Escort Mk2 track car

by **gen mk 1rs2000** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:26 pm

ooohhh!!! i dont like the look of that swaybar
ive seen many broken right there at the shoulder ( all sorts aftermarket & std)
bending in that spot is just asking for trouble
unless the steel is actualy low grade spaghetti !! ??

ps
i do like the g/box xmember
ive seen very similar design from billet / cnc machined alloy
same principle with world cup type bushes
very simple very efective
pps
roger did a topic on escort sway bars , cant remember where
but well worth a read !
rog ??

by **jsa** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:45 am

by **Clayton** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:57 pm

Yeah, very disappointing.....

I do have a new std supra mount that will go in when the Zetec finally gets fitted.
The engine mounts are based on the world cup one's, so the gearbox shouldn't move around too much. At the moment there is absolutely no movement, with a slight vibration as a trade off.

Clayton

by **Paul Dunstan** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:47 pm

Hi Clayton
I'm tossing up between what you have and the OEM gearbox mount although mine's a W50 steel case.
If your box has a similar mount then the OEM item is VERY tall and with my gearbox in the Mk2 shell the fabricated gearbox mount to incorperate the OEM item hangs substantially lower than the chassis rails. On a race car this might be OK but on a road car it may not survive large speed humps etc.
I guess I'll try use a similar principle as yours with a large rubber bush / crush tube and see what happens.

by **Clayton** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:29 pm

Either the w50 has a lower mounting point on the gearbox, or I've got the W57 mounted higher in the body ??
With a straight edge under the chassis rails, there is 8mm clearance to the body mounted brackets and 56mm to the gearbox (under the mount area).
Looking at the std mount and using a "U" style channel as the mount bracket. It would sit maybe 10mm below the chassis rails max.

Are you using world cup style engine mounts ??

Clayton

by **jsa** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:25 pm

Some of the toy box mount rubbers are 5-10mm lower profile than others, but bolt pattern is the same.

Have never found out what the compact ones are out of.

My W58 X member is level with the chassis rails. Old steel case was the same.

Did make an effort to get box up into the tunnel as much as possible and used the compact mount.

by **Paul Dunstan** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:46 am

Clayton,

Yes I'm using the WCXM style engine mounts.

Have you installed a custom tunnel as your box does look higher?

John,

I have my W50 box jammed up as high as it will go and considering raising the tunnel slightly around the shifter to get a little more clearance as if using the OEM Celica mount as the box may move. If I do it the same as Clayton it is located more securely so I doubt it will be a concern so this is the way I think I'll proceed.

by **Clayton** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:08 pm

Paul
Its a std manual tunnel with a little bit massaging. It is tight but hasn't been a problem as of yet.
With the WCXM mounts the gearbox shouldn't move around much even using the std rubber mount.

Clayton

by **gen mk 1rs2000** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:14 pm

no disrespect clayton
what swaybar are yu using ?
i only replied because i could see a potential problem
trust me go back thru roger millers posts
on this subject
there is all sorts of different escort sway bars
some good some not so good

by **Clayton** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:22 pm

The 24mm one that originally came with the car (don't know the manufacture) has been massaged so it lines up and is not up tension at ride height.
The 22mm one in the pics is from K mac and will remain on the bench for now.

Do you know much about the Selby bars ??
I'll look for the thread you mentioned.

Clayton

by **Clayton** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:14 pm

The Selby bar arrived today, thanks to Stephen at SMCKA Performance
It looks really good, much better than the Kmac one.

Just about finish bolting the engine back together (cracked block from the last race meet)
and will be ready for round 1.

Clayton

by **Clayton** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:55 pm

Well the engine is back in and as I hope this is the last time the Pinto will be pulled apart (upgrading to a Zetec). Thought I'll post a few photos of the rebuild.
Its basically a stock bottom end:
- lightened and balanced crank
- std rods with little ends machined down, arp bolts fitted
- std cast pistons and rings :shock:

- block decked and o-ringed

by **Clayton** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:01 pm

Had a few problems with the seal carriers not centring. The lugs were worn from previous use.
Made a tool to align the seals.

by **Clayton** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:07 pm

pistons in....

by **Clayton** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:10 pm

Cam bearings fitted......

by **Clayton** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:19 pm

Head assembled....
The valves are recessed that much, thought I was going to hit water cutting the seats.....
Tried to get inserts fitted, but was told there's not enough material under the chamber.
So after this, the head is binned :cry: