59 Prefect Project

Hi there.
 
So i recently picked up the shell of a 1959 prefect as my first project car. Body seems to be in pretty good condition, and it came with a set of 13x6 Superlites with new tyres, which is handy.

Here's a few pics.
 

 

 

 

 

 
The car has a MK2 escort front end, 105e diff and a previous owner has notched the firewall and fabricated a new gearbox tunnel to accommodate a pinto/4 speed.
 
I'll have to fit seatbelts, a split braking system, two speed wipers + windscreen washer, demister, and a collapsible steering column for registration/engineering purposes, other than that, the car is a blank canvas.
 
Initial plan was as follows "Fit either a Duratec or a Zetec, running on throttle bodies. and a suitable gearbox to go along with it (type9/s5 rx7 turbo box). Pondering twin fuel tanks to keep it looking somewhat stock, while increasing the fuel load and not intruding too much on space. I'd like to fit Air Conditioning and keep the cabin as quiet as possible... or buy some noise plugs."
 
Of course... plans change, and this happened.
 

 
It's a long term project ;)
 
Cheers.
 
Lee

This is going to awesome.....
 
Will be following this one.
 
Shaun

That engine in that car is going to be a monster! I bloody love it.
 
Keep the pics coming please.

After investigating what I'd have to do to get the sump clearance I need (since we'd only put the engine in with the steering rack removed), I mocked up what it would look like with a lowered cross member. All looked good until I put the steering rack back on,  at which point the sump was sitting on the steering rack. Not quite sure i want to lower the cross member and lower the steering rack. Seems like it'd be quite annoying to fix the issues that this would introduce.
 
So I borrowed a crossmember from a local suspension guy, and decided to mock up what it would look like if I reversed it, similar to what Niscort has done on his mk1.
 
So i went from this:

 
To this:

 
And pics of the sump clearance

 
Steering rack clearance

 
And now, this is the only issue I'm having now, the rack and mount hit on the sump. I figure if I lower the cross member slightly, it'll give me enough clearance.

 
I realise I'll have to get a LHD rack, or find a rack of a local car that's rear mounted and of similar length, but it seems like a decent option. Thoughts/Opinions on the placement etc?

Seeking opinions!
 
I've been thinking about what to do with the cluster. The two off the shelf things I could use would be the s2000 cluster, or the cluster from an dc5 Integra/RSX (both would need something like a Dakota Digital SGI-5 to correct the speed readings)

S2000:


RSX:


The RSX one is a touch more 'oldschool', but the s2000 cluster is just so very funky (also easier) 

Great build thread. Cant believe i missed it?
Interesting to see where the reverse rack sits. And now has me thinking for mine..

For steering arms looks like you'll need to get some nice bilstien struts under there