Project Parts car... 2lt 6 speed.

Onto the running gear....
 
Choose one unknown pinto, add cylinder head, and 6 speed that is waiting on the bench to go in the MK1.


 
And then this....

You'll notice the FBH on the inner guard. The tunned needed a little massage for the slave cylinder, and the shift hole needed enlarging but other than that, the 6 speed fit in quite well.
 
Pretty much how it sits, engine is in, gearbox mount done, car is wired up.
Need to do clutch MC, tailshaft, brakes and all the other jobs I've forgotten.
 
Should at least be some fun playing with the AU falcons and VT commodores.....lol.
 
Shaun.
 
 

A re-roof with a six speed? If thats your idea of a paddock basher I'm going to be envious of your nice cars haha!
Sounds like fun, stick it to those falcodores....
Cheers Drew

awesome work shaun!

Managed to get another spare hour over the weekend.
 
I'm really enjoying the slap in on, make it fit, almost bush mechanic aspect of this build.
 
Finished of the clutch pedal. Other than slightly rotating it from vertical for the mounting bolts,  it was almost like it a factory fit.
 

 

 
As for the tailshaft, it was something I was dreading.
I didn't want to risk stuffing the gearbox with an out of balance tailshaft, but having a tailshaft made up or even balanced went against the 'spirit' of what I was trying to achieve, that is as cheap as possible....
The RX8 tailshaft is a carbon fibre tube, with the uni's and a short section interference fit into the ends, I was thinking I could cut and shut the end, so offered up the tailshaft to check for length.  Amazingly it was only about 10-15mm too short when fully pushed into the gearbox, near enough to perfect, although the PCD on the tailshaft to diff mount is larger than the escort diff, and a square pattern.  I thought about simply changing the ends at the unis but they look different sizes so that didn't look like and easy solution, and again, something I would have to farm out.
 
Then I had the idea of locating the tailshaft using a locating ring and redrilling the diff flange..... should be cheaper?, but just incase, have a look around the shed on the off chance something somehow fits..
 
Almost unbelievably, I found something that fits both the ID and OD!!! An exhaust flange from an external wastgate. Offer it up, cut it in half, locate tailshaft, redrill and tap flange in diff. Job done. Always good to have a win.



 
I
 

Hadn't been able to work on the car for a while as I had been away with work, however during the week I had a spare day whilst the kids were out so was quite productive.
 
Need to press on now as the car needs to be finished for the weekend of the 15/16th sept.
 
Sorted a lot of things as the car was only every put together enough to be a roller.
 
Made up an exhaust, again using leftovers, its 2 inch with a hotdog and small muffler dumping before the diff. 
Installed the carbon fibre tailshaft with retaining ring.
Swapped the diff centre out to a locked 3.9. (it was held in by 2 nuts locked 3.7)
Installed the axles and found some retaining bolts. (there was one each side)
Fit the missing leaf spring bolts. (none in the front, no nuts on the rear)
Removed, repaired and replaced a broken rear shock.
Ran the fuel line down the passenger side rail.
Installed and bled brake m/c
Modified and installed a 1600 radiator to fit in the 2lt position.
Installed missing sway bar clamp.
 
Enjoyed a good scotch that night and slept very well..., was sore the next day though!
 
Need to make a clutch line, add all the fluids and in theory it should at least be driveable.... ??? :) 
 
Will get some more pics up soon.
 
Shaun

martymexico
Some fast thinking and work going in there, I like that..
I've also picked up a 6spd and tailshaft for one of my projects , can't believe how cheap the boxes are compared to Sierra type 9 . Did you use an adapter plate made up or bought from UK ?
Cheers

Thanks.
 
I'm quite enjoying the build on this.  Reminds me of why I got into escorts over 20 years ago.
 
I have 2 other cars with Celica 5 speeds and they too are getting thin on the ground.  I picked up the rx8 box, prop and adapter plate locally some time ago for a lot less than a type 9 although they are even cheaper now. It uses one of Freddy686868's plates form the UK. Very well made although I did have to slightly elongate the starter motor holes to space it further away from the ring gear. If you look closely at the pics you can see the plate.
 
Shaun

Great work Sean, you need to come help me with mine. We'll be done in a day!!
 
Keep the pics coming
 
Matt