Winter Projects

[zefarelly]

Its not mine, but I will be involved (engine)

low on steel rims is a must

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

that'll teach you to move the engine back for better weight distribution!

That would be the cam cover we can see, then!

I'm actually very annoyed with myself for it not 'clicking' that Iain's shell would need the gearlever hole moving back to the RS position!



Yes Joe, 5.5Js with Lotus hubcaps would look good.

[delta]

Stop it Mike.!!!!!. Cut and shut worked out better than i thought. Is the 2000E box for sale Joe?

[Mike Bell]

but I'm still annoyed with myself.

A big bit fell off the MTX this afternoon, so with Iain's supervision we can find out what's going on inside and where the missing gears are or are not.



Also now got the rear end all stripped down and have decided to get new lower wishbones made with rod ends at inner pivot rather than the rubber bush that is not doing the job at all well.



And nothing to do with now but last year before taking the car to Donington I went though the safety stuff. After undoing the fire cable at the extinguisher I tugged the exterior handle and this happenend.......



That's what you call corrosion........

[zefarelly]

thy got it right ten years earlier . . . . bolt on remote . . . .

5 1/2? bicycle tyes? its got to be banded 7J's minimum, especially for towing traction!

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I'm actually very annoyed with myself for it not 'clicking' that Iain's shell would need the gearlever hole moving back to the RS position!



Yes Joe, 5.5Js with Lotus hubcaps would look good.

[Eric Falce]

Got one of these I dont need.

[zefarelly]

Iain! sticks in the right place . . . got the big bell housing too (for a clutch, rather than a firelighter/biscuit type thing)

and you get the original, proper, nice, hydraulic clutch.

assuming its 2000E or better ratios, you know it makes sense.

[delta]

I will get in touch Wed Joe.Thanks. Off to France tomorrow to collect F3 car for some work. BTW the new keen scrut's check for cables being seized up. Its one of those things you dont think off. Untill your bottom's getting warm.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by delta

BTW the new keen scrut's check for cables being seized up. Its one of those things you dont think off. Untill your bottom's getting warm.

Yes, often get asked to demonstrate the master switch pull works but thankfully not the fire extinguisher. I do remove cables and lubricate occasionally though, especially if car has been in a wet race or standing out in rain.

Iain, what car you looking for a 2000E box for?

Joe, that bellhousing not good for RS2 as starter on wrong side. Which I guess is why Ford changed to Type E for RS2000, as well as for larger input shaft and cable clutch. Price probably came into it as well, knowing Ford

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Yes, often get asked to demonstrate the master switch pull works but thankfully not the fire extinguisher. I do remove cables and lubricate occasionally though, especially if car has been in a wet race or standing out in rain.

Good tip. Don't use WD40 it siezes the cable after a while. Use copperslip or similar.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by delta

Off to France tomorrow to collect F3 car for some work.

It's a Quasson run! Make sure they are made with buerre- none of that synthetic stuff. Noticed last time even the French are lowering their standards!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Good tip. Don't use WD40 it siezes the cable after a while. Use copperslip or similar.

I still have a tin of inherited 3 in 1, or failing that a drip or two of engine oil from dipstick....

[Al Weyman]

I was testing mine the other day, only installed new a year ago and the bloody handle pulled off in my hand with very little force. I drilled it with a view to putting a thin dowel in there and the drill broke off half way through, job done! Why is this bit of safety equipment not made correctly in the factory its discraceful really as the handle is literally a press fit. This could be a case where prehaps FIA sanctioning would be a good thing! Probably a case of Chinese junk again.

[zefarelly]

if its an early mk1 it'll be hyd clutch with starter on the drivers side for decent engine exhaust on the left? ( xflow/TC/BDA )

when did the p**o first ballast an escort? 74?

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

I was testing mine the other day, only installed new a year ago and the bloody handle pulled off in my hand with very little force. I drilled it with a view to putting a thin dowel in there and the drill broke off half way through, job done! Why is this bit of safety equipment not made correctly in the factory its discraceful really as the handle is literally a press fit. This could be a case where prehaps FIA sanctioning would be a good thing! Probably a case of Chinese junk again.

