Ford Escort LX Station Wagon

I started the original Ford Escort LX/SE mailing list that was at fordescort@blueskyinnovations.com. Then I started the mailing list at makelist.com (which is now Yahoo groups). I no longer maintain the mailing list, but it is still very active.

The Ford Escort LX is the first car I bought in the USA. It is a 1995 model which I bought in 1996. It has its quirks but all in all, it is a fun car to drive in terms of handling. The only limitation it has is the lack of power, especially with an automatic transmission : you have to turn off the aircon when you try to merge on the highway.

Simple Performance Upgrades

Things I have done to increase performance are:

1. Remove the air intake silencer
2. Add K&N Filter (model 33-2002)
3. Use synthetic oil (Mobil 1, 5W30)
4. Pacesetter Catback Exhaust from BAT Inc

Do they work? The answer is a resounding Yes. The air filter and synthetic oil provides a better pickup while the new exhaust system provides continual boost while at speed : we no longer run out of breath.

To reduce jerking when the transmission shifts, I also use Prolong Automatic Transmission additive. The result is much smoother shifting.

More Performance Ideas

More information on the removal of the air intake silencer and a tweak to make automatic transmissions downshift faster are found in some of the other Escort sites. There is even an implementation of a RAM AIR system. You can find them via the webring below. Look for ScortWord and the Escort LX HQ sites.

There are two interesting performance enhancements for the Escort 1.9L that are available commercially.

One is a Weapon-R air intake. They are at www.weapon-r.com. The intake for the Escort is not listed but it is definitely available.

The other performance enhancement is the Venom 400. It is a device that tricks the car's computer into providing better low-end and mid-range performance. This is available at Python Injection Inc.

I installed the Venom 400. The end result is that the Escort drives like a V6. Off the line torque is very good and you are pushed back against the seat.

Problems with Pacesetter

One of my performance enhancements was a Pacesetter catback exhaust system. Unfortunately, it lasted a total of 2 years before it rusted out. I live in Silicon Valley in sunny California, so weather was not a factor. Poor construction quality was the factor.

I had to put back the original exhaust. Now, I'm using a glasspack muffler with the original exhaust pipes.

Ford Escort LX/SE Mailing List Information

The Ford Escort LX/SE Mailing List is for North American-version non-GT/non-ZX2 Ford Escort owners who want to find out more about their cars.

The mailing list is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fordescort

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