147racer2010

Hi All I am rebuilding a couple of Mk 1 escorts. I started out with 1 rolling shell and now have 2 on the go. the original shell was a old racecar that had just been fitted with a new 6 point cage so I thought that it would be a good basis to start a project on. well after a lot of work I have Sourced a second car and it is in much better condition so I will do this one first and then go back to the original with a different plan. So car 2 will have a 2 litre pinto with a 5 speed type 9 to an LSD equiped english axle that has been turreted and 2 linked and the shell will be caged and bubble arched and will be a road legal trackday car that is able to do what ever i feel like doing trackdays, hill climbs and both gravel and tarmac rallies. Car 1 will probably end up as a track car with (hopefully) a turbo cosworth and may end up semi space framed with a fully intergrated cage but who knows what the future holds for her.
For more Info visit my blog http://mk1escortrebuild.blogspot.com/ All the pics and info is on there
Cheers for now I will keep you posted on updates and put up some pics as I go
Peter
Oh all this is happening in Auckland New Zealand

147racer2010

I have a week off work this week so I have some me time ( or should it be Escort time) I have cut the front guards to take the new arches and started to tidy up the drip rails so that I can turn the guards into bolt on. This means tiding up any rust found and today I found a bit more It was hiding under some silicon right up at the top of the R/H A pillar so tha=is will take a little time to get right. I will have photos up soon.
Peter

147racer2010

Here are a couple of pics to get you going

147racer2010

147racer2010

The Guards are now repaired with the drill holes welded up. I have also welded up the rust holes in the inner guards and bulkheads. The L/H guard is now stripped down to bare steel ready to be preprimed prior to fitting the arches. The R/h one is still to be stripped down but may be done before this weekend. the inner guards and bulk heads need to be attacked with the grinder before i prime these areas. When I strip off all the paint I give the bare steel a spray of a antirust epoxy spray which kills the rust and protects the steel from moisture till it is ready to paint. once I am ready to prime it I clean it off and paint the bare steel with either Hammerite or POR15 depending on what I have at the time.
Peter

147racer2010

The L/H guard now has the Arch fitted and I have started to clean up the R/H guard. It looks like the R/H side has had a good hit at some stage in its life but at least it is not too rusty.
Peter

147racer2010

I picked up a pair of strut tops and a alloy center consul this week. However work on either car is now on hold till the new year as I am busy at work and have to get the house tidied up prior to going on holidays in a couple of weeks. I will take the chance to wish everyone a Happy Xmas and a safe but enjoyable New Year. Once I am back into the cars I will post the info on here
Peter

147racer2010

Bugger me its nearly the end of Feb already. Hi All January was a wash out for any progress as when I got back from my holiday I was off to the states for work for 10 days. However when I got back I did a project on the R/H guard and fitted a fibreglass bubble arch to it. I have done a how to guide on the job it is on the blog http://mk1escortrebuild.blogspot.com...le-arches.html
I know that in the northern hemisphere you generally use steel but down under it is much cheaper to do it in glass. If you find it helpful in anyway feel free to use it. The next step is to build the rotisserie for her then I can get her down to the panelbeaters for them to do a bit of work. then Ican start the build proper.
Peter