I have been looking for a 2 door mk2 escort project for a long time now with out the silly price tags that people ask, i didn't want a popular or a ghia nor an import and stumbled across one that seemed to not need a vast amout of welding. I am going to get the shell sandblasted by blasting magic who i have heard have done a lot of mk1 and mk2 rally shells and other body shells, once this has been done i expect to replace all the rust etc and return to a solid shell that will last a long time. My thoughts are to drop a 2.0 duratec engine in with a type 9 5 speed box. do you think its worth seam welding the shell and adding the extra strenghening brackets and plates as they come in pre cut kit form. It is an original rs shell that has all the extra strengh kit from factory but new kit has extra skids, floor and sill protection, gusset plates from chassis to baulkhead. (would it de value the shell?) Myself personally would like to use it on the road and for track days and shows, its never going to be concourse as it may have a bit of dirt in a gap or a bit of paint on the wrong nut and not only that it will have a duratec in it. I prefer an arched mk2 with the gartrac alloy arch and spoiler kit they are so nice if fitted properly, again rear arches would need cutting and an infill fitted would this de value the shell or not effect it. so to sum up what i want out of this car is to be able to drive it at weekends, drive it to shows, have a bit of sideway fun in with a very solid pretty looking mk2 with about 200bhp in a very nice gaphite grey finnish. Any info will be taken on board regards Neil

 

Sounds like a cool project can't see why anything you have mentioned will devalue it as such as your improving it and they are only ever going to go up in value and well modified cars seem to make a premium nowadays.

Good luck with it and get some pics up then

 

where abouts in tyne and wear are you mate ? friend of mine is doing a genuine mk2 rs2k as a flat front with gartac arches, 6 linked, going to be cossie'd etc.

pics please

 

near Silverlink - Shiremoor

 

 

Car is being collected on Saturday and then let the inside of the roof see the ground, not to much though I hope. I have managed to find a more suitable place to do the main part of the work, stripping ready for blasting and etc shall keep you upto date. looking forward to this.

 

Looks like this could be a good project keeping an eye on this
Good luck fela

 

Will be a cool project.

 

looks a good project, good luck with it

 

Well its been a long day leaving home at 4.20 this morning and getting back now (17.05) the journey from Newcastle to Essex was a bit of a mind bending scenario what is this car really like. is it going to be rotten beyond my capabilities is it going to be a case that I have paid a deposit down on a car, on the guys word say and a few pictures and its just not right? When I got there yes it has rust holes in both front floor wells I can live with that maybe the inner sills, little bit in the boot every where else seems fine and its not every day you find one like this. Maybe a few more areas will appear after its blasted but nothing major. I will be taking it down to the place I am going to be work on it in the morning and I will take photos. My plans for the week ahead is to remove all glass and roof lining, loosen off all front and rear axle cross member etc and arrange for the blaster to come in and do their bit before ordering repair panels and bits. Watch this space!

 

Rs2000 rear bumper, are they like hens teeth to find? I cant find any advertised any where. what would I expect to pay for a new one and also a used one

 

very interested to see your progress on this, good luck

 

sorry I haven't taken any up to date pictures yet I will do when its light, so far I have removed doors, boot and bonnet removed head lining and glass. today I had the inside floor area sandblasted and areas around front wing fixing areas so I can see the spot welds ready to be drilled out. This car had a light restoration back in 1993 and the workmanship must of been ok for the time, however the plates have all rotted away and weld holes never sealed. N/s inner sill rotted along the bottom, drivers side only front part of inner sill. Both outer sills are original and in very good condition as the rear arches. It will be a very sad day when it comes to cut them off to arch it. Not many custom shells are this good on the road today. I have a Brand new Rear Rs 2000 Bumper still in cardboard wrapping never seen the light of day (mint condition) shame its not going back on as I think they don't suit the arches. If you are reading this I bet your cringing at the thought of me cutting this, so am I whilst typing this. Needs must though, just waiting on new parts to arrive, front floor pans and inner sills, I will upload pictures before cutting etc. If anyone wants to buy a brand new rear bumper let me know.

 

rs200 rear bumper...is it the one with the end caps that have to be fitted as they wrap around the rear panels unlike the standard mk.2 bumper.

 

yes they have shaped bars either end, its not a cut off one, it was still in a box I have taken it out to look at it and it has rear mounts fitted ready to bolt on, there are a couple of little marks on the paint but it looks brand new still. there is a picture of it in the picture album

 

I've had the inside, engine bay and boot area blasted today along with the outer sills and arches. I wanted to see if these are as good as they look. I want to get the floor areas replaced before putting the car on a spit to turn over. The engine bay is in great nick no nasty surprises there , I have tried uploading pictures but for some reason it won't let me.

 

This is my old Grp4 escort back in 1997,.

 

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...47668_45_n.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see its not so bad, start putting new panels in tomorrow (Sunday)

 

Well today didn't go as planned. Tooooo cold, need to get a calor gas fire in there if this weather keeps up.

 

 

 

 

As you can see that the drivers side foot well is near to completion, I have decided to change the gear box tunnel to a large one because I'm unsure if the gear box would have gone far enough back with the standard tunnel. I have also decided to fit a new axle tunnel as I will be fitting an Atlas axle on the rear, whilst I was ordering all these bits I pressed the button to purchase the rear turrets and then I just had to buy the new Bilstein rear shocks for turreted conversion. The big box arrived today minus shocks. I have cut out the passenger foot well ready for the new floor pan to be fitted and then I can fit the new gearbox tunnel. I shall up load more pics as I progress.

 

 

New Tunnels above and the Alloy Tarmac arches below.

 

 

Body work doesn't look to bad for the age of it mate.Good luck with the car

 

Thanks Rick after the blasting it opened up a few areas of the underside that would not of been found just grinding around or with a wire brush. But its the best thing I've done so far to enable me to replace or repair the areas to make it really solid.

 

 

 

The passenger foot well was a lot easier to do than the drivers side with not a lot of area needing to be replaced. I will be spot welding the gearbox tunnel in tomorrow then I can weld the floors to inner sills and tidy the rest of the areas up before moving on to replace the n/s rear passenger floor. I am really happy how quick the car is coming along as I can only work on it a few evenings a week.

 

Great project, will be following this

 

I have been down to the car again for a few hours today and have welded the gearbox tunnel in and also made an infill to connect the new to old tunnel also welded in, trimmed the old excess steel from under the new gearbox tunnel as far back as I can reach with out turning it over. Once the rear floor well is in and all the inner sills have been connected to all floors I will turn it over and weld, trim and tidy up all the welds on the underside and weld the outer sills to the new floors. I did take some pics but for some reason they have come out foggy, so I will take some more on my next visit to the ole Gal