DexterZX2

2000 Ford Escort ZX2  

Public Disturbance Car Club

This car club is dedicated to creating and showing unique and custom rides.  The club is just starting out, and we're always looking for new members.  So far members include myself with my Ford Escort ZX2 and my buddy Jesse with his Dodge Stealth.  We are located in the south central Pennsylvania and Maryland area.  If you think you have a sweet ride that you can proudly show off and say you've build, check us out at:  www.pdrides.com

Many thanks goes out to everyone that voted me into the #1 spot for Overall ZX2!

 The ZX2 Story:  

     For about eight years now I've been building up my 2000 Ford Escort ZX2.  It started out with the purchase of a bone stock ZX2 in the spring of 2001.  There have been a lot of good and bad times over the years.  The Escort has also been through a lot of changes up to this point.  Below I will explain what all went into building an award winning show car out of an Escort.

     Before I tell you about the car, I must first explain why I chose an Escort for my p roject.  I was never a "car guy" until I purchased my ZX2.  Even in the beginning I didn't know the first thing about modifying.  I befriended some people that were into the tuner scene, and they got me on my way.  I wanted to have an unique and different car than everyone else in my area.  People would laugh at the idea of building an Escort, expecally when 2 out of 3 were driven my old ladies.  That's when I decided to prove everyone wrong.

     Wanted to be different was the easy part of my decision.  Finding parts for a fairly new platform would prove to be more difficult.  The ZX2 version with it's 2.0L DOHC Zetec motor was only around since 1998.  I had to do a lot of research to fine any info about the car.  I was turned on to an internet site, TeamZX2 (as it's currently known) would become a great resource over the years.  With help from fellow Escort tuners and Rob from ZXTuner.com, I fould some easy beginner modifications to do.

     After a few years and some simple upgrades done, I felt like there was so much more I could do to this car.  I had the basics done, intake, exhaust, short shifter, some misc. interior upgrades and a few exterior accents.  My car was just like all the others, nothing special.  By this time the tuner scene was growing at a fast pace.  More and more companies were coming out with a more diverse range of parts.  I searched the internet and decided to take my car to the next level.  It was time to overhaul the look of my ZX2.  What happened next couldn't have come at a better time.

    One evening I was retuning home from my local tuner shop when my car was struck by a deer.  This event made my decision to upgrade the exterior much easier.  I took the car to the shop and ordered my body kit (which was only the third ZX2 in the country to run the kit), hood and spoiler.  I also purchased a set of 18" Motegi rims and tires that were on display at the shop.  Soon after the car came out of the paint booth I noticed something was wrong.  With the exterior complete, the car sat to high.  A set of Ground Control coilovers and struts were purchased from a TeamZX2 member, and were installed at a regional Escort meet.  I finally felt that my car was ready to start showing with the other guys from the shop.

     I joined up with the Street Customs Inc. show team in 2003.  That year we hit up a lot of local shows.  That's when my car finally started getting noticed with all the other local tuners.  I had a good year bringing home 5 trophies.  I was also reckonized on TeamZX2 with the Car Of The Month for October.  I spent more money on various upgrades over the next couple years.  I changed a few things while hitting up bigger and better shows.  One of the best experiences came at the Ocean City Car & Truck show.  It was the first show I attended without the rest of the show team.  I was so excited to beat all the other cometitors and take home First Place in the Ford class.  It felt good winning at shows, but the tuner in me needed to do more to the car to stay ahead of the rest.

     After a while I started to lose some interest in the whole car scene.  The origional show team fell apart, and the shop closed it's business.  I joined up with other car groups, but I didn't get the same satisfaction I used to.  I wanted to expand my knowledge about cars and do more modifications on my own.  Some mechanic friends taught me a lot about while helping me upgrade the Integra I bought.  I put the show car on hold and started racing more with my Integra.  I had that car for about two years when I decided I was spending way too much money on it and not my baby.

     Even though I spent a lot of time working on my Integra, I still showed my Escort.  2007 was the year that changed everything.  Unfortunately I was unemployed for the first six months of the year.  I hit up a few shows dring this time.  The first was Motorama at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.  It snowed and iced the roads the week of the show, but we were dedicated and went anyway.  After that was the long trip to Roanoke, Va.  This trip started the problems.  My battery blew up which in turn took out my alternator.  Even though I had problems everyone is Street Revolution that made the trip won at the show.  I thought I fixed the problem with a replacement alt. and battery.  I attended the Carlisle Performance and Style show and another local show where I took first place.  My ZX2 had it's last run in June of '07 at another local show.  I had the same problem, the car was losing power.  I decided to park the car and get to the bottom of the problem.

     I wanted to take my time and research what could be wrong with my car.  Once again I turned to the more experienced guys on TeamZX2 for some help.  I believe that something in my wiring is shorting out which could cause the power loss and extra strain to the battery and alt.  I picked up a complete wiring harness from a parts car my friend accquired.  He also persuaded me into buying some other parts he had lying around.  Here we go again, what wtarted as a simple repair has lead to another overhaul for my ZX2.

Acknowledgements:

Andy's Auto Sport

JT Autostyle

McNew's Automotive

Picture Timeline:

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Just remember this one thing.

Page 1: General Information