1974 MK1 Escort

[Bigfish]

Hi

thought i would share my new project with you guys, my old shell needs to much work and i dont have the time to do it, so i have found something that is much further along, fingers crossed should be on the road next summer, aiming for classic ford 2012.

Shell is in very good nick, floors, chassis rails, boot, bulkhead, a posts all original and rust and rot free.

work needed is: both outer sills, rear near side arch inner and outer, rear near side quarter has a dent, lower part of rear panel needs attention, and stuts tops, and thats about it.

looking to get it in paint my christmas,

[essyrwd]

Very nice shell

[Bigfish]

Very nice shell

Thanks

already have a few bits for her from my previous project. 2litre pinto with r32 Kent cam And type 9 box. Full safey devices roll cage. Bilstein front struts

So need to crack on eight he shell to give the other parts a home.

[Bigfish]

Stupid iPhone predictive text

[tezscort]

Looks good mate, good luck with her.

[fullathepipe]

Hey buddy. You not gonna use the bulkhead now? This ones lookin clean!!

[Bigfish]

Hey buddy. You not gonna use the bulkhead now? This ones lookin clean!!

Hi mate

no im gonna sell the bulkhead with my old shell, got someone thinking it over at the moment. but that old shell needed a lot of time and skill, something that i just dont have. this shell was to clean to turn down and will save me a load of time. The only down side is cant work on the new shell till i sell my old, the problem with a single garage.

[fullathepipe]

I've felt the same about mine a few times but she's getting the works now! Well best of luck with her glad your not just giving up altogether! I'll keep an eye on this one hope the other sells bud!

[Bigfish]

I've felt the same about mine a few times but she's getting the works now! Well best of luck with her glad your not just giving up altogether! I'll keep an eye on this one hope the other sells bud!

Cheers mate

[Bigfish]

Well finally sold my old shell which has given me some funds to sort this one out.

As i type this - it has made its way up north to Greg at NORTHWEST RS CENTRE who is going to be sorting out the body work for me and hopefully be posting some pics on here to keep me and you all updated.

should be back with me at the end of july, gives me enough time to sort and paint the garage ready for a dry build when she returns

Cant frecking wait!

[mk2 wizard]

Nice on you car`t go wrong with greg hes a top guy ,,,,,,,,,,, what spec you going for

[Bigfish]

Nice on you car`t go wrong with greg hes a top guy ,,,,,,,,,,, what spec you going for

He seems a top bloke, seen his work on here before and the price was right.

regarding spec its going to be a fast road project so he is sorting all the panals, stuts tops new wings, outer sill back panals arches etc. its not going grp 4 or anything.

then its back down to me for a dry build then probably back to greg for some extra strength, cage and paint.

have a nice long list for classic ford

[northwestrscenter]

martins asked us to update this so he can keep up with the progress on his car,we started it today and it should be ready to back by the end of this month,it has had some intresting welds done to it in the past,but it should make a nice car when done

[Bigfish]

looking good gregg. whats the quality like of thoes express panel stut tops? were they a good fit?

[northwestrscenter]

nice mate,they look well fitted

[gc.classics]

hi martin you are in safe hands there ,well pleased with mine.

[northwestrscenter]

good bit more done today,should be nearly done by the time you get up mate

[Bigfish]

Looks fantastic gregg cant believe how fast you get this work done. I'll be up Wednesday afternoon c
Can't wait to get this back and crack on.

Cheers

[northwestrscenter]

it will be done by then mate ready to go back,

[Ruudje]

That was fast! Love the see the remainder of this resto

[northwestrscenter]

all done now,all running gear is back on ready to go mate,

[Bigfish]

really nice gregg. looks the nuts really pleased. thanks mate

how were the wings did they need much doing to them??

[Bigfish]

well time for an update

got the car back from gregg at northwest RS and very pleased with his work.

so while the motivation was high i spent most of the next few weeks. scrapping underseal lying on my back getting covered in crap. and giving it a good coating in anti rust primer. havent taken any pics of the underside as its not that interesting.

while cleaing the inner arch found a little patch that needed doing





now the underside is all primed im gonna seam seal it over the next week or so.

