A Kiwi Rebuild

[147racer2010]

Hi All
I am Peter and I am currently rebuilding a mk 1 2 door race car. I have a blog up and running so you can see what I am up to at
http://mk1escortrebuild.blogspot.com/
However what I am intending to Build is a road legal Bubble arched 1700 711m powered through a type 9 5speed into a LSD english axled 2 linked and turreted rear end. The car was purchased as a rolling shell which looked not too bad however when I started to scratch the surface well check out the blog. I am expecting the rebuild to take 18 months to 2 years. A lot of stuff needs to come out from the UK, replacement panels from expressed steel, drive line parts from Burtons etc etc etc.
Cheers PK

[alancdavis]

Keep up the work ,,,,:D

[147racer2010]

Hi all
Happy New Year to everyone I hope santa was nice to you. As for me well i had a nice vacation spent too much, ate too much and drank too much. So now it is back too work and back on to the project. I have updated the blog but not done too much the next big job is to get the old girl soda blasted and Primer painted so that i can see what might be hiding under the old underseal. Hope the year is good to you
PK

[147racer2010]

I have finally found an area that is not rotten. Also just got a quote for replacement panels the freight alone is 390 GBP by the time you convert it into NZD I am looking at a reasonable chunk of change but it needs to be done. The latest update to the blog is up now

[mike77cos]

Great project

[bluevan1]

somework going on there.keep it up m8

[147racer2010]

Another weekend down some small steps forward in one area and a big step back in another
Enjoy your week I need to make some money this week to buy more parts
Pete

[Hoogi]

Keep at it Pete......where in NZ are you ?

My Dad's in thew South just outside Christchurch.....very lucky to get away with no damage after the Earth Quakes !!!!

[147racer2010]

I am in Auckland. Your dad is lucky I have friends and family down there some have lost everything one family I know has not been able to return to their home it has now been demolished and another is living in her home of 60+ years and that will be demolished soon Fortunately part of the house is OK and she still has a bathroom, kitchen, lounge and a couple of bedrooms to live in and running water, power and sewerage. the extention that were put on the house as the family expanded over the years are the damaged parts.

[SHIFTY]

jesus!, that was some load of cataloy on the rear quarter :eek:

fair play mate she's coming on well :cool:

[147racer2010]

Thanks Shifty I am making progress, the R/H bubble should be on tonight and Hopefully I can get some more work on the rear 1/4 at the weekend. I did some last night and it is not as bad as it appears so I may be able to salvage it yet. Next weekend I am going to the Annual Intermarque Concour's here in Auckland I was asked by my painter to take his freshly restored RS 1600 mk1 to show for the Escort Car Club so I jumped at the chance. I will post some photos of the event in a couple of weeks. Should be fun

[147racer2010]

Hi Guys the latest update is up now. It is mainly photos but there is a link to my facebook page which has a heap of photos from The Classic car show at the Ellerslie Race course yesterday.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=32280&id=100000757592809
If you can open it here it is I will post some on here as time allows and will attend other shows as time allows to keep the photos coming
PK

[mike77cos]

Work block it, but i will have a look at that at home later

[SHIFTY]

Work block it, but i will have a look at that at home later

x2 facebook and porn are a no no at work...... :( :rolleyes:

[147racer2010]

I am doing this at work thats why i havent put the photos up on here. However here is the direct link to the photos if you dont belong to facebook
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32280&id=100000757592809&l=8c7e255b13

[mike77cos]

Great pics

[147racer2010]

Hi All
I have been busy at work so havent had too much available time to get in here for a while. The work is progressing slowly the underside of the floor is now finished and coated with hammerite, I have located a good rearcut and found a good source for mk1 parts for the future, the rear cut has been cut up now and the pieces that I need are at the strippers so that I know exactly what I have, I have cut out both of the rear corners and the boot floor as I will be replacing the floor as I want to put a tank in under the parcel shelf. I have taken the car off the rotisserie to do the panel repairs and while it is off i will repair the front end I have got some rust in the chassis rails the lower radiator panel and the front panel will be replaced so it is easiest to do this while the car is off the spit. Just looking back at my posts and i realise it has been a long time since i was in here and I have been to the All Ford Day in Auckland since feb and I have put photos up on the Blog of that day as well.
Cheers for now all my Pics and other news is on the blog http://mk1escortrebuild.blogspot.com/
Peter

[147racer2010]

Well since I was last on here I have cut out the R/H corner and fitted the new panel, refitted the bubble arch and cut out the L/H corner and cut the replacement panel ready to fit so I am making steady progress. I have also had a change of track for the drive train and am now going 2 litre with a type 9 5 speed the reason is simple cost I have picked up a running 2 litre and box for less that I was looking at for a 711m rebuilder. I am thinking of using this engine for the road and getting a 205 engine to use on the track. I will warm the road engine with a mild cam and twin carbs (40s) and the 205 will be a lot hotter with either 45s or 48s and a straight cut box (time will tell). At this stage I am not moving on the 205 unless something drops into my lap as I am wanting to get the car usable first as I am needing to get the Alfa off the road so that I can recon the engine in that as it is starting to drink oil. once the Alfa is done I can then look at the race engine. Doing it this way also means that I can work on the handling and stopping before getting some serious nellies under the bonnet

[bluevan1]

doing a grand job there .

[147racer2010]

Thanks Bluevan It is a lot more work than I was expecting but nothing ventured nothing gained

[bluevan1]

yes thats very true.
but hey u will get there dont give up.

