Jump to content
Server maintenance Read more... ×
2redrovers

1972 Escort Panelvan

Recommended Posts

1 hour ago, 2redrovers said:

 I'll build my cars for me, to suit me and what I do with them. 

 

Too fuckin' right..!

 

 

1 hour ago, 2redrovers said:

My personal gripe with the engineering process is that NOBODY will give you an answer as to what the guy will charge to tick the damn boxes on the paperwork. What will it actually cost to get a v8 anything passed??? Nobody knows and if they do, they won't tell you.

 

Too fuckin' right..!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The LPG thing, was from my limited knowledge of those engines.

 

In the early 2000's, Ford Europe started offering the Focus/Fiesta's etc, with factory dual fuel. (discontinued in 2016 I think)

The ti-vct LPG engines have different hardened valve seat cylinder heads. I'm not sure on the rods/pistons.

 

Small car dual fuel conversions are quite popular in Italy/UK/Germany etc, for some reason.

Why Ford Australia never offered them here, I dunno...

 

edit -

Yeah 90kw, not 90hp... my bad.

(according to my RRC service manual anyways)

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
14 minutes ago, SPArKy_Dave said:

The LPG thing, was from my limited knowledge of the Sigma platform 4cyl Zetec engine.

 

the head bloke who reco'd My gemini head said i'd get minimum 100,000ks out of it on LPG if it was tuned fairly well for LPG (1976 ish head) then if/when it has an issue you just fit the better stuff later. (i asked about LPG after it was ready to pick up.. he said he'd have used better exhaust valves if i'd mentioned it initially(cost an extra $100 probably)
the escort engine would probably burn a valve eventually, but running unleaded would not be much different anyway.. run the flashlube valve saver stuff to extend it's life. good to go.
 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I like the little van,should be great to see it unfold with your metal skills, as far a drivetrain goes maybe worthwhile considering late 80s rwd jap running gear

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You were not kidding about it being a little rusty!

Regarding engine swaps, there is a lot of good idea's here, but at the end of the day it is your project and you've gotta do what suits your needs and what will make you happy.

Will you be keeping the rear side windows or filling them in?

The condition of this, looks like so many vehicles I have looked at in the past and said to myself, "I wish I had the skills, know how and the confidence, to fix this" but never felt that I could do it. So I am genuinely excited to see the tutorial videos and how this progresses. Hopefully I can learn something (probably lots) and build up the confidence to tackle something like this myself one day.

For now I'll try and keep up with the other things you've got going on in your shop.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah she'll be a fun build. There is some big fabrication needed in areas and I might try to throw in a little custom work as well for good measure. I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping the rear windows, might tint them a bit but I like being able to see all the wankers on the road around me before they drive through me.

How's this for a giggle.. I drew this sketch a number of years ago. OK it's a mini not an esky, but I may have a type...
304d722412a761979883f64ce39f1529.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok my 2 Bob....

I loved the brutal simplicity of straight gas on my Cortina. It started first bump of the key, summer, winter, frost, rain, heatwave, typhoon, it just worked. It ran very clean, so much so that my mate thought there was something wrong with his Bosch analyser when we hooked it up, such were the HC and CO levels.

The reason why exhaust valves burn out is because people run them on a petrol tune, effectively retarding the ignition for LPG so the fuel is still burning out the exhaust, which runs everything hot. Fix this and the engine should live a long, happy life.

One upgrade that shouldn't be too hard to do is an electronic ignition. I'm sure somebody in the UK is more than willing to sell you one for a reasonable amount. Gas likes a nice powerful spark.

An Impco model 100 should be more than enough to feed it. They're apparently good for around 90kW. The 2.0 pinto was rated at 74 from memory.

A word about engineering: the Mk 1 Escort wasn't available with a 2.0 so it would need an engineer's cert to fit. Not so difficult in practical terms (just use Mk2 bits) but another expense to consider.

Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Gerg that kinda info is greatly appreciated.

I've been a fan of LPG for a long time so it's not scary to me (don't understand everything but I get the fundamentals). That's why I want to go straight gas not dual fuel. It's cleaner than a hippy mobile too

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Yeah she'll be a fun build. There is some big fabrication needed in areas and I might try to throw in a little custom work as well for good measure. I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping the rear windows, might tint them a bit but I like being able to see all the wankers on the road around me before they drive through me.

How's this for a giggle.. I drew this sketch a number of years ago. OK it's a mini not an esky, but I may have a type...
304d722412a761979883f64ce39f1529.jpg


Hahaha I