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Ford Escort Mk1 Restoration Project

sampathd

By sampathd
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sampathd Newbie

sampathd

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So I finally got my self a Ford Escort MK1. The car is in good nick considering its age. I'm sure with a bit of mechanical attending, I can put it on the road. But I am going to start on a full restoration before I unveil her :)

Things planned:

1. Stripping the metal bare and repair any rust.

2. Swap the engine to a 1600 ford unit (currently it has a 1100 engine)

3. Change the wheels to 14" minilites.

4. Swap the brakes to front disks and also replace the master pump.

5. Convert to bubble arches (if I can find the original specs for Escort Works fenders)

6. New paint job with Mexico stripes.

7. Complete replacement of all beading's and nickel parts

8. Replace the front buffer with Mexico quarter buffers.

9. Complete upholstery with some retro looking front seats (will be keeping the rear seats)

10. Swap the dashboard meter panel with a RS version meter panel.

One thing that worries me to doing up the bubble arches. I could not find the specs for them. Any help in this department is most welcome.

Pics will come soon.

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Watchman
Watchman

It was featured on the last MoTorque epsisode. I admit the car really is mint, but the question is would you be willing to spend 2.5mil on one of these. The joy in most of these cars is in the shedd

MasterDon
MasterDon

Haven't GTAm and I taught you anything???...get the body sorted out.?The mechanocals are a piece of cake compared to the bodywork. Well there's the MazdaFord Club,(MFOCers)... but be warned their es

Watchman
Watchman

Well, its not advertising. Plus if he genuinely believes that his recommendation is the best way to go then he shouldnt have a issue with people knowing it. If he's hiding his true intention, then the

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sampathd Newbie

sampathd

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Hi All,


Thanks for the encouraging comments. Will post pics soon as I get them off my phone.

Jaliya sent a PM with my email.

Is there a Ford club in SL? If so can someone please point me to a member so I can start talking :)

Also, any pointers to a Ford Pinto engine and 14" minilite wheels are appreciated.


Cheers,
Sampath

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dreamracer Newbie

dreamracer

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@sampath,there was a beautiful orange colour ford escort replica once featured in "motormag" in 2011..owned by Dr Roshan Senarathne,i think supra might know more about this car....i think you can get some info from him :)

try to contact this gentlemen who own this escort it will be helpfull to you on your project

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Jaliya48 Newbie

Jaliya48

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  On 4/29/2013 at 8:32 AM, dreamracer said:
@sampath,there was a beautiful orange colour ford escort replica once featured in "motormag" in 2011..owned by Dr Roshan Senarathne,i think supra might know more about this car....i think you can get some info from him :)

try to contact this gentlemen who own this escort it will be helpfull to you on your project

Hi,

There's a real Escort Mexico here and I saw it in the 2006 car show. I think I have a photo of it, I'll post it here if Sampath doesn't mind. I heard that it caught fire and the owner had to rebuild it, but not sure if that's true.

About two years back I saw it on the Battarmulla road, rebuilt apparently, rocketing out of sight! :smilie_liebe9:

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Komisiripala Newbie

Komisiripala

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Hooray!! Fast 6 aa'ite!!

Congrats mate. So glad you started a thread on this. Very happy for you. And so damned glad these cars are finding the right owners.

Trust me, at the other end if this wormhole you're stepping into, you'll be a changed man!

Anyone can buy a car Sampath, but only few men can say they've really owned one.

Will be keeping close tabs on this thread. And of course if there's anything you ever need, I'm just a PM away

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Devinda_Z Apprentice

Devinda_Z

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  On 4/29/2013 at 2:02 PM, MasterDon said:
The only Mexico in SL was owned and raced by Mr.Ananda de Alwis for several decades,It was bought by a friend last month and is undergoing a full restoration.

Master Don, legend has is that there was a second Mexico around town.... Met a cruel fate in Cinnamon Gardens many many moons ago, they say

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sampathd Newbie

sampathd

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Thanks for all eh encouraging words.

I am very keen to get the bubble (works) arches. But my mentor on this project is advising against it as we dont have the specs for them. Was thinking about getting steel arches from UK, but the cost of them with shipping is going to cost me quite a sum. And I am thinking that money is better spent on an Engine and brakes upgrade rather than on bubble arches. So my idea is to push the metal work on the outer body back and start with the engine bay and floor boards and engine and brakes.

