Paul Alex's character building, pain-in-the-ar5e, bufty money pit

[smiffy1972]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Looks very nice mr alexander

[cossie matt]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

That pedal box is a work of art mate, so well made and massively adjustable. Hope the install is pretty simple, I think I'd struggle with my height but you should get away with it I recon.

Keep up the great work mate, She's going to be beautiful when shes ready end of Jan

[PaulAlex]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Cheers mate - I know its not likely to be as straightforward as bolting a Gartrac box to the standard mounts, but if it was good enough for McRae's escort (and a load of other super-modified Irish ones) then its good enough for mine

Just about to roll it out of the garage and get started on it - hows that for a New Years resolution?

Happy New Year everyone!

Cheers,

Paul

[PaulAlex]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Looks very nice Paul. Are there advantages using the floor mounted pedals over the standard pedal box? I think Rob Dennis has got this in his car. I was speaking to one of his team at the Rally day and they said something about a different one is now available with angled cylinders so you can mount it further back. But i think he is quite a tall guy.

Whats your first event for the season then? Epynt?

Hi Paul,

I dont have a firm schedule, but shakedown during Feb and a proper event around March sounds good - so I may well pop my Epynt cherry in March.

How about yourself?

Cheers,

Paul

[Paul C]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Hi Paul,

I dont have a firm schedule, but shakedown during Feb and a proper event around March sounds good - so I may well pop my Epynt cherry in March.

How about yourself?

Cheers,

Paul

What event are you thinking of in February? Brands, Goodwood?

Similar really. My main aim is Monteberg in April. I say it every year - but this is the year!! I'd like to do a test of some sort first but if i run out of time, then i will putting some road miles on it.

I expect i will be up at Epynt in March Co driving for a mate. I want to start learning the place so i can drive it next year.

We should get some photos from you tonight then if the your car is out the garage today?!

[smiffy1972]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Was good to see the car in the flesh again mate,engine bay looks so much neater,loving the gold too

As for that pedal box,it's a piece of mechanical art,u can see why it's the top of the range item and so fecking expensive

[Paul C]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Come on Paul wheres these pics?!

Your inbox is full as well - probably from people asking for pictures to be uploaded!!

[PaulAlex]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Hi Paul,

Ok, Ok - they'e on the way

Progress is still being made, although there are one or two delays that have cropped up that weren't on the original agenda - as always!

The gucchi floor-mounted pedal box in place now, and despite it not being fully plumbed up yet, it feels mega. In fact, we were talking to the Den motorsport guys at the Autosport show and they reckon that a decent pedalbox is one of the single best upgrades you can do to a car - and I can believe them now I just need to get some carbon sandwich plate to complete the install...

We've also embarked on changing the steering setup so that the wheel is "square-on", and slightly lower than it was previously (the position never felt really "right" in the past). Its perhpas 50% done, with the rest hopefully being sorted out before the end of the month.

Other plans include fitting some funky new TCA's from Torsten and the guys at Grp4 Fabrications in Ireland. I'll get some pictures up soon, but needless to say they look the business and will be much stronger than "regular" TCAs.

Oh yes, and my PMs ahve been cleared down a bit now

Cheers,

Paul

[Paul C]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

I wouldn't worry about the pictures Paul - the moment has now past!

Never mind that your subscription has run out - don't be mean

[PaulAlex]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Never mind that your subscription has run out - don't be mean

Oops!! It shows how little I've been on here, or my personal email, recently Subscription sorted - this place has been perhaps the biggest single source of help for my project over the years, so subscribing is a no-brainer

Lots of odds and sods done on the Escort this weekend, but nothing worthy of pics (yet)

New small carbon dash panel to right of binnacle
New brake bias adjuster fitted to dash - needs attaching to box yet
Last new hydraulic hose fitted (thanks to CossieMatt for the emergency union delivery!)
Oil catch tank refitted
Rear lights/wiring completed
Water leak from top hose fixed (maybe )
Interior window trims mock fitted. Need paint/lining before being finished
Co-driver seat and harnesses re-fitted, and co-drivers hand-held extinguisher
Last mudflap fitted - its only been kicked around the garage for around 9 months when the others were done
Extra fixing added to rear mudflaps
Wash/wipe jets fitted to bonnet
New boot spring clips fitted

More soon - expecting some Gp4 bits this week maybe....

Cheers,

Paul.

[Hoogi]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Just played catch-up with this lot Paul..................all sound superb Mate..............like most people, looking forward to the fresh pics.

[PaulAlex]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Had one of those "character-building" weeks on the Escort, goes something like this:

Battled alone with the car one night after work to remove the front struts inside the garage.

Battled with it again in Friday night to get the now-modified front legs back on the car (even missed half the Spurs match!)

Almost gave myself a hernia pushing the now super-toed-out Escort out of the garage at 7:30am

Find out that the (lovely ) new TCA's fit the front legs now, but not the crossmember

Drill out crossmember to suit inner end of TCAs

Now find out that TCA rose-joint spacers are too wide for crossmember - they'll need to be machined this week.

Go to put new cranked/gussetted steering arms on, but then remember that the arms need machining to suit the rose-jointed steering that I've previously fitted

Cant get n/s hubnut off, have to order new one so we can destroy this one to while removing it....

Matt turns up to check new steering ideas - survey says no Lots of head-scratching follows....

Pack up about 8 hours after starting - only progress is the Intercom is fitted, and two sexy ally spacers behind the boot springs (probably about 30 minutes work).

Wake up this morning with a bad that feels like a truck has driven over me

Where are those matches and the jerry can?! Suddenly playing with the road car looks a whole lot more fun

f**king Escorts!

[105Ian]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Sounds like you have had one of those weekends we all know and love , don't think of it as a waste as you now know what will work and what won't .

Onwards and upwards will all be worth it one day Paul

[Hoogi]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

Just can't get my head round you missed the Mighty Spurs !?!

[Paul C]

Re: Paul Alex's Honda-powered tarmac rally Escort

I suppose now wouldn't be a good time to ask for some pics Paul?

Jokes aside, don't give up Paul you are so painfully close. When is Gary due back then? Or can Matt help you with the mods for the steering rack etc?

Have a watch of this though mate as this is the goal we are aiming for!

If that doesn't keep you going i don't know what will. That was a fantastic stage and fair play to Jay he was on it! A few moments when he didn't back off and kept his toe in. I'm not sure whats going on with the dash and gear indicator though! I can't believe only 300 odd people have watch it.

Keep going Paul, theres your target to beat.