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Aug 13, 2014 16:22:18 GMT
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Cant believe I haven’t updated this since last year! Too much going on to be writing stories, but heres a quick run down of 2014 so far. First up was the TDC mvat in mondello, probably my favourite event of the year, its great ot have parts of the track to use, tests are great fun and all in one location, its just simply a super event. Ended up in the middle of the field, the weather and the tests didn’t really suit the escort, but I just love it for the fun factor (and the amount of hang time around the long corners) After that it was the TDC’s mvat in Wicklow, and I have to say the best mvat I have ever done hands down. It was based around the forests and farm lands around Wicklow, many of the tests shortened down versions of what we experienced in the TDC endurance in 2012. With 18 tests, about 90% of which was on the loose – gravel, mud, pine needles, all the fun stuff! It was absolutely brilliant. The escort performed faultlessly all day, and drove home after. Trusty crossflow got terrible abuse, and just keeps taking it again and again. After a fail, a few penalties and major f-ups on my part (yes I blamed the navigator :cool: I ended up 11th overall, 4th in class so happy enough. Had an absolute ball, it really is the best form of budget motorsport out there by a long shot in my opinion. Going back into the workshop for some development and tweaks before the next event, a pad and disk upgrade in definitely on the cards, an anti-dive kit, and a few other bits and pieces. Some great pics from the day thanks to peespeed photography After a great outing at the TDC event, we had JJ’s charity Mvat, another annual and fantastic event. The weather was warm dry and dusty, a good combination for most cars, but this event has quite a lot of grippy tarmac and concrete tests, leaving my arms simply hanging by the end of the day and a pulled a muscle in my back. Enough was enough, for this form a sport a quick rack without power steering is not a go-er. So hopefully for the next event at the end of august il have that sorted. This event didn’t start the best for me, half way through the second test 20ft from the finish the throttle cable snapped. As the car runs on bike cars and the how tight the setup is, changing it is an absolute pig. Anyway we pushed the car over to the corner of that test and managed to get it working somewhat, but it was never right, it had 3 positions, idle, half throttle, and full throttle…sometimes. So with test 2 failed, test 3 a disaster trying to get it setup, we decided to write off the day from a results point of view, and spend the day having fun and going as sideways as possible :lindenvillage: We ended up dead last, due to a heap of unnecessary donunts in many of the tests and basically acting the maggot, which I think the spectators enjoys anyway, as we very much did. My rear tyres didn’t thank me though! Great day was had by all. Next up, Declans Mvat 31 st of august!
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Another small update, I said I may keep this going for my own records if nothing else So the most recent event was Sunday just gone, Declans charity Multi-venue – a renound event on the Calendar, known especially for great tests, craic, burgers and sausages. Just before leaving my house at 7.45, nice and shiny! Many backroaders were in attendance which made for good fun on and between the tests – the banter was mighty! First test was in Declans yard, a short fun test around the ground of the farmhouse, most of us got through without mishaps, some were not so lucky The power steering conversion is an absolute god send, I don’t know how I managed without it. It’s a fantastic addition to the car, especially for the throws, and quick change of direction, I was really enjoying it. Second test was a fantastic test around another farm yard, with a great mixture of everything – tight parts/open parts/ nice throws/wet/dry/slippy/gravel/sh1te/concrete. It started well but then went a bit pear shaped for me, I followed last year’s route in my brain and went a bit wrong, but got back on track quickly. Came to the finish jumped on the brakes and BANG, handbrake was wedged against the dash and my foot went to the floor and I overshot the finish. Not good. I thought my day was run at this stage as I didn’t know what had actually happened. I was raging it was all over at the second test. I limped to rathsalagh house for the next test to find piers as we had only been discussing a very similar issue happening to him that morning. He gladly had a look (thanks piers!) and we found that the circlip that holds the piston rod in had snapped clean out. Luckily the dash had stopped the whole lot from shooting out of the master cylinder. I’ve a lot of experience (sadly) with repairing old cars on the roadside with limited resources so after a bit of head scratching I decided to use the small ratchet strap I had holding the spare wheels down to hold the bits back into the handbrake which would be strapped in by the lever. Top my surprise, it worked and I had a decent foot pedal, but no handbrake. Still, I was delighted I could continue on and have some fun! I had the mechanical handbrake still attached which was curse word at best, non existent on grippy stuff but it helped on the slippy throws so all was not lost. From then on we had a blast and as much fun as we could, I really just love getting old cars out and using them to have fun! on the way to a test The rest of the day went relatively ok with some great test around loads of different farm yards, cattle sheds, sandpits and some farm lanes thrown in for good measure, these were great! Fast forward to the afternoon when we got to one of the annual tests in a farm yard but someone apparently left a hose running which soaked the already slippy concrete in water and sh!te. Ronnie G requested a show and called me out, so I had to do my best on this one. Sustained some damage by clouting a bank on the way back round the back by being a bit too enthusiastic, but had so much fun and got a round of applause at the end so it was worth it ! As always thanks to peespeed for the fantastic pics Back home for some well needed TLC and prep for the Birr endurance in a few weeks’ time. Looking forward to that!
