    by inserting an extra washer, instead of curing it by fitting a new
    anti-roll bar... needless to say I am not too happy. May prove
    difficult to get said roll bar for free as the new bushes will be
    noticed, and if I take them off there will be no problem to show my
    dealer. I did keep this washer to show him though.
    
    As for the car not being capable of staying on the road with standard
    suspension, I have found this to be totally ill-founded (even with less
    than perfect handling). It puts the power down perfectly on the road,
    even coming out of roundabouts (not wet though) on full boost.
    
    I am already considering phase 2 at an extra 100 quid - (197 bhp at 15
    p.s.i.) - new uprated suspension required though.
    
    If anybody has a standard Escort RS Turbo, you simply must have an
    upgrade as the change to 11 psi is certainly exhilerating. The power to
    blow away Astra 16Vs, Golf 16V's (should the need arise) is there.
    Gordon even says it is possible to keep up with a standard Cossie (but
    not pass it)... BUT with Phase 2 he says "You will pass it" !!? ...
    
    In fact I has chatting to an old school chum last night who is running
    his Mk 1 (or Mk 3) RS Turbo at 15 p.s.i. with a BBR chip who says that
    as soon as the boost comes in in FIFTH gear in the wet, the wheels break 
    traction and start to spin...  He also added though that he has almost
    transformed a new set of front tyres to slicks within two months.
    
    Gary.
                                             

>    In fact I has chatting to an old school chum last night who is running
>    his Mk 1 (or Mk 3) RS Turbo at 15 p.s.i. with a BBR chip who says that
>    as soon as the boost comes in in FIFTH gear in the wet, the wheels break 
>    traction and start to spin...  He also added though that he has almost
>    transformed a new set of front tyres to slicks within two months.
    
    
    So, how do you drive smoothly without making your passengers throw-up ?
    
    Sounds completely ludicrous to me.  Ok on those occasions when you want
    to have a bit of a play around, but in normal driving very tiring and
    tiresome.
    
    
    Nigel

    Nigel, this is a bit of a coincidence but my friend that is running his
    RS at 15 psi is also called Nigel...
    
    But anyway he has an adjustable boost kit on his car so that he can
    have boost from anywhere between 8 - 15 psi. He does tell me however
    that he usually keeps it at 15, but can turn it down to suit conditions
    - Re spinning the wheels in fifth gear in the wet.
    
    In the space of the four hours I spent getting the conversion done on
    Saturday, 3 other chaps arrived at different times to see Gordon (the
    BBR agent); 2 with Mk1 RS Turbos and one with a RS 1600i containing an
    RS Turbo engine. These 3 people plus Gordon had one thing in common -
    they had Phase 2 conversions on their cars (i.e. 15 psi.) but without
    having adjustable boost. They were also in agreement that it was a very
    good idea to have so much power and surmised that I would be back like
    them, to have phase 2 fitted.
    
    As for their passengers throwing up, I could detect no signs of this
    within their interiors as all three were immacculate (as were the
    exteriors). Either their passengers are too scared to throw up and are
    suffering from lock jaw or, the generated G force is so great that it
    is impossible for any material to come up.
    
    Gary.
     

    Wot sort of motor do you drive Nig ??
    
    A Flymo with the boost turned down ?? :-) :-)
    
    Gary :-)

    
    A Flymo ? 
    
    No, i always carry my remains away with me.  ;-)  ;-)
    
    
    Nigel

    Nice one Nig ;-)
    
    Gary.

    
    Yeah, or on the front grill of a lorry! :^)
    
    Mark

    Mark,
    
    Your 200 BHP 4WD Calibra can be ordered from Courtenays.  So (I
    believe) can your 240 BHP evolution of the same...
    
    
    John

>    Your 200 BHP 4WD Calibra can be ordered from Courtenays.  So (I
>    believe) can your 240 BHP evolution of the same...
    
	Oh no ! Don't you realise what you have just done !

	Alex :^)

    
    Don't worry. I'm waiting for the version with the Lotus Carlton 
    engine! :^)
    
    Mark (Changing into 6th at 160 mph).

    
    re: .36>
     
    I would like to see any car wheelspin in the wet in 5th gea�, i know my 
    RST wont do it, i think maybe he's exagerating slightly.
    
    You may ask why do i think that.......
    Well i have a MK2 RST with a phase 2 chip change and variable boost,
    running at 15 psi and mine wont do it, in second and third it will,
    and if cornering when you hit the power it will spin the wheels, but 
    not in a straight line.
    
    Also i had my chip fitted by my local Ford dealer, th�y use Detection
    Techniques chips, and if you kindly pay the service manager in the car
    park when leaving with your pride and joy, for some reason you seem to
    keep the warranty, good eh!.
    
    And it will keep up with a cossie at 15 psi. 
    

    
    My Renault 5 used to spin its wheels in 5th...
    
    Well it did once...
    
    But the road was COVERED IN BLACK ICE!!! 
    
    Not nice...
    
