Interior swapping and other vulture-like modifications - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Modded · 07-29-2003, 07:09

Inspired by Walkinshaw I have begun looking at mods to do to my EA's interior.

The aim is to get leather seats for cheap :)

I'm trying to basically figure out what the best cost vs. benefit is for conversion. I'm thinking that getting a statutory write-off Ghia of the E series that has the interior, transmission, abs, airbags, power windows, power mirrors, at least three mags, central locking, mpi, alarm and leather seats is the best bet. I've seen an EF XR6 with most of the above for $2,000 at auction. I figure at $2,000 for the car originally, plus another $2,000 for all of the above (plus whatever it costs to tow the other one and get rid of the other one) plus a heap of spare parts that I could eventually sell off, is a pretty damn good deal.

What are some nice interiors to look out for?

Also, is it possible to filch the ABS system and install it on the EA?

Any thoughts on this? Advice? Suggestions?

NZ · 07-29-2003, 11:03

The ABS system wouldn't be all that hard to put into an EA. Fitting air bags would automatically mean going for an EF interior which could limit the options keeping price in mind as y would expect to pay a lot more for a car of the equivelent model in EF vs EB for example.

For the best cost vs benifit Id thing that something like an EB series 2 (post 10/92) Fairmont Ghia would be the a good move. Out of the list above you wouldn't get an airbag. Pre 10/92 didnt get smartlock.

Have a talk to Matador, I've seen a few of his interior pics and hes done a really nice interor.

Modded · 07-29-2003, 21:31

So buying an EB Fairmont Ghia would be more expensive than buying an EA for $2k and a smashed up EB Fairmont Ghia?

I didn't think EB's went for much more than $3,000. A Ghia with all the options would go for what? $5,000? How much would a smashed up one cost?

So basically it goes like this:

EA + Smashed ??? =
Good condition ??? =
(Good condition ???) - (EA + Smashed ???) =

An EF goes for $10,000ish, right? But a smashed up one sells for $2,000ish. So for $4k, I'm getting all the goodies of the EF but in an EA.

That said, is there much difference between the EF and, say... the EB? Which interior is superior? And if the newer is superior to the older, then how much better is it, ie. is it so much better as to be worth paying for?

I think I need a graph...

NZ · 07-29-2003, 21:39

I need some more brain power

Rmyers · 07-29-2003, 21:52

What do you mean by superior? If you mean if it looks better then hell yeah...

GhiaEB · 07-29-2003, 22:38

EB Ghias dont fetch much at auctions smashed up....

The EB Ghia interior is a nice and comfy interior, but nothing really different from the EA, also some of the EB2 Ghias had half leather/Half Velour interiors, Which has got me stuffed because it was a No Cost option for full leather.

Cheers

Ben

EFFalcon · 07-29-2003, 22:55

EF interior is much nicer then earlier eseries.
but it depends on the amount of time and effort you intend to put in.
there is a lot of work converting bits and pieces or cars.
look at walkinshaw's dash conversion and decide if u want to do it.
i know it'd be a lot easier if you had the WHOLE car, but i'm using it as an example.
if you're really wanting to keep the EA for a long time, there is always the ability to put all the EF stuff in the EA :D
EF power in light EA shell :D

Troutman · 07-30-2003, 00:04

I once considered the airbag option myself... but in order to do it reasonably reliably, you'd need to buy a lot of EA GLs to crash test! Such a project could easily blow up in your face.

ABS is a good idea though. Since you're in Vic we should all chip in for parts we need.

tranquilized · 07-30-2003, 00:28

Putting ABS into a car is a bigger job than you think, nearly everything is different brake wise ie master cylinder, discs etc etc... Then theres the ABS module, wiring up sensors for each wheel etc. I'm guessing it would need an engineers certificate as well.
Its beyond me why you would bother with any of this shit when you could just go and buy an EB or EF in the first place....

NZ · 07-30-2003, 01:56

ABS aint hard at all. If you know what you need and have a bit of electrical 'swaave' you right. Ive looked into it myself and if the time is right and I have some cash my ea project car is going to get it. As for an engineers cert, Id agree with that due to the fact it ewasnt standard equipment in an EA. I doubt it would be very hard at all to get it certified because after all the ABS is caliberated for the same weight and the parts will be direct bolt in.