500+bhp Mk3 Fiesta Project
Discussion
mwstewart said:
Well, the washers are certainly controversial 
I do understand why many of you hate them, but I just think they suit the rest of the car.
But the rest of the car is a modification masterpiece which as you've said is all "OEM+" and these washers are absolutely the worst most ugly ones I've ever seen. You've seemingly gone out of your way to find parts that work better or look better for literally every other aspect of the car and then these appear? I do understand why many of you hate them, but I just think they suit the rest of the car. Compared to everything else you've done, they just look bloody lazy. Sorry.
Please don't tell us you've got bored this close to the finish line?
Chapppers said:
But the rest of the car is a modification masterpiece which as you've said is all "OEM+" and these washers are absolutely the worst most ugly ones I've ever seen. You've seemingly gone out of your way to find parts that work better or look better for literally every other aspect of the car and then these appear?
Compared to everything else you've done, they just look bloody lazy. Sorry.
Please don't tell us you've got bored this close to the finish line?
+1Compared to everything else you've done, they just look bloody lazy. Sorry.
Please don't tell us you've got bored this close to the finish line?
Sorry MWS - you're breaking our collective hearts with these!
Get them integrated into the bumper :-)
Chapppers said:
But the rest of the car is a modification masterpiece which as you've said is all "OEM+" and these washers are absolutely the worst most ugly ones I've ever seen. You've seemingly gone out of your way to find parts that work better or look better for literally every other aspect of the car and then these appear?
Compared to everything else you've done, they just look bloody lazy. Sorry.
Please don't tell us you've got bored this close to the finish line?
This. Those jets look like American spec bumper extensions, they don't suit everything else you've done with this car. Here's a suggestion, BMW 5 Series E39. 2 jets per light like those Fiesta ones, and comparatively tiny.Compared to everything else you've done, they just look bloody lazy. Sorry.
Please don't tell us you've got bored this close to the finish line?
Now a probably dumb question. Is there a reason why you can't fit windscreen washer jets to the bumper as headlamp washers?
This along with the Lexus/Espace thread are by far the best on PH.
I love your attention to detail but please do something with the headlight washers as others have said you have put some much time/effort/thought and money into this build and to me thoose washers really do let it down. Sorry
I love your attention to detail but please do something with the headlight washers as others have said you have put some much time/effort/thought and money into this build and to me thoose washers really do let it down. Sorry
I too feel compelled to comment on 'washergate' - for the love of god man, please don't do it!!!!!!!!
To bolt a couple of great big carbuncles to the front bumper would be borderline vandalism in my opinion. Just because ford couldn't be bothered back in the day doesn't mean that you should follow their lead.
A massive +1,000,000 on the ST popups.....
To bolt a couple of great big carbuncles to the front bumper would be borderline vandalism in my opinion. Just because ford couldn't be bothered back in the day doesn't mean that you should follow their lead.
A massive +1,000,000 on the ST popups.....
Pop-ups were my first choice, but sadly not possible due to the way the front of the car is designed; those washers sit at an angle and mount just below the headlights, and on most modern cars the front panel is hollow in this area to facilitate that, like so:
The Mk3 however is not, and the area occupied by the jet body is where the bumper mounts are located:
Even if I did cut a hole and reinforced the panel the pop-up washer body would prevent access to the bumper mounting studs.
The other type I really like are from the facelift L320 Range Rover Sport:
The Mk3 however is not, and the area occupied by the jet body is where the bumper mounts are located:
Even if I did cut a hole and reinforced the panel the pop-up washer body would prevent access to the bumper mounting studs.
The other type I really like are from the facelift L320 Range Rover Sport:
ajprice said:
This. Those jets look like American spec bumper extensions, they don't suit everything else you've done with this car. Here's a suggestion, BMW 5 Series E39. 2 jets per light like those Fiesta ones, and comparatively tiny.
Now a probably dumb question. Is there a reason why you can't fit windscreen washer jets to the bumper as headlamp washers?
It's down to flow rate: the headlamp cleaning system flows about six times what the windscreen system does.Now a probably dumb question. Is there a reason why you can't fit windscreen washer jets to the bumper as headlamp washers?
neilbauer said:
I'm sorry I've never owned a car with washers for the headlights so can't understand why you even need them!
I am going to convert my headlights to projector based Bi-Xenons, and in this country the law dictates that such headlamps are equipped with an auto-levelling and headlamp wash system. Personally I don't think either system - in any car - does a particularly great job, but I have integrated both to ensure the car is road legal.
mwstewart said:
neilbauer said:
I'm sorry I've never owned a car with washers for the headlights so can't understand why you even need them!
