I've compiled this build from a couple posts I have in another forum. Sorry if it seems out of place timeline wise but I've seen more Merkurs get in the mags over there and thought you'd like to see what we do over here in Canada.
I've owned this car for 16 years. Half of which it has been in my old garage or at a friend's shop getting some stuff done to it.
Basically it was a daily driver that I took autocrossing and to the occasional car show. I was in the hospital for back surgery and some thievin' bastards broke in and messed it up (badly). Then it was to be towed to my mate's shop for an insurance claim. Tow truck driver busted the RS wing off and wrecked the hatch. Nightmare.
Fast forward 8 years. Ugh. I've removed the suspension and lent to it a racer and can't get my suspension back. I also lent him 2 of my 17 inch compomotives for "wets" and they are on their way back to me. I'm planning on fitting Godfrey's front roll bar a strut setup but I'll have to modify the picture front bar mounts to fit them. the supplier of my suspension in the UK wont sell to US or CDN buyers due to possible litigation. Whatever.
Car has a rear beam, diff and brakes from a WRC recce Escort Cosworth. Nothing fancy. AVO coil overs all 'round. Front TCAs and uprights are from the same Escort. Brake calipers are as well but there are some mystery bell and discs that were fitted.
Engine has a lot of action going on, still only %90 assembled. Relocated alternator with new pulley setup. Would like to find a serpentine that would work with this getup though.
Interior is Sparco stuff. Wheel, pedals, seats, harnesses. Dash is going to get some gauges, servo operated brake bias on steering wheel, and some other toys - budget permitting.
Interior off to get painted/dyed black with a grey matching carpet/headliner/abcd pillars. That will make me happy.
So all this got moved to my new garage this week. Garage isn't fully setup. The lathe, welder, drill press, vises, polisher/grinder are all there now but not buttoned down. Storage is not sorted yet either.
The build is mostly done but I thought I'd add a build page here so document some of the finds/do and don't so that I can maybe help someone else out here. I'll try to update and include tutorials if I can. Or at least shots of what stuff looks like apart etc.
Why 3.0? 1.0 was stock plus my mods were a 500 wing, some urethane, springs, a boost knob, some other bits. Version 2.0 was the paint scheme you see here with no motor or suspension mods.
Version 3.0 is same paint (it will need some paint) plus all the suspension and motor mods. Rear brace etc. Needed a new front bumper as the old 500 one was getting long in the tooth. I'm not going to use the cage now and it is for sale.
Work from yesterday. Here is what a fender liner removed looks like with a bunch of goop in its place:
