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Feb 27, 2024 23:52:13 GMT
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gosh I was one of the very first people in the day on here I recall Sam maybe I could be wrong setting it up anyway I can't be bothered with Facebook anymore here I hope to connect with some like minded brothers I've been slowly rebuilding my old mk1 escort special saloon I raced it in 2011 it's been slow due to my health ill not go into that. runs a v8 not much room for big manifolds so I wanted to space frame the front more car was already done in 1978 by my dad an his best mate Maurice lyon car weighed 804kg with me and a full tank but we need more power or less weight I decided to just go for it 2 years ago seemed up the shell fitted better plates an strengthen the chassis up but I've decided to put a serious cage in there there's not much escort left as the roofs been moulded and gonna be chopped off both doors are fibreglass boot is front is one peice fibreglass and the rear arches an quarter are fibreglass.. am hopefully soon gonna get on to the roll cage engines been moved back 10" behind the front wheel this is what my dad wanted to do in 1989 maybe more or less weight than before but chassi will be very strong in 2011 I could catch up to the front half times have moved on there around 700 horses now an less weight bit by bit I'll keep putting the progress up it's good to browse through here and still see people are still passionate about there cars I'll try put more pictures up my phone keeps rejecting up more than one photo I'll try figure it out an show you more cheers lee  |
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Feb 27, 2024 23:57:40 GMT
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Welcome Lee
And what an amazing project you have there, which is an understatement of the century.
I would love to know more about the history of the car and pictures.
I can't wait for updates and have bookmarked this build.
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thanks buddy hope to get back on it soon health has been biggest slow points ive gotta bend cage bars weld them in ive tonnes of videos to edit put on youtube just not managed find a decent editing software i had one but now after an update its too difficult to understand its all gone mad lol ..
ive got majority of it done ready to put door x bars rear x brace front section welded across everything in I love doing it working on cars welding building stuff making fibreglass an carbon stuff was my business cars is all I know an breathe for
last time I restored it was in 2009 when we got it back i restored it to how my dad an Maurice had it in the 80s.
but now it's going how I want it modern parts with the reliability but with respect of its original roots still keeping the same colour scheme
been looking forward to getting back on it got a few days before I can my dad's still helping when he can my sons 18 he's been helping when he can he was 4 when I built it up last time an raced it which is good there both apart of it not to mention theres alot too do 😂
here is a video off my YouTube below
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What a machine. A little bit more radical than my mk1. Looking forward to the progress
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Wow! Amazing. What engine does it have?
Do you have any videos of it running/racing?
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Feb 28, 2024 10:13:46 GMT
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I love that car.
Its beautiful.
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Feb 28, 2024 11:16:31 GMT
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I took this photo of it at Oulton Park in the late 80s, always loved that car!  |
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Feb 28, 2024 17:38:45 GMT
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Wow,
looking forward to this
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Feb 29, 2024 16:40:09 GMT
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hi everyone sorry for the late reply not been so well I love that picture of it can't thank you enough I love seeing pics of it when dad an Maurice lyon was racing it. the engine is a rover v8 with everything that you can possibly do to it solid lifters dry sump has a mildish cam at moment has Chevrolet modified shell bearings adjustable nascar type push rods has biggest valves what fit in the rover heads its got alsorts dynod 381bhp with 401lbs of torque was built by Paul speakman of engine tekniks Westhoughton I had a John eagles engine it was curse word compared to the one Paul made I noticed the difference was unbelievable it kicked back like mad I managed to get from back of the grid after not qualifying to 4th place at the 2011 special saloon revival it over heated I had to pull over half way through it was not very happy or stable there's more to it I thought... I since know why after stripping it down chassi was damaged peter Thurston who used to own the car had a couple of bad smashes with it the repairs what was done didn't last so well chassi cracked in several places and basically it was just tired an needed to be all replaced so that's what I did should be alot better now I've been doing everything in a normal bit bigger than single garage am not rich just a normal bloke with years of accident repair mechanical an race car building an general car work experience behind me just at moment very slow work due to an accident my healths letting me down taking longer than expected but I'll fight through it an conquer bit by bit as we all know its hard work an hours to do what we like but there's nothing else what I like in life but cars it's certainly kept me sain throughout . am gonna try upload a video later to YouTube of the cars start an process of becoming a supersaloon now fully space framed thanks everyone lee      |
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Feb 29, 2024 17:29:09 GMT
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Look forward to updates! That last pic is amazing, because not only do I have a pic of your car from back in the day but of 73JAB too!  Not sure exactly when but probably the same year, I'll have to work it out some time. Can't wait to see more! |
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Feb 29, 2024 21:55:46 GMT
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I showed it Phil price who I was battling in the 911 there I just sent it too him he sent back oh the good old days I have to admit they truly was open pipes less global warming bs an fuel was not a kidney for 5 litres am trying get the car out before the elite decide to make fuel 50 quid a litre an ruin racing for us all not really had much chance get out there yet
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That thing is amazing!
