MrKnifeys MK2 Escort Project Thread

MrKnifey · 29 Oct 2018 at 17:20

Hi Guys,

Thought some of you may be interested in this as I go along.. Short run down, ive always wanted a MK2 Escort ever since I was able to drive, never had the funds spare to have one so its taken a while to finally get one!

This one was/is a 1600 Sport, been badly painted, 1600xFlow but with a pinto gearbox etc. It needs work and this thread will hopefully be a log of it all!

Plans so far? Fix the issues with the shell and get underside cleaned up and painted. I wont be painting exterior yet, only engine bay etc.

Im still undecided on what engine/box ill be using so we will see on that as well.

Anyways enough talking, here are some pictures:

When I got it:

On my Ramps:

Making a start on removing engine/gearbox:

Half hour later:

Front Panel exposed.. That will need replacing

MrKnifey · 29 Oct 2018 at 19:16

~>Dg<~ said:
epic cars . hope you got plenty of cash ready. . mates doing one of these for last few years. soon mount up money wise what you spend on them.

More than likely going to be a £20k build by time im done with it.. But we will see how it goes.. :/

Maccapacca said:
Any thread with tea in it gets the thumbs up from me

Thats good because I drink a lot of tea

MrKnifey · 29 Oct 2018 at 19:41

Mix of both..

MrKnifey · 30 Oct 2018 at 07:33

I already have a 2.0 Zetec Engine kicking around the workshop, undecided on fitting it.. Ive built a few Zetecs in MK2 Fiestas so not sure I want to do it again, had a 195hp N/A and a 350hp Turbo'd one so think Im done with that for now.

Some things I do with the car will obviously not please everyone, it is never going back standard as I have no interest in a standard MK2 unless its an RS1800 - Which I cannot afford lol.

It may be Turbo Charged, but it will not be doing using Ford running gear thats for sure...

As for the prices above.. I gave nearly 3 times as much for it!!

Old School Ford market for you

MrKnifey · 30 Oct 2018 at 07:34

~>Dg<~ said:
what and add a dump valve . tbh nothing better than a naturally sounding BDA escort.

I would LOVE a BDA or a Millington, or similar, I simply cannot afford a £20k+ engine, no matter how much I tell the wife I need it!!

MrKnifey · 30 Oct 2018 at 11:36

I was all set for a Pinto and 8v Noise on Twin 45/48 etc.. Problem is sink money into one and get 150hp.. 180hp needs more £££ again.. I would like 200+ hp

MrKnifey · 30 Oct 2018 at 12:32

Not a Vauxhall guy, my mates got a C20XE sat over his lock up with the 1800 Manta Sump etc.. Just cant do it.. Main thing at the moment is body work.. Im off to NEC classic car show soon, so ill see if I find any ideas there.. It may well still end up with a Pinto.. but I can see a Zetec in there before that!

MrKnifey · 30 Oct 2018 at 18:23

Got an update coming.. Shell is now going for a full strip down maybe even Soda blasting.. Gotta love rust!

Will update with pics later

MrKnifey · 30 Oct 2018 at 21:38

Right, had a few more hours on the car today, started stripping off the rest of the running gear then decided to start looking for rust.. There was a few points I knew about, some turned out worse than I wanted them to (O/S A Pillar

) But overall its still a solid car for nearly 40 years old!

Plan is now to strip it right down, doors, bonnet and boot off. Then wings off, glass out. Put it on a spit and start cleaning it all back and see exactly what im working with..

PICTURE SPAM BELOW

Anyways some pictures:

Front suspension and brakes off - I have ordered GAZ Coilovers with brand new stubs already.

Kholn Rear Axle - Off to the scrap yard eventually

Wiring Loom Removed.. This is pretty much knackered but I did take my time to remove it in case I need bits of it

Boot Floor Rust Areas:

Front N/S Chassis Rail

FibreGlass was hiding a little more than I thought!! :O

Transmission Tunnel has been "modified" in the past, this will be replaced with a big tunnel

Inside as it sits now:

A Pillar which im dreading repairing!!

2.0 Zetec I have kicking around

Some new parts already turning up:

MrKnifey · 31 Oct 2018 at 13:33

Gone for short coilovers as its going to be quite low once its done. Also gone for eccentric adjustable top mounts. I am aware ill need RS parts for the track rods etc.

Like I said once its done its not going to be to everyones taste, but it will be how I want it

Ill hopefully never have to sell it either so keeping it original literally has no interest to me

MrKnifey · 31 Oct 2018 at 14:28

Its on my shortlist...

MrKnifey · 31 Oct 2018 at 17:14

What you got edel?

Ill add pictures later, but its pretty much a bare shell now. Need to decide on a roll over jig and also decide if im going to send it for Soda Blasting..

MrKnifey · 31 Oct 2018 at 20:59

Todays task once I had finished my booked in work was to remove the Glass, Bonnet, Boot and Wings..

Glass was nice and simple as I simply cut the old seals away as im replacing them. Bonnet and Boot consisted of 4 bolts in each.. So again nice and simple.

The wings were the time consuming job, as they are original Ford wings and never been off I wanted to save them, this is time consuming and quite a horrible process, plus once Id removed the passenger side wing I had found it had been patched so I wont even be using it now. Anyways some pictures:

Drilling Spot Welds

Wing Removed

Behind the Wing

A Pillar which needs replacing

The Shell as it sits now

Hopefully ill be able to get it down to the Media Blasters next week then the repairing process can begin.. Unfortunately this is where updates wont be thick and fast anymore as its all slow work, but please bare with me

MrKnifey · 1 Nov 2018 at 14:53

All that hassle to fit an Eco Boost.. no thanks..

MrKnifey · 1 Nov 2018 at 20:18

JRS said:
Shell doesn't look too horrendous for a Mk2. Seen plenty with worse rust than that! Look forward to the next update

No, I am happy with it to be honest.. Its mental to think I paid £8k to rip apart something, but in the grand scheme of things it will be worth it..

Pulled all of the clips, brackets and everything removable off the shell today, its going for full blasting and then coating with 2k primer at some point next week.

In the mean time im going to get my welder working spot on and try decide on a spit..

Totally bare shell

MrKnifey · 2 Nov 2018 at 07:30

Then its custom engine mounts, they do a bell housing for a Type 9 Box, but cant seem to find one for anything else, RWD sump I cant seem to find. a lot of work when you could bolt something in a lot easier and achieve the same figures for waaaay less dollar as well. Not saying its a bad idea, just not worth the hassle.

MrKnifey · 3 Nov 2018 at 20:05

Simon McKinley could pedal a MK2

MrKnifey · 4 Nov 2018 at 08:16

To get a pinto to 200hp is £4k plus and that's without going with a steel bottom end for reliability.

I built a zetec previously which made 195hp for around £3k.

I had my heart set on a pinto as I love the sound, but I know what I'm like and I'll never be happy with 150ish hp, even though it will be plenty for road use. It's going to see track use and it's going to spend as much time as possible sideways so reliability is a must for me

MrKnifey · 5 Nov 2018 at 20:20

Managed to pick up an RX8 5 Speed Gearbox and Ordered a bell housing adaptor plate, so thats the gearbox sorted!

MrKnifey · 6 Nov 2018 at 07:17

For now.. I got months of shell repairs to change my mind yet :rolleyes: