I havn't posted much on this Forum but was thinking you may like the project im doing at the moment ? (this thread is also on T/S).

Okay this is Ronnie a mk3 Escort rwd, I've had this for over a year now and have only just got round to starting it, its a long road ahead but im finding it keeps my mind busy and i'm looking forward to the winter times in the garage.

This project is something ive been after for a long time now its a good start for me, the shell has been passed around the country over the last 10 years or more and no-one has yet got this car on the road since its conversion to RWD.

So where do I start and what's my plans ? well i'm going to fit a cosworth engine and box to it of course and keep the front running gear based on the mk2 escort.
*JOBS TO DO
*make gearbox tunnel bigger as it was designed for the type9 box and not the t5 cosworth
*Fit engine and box
*sort out a front cross member/engine mounts probably chassis mount now
*New wings Front panel
*roof skin
*sort out roll cage weld in place
*fuel tank
*brakes
And thats as far as I can think for now lol.

Cosworth rear axle setup linked up

Roll cage in and gearbox tunnel sadly this needs moding to fit the t5 box

Back in the garage after storage and being half way round the world lol ready to start .
First I attacked the wings as they need a fresh set, as you can see the front corners have been cut earlyer in its life this was to fit a 1700 turbo kit.




Okay so now the front panel and wings are off its time to offer the YB in.

It fits but its very close with the xmember/mounting the engine to it, so im now going to cut the mounts off and use a chassis mount kit.

By this time the engine has been in and out more times than ive had a cuppa.

Looks like a capri xmember fits good to the chassis also so does the steering rack as this is longer than the Escort type. just need to lob off the engine mounts now.

Engine back out and ready to mod the gearbox tunnel and play around with the x member/chassis mounts.

Started marking out the tunnel for cutting as i'm only removing the front section and about 9ich back, just to clear the clutch from and bellhousing etc.

Then cut the new fabrication g/box tunnel to bits as this was no way going to be a direct fit lol.
Welded the pieces of metal together and held in place with screws just to offer the engine in and see how it fits for now.

Well I now have plenty of room around the box and the clutch arm clears nice.
Got myself a new capri steering rack and offered up the xmemeber and it just clears the sump. wahhoo.
Next on the list is...weld the tunnel up fit engine (Again) and weld chassis mounts.
Modid and fitted xmember/steering rack, slotted engine in ready for chassis mount kit.

Just tacked in place for now will weld up properly when I remove the engine next.
Couldn't fit the eye bushes into the mount arms, as they are a press fit. (job for monday at work).
At least the engine is still sat in place, not on the floor..

 

it wiil very good when finished so good luck mate on the project

 

Cheers its good to get feedback on this Project.

 

Looking good mate

 

Keep them piccys coming,

I must admit, id love a Gartrac/ RWD cossied mk3 escort.

 

would love a rwd mk3 escort, keep up the good work mate

 

Gonna be fun

 

Looking great so far, wish I had the ability/funds/equipment for a project like this, keep the pics coming

 

 

Good looking project ,good luck with the build

 

 

looking goodkeep at it

 

Good job, keep up the good work !

 

No updates yet havn't had chance the last few weeks, to busy on my other project .
Update in the next few weeks cheers ReTro.

 

 

love it mate keep up the great work

 

Love it.

 

Box work on the front struts looks ace

 

nice project

 

 

looking good mate will be a nice motor when done

 

Looking good!

I like the rear end set up. Any more pictures?

 

Cheers Bud . yeah I got more pics to sort out but no updates yet lol.

 

nearly 4 months since last post, any progress dude? you makin this look like wennys? standard looker on simple wheels?

 

Hey mate yeah I know lol, its a winter project and ive let other things get in the way over this year.
Im going to start this again in a month or so and ive just Started to empty the garage out after the shell became a place to store parts .

Tbh im not sure on the look probably just simple as a 1.3 body with compo's etc, at the moment im heading towards just a track car but will see how it goes.

Thanks.

 

Coming along nicely

You beat me to it, I was just going to ask for some more pictures of the rear diff mount.

 

Yeah let me just check think I have a few more, give me a few mins.

 

Here you go .

 

looking good fella,

what hubs are they on the rear ??


beef

 

Cheers , as for the hubs they are the same bearings as a 2wd cosworth type but the caliper anchor bracket are smaller so im not sure what they are off any ideas.? I will be fitting new hubs/bearings anyway so probably going to fit the 2wd cosworth one's so I can upgrade the brakes.

 

fair play mate did you do the fab yourself? that diff aint goin anywhere in a hurry haha 1.6 ghia boot looks ace too

 

Most the fab work was done when I got it and its never been on the road since the conversion , apparently only two (including this one) idendical shells where made from the same fabricator and one is used as a rally car.
The axle was bolted in just need securing etc new bushes and recon the coilovers.
It was made to fit the Escort mk2 front struts, I got a nice pair of coilovers with Brembo calipers to go on.

 

Im using the escort mk2 uprated g/box mount with the weld in plates.

As you can see it was made for the smaller type9 5speed g/box.

With abit of cutting and a new tunnel the big t5 fits a treat, I have now droped it lower on spacer plates to clear the top of the g/box on the body.

 

never seen inside a t5 where the gearstick sits, cool.

on the 3rd pic up, it looks like the sumnp and gearbox sits quite low or is this normal?

 

Seen it on ts too just love a rwd mk3.

 

Yeah think the sump does sit lower that it should, but for now im just seeing how it all goes in, I will prob need to get it modified later .

 

d tbh i havent a clue ,

although if when u take them off you get a cpl pics up may be eaiser to see ,

from what i can see , theve modded the bottom of the shock to house a plate , then bolted the hub assembly to it ,

looks a simple and effective setup


keep up the progress mate

 

Cheers dude hope to crack on with this over winter, I will get some pics of the hub and carrier next time im out in the garage.

 

Nice project, love the detailed pics, really helps!
Escpecially as I need in enlarge the tunnel on my car soon as it's got a Type 9 in there but needs a T5 as soon as I fit the new engine.

That rear diff mounting looks a lovely bit of kit too!

 

Okay well I havn't had time to start work again in the garage, so ive been taking parts into work and building things when I can.
I got myself some nice converted coilovers for the front, also some alloy hubs and Brembo's with 300mm discs.

The calipers needid new pipes fitted as the bleed screws sat at the bottom and not at the top.


The alloy hubs are thicker than the standard type so I needid to bring the calipers out about 10mm more, plus im fitting the discs on the outside of the hub.



And thats the one side built up now just waiting on some top mounts, not a massive update but it all helps gets this thing rolling.