So cool to see old racers that have not only survived, but are still being developed and improved.
Love the shot with the matching Transit race van. I remember seeing loads of repurposed ambulances when I was younger!
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I was 4 years old last time I saw the transit of my dad's was a v6 he said never saw it again I used to sleep in the back of it an also hide as the escort scared me with it being like lion rawring bark I'd hide in the back of it 😂..
am hoping get back on it soon the car just got out of hospital in again on 15th 🙄 be end of the month or so before I feel better an get back on it I hope
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Wild Lee!
This reminds me of the Zakspeed Fords and the mad BMW CS cars.
Will the engine have a refresh too? Looking forward to the updates mate, and good luck with your health.
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Lee,
That is a beautiful car,
Struggling to find enough superlatives for it,
Definitely in for the long run and, obviously, Bookmarked,
Nigel
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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Mar 13, 2024 10:07:48 GMT
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Wild Lee! This reminds me of the Zakspeed Fords and the mad BMW CS cars. Will the engine have a refresh too? Looking forward to the updates mate, and good luck with your health. thanks buddy its only done one or 2 races since the last outing I kept a stock of the filters an oil's need a good check over an it should be good to go I used to take filters off and change the oils after every race anyway checked the oil last time it was like new Paul speakman of engine tekniks Westhoughton did an amazing job on it such a strong powerful engine 381hp 401lbs of torque without wildcat or ta heads maybe it's just how he did it but I noticed the difference between the one he did to the eales engine was like when you take a heavy trailer off your it feels like it's just so much better am making some aluminium exhaust manifolds for it get the weight down |
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Mar 13, 2024 10:16:35 GMT
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Lee, That is a beautiful car, Struggling to find enough superlatives for it, Definitely in for the long run and, obviously, Bookmarked, Nigel cheers nigel it looked better in 2009 it shined😂 I've been working on some ideas with the airo not changing the whole thing but making it perform better without looking like the rest of the mk1s and making it harder looking I've come up with a fantastic idea after doing work for lots of teams and people talking reading and watching stuff I've come across a loop hole in the racing rules and it's possible that I could make up for the lack off power compared to the rest it's all top secret though but I guarantee that everyone will love the way it's gonna look too |
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Darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,699
Club RR Member Number: 39
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Mar 13, 2024 17:30:12 GMT
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.... am making some aluminium exhaust manifolds for it get the weight down It will be interesting to know how that works out. I would have thought that to get it strong enough to not crack or melt it would be near the same weight as a Steel cast iron one. |
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Last Edit: Mar 13, 2024 17:36:51 GMT by Darkspeed
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.... am making some aluminium exhaust manifolds for it get the weight down It will be interesting to know how that works out. I would have thought that to get it strong enough to not crack or melt it would be near the same weight as a Steel cast iron one. I made one years ago on a friend's car it lalasted a while on a lightweight Caterham type thing I've not seen him to ask him if it lasted but racing has alot more heat stress and cycles than a road car I've taken that into account but it can only be trial and error with anything I suppose |
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