Modernising a MK3 'Tina...

[Turn7]

Ive long had the idea to modernise a half decent two door MK3 and I wondered what you guys thought ?

Im thinking:
New brakes/suspension, lowered about an inch

Motor:
Either hot Pinto on Megasquirt or Zetec and TBs

Slippy diff in the rear axle

Keep the wheels and tyres sensibly sized but go up on width

Lighten sensibly where possible.

Should give a nice looking/handling/stopping car no ?

No jibes about rust required, thanks.

[sim16v]

Would be rude not to fit a V8.....

[Turn7]

V8 is always the answer, but it would take away some of the soul I feel. A good 4 pot/injection would be enough for my needs I think.

[Evoluzione]

Pinto isn't modernisation, it's a step backwards....

[Yertis]

Finding a good two door Mark 3 Cortina is surely a challenge in itself (goes off to look...)

[aeropilot]

Yertis said:

Finding a good two door Mark 3 Cortina is surely a challenge in itself (goes off to look...)

Indeed, this would be the first (of many) issues.

Back in 1982, I bought a 1975 Mk3 2.0GT 2-door, one of the last 2-door GT's made......and at 7 years old, it was fued (in my youthful haste, I'd not spotted the blow over paint job)

Aside from that it was a bloody awful car.....how Ford thought the Mk3 'tina suspension was an improvement on the Mk2 is beyond me, it was dire, and only just a bit better than a Morris Marina. Although to be fair on Ford, as they now had the Escort to do the 'sporty' stuff, the Mk3 Cortina was designed to be more comfy barge rather than have sporty pretentions.....hence it having the floaty, sea-sick setup it did.

And, yes, a Pinto is not modernising it at all......Zetec or Duratec on TB's would be the way to go if keeping a 4 cyl format.
Improving the suspension would be the awkward task....?

Edited by aeropilot on Thursday 23 June 12:46

[RichB]

aeropilot said:

Aside from that it was a bloody awful car.....how Ford thought the Mk3 'tina suspension was an improvement on the Mk2 is beyond me, it was dire...

Indeed, awful cars.

[Impasse]

Isn't the pinto Cortina just crying out to have a Sierra Cosworth lump plopped into the engine bay? (If you're not looking for originality, that is.)

[Turn7]

Impasse said:

Isn't the pinto Cortina just crying out to have a Sierra Cosworth lump plopped into the engine bay? (If you're not looking for originality, that is.)

If Turbos are your thing, then yes. I prefer NA motors.

[Impasse]

In that case the 24v Cossie engine from the V6 Scorpio should prove adequate for now.

[Turn7]

I wouldnt be looking to match modern stuff, just reliving a bit of youth tbh.

Ive always liked the cars looks, and of the old Fords, its about the only that isnt silly money.

I think a gentle modern makeover would suit the car.

I was looking at a Viva HB the other that had a VX redtop in it on bike carbs - that was pretty cool.

[aeropilot]

Impasse said:

Isn't the pinto Cortina just crying out to have a Sierra Cosworth lump plopped into the engine bay?

If there's one thing a Mk3 'tina chassis doesn't need, it's a Cossy lump under the bonnet

Not unless you have suicidal tendencies

[Mercky]

aeropilot said:

Indeed, this would be the first (of many) issues.

Back in 1982, I bought a 1975 Mk3 2.0GT 2-door, one of the last 2-door GT's made......and at 7 years old, it was fued (in my youthful haste, I'd not spotted the blow over paint job)

Aside from that it was a bloody awful car.....how Ford thought the Mk3 'tina suspension was an improvement on the Mk2 is beyond me, it was dire, and only just a bit better than a Morris Marina. Although to be fair on Ford, as they now had the Escort to do the 'sporty' stuff, the Mk3 Cortina was designed to be more comfy barge rather than have sporty pretentions.....hence it having the floaty, sea-sick setup it did.

And, yes, a Pinto is not modernising it at all......Zetec or Duratec on TB's would be the way to go if keeping a 4 cyl format.
Improving the suspension would be the awkward task....?

Edited by aeropilot on Thursday 23 June 12:46

Agreed. I have had a few Mk3s and they all handled terribly. Void bushes would disintegrate frequently and make the handling even worse.
They were known as 'waterbeds' in my neck of the woods for that reason.

[aeropilot]

Mercky said:

Agreed. I have had a few Mk3s and they all handled terribly. Void bushes would disintegrate frequently and make the handling even worse.
They were known as 'waterbeds' in my neck of the woods for that reason.

Yup.....

You can fit solid bushes instead of the void bushes, but, I recall from an owner that tried it many moons ago, the ride became horrific, and the handling even worse, as the back axle then hopped about all over the place

I heard that some people have then had to try and fab/fit a Grp4 Escort type 4 link kit and panhard rod to try and control the thing!!
Then theres the front end to think about.....

Best thing to do if one desires a Mk3 'tina.....is the full stock restoration route, and just learn to live life in the 70's

[PositronicRay]

Didn't the 2 door only come with a 1300? Nice looking thing, keep it period and stick a heavy old v6 essex in it. That's what we would of done back in the day.

[markymarkthree]

PositronicRay said:

Didn't the 2 door only come with a 1300? Nice looking thing, keep it period and stick a heavy old v6 essex in it. That's what we would of done back in the day.

2 door was available in 1300, 1600, 2000, GT, GXL.

Cosworth conversion has been done to death.

[Impasse]

markymarkthree said:

Cosworth conversion has been done to death.

So you're suggesting "outside the box" thinking? Good call. A Mazda rotary lump it is.

[Mercky]

markymarkthree said:

PositronicRay said:

Didn't the 2 door only come with a 1300? Nice looking thing, keep it period and stick a heavy old v6 essex in it. That's what we would of done back in the day.

2 door was available in 1300, 1600, 2000, GT, GXL.

Cosworth conversion has been done to death.

Also L but not sure about XL as well?

[PositronicRay]

markymarkthree said:

PositronicRay said:

Didn't the 2 door only come with a 1300? Nice looking thing, keep it period and stick a heavy old v6 essex in it. That's what we would of done back in the day.

2 door was available in 1300, 1600, 2000, GT, GXL.

Cosworth conversion has been done to death.

I did not know that, and I had a few in the 70's.

[Little Pete]

Back in the day I stuck a tuned crossflow in a MKIII Cortina having got a bit bored with the Escorts I usually ran. Wiser people than I tried to tell me I would never get it to handle. They were indeed wise people!