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Why you always bring me junk!
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So so awesome, good to see it's transformation from what it was into what is it now. Always nice to see a Mk2 doing what it does best, looks the business too!
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thanks! its really great fun using a a road car for club motorsport, there is always something to do and develop, and then you can test it before the next event on the way to the shops!
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Missed this before, but bookmarked so I don't again.
Great thread and, as others have said, fantastic to see the Escort being properly used. Please keep the updates coming.
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Love the build and love the pics. BUT, Don´t like you driving without a helmet Naughty you. You are going so fast and just a little mistake or tech failure and your head banging to your roll cage and you are done. Nobody wants that here. And, to put matters even more important, you have a passenger too. You are responsible for that life too. You know this. Have seen many many newspaper feeds, where boi racers have crashed and hit their head to roll cages and died on that spot. don't be that statistic number in sad news. Drive safe and stay safe in your fast moving Scort. Looking good mate. Cheers
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Ford Capri Mk3 -79 2.9EFI turbo, summer ride Ford Sierra 4x4 STW aka "GABy", winter ride Kawasaki ZX14 Project 2.9 EFI engine for the Sierra 4x4.
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Thanks guys!
@hesu, I know what your saying, but all those photos which I don't have a helmet are multi venue autotests, not allowed helmets in autotests!! The only time we would be going quick would be wide open quarries etc, everywhere else is tight 1st /2nd gear stuff , it's very safe and as we are strapped in its impossible to hit the cage
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Lopez
East Midlands
Posts: 867
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Road rallies in the UK are the same - you aren't allowed to wear a helmet.
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Did not know that. To a foreigner this one safety feature. Or the lack of it, sounds crazy. even if you drive lower speeds, it is one thing I would not compromise.
Here in Finland all motorsport related stuff is strictly helmet only stuff. Even car orientation.
Anyways,
Looks like fun, and Scort is flying.
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Ford Capri Mk3 -79 2.9EFI turbo, summer ride Ford Sierra 4x4 STW aka "GABy", winter ride Kawasaki ZX14 Project 2.9 EFI engine for the Sierra 4x4.
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Nov 12, 2014 17:22:15 GMT
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the problem is, alot of it is on public roads, and its not run under rally regulations, so you cant wear a helmet. to be honest i wouldnt mind it, wouldnt bother me but thats the rules! thanks!
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
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Nov 12, 2014 17:43:38 GMT
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This is awesome! I love how you barely mention restoring the car, prepping it for rallying and rebuilding the engine, as if it were just mundane stuff Keep posting sideways pictures, you're giving everyone naughty ideas I'm sure.
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This is awesome! I love how you barely mention restoring the car, prepping it for rallying and rebuilding the engine, as if it were just mundane stuff Keep posting sideways pictures, you're giving everyone naughty ideas I'm sure. cheers clement ! well its pretty much mundane stuff for me because i do it so often thanks for the comments, i will for sure, next event is around christmas day after boxing day, so ive a bit of work to do before then. Instead of a sierra 5 speed I'm going to install an rx8 6speed, so hopefully i can get that finished before then!
