MK 1 cortina Brake and suspension

wazzab4 · 21-11-2007, 08:14 PM

I have a 64 Mk1 cortina i am looking at doing a brake and suspension upgrade.

1st i do not mind changeing the stud pattern if it means getting a better brake in there to make it stop or makeing it bigger in DIA. I am looking at putting a bigger engine in it later and want to do the barkes 1st.
I am after a kit or parts from another car that fit.

2nd i would like to put coilovers into it i have found it hard to find coilovers that suit a cortina MK1 is there a kit that anyone knows of. I have looked around and found a website http://www.cortina-mk1.com/ but then do not sell the kit then show on there, or tell you were to buy it or parts used.

Any info, links of uk site that will post to AU or au site that have watt i am after or pics would help.

CHEERS WAZZA

wazzab4 · 27-11-2007, 08:19 PM

So does anyone have any info.

whooligan · 28-11-2007, 06:49 AM

Common upgrade on most small Fords is Capri/twin cam struts. They are getting rare and expensive ($200) pair, but they are a straight swap and most suspension places can convert them to coil-overs for you. If you get a set of later 2.8i Capri strut from the UK, they have Bilstein inserts as standard. You can buy the inserts of the shelf in Australia from bilstein.

Dr Danger · 28-11-2007, 12:37 PM

The best bet for a big brake upgrade as far as a bolt on, off the shelf item goes, would have to be a Hopper Stoppers kit. You get big rotors and calipers and hubs in whatever pattern you want, and all the rest of the bits to make it work. You have to use 15 inch wheels though. But it will stop.

You can use the tried and tested Volvo 4 pots and Celica vented rotors with a little messing around but i don't know of a shelf kit.

As for the coilover kit. In all honesty and depending on your budget, you're probably better off just sticking with a good upgrade of what's under there. 24mm swaybar from K-mac, perhaps some adjustable strut tops, some stiffer springs (upwards of ABOUT 130lbs, depending on many factors of course), new gas strut inserts and so on should see you with a pretty good little thing really. It depends on how silly you wan't to go with an engine package later on too. I went CA18det and it's great fun. Bank on upgrading diffs and rear springs and stuff like that too if you go down this path though.

I have plenty to do with the guys at www.cortina-mk1.com. You won't go far wrong if you give them a call and have a quick chat about some of this stuff.

wazzab4 · 28-11-2007, 07:27 PM

I went to a suspension shop yesterday and said thier was no kits for them but he said he could do a cutsom kit for $1200 a corner so i started to think about doing what you said and just upgradeing the springs and make it adjustable and bigger sway bars.
I think thats the way to go their.

As for the brake kit i have been there before but could not find it till now.
But i will go with them, the kits look like then are just made up by them in house but if i order off them i know i will get the right parts 1st time.
I am a mechanic and maybe able to get the parts i need myself but it mite take a while to get the right ones.

After writing this i have decide to go with there kit now.

wazzab4 · 28-11-2007, 07:33 PM

Just need something for the rear now do then do rear brkaes with handbrake set up.

Dr danger what diff you running i am looking at a Sr20de not turbo and running ford 5 stud.

Dr Danger · 06-12-2007, 11:04 PM

I'm running a Borg-Warner 28 spline 4 pin diff with sliding single piston calipers and handbrake setup off a Skyline (shortened). I have run Crummydoor disks but they were a nightmare.

In all honesty, the standard diff will be more than up to the task of coping with the SR20de. We run 4.1:1 gears which yours will have anyway if it's not a GT. The rear brakes on a Mk1 don't really do too much as there is stuff all weight over the rear end anyway. A freshen up of the drums would be fine but that is just my opinion. Im sure your local diff shop would be able to convert it over to a 5 stud pattern quite cheaply. Keeps everything simple too.

Had a friend do a conversion to a SR20de and he couldn't wait to throw it away and go turbo. For the size and cost, a CA non turbo might be a better option or just work the 1500 over. But it's your car, you do what you like!

There are coilover sleeve kits you can buy (like the ones at www.cortina-mk1.com) but I am currently not having much luck tracking them down either... Will try and keep you tuned. Im not on this site much so perhaps try the Mk1 and Mk2 MSN forum or the new one on www.cortina-mk1.com where we are discussing this particular subject.