    Mark

    Guess what, I had my mark 2 RST go through it's phase change from I to
    II last Thursday (11 psi to 15 psi) :-) Only prob though is that BBR
    decided that they would send over one spring that was not the same
    rating as the others for the suspension (I got adjustable Konis and BBR
    springs put on at the same time see). Therefore the car is sitting down
    quite a little at the back (like it should) and is sitting hellishly
    high at the passenger side at the front. BBR agent appologises
    profusely and immediately gets on the blower to Mr. Brodie, who says
    there has been a terrible mix up and that it is impossible to tell what
    rating the spring is without having it on the car (my springs looked
    the same before they were installed) I would have thought some sort of
    label may have helped ;-) Anyway he said he was sending off a whole new
    set of springs immediately. Still haven't come yet, so I am driving a 
    Fiesta 1.4 S Massive Torque :-) at the mo as I think it is safer. Can't
    seem to keep up with those Cossie's though :-)
    
    I am looking forward to the claimed 197 bhp. By the way re back a
    couple, do you have a standard exhaust on your's, cos mine is giving me
    bother. It was making clanking noises every time the drive was taken
    up in each gear (it isn't cracked though). The dealer removed the two
    springs joining the two sections, and replaced them with bolts...
    problem cured for about 2 months, then same thing again.... Dealer
    cures it again by greasing the joint with copper grease, but two weeks
    later, same problem. I know four other blokes who have had their's
    crack, and they all replaced them with a stainless steel jobby from BBR
    (415 bloody quid mind, but 12 bhp more and 10 year gurantee). Anyone
    recommend such a proposterous sum to be spent ?? A new Ford exhaust
    costs 225 - 250 quid anyway... but how long will it last ?? perhaps 15
    psi is too hot to handle by the standard jobs ??
    
    Gary. 

    Yes my car does have a standard exhaust, and yes it does give me
    hassle. After only 5000 miles it started making funny noises, my
    dealer told me it is a common p�oblem which they fix by fitting
    a piece of flexible steel tubing on to the exhaust. No problems since 
    and i'm now on 50000 miles. Although it did start rattling a while 
    back but they did as you said, copper grease and tighten it up.
    
    @ut thats only minor compared to some of the problems ive had with the
    car, but thats another story.
    
    Nick.
    
    

    Nick, what other probs have you had with your RS, and were they linked
    with the conversion.
    
    I know two blokes who have done over 100,000 miles in theirs with phase
    II BBR conversions.
    
    Gary.

    Well one problem i had with the car was due to the conversion but the
    others weren't. 
    It started a week after delivery when the starter motor developed an
    intermitent fault. Only starting when it wanted to, you could intice it
    to start by violently wiggling the gear stick, i think the movement
    must have shook something in to working, but could i get Ford to replace
    it, only after booking it in for the third time for the same fault.
    
    The second problem was with the L.S.D.
    I was travelling along a dual carriageway approaching a roundabout,
    i braked, turned the wheel, only to have it RIPPED out of my hands all of
    a sudden and was heading straight for the roundabout. I braked hard and 
    used all of my strength to turn the wheel and get it round the
    roundabout. After getting around i slowed right down and wiggled the
    steering, it was ok for about a quarter turn, past that i couldnt move
    it. Luckily i was close to a friends house so i headed there.
    When turning a cornerit required so much effort, and caused the inside
    wheel to jump causing the car to jerk about all over the place, i
    guessed it was the diff that had locked up solid, i phoned Fords who
    came to tow away my car, and i was right, the L.S.D. had very limited
    slip indeed, ie none at all.
    So at 24000 miles they replaced the complete gearbox and diff not just
    the diff. (he's good to me my local dealer)
    
    Next was the engine.
    It had done about 36000 miles, about one month on the conversion, when
    it started rattling, i booked it in for a service and told them but
    they said its nothing to worry about, so off i went. 
    The car had to go back for the head gasket to be replaced as they
    spotted a water leak at the front left of the head, (apparently common)
    any way i returned the car, later that day i phoned to check all was
    well and was told NO.
    He said to me no wonder the car was rattling the engine was worn out !.
    The pistons were ike a pri*k in a bucket, even though it wasnt burning oil,
    and basically it was knackered and i needed a new engine.
    The warranty ran out in one weeks time, and as i said my dealer is
    very good to me, i had a new engine under warranty.
    So far no more problems, except the clutch i sstarting to slip a
    little, (hardly suprising though).
    
     So thats it, the saga so far, hope you have better luck with your
    engine than i did.
    
                       Nick. 

    A rather sad story Nick. I certainly hope that this sort of thing
    doesn't befall me ! Mine's done 31,000 miles now. I have had trouble
    free running since I bought it in March after doing aroun 8,000 miles
    myself. I had the phase I conversion done 3 months ago and thought it
    was terrific. But as is common I wanted some more umpff, so went for
    phase II a couple of weeks back. As I said the BBR springs that came
    with the Konis were not similarly rated and a new set arrived only
    yesterday and are being fitted even as we speak.
    
    One prob that worries me though, is that with the phase I conversion my
    fuel computer said that I was enjoying 32.2 miles per gallon. Over the
    last week with phase II it says 23.6 ! - bloody crap. With phase II the
    module on the fuel injection metering head is replaced with one which
    alters the pressure of the fuel injection so that enough fuel is on tap
    at 15 psi (or so I am told). This I fear is where the problem lies, and
    intend to inquire about what can be done. By the way I haven't been
    ripping the car due to the state the suspension was in (illmatched
    springs).
    
    Any idea  what mpg you are getting, for a comparison Nick ??
    
    Gary.

    Well i do a lot of motorway driving (M25) during the week and town
    driving weekends, m'way driving averages at about 27mpg, town driving
    averages about 24mpg(i think).
    Not to bad considering.
    This is to my calculations as i haven't got a fuel computer.
    
              Nick.