[Bigfish]

Now the underneath is done

i thought i would start on the engine bay. so i bare metaled most the the inner wings and filled were needed. put a bit to much on and it took ages to sand back but lessoned learnt Easy sand my ass. then put a coat of etch first time with a spray gun and it went ok. just one big learning curve












not the best photos poor light in the garage, next step is to get the engine in as that is taking up to much room in the corner. then i can get the type 9 in and sort tunnel, gearbox mount and gear leaver hole to suit. then i can get the boot and interior in primer.

[gringo!!]

looks a cracker mate, lovely shell.... keep up the good work..

[fullathepipe]

Looks like they have fone a cracking job pal!! Keep at it and get the pics up.

[Bigfish]

Latest Update

Finally got the boot sanded back and etch primed, also drilled the holes for the alloy battery tray, fuel pump bracket. Decided to have the rear arches half tubbed so thats it on the paint front until the rest of the fabrication work is done.





While preping the inside for some etch found a couple more holes that will need some welding before i can think about final paint




Went to donnington spares show, show was crap but rally design did do some resasonable show prices. so brought a load of bits i needed for the running gear and a few panels.

i can see why they were cheap not the best fit some bits




Should be a rolling shell soon got 90% of all the running gear sorted just need to get some top mounts and my rear leafs decambered. Just sent aload of stuff to be blasted and power coated. Its then off to have some final fabrication work done. Need to get both doors bottom edges and lower skin replaced. a few extra bars welded in the roll cage and a few other bits sorted.

[Bigfish]

Little update

pics of the boot with fuel pump bracket and washer bottle, batt tray, and fuel tank. just need to fit the filler bowl and spare wheel post





Also i couple of pic of the interior all in etch





I then started to get an idea where all the pipes and cables are going to go. nice bit of blue string to help




And i quick pic of the what colour im planning to paint the car. ignore the bright orange the grill was like that when i got it

[exboyracer]

Nice work mate, keep at it!

[gringo!!]

lovely.. good work... soon be time for paint..

[QuIcKrAcK]

Nice.
Fast resto that!
What running gear are you fitting??

[Bigfish]

lovely.. good work... soon be time for paint..

It will be once you have done the final fabrication work. Bring on January.

[Bigfish]

Nice.
Fast resto that!
What running gear are you fitting??

Rear - single leaf springs decamberd 2 inches + lowering blocks. Gaz adjustable dampers. Anti tramp bars

Front - 2.8 billies, twin cam arb, double width kit. Alloy top mounts. Quick rack 2.4

And the whole lot polybushed

Engine - pinto on twin 45. Type 9 box

[QuIcKrAcK]

Nice.
Simple, proven and fun!

[Bigfish]

Update time

been busy, had all the running gear blasted and powdercoated. got a few more bit going in this week. The car is going off for its final fabrication work in jan so i need to get it rolling again.

Also had a large delivery from flowflex got a full set of poly. very tight fit in places and alot of swearing but there in and i aint taking them out again.

So i fitted engine crossmember, quick rack and tca's






Got my leaf spring back from gartrac they have been decamber 2". just in the process of grinding the front of them down to 50mm to fit a mk1.
and pulled my new gas dampers out and fitted new polys. these look a really good bit of kit.



Also got my buckets seats out of storage, only to find that cobra have stopped doing base mounted subframes for a mk1 so i mate of mine who works for an engerneering firm knocked some up for me to fit the welded bars you can pick up from rally design.



CAD image of base mount



This week im hoping to finish the rear leafs and get the rest of the running gear back from the powder coaters. need to get this rolling asap. so i can see if im gonna keep these wheels

[jimmy2006]

its coming along mate

[carmadcolin]

yep got one a bit ruffer than that one too

[Bigfish]

Well after alot of grinding on the leaf springs to get them to fit. I got all the parts i needed blasted and powder coated ready apart from the axle and its still need tramp brackets welded on. i can now get the rear end back on its wheels and to see how it look with my alloys. -2" decambered springs and lowering blocks sits really nice, but my garage is not wide enough to get a decent shot.






IMO the wheels look sweet and sit really nice and low still sitting on block of wood as i couldnt get the trolly jack out once lowered

should have the front sorted next week so i can roll it out and have a good look

[exboyracer]

I like your 'to do' list

Just a word of warning though, sand it off before you paint over it as marker pen can come through to the top coat.

[Bigfish]

Everyman needs a todo list.

I haven't even started the outside yet but it will be sanded right back. Thanks for the thought though.