My Escort MK2

[Badge]

Hi All, I am after some help with the set up/maybe spring values. The car was built to the original build book for Tarmac stage rallying and has now progressed to watts 5 linked, Atlas with LSD, Billies adjustable all round, world cup cross member, adjustable TCAs, antiroll bar, running 13 x 8 wheels with Dunlop tyres, a 2.1 pinto. we have always suffered from body roll on cornering but as I am throwing the car around more just lately it seems to be getting worse, the car is very drivable and it is only the pictures and viewers which tell me about it. The ride height is level and the corner weights are equal, we are thinking springs and what I wondered is what others are using bearing in mind I am pinto ? Regards Neil

[Graham]

Re: My Escort MK2

things have progressed since that book was written, tyres are not only wider but far far gripper, stiffer springs are the way to go
220-250 would seem a realistic starting point

[Paul C]

Re: My Escort MK2

I am using 300lb on the front and 180lb progressive on the back. I did have 180lb on the front and it was like being on a boat! I still think i could go slightly harder on the back.

I have an XE in the front.

I use mine on tarmac single venues. HTH

[Badge]

Re: My Escort MK2

I am using 300lb on the front and 180lb progressive on the back. I did have 180lb on the front and it was like being on a boat! I still think i could go slightly harder on the back.

I have an XE in the front.

I use mine on tarmac single venues. HTH

Cheers Paul, What set up have you got underneath? your engine will be lighter than my pinto but more horses I guess.

[Paul C]

Re: My Escort MK2

Its front anti roll bar with drop links and tension struts.

[hawk1903]

Re: My Escort MK2

But are not there various thickness arb s with the tension bar system ? Which thickness is yours and is not the 300lbs front springs are on the stiff side ?

[Roadsport]

Re: My Escort MK2

I had very similar issue vith my circuit racer. I did not touch the rear since my car seems to loose grip immediately if I go any stiffer with the rear coils or shocks for that matter. I swapped to 24mm ARB and 60kg/cm front springs. I think thats something around 340lbs/inch. Worked for me, the car has never felt this well ballanced and it keeps the rears on the track now.

Adjustable TCA's, 24mm ARB with drop links, 60kg/cm springs, compression struts

[hawk1903]

Re: My Escort MK2

After I have built my car for gravel rallying, I had to do 3 tarmac multi stage rallies in our season. However, our tarmac is not the proper tarmac like in France or In Germany etc. We have a very poor grip and lots of debris on the road. Front runner Gr.N and S2000s cutting the corners and throwing the gravel to the road. Historics are running behind the modern cars in Turkey. At the top of that, due to the heat and the asphalt quality the grip is really poor.
Due to the fact that, I did not have much time to properly test and set up my car, I followed the easier way which Has been considered as tried and tested or may be safe bet for the given conditions. I have used 225lbs front springs with the short 300/70 Blisteins with the twin cam ARB. At the rear, I have used non canister but adjustable Reiger ( they are kind of historic legal as well ) coil overs with 140 lbs springs and no leaf springs. Due to the springs been on the soft side ( even for the non grippy tarmac ) I had to adjust the Reigers to the almost %70 of the full hard. Ok, the rear softness was not annoying and I was catching some good grip with my excellent 225/13 medium compound Dmack tyres but front of the car with the 225lbs ( Pinto engine and my mk2 is quite heavy with 1050 kgs ) had felt really soft. I guess this is due to ( as Graham mentioned ) new tech quality tyres plus the heavy Pinto. It really felt like being in the boat as far as the front went. Again, the grip was good at the front but I am sure I could use harder rate sprngs in the front. I do not know how hard but definetely harder than the 225lbs, probably 250lbs would be good or even harder. But I think for the road tarmac rallies which the surface can be very unpredictable 340lbs springs are on the very very hard side.
Now, the gravel rallies starts and during the next season, I am planning to use the tension strut system with a different thickness ARB. May be, fine tuning the ARB can produce better results. The thing is everything has to be well tested and also it must suit the driver.