Mk2 Escort Sleeper Project

Posted this on an English ford forum (www.oldskoolford.co.uk) and couldn't be bothered to change it for the Australian market... Hope you enjoy...
 
So I thought that while I have no money to spend on my car that I would write a little section on my car, the work I have done and the work that is yet to be done... Hope you enjoy my Australian Mk 2 Project and it's story...
So, I first purchased the car 3 and a half years ago... It was a very quick decision and I am ashamed to say that I had never really thought of buying a Ford as I was a Holden (Vauxhaul in the UK although the cars are quite different) fan (Please note the "WAS" :) )... I previously had a toyota blizzard which I was loaned by my grandfather and soon destroyed as all young kids do... 


I was desperate for a new car so over the weekend i went in search for a new ride and my father suggested an escort which i promptly went in search for, fell in love with, and bought the first one i saw...

So finally to the car itself... enough with history...
It is a 1977 Mk 2 Escort GL...
The previous owner fitted a 1600 Kent engine with a Lukey exhaust system and extractors but other then that and a high flow air filter the engine is standard.
The paint work was also done by the previous owner but i can say it was his best effort as I was told that it wasn't that old yet the clear coat is already wearing off and  it chips in the slightest breeze....

Standard and worn tends to set the tone for the rest of the car... However, I do intend to change this although i do wish to keep the car looking rather standard.

When purchased the car had 13x6 inch Dragway rims and 205/60 Yokohama Y352 tyres. Recently though I purchased some 13x7 minilights and 175/50 Yokohama A359 tyres as I wish to lower the car slightly and I love the look of the -7 mini lights.

Gaz GHA coil overs are going to be the means of lowering the car along with some lowering blocks for the rear. A the moment I am undecided on how far to go but I imagine it will end up lower then practical... The suspension continues with various other bits that i have collected and that are waiting for the day of installation. This list includes the following:
Adjustable top mounts Adjustable TCA'sPolybushes throughout the carAluminium Hubsand a few other bits and bobs
On the current shopping list after the summer holidays in Australia is going to be some 4 pot AP Racing brakes for the front.  When I get these and then find some time it shall all be pulled apart and then go back together and hopefully i don't have too many bolts left over ;)


Engine-wise, I'm going to stay with the 1600 Crossflow that was transplanted into it and do the standard carbs, cam, extractors, 1300 pistons and electronic dizzy. But all that must wait for another pay day...

Hope you all enjoyed the read if you bothered to read this far, I will keep adding to this thread as I go...
Cheers fellas and happy motoring!!

Haha yeah the plastic has perished and the screws don't hold it on but I assure you that it is on the next list of parts... Thanks for the comment and you are right about the rims... It just looks so perfect

Ok so I thought it was about time I added a little update... I recently incurred an issue with my gearbox. The selector decided one day that I know longer needed to use reverse 1st and 3rd gears which makes driving the little beast a bit of a challenge and gear selection becomes your top priority haha. 



So I dragged another one out of an old 4 door I have and added it to the increasing list of parts I have to fit!



And I thought I would just add a photo of some of the seats that I went to test to see if they were comfortable... The outcome... They were awesome but $700 Australian each so a little out of my price range (To put it in perspective $700 currently buys 2 Cobra Monaco Pro's with mounting brackets and shipping from the UK).



So that is all for now I shall post picks of my new parts when they arrive!!! 

Haha cheers Stu
 
Yeah got the email cheers for having a bit of a lookand you're right I'll have to come around one day check out your type9 install...
Thanks for the positive comments in regards to the thread, thought it may be valuable to people if they go and install some of the same stuff.
Hopefully soon when my parts arrive I shall have a lot of install pics!!
 
Michael

Ok so over the last few months not much has been done to the escort but that is all about to change! The last few days have seen the majority of the parts I ordered arrive!!! 



Single 146lbs rear leaf springs


AP Racing front 4pot callipers and vented and grooved disks, Ferodo brake pads, 2 inch lowering blocks...



Mk2 Mexico front spoiler, rear light lenses, GPR4 Fabrications bias peddle box, anti tramp rods and all RS steering arms
Now I need to get a few little things like brake lines and fluid bottles and a few other little things and then it is time to try and find a shed or garage to work on the old girl...
 
I also invested in a GoPro HD Hero 2 so will be shooting some high res vids and pics of the build which should commence soonish  :D

Of course and in my other house it's much the same hahaha... In desperate need of a shed although I still think I would keep it in my room haha

So... where to begin...
 
I suppose to put it simply, all the parts in the previous pictures are now on and this makes me very happy!! 
 
Firstly the Ap's and the Gaz coilovers were fitted. This was a bit of a hassle with some of the parts having to have a little "modifying"
 
The change it gave to the car was extraordinary though, it stops like it's hitting a wall and the coilovers make it handle like a dream!!!
 

 
Picture after just coilovers and Ap's but the rear still awaiting fitting.
 
Having not fitted the rear springs, bushes or dampers and massively increased the front spring and damper rates, I did notice that the balance had changed pretty dramatically and although cornering immensely faster, it did have the tendency to understeer a little too much for my liking. However over this past weekend I managed to find the time to to fit all the rear suspension components.
 

 
The new rear setup combined with the changes at the front has altered the car dramatically and made it an awesome little weekend driver even in its current underpowered state.

New brakes only just fit!! 
 

Before coilovers, brakes and rear suspension

After coilovers, brakes and rear suspension
 

 
Next step: Engine development!!

Hi evobda2 
Cheers for the positive comments!
 
They are decambered about an inch or two lower