Panko 2,480 Posted March 23, 2021 1 hour ago, deankdx said: so what's up with the heads? stuck valves? be able to tip some petrol in the head chamber with the valves closed and see if it leaks out either the intake or exhaust port.. or was valve lash not set properly? i think My gemini 2litre has 135psi and goes plenty good, but the compression ratio on them is very low like 8.2 or something (the worked engine should be up around 9.5 if i ever get it together yeah the issue is most likely valves not seating properly, and valve lash. I honestly just swapped heads without checking valve lash etc. i did it just to see if results changed with a different head, which they did. Im not putting bets on it having a big cam, because it only has the standard intake and carby with it, but potentially a warm cam. id imagine once its running, and things are hot, the compression will come up a bit. 2 Outback Jack and deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear351c 10,270 Posted March 24, 2021 Squirt a bit of oil in the cylinder and retest the compression, if it goes up, it's the rings. 4 Outback Jack, Panko, 2redrovers and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted March 24, 2021 Squirt a bit of oil in the cylinder and retest the compression, if it goes up, it's the rings. yeah i know about that trick. but meh. its already got better comp than the 1300. also the pistons are dished, so getting oil how to the bores to try that trick is really hard. 1 1 gerg and bear351c reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted March 24, 2021 *crap photo warning* Glad Mark's work is better than his photography haha. Today they fixed up the factory "out of whack" leaf spring hanger. the one that was 10mm too far backwards from factory. can see how much they have moved it forward back into the right spot. plated up ready for the leaf spring to go back in Mark has also told me that they have changed their mind, and the car is now going on a rotisserie to be painted. Originally they were going to spray the underside on the hoist, then spray the engine bay, then remove the front subframe and spray that seperate. 3 1 gerg, 2redrovers, Outback Jack and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2redrovers 21,400 Posted March 24, 2021 You can tell when an enthusiast does a job... Just keeps getting better. 5 gerg, Outback Jack, Fingers and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted March 26, 2021 Spinny spinny and yes thats a Fox Body mustang in the background. I had a good look over it last time i was there. very nice car 3 1 deankxf, Fingers, 2redrovers and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fingers 463 Posted March 26, 2021 Becoming a full restoration Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,288 Posted March 26, 2021 56 minutes ago, Fingers said: Becoming a full restoration i had pop into My head.. this week on retropower, we revisit Gordon Murray's escort(they are doing that actually) . not down to a bare shell though. Hey @Panko if the need ever arises to fit a 4 speed, would you only need a custom gearbox cross member now or can that bracket still be used? or is it needing removal and repositioned again Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted March 27, 2021 11 hours ago, deankdx said: i had pop into My head.. this week on retropower, we revisit Gordon Murray's escort(they are doing that actually) . not down to a bare shell though. Hey @Panko if the need ever arises to fit a 4 speed, would you only need a custom gearbox cross member now or can that bracket still be used? or is it needing removal and repositioned again To use a 4 speed, all i would do is run a couple of box tube sections to shift it forward. So the crossmember would be on the 4 speed, and i just bolt in some bits to adapt it to the new location of the mounts. They are available for doing the that for type 9s, but english and australian bodies are different, so those kits dont work on aussie cars 1 1 deankxf and gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted April 27, 2021 Ok I have been a bit slow with the updates. but there is progress I also have my engine and gearbox, and front crossmember home ready to be cleaned up, and prepped ready to go in the car. Stripped the 1600 down ready to get a basic freshen up, and a couple go fast bits i was a little surprised to see the baffles inside the stock sump. 3 lots of baffles in total. not bad for a stock sump. I hate the blue paint on the block, so i started hitting it with paint stripper, to find under the horrendous blue paint, horrendous green paint haha. The blue is coming off super easy, the green wont budge. so, im going to keep the green as base coat and go over it with engine black Ive also ordered a big chunk of parts, which i pick up tomorrow. All the engine bits needed, such as full gasket kit, GT/Fast Road camshaft, new followers, clutch kit, 2.9 ratio quick steering rack, water pump, timing chain etc etc. all the service parts. Its the first big chunk of money ive spent on the car so far, and its a little daunting. I haven't even paid for the panel work yet Fun times ahead 4 1 1 2redrovers, bear351c, gerg and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted April 27, 2021 Ok I have been a bit slow with the updates. but there is progress I also have my engine and gearbox, and front crossmember home ready to be cleaned up, and prepped ready to go in the car. Stripped the 1600 down ready to get a basic freshen up, and a couple go fast bits i was a little surprised to see the baffles inside the stock sump. 3 lots of baffles in total. not bad for a stock sump. I hate the blue paint on the