MK 2 Escort, build thread and questions.

skitzone · 01-06-2010, 01:16 PM

Hey guys, new here always wanted an escort but hate rust, and i've just bought a what i thought to be rust free mk2 but i'm probably exagerating. it has a split seem on the heater box and around 2 or 3 10 cent piece spots.
I don't know if i'm going to patch the front valance or put a new one on it's the trouble of finding another decent one.

Well i'll give you the run down, bought it off a good friend of mine. It'd been butchered by some bogans who turboed it and "rallied" it. I've pulled the turbo pinto out (blown turbo and ecu) aswell as the four speed. I have a warm pinto n/a motor to go in. original 32/36 weber, pacemaker competition headers, mild cam, headwork. And a 5 speed W55 supra gearbox with a very nice short shift ( complete package ripped out of a capri). It has some Ra65 celica seats going in the front, the rear seats in fantastic condition though i'm going to vinyl dye it. Needs new carpets. Has some primer on the front guards that i need to paint. I've got a fair amount of paint experience. ( ex 2 pack industrial painter)
It has some suspension updates, and unfortunately it has a locked diff, only unfortunate because i need to get it over inspection

But i have some issues, can rad supports be repaired and welded with new plate by a panel beater and easily pass pits? i'm just going to throw some body deadener over it so it doesn't look fresh repaired.
THE NUMBERS DON'T MATCH! It has BC compliant plates but it's an early model ex 1300/1600 I think they may have just thrown other escort compliance plates on incase the cops ever picked on them for a 2 litre, is this still registerable? Get new plates with the chassis id number? i was just like

****.

Heater box, rusted. Who would of guessed.

Need a new front grill, my god, mk2 round headlights sexy as all hell.... if i could find a grill if you have one let me know please.

it has some cheviot 13x6's on it. Nice little enkei crossfever replicas. eventually will get minilites. And the surge tank for the fuel tank is welded into the boot, can it be licensed like this??

All help greatly appreciated.

Don't know if anyones into bm's but this is my other car, bought it on my sixteenth birthday and i'm 8 weeks away from eighteen and she's almost running ...

ran well till it got yellowed, then the gearbox, shocks, fuel system and electrics went. god dangit.

I don't have any good pics but this is it

Les · 01-06-2010, 06:54 PM

G'day Skitzone,
nice little Escort, Where about are you located? I have 8 Mk2 Escorts we use for donor parts for my sons race car, most parts available though sometimes freight makes them unviable to send
Cheers,
Les

Puzzlescort · 02-06-2010, 06:03 AM

Welcome

front radiator supports can be repaired with sections or cpmpletely replaced as they are mild stell unlike some new cars where welding is not permitted. you can buy them new from a few sources

good luck, looks like a great start

skitzone · 02-06-2010, 10:17 AM

Yeah, I've found a brand new one for $300. But i didin't do panel beating long enough to have ever done this sort of thing before so i think i'd pay a tradesmen. Not to sure, it's just the bottom's dented up other wise i'd just cut and shut all the old rad support.

Yeah looking for some carpets, new tail light lenses and a round headlight grill if you could help?

Or a driveshaft for a W55. lol.

How do i fix the leaking heaters? I have cut off the heater box yet but i know it's going to be cancered, i saw on rob's mk1 build he had a fiberglass cover... I like. Fiberglass doesn't rust haha.

I'm in Perth WA btw.

eski666 · 03-06-2010, 03:03 PM

nice rock catcher on the Beamer carby lol!!

skitzone · 10-06-2010, 08:20 AM

Aslong as you keep it heavily oiled there's nothing wrong with foam filters, i grew up riding motorcross i've used foam filters for ten years.

cram72 · 10-06-2010, 09:51 AM

mmmm...If you gotta go over the pits beware. My MK2 is a 1.6l stolen recovered. Car was recovered complete minus the two compliance plates, numbers match body to engine and back to paperwork however as it has no compliance plates it has to go for an ID inspection here in SA to make it compliance plate exempt! Go figure that, the bad news is that the car will undergo a full inspection and if it came out with a 1.6 it has to be a 1.6, no modifications of any sort otherwise no pass. May pay to check this out in WA before you start and finish a car that you can't drive..Oh and after all this pain they obviously don't issue new plates and it cost's about $185.00.

skitzone · 10-06-2010, 12:14 PM

Spoke to the department of transport the 2 litre's alright in it because it was a factory option. So as long as the engine mounts are all nice and the wirings not messy they're fine with it. I'm back into automotive painting now so i can get some help from the panel beaters. My heaterbubble the rust has only broken the seam should i just reweld the seam or cut it off? do they make a fiberglass version?
Both numbers didin't raise any redflags, the cars unlicensed so it had to have a full inspection anyway. They've told me to take the compliance plates off. And tell the bloke at the inspection place that I bought it like that and then they make it exempt from compliance plates.

Just found out a good mate has a mate who runs an inspection yard. So I'm going to discuss peace offerings.

cram72 · 10-06-2010, 05:44 PM

You lucky bugger...Lot harder in SA if you are honest! I've got plates and can rego just don't wanna get stopped by the cops and sent to Regency after i've tricked her up.

Nice project you got there, Geoff Wade sells the heater bubble for $100.00 plus postage, I hit him up on the other fordforum! I'm gonna get one when I get back from overseas in August..I'm in the process of drilling the welds outta mine and then cut her off at the top lip, bit better looking than what I did on my old RS..

Grandmaspec · 01-07-2010, 03:21 PM

Hey dude, if you're in perth there seems to be about 5 headlight grills a week popping up in the quokka for 25-50 bucks. Rear indicator lenses you can get for about 100 bucks off ebay, They're NOS and come with the housing as well which is pretty good. Can get carpets just about anywhere. I saw a shop on Beechboro road in Bayswater near wilkinson suspension that'll probably do them. Hope that helps some.