Project Track Hack
Discussion
[excuse the slight randomness of this posting, I'm copy pasting a couple of posts together from another board as i'm too lazy to retype it all :P ]
It's a mk5 Escort RS2000 that's been sat doing nothing for roughly 4 years now in a yard (although it looked more like it had been sat at the bottom of a pond!).
Me and my mate ended up taking it on since we know the garage owner and he's got no real use for it. The car came in to him for a top end rebuild and then the owner couldn't pay for it so just left the car. Should perfectly fit the bill for what we're looking for.
It needs a bit of work to sort the chassis out (understatement of the century alert!).
At the moment we need to:
- replace the sills (can kinda see your feet through the floor in one bit at the moment!)
- replace the boot floor with a flat panel of steel (floors rotten and we're installing a fuel cell anyways so it makes less work for the welder)
- remove the sunroof and weld a plate over that
- weld a plate over the fuel filler hole
- weld in a roll cage
- fit some 300mm pumaspeed brakes we've got
- respray it a suitably garish track colour
So far we've stripped the interior out ready for the welding/caging and of course to lose some weight. We've also cleaned it all (scouring pads work remarkably well on moss).
The project is very much being done on a budget since both of us have our own main projects, this was just something fun to pick up on the side (feel less guilty about ripping car’s guts out when you’re saving them from being scrapped). So we’re trying not to go to the extent of swapping panels and glass since the cost of polycarbonate windows and carbon/FRP doors etc is quite high.
The lightening plan is:
- all interior out except the dash, although it may get paired down a bit and the heater matrix is on borrowed time [most of this complete as prep for the welding]
- scrape off all the sound deadening [purely a track car so NVH isn’t a consideration!]
- remove all excess wiring [quite far on with this, need to split the loom wrap to get the last of the audio cabling and interior lighting cable out]
- remove all excess brackets: rear seat mountings, boot lock mounts, rear wiper mounts etc etc
- Swiss cheese the non-structural areas of the doors and bootlid [haven’t had a chance to look yet, do Escorts have sound deadening on the outer door skin?]
- Flat panel the boot floor removing the spare wheel well and allowing easier fitment of the fuel cell, also allowing us to ditch the standard fuel tank and filler pipework
- replace the electric windows with manual winders
The RS2000 rear spoiler is currently not fitted since it’s a generic escort bootlid with no mounting holes in it. I don’t think we’re going to bother refitting it since it weighs a shed load and I’m fairly confident a gurney tab will have as much effect on the handling at a fraction of the weight.
The interior will be going on ebay to try and raise funds for some buckets.
The main purpose of the car is I want something I can abuse relentlessly without the running costs of the Celica and my mate wants similar with the added bonus for him of it being worth a damn sight less than his M5 and not his daily driver so he doesnt need to hold back when it comes to his on track learning curve.
It's a mk5 Escort RS2000 that's been sat doing nothing for roughly 4 years now in a yard (although it looked more like it had been sat at the bottom of a pond!).
Me and my mate ended up taking it on since we know the garage owner and he's got no real use for it. The car came in to him for a top end rebuild and then the owner couldn't pay for it so just left the car. Should perfectly fit the bill for what we're looking for.
It needs a bit of work to sort the chassis out (understatement of the century alert!).
At the moment we need to:
- replace the sills (can kinda see your feet through the floor in one bit at the moment!)
- replace the boot floor with a flat panel of steel (floors rotten and we're installing a fuel cell anyways so it makes less work for the welder)
- remove the sunroof and weld a plate over that
- weld a plate over the fuel filler hole
- weld in a roll cage
- fit some 300mm pumaspeed brakes we've got
- respray it a suitably garish track colour
So far we've stripped the interior out ready for the welding/caging and of course to lose some weight. We've also cleaned it all (scouring pads work remarkably well on moss).
The project is very much being done on a budget since both of us have our own main projects, this was just something fun to pick up on the side (feel less guilty about ripping car’s guts out when you’re saving them from being scrapped). So we’re trying not to go to the extent of swapping panels and glass since the cost of polycarbonate windows and carbon/FRP doors etc is quite high.
The lightening plan is:
- all interior out except the dash, although it may get paired down a bit and the heater matrix is on borrowed time [most of this complete as prep for the welding]
- scrape off all the sound deadening [purely a track car so NVH isn’t a consideration!]
- remove all excess wiring [quite far on with this, need to split the loom wrap to get the last of the audio cabling and interior lighting cable out]
- remove all excess brackets: rear seat mountings, boot lock mounts, rear wiper mounts etc etc
- Swiss cheese the non-structural areas of the doors and bootlid [haven’t had a chance to look yet, do Escorts have sound deadening on the outer door skin?]
- Flat panel the boot floor removing the spare wheel well and allowing easier fitment of the fuel cell, also allowing us to ditch the standard fuel tank and filler pipework
- replace the electric windows with manual winders
The RS2000 rear spoiler is currently not fitted since it’s a generic escort bootlid with no mounting holes in it. I don’t think we’re going to bother refitting it since it weighs a shed load and I’m fairly confident a gurney tab will have as much effect on the handling at a fraction of the weight.
The interior will be going on ebay to try and raise funds for some buckets.
The main purpose of the car is I want something I can abuse relentlessly without the running costs of the Celica and my mate wants similar with the added bonus for him of it being worth a damn sight less than his M5 and not his daily driver so he doesnt need to hold back when it comes to his on track learning curve.
So, pics:
Classic Ford metal work there :lol: As above, good excuse to get rid of the wheel well and just flat panel it.
