Hello,

Im new to this forum so if this is the wrong place for this sort of question please say.

Me and my father are looking to have a project over the summer and this is something I really want to do. He is a experienced fabrictor and mechanic but im a complete novice.

So what I want to do is take my old ford escort mk6 and change it to rear wheel drive.

I would like to know what I will need to change and buy?
What are the do's and dont's?
What engine would be the best?
I would like a 302 v8 but I read there is better options?


We have a budget of around £3000.

Thank you!

 

Right 1st off welcome, this has been done many times now to an mk3/4 but not to a mk5/6/7 to my knowledge.
The easiest and best route would be get a sierra rolling shell preferably a cossie shell (gearbox bell housing is bigger for T5 gearbox) and use its floor pan to weld you mk6 escort too.
Engine wise there is many many options all dependant on what you are after and what it will be used for

 

I wouldn't use Sierra stuff personally. A gearbox tunnel is easy enough to fabricate and weld in and if you're thinking of using a V8 then you certainly don't want the shit Sierra rear suspension and weak diff - plus it's harder to narrow.

I'd do what I've seen a few well built RWD converted cars have done - strengthen the front end/chassis rails then chassis mount the engine. Fabricate/adapt the bulkhead and add gearbox tunnel and if needed, a prop tunnel. Then I'd fit a narrowed live axle out back on a four-link kit.

Relatively easy to do if you have the skills and relatively cheap too.

 

Why not try it with like a BMW 328 floor pan and running gear ? Cheap to get hold and a good chassis to start with , 302 with a t5 gearbox would be fun in an escort !

 

Thanks alot! This seems like the direction il head towards on this project!

Do you know if there is anyone who has done it before? maybe did a tutorial on how they did it? Its always nice to have some guidelines to refer to!

 

I hope you're gonna keep us updated on this.....

 

scorpio floor pan is good to use, wider then the sierra and thicker in places as is the rear suspension. hard to put in though, my mk3 was tough enough but its worth doing whatever way you go, great crack !!

 

Would starting with a 4wd rs2000 not save a lot of work?

 

Why would you want a wider floorpan when it needs to be cut down narrower than a Sierra? And rear suspension would need further shortening too if you're starting off with something wider? Plus it still only houses a crap Sierra diff.

Made of chocolate I hear, plus it's transversely mounted.



Have a look around the various build forums, it's been done a few times. I've seen a couple of RWD Mk6 Escorts done this way too, one with a Rover V8 in it.

 

some of the scorpio cosworths had viscus limited slips at the rear, the extra width is advantageous as the wider wheel base is good for grip, as for cutting it down i managed to keep the original suspension turrets of the floor pan. no need to bring in the width just go bigger archs like the rally spec ones in the last PF on the rs2000

heres my thread
https://passionford.com/forum/restor...-drives-3.html

 

There are loads about, some have cosy floor pans which is a shit idea as it's just old and heavy and others have custom floors like these





Craigsescort007.jpg?t=1326059285

Craigsescort008.jpg?t=1326059328


craigscar2010.jpg?t=1326657011


craigscar2008.jpg?t=1326657122


craigscar2004.jpg?t=1326657270


038.jpg?t=1328861655

 

That looks seriously cool my mate is running a rover v8 in a mk6 si a red one last time I saw it it had a huge supercharger out of the bonnet

 

Thanks for the responses! I think we are going to pay someone to do a custom floor pan and fitting like Minirotty has said and go from there ourselves. Hopefully have the project started by august so I will upload pictures etc when we do!

Thanks for thr support!

 

Good plan

 

+1

The rear suspension setup is probably better too. Double wishbone arent they?

 

My MK6 RWD project. Looks like MK5 but main body is MK6

 

I am liking the look of that

 

My mate has done it with modified original chassis.

He spent a lot of time and money though!

https://engineswapdepot.com/?p=43003