The rollcage isn't finished yet, and while the bar has been pre-bent to that shape from Bond rollcages, it isn't bolted in place yet, it's just sitting in its brackets loose at the moment. Gravity has just rotated it down, but it will angle up once rotated to its correct position and bolted in place to keep the roof where the roof should be in the event of a rollover. You're right, it's not how it will end up!

Timmeh

Lol, Don't have to tell me twice!

Awesome looks like it is coming along very well, what made you change from square to round head lights?

looks good
would be alot of fun

Thanks for the comments! Here are a few reasons why I did the round headlight conversion:


and:



oh and this one:



[:u]

Basically, the quick answer would be, I just like it more somehow, maybe because all the Eskies I see rallying have them (in general). Just coz!

Yesterday I installed the roof member of the rollcage so it no longer hangs down. I also cleaned off the overspray from the windscreen, and vacuumd out the car (found broken glass in the bottom of the left hand door, must have been from a previous window). I installed the race seat properly, rather than just being test fitted, which took some time. I also gave the front spoiler another coat of paint.

Today I started out on the rally pack bumpers. Can I just express how difficult it is to get the nuts off the side bolts of the bumpers! The person who sold me the bumpers simply gas-axed them from the donor vehicle, they were that rusted in place and corroded. I ended up shearing the bolt before the nut would come off. Anyways, I bought some brand new stainless ones to replace them, and also some new bolts for the main brackets of the bumpers also. I rubbed them down and gave them a new lease of life:



After looking back at the previous photo of the car with the bonnet on, I decided I wasn't happy with seeing white engine bay between the grill and the bonnet, so I got back to work again.



I masked off the front edge of the crossmember that goes over the radiator, and hit it up with some matt black paint. It turned out alright, in my opinion, and makes the car look much better with the bonnet down.



Tomorrow it'll be time for the bumpers and front spoiler to go on!

Tim

that is TOUGH!! i love it

Looking awesome.

At the time this photo was taken, it's 1.30am, and I'm working overtime to get this car ready for the photoshoot in Sydney on the weekend. We had a problem when the front spoiler went on where the wheels were striking the spoiler and guards, so we ripped the lower control arms out and moved them back down to their lower regular position instead of the higher rally prep position (for now, we will modify the spoiler and guards later), and also wound the adjustable sway bar as far back as possible, to adjust the castor back.

Once we had done that, it was on to rubbing the rollcage back to remove the surface rust, masking it all up and hitting it with cold galv paint. Got to bed at 2am, up at 5.30 to go work.


When I finish work on Friday, I pull out the car trailer, ready to load the Escort on. I welded the new jockey wheel bracket onto the trailer, and as I went to test the brakes, the master cylinder gave up the ghost. Suddenly we had alot more work on than we thought, but we got it sorted, and in the fading sunset, we had the car on the trailer and the trailer on the tow car.



The BA XR6 is a great tow car, had no problems towing the Eski whatsoever.

The results of the photoshoot I'll get up as soon as I get all the shots back!

Timmeh

Ok, here are the latest photos I have of the car at the moment! Click on the thumbnails for larger photos, as always.

We took the car to a timberyard in a little cove in Sydney harbour, fortunately the weather came good after a week of rain. Thanks to Mark and Todd, friends of mine that did the photography.














Hope you like them, the amount of work that has gone into this car to get it to this state in such a time has been exhausting. The fuel system and Webers still need to go on, and also the Volvo front brakes and tailshaft. Also fitting Bilsteins in the rear as well, and the aluminium panels in the interior to cover the doors etc. But it's almost ready to race!

Timmeh

car looks amazing mate, so does the lovely model [:p][:x)]!! good to see its nearing the finish......


cheers
Rhys

You have done a great job, car looks sensational