Rust-proof Sierra

[PSW01752]

Having owned a couple of Sierra's and getting bored of chasing rust on them I decided I wanted a change but, not too much of a change. Sierras work well, are pretty bulletproof (mechanically) and there are bags of spares and tuning bits available due to the Cosworths and I like them. So I gave it a fair bit of thought, did a bit of research and came up with the Metisse Coupe. If you are unaware of them, in short its mechanically a Sierra but, built onto a galvanized chassis and with a fibre glass body. Styling from the back (due to retaining the sierra lights) is very period just lower and wider and the front is very 80's with pop-up headlights looking quite A60 Toyota Supra. Personally, I always liked the back of it more than the front.

Anyways. I picked this up a number of years ago. Its was pinto powered and rear wheel drive. Although It has been registered and used on the road for some time, it had been sold and then partially rebuilt. The point was it had been registered so no IVA test. My previous Sierra had been an XR4x4 24v and I was a big fan of the way that it drove, so from the outset it was going 24v Cosworth and 4x4.
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[PSW01752]

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Post surgery

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It had already been partially poly bushed so I added the rest of them some, decent front struts, Cosworth anti roll bars front and rear and these to stop it. The front wheel speed sensors are in and the ABS unit. The brakes work but, currently without ABS assistance. Recon 4x4 Cosworth vented discs on the rear.

[PSW01752]

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Fiesta RS Turbo seats to replace the standard 1.6 Sierra ones. The dashboard had previously been installed about a inch low so this got reset.

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Engine plumbed in still needs a fair bit of tidying up. It's running on an MS2 ECU but, needs more mapping.

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The gearbox mounts on the chassis are designed to fit either the RWD or 4x4 boxes. The chassis is also very robustly built. Its actually not much heavier than a standard Sierra but, the weight is lower down and the things a bit wider.

[PSW01752]

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Its starting to come together. A few people have said that they have managed to get the standard bonnet closed over this engine but, not me.

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It needs more work but, it closes over the engine without fouling anything.

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Before buying it, I was aware that it had suffered some front end damage. It all tracked up ok though and it drove well enough around the car park (its a pretty big car park).

[T4T]

Looks good , and rust free makes a change from sierras !

Good luck with the project .

Matt

[PSW01752]

Cheers T4T,  I need to pick it up again. It's been on the back burner for a while. I just trying to gee myself up to crack on with it again.