Pre Facelift Vs. Facelift - What changed ?

[mike220]

Afternoon all, a quick one really (for the right person) What changed ? I know there was the front end fibreglass work, and the door opening buttons got moved to the mirrors, but what else changed on the whole vehicle ?

Thanks,

Mike

[Aubrey]

The rear lights were changed to the individual circular ones and also the dash was given an overhaul, I think later on the brakes on the 400 cars were updated to the same as the 500 cars. Also the boot hinges were changed, from the early teardrop shape to the circular ones and then completely concealed. Hope this helps.
Aubrey

[mike220]

Yeah that helps somewhat. What was changed on the dash Aubrey ?

Not too bothered about the lights, as I like both styles anyway

Do the boot hinges etc. make much of a difference ?

Mike

[SMB]

Changes - no specific date so you can get variations, just main changes

93 introduce
94 change to push button locks - key hole removed
t5 gearbox
96 change to body style - new front, new boot lid, new bonnet, , dash changed a month or so after, along with buttons on mirrors
2000-2001 - fared in headlights , new seats

[Aubrey]

mike220 said:

What was changed on the dash Aubrey ?

I think the main changes were the headlight switches were changed from buttons to the rotary dial, and the same with the heater knob. Also I think thats when the dial surrounds changed from black to Aluminum to match the rest of the switchgear. On the very early cars, the door release knob in the centre of the car did not have its own recess, but was located in the same section as the gear knob and handbrake. Have I missed anything?

[bigdods]

SMB said:

Changes - no specific date so you can get variations, just main changes

93 introduce
94 change to push button locks - key hole removed
t5 gearbox
96 change to body style - new front, new boot lid, new bonnet, , dash changed a month or so after, along with buttons on mirrors
2000-2001 - fared in headlights , new seats

2000 was also when the new rear lights came along (round ones replacing fiesta ones) and also the sloped rear numberplate replacing the backlit version

[AlexanderV8]

In addition to above, the rear number plate recess became angled with 2 lights illuminating it from above.
Mick
ETA Bu**er, Bigdods beat me to it but mine is a '98 450 with an angled plate, so there must be several build variants per year!!

Edited by AlexanderV8 on Monday 21st January 16:48

[Aubrey]

I think they grabbed whatever they could. Mine is a 97 400 with facelift front, mirror buttons and dash, but old style rear lights and circular boot hinges!

[AlexanderV8]

Aubrey said:

I think they grabbed whatever they could. Mine is a 97 400 with facelift front, mirror buttons and dash, but old style rear lights and circular boot hinges!

Probably really depends on what was left in the stock bins at the (rough) time of impending changes. Waste not, want not & all that
I think most changes were penned in '97, whether they actually appeared on all '97 cars or not, apart from the faired in headlights which was around 2000.

[chim666]

Early cars had a rubber strip on the rear bumper.

There's the gearbox and engine differences too.

[mike220]

Blimey you lot have been busy, I've only been off here to drive home !! haha, thanks guys.

OK, I think it has new front end, recessed door opener in the centre console. It has three buttons next to the stereo (is that the old style ?). What were the changes to the boot lid and how can I spot them ? It also has the bump strip in the rear bumper painted, not rubber so that's later style too.

Confusing

What were the engine changes ?

[tvrbob]

Other changes over the period of production not mentioned above

Three varieties of boot hinge, two chrome versions and one hidden

Two versions of boot lid, bigger overhang on later models

Replacement of the bumper inserts with body moulded sections

Passenger side wiper arm redesigned

RV8 to SerpV8

Centre console redesign where the doorknob sits

Recessed rear number plate

Bonnet vents redesigned

[poorpeet]

What changed on the wiper arm? Would it be worth changing from early to late or are they both pretty poor?

[chim666]

mike220 said:

What were the engine changes ?

Identifying the engines:
Pre-Serpentine: Two fanbelts
Serpentine: A single belt - like a snake...hence the name!

Do you not have a copy of The Bible ? To use the currently over-used phrase: A 'must-have' !

[tvrbob]

poorpeet said:

What changed on the wiper arm? Would it be worth changing from early to late or are they both pretty poor?

The passenger arm changed to include a bend that allowed the wiper to sit lower down on the scuttle board allowing better visibility when the wipers are parked.

Very subtle but it does improve the aesthetics of the car too

[mike220]

No bible yet Chim66, I'll make it my first purchase though when I sort a car out

I'll post a pic of the engine and boot lid in a min so you can see them. I think the engine's a serp from what you guys say - is this better or worse ? (or indifferent ?)

OK, here we go - boot :



Engine :



Bonnet vents :



Interior :



Let the education continue . . . . . . . .

Cheers,

Mike

PS - what am I doing wrong on the pic posting ? lol - OK, sorted it (kinda)

Edited by mike220 on Monday 21st January 18:07

Edited by mike220 on Monday 21st January 18:10

[spend]

chim666 said:

Pre-Serpentine: Two fanbelts

Only if you are a fairy needing PAS or A/c....

Dave

[bigdods]

Hard to tell from the small pics, but that interior pic shows the door release in its own cubby hole, so that must mean its a serp engine with a T5 gearbox.

ETA: and now for some reason my PC is displaying the pics much bigger so I see its deffo a serp engine

Old style dash but without the wood veneer some previous owner has changed it when the wood cracked I guess

Edited by bigdods on Monday 21st January 18:13

Edited by bigdods on Monday 21st January 18:15

[chim666]

Ok, looking at the pics I believe that you probably have a late 1996 (like mine!) or early 1997 car, which was made at a time when you had the 'Cerbera' rad intake, yet retained the door buttons behind the doors rather than under the mirrors.

Nice colour BTW!

Engine: Serp, which has the expansion tank alongside the rad plus a swirl pot high up on the block on the left side. Search the forums for for topping-up method.


Early rear lights: Ford Fiesta

You've also got some ally bits 'n bobs replacing the original plastic items (from what I can see, air vents on top of the dash, handbrake, dash buttons & stalks)

Edited by chim666 on Monday 21st January 18:21

[nikman]

bigdods said:

SMB said:

Changes - no specific date so you can get variations, just main changes

93 introduce
94 change to push button locks - key hole removed
t5 gearbox
96 change to body style - new front, new boot lid, new bonnet, , dash changed a month or so after, along with buttons on mirrors
2000-2001 - fared in headlights , new seats

2000 was also when the new rear lights came along (round ones replacing fiesta ones) and also the sloped rear numberplate replacing the backlit version

The new rear lights and recessed sloped No. plate came on stream 2 years earlier in aboout March/April '98. I've seen a couple of Jan/Feb 98's without the change and mine (May '98) has it:

: