A Kiwi Rebuild

[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

[south west restorations]

doing a grand job there .

[147racer2010]

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

[south west restorations]

hi

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

[south west restorations]

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

[IMG]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HQwEsAGINng/TnWBsh28vkI/AAAAAAAAANQ/VV4d***SAfo/s1600/escortphotos+117.jpg[/IMG]

[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