Another escape

[racsan]

Need to work on the passenger side rear wheelwell opening, but it needs to warm up first. Been waiting on new rear shocks so I can put the plastic inside walls back in, then make a plywood floor, will have a door to that lower recessed body area, good spot for jumper cables, floor jack, 4-way lug wrench or breaker bar with socket.
Im throwing around the idea of making this a bronco sport, different grill & emblems, maybe a outside swing away tire carrier. found a grille I like:

 

[racsan]

boy, emblems are really expensive!

 

[racsan]

Ive got quite a bit done in the last week, wheel well openings done, the paint is a little off and my bodywork isnt great but it is better than the rust that was there. The passenger side was the hardest, having to create the arch that had rusted away, drivers side just had a big hole but still had the arch left. At night from 10’ it looks great! lol
Got the new shocks in, they are a little shorter than the originals, had to jack up the knuckle to raise the top of the shock stud into the body so I could get the bushing & nut on. Loosening the bottom shock bolts was quite a job, passenger side I had to use a jack against the breaker bar to get it broke loose. Was a all-day job but interior is all back in and looks so much better than the bare metal and now doesnt have near the road noise when driving.

 

[racsan]

Did 2 things today, replaced the ignition switch, had to push in while turning for it to start. Pretty common gen 2 escape issue, the other one has been doing it for a few years but tues mine wouldnt start at all. Im only 10 min from work but didn’t want to take the newest car (2019 equinox) to my dirty job , so I drove it to her work (10 min the other direction), traded for her escape & went to my work. Wasnt late but usually im 30 min early.
The other thing I did was swap wheels between the escapes, im running steel wheels on mine while hers has the factory alloy wheels. These steelies are actually what ford used as the full size spare rim on gen 1 escapes, was never a road wheel on all 4. At some point I may drill/tap so I can run a center cap. For now it will be ok.

 

[sgtsandman]

Those are a nicer set of steel wheels. I'm surprised they didn't have them on at least the base model.

 

[racsan]

I believe base steel wheels were a 5 spoke design, im not even certain if gen 2 came with steel wheels on the base model, by then they went to a temporary spare. Im unsure of weather I want the spare inside or underneath. Right now its inside. Id like to build a B2 style swing away carrier. would probably have to change the back bumper for the license plate.

 

[racsan]

Got to try out the trailer hitch today, the escape did well with my 14 x 6 trailer, brought home 2 small 3-point items, a boom pole & dirt scoop.