Mk1 Escort Historic Racer

rfl · 9 May 2006, 12:54 (Ref:1604230)

Having browsed for sometime this is my first posting. Please be gentle!

Planning to race our bubble arched Escort Twin Cam in groovy baby. Can anyone provide advice as to the size best wheel/ tyre combo to use (ideally FIA compliant as plan to try to obtain papers)- car currently running on 13's but I think we can go bigger/ wider.

Reg's also appear to suggest the use of Dunlop D83J or 84J's. Can anyone provide advice what's best suited?

Thanks.

**Tim Falce** · 9 May 2006, 13:04 (Ref:1604237)

Hello and welcome to Ten Tenths, have you got any pictures of the car you can post somewhere or email to me?

**Peter Mallett** · 9 May 2006, 14:05 (Ref:1604280)

rfl.

Firstly welcome to our friendly forum, secondly, if you lot keep bringing out group 2 Escorts I'm gonna have to get that GAA Capri I've been promising myself!

As to your questions I can only refer you to the regs which dictate tyres etc. Wheels will have to be as homologated so for the Mk1 13" it is, but you can use Group 4 rims so that should give you the width.

You will have to run on Dunlop M section tyres because you are running in Group 2, only Group 1 runs on the D83/84.

I'm reading from the April 2006 edition of Classic Ford and there's a feature on the twink which currently runs in Groovy Baby. Mind you I didn't think Ford homologated a five speed box for the car (perhaps someone can check?) so if the article is true it looks like somebody else might be flexing the rules somewhat.

Good luck with your project and if all goes well for me I'll get out with you at some point in the season.

Al Weyman · 9 May 2006, 15:06 (Ref:1604308)

5 speed box? That came out with the Mk2 BDA engined Escort surely, I have had a few Twin Cam Escorts in various guises from full rally spec to road and nearly bought XOO ????F (Alan Manns car) years ago (I was thinking of hot rod racing it don't laugh, or cry) and I have never seen a 5 speed box on offer.

**Peter Mallett** · 9 May 2006, 15:21 (Ref:1604322)

Yes, my point exactly.

rfl · 9 May 2006, 18:11 (Ref:1604462)

Thanks guys. Ordered up homologation papers today.

While our car not currently full FIA spec it's hopefully not a million miles away and we plan to get it to FIA spec over time.

Peter Nightingale · 23 May 2006, 06:10 (Ref:1616805)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

5 speed box? That came out with the Mk2 BDA engined Escort surely, I have had a few Twin Cam Escorts in various guises from full rally spec to road and nearly bought XOO ????F (Alan Manns car) years ago (I was thinking of hot rod racing it don't laugh, or cry) and I have never seen a 5 speed box on offer.

5 speed gearboxes were homologated for mk1 ford escorts right back to 1968 mk1 1300 GT'S, use either ZF or 2000E hewland FORD gearbox.......

Al Weyman · 23 May 2006, 11:12 (Ref:1617013)

Homologated for what though? An 8 litre all alloy big block Chevy engine as raced by (or should I say annialated by) Frank Gardener (did you ever see the video of the BTCC at Thruxton where he is pulling about 30mph faster than the BMW CSL's?) is also homologated but I bet they won't let me run one in Top Hat or Classic Touring Car Pre 74 or most historics as they only did about 5 of the things. Just as well IMHO.

Peter Nightingale · 24 May 2006, 02:39 (Ref:1617571)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Nightingale

5 speed gearboxes were homologated for mk1 ford escorts right back to 1968 mk1 1300 GT'S, use either ZF or 2000E hewland FORD gearbox.......

For GROUP 2 touring cars, I have RAC/FIA papers on my desk in front of me , Regards....

Peter Nightingale · 24 May 2006, 02:49 (Ref:1617572)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Homologated for what though? An 8 litre all alloy big block Chevy engine as raced by (or should I say annialated by) Frank Gardener (did you ever see the video of the BTCC at Thruxton where he is pulling about 30mph faster than the BMW CSL's?) is also homologated but I bet they won't let me run one in Top Hat or Classic Touring Car Pre 74 or most historics as they only did about 5 of the things. Just as well IMHO.

By the way, have a good look @ RAC/ FIA homologation papers for PRE- 1971 camaro, Regards.........

Peter Nightingale · 24 May 2006, 02:53 (Ref:1617574)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Nightingale

By the way, have a good look @ RAC/ FIA homologation papers for PRE- 1971 camaro, Regards.........

GROUP TWO , papers........

johnh875 · 24 May 2006, 03:16 (Ref:1617579)

Al aren’t you referring to the 7L (427) ZL1 engine that Frank obtained from Bob Jane? That came from a production 1969 Camaro, albeit produced in very limited numbers. I don’t remember how many were made but certainly more than 5 (Bob Jane had 2) – I think it would be around the 50-80 mark at least.

cavvy · 24 May 2006, 08:39 (Ref:1617697)

69 x 1969 ZL1.

jonners · 24 May 2006, 09:17 (Ref:1617722)

5 speed boxes were even homologated for the Mk 2 Lotus Cortina.

It's amazing how much knowledge that was one well known is just fading away...

When classic rallying took off there were huge bun fights about what modifications were "period" and the non Ford brigade had a lot of difficulty coming to terms with what was done/you can do with Cortinas

Things did get silly tho when 1979 Escort RS Monte Carlo tarmac spec cars started entering, rebuilt into Anglias....

For a very small fee the homologation papers for your car are a worthwhile investment

Peter Nightingale · 25 May 2006, 01:33 (Ref:1618327)

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnh875

Al aren’t you referring to the 7L (427) ZL1 engine that Frank obtained from Bob Jane? That came from a production 1969 Camaro, albeit produced in very limited numbers. I don’t remember how many were made but certainly more than 5 (Bob Jane had 2) – I think it would be around the 50-80 mark at least.

There were more built than you realise, especially with the rear DISC BRAKE option on the 427 BIG BLOCK VERSION.....No small block versions had the REAR DISC BRAKE OPTION EVER....in 1968- 1973.......

johnh875 · 25 May 2006, 04:35 (Ref:1618373)

Jonners I know what you mean – look at the London-Sydney Marathon for a start, the original Fords were Lotus Cortinas, for the 25th anniversary re-run they were all Escorts.

Peter, did those other big block cars have the all-alloy engine of the ZL1? The engine material would be a homologation issue wouldn’t it, and makes 50+kg difference to the weight of the engine.

Peter Nightingale · 25 May 2006, 05:14 (Ref:1618375)

Yes it is very much a HOMOLOGATION issue, & the cyl blocks on the GROUP 2 homologation sheets are iron versions only....same as run in the ATCC by Bob Jane PRE- 1972.....

Al Weyman · 29 May 2006, 21:29 (Ref:1622415)

They made 69 Zl-1's but they were made by Yenko wer'nt they so how does that figure. Does any one know if the Mk1 first generation Camaro was ever homologated for Group 2 with an all aluminium engine and if so was it a small block or big block. I am 100% convinced no all alloy small block existed back then and if some pre-production exotica did then it was never homologated but I need this information confirmed.

PS Sorry to hijack!

rfl · 29 May 2006, 21:49 (Ref:1622444)

No problem!

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