My Mk1 Escort 1300 Sport Project

[Lee R]

Nice update

[RS2000EXPRESS]

Hi Tim

Thanks for your comments,of course it is a rare car,though this is not reflected in the price,the mexicos and rs 2000s being more desirable.however that aside i
will give you my take on the subject.
I purchased the car in 1986 or 87,i can check this,but it was about that time.
The car was already 14 years old,though it was standard.
My brother at the time had a mk1 estate which he was modifying,he started by putting in a 1600 cc lump which he built himself to quite a good spec,then he decided to put a v6 essex lump in,so he donated the 1600 lump to me,how could i refuse?
It was an era where everyone was modifying there fords,and to be honest the 1300cc lump was not very appealing.Though i can appreciate a concourse car.i find them uninspiring at times,the 1300 sport looks pretty bland in to me in standard set up.It is quite difficult to explain but to my mind because of the
period at which i acquired the car a lot of people were modifying there cars i feel that in a certain way the car is of its time.
What i have tried to do is leave the interior and exterior as standard as possible apart from the stance.The old front seats unfortunately got lost.
Of course Fords were selling upgrades for the escorts even in those days and even though my upgrades are not genuine ford parts its in that spirit which
i do the mods.
The car is still a 1300 sport and will always be.Though if i had the finances
it would probably run a pinto.Its just to much fun to roar along the M25 with
my club in there escorts and hear those wonderful noises that our engines make!
Of course i see your point,but there will always be two views on the subject.
Im not saying mine is the correct one,but for the outlay i want performance!

Very briefly, thank you for the reply fulmine, nice to read a little history about it and I fully understand how you feel about your car. I understand why you and many other owners modify them as they always have done.....I was just curious. It's good it's staying a Sport and in the future I'll look forward to reading about any progress you make with doing up the car.

Apologies for hijacking too Stu. .....now back to the resto!

Tim

[RS2000EXPRESS]

Nice to see how solid she is after the sandblast, it can be a frightening time sometimes! You're well on your way now Stu!

Tim

[fulmine]

Amazing

Hi Stu
That is amazing progress you are making,just cant believe you find the time!

[Quickrack-Alan]

The wee bit in the corner of the boot floor looks the worst bit??
Otherwise it looks ace. Bonnet could be new

[mk1GTstu]

Nice to see how solid she is after the sandblast, it can be a frightening time sometimes! You're well on your way now Stu!

Tim

Cheers, yeah I'm glad the blastings done, I was worried it would come back looking like a teabag but luckily there's not too much to sort out, just some pinholes in some areas & some tidying up of welds to do.
cheers, Stu.

[mk1GTstu]

Hi Stu
That is amazing progress you are making,just cant believe you find the time!

Cheers, I try & work on it whenever I get spare time, just got to keep at it & not give up.
cheers, Stu.

[mk1GTstu]

The wee bit in the corner of the boot floor looks the worst bit??
Otherwise it looks ace. Bonnet could be new

Cheers, yeah theres quite a few pinholes in the corner of the boot floor where the metal has gone a bit thin in places which needs sorting, much of the floor had heavy rust & had been painted in hammerite at some time, a few small holes have appeared in the bulkhead & in a few other places which wern't visable before it was blasted. The bonnet was a lucky buy I got off ebay is almost like new & is much better than the one on the car, I paint stripped & etch primed it.
cheers, Stu.

[mk1GTstu]

I've given the shell an extra coat of etch primer to keep the surface rust away as the coat on there was a bit thin & bare metal was showing in places.

[RS2000EXPRESS]

You've come a long way Stu.....it really has got a nice solid look about it now!

[mk1GTstu]

I've been welding up holes & sorting out a few areas that needed repair & done a bit of prep work to the underside of the sport & given it another coat of primer..




Also been doing some seam sealering on the underside, inside boot, inner wings & interior floor, used 6 tubes of the stuff so far! Will leave the engine bay area for now until I've lined up & welded on the front panel & wings.



Thats it for now!
Stu.

[RS2000EXPRESS]

Looks like seem sealing that good old Ford would have been proud of, not too much and not too little!

Tim

[mike77cos]

Won't be long before paint

[fulmine]

nice job!

hey thats some mighty fine job you are doing there,especially like the seam sealing,now im not sure if that was done on mine or not,i hope it was

[mk1GTstu]

Got a bit more done, paint strippered the new front panel & gave it a coat of etch, also another coat of 2k primer & a bit more prep work underneath.







cheers, Stu.