My Converted 2wd Escort Cosworth
09-07-2008, 03:42 PM
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My Converted 2wd Escort Cosworth
Hi
Thought it be about time to post up some info about my Escort.
I have been the proud owner for about 3 years of a then stage 3 Escos, at the time I hadn't much plans for the car as I spent 95% of my savings to buy her.
Basically she started out (in my ownership) as a stage 3, T34, BD14 inlet cam, black injectors, 3 bar map sensor, 330mm fronts, 300mm conversion on the back - just the usual stuff.
The first six months of ownership proved difficult, as with the car being an early "K" plater, age related symptoms kept coming and going - such as brake sliders sticking, wiring loom falling to pieces, bushes dieing etc etc. But such small problems didn't phase me at all.
After a year or so I got to know quite a few local RS owners thru the previous owner and they helped me out immensely with info on how to fix the car and make it better.
As time plodded on, and a few RWYB at Santa Pod went buy, I was getting disappointed with the times I was getting (high 13's being my best) This was due to the gearbox starting to give up the ghost in third.
So I started to save up and spend some money - turned out to be lots of money.....
I got a standard gearbox second hand, got it checked over and fitted, bought every Samco hose available, all the Bailey header tanks, swirl pot etc. Group A coil, large K&N air filter, and got a few bits and bobs powder coated. The list went on, but under the bonnet looked ace.
So after a much liked and relatively trouble free 2006, I turned my had to increasing the performance. Basically bigger turbo and a good remap. I decided to change the T34 for a T38 and use a 2wd manifold instead, also an increased in size plenum chamber was acquired and fitted.
I then booked the car into Norris Motorsport for a remap, but before it went down, Karl advised me to change the fueling system to that of an 044 pump and swirl pot, so I did this before the car went down to him. I put all the pump, filter and swirl pot in a stainless box in the boot and used aeroquip fittings thru out. A 003 pump was used as a lifter pump from the tank to the swirl pot.
As of February this year, the car went to Norris Motorsport for a live remapping. The ECU was changed to an L8, the injectors where changed to some 55lb Siemens dekka ones and the gearbox blew its tits out. Fortunately my spare had been rebuilt, so I shipped that down to Karl's so he could finish the mapping.
Two weeks the car was fantastic on its new setup. Smooth, great boost curve, full boost by 3800. So I now had a 4x4 Escort Cosworth with T38 running peak 33psi hold 30psi - I was very happy, until one week later and bang there goes another gearbox.
No I was fed up again. I could not be doing with this problem with the gearbox. So, knowing AJC well and seeing what he was doing with his Monte and chatting with a few other people, I then decided to go down the other route and 2wd the car instead of spending thousands and thousands that I haven't got.
So he's the plan, buy everything to 2wd the car, simple. EBay was a great help in this cause and I soon had everything need to make the conversion work. And I soon had a complete 2wd Saph rear end.
But I wanted more than that, I wanted it to look mint underneath. So off went the beam, arms roll bar shafts for powder coating and it cam back looking like this:-
From this (OK this is a pick of the old 7" beam - but you get the idea)
To this (Saph 7.5" complete rear end)
Call me a fruit cake if you like - but I had to be different with the white beam and arms.
This was them bolted into the car using solid mounts and a group A diff carrier
In the car
Solid Beam Mounts
Group A Diff carrier (sadly the diff case was damaged - but I have a spare for when the time comes)
I also had the 2wd sump to fit which went on without any bother or modifying of the oil pump etc
A week later, my T5 gearbox had come back from its check up and that was fitted to, a small bracket had to be fabricated to allow the gearbox cradle to mount to the car. The cradle was where the transfer box was on the old MT75.
A 2wd prop was shortened by 57mm exactly and was fitted without hassle. This was done at North West Prop shafts which is only round the corner from me.
I had a concern over the front end, as what to do with the front hubs. If I changed to the 2wd setup I would have to change my brakes, but if i left the out CV joint in the 4x4 hub (like the MGF) I could still use the brake setup I have on the front of the car. This was the plan and in all honesty this small matter of fact doesn't really bother me.
This then allowed me to buy a set of 4x4 AVO coil-overs
These where fitted with the standard springs for the time being, and so far they feel fine.
Its been two weeks since I have converted the car, and i must admit it is without doubt the best thing I have ever done.
The car handles just as well as when it was 4wd, it is also a lot faster as it has less transmission losses, and you have the added bonus of going properly sideways - which i am currently learning how to do. its bad enough going sideways in a straight line, let alone in corners lol
Whats next - well hopefully in the next week I'll be placing an order on a Quaife ATB and getting the car rolling roaded to see what benefits I have gained for the experience.
All comments and question welcome - like I said - I just wanted to share the experiance with you all.
Thought it be about time to post up some info about my Escort.
I have been the proud owner for about 3 years of a then stage 3 Escos, at the time I hadn't much plans for the car as I spent 95% of my savings to buy her.
Basically she started out (in my ownership) as a stage 3, T34, BD14 inlet cam, black injectors, 3 bar map sensor, 330mm fronts, 300mm conversion on the back - just the usual stuff.
