Panko's Mk1 Escort (Round 2)

[Panko 2,480]

Small update. I had the front left suspension apart, had the coil spring completely off the strut, WITHOUT removing the strut completely. I was told, that it couldnt be done, that the strut had to come completely out of the car to remove springs. Which is just shit. It would mean cracking lower ball joints, tie rod ends, removing brake hoses. Well, yeah all i had to do to get the spring out was crack tie rod end, remove swat bar, and bam i had enough room inside the front guard to work and remove the spring, to fit the new spring insulator (water sprinkler hose haha) and it seems to have fixed my issue.

 

I actually ended up putting the proper (original) spring insulator on the top of the coil, and putting the replacement on the bottom. No more noise, clunks and bangs from the passenger side. Now i just have to do the same on the driver's side and thats the front end done (hopefully for the last time too) haha.

 

Rod ill get in touch again regarding the sills it will be on its wheels tomorrow, ready to drive again.

[2redrovers 21,400]

All good mate, glad it worked.

[Panko 2,480]

ok, all suspension is fixed and sorted. no more clangs and bangs, took it for its last drive for now, because the permit ran out today. 

 

however, the driver's side was harder than the passenger side. the springs on these are identical left to right, and go in, in the same orientation, so trying to use the same trick on the driver's side that i used on the passenger side yesterday, just didnt happen as easy. i dont think i have ever got so frustrated working on a car...there was plenty of naughty words, and I'm pretty sure the neighbours now think I have a mental issue, after yelling at the car a few times. lets just hope i never have to do that again...or not until i purchase and fit my roller tops. 

[Panko 2,480]

Yesterday Rod came round and got started on the sill repairs. He got the body pulled down pretty close to right, but it wasnt until later in the day we realised how bad the seams where, further in. So, the car is going on a bit of a holiday to Rod's workshop in a couple weeks to have all the repairs done. We discovered a little bit of rust around the damaged sills, so that'll all get cleaned up properly. 

 

 

 

one bent sill trim to be straightened. 

 

 

passenger side before...

 

 

passenger side after

 

 

 

Driver's side after...

 

 

 

This is where we left it, because we soon after realised the problem area was further in. 

 

These seams are what we are concerned about. 

 

 

 

for reference, this is what the seams are supposed to look like. This is a mate's Mk1 4 door. so the seams should be flat, or parallel with the body line of the sills, or close to. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[deankxf 20,287]

at least they aren't rusty..

will look 10000 times better in the correct shape anyway.. need a sticker NOT  A HOIST PAD, USE Chassis rail.. or supervise the morons putting it on a hoist in future(next RWC for eg)

[Panko 2,480]

Yeah unless its major, i dont think ill ever leave it with a workshop to work on it, ever. 

at least the guy doing the rwc didnt actually damage it, but he would've had he lifted it there, like he wanted to. On closer inspection, it was definitely done by the factory jack, being not slotted into the chassis far enough. 

 

i have been told by a fellow escort owner, that even though they show being able to be lifted at the back, it never should be, because the strength isn't there. The recommended way to do it is to jack it from the correct front lift points (same deal, jack with pin through chassis), and lift it high enough to get both front and rear wheels off the ground, from the front lift point. 

[deankxf 20,287]

Needs a falcon scissor jack in the boot then.. And a spot for lifting... Under the diff maybe

[xr6tjet 98]

Love the esky mate, I even like it with these wheels. Hope you get those sill repairs sorted!

[deankxf 20,287]

Love the esky mate, I even like it with these wheels. Hope you get those sill repairs sorted!

bit of an update on this page.. should be off to receive its RWC very soon i'd hope

http://www.ozfalcon.com.au/index.php?/topic/5694-my-cars-and-whatevers-in-the-shop-now-etc/page-45

[2redrovers 21,400]

Cheers Dean, saved me the trouble

[Panko 2,480]

Thanks for the link Dean. Turns out i wasnt subscribed to Rod's thread, so i hadnt actually seen the pics haha.

 

Yep so Rod did a great job. It looks awesome.

 

Of course with my shitty luck, ive had another set back. The guy who was doing the rwc, has gone away until the 12th of december.

 

So im going to take the car somewhere else, and fingers crossed they dont find anything else wrong with the car.

