Dawsons 1978 MK2 Sedan 2L
Hey guys, i figure i should post up some pics of my Lil Ford for ya. You may have already seen them on a few other forums but ohwel :P
My names Mathew Dawson, and my latest toy is a 1978 Ford Escort MKII sedan with a 2L Pinto and 5spd sierra gearbox. I'm a new writer at Street Fords magazine and currently the only one here with a small Ford! We've all got Falcons but i've got a mini-toy now hehe. Since i'm getting into it i'll probably be pushing for more small Fords and tracking down more to be featured. If you think yours is good enough LET ME KNOW!!!
Thats what it looked like when i started bidding for it on eBay. Pretty ordinary. I was actually bidding on it while I was at a 21st so after that last few seconds went up I think I downed half a bottle of wine in celebration of winning it hehe.
It was in Wagga, and as i'm from West Pennant Hills in Sydney I had a 500km trip to make and back with it. Took a mate down in my Falcon, checked it out, drove it around and then drove it home. Made the trip easily, and it happily sat on 110km the whole way - although it used 35lt/100km in fuel hahah. Then i got home, attempted the driveway and it died on the road. Power cable fell off the starter motor. Atleast i was home! hehe
The interior was in mint condition, no cracks, no tears, holes or anything. The steering wheel was a bit ugly but i've replaced it with a alloy/woodgrain old school wheel now. It's got a full sound system too which was a bonus (it's now got alpine Type-S in the front doors instead)
The very old and abused Pinto has had a rough life at the hand of VERY bad mechanics. The carby was rebuilt yesterday and I put it back on last night and it made a hell of a difference. Someone had drilled out the Pump jet which all but choked the engine with fuel (hence the 35lt/100km) and basically ruined the driveability. $110 later and now it's running like a dream and it's damn quick with no smoke at all. Perfect!
It's got a funky drop tank in the rear (filler behind the number plate) as well as a small rear wing it aquired some years ago. The car has been resprayed some time in the last 10-15 years probably, in maroon acrylic and it's flaking off in some bits. There's also a bit of surface rust along the A pillar water channels. I've sealed it with fish oil but i should probably get it fixed some day.
Now onto it's sexy looks. Someone had chosen well in the past and fitted some Centreline Dragway's which are 15x7in wide front and rear. The front tyres are 195 wide while the rears are 225 which looks tough.
As soon as I got the car back i gave it a good wash and the ideas came from there. I was directed by a bloke on AFF to the RSOVIC website where a guy was selling the Rally pack front chin spoiler as well as the rear spoiler. I bought the genuine chin spoiler off him and after some inventive engineering fitted it up.
At the same time I pulled off the grill and resprayed it in a very dark metalic grey(supposed to be black) which came up brilliantly.
Since these pics were taken i've had a few things come up. I've put a new 5spd in there since the opriginal one bit the dust on the way back to Sydney from Small Ford Sunday :(
I've also got a new rear bumper which is straight and has the rubber strip on there as well.
I also bought some new rims for track tyres :) Although i've only used them on the street hehe
Here it is at FTF Clubs 'Fords In The Park'
The taller sidewalls give a much nicer ride then the 15's and they grip so damn well but i don't want to waste them so i took em back off after 2 months and put the 15's back on :)
Engine bay now looks like this with a new filter and rad-cap. About the only other thing i've done. A whole new exhaust system will be coming hopefully next month :)
Latest pic of my baby :)
