early carpri front shocks to an Escky Mk1.

[redders]

I'm being told that the early capri gear is the front end conversion to get when starting building.

initially the stiffer, lowered legs fit straight on (i believe with the rack ends changed). the bigger discs than standard will be better for medium power, the larger caliper will do just fine and the stiffer spring will cope with the pinto lump insetad of 1300 cc shopper power.

as budget allows, when we upgrade the wheels, to say 15 or 17 the discs/calipers can be changed out as the space between wheel & caliper gets bigger.

as the power and weight goes up then a bilstein insert can be popped into the shock, and the screw height adjusters can be added. again budget allowing.

... number one is this right?

number two...what size / type of disc caliper combo will be best? and do these bolt straight to the 1970's leg of the capri?

-looking at slowly modifying the car not doing it in one hit, so this sounds like a sensible option.



advice / help?

OK then the tricky bit, anyone got any front Capri legs sitting around i can have / buy / steal / barter for?...

[mickas]

Good luck finding Capri struts.... you will have to steal them.... I would just go the 2lt stuts , cause you will have a better chance finding some... especially if you bend one.
Slowly modifying is a pain... cause usually to do one thing you have to do the other and so on... so you end up doing the lot anyway.... Save some hassle and get the big escort brakes as advertised on ebay for $765 approx. don't stuff with anything else as you won't be happy... then get some pursuit rims to suit on the 5 stud pattern 15 inch.
I always say better to go over the top with brakes than under.....

[redders]

Rare as rocking horse doo-dah.

the brakes are not an issue really, the first mod is to get a strong strut up front.
currently the 1300 super shopper is woefully wobbly!

the UK Capri (RWD) comes in a V6 so thats a good strong strut.

it will lower and stiffen.
these struts also have new aftermarket upgrade Bilstein adjustable inserts.
luckily the standard Capri strut also has a 9.25inch disc caliper.
This is the biggest disc that will fit into a 13" wheel.

with the capri there are loads of aftermarket brakes that will fit.
when the room under the arch / wheel allows.

but a 9in disc is good to bring a 1000kg car to stop up to about 160 - 180 horse.

I'm begining to see what you mean about the capri struts, found two sets this morning, but they are quiet costly, one set not in the country and a bastar" to import. might have to rethink.

[whooligan]

Capri struts are getting rare, but you can still source them for about $150-200. They are a direct replacement in the Mk 1s as they were standard in the Twin Cam/Mexico/RS Escorts.
The best budget inprovement is Mk 2 panel van struts. They are just as good as 2lt struts and no problems with spring cup/top mount compatibilty which I found out when I tried to fit 2lt legs in my Mk 1 panel van. I converted my whole front end to Mk 2 spec for about $400 with the help of a few part peddler mates. I used a Mk 2 steering rack, so I didn't need to change tie-rods or reem out the steering arms. Mk 2 brakes are almost identical to Capri M16 choppers and are sufficient for a mild pinto. With handling improvements such an anti-dive kit stiffens the front end up no end and actually improves braking.
The bilsteins were standard on the 2.8i Capri struts (which are a little different to the early Capri/TC struts) The latter are better for upgrades, but you don't really need 'em in a mk 1 unless you are running a monster spec engine.
Personally, I'd avoid the big-brake kits on ebay as they require converting to 5 stud....that will lead to needing to convert the back to 5-stud, diff upgrades, RW issue, etc...and more cost. But I guess it all depends on what you have in mind.

[redders]

Whooligan, yep, agree totally.
the suspension mod is to keep me out of the bushes until the budget allows the full change. the brakes on the new legs a bonus.
rear end is a no brainer, the 4 link kit and bomb proof diff standard ford escort rally prep manual.


I actually plan a bit of a hot mod, (true forders look away now) I knock about with a few techno geeks who enjoy Scoobies, Skylines and Sylvias. They are quite reliably seeing between 300 and 400 easy reliable on dynos for realy very little money. the skyline is currently 725Kw aTW.

So with a small abmount of fabrication we believe the entire running gear (SR20 sylvia will be transplantable into the 2dr Mk1.

and a relaxed 250Bhp

should make it exiting.

in addition he has a rear ended sylvia sat in his yard, that keeps the cost down.