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Nov 13, 2014 19:22:18 GMT
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Whats involved in fitting the 6 speed box?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using proboards
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Nov 16, 2014 12:36:02 GMT
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not alot more than the type9 (considering) biggest issue is the adapter plate, that no body i know of makes a production item as yet, so il have to machine one myself. clutch is the same as a type 9, so is the output shaft, but i plan to use an RX8 carbon prop, with an adapter to the diff. its smaller than a type9 so no tunnel mods, custom gearbox x-member, it has a hydraulic clutch, so you'll need to convert it to mechanical or install a master cylinder
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Nov 16, 2014 13:16:13 GMT
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Just came across this thread. Enjoyed the read, nice to see a four door for a change doing it's stuff and better again on a modest budget. Bookmarked, looking forward to updates.
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Nov 16, 2014 18:13:21 GMT
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Cheers mate appreciate it, today I got rid of the cheap buckets, they were a pain in the (literally) on long events, so while I'm on the lookout for a set of retro period one piece buckets I put my minty ghia seats in, what a joy it is to drive on the road now!
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Nov 30, 2014 17:24:10 GMT
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Great Thread and pics Have a Mk2 in the garage (long term project ) a couple of Chevette hatches (equally long term projects ) and a Citreon AX GTI which I use on Grass Autotests Auto Solo's and this year did our first Targa Rally which I think is similar to what you do Keep the reports coming Ian O
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Nov 28, 2016 22:15:59 GMT
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So after the last multivenue, it was time to pull the box back out again to sort out the 5th gear and also sort out the slipping clutch. I also had a bit of work to do on the rear suspension, with some modifications to do to the leaf spring mounts and replace all the leaf spring bushes and tramp bar bushes. Its incredible how some hard use jut makes absolute sh!te out of bushes in no time. These are less than a year old. I also had a number of other fiddly jobs to do like modify the accelerator pedal, make a new sump guard mounting system direct to the chassis legs, and a million other things. I pulled the box out and found there was a pin had slipped out no more than 1 mm out of the shaft stopping it from slotting into 5th. With that sorted, I went and got the flywheel faced, and a new clutch, and popped it back in. I say popped, it was more like a load of huffing, puffing, struggling, etc. it is one heavy beasht with a cast iron bellhousing lying on your back. So with all that done, I had a 5th gear, a good clutch, I was ready to go to Last event really of the year for me was the highly anticipated Birr Motor Club endurance trial 2015. I had been really looking forward to this event for a long time after hearing the selective the COC had planned. 95% on the loose, and most of it on forest tracks where their forestry rally takes place during the year. It was going to be epic, couldn’t sleep the night before thinking about it, and it didn’t disappoint one bit. The selective route: We loaded up the night before and headed for Birr Sunday morning. Weather was perfect, calm dry and mild. After one or two small issues at scrutiny we were ready for a day of unbelievable fun on the forest tracks of county Offaly. The selectives were absolutely incredible, they were around 6km long of pure forestry rally roads, with chicanes, stop marshalls and code boards thrown in to keep the speeds within regulation and keep the navigators on their toes. I was really hoping for a good result this time as this was my type of event, open tests, no reversing, just across the selective. I knew the lack of grunt would hamper me somewhat on this event, being only 100bhp or so and very little torque meant id have to wring the old girls neck quite a bit. We started off well, second fastest in class on test 1 and 2, pipped to the post be piers both times – test 3 we were fastest in class so it was going great. We were in the top ten overall each test which was great for the old escort, we were loving the tests and swinging the escort through the forest bends like it was the 76 RAC, it was fantastic fun. I love this sequence of photos from speedy: Naturally given my luck, on test 6 it all went to pot, when I burst 3 tyres on the one test! This was a re-run of selective 1, so I had an idea of the lay of the land so planned on a full attack. About a minute into the selective I was waved down by a marshall signalling a rear puncture after firing her into a hairpin left. Balls. I pulled in, dived out to get it changed, only noticing when I got out the DS front was burst too! Double balls. I got both wheels changed and back on the road in 3.50 seconds which I’m pretty chuffed with. We landed at the end of the test only to find we hand another puncture. This extra 4 mins pretty much put us completely out of the running for a good top ten finish which was really disappointing. Regardless though, we were having great craic, and after a good afternoon run despite a bad misfire rearing its head we managed to take the class 5 win and bring the escort back in one piece. I was delighted to finally get a class win, my first in the escort. So now it’s back into the workshop for some winter development, get it ready for the INTBD possibly or failing that, mondello MVAT as there are many developments in the pipeline.
