3rd classic Ford 2dr 1972 Bubble arched mk1 escort shell

[freddy686868]

Well i have gone out and bought yet another classic ford as it was too cheap to turn down yet again! I just can't let rusty ford metal go to someone else. I was told about this shell on facebook and i went down that day after work to look at it about 2 weeks ago now. I left work at 6 and didn't get in untill half 12 so it was a fair old journey down there. So i left a deposit even though my brother said i was mad to pay £450 for a shell with no floors in! But i seen past that and seen that she was solid and not too messed with in the past. The other thing that tipped the scales for me was the fact that she had vin plates but no v5. So i thought if i apply for a logbook i could double its value for a start. Coming with 3 out of the 4 floor pannels i needed to put the floor back in so thats a good 50quids worth too. All in all a massive project that is on the back burner atm and is going to be a quality build with no expence spared.

The plan is to paint the van and the car in the same colour scheme run them both with 2.3s in and use the van as a tow van as i think that would look brilliant and a rare sight too.



Stopping off for a kebab




Poor thing dumped in the crappy garage so i can paint the van put the engine back in her and also put the capri back togeter when she comes back from the paint shop. So lots on untill i can start her.

[evans2822]

Good stuff Not afraid of taking the classic fords on are ya

[freddy686868]

Good stuff Not afraid of taking the classic fords on are ya

I was afraid at first but at the end of the day it's only rusty metal. Atleast i can see what i was buying this time unlike the van which was a right shitter when i had her. The logbook will most prob be back before i start work and you know how long the dvla take with these things. The will be having a hiding when i get round to it thats for sure. She needs strut top, wing rails the door hinge posts on the drivers side, the rear tubs re doing, some nasty patches on the rear quater cut out, rear pannel. Thats it really. Also what is that grey stuff you plaster all over your car? Do you apply it to rust free metal or can it be painted over light surface rust?

[freddy686868]

Front panel, radiator x member, battery tay ripping out hole in roof welded up, front wings and all the panels to go with it.

[evans2822]

That grey stuff Is Zinga mate a zinc rich primer or cold galv treatment ferkin dear tho but to be fair does a good Job theres not a dickybird of rust appearing where Ive welded and plastered the stuff on.. There are other zinc rich primers on the bay tho.... I cleaned mine with a wire wheel and then used It seems to have taken ok I have a sandblaster here If you need to borrow It? Thats stripped to the bone so maybe a bit easier? I dont have any grit for It tho lol

That only needs run of the mill panels really then bit of a bargain all told and tax exempt too good find that

[freddy686868]

I will be getting a tin of that in the near future then as it sounds just the stuff!

My logbook came back last week too!

Thanks to crossflow king!

[freddy686868]

I also picked up a shed load of parts for the shell mega cheap on the weekend. I will be going back for another van full some time this week. :-P it will also include a cammed up pinto for the mrs capri as you can never have enough power.

I now have
2 drivers doors one rust free one mullered but it has glass in
A solid bonnet
A solid boot
2 cibie oscars
2 front lights
2 rear lights
A dog bone grill
A brand new front pannel
A brand new rear pannel
2.9 turn brand new quick rack with new gators/ track rod ends/ and poly bushes
Front and back windscreens
Half a rollcage


I think that is about it. So all i need now is a
passanger door and glass
Rear tubs and turrets
2 wings and a front floor pan to complete the shell

[evans2822]

You go way too fast lol Hows the van running now??

[freddy686868]

You go way too fast lol Hows the van running now??

it's running great this new lump is much better than the old one :-P. but the i can't engage gears so the box has to come off this week some time :-(

[freddy686868]

Well the van worked after i borrowed a gearbox so i made prescott hill climb which was a laugh. I'm in the middle of trying to buy a load more of old ford parts now which consist of 2english axles with diffs and leafs, 2 sets of rear lights, 2 heater boxes, a steering colum, a whole wiring loom, another front a back screen, another petrol tank, and some other bits and bobs but the guy wants 250 quid for it all and i want it for 225. So i'll wait it out a little longer. But mean while i got bored in work one day and found this on the net. It was a 52" atlas axle that had been rebuilt 3 miles ago on 0.01p on ebay!!! The catch was it had been run with out oil since that rebuild and had covered 3 miles before seizing. So i mailed the guy and he wanted 100 quid for it. So playing it smart i whinged about the possible damage to the cwp and bearings and offered him 60 and thats when he said she was mine for 80. He was only in bristol so i picked it up.



So today i popped off the end cover to find that there wasn't a drop of oil in the poor thing but who ever built it had put loads of grease on everything so everything looked fine untill i found this floating around in it.


It doesn't matter any way as it is a pants 3.09 ratio and open diff so if the cwp and chewed up it's no loss. All i need now is a 3.77/4.1 ratio and a plated diff and she will fit nicely in the bubbles with 8" rims. :-D

[freddy686868]

Well there has been more shopping this month that i really shouldn't have done again! But bargin are there yo be taken.
The first one was a twin cam dash the 8k 140mph dash that i have been dying to buy since i bought the van but they have all been too expensive and i have been skint so i was lucky this time, although i still haven't tested them out!
After this photo i cleaned them up and they look brilliant apart from a little pInt flaking in areas.


