Been on another forum asking about rally car projects, and a lad called chris has been on the thread, not talking about a rally car, but about his service vehicle.
Think its a Mkii escort he has, and also he has a granny estate.
But
He also has a Mkii transit....................... V6
so if you are interested, ill post the pics and the coments Chris makes on here, i have asked his perission to do so, so ill keep you posted!
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It's a Mk2 with an Essex in it, obviously some are conversions carried out after orginal sale, but Ford did do them also.
The ones Ford did make, like the one we have, were done by special operations for the works teams and emergency services. Brief history as far as we know, was built originally with a V4 Engine (yes that should say V4) which was turbocharged and used by Ford Motorsport, info on the V4 Turbo and motorsport use was given to me by special operations themselves. At various points it was then used by Mike Taylor Developments and RED, it was also a service barge for Ken Ridley who had the Post Office Sierra (which is why I was trying to contact him as I wanted photos of the van when he was using it). From there ownership of it is a little bit unsure.
It was reshelled then ultimately ended up sitting in a barn for a long time under the ownership of Craig Curry near Berwick whom we bought the van from.
I have it on authority from Colin Sakeld (on here as slacknuts) that the van is good for 130mph. In my limited experience of driving it, it is fast as f**k and can be made to go very sideways. It is a high compresion Essex so revs very well.
A little long winded there, however that is pretty much all I know so far. I am waiting on a replacement Special Operations plate from Ford as the original was taken off the van at some point (I assume when it was reshelled) and some photos they have of the van on duty with Motorsport.
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Some pics to get started, all of the manky bits are still to be done. Hell of a lot of work to be done still.
I'll try and get some more recent ones taken when I get a chance.
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The shell has never been welded, it was reshelled around 6 years ago (we think as not sure on exactly when) then sat in storage after that.
Preparation is taking some doing, theory being that as the shell was so good if it is prepared right then has several cwt of Waxoyl applied is should last us.
Engine wise, just putting it back together as it was. The engine had already had some work carried out on it in the past. For starters it isn't exactly a 3.0 Essex, more 3 and a bit. Only major change we are making is a steel timing gear (as the old fibre tooth ones can strip) and a new carb (well new-ish, it's one I had in stock which has larger chokes/jets than the one on the van).
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Actually got some more work done on the van today.
New timing gear, water pump and dizzy etc. attached. Cylinder heads back on, all timed up and tappets adjusted etc. and sump pan back on.
No work on the wiring as yet, rocker covers back from being chromed on Tuesday so they will be back on and wiring sorted ready for starting it up.
Then just the rest of the list to do.
Steel timing gear, please note the bin bag was to stop moisture going in, not a build option.
Engine with covers and heads etc. back on, inlet manifold was on purely for photographic purposes, a different one will be used due to the carb change.
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Rockers and servo attached today, just the rest to go now.
Avto, you got anywhere with the carb situation yet?
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A huge pit into which to throw the small remainder of money I have left. Once the van is sorted it's Escort build time, then the huge pit will probably end of filled with some little bits of plastic on top of the monet.
Anyway back in reality simple case of if it is done right now it means it doesn't have to be redone later. It may only be a van but think it is worth it, more than likely the closest I will ever get to owning a works Ford.
Think its a Mkii escort he has, and also he has a granny estate.
But
He also has a Mkii transit....................... V6
so if you are interested, ill post the pics and the coments Chris makes on here, i have asked his perission to do so, so ill keep you posted!
---
It's a Mk2 with an Essex in it, obviously some are conversions carried out after orginal sale, but Ford did do them also.
The ones Ford did make, like the one we have, were done by special operations for the works teams and emergency services. Brief history as far as we know, was built originally with a V4 Engine (yes that should say V4) which was turbocharged and used by Ford Motorsport, info on the V4 Turbo and motorsport use was given to me by special operations themselves. At various points it was then used by Mike Taylor Developments and RED, it was also a service barge for Ken Ridley who had the Post Office Sierra (which is why I was trying to contact him as I wanted photos of the van when he was using it). From there ownership of it is a little bit unsure.
It was reshelled then ultimately ended up sitting in a barn for a long time under the ownership of Craig Curry near Berwick whom we bought the van from.
I have it on authority from Colin Sakeld (on here as slacknuts) that the van is good for 130mph. In my limited experience of driving it, it is fast as f**k and can be made to go very sideways. It is a high compresion Essex so revs very well.
A little long winded there, however that is pretty much all I know so far. I am waiting on a replacement Special Operations plate from Ford as the original was taken off the van at some point (I assume when it was reshelled) and some photos they have of the van on duty with Motorsport.
----
Some pics to get started, all of the manky bits are still to be done. Hell of a lot of work to be done still.
I'll try and get some more recent ones taken when I get a chance.
---
The shell has never been welded, it was reshelled around 6 years ago (we think as not sure on exactly when) then sat in storage after that.
Preparation is taking some doing, theory being that as the shell was so good if it is prepared right then has several cwt of Waxoyl applied is should last us.
Engine wise, just putting it back together as it was. The engine had already had some work carried out on it in the past. For starters it isn't exactly a 3.0 Essex, more 3 and a bit. Only major change we are making is a steel timing gear (as the old fibre tooth ones can strip) and a new carb (well new-ish, it's one I had in stock which has larger chokes/jets than the one on the van).
---
Actually got some more work done on the van today.
New timing gear, water pump and dizzy etc. attached. Cylinder heads back on, all timed up and tappets adjusted etc. and sump pan back on.
No work on the wiring as yet, rocker covers back from being chromed on Tuesday so they will be back on and wiring sorted ready for starting it up.
Then just the rest of the list to do.
Steel timing gear, please note the bin bag was to stop moisture going in, not a build option.
Engine with covers and heads etc. back on, inlet manifold was on purely for photographic purposes, a different one will be used due to the carb change.
---
Rockers and servo attached today, just the rest to go now.
Avto, you got anywhere with the carb situation yet?
---
A huge pit into which to throw the small remainder of money I have left. Once the van is sorted it's Escort build time, then the huge pit will probably end of filled with some little bits of plastic on top of the monet.
Anyway back in reality simple case of if it is done right now it means it doesn't have to be redone later. It may only be a van but think it is worth it, more than likely the closest I will ever get to owning a works Ford.