New with a mk2

**GrahamU** · 22-09-2023, 21:43

Hi, just joined up after recently buying an Escort mk2 1600 sport, sorry it's an SA import but still a good reasonably solid mk2.

I used to own a mk2 when I was younger, that started as a 1.3 pop plus but a mate wrote off a Harrier after a week so most of the parts ended up on mine

This is how my new one was when it arrived

The plan was to just get it registered, put the wheels, spoiler on and lower it then enjoy it

But things got out of hand when I found most of the bolts had not been tightened properly and the the gearbox mounts had been well and truly bodged

**Graham** · 23-09-2023, 11:03

Welcome to TS.

its doesnt matter to us where your car came from unless you nicked it!

look foreward to seeing more progress

**Zakspak** · 25-09-2023, 20:12

That looks really smart in the red with black bib spoiler and alloys
Keep the pics and updates coming
Your old black Mk2 was a smart car too.

**GrahamU** · 25-09-2023, 21:54

Originally Posted by Zakspak

That looks really smart in the red with black bib spoiler and alloys
Keep the pics and updates coming
Your old black Mk2 was a smart car too.

Thanks

I see you are from Essex and about the same age as me, if you were in essex back in the late 80s, early 90's you may have seen my old mk2, alot of time spent in Wickford, Basildon, Southend etc

**Zakspak** · 25-09-2023, 22:39

Hi Graham, I’m from East London originally, but got out an about in my cars with mates from the Sporting Escort Owners Club.
Southend, Lakeside were regulars. My Mk1 was stored at a friends house in Southend before I bought a place there, so yes a very good chance we crossed paths.

**prox** · 25-09-2023, 22:51

Originally Posted by GrahamU

But things got out of hand when I found most of the bolts had not been tightened properly and the the gearbox mounts had been well and truly bodged

The exact same position as me, got a SA 1600 sport i was going to just drive mine and do a rolling upgrades, but absolutely everything was loose even down to the flywheel ! in the end i stripped it to do a YB swap.

Please keep us posted on yours

**GrahamU** · 26-09-2023, 10:24

Originally Posted by Zakspak

Hi Graham, I’m from East London originally, but got out an about in my cars with mates from the Sporting Escort Owners Club.
Southend, Lakeside were regulars. My Mk1 was stored at a friends house in Southend before I bought a place there, so yes a very good chance we crossed paths.

Sporting Escort owners club, now there's a name from the past, did they meet at the Fortune of war on the A127?

Remember going to a meet with a mate in his highly modified magenta mk2 (reg BLE 44S) but it was badged and looked like a low 1.3 Ghia

**GrahamU** · 26-09-2023, 10:33

Originally Posted by prox

The exact same position as me, got a SA 1600 sport i was going to just drive mine and do a rolling upgrades, but absolutely everything was loose even down to the flywheel ! in the end i stripped it to do a YB swap.

Please keep us posted on yours

Yeah, not all the flywheel bolts were tight on mine, nor the big end and mains.

Worryingly, the markings for the big ends are all mixed up, looks like they had a bucket of rods and caps and made the best of a bunch, so new rods needed when I rebuild

Then other things like the front lower arms were held by M8 bolts, that would have made a nice knock

**Zakspak** · 26-09-2023, 13:47

Originally Posted by GrahamU

Sporting Escort owners club, now there's a name from the past, did they meet at the Fortune of war on the A127?

Remember going to a meet with a mate in his highly modified magenta mk2 (reg BLE 44S) but it was badged and looked like a low 1.3 Ghia

The SEOC is still going, just not what it was unfortunately. Fortune of War, yes some guys would meet there, I didn’t so much as there was a group of us in east London that would go to the bigger meets. The Fortune is now long gone, replaced by flats.
Maybe we need to start a push to reintroduce those meets on the sea front and else where, a load of middle aged blokes trying to revive their 20s ��

**prox** · 26-09-2023, 20:52

Originally Posted by GrahamU

Yeah, not all the flywheel bolts were tight on mine, nor the big end and mains.

Worryingly, the markings for the big ends are all mixed up, looks like they had a bucket of rods and caps and made the best of a bunch, so new rods needed when I rebuild

Then other things like the front lower arms were held by M8 bolts, that would have made a nice knock

All the front suspension was all loose on mine, i was going to drive it back from Scotland but the seller was not keen at all, good job as it would not have made it 10 miles down the road.

I get the feeling that these cars are thrown together and then shipped over the uk !