Scott D's next MK1 Escort Project

[Danny M]

Mine were bigger than that

[ozstang65]

16??

[Danny M]

big as you can

[ozstang65]

More progress and parts sourced this week. The rust in the firewall was a bit big to ignore so most of the latter part of the week was fixing that and another small piece on the left chassis rail, under the rusty battery tray. All ready for a lick of paint tomorrow.

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[ozstang65]

The shock adjuster access is now opened up a bit, still need to make some sleeves to help keep the bottom of the shock centred.

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I've also now got all the parts for the rear drums, just need to tidy up the adjusters and springs and they're ready to go on. I'll probably end up using the pedal box that came with the car so there's some lines to make too.

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[Darren W.]

Good work Scott you're a machine!

And it sounds like the the wider mk2 rebound springs didn't cause much trouble once you modified the bushes i.e. don't know why more people haven't done this as there is probably less movement in the spring with the reduced clearence at the front.

So are you going to get it road registered to save on getting a cage fitted to save time as you have only two weekends left? If Danny can his old one registered then you should be able to as well.

[ozstang65]

Hi Darren, there's an OMP bolt-in cage that came with the car that I'll throw in for now. Rear springs went straight in after removing 4mm from each side of the bushes and 8 from the crush tube - easy

[Darren W.]

Hey Scott, good to hear. I hope you make it after all the effort you're putting in, but if not then at least it will be ready for the rest of the events this year.

[ozstang65]

Still trying to make the TTT Darren, as the car really needs a run-in event before I take it to the hillclimbs or motorkhanas. I've got most of the parts now so we'll have to see how many speed bumps are thrown at me when it comes to putting it together.

Today's efforts involved cleaning up the rest of the engine bay (lots of thinners and rags!), etch, then topcoat:

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Also reclaimed my race seat from dad's car and taxed his battery as well. The crossmember's back in, next to fit the lower control arms and sway bar to check where the anti-dive is going....

[Darrin S]

If you don't make the TTT day which with the work and commitment your putting in I would be very surprised if you don't are you going to do the Historic winter event in the regularity cause I had so much fun last year it's highlighted on my calender. Passing the some of the field twice was a lot of fun. More Escorts from this forum should run it, it's a very social event without risk of damaging the car and you get used to running and over taking lots of cars on track at the same time. Good luck I'm sure your car will be ready. Just keep it light than you don't need much horse power.
Darrin Siddins

[Gary P.]

[ozstang65]

Hi Darrin, I'll be trying to do all the HRCC events this year as well as a few MG hillclimbs and motorkhanas/khanacrosses as well.

Thanks again Gary for your help today, very much appreciated.

So the washup from this weekend included getting the axles and rear brakes back in, the (ill-fitting ) cage started, internal trim and firewall panels created and some fiited. Lower control arms are fitted, however I have conceded that making the anti-dive bracket is beyond the timeframe so I'll just refit the standard swaybar mounts for now.

Rear wheel arches will need some slight massaging, handbrake mechanism needs reworking to suit the mk2 brakes and the lines will need to be remade to suit.

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[Cam]

Amazing. It would take me a year to do what you've already done!

Good luck with the deadline.

[Darren W.]

Hey Scott, starting to look the goods, I'm amazed as well at what you've achieved. The cleaned up 13'x7' hotwires look even better on a mk1 than the mk2. Are those the spares that came with the Sundowner? Can't wait to see it in two week ends time.

[ozstang65]

Thanks Cam and Darren, still pedalling hard to make it.. The wheels/tyres are straight off dad's car, they've got taper inserts so we can just use regular nuts on them. Mine are a bit rougher than that and still use mag-style wheelnuts (they were on dad's car at the all-Ford day)

More bits arrived/picked up today. Got the new swaybar bushes as I'm not going to have time to make the anti-dive just now. Did a trial fit of the front end to confirm the location for the spring seat adjuster sleeves, will weld on tomorrow.

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Also got the master cylinder reserviors, lines and bias adjuster.

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[maxrs]

Sleep is overated anyway.
We are all gunning for you to make it on time.
Just ask if your in need of any parts. Or a hand.

[ozstang65]

Thanks Max, I'll see how it goes, I've got Friday off so that's engine-in day (hopefully!). Struts are finished bar trial fit for camber/caster check and then drilling of top plate to suit. Found out tonight that they gave me the wrong bearings for the (now cleaned up) front hubs so it's back to BSC tomorrow for the right ones.

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Now larger hole for the shock adjuster, better Danny?

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[Gary P.]

[ozstang65]

Another late night, got the right front bearings thisafternoon and fitted them tonight. Did the dummy fit to check angles and then drill the top holes. Decided on 2 options, one at -3.25 camber +7 caster and one at -3.75 camber and about +5.75 caster. Still lots of places for other holes in the tops if needed.

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[ozstang65]

Rotors and hubs ready to go on:

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Finished strut:

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Swaybar, struts and lower control arms fully installed, just need to throw the rotors on and attack the brakes:

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