Escort restoration.. Pics of what's happened so far.

[Pete-M]

Still a long, long way to go, but at least I've got pics to show you lot.

 

 

Gonna go over to Czech in a couple of weeks and do a few days on it... Don't think it's going to be ready before Spring, but it should be bloody lovely when it's done.

[mk1_4dr]

Im sorry Pete, but when thats done it certainly won't be shite. You'll have to stick some superlites on it and join OSF.....But seriously, thats going to be not only lovely but rare. Looks like quality work aswell

[FredTransit]

^^^ What he said......

[HillmanImp]

I have difficulty motivating myself to go out to the garage to look at the Imp let alone travel all the way to the CR to do work. Good on ya.It does look fly. Probably been covered in the old thread, but are you keeping it LHD when you bring it over here?

[VWPowered]

wow, apart from the front wing that looks a straight motor

[Pete-M]

I have difficulty motivating myself to go out to the garage to look at the Imp let alone travel all the way to the CR to do work. Good on ya.It does look fly. Probably been covered in the old thread, but are you keeping it LHD when you bring it over here?

It's staying LHD, it's not a problem once you're used to it anyway..Going to CZ to work on it is fun, I bought it in Germany and trailered it to where it is now. Because there's still a lot to do to it I doubt it'll be here until the Spring. I was hoping to bring it back earlier, but restoring a car and then driving it 1000 miles in the snow (and it'll be snowing heavily by the time it's finished) would seem to defeat the purpose of restoring it..

wow, apart from the front wing that looks a straight motor

Thanking you. The new front wing is just visible in the corner of the photo of the engine and box on the hoist. Luckily, that came free with the car

[Cavcraft]

Well impressed, keep us posted with updates please.

[reallyloud]

The escort has become ones of those cars that has found itself in the big money league simply because of its motorsport abilities, but I still wouldn't ever dislike a MK2 Escort - shite in spirit, one of those cars that got elevated - a bit like a ordinary but perfectly nice girl at school becoming a pop star.

[Anglevan]

Looks like you've got a good un there I've just been rebuilding my mates MK2 Mexico, I finished polishing it off on Saturday and started to fit the Mexico stripes He's had it for going on 20 years now and he cant remember when it was last on the road !! good luck with yours

[Pete-M]

According to the German paperwork, this hasn't been on the road since 93. I can't wait for it to be finished. Really looking forwards to driving it to the UK. 1000 miles across Europe in what should be a mint Mk2.

[andrew e]

Good stuff Pete. Will you be heart broken when you sell it and some mong turns it into a RS replica though?**Actually why worry, just roll round in the 50 pound notes.

[M'coli]

Im sorry Pete, but when thats done it certainly won't be shite. You'll have to stick some superlites on it and join OSF.....

NOOOOOOO! Not the superlites! STD Ford steelies look great on these, I remember an orange 1300 sport knocking about in the summer of 82 and it looked great!

(edit, might have been 80 or 81, but still looked great, like these but black and silver)

[Station]

How often are you travelling to CZ, do you have mates out there?

[Pete-M]

A few of my closest mates are Czechs. I've been twice this year already, going again in about 9 days.

 

The lad who's restoring the Escort used to work with me here, so I know it's in safe hands. I stay at his place quite often when I go and we end up in the pub for a week... (I don't normally drink). He's a perfectionist who's doing way more than I asked him to do, for example, I said I'd clean and paint the engine here, but it was driving him mental so he's done it anyway. Keeps ringing me asking for exact paint codes for things, things like the pedals - satin, gloss or matt black, which is correct? Paint codes for the wheels, that kind of stuff. If he has to replace a screw, he finds an exact copy to replace it. Madman.

 

Luckily, other than a few bits of paint over the years, the Escort is pretty much as it left the factory. Zero modifications. Standard. Original. Everything that's being done to it is being done to original spec, and 99% of it is there to use as a template. Perfect car to do, but there is a weldathon in progress as it's still a 31 year old car that spent 15 years on the roads of Bavaria.

 

I wasn't sure anyone here would show interest in this as it's an Escort and not proper Autoshite. It's possibly a bit 'scene', but I've always loved Escorts and I'm really happy you lot want to see more.

 

So, a few more pics.

 

Going to feel guilty painting the gearbox after all this..

A sign of the insane attention to detail. Here's the inside of the alternator...

Exhaust manifold

Spare wheel well. I had Escorts with shabbier wells back in 88.

Front inner wing. Not bad where they're usually shagged.

 

Unfortunately, a bit rougher where the salt has got to it.

 

[garethj]

Looks like really good quality work, and as you say, starting off with a good one gives you a fighting chance of getting it perfect.Where did the 1300 Sport fit in the model range? Did we get it in the UK?Back when these were new a neighbour of mine had a boring old 1300 saloon. But the Ford options list was a bit barmy so he specified a rear antiroll bar which tidied the handling up no end. It was a bit like a Mini - not really fast but you could carry your speed right through corners without losing momentum

[carlo]

Great and interesting thread Pete. Looks like he's restoring it in his kitchen! Wish I had that much space in my garage. Well, actually, I just wish I had a garage.

[Pete-M]

Looks like really good quality work, and as you say, starting off with a good one gives you a fighting chance of getting it perfect.Where did the 1300 Sport fit in the model range? Did we get it in the UK?Back when these were new a neighbour of mine had a boring old 1300 saloon. But the Ford options list was a bit barmy so he specified a rear antiroll bar which tidied the handling up no end. It was a bit like a Mini - not really fast but you could carry your speed right through corners without losing momentum

We did get the 1300 Sport, but not many of 'em. Most people went for the 1600 Sport instead. Sports (and Ghias) have the four branch manifold and twin choke Weber along with a slightly hairier camshaft. Stiffer springs, rear anti roll bar and a few other bits and bobs completed the tweaks. Non-Sport 1.3s had either 45 or 55 bhp depending on tune, Sport and Ghia managed a throbbing 71 bhp.So it's not gonna be quick...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Looks marvellous Pete, an interesting car and the story features pan-european buying/restoring/driving effort which are present in many of the best shite stories. mega props to ya, including for keeping it LHD.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The 1300 Sport had, for some unknown reason, a 4.1 diff as opposed to the 3.89 of yer regular 1300 Scort. It made them very revvy, and a 3.89 will be a good upgrade. I fitted one to mine (LLU356P) and it made a massive difference.On the Mark 1 Escort Sport (all 1300's) they fitted the 4.1 because it had 13 inch wheels as opposed to the 12" rimz of the Escort GT. All Mark 2's had 13" wheels though apart from the drum braked Plopular.Looks like a 1979 model year Venetian red one to me with the orange instrument needles and the Ford oval on the steering wheel boss rather than the two chequered flags. At least it's a Cologne built one so the metal can actually be welded to. Halewood ones were just rubbish. As you say, most of them were fucked 20 years ago. I once had a genuine Shell Sport 1600 Sport, a 1977 car with a lovely SOO***R Boreham number plate. It was obvious they were built from non undersealed shells - you've never, ever seen an Escort as rotten as that one! It was 8 years old and completely bolloxed.

[Pete-M]

At least it's not the 4.4 diff. They're awful even in vans.I had an Escort van with a hairy 2.0 and 5 speed box which still had a 4.4 diff in. Managed to do a straight swap for an RS axle as the rally boys like the 4.4.Which was nice.120 mph in an Escort van, on the other hand, isn't.

[Mr Lobster]

Thats looking superb. Despite the ridiculous scene tax a nice Escort is still a very nice car indeed. That looks like it will be a cracker.1000 mile drive in a newly restored car will be brilliant, bet you can't wait!