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Thread: My MK2 Escort Project..

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    Bodger

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    My MK2 Escort Project..

    Hi Guys,


    Thought some of you may be interested in this as I go along.. Short run down, ive always wanted a MK2 Escort ever since I was able to drive, never had the funds spare to have one so its taken a while to finally get one!


    This one was/is a 1600 Sport, been badly painted, 1600xFlow but with a pinto gearbox etc. It needs work and this thread will hopefully be a log of it all!


    Plans so far? Fix the issues with the shell and get underside cleaned up and painted. I wont be painting exterior yet, only engine bay etc.


    Im still undecided on what engine/box ill be using so we will see on that as well.


    Anyways enough talking, here are some pictures:


    When I got it:





    On my Ramps:





    Making a start on removing engine/gearbox:





    Half hour later:








    Front Panel exposed.. That will need replacing



  2. #2
    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Right, had a few more hours on the car today, started stripping off the rest of the running gear then decided to start looking for rust.. There was a few points I knew about, some turned out worse than I wanted them to (O/S A Pillar :o) But overall its still a solid car for nearly 40 years old!

    Plan is now to strip it right down, doors, bonnet and boot off. Then wings off, glass out. Put it on a spit and start cleaning it all back and see exactly what im working with..

    PICTURE SPAM BELOW

    Anyways some pictures:

    Front suspension and brakes off - I have ordered GAZ Coilovers with brand new stubs already.



    Kholn Rear Axle - Off to the scrap yard eventually



    Wiring Loom Removed.. This is pretty much knackered but I did take my time to remove it in case I need bits of it



    Boot Floor Rust Areas:







    Front N/S Chassis Rail



    FibreGlass was hiding a little more than I thought!!





    Transmission Tunnel has been "modified" in the past, this will be replaced with a big tunnel



    Inside as it sits now:



    A Pillar which im dreading repairing!!



    2.0 Zetec I have kicking around



    Some new parts already turning up:


  3. #3
    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Todays task once I had finished my booked in work was to remove the Glass, Bonnet, Boot and Wings..

    Glass was nice and simple as I simply cut the old seals away as im replacing them. Bonnet and Boot consisted of 4 bolts in each.. So again nice and simple.

    The wings were the time consuming job, as they are original Ford wings and never been off I wanted to save them, this is time consuming and quite a horrible process, plus once Id removed the passenger side wing I had found it had been patched so I wont even be using it now. Anyways some pictures:

    Drilling Spot Welds



    Wing Removed



    Behind the Wing



    A Pillar which needs replacing





    The Shell as it sits now





    Hopefully ill be able to get it down to the Media Blasters next week then the repairing process can begin.. Unfortunately this is where updates wont be thick and fast anymore as its all slow work, but please bare with me

  4. #4
    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Finally got the car back from the blasters.. Overall im happy, but there was a few surprises, mainly being the rear quarter panel which looks like Ari Vatanen himself took care of lol

    Its pretty much what I expected, so now I need to order panels and figure out how to get the left over sand out of the car!!!

    Rear Panel:



    Rear Window Surround Area:





    Passenger side, salvageable I think:



    Drivers Side A Pillar:



    Passenger Side A Pillar:



    Front Chassis Leg/Panel/Inner Bay:



    Overall Engine Bay Shot:



    Poor Car:



    Roll Over Spit:



    Car Mounted:




  5. #5
    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Sorry for lack of updates, new unit move, taking a staff member on and workload just got in the way.

    I have been doing bits and bobs with the shell but not achieving the time needed on the welding/panel work which requires more than an hour spare here and there. I had contacted a few companys about doing the work on it, but was getting stupid quotes. Retropower being the winners with a £24k quote just for the welding/panel work (Comes back in primer) LOL.

    I then had a shell offered to me, all the welding/metal work completed, full group 4 spec, 4 linked back end, full roll cage etc.