 

It also got a little warm on the trip back on saturday. I didnt drive it, i headed home, while Cal drove the car back to his house. He messaged to say the temp gauge was sitting up on the start of the red after a good hr on the freeway. Im thinking thermostat is in need of attention. However, Cal said it cooled back down to 82 degrees (measured on a digital infrared thermometer) very quickly after idling for just a few minutes, so its the higher rpm its not liking.

[deankxf 20,287]

yeah warmer weather has testing opportunities.

hopefully you get is sorted soon. good to see the old cars out and about now the weather is better

[xr6tjet 98]

Sill repairs look top notch glad that is sorted!!

[Panko 2,480]

Well the final peice of the puzzle. Its registered!!!

 

I Went to the end of year meeting/trivia night with RS Owners Club Vic, met the president of the club, got all the appropriate forms signed.

 

So i was able to walk into vicroads today, and half hour later walked with club plates for it

[Panko 2,480]

Went shopping today, to get a few bits to make the car, hopefully reliable enough to take on its maiden cruise on boxing day.

 

So saturday im having a working bee. The list of jobs to do:

Change thermostat

Change water pump

Fit rego plates

Change oil in diff (not urgent)

Fit lowering blocks (far from urgent but we'll see)

 

 

[Panko 2,480]

Shes looking pretty good at the moment. I cleaned it up in and outside to get the photos to lodge with the car club.

 

 

[SirkWhyXF 1,533]

Looks bloody beautiful, mint!

[MNTL.XD 3,831]

Ver clean. Mad colour too!

[deankxf 20,287]

did you notice a difference with the nolathane steering coupling?

i did with My Gemini, finally got a decent drive in it today and there is absolutely no give in the steering now(as if half a millimeter movement on the steering wheel would make you move in the lane on the freeway)

[Panko 2,480]

Yeah dean the steering is great now. Its direcr like you say, but i am still running the bus steering wheel in it. Eventually ill chuck a nice sports wheel in to make it that bit more direct.

 

However, id say the rack and pinion has a bit of slop in it, but none the less, the whole car feels pretty good suspension, steering and brakes wise.

[deankxf 20,287]

bus steering wheels are the best, leave it stock
 

[Panko 2,480]

nah mine is in a bad way. 

 

it has the factor optioned leather wrap over it. which is cool, but thats in a bad way. i could remove it and go back to the normal wheel underneath, but its so hard to hold onto haha. 

and the crash pad in the centre looks pretty average 

[Panko 2,480]

Today was working bee day in the escort. It didnt go 100% to plan, but im still happy with the end result.

 

We had set out to do a list of jobs

-change water pump

-change thermostat

-fit plates

-and if time allowed change oil in diff

 

Well we did the water pump first, fitted the new pump, then discovered the fan and pulley wouldnt bolt up. Pulley offset was wrong, and bolt thread was wrong, yet the pump was identical. Looked at the box, it was to suit pre-flow kent engines, so early cortinas. So pulled that off and fitted the old pump again.

 

Because we had to remove the radiator anyway, i decided to fit a better condition, spare i had.

 

Changed the thermostat.

 

Fitted plates

 

Did not get the diff oil done (needs doing though)

 

 

Car all back together ready for its first drive

 

 

 

We decided to go fill bith cars up with fuel and go for a short drive. Im happy the cooling system is all good. Even in todays 35 degree heat, it stayed at 85 degrees coolant temp

 

I had to laugh, Cal made a comment along the lines of, "i think you think the Mini is faster than it actually is" my response being, bullshit, the Mini is a rocket.

 

Tried to keep up with him at the first set of lights, im flat out, and after about 10 seconds he had 100+ merers on me hahaha.

 

That mini is running a 1330cc (originally 1275 cooper s engine) big cam, big carby, extractors, and weighs about 150kg less than the Escort...i have no chance in hell of keeping up lol.

 

[Panko 2,480]

And the poor escort doesnt go around corners on these crappy tyres. The sidewall movement in the tyres is incredible (they are oversized). I thought it was bodyroll, but its mostly in the tyres haha so hanging out to get my 15" alloys back and fit them up.

[dex 2,065]

Never had a real wanting for a corty ,,

But now im somewhat older ,, the shape is growing in me ,,

 

One thing id do ,,, " even with the advent of the wagon " is ditch the rear window brake light ,,

So 80's in a 70's car