So the first order for me is to source an Engine. Have my heart set on a Ford pinto 1.6L (preferably) or a 2L. If anyone can let me know of a lead, its more than appreciated.

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post-528-0-18864700-1367259525_thumb.jpg

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Supra_Natural Apprentice

Supra_Natural

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  On 4/29/2013 at 4:04 PM, Watchman said:
Wow! Look who joined the party!!! :)

Some say he once drove a 1300GT escort sideways at speed in a field in beddagana

sany0125b.jpg

and that he switched from a Nissan 300ZX to a Diesel Audi...

All we know is, he's called Devinda Z...

Edited by Supra_Natural
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GTAm Newbie

GTAm

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Good luck sampathd.

I am guessing that you wish to make this a fast road/occassional track day car since you are thinking of a Mexico replica? Why not consider an RS replica? RS's are a lot more sort after than Mexicos.

The Pinto is said to be a heavy engine. The Kent crossflow is supposedly more sort after (Uncle Henry's boys please correct me if I'm wrong). The easiest route to high performance should be slotting in a old Formula Ford 1600 engine that you might be able to buy in SL since the pre 85 Formulas don't run anymore. They are already in high state of tune and come with twin side draught Weber carbs. And the engine can be bored to 1700. The Pinto will be no match. There have been some conversions in SL already so maybe you can seek more advice from the owners. .

One thing you have omitted in your list is - chassis upgrade. The Escort in its standard form was a car below average to the other European competition of the time. So you really need to focus your attention on the sus.

Trust me this will take a long time and a lot of money so don't rush it and stretch it long enough to be able to afford a proper job. Just forget the wheel arches for now. That's the last thing you need to worry about at this stage. Just my 2 cents :)

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GTAm Newbie

GTAm

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  On 4/29/2013 at 10:22 PM, Supra_Natural said:
and that he switched from a Nissan 300ZX to a Diesel Audi...

All we know is, he's called Devinda Z...

I still can't get over that jump from RWD V6 coupe to FWD Diesel :D

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sampathd Newbie

sampathd

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Thanks GTAm. I am a newbie to this restoration scene. So all advice is welcome.

Thank you for opening my eyes to the Formula Ford engine. Would love to get one of those. So the engine search takes a whole new turn!!! Let's see..

I was relying on the advice of my restorer on the body. Will be sure to discuss chasis upgrade as well. I saw on some ford forums about Turret upgrades. Will follow up.

Now does anyone know of a Ford Formula engine??

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Devinda_Z Apprentice

Devinda_Z

Posted
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  On 4/29/2013 at 10:22 PM, Supra_Natural said:
Some say he once drove a 1300GT escort sideways at speed in a field in beddagana

sany0125b.jpg

and that he switched from a Nissan 300ZX to a Diesel Audi...

All we know is, he's called Devinda Z...

lol :)

I miss the good ole days of trying to keep the threads rolling faster than Peri could care to moderate ;)

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Devinda_Z Apprentice

Devinda_Z

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  On 4/30/2013 at 3:51 AM, GTAm said:
I still can't get over that jump from RWD V6 coupe to FWD Diesel :D

Hey a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do :sad-smiley-050:

But in the ole oil burners defence, its got some very usable real world power! :) Torque is the name of the game :) Also got my first real taste of the joys & travails of German engineering!!

But the Legacy RS is what has got things going again! :D

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MasterDon Rookie

MasterDon

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  On 4/30/2013 at 4:37 PM, Devinda_Z said:
lol :)

I miss the good ole days of trying to keep the threads rolling faster than Peri could care to moderate ;)

Come back!...Peri has gone past the 10k mark!!!...his reign of evil must be stopped!...you're our only hope!

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Pericles Newbie

Pericles

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  On 4/30/2013 at 5:18 PM, MasterDon said:
Come back!...Peri has gone past the 10k mark!!!...his reign of evil must be stopped!...you're our only hope!

He's got other responsibilities these days. So much so he can't even answer his messages :P

edit: Oh, I say, I have gone past 10k. Who woulda thunk it?

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