RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

Hi guys I bought this MK2 a few months ago and have finally got around to making a start during the holidays.
My dream is to build a GRP 4 tarmac car but we'll see what happens.
Its a long term project, hopefully not as long as Gary Pitts but will take several years, depending on cash flow.
I got it off a guy south of Brisbane who did a little work like fix the rust in the heater bubble, radiator surround, crossmember and strip some of the interior. It's a 76 shell with surprissingly little rust or dings. Only rust I have found so far are a couple of pin heads in the passenger foot well, pillars and boot wells are rust free and never been repaired. I will be on the look out for a replacement heater bubble and radiator surround to fix it properly.
I have stripped the rest of the interior, sound deadening off the floor, started removing unwanted metal and seat mounts (thanks Gary P).
Next is too build a spit. I have looked at a few designs and talked to a couple of people and designed one which when finished should be strong enough and adaptable to take just about any car. The intention is that when I'm finished it should be easy to sell (I hope) because it won't be limited to just Escorts. Once finished and tested I'll share the design with anyone interested. Designs have all dimesnions and details.
Here are some photos and more will come, next ones should be the spit which I hope to build over the next week or two.

I,ve been hard at it the last week and the floor is starting to look good. Found some rust pitting which has been treated and the floor has been primed.


Haven't started on the spit yet since everyone is on holiday but its given me the time to review the design and test it on the computer to check that it won't foul on anything when rotated and height and so on. I've probably done as much as I can do before getting it on the spit so I don't hurt my back.

Here are some shots of Marty's earlier Escort as threatened.

OMG
I can't beleive it's been that long since I've done enough that I can post an update on my progress.
But I'm glad to say I've pulled my finger out and I'm getting into it at last.

Gaz was kind enough to lend me his Mig so I started practicing last weekend on some scrap metal and am happy with the progress I'm making.
But I wont touch the car with it till I'm happy with the quality and consistency of my welds.

I have cut out the doggey heater plenum repair that the previous owner had done. (see previous photo) I media blasted a doner heater plenum section out of a car I bought for parts a while back and it came up better than expected. (see photo below).
The $20 sand blasters you can buy at the tool shops work a treat for small areas. Just make sure you kit up well to protect eyes and lungs.
I'll replace the pitted and bottom section and weld it into place. I'll make a new surround for the fan and weld it to the new section before welding the new heater bubble.
While doing this I'll have to think of a way to prevent it rusting in the future, maybe a drain at the base of the bubble or filling the base of the bubble to prevent water pooling.

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Got some presents on the from the UK that I'm looking forward to and a holiday in August/September starting in Ireland, as luck would have it in time for the Ulster Rally.

Expect the progress to pickup.

13 years is coming up fast.

nice looking car to start of with good luck, youll love the ulster rally i use watch it from my bedroom window, some years it would go past my house, if you look on rally i.e there is prob a few rallies on that time of the year, thats one thing i miss about home is the choice of rallies you can go to, enjoy

I've been trimming the donor heater plenum section of the firewall to fit recently and continuing to practice my welding.
Then I found these on ebay and couldn't say no.

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Another.

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Well it's been too long since an update but I have been back into the garage and doing something.

I have made and welded in some gussets.

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Installed the lower radiator support panel.

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You will notice the are no radiator side support panels. The previous owner was going to install an intercooler. I cut one out of a front cut, separated, cleaned them up and welded them back together.

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Before I did I made a jig to ensure that the panels are properly aligned while welding together and will hold it in the right place when it is time to cut the front panel and weld into the car.

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I have also rebuilt the heater plenum. The original was cut out from the previous owner so I cut one out of a car I wrecked and have made a new round section and the flat panel it site on.
Before

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After

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The hard part will be grafting it into the shell, but I then want to replace the semicircular area that the heater bubble will be welded to.