1985 Ford Escort Mk3 - 1.1 Popular -9 years & 30k miles later!

[CrapCarNerd]

Today I had a quick look the Ignition system. I change the Distributor Cap + Rotor Arm and checked the points Gap which seemed like they might be slightly too snug. I didnt alter them yet as I'm trying not to do too much and end up with a non running car. Last time I swapped the cap I learned that mistake by getting the leads 1 out of sync 😂 I did notice the king lead and one of the plugs had some white fur/corosion on them so I think maybe they need a bit of lube on them or something?

I took all the plugs out, cleaned them and checked the Gap. Put them back in and went for a spin up to temp. I must admit I did turn it off and drive down the road a bit before pulling out number 4. Looks a bit sooty but hopefully all good?
 

I did notice on my drive its probably even more joggy now mainly on light acceleration but seemed a nicer idle at first. If you floor it is seems ok I guess although I've not really gone far enough to test this.

I thought I'd come back and change the condenser as a test and also check the timing. Not having much luck with the screw holding the condenser on though. Its stuck solid and after a few goes of penetrating oil and a long extension to try and get a good purchase on it... it wont budge so this is all I've gotten up to. Also when I through the Timing light on their I think it was reading 10 degrees of retard on there so I need to check where this is at properly before I change anything.

Heres the troublesome screw (no idea how to flip this pic around)

The only other thing I can think of is its not getting enough fuel. The Fuel filter I recently swapped as the last one wasn't great still doesnt fill up that much so I'm wondering if its getting starved a bit? When I first put this one it filled right but now its as you see. This photo is while the car is running. 

Again this could all be the carb as the VV is know for not being a good unit. I just want to rule everything out before I spend some money on one. I've been offered another weber unit for £150 but I might have to move fast with all these tests in case it goes. Its also money I dont really want to spend right now so wouldnt want to buy it and there be no difference.

[CrapCarNerd]

I realise I haven't updated this for a few years! Probably too much to really get into here as until buying a modern car (or using my Capri) it went everywhere.

Since the last post it's been in a Rap video, decided it doesnt want to draw fuel from the tank when stood for a while, moved house/done a lot of tip runs and the stereo decided it was going to melt the ISO block. Those are all the things off the top of my head anyway. Oh yeah! It also had an inner wing welded in which means it has a bit of a crap looking outer wing now. The way he did it was cutting off the outer wing, welding the new one in (wasnt a full inner) then welding the wing back together. I've seen started teaching myself to weld as I really need to be doing this kind of stuff to make having old cars cost effective. I've done a tiny bit of the Escort but mostly been practicing on my rotten Capri.

 

First of all heres the music video. It was good day out and paid for a 3rd of the welding I had to have done once getting back up north from its 5 years in London... can't remember If I mentioned any of that before. Had to drive back and fourth down this road about 20 times. The Water pump was giving out so it was peeing water everywhere once it got hot.

Not long after this a neighbour smacked the front corner of the Escort knocking the corner bumper off the car. I saw it but they completely denided it and unfortunately there was no evidence. Luckily I found a new indicator for £2 and the bumper just sloted back on but loose... now 2 years later it flew off at some point. Need to find a new one! 

Thankfully we bought our first house and its got a bit of space. Need to save up for a garage! 

One of the many tip runs last year. The Escort is the perfect car for this.

I've been putting a lot of work into tracking down info on the Garage the Escort was origionally sold from. The v888 form came back confriming this garage bought it for someone through the local main Ford dealer. Since then I've been trying to track down any Keyfobs or rear Window Stickers. Not had much luck with that but I did find this photo from the summer of 1985 and some newspaper cuttings online. 

A quick side note for both my old bangers. Both have been in music videos for the Stockport band the Blossoms... just if anyone cared. 

 

Recently I found a "base" model Dashboard which is rare as rocking horse shite. I'd like to fit it as it reminds me of my folks old one. It really needs the door cards to complete the whole package though. I think they would be harder to find than the dash! any ideas? haha Heres me as kid trying to get the bonnet open. 

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, CrapCarNerd said:

Stockport band the Blossoms... just if anyone cared. 

Tell us more

[Rightnider]

Nice car, sorry about the neighbour!

[Split_Pin]

Oh yes definitely fit the base dash, no radio grille!

[CrapCarNerd]

22 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Tell us more

Well years ago a got a few messages off a couple of Manchester musicians and my local garage said someones looking for 80s cars for a music video and i told them about you. It was the Blossoms and was for this video "Honey sweet". blink and you'll miss it but at 0.52 I drive past a blue xr3i Cab. That was owned by Johnny Marr's drummer until recently. 

The other year a friend of mine who sells vintage clothes and furnishes a few of us Manc musicians text me one morning and said he was working on this video (I Like Your Look) with the Blossoms and was I free with the Capri. I went over to Stockport and it became one of the main features of the start of the video. Another friend of mine turned up in a Golf mk1 and left me the keys so I got to move that. Can't remember if its really in there but it was really low and scraped over everything. One of the last things I did with the Capri before I started pulling it apart for welding. 

 

15 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Oh yes definitely fit the base dash, no radio grille!

I think I will If I can bring the plastic back around. Its the centre vents its missing... might be a bit weird but I do quite like it. I do have a base steering wheel too.

18 hours ago, Rightnider said:

Nice car, sorry about the neighbour!

Thanks! They were arseholes to be honest. It was a bit of a posh area and they had a newish volvo xc40 and thought they were it. I did fancy going back and getting my revenge but knowing my luck it would come back to me. 

 

I've not finished this yet (and probably wont get chance to till June) but I noticed a bit of rot marked out on the previous MOT. 

A bit of poking ... 

A bit of cleaning... 

And a bit of welding. Its not finished but I just wanted to try and get it ready for summer shows.  Not ground down here as the neighbours just had a newborn. 

Check out my hipster welder 😄