First ever trip out in the mk1

[Gazza mk1]

3 years in the making and pushing like crap to get the car finished for the lakes tour ! first trip round the block and first drive ever of the mk1 ! no brakes as it seems like wilwood four pots are a sh*t to bleed, no mirror's is crap i will have to buy some asap ** can any one let me know where to purchase a good quality set of bulit mirrors - would rather pay the money to get good ones not cheap things ** !
Need to but adjustable TCA's as after a trip round the block it looks like it needs them !
Anyone know a good guy to sort out a full carpet for one of these in the north east - want to go from the rear window all the way down the fire wall, over the covered four link boxes to the front, only 2 seats and harnesses ?

[Andyc]

looks good Gaz

[Dave1800BDA]

well done, always a good feeling first time out, the grin factor

[mk1gaz]

The bigger 4 pot calipers will need a different master cylinder if they don't work properly (provided all the air is out) . Well done on getting it working after 3 years .

[lee bishop]

That looks very nice
did you fit new willwood calipers and pads? I found the willwood pads supplied to be utter rubbish. I sawpped to mintex 1144's and it was a world of difference. I could lock the fronts which I couldn't with willwood pads, the calipers themselves are good

[Gazza mk1]

trying with an easy bleed today ! its got wilwood four pots on the front with vented discs, a wilwood bias valve and serria cosworth rear disc set up on the back !
the servo is working but the pedal just seems weak and i expected a lot better ? what type of master cylinder would you swap too ????

Thanks for the comments - it proper made me smile yesterday ! all the neigbours were out

[mk1gaz]

The single biggest nightmare with an Escort is modding the brakes and getting the best from them . Most people only get about 50% of what they are capable off when using rear discs , big front brakes , bias peddle box etc etc . What have you actually got braking wise then ?

[Gazza mk1]

hi i have wilwood ( superlite ) 4 pot calipers with Hawk HT10 pads, with adaptors to fit round 280mm vented discs, standard rs2000 servo and pedal box - Wilwood bias valve for the rears as running sierra rear disc conversion and standard cable handbrake !

Can get the back end to lock up off the handbrake which i think is unusual ? just seems i have a lot of pedal travel and they dont feel good at all ! bled th ebrakes with the easy bleed and all coming through clear and no bubbles ! had to go out to the scotch corner ford do this afternoon so had no time to try them ! All the discs and pads are brand new and maybe it all needs settling in ? just thought with the mods it should be harsh if anything not poor ?

Need to order some mirrors - anyone bought any bullet mirrors ? where from and are they good quality as i dont want to order a set and they turn up plastic coated etc cheap stuff ? if you have bought some good ones let me know where from !

Also after the spin round the block noticed on the passenger front wheel there is negitive camber ( not set up at all yet ! its 5 linked and going into a specialist to get all set and tracked ) but do you think its wise to get in situ adjustable tca's fitted ? went for standard ones when building as thought it would be right but dont want it to go to be set up and then they say a front wheel is out and cant sort it as im running out of time for the lakes tour - and last thing i want to do is elongate the strut top holes and move it over with the adjustable strut brace !

cheers guy's

[mk1gaz]

Your standard master cylinder won't push enough fluid to lock up 4x bigger calipers as it will run out of peddle travel first . You'll probably need a new peddle box with 2x brake cylinders to get the best from it .
As for the front suspension you best just get the tracking checked first as it's probably that or it could be a bent strut body or something ?

[Justin1600]

Your motor looks spot on mate

[Al Sherwood]

Car looks lovely mate!
As Gaz said you are best running a bias pedal box to get the best out of what you are using, I am running the same setup on my blue mk1 but I have got he bias box in and it makes a big difference.
I have got the adjustable tca's fitted to mine too and they are really good but regarding yours it does sound as if it may have something bent if its just the one side that is running the negative camber.

[Gazza mk1]

cheers - will do a bit more investigating first !

Thanks for the comments on the car ! seems its always one stepforward and three back at the moment ! every thing costs a fortune when you want it now !

need the brakes sorting this week as mot was going to be this weekend coming ?????

cheers

[Al Sherwood]

I know what you mean about the one step forward and three back.....I took mine out the other day and did about 20 miles and then trailered it back to the workshop as she went bang

[mk1gaz]

lol , it takes a while to get an Escort fully sorted especially the brakes . There's soooooooo many combinations of parts that even the brake companies don't have a clue what works with what .
I thought my 6 pot 275mm brakes were working fine until my Renaut 5 turbo outbraked it on the MOT brake machine . I wouldn't mind but they are standard and the size of cotton reels !!!!!!

[Leckypete]

Cars looks awsome Gaz!

Think Mark (rsmarkiemk2) has a spare Gen Ford bias pedal box, worth asking him.
Will pm you his mobile number.

Peter.