The first six months of ownership proved difficult, as with the car being an early "K" plater, age related symptoms kept coming and going - such as brake sliders sticking, wiring loom falling to pieces, bushes dieing etc etc. But such small problems didn't phase me at all.
After a year or so I got to know quite a few local RS owners thru the previous owner and they helped me out immensely with info on how to fix the car and make it better.
As time plodded on, and a few RWYB at Santa Pod went buy, I was getting disappointed with the times I was getting (high 13's being my best) This was due to the gearbox starting to give up the ghost in third.
So I started to save up and spend some money - turned out to be lots of money.....
I got a standard gearbox second hand, got it checked over and fitted, bought every Samco hose available, all the Bailey header tanks, swirl pot etc. Group A coil, large K&N air filter, and got a few bits and bobs powder coated. The list went on, but under the bonnet looked ace.
So after a much liked and relatively trouble free 2006, I turned my had to increasing the performance. Basically bigger turbo and a good remap. I decided to change the T34 for a T38 and use a 2wd manifold instead, also an increased in size plenum chamber was acquired and fitted.
I then booked the car into Norris Motorsport for a remap, but before it went down, Karl advised me to change the fueling system to that of an 044 pump and swirl pot, so I did this before the car went down to him. I put all the pump, filter and swirl pot in a stainless box in the boot and used aeroquip fittings thru out. A 003 pump was used as a lifter pump from the tank to the swirl pot.
As of February this year, the car went to Norris Motorsport for a live remapping. The ECU was changed to an L8, the injectors where changed to some 55lb Siemens dekka ones and the gearbox blew its tits out. Fortunately my spare had been rebuilt, so I shipped that down to Karl's so he could finish the mapping.
Two weeks the car was fantastic on its new setup. Smooth, great boost curve, full boost by 3800. So I now had a 4x4 Escort Cosworth with T38 running peak 33psi hold 30psi - I was very happy, until one week later and bang there goes another gearbox.
No I was fed up again. I could not be doing with this problem with the gearbox. So, knowing AJC well and seeing what he was doing with his Monte and chatting with a few other people, I then decided to go down the other route and 2wd the car instead of spending thousands and thousands that I haven't got.
So he's the plan, buy everything to 2wd the car, simple. EBay was a great help in this cause and I soon had everything need to make the conversion work. And I soon had a complete 2wd Saph rear end.
But I wanted more than that, I wanted it to look mint underneath. So off went the beam, arms roll bar shafts for powder coating and it cam back looking like this:-
From this (OK this is a pick of the old 7" beam - but you get the idea)
To this (Saph 7.5" complete rear end)
Call me a fruit cake if you like - but I had to be different with the white beam and arms.
This was them bolted into the car using solid mounts and a group A diff carrier
In the car
Solid Beam Mounts
Group A Diff carrier (sadly the diff case was damaged - but I have a spare for when the time comes)
I also had the 2wd sump to fit which went on without any bother or modifying of the oil pump etc
A week later, my T5 gearbox had come back from its check up and that was fitted to, a small bracket had to be fabricated to allow the gearbox cradle to mount to the car. The cradle was where the transfer box was on the old MT75.
A 2wd prop was shortened by 57mm exactly and was fitted without hassle. This was done at North West Prop shafts which is only round the corner from me.
I had a concern over the front end, as what to do with the front hubs. If I changed to the 2wd setup I would have to change my brakes, but if i left the out CV joint in the 4x4 hub (like the MGF) I could still use the brake setup I have on the front of the car. This was the plan and in all honesty this small matter of fact doesn't really bother me.
This then allowed me to buy a set of 4x4 AVO coil-overs
These where fitted with the standard springs for the time being, and so far they feel fine.
Its been two weeks since I have converted the car, and i must admit it is without doubt the best thing I have ever done.
The car handles just as well as when it was 4wd, it is also a lot faster as it has less transmission losses, and you have the added bonus of going properly sideways - which i am currently learning how to do. its bad enough going sideways in a straight line, let alone in corners lol
Whats next - well hopefully in the next week I'll be placing an order on a Quaife ATB and getting the car rolling roaded to see what benefits I have gained for the experience.
All comments and question welcome - like I said - I just wanted to share the experiance with you all.
09-07-2008, 03:57 PM
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Thanks Andy
I have been thinking of getting a different set of wheels for a while, but I haven't decided yet.
ST wing mirrors - I haven't looked into that yet, at the moment I'm concentrating on making the front end look standard again
I have been thinking of getting a different set of wheels for a while, but I haven't decided yet.
ST wing mirrors - I haven't looked into that yet, at the moment I'm concentrating on making the front end look standard again
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13-07-2008, 02:20 PM
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If you can get hold of a steal 3dr gearbox cradle, you may get away without making a bracket. I'm looking for one at the moment as I think it will work better than a 2wd alloy saph one.
oh and welcome to 2wd...............
22-09-2009, 07:39 PM
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i know this is an old post but what did you do with the breather pipe that goes to the sump on a 4x4 sump as the 2wd sump does not have the pipe work ? cheers rich
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