I am going to convert my headlights to projector based Bi-Xenons, and in this country the law dictates that such headlamps are equipped with an auto-levelling and headlamp wash system. Personally I don't think either system - in any car - does a particularly great job, but I have integrated both to ensure the car is road legal.
Downton Mini said:
This along with the Lexus/Espace thread are by far the best on PH.
Thank you for even considering my work along side this thread , I have been following this great build with interest for a while now and I must say I am not even anywhere close in quality of workmanship when compared to this , a quality top top job mwstewart , always really look forward to your updates and standard of finish 
Thanks for the kind words 
Fuel tank
Next on my list was the fuel tank. In addition to the different exhaust routing I have previously mentioned - which necessitates a custom tank - at the same time I also want to increase the fuel capacity to make long distance trips easier. I haven't yet decided if I want a lift installed in my unit but I didn't particularly fancy working underneath my car, so I bought a Ka to help with fabrication and mock up. The Ka has the same chassis as my 1994 Mk3.5 Fiesta.
I paid a local garage to drain all of its fluids because I don't like to get my hands dirty these days
. When that was done I tipped it onto its side to make things simple.
Exhaust, heat shield, handbrake cable, brake lines, rear beam, and fuel tank removed. I sprayed a line on the floorpan to show where the Focus subframe sits on my Fiesta.
I bought various fuel tanks from late Ford models in the hope that two smaller units would fit in the space, but no suck luck. The RS2000 4x4 tank I bought earlier in the build is also too large, and requires modification in too many areas to make it worthwhile.
At this point I consigned to modifying a standard metal Fiesta tank. It gives me a chance to learn TIG welding too. Here's a new standard Fiesta/Puma/Ka tank mounted for reference.
I'm going to section the tank both horizontally and vertically and add an additional rear section to increase its dimensions up to the line I spray painted on the underside. I used my laser level to get a straight line across the curves of the tank.
Here's where I got today: tank sectioned ready for the first infill section.
Fuel tank
Next on my list was the fuel tank. In addition to the different exhaust routing I have previously mentioned - which necessitates a custom tank - at the same time I also want to increase the fuel capacity to make long distance trips easier. I haven't yet decided if I want a lift installed in my unit but I didn't particularly fancy working underneath my car, so I bought a Ka to help with fabrication and mock up. The Ka has the same chassis as my 1994 Mk3.5 Fiesta.
I paid a local garage to drain all of its fluids because I don't like to get my hands dirty these days
. When that was done I tipped it onto its side to make things simple.Exhaust, heat shield, handbrake cable, brake lines, rear beam, and fuel tank removed. I sprayed a line on the floorpan to show where the Focus subframe sits on my Fiesta.
I bought various fuel tanks from late Ford models in the hope that two smaller units would fit in the space, but no suck luck. The RS2000 4x4 tank I bought earlier in the build is also too large, and requires modification in too many areas to make it worthwhile.
At this point I consigned to modifying a standard metal Fiesta tank. It gives me a chance to learn TIG welding too. Here's a new standard Fiesta/Puma/Ka tank mounted for reference.
I'm going to section the tank both horizontally and vertically and add an additional rear section to increase its dimensions up to the line I spray painted on the underside. I used my laser level to get a straight line across the curves of the tank.
Here's where I got today: tank sectioned ready for the first infill section.
dom9 said:
Mark, whereabouts in London are you based? Would love to see this in person one of these days!
Also see you're an architect! I know what it's like having a car-mad architect in the family!
What will happen to the Ka once you're done with the mock up? Was it a runner?
I work in Canary Wharf and live nearby, but the car is in the Midlands in a rural place where I grew up. I'm a country boy really Also see you're an architect! I know what it's like having a car-mad architect in the family!
What will happen to the Ka once you're done with the mock up? Was it a runner?
I wouldn't feel comfortable keeping everything around London, so I have to travel 2 hrs/130 miles to get to the project, but I like driving and feel the need escape the city now and then. Actually I have this week off to work on the Fiesta.The Ka was a runner and has MOT etc. but thieves had stolen its catalytic converter. The original owners didn't want to pay for the repair so they let the car go cheap. It'll be scrap when I've finished with it.
Ponk said:
I don't know about you but welding up a fuel gives me the willies. I'm sure ATL or pro alloy can fab you up something which has the added bonus of being to MSA specs?
Fantastic project btw, I've been following it since the start.
Thank you Fantastic project btw, I've been following it since the start.
The tank in the photo is brand new but I will be cutting up my used one for some sections.There are a couple of methods to make welding a used tank safe; one is to route exhaust fumes from a running car through it to purge, and the second - which I will use - is to ignite the tank using a fuse on a long rod. Used tanks are only an explosion risk if they are sealed.
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