[147racer2010]

I am determined to continue dont worry. I have now removed the front panel and the slam panel so that I can see what I have up there. what a mess still all it will take to fix is time and money. I have purchased a set of lucas indicator/park lights these are off a hillman imp but are what the Borham works cars had I will be picking them up either tonight or on Saturday so onwards and upwards

[147racer2010]

It looks like I may have found a front cut to replace the bits needed for the rust bucket I will check the donor out hopefully this week. I have fitted the L/R panel and started to finish the panel work off. Once this is done I will cut out the gearbox tunnel and fit the larger tunnel in then move onto the rot in the front. I feel like I am seeing some steady progress at the moment
http://mk1escortrebuild.blogspot.com/
Peter

[147racer2010]

OK I am now officially obsessed with mk 1s. why? I have purchased a second project. why? simple rust. The old girl was getting to me. this is not to say i have given up far from it but i managed to score a relatively rust free shell and heaps of parts for sod all or to be more precise $1200 nzd about 600 gbp. Not bad if I do say so myself. So the plan is simple this shell will get soda blasted and primed then i will fit a set of steel bubble arches from gartrac (unless some one can suggest a better source) then she will get a 2 linked turreted atlas axle, the quick rack from the old girl, the pinto and 5 speed I got a couple of months ago, I will fit a basic 6 point cage and race seats Adjustable shocks all round and turn her into a quick road car that can do a bit of track work. The old girl once this is finished will be fitted with a new cage ( more intergrated) and will get a more race ready setup so time will tell what happens to her. Oh I forgot to mention the new one has been set up for a nissan SR20 engine and box so has a large tunnel in it already i am staying with the Pinto as i do not want to go the ricer way

[bluevan1]

hey u can never have to many ford s more the better .as one day they will get hard to buy as prices are always going up...

[147racer2010]

that is so very true bluevan

[147racer2010]

I have got the new project into the garage and have loaded photos on the blog
Peter

[147racer2010]

Quite A lot has happened on the new shell since I was last on here. It is now a rolling shell so that I can get her down to the Panelbeater to get some structural stuff done things like rear turrets, a 2 link rear end, chassis gussets and front strut tower reinforcing. These need to be done by a certified welder which I am not. This is to get it all road legal all structural welding has to be done by a certified welder so off she goes. the hassle in trying to do it myself and get it through certification is not a easy job as it stands it will need to go to a low volume certifier to get authorisation to fit a 2 litre a 5 speed and adjustable suspension once it has been approved by an LVC I will need to get a motorsport declaration card to allow me to have Harness belts and a rollcage and a noisier exhaust ( Thank the boy racers and their Jap fart cannons for all this).
Here are a couple of Pics to get you going and as usual more are on the blog
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1x-rbm3lpw/TnWByfrGdnI/AAAAAAAAANU/-xo7KFJQiqQ/s1600/escortphotos+118.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HQwEsAGINng/TnWBsh28vkI/AAAAAAAAANQ/VV4d***SAfo/s1600/escortphotos+117.jpg

[147racer2010]

I have been slowly getting things done mainly on the front of the car. The front guards are off and I have started to fit the bubble arches. I have gone for fibreglass ones as I was looking at about $1500 NZ to get a set of steel ones and I got a set of really good locally produced glass ones for $400. I also have a set of locally made turrets and a few other bits and pieces ready to go. i have fitted the L/H front Arch but the R/H guard has taken a big hit at some stage so will require some work before it is ready to have the arch fitted. More info is on the blog
peter

[mfordy]

Peter, Do you mean $1500 for just the front steel arches or a full set. Palmside do fronts for $395 excl each.
Keep up the good work. Will be good to see you doing laps around Pukekohe and Hampton Downs shortly. ;)
Mike

[LOUIE]

cant wait till im in christ church and get into the scene over there:eek:

[147racer2010]

full set including shipping 400 for a full set of glass ones i was wanting gartrac arches which are a bit bigger than the palmside ones

[147racer2010]

cant wait till im in christ church and get into the scene over there:eek:
you will love what is available in CHCH Louie it is like driving in the 80s down there classics still in everyday use

[LOUIE]

full set including shipping 400 for a full set of glass ones i was wanting gartrac arches which are a bit bigger than the palmside ones


i could throw some in the container with the mk1 if we go??

[147racer2010]

Thanks for the offer Louie but I already have the glass ones so will stay with those mind you there is a lot I could do with but she who must be obeyed has asked me not to buy anything for a while as we have some big bills coming in soon(new bathroom)

[147racer2010]

I picked up a pair of strut tops and a alloy centre consul this week. How ever work has pretty much ground to a halt as I am required to get the house and yard ready for our Holiday in a couple of weeks. I will take this chance to wish everyone a Happt Xmas and a safe but enjoyable New Year and I will post more when I start back next year.
Peter

[147racer2010]

Well the New year is well and truly gone and I have been frantic at work and I had a trip to the states to do as well(a week on the racetrack and they call this work) so January was shot. I have done a bit of work over the last few days which includes doing a how to guide fitting Fibreglass Bubble Arches. Mainly for cost reasons down here we use glass rather than steel so you can see how we do it at
http://mk1escortrebuild.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/how-to-fit-fibreglass-bubble-arches.html
Hope this is useful for some of you. Next stage for the build is to get the rotisserie built and get her to the panelbeaters to get the structural work done.
Peter