block, so i started hitting it with paint stripper, to find under the horrendous blue paint, horrendous green paint haha. The blue is coming off super easy, the green wont budge. so, im going to keep the green as base coat and go over it with engine black Ive also ordered a big chunk of parts, which i pick up tomorrow. All the engine bits needed, such as full gasket kit, GT/Fast Road camshaft, new followers, clutch kit, 2.9 ratio quick steering rack, water pump, timing chain etc etc. all the service parts. Its the first big chunk of money ive spent on the car so far, and its a little daunting. I haven't even paid for the panel work yet Fun times ahead I don't mind the blue, but Kents were black originally for a reason... To hide the Pommy oil leaks Sent from my CPH1920 using Tapatalk 3 2 bear351c, deankxf, Outback Jack and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted April 27, 2021 1 minute ago, gerg said: I don't mind the blue, but Kents were black originally for a reason... To hide the Pommy oil leaks Sent from my CPH1920 using Tapatalk thats exactly why i want to paint mine black in all seriousness, im not sure blue engine block would look any good in a metallic green engine bay 1 gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted April 27, 2021 thats exactly why i want to paint mine black in all seriousness, im not sure blue engine block would look any good in a metallic green engine bay Yeah how does that saying go?......"Blue and Green should never be seen"Sent from my CPH1920 using Tapatalk 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fingers 463 Posted April 27, 2021 I really like how this build is going. Looking forward to seeing it up close. 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted April 27, 2021 32 minutes ago, Fingers said: I really like how this build is going. Looking forward to seeing it up close. thanks man. me too I haven’t seen the car in the flesh for a few weeks now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,288 Posted April 28, 2021 that's a decent update! ew horrid green engine .. looks like an episode of "retro power cars" 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted April 28, 2021 I picked up all my parts today. Im excited to start putting it all back together. The camshaft has me excited. it's peak power is 1650rpm, and runs out at 6000rpm. This is going to be fun having such a big power range. The steering rack, to my surprise is brand new. I thought the quick racks were refurbished cases with new internals. but the entire thing is new. date stamped 03/19 and then stamped 02/21 for when it was built as a 2.9 quick rack. I also priced up a brake upgrade. Yesterford can supply BRAND NEW M16 (Mk2 Escort) brakes. Someone out there is making brand new M16s. with the correct rotors, and the little imperial to metric brake hose adapter to suit a Mk1, for $620. Then in the future, if i want to go better again, i buy a spacer kit for to space the split M16 callipers and install wider, ventilated discs. Im going to wait for the final bill from Mark before I buy the brakes, but it is definitely the way I will go. it has always been a little lacking in the brakes, the little tiny front brakes have always struggled a little. And, for some stupid reason, the discs for standard Mk1 are nearly double the price of the bigger solid discs that come with the M16 brake upgrade kit. go figure 4 2 SPArKy_Dave, Outback Jack, gerg and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear351c 10,270 Posted April 28, 2021 Getting close. Looks like a quality rebuild happening here. 3 Fingers, Panko and deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted April 28, 2021 1 minute ago, bear351c said: Getting close. Looks like a quality rebuild happening here. close, but so so far from done thanks mate. Im pretty particular with my cars, so its a pretty detailed build alright 2 deankxf and bear351c reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,288 Posted April 28, 2021 interested in the caliper spacer thing, surprised there's not a better kit from say hoppers stoppers etc? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted April 28, 2021 Here is one done. can see the spacers and the ventilated discs. there maybe better options from Hopper Stoppers etc, but i dare say more than doing a simple M16 upgrade. Keep in mind that price was for brand new. if you buy a set off a mk2 second hand, probably a lot cheaper 1 1 gerg and bear351c reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted April 28, 2021 this is probably the cheapest 4 pot upgrade available. but they come in at $865AUD plus freight. so pretty much $1000 landed. https://www.burtonpower.com/hispec-4-pot-road-brake-kit-ford-escort-capri-245x20mm-hisk04e.html 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panko 2,480 Posted April 28, 2021 there you go. Cheapest from Hopper Stoppers for a Mk1 is $1500 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,288 Posted April 28, 2021 14 minutes ago, Panko said: Here is one done. can see the spacers and the ventilated discs. there maybe better options from Hopper Stoppers etc, but i dare say more than doing a simple M16 upgrade. Keep in mind that price was for brand new. if you buy a set off a mk2 second hand, probably a lot cheaper that spacer is cool! looks like a good CHEAP conversion too i reckon 1 Panko reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fingers 463 Posted April 28, 2021 18 minutes ago, deankdx said: that spacer is cool! looks like a good CHEAP conversion too i reckon That idea has been around for years. Proven upgrade. 2 Panko and deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites