High Class Escort (Mk2 tarmac rally car thing)

High Class Escort (Mk2 tarmac rally car thing)

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Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Something I’ve been thinking about for a while...



1980 RS2000.

It's actually a group 4 tarmac rally shell, firewalled, turreted, tarmac-arched, 6-link.




Edited by Lefty on Friday 9th June 10:38

Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Plan is a FUN road car, inspired by the Irish tarmac rally cars (but I can’t afford a Millington).

Some ideas for inspiration












I’m a fan of the early grille and the driving lights.

It will be low and it will be wide.

Mudflaps? Probably not.

Colour...signal orange is top of the list so far. Though white is good. And I love Java green. And Venetian Red. Bugger.

Edited by Baron von Teuchter on Monday 20th August 15:46

Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
I’ve been buying parts randomly over the last 6 months.

52” 3.44 Atlas:





Burton Power are selling Quaife LSD’s (just ATB’s) at a good price just now so it seemed sensible to order one while they were available:


Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Basic plan in the short term is:

2.0 Duratec from an ST150
Rocket box (yes, only 4 speed but what a lovely thing it is)
6-link
Coilovers
13" minilites, (8" on the front, 9" on the back)
Basic interior

I've got an engine in my mates shed and a box ready to go. Bellhouse is off-the-shelf as is a Rocket-to-Atlas single piece prop.

I would have been quite happy with a pinto and if the car i'd bought had one already i would probably have kept it and gone for an old-school carb setup. But having to buy everything up front why not go for a modern engine? I did look at zetecs but the duratec is A: not much more expensive, B: all alloy and C: chain driven. I've been in a 250bhp Caterham with a throttle-bodied Duratec and it sounded so good i decided it would be ideal.

The shell already has turrets, 4-link boxes and watts towers so I'll get the axle in place then I can position the engine and weld on some engine mounts and sort out spacing for everything else.

I spent ages looking at UK cars and imported 1600 sports. I contemplated a new shell but even then they need a lot of modification (arches, turrets, firewalls, strengthening, 4-link boxes, watts or panhard towers, big tunnels etc) which is a lot of work... Most complete cars I looked at were either quite nice and very expensive or quite poor and still very expensive. There is definitely a Ford tax. But they're awesome.

Plan is a fun, basic, fun, light, fun, simple, fun, driver-focussed road car. Something direct and feelsome. I'm not chasing mad power, well not straight away anyway. No brake servo, no power steering, a quick rack and a quick shifter for the rocket box.

Interior will be 2x seats, harnesses, steering wheel, gearshift, 3 pedals and lots of aircraft style switches. No stereo, throttle bodies will provide the aural entertainment.

Longer term I might well buy a crate engine and build a 250bhp screamer but first i just want to get it running and legal and enjoy the thing.



Edited by Baron von Teuchter on Wednesday 5th September 21:15

alabbasi

2,469 posts

86 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Back in the very early 90's. I knew a guy that had one of those. It looked the bees knees but only had 1100cc. He later dropped a 2 liter engine in it and it then went as good as it looked.

Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
I have a bolt-in safety devices cage, just a simple one that was included with the Shell. I’ll weld in some mounting plates but will see where my head is once the driving position is mocked up to decided whether or not to use it. I’m 6’4” and really don’t want to wear a helmet on the road hehe



Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Gratuitous shell pic:


Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
alabbasi said:
Back in the very early 90's. I knew a guy that had one of those. It looked the bees knees but only had 1100cc. He later dropped a 2 liter engine in it and it then went as good as it looked.
Indeed, they’re so light that even with 130bhp or so they’re quick. And, more importantly, fun.

I’m guessing that with the atlas and all the group 4 metalwork mine might be 850kg ish.

Bertrum

466 posts

222 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Have a look at Retro Power on You Tube.

They are doing a MK1 Duratec with independent rear for Gordon Murray.

If that doesn't inspire you, I will be surprised.

Rob

alabbasi

2,469 posts

86 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Baron von Teuchter said:
Indeed, they’re so light that even with 130bhp or so they’re quick. And, more importantly, fun.

I’m guessing that with the atlas and all the group 4 metalwork mine might be 850kg ish.
I'm pretty sure that he did not swap the rear end , so it could probably beat a London Taxi from 0-20 mph. I may have seen maybe 1 or 2 Mk1 escorts in the US. Never a Mk2. Good luck with it!

Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Bertrum said:
Have a look at Retro Power on You Tube.

They are doing a MK1 Duratec with independent rear for Gordon Murray.

If that doesn't inspire you, I will be surprised.

Rob
Thanks Rob, indeed I’ve been following them for a while. Wonderful project, slightly bigger budget than my car I think! It’s going to look amazing in ermine white - though if it it was my car I couldn’t skip the bubble arches...



NiceCupOfTea

25,280 posts

250 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Did PPC ever finish their Saab B234 Mk.2 Escort?

I do like these but you would have to sleep in it and would never be able to drive it because they are so nickable frown

DanGPR

988 posts

170 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Have you considered the Mazda ‘duratec’ mzr engine, is the same as ford licences the design from Mazda, only difference the Mazda one has vvt. As it’s fitted to the mk3 mx5 you could also use the nice short action 6 speed box from the car too? It’s good for nigh on 200bhp with a decent exhaust on it.

Stella Tortoise

2,615 posts

142 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
I once bought the Mrs a MK1, maybe 2, Escort automatic.

It was stolen within a week, apparently the autos were in demand at the gearbox tunnel was wider to accommodate the auto.

Could be bks or could be a cheap way to get a donor car which needs a little less bodging to fit more robust mechanicals.

Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
DanGPR said:
Have you considered the Mazda ‘duratec’ mzr engine, is the same as ford licences the design from Mazda, only difference the Mazda one has vvt. As it’s fitted to the mk3 mx5 you could also use the nice short action 6 speed box from the car too? It’s good for nigh on 200bhp with a decent exhaust on it.
Hi Dan, you know, I vaguely did. I got to the point of calling a few breakers trying to find the complete engine/box including starter/alternator/manifolds/flywheel/clutch etc etc because I agree, it’s a convenient package. Long and short of it - I couldn’t!

I’ve seen a few suitable cars for sale around the 3/4K mark.

I found my donor engine and box very cheaply though. A bellhousing is only £250.

Still an interesting idea though. Gordon Murray is having that box in his Duratec mk1

Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Stella Tortoise said:
I once bought the Mrs a MK1, maybe 2, Escort automatic.

It was stolen within a week, apparently the autos were in demand at the gearbox tunnel was wider to accommodate the auto.

Could be bks or could be a cheap way to get a donor car which needs a little less bodging to fit more robust mechanicals.
hehe

These days big tunnels are so easy and cheap to get.

There aren’t many basic escorts around any more, they’ve all been turned into rally cars, probably over in Ireland 👍

Turn7

23,500 posts

220 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Bookmarked coz I love the idea.....

Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Did PPC ever finish their Saab B234 Mk.2 Escort?

I do like these but you would have to sleep in it and would never be able to drive it because they are so nickable frown
I have dogs and guns for security at home. And I’ll be fitting a removable steering wheel and a couple of other bits and bobs for security for when the car isn’t at home. That’s a while away yet though!

I didn’t know PPC were building a mk2. I only started reading it fairly recently. I’m not that much of a purist but I’d prefer a Ford engine in my ford... i know, I know ??

DanGPR

988 posts

170 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
[quote=Baron von Teuchter
Hi Dan, you know, I vaguely did. I got to the point of calling a few breakers trying to find the complete engine/box including starter...
[/quote]

I know of a few breaking that may be able to assist? They mainly seem to suffer front end damage, but mechanicals are readily available. Just as an aside, if you ever do look into it, never use the standard exhaust manifold from that engine, the collectors chocks down to about half their size at the pre-cat and its the first thing that gets scrapped by any enthusiast.

Will keep an eye on the thread for sure, are you planning on cams, itbs etc or a case of just getting it going first?

Baron von Teuchter

Original Poster:

16,131 posts

201 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
DanGPR said:
I know of a few breaking that may be able to assist? They mainly seem to suffer front end damage, but mechanicals are readily available. Just as an aside, if you ever do look into it, never use the standard exhaust manifold from that engine, the collectors chocks down to about half their size at the pre-cat and its the first thing that gets scrapped by any enthusiast.

Will keep an eye on the thread for sure, are you planning on cams, itbs etc or a case of just getting it going first?
Well, that might be helpful, thanks! Sorted for engine and box as I said but there will definitely be some engine ancillaries i'll need at some point. I will have to look into the wet sump / baffles on the mk3 mx5 - they might be useful for fitting the fiesta engine longitudinally. Cheers!

Yes, basic engine install (with a decent exhaust and probably emerald management) first then, perhaps next year, I'd consider a forged engine with cams, the cosworth barrel throttles and a dry sump. Power wise, 220/240 ish would be good. I had a k20-engined Elise a while ago and that power-weight ratio is very nice for the road.




Edited by Baron von Teuchter on Tuesday 21st August 07:43