    So I bit the bullet and bought it, its being delivered on Sunday so will get more pictures then


  6. #6
    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Shell turned up today, only grabbed these pictures quickly
















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    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Pic of the underside


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    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Just ordered a RWD Sump, Water Rail Relocation Kit and Engine Mounts for the motor.

    Just trying to figure out what axle to go for and what setup.. This is where it gets mega expensive!

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    Spanner Monkey Pikey15's Avatar

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Great project and good to see that you're cracking into it, well done getting the 2nd shell as well

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    [QUOTE=MrKnifey;3526925]Hi Guys,


    Thought some of you may be interested in this as I go along.. Short run down, ive always wanted a MK2 Escort ever since I was able to drive, never had the funds spare to have one so its taken a while to finally get one!


    This one was/is a 1600 Sport, been badly painted, 1600xFlow but with a pinto gearbox etc. It needs work and this thread will hopefully be a log of it all!


    Plans so far? Fix the issues with the shell and get underside cleaned up and painted. I wont be painting exterior yet, only engine bay etc.


    Im still undecided on what engine/box ill be using so we will see on that as well.


    Anyways enough talking, here are some pictures:


    When I got it:






    This looks like a car from South Africa, those Nissan rear view mirrors are a dead giveaway.
    Last edited by Shauns; 03-05-2019 at 14:56.

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Cool project, Zetec I went for in my mk1 as well. I can't get over the mess of the first shell, looked good to begin with.

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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    this threads baffling me as its a timeline but all posted same day

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    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Yea.. bit confusing. Basically, copied it from another forum I posted it on, but its been on going since last year.

    Long story short.

    Bought black car which is SA import

    Turned out to be rotten after shot blasting

    Got stupid quotes to repair it

    Found a shell which has had all the work done

    Thats the one in primer with the cage

  15. #14
    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Done a test fit of my front coilovers..





    Just went to offer the other side up.. wait... whats the problem here?



    Only took them six weeks to make them as well..

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    One is shorter than the other? What do I win? LOL!

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    Racer Decade Plus User rallyrob's Avatar

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Quote Originally Posted by katana View Post
    One is shorter than the other? What do I win? LOL!

    Nope...

    They're both the same hand, you've got 2 left-hand struts there...

    Well, I think they're 2 lefts anyway. They definitely ain't a pair.

    That's some kind of fuck up on their part, isn't it...

    Unless of course you accidentally ordered 2 of the same part number.
    Last edited by rallyrob; 06-05-2019 at 21:48.

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Really? I didn't spot that! - sarcasm is wasted on the internet LOL!

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Looks like a decent project, the second shell looks to be really clean, good decision i think.

    Unless you can do the bodywork yourself the cost to get someone else to do it can get ridiculous. 24k for Retropower, holy shit Not eveybody's cup of tea but you could buy one of the new shells (controversial) have it painted and built up complete for that money!

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    That SA (black) shell doesnt look too bad in my opinion, is it for sale?

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    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Yes it is

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    Mechanic davemk1's Avatar

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Quote Originally Posted by katana View Post
    Really? I didn't spot that! - sarcasm is wasted on the internet LOL!
    I knew you were being sarcastic bruv��

  23. #22
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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Nothing much to report, waiting on a load of parts ive ordered.

    Zetec Sump, Mounts and Water Rail Kit.

    Panhard Rod Kit to go other side of exhaust (didnt think of this originally)

    Started to Mockup my Axle to weld the four link on but then realised im missing the correct fixing bolts!! :@

    So all I could do is put my axle on axle stands, fit a wheel (wrong tyre size) and get a measurement for the correct side shock I need. (20 inch)


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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    shold move on quickly now

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Carried on getting the 4 Link mounted onto the axle.

    This took some time, being as I am completely new to all of this, its taken a while. I started off by using some string and heavy bolts from both turret struts to get the axle centre, then took measurements from 4 link brackets for the axle with the bars on so they were in line with the boxes on the car. Once that was done I tacked the brackets onto the axle and re-fitted to check it all lined up which it did.







    I have now moved onto the Panhard Rod Tower Fitting and bracket on the axle, but need to double check measurements again before I weld!






