Hi - i am new to this forum

picked up this stock mk2 from an ol' granny for 1600 bucks - already had the exhaust and unleaded head fitted and road-worthy (12 mths) sorted...








Stuff done;

All new brakes
re-conditioned steering column
new steering and suspension bushes

Stuff to do soon;

45 DHLA side draft (jetted to god knows what)
side draft lynx manifold
wire up the lights

plans;

wheels (15" and maybe 205's... anyone got any in WA?)
cam (to suit above?)
elec ignition (anyone know good type / brand?)

Go the baby seat! Have 2 in the back of my Escort. Always like to see our cars earning their keep.

Well the first and most important thing is I can't see any rust. And you've sorted the steering / suspension / brakes first.

You won't see much/any improvement from just bolting on the 45 without extractors and upping the cam. Except for using more fuel.

What year is it? Looks 1977 or younger based on the highback seats and side tank filler blanking plate. It probably will have low compression engine with single throat carby. If so, a higher lift cam and carby won't be as an effective upgrade compared with a high compression engine. If you're after cheap performance you might be better off chucking a 2L into it or chasing down a high comp 1600 with 32/36 weber in the Quokka/ebay. Or turbo existing engine.

Pop into Pitstop bookshop in King St and grab a copy of "Ford Escort Downunder" for $15 and you'll learn a lot about what you've got as it explains the codes on the VIN plates - including LC or HC engine.

All up, good buy. Looks tidy and tight. Easy to burn a pile of $ getting a dodgey car up to rego status.

Welcome to the forum, looks like a tidy more door.

Lots of good advice there from Avon.

yeah - its got extractors (old and dont know what type) and is a 79 model.

there is a very small amount of rust - just on the back pillars for the rear screen (can hardly see it in the 1st photo). looks like some rust (20c piece) under the passenger side floor, but it isnt through yet. sills, doors and rails are immaculate - which was where my last mk2 finally died from

baby seat - yeah, she is a daily driver ATM

thanks avon - yes, single throat carby and not sure of compression.

I already have a 45 DHLA on a manifold at the moment and was hoping to use it. what do you recommend would be best to suit it?

I was saving some pennies for a cam, and up the compression (is this difficult with this model of motor?)

note; at the moment i am after mild road / sport spec, not rally or racing...

if ur keen on using what you have, theres nothing wrong with staying kent, just get a High Compression (HC) 1600.

i wouldn't bother doign anything to a low comp motor.

ford escort downunder is on the to-get list...

I already have 2 x haynes manuals, 1 x workshop manual, a dave vizard book on the ford motors, and one on how to tune weber and dellorto side-drafts...

yes - i am keen on using what i have already - as it has been sitting around in my shed for a while and i am anxious to see how it goes!

next couple of weeks i will be stripping the interior, and getting some door blanks made up out of MDF, re-wiring the dash lights (dont work) and hunting for tyres.

got the radiator flushed and flow-checked the other day, and she isnt good... needs a re-core... what should i expect to pay, and is it worth the extra money going to a aluminuim radiator?

I've got some Performace Delta rims 13" with heaps of tread 185/70x13 Sava tyres. $150.

some pics - the chrome filter is 83mm tall, and makes the whole setup about 20mm too long... so i have taken it off, and put on the ramflo in the first picture...

Avon - thanks, but i have those same size tyres at the moment... i think i will stay with these ones for a short while, until i go to 15" or wider... or both

Awesome, looks nice!