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Nov 28, 2016 22:16:44 GMT
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So i had planned to get tons done over the Christmas break, but through one thing and another i get very little time in the workshop with so much other stuff going on. I had planned to build the bottom end first, however I immediately ran into a snag. I installed the new bearings into the block and prepped with super sticky lucas assembly lube. carefully i lowered the crank down and immediately noticed something was not right, the crank was jammed. i knew pretty much straight away what the problem was and so couldn’t go any further. the bearings for the XE have integrated thrust bearings as part of the main centre bearing - most engines of this vintage and older have separate main bearings and thrust bearings. when supplying .25mm undersize bearings, the bearing company to cover all angles also oversize the thrust faces also. naturally the machinist didn’t know this and I wouldn’t really expect him to, so sh!t happens. when i mic'd the bearings and the crank, the bearings were about 0.17mm wider than the crank. The solution is to get the crank machined to accept the new thrust clearance. So with that on hold, turned my attention to the top end and got cracking on that. I had previously sent away my cosworth version head away to get some work done including: Chemically cleaned Pressure tested Skimmed New valve guides Recut valve seats The head also needs some modifications done to suit RWD arrangement, the mods needed are: cut the rear cam cap, and corresponding distributor recess to allow the engine to sit back at the bulkhead. i was able to cut the cam cap in the band saw, but the head was too big to get into the saw, so i had to go good oul manual on it. Yes i was sweating bullets afterwards. Once this is done the exhaust cam then protrudes out as it drives the dizzy through the hole in the head. to solve this the end of the exhaust cam need to be cut off and a blanking plug made to go in the last cam bearing which is now unused. i turned up a nice aluminium plug on the lathe to fit snugly in the head. as the oil gallery for cam lubrication goes down the centre of the cam, there is not a gaping hole where i cut the cam in half. i tapped this as well and blocked it off with a bolt and loctite. Just under this there is a small oil hole which lubricates the dizzy shaft - i simply tapped this and put in a grub screw with loctite. the final mod was one i came up with myself as everyone i had talked to said plug it and make do without a heater. this wasn’t an option for me so i set about an alternative. on the XE the water outlet for the heater exits directly out of the side of the head - fine in FWD but obviously butts up against the bulkhead in RWD. So, i sent my dad off on a hunting exercise to find something i could work with. in the end we found the perfect solution. I got a tight 90deg brass fitting that looked like it would fit the head with some fettling. i got a plumbers tap, and tapped the head the same as the brass fitting. i modified the threads so the fitting would end up in the place i needed it to. Add a bit of JB weld to the threads, and that’s not coming out without a fight. After all the mods were done, it was back to building up the head. i send about 5-6 hours lapping in the valves to ensure a perfect seat. Previous to this i had cleaned and machined the valves on the lathe to ensure a perfect finish and any small pitting removed. Once the new valve stem oil seals were installed, i popped in the valves, springs, retainers etc and finally the lifters. the cams were last to go it again with lucas assembly lube. the head is now ready to go on once i get the crank back and build up the bottom end. in the meantime i still have lots to do: Strip the new oil pump, check for imperfections, deburr edges and polish where necessary Unfortunately after getting so deep into this project there is no way I'm going to be able to get the car finished for mondello in time, its simply not possible without rushing the whole thing. Over the next few days i have to decide whether to go to all the effort of putting the 1600 back in again for the next event or two or leave it and do something else. I'm raging as its the one event of the whole year i love to have the escort out for. Decisions!
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Why you always bring me junk!
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Nov 28, 2016 22:18:00 GMT
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Why you always bring me junk!
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