I have also gone off the idea of another 2.3 in the car and i fancied something i could rev the nuts off and get great power from a small lump. An s2000 honda was on the books butthey are expensive and i'm tight! So a 1.3 240bhp N/A engine came in the local scrap yard with a 6speed box and a hydraulic clutch at dare i say it the right price so i bought it! As some of you may Already know it is a rotar wankel out of the brilliant rx8. The car was fire damaged by another car close by and it warped all the pannels on the rx8 so here it is in my garage. :-D.




I love this engine and box combo as everything is so small! I recon i could get eh 6speed in with out making the tunnel bigger! But i will put a large tunnel in any way for the rally car look. The only problem is the original prop is a composite one so i don't know how that will work when it comes to making an rx8/escort prop at a later date.

I will also be finishing up the capri asap so i can pick up a spit off lee so i can weld her up with ease when i have the nod off lee to buy the spit off him as he is nearly finished with it.

[alladdin]

you do like a challenge !

[KOWALSKI]

Good buy me thinks, you'll be hard pushed to find a two door shell for less than that these days! Better get

[freddy686868]

Good buy me thinks, you'll be hard pushed to find a two door shell for less than that these days! Better get

Tell me about it! It's a good thing i have my 10 quid welder up and running properly now! It welded up the puglet for the mot great.

[freddy686868]

you do like a challenge !

Pfffttt not really the only thing i'm worried about it getting the ecu to work without the key fob so i'm hoping to get it unlocked or something simular it will fly in the bay and the mounts will be easy to make! The only problem is where is cylinder number 1 so i can get it inline with the struts ;-P for good weight distribusion.

[evans2822]

Nice motor to go In there mate The Is a few with the rotary motors In normally at classic ford show etc ask them what they did with the prop

Nice clocks too I have been keeping an eye out for some but never seem to find them at a tidy price

Spits ready whenever you want to collect It as well mate...

[trig]

Bristol? Where was that then???

[freddy686868]

Bristol? Where was that then???

for the atlas axle? I'll find out. the guy had mk2 capri in yellow with a vinal roof she was nice too.

[trig]

Ah thought you got the car from Bristol.

[exboyracer]

Nice project mate, good luck with it!

[trig]

How many miles on the motor bud? as they have to be rebuilt quite often and they seize up when stood about so you may have to get a tow bump start once its in my mate had a rx7 had to tow him for about 2miles before the thing would even turn over then lots of pops bangs and smoke it fired into life

[rwd2ltrfiesta]

mate??????????? are you bobby more ????? jesus you like a mad project lol itll b good to c a mk1 with a rotary seen a few mk2s

[freddy686868]

Nice motor to go In there mate The Is a few with the rotary motors In normally at classic ford show etc ask them what they did with the prop

Nice clocks too I have been keeping an eye out for some but never seem to find them at a tidy price

Spits ready whenever you want to collect It as well mate...

:-( i didn't think the rotary engines were a 'done' thing in the escorts. These were abit pricey considering they haven't been tested but i recon they work. The clocks don't go high enough for the 9k limit of the wakel :-P

Thanks for holfing on to the spit i will pop over when i can might be a week or two though.

[freddy686868]

I had a a quick look at the length on the type 9 gearbox on the cappa and from the front of the bellhoising to the gearstick is about 29" so i measured the 6 speed and it is also 29"! So i measured the diameter of the type 9 bellhousing roughly and that weighed in at 15" and the rotary box is 14" so this conversion has got me all hot and bothered. I really need to get this engine in and running!

[caprimentle]

i think its brilliant that your taking on a challange and it should make a quick escort that handles very well, i mean the rx7 was basically mid engined because the whole engine was basically behind the struts, and a 6 speed box should be lovely, but i'm not gonna deny the fact i think its a terrible engine and i hate it , but i hope it goes well for you

[evans2822]

:-( i didn't think the rotary engines were a 'done' thing in the escorts. These were abit pricey considering they haven't been tested but i recon they work. The clocks don't go high enough for the 9k limit of the wakel :-P

Thanks for holfing on to the spit i will pop over when i can might be a week or two though.

Nay worries mate whenever

I was having a good look at an arched mk2 red all graphics on It with the rotary jobby In at last yrs CF show sounded bonkers with the big exhaust looked fairly small even with goodies etc In the escort bay I bet they aint that heavy either so should handle like a bare shell lol

[freddy686868]

How many miles on the motor bud? as they have to be rebuilt quite often and they seize up when stood about so you may have to get a tow bump start once its in my mate had a rx7 had to tow him for about 2miles before the thing would even turn over then lots of pops bangs and smoke it fired into life

I ha en't even got a clue if it run to be totally truthful :-P i have every confidence it does though as it came out of a roadworthy rx8 about 3 weeks ago now. But she's going to be sitting a few years so i think i'll put some oil down the plug holes. If there is no compression in the lump when it comes to it i'm sure they are easy enough to rebuild with the uprated tips and seals.

[freddy686868]

mate??????????? are you bobby more ????? jesus you like a mad project lol itll b good to c a mk1 with a rotary seen a few mk2s

If you don't evolve you get left behind :-P and i like a good challange and this engine is abit of an oddball so why not. Haha

[freddy686868]

i think its brilliant that your taking on a challange and it should make a quick escort that handles very well, i mean the rx7 was basically mid engined because the whole engine was basically behind the struts, and a 6 speed box should be lovely, but i'm not gonna deny the fact i think its a terrible engine and i hate it , but i hope it goes well for you

I gathered the engine wasn't in your top 10 to fit in a classic ford as i seen over on the other thread but if this engine dissapoints there will be an s2000 engine finding it's way in there. From what i readthey make power from 3.5k to 9k from the 6 port engine that i have so i will love that!It will be much different from the power i have from idle now but i'm sure can cope as i love a revy engine.

[freddy686868]

Your right there lee! The van weighs in at 1000kg with a full tank and that has a big heavy boat anchor in the front. The van turns in great and handles lively so i can't wait to see what the car is like because the engine/gearbox weight (what there is of it) will be futher back lower down i am thinking about going for 50/50 weight distribution on this one as it will have a 5/6 linked atlas out back and the small engine set up at the front it should work out brilliantly. I hope.

[freddy686868]

I now have a set of in er bays for this ready to go on thanks to a mate for saving me near enough the last set left of the first batch. The shell will be going in in march so i'm busy saving stupid money by working waaaayy to much over time but i'm really excited none the less.

[2010deathproofcapri]

Tread carefully with those engines bud, was it out of a pre 54 plate? In all honesty, they're not worth the hassle, search rx8 non starting and rx8 spares or repair, she'll looks good for the dosh tho!

[Rctmgb]

Nice cant wait to see the finished thing!

[freddy686868]

Tread carefully with those engines bud, was it out of a pre 54 plate? In all honesty, they're not worth the hassle, search rx8 non starting and rx8 spares or repair, she'll looks good for the dosh tho!

She is either a 54 or 05 can't remember :-P i will put the engine in so i can put any engine in if you know what i mean. If it doesn't work i will sling the 2.3 in and save for a hooonnndddaaa.

[evans2822]

She is either a 54 or 05 can't remember :-P i will put the engine in so i can put any engine in if you know what i mean. If it doesn't work i will sling the 2.3 in and save for a hooonnndddaaa.

Just mentioned this In your van thread John I reckon the 2.3 set up In this and as you have space frame thoughts why not a mid engined rotary van? Aint seen 1 of them before mind their your motors I'm sure whatever you do will turn out great

[freddy686868]

Just mentioned this In your van thread John I reckon the 2.3 set up In this and as you have space frame thoughts why not a mid engined rotary van? Aint seen 1 of them before mind their your motors I'm sure whatever you do will turn out great

This could get silly! hehe these are all mad thoughts i will have to think about carefully and consider. I could do anything really the only thing stopping me is cash so there are a few good possiblities.

[freddy686868]

This could get silly! hehe these are all mad thoughts i will have to think about carefully and consider. I could do anything really the only thing stopping me is cash so there are a few good possiblities.

Well there isn't much happening with this at the moment as far as i know it is still in the dark and damp garage waiting for the main mans workshop to accept her through the doors. But i have been informed that it will be the begining of next month now but only time will tell.

The money i have been hiding away for the shell has got me looking at 'cheap' shiney parts to buy so i went out and bought these today.

They are the group 1 18t 2 piece tran x half shafts for a wide atlas but will work on a short (50" atlas) after a setion on a lathe.

[freddy686868]

Well i have gone wild on building an atlas axle for this project. I don't know why it might be boredom or the fact i have a little bit of cash burning holes in my pockets. So here is the old verses new


The difference is about 1/8" in diamter on the splined area which imo is a big difference


Well then i got abit excited today


I cut on tube in half on one side to fit it in the press and pressed out the long tube first. I will use the incut tube as a length gauge for the new thick tube axle it only took 9 ton of pressure to move! Should have seen all the boys hiding behind stuff.
After that then i removed the stump left in the pigs head with a meer 4 ton.
I then continued to cut the flanged end off the already cut up tube so i can machine it down to fit in the thick tube.

[freddy686868]

I am also buying a brand new second hand tran x diff and arp crownwheels bolts to go in this set up. I shouldn't really as it is cash i have saved for the shell but i can not resist a bargin. It is no long an 80 quid axle i bought from bristol!!!!

[freddy686868]

Well the diff has arrived and i am now in talks with andy (oldskoolrules) and the spec will be as follows....so far....
50" narrow atlas
Pigs head bored out to take 60mm thick tubes plug welded and double pinned
Grp 1 ends
Tran x 18t diff
4.63 CW&P
Tran x 2 piece 18t shafts
Loosly fitted diamond brackets
And possibly a 10mm ally axle brace too
Watts linkage in the end
Brakes are unknown at the moment.

Just a couple of pictures of the diff so a crap update really.






Although there is a little bit of surface rust on the diff it is brand new and ready to go although i don't know what spec it is so it might need a check over before being fitted.