Mine did that and I only fitted it last month! First test, and it came off in my hand. I was going to send it back for replacement but if it's caused by more than Cack Handed Max, then I think I'll repair rather than replace.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

if its an early mk1 it'll be hyd clutch with starter on the drivers side for decent engine exhaust on the left? ( xflow/TC/BDA )

when did the p**o first ballast an escort? 74?

For a decent engine yes.... Pinto excluded then! 1973 RS2000 came out, first Escort with type E box. I am guessing because Pinto already used that box in other models and Ford were of course well into parts bin specials. Reading Ford 1970s rally build manual it reckons 2000E box not able to handle as much power. I remember main bugbear driving with single rail type E was possibility of selector 'confusion' while the 3 rail box was good in that area. Personally prefer the 2000E as fabulous change and reverse in right place. So much better for autotests and overshoots in rallies!

I now buy only Lifeline pull cables, logic being that they should know what spec they need to be and have a reputation to protect. So hope Al and Max yours wern't Lifeline!

[Tim Falce]

I can't believe you lot lubricate the pull cables, a sure fire way to make them seize, I replace mine at the beginning or each season.

[Peter Dunne]

And here she is!
Not too much to be done except to fit a new dash as this one has had a "wood" effect painted on which looks a bit nasty and I must also replace the top molding on the doors.
WDYT?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Dunne

And here she is!
Not too much to be done except to fit a new dash as this one has had a "wood" effect painted on which looks a bit nasty and I must also replace the top molding on the doors.
WDYT?

Shiny! If it's as good underneath you have done well there. Panel fit looks good as well. Are they Minilite style wheels?

The oil filler cap looks different?

[Peter Dunne]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Shiny! If it's as good underneath you have done well there. Panel fit looks good as well. Are they Minilite style wheels?

The oil filler cap looks different?

Thanks Mike.

Underneath is absolutely perfect and has been sealed. It had a back to metal respray about five years ago and has'nt seen a wet day since!

It came with loads of pics taken during the restoration and probably every receipt since 1994. I was going to buy a "shed" to restore but this came up so I took the lazy way out .

Anyone know where I could get a properly done walnut dash?

BTW wheels are Minator's (well spotted!)

[zefarelly]

is it an RWA shell?

ours was a 67 mk2/3 which would have been perfect for HRDC GT for the wife . . . DOH!

[Peter Dunne]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

is it an RWA shell?

ours was a 67 mk2/3 which would have been perfect for HRDC GT for the wife . . . DOH!

Yup. RWA, 1974, Mk 3, GAN 5

Even have the original handbook!!

I think I'm in lurve

[retro_msport]

Originally Posted by Eric Falce

sent the car to Gary at Retroford to do the job properly.

.

Ahem... Its Dave Colledge that runs RetroFord ...

I'm at Retromotorsport ... down south

I belive the cars had a chequered history along with a few ( a lot ) of previous repairs, or should i say ' we will make this effing panel fit' even if it was in the wrong place.

Luckily I have the drawings and a never welded mint Mk1 shell here so i could find out what bits needed modifiying back into O/E shape to fit the O/E panels back on.

As for Gp1/2 cars .... if you took the back seat out of a Gp1 car, you had to run the car in Gp2 ... anyone seen how many cars run without rear seats ?

The only Gp4 Escort is the "Escort RS" - a mythical 2 seater sports car that was homologated in Gp4 (400 off at the time) on dubious grounds and was probably only approved because other dubious things had been done for other manufacturers (not least Fiat Group, Ford's main rally competitor). It was created because Gp2 was restricted for 1.1.76. onwards and the previous Gp2 "works" car would have been uncompetitive in that Group. All works Escorts had previously run in Gp2 not Gp4, except for events that allowed "prototypes" (Gp6) and the very early days of the TC, when it was briefly only homologated in Gp3 pending enough being made for Gp2.


Anyway... Back to stiching this shell back together

[gary396]

Originally Posted by Peter Dunne

.....
Anyone know where I could get a properly done walnut dash?

I think they're roughly £170 via the MG Owners Club, bit more at Moss's I think.

[zefarelly]

yuk, whats wrong with crackly paint . . . cellulose over hamerite works!