We did try mopping it with strong detergent and sponge then washing it normally. Didnt work. Neither did jet washing it at a range of roughly 3 inches. So in to the garage's kitchen we went and broke out the scouring pads and scrubbing brush 8)
Classic Ford metal work there :lol: As above, good excuse to get rid of the wheel well and just flat panel it.
We did try mopping it with strong detergent and sponge then washing it normally. Didnt work. Neither did jet washing it at a range of roughly 3 inches. So in to the garage's kitchen we went and broke out the scouring pads and scrubbing brush 8)
Commence strip & survey:
Different coloured bootlid as finding one second hand that isnt rotten is a mission and a half!
High quality door seals dont let in much water...
Yes those are my feet visible THROUGH the inner sill :shock:
First bit of tin snipery. Who need a boot lock or webbing anyways...
Different coloured bootlid as finding one second hand that isnt rotten is a mission and a half!
High quality door seals dont let in much water...
Yes those are my feet visible THROUGH the inner sill :shock:
First bit of tin snipery. Who need a boot lock or webbing anyways...
Nice project!
I miss my old RS2000, lovely car to drive- very smooth & progressive. Bit of a come down after the Series One, just needed a little more power.
I believe ditching the EGR system (big metal rail on the exhaust manifold) & smoothing out the welds- matching them up to the exhaust ports on the exhaust manifold can release a few ponies- best of all, it free!
I was told mine was the press release car- registration K*** CAR in white. Has anyone got any old reviews from the time that could verify that?
I miss my old RS2000, lovely car to drive- very smooth & progressive. Bit of a come down after the Series One, just needed a little more power.
I believe ditching the EGR system (big metal rail on the exhaust manifold) & smoothing out the welds- matching them up to the exhaust ports on the exhaust manifold can release a few ponies- best of all, it free!
I was told mine was the press release car- registration K*** CAR in white. Has anyone got any old reviews from the time that could verify that?
Edited by Vidal Baboon on Thursday 4th June 13:35
Gave it a mini service at the weekend and did a bit more work. New plugs and airfilter went in.
Changed the oil, added engine flush, idled it for an hour or so, dumped that oil out and replaced again. Runs sweet when hot but when she's cold its quite spluttery and refuses to rev at all well. Think there may be a sensor issue as the fan activates when hot but the temp guage on the dash doesnt move which may mean its not getting the right fueling info when cold.
The new grille moddified for better airflow. The bracket at the base on the passenger side was snapped off so we got 4 full sized holes on that side (54mm iirc) whereas the drivers side could only fit 3 at 54mm and 1 smaller one.
Postponed drilling any further holes in the bottom of the bumper until we remove the foam but should get a good amount of extra air flowing through the number plate's now vacant space.
Had a go at a few patches with grinding paste to see if the paint could be brought back to life, more out of curiosity than anything.
Coil pack wiring needs a bit of attention for sheath damage.
Out with the old plugs and in with the new. Fair to say she'd been suffering from just occasional starts over the years with heavy cold start over fuelling fouling the plugs.
Old filter wasnt particularly dirty but swapped it out anyways.
That'll be the fuel cap and other key then...
Seriously, who the hell had the bright idea of sticking an oil filter in there!
Sound deading removed. We've kept most of it in a box so we can weigh it up once the stuff under where the rear bench would be has also been removed.
Had another go at the bootlid with the tin snips. Another quarter kilo or so of metal removed.
Changed the oil, added engine flush, idled it for an hour or so, dumped that oil out and replaced again. Runs sweet when hot but when she's cold its quite spluttery and refuses to rev at all well. Think there may be a sensor issue as the fan activates when hot but the temp guage on the dash doesnt move which may mean its not getting the right fueling info when cold.
The new grille moddified for better airflow. The bracket at the base on the passenger side was snapped off so we got 4 full sized holes on that side (54mm iirc) whereas the drivers side could only fit 3 at 54mm and 1 smaller one.
Postponed drilling any further holes in the bottom of the bumper until we remove the foam but should get a good amount of extra air flowing through the number plate's now vacant space.
Had a go at a few patches with grinding paste to see if the paint could be brought back to life, more out of curiosity than anything.
Coil pack wiring needs a bit of attention for sheath damage.
Out with the old plugs and in with the new. Fair to say she'd been suffering from just occasional starts over the years with heavy cold start over fuelling fouling the plugs.
Old filter wasnt particularly dirty but swapped it out anyways.
That'll be the fuel cap and other key then...
Seriously, who the hell had the bright idea of sticking an oil filter in there!
Sound deading removed. We've kept most of it in a box so we can weigh it up once the stuff under where the rear bench would be has also been removed.
Had another go at the bootlid with the tin snips. Another quarter kilo or so of metal removed.
Saw these in the classifieds and thought of this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1185914.htm
I know they say MK6 but aren't the MK5's the same?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1185914.htm
I know they say MK6 but aren't the MK5's the same?
emicen said:
Oh, nice! Shall have to email my partner in crime see what he reckons. The RS has taken a back seat to his supra recently so really should get back on it.
Coilovers have to be one the biggest improvements you can make for a track car. With all the weight stripped it'll sit higher with the standard springs so may even handle worse if you don't lower it.Ah well,
First my mate still hasnt finished his Supra which does take up some of our free time down the garage.
Secondly, I bought myself a Mini and went racing. So all my free time is pretty much spent working on that or trying to find money to do it.
Then we came to the conclusion the rust situation was rather terminal, so she went to the compacter less engine and box which we'll be putting up on eBay.
First my mate still hasnt finished his Supra which does take up some of our free time down the garage.
Secondly, I bought myself a Mini and went racing. So all my free time is pretty much spent working on that or trying to find money to do it.
Then we came to the conclusion the rust situation was rather terminal, so she went to the compacter less engine and box which we'll be putting up on eBay.
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