Has anyone ever tried making theEscort mk3/4 chassis stiffer by other means than fittting a roll cage? I'm not now talking about strut braces or seam welding, but something proper.
Some solutions I'm thinking about would be welding in full length chassis rails, instead of the separate rear and front rails (and 1.5 meters in between). Cabriolet side rails might be an option too, if they are available as spares or easy to fabricate. Welding strenghening box sections over or under the floor might also do the trick.

 

in the style of danny b's frame connectors?

 

I've seen some tubular frame connectors that only bolt on from the front and back. Don't quite like the design, but the idea is sound. Do you have any pictures to "Danny B's" versions?

Here are some rail connectors for a Mustang. This is more like it:
http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/sus...onnectors.html

 

I don't i'm afraid. Were you thinking of doing this yourself? It's something i've been wanting to do for a while.

Rick.

 

Yes, definately DIY. It's just the planning phase at the moment. There's no time to actually make it any time soon.

 

Surely the cage and strut braces would be enough. Unless you are planning on putting an american muscle engine in there

 

Let's not get too carried away, remember that one of the main plus-points of the RST is its measly weight.

If you add too much to it, you'll end up putting yourself in the same weight category as other better developed cars, so will take away from what the car actually is good for.

Thats my slant anyway.

 

Cage would definately work, but it's not an option for me.
I had a look at the mk3 chassis drawings yesterday and looked how they did it with the mk3 cabriolet. It doesn't have full length continous chassis rails either, but the sills are much deeper and have been reinforced.

 

seam welding the whole shell increases the ridgety by a fair amount.

 

you need some flex in the body or it will vibrate itself to bits

 

ive been tempted by the extra chassis rails on the sills of a cabby anyone know if they can be bought new as look difficult to replicate due to the shape of the floor, would make a good jacking point too!