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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    great work

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Been plodding on with the dry build slowly. Finally got the correct front strut off Gaz so build the front suspension up, need to order an anti dive kit to finish that off completely.







    I then fitted the pedal box, from there I will run brake and clutch lines along with res pots





    I have also fitted the mirrors, door handles etc to ensure EVERYTHING fits before paint









    Gave the engine a lick of paint as well


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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Great progress

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Great progress so far .

    First post made me laugh when I read "I wont be painting exterior yet, only engine bay etc." Whilst reading that bit I though that was exactly my intentions when I started work on my RS2000. funny how these things escalate

    Looking at the original shell I see it had the reinforced front suspension tops (on inner wings) of the RS cars, and the dash pad trim - two clues that this was a SA import. Usually these imports are fairly rust free! Anyway, it won't be a problem as that new shell looks decent.

    Keep showing us the progress.

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..


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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Cracking job, keep the updates coming and look forward to seeing her done

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Some updates...

    Starting with installing the res pots for the front and rear brakes and clutch. Wasn't really happy with the position of them in the location I wanted them, so knocked up a piece to make them sit level. Some finishing work needed on this but you get the picture.





    Also picked up a 6 Speed RX8 Gearbox and Propshaft. This will go with the mounts and adapter plates I ordered.



    Also fitted the Plexiglass Windows, gone for 1 piece on the doors for a bigger opening window/hole




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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Also at the same time as this my Gaz Rear Shocks turned up, along with an axle I couldnt refuse, English Axle, Limited Slip Diff, Wilwood Four Pots with Hand Brake Mech, Four Linked, Watts Linked. Landed.

    So set about installing all that, only issue I found is the hand brake mech doesnt clear 13s! So Calipers will be going on the front and sierra cossy calipers will go on the rear.







    Car back on its wheels for the first time on the Gaz suspension



    Makes it easier on the deck now as I can use the ramps to do work underneath it!!

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    And the bits for the engine turned up, Sump, Engine Mounts and Water Rail Kit..







    Checked the bearings while sump was off.. All good



    Engine ready to go in



    Engine in..





    So thats how it is at the moment. Next job is to weld the Watts Link towers on as I had planned on Pan Rod setup!

    I also *may* have changed my mind about the engine....

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  36. #34
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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    A very interesting build thread with some good work. It's a good idea to put the four pots on the front as the rear would have had far too much brake bias. You'll still need a good set uo pedal box along with an inline valve to get your cossie brake bias adjusted correctly.

    What's wrong with your engine plan?

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Great project.
    I as well got inetrested in the part of "painting engine bay, etc..." as I'm starting my project as well and had the same idea.
    I'm not sure now...

  38. #36
    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Being as its been nice weather and I prefer to ride my bike, ive not touched this in a while, but had a quiet week in work so got cracking.

    Ive had a change of plans, mainly due to costs of how to get the power I want. Ive decided to go for MX5 Engine and Box, this will enable to me to see 230hp easily for less than the cost of getting the zetec to 190hp! Plus ive boosted an MX5 before and know how much fun they are. Sooo... I bought a complete MK1 1.8 MX5 and set about

    Engine in place





    Pretty tight in places and had to cut bulkhead back for clearance



    Same for gearbox tunnel



    Car how it is now





    See you in a few more months lol!

  39. #37
    Bodger

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    Re: My MK2 Escort Project..

    Being as its been nice weather and I prefer to ride my bike, ive not touched this in a while, but had a quiet week in work so got cracking.

    Ive had a change of plans, mainly due to costs of how to get the power I want. Ive decided to go for MX5 Engine and Box, this will enable to me to see 230hp easily for less than the cost of getting the zetec to 190hp! Plus ive boosted an MX5 before and know how much fun they are. Sooo... I bought a complete MK1 1.8 MX5 and set about

    Engine in place





    Pretty tight in places and had to cut bulkhead back for clearance



    Same for gearbox tunnel



    Car how it is now





    See you in a few more months lol!

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