1600 Sport recommissioning/tidyup

[stevepmex]

Well having sold my Capri have finally got round to getting the Escort on the road. This was the red Mex replica built by Richard Wilson a couple of years ago, the lad he built it for couldn't afford to keep it and I bought it off him in March 2009.
It wasn't quite the car I'd hoped, the brakes were awful, water pump leaked, it was very hard to start from cold as it has twin 40s with no choke fitted, so its been sat in the garage since then.
So it needs a bit of essential mechanical work and a few cosmetic bits to tidy it up.
Anyway made a start last week, got the bumpers off and away to be blasted and powdercoated. Painted behind the grill black which I really like the look of.

So onto the lack of brakes; don't think these 4-pots have been doing too much (and this was the side that was 'working':

Other side even worse:


Have pretty much decided to fit a bias pedal box and ditch the servo, but not sure yet whether to go for Hi-spec or Wilwood calipers.
Might need some new track rod ends too?

Quite pleased with my work so far and more enthusiastic now about getting it all sorted and running again. Don't know how the lad who owned it before could be driving it in this state really.

[Mk2steve]

keep up the good work steve and look forward to seeing the car on the road had looked at hi-spec and wilwood myself a bit pricey good luck mate.

[south west restorations]

hi

looks a no bad car what ur saying keep up the good work and the pics comeing m8........

[stevepmex]

Got lots more done the last couple of weeks:
all the suspension out for a good clean up and replace whats needed:

Started stripping and repainting the struts:

At least they are genuine Billies!

On the brakes decided to go with 2.8i discs and Hi-Spec 4-pot calipers, and bias pedal box.
Hey hey this week a big box arrived from Rally Design:



Also got the bumpers back:

Struts refurbed, new TCA's and rod ends fitted:


Also the ARB refurbed too:

Well pleased with how they all turned out, never done this much dismantling on a car!
Got the old servo and master cylinder out today too:

So now will be getting the old pedal box out and fitting the bias box in it's place, which should be fun.
Will get the discs and hubs refitted this week too, just waiting on some new bolts. Need to order the new calipers too.
I have decided to make all my own brake lines too, thought it was about time I learned how to do this stuff properly.
Anyway thats it so far, will post more as it progresses.

[south west restorations]

hi

comeing on well there m8
a few quid spent there ....

[graham John]

good stuff, keep at it

cheeRS

[wetandwindy2]

very nice ,lots of new shiny bits coming on well

[alancdavis]

looking good...

[richard wilson]

where the hell had the lad that car parked at steve???? there was all new parts fitted to that car, the webbers where serviced at motor sport and spares and was going great when it left me, i think the lad must have been working at the carbs,the brakes where new all round trac control arms rod ends all new and ploybushed.there was alot of money spent on that wee car steve.

[stevepmex]

Yes I know Richard, I have all the photos from your thread here when you built it up.
Think he worked in Larne so maybe it was parked right on the coast all day, certainly wasn't garaged at all. It ran Ok when I first got it carbs wise, apart from starting from cold with no choke. The brakes were bad though, don't know how he'd been driving it like that!
Since then it was in my garage unused all the time, so couldn't have got worse then.
Anyway it's coming on now, suspension all done, new discs and calipers etc, just to fit the bias box - bit more tricky than I thought it would be - and do the pipes etc.



Then just need to sort out the water pump and a couple of other small things, and hopefully get it MoT'd and use it!

[BAXTERBOY]

Its suprising how they go off just standing in a garage if you havent got any heating in there or a dehumidifier. Glad its being brought back to its former glory though. Top work mate.

[mk2ddc]

Cracking job you`ve done there mate .
Looks lovely

[stevepmex]

Well after many months of inactivity and lack of enthusiasm, finally got busy and finished things off.
Bias box all fitted and new brakes working, powdercoated bumpers refitted etc, everything cleaned up and polished:








Just a few little things to do now, new indicator stalk, tracking, water pump and get alternator checked out as charge light is staying on.
Then ready for MoT hopefully.
Not overly impressed with the Rally Design bias box, the pedals are way shorter than standard, top of accelerator needed trimming to avoid hitting the brake pedal pivot on full throttle, clutch is different too so now the cable is too long really, all generally a bit tacky. Should have bought a better one or got the standard pedal box converted, but there you go, you live and learn.

[Kulataz]

lovely car there. keep up the enthusiasm. Are you intending on putting stripes on it?

Graham

[alancdavis]

Looking good,,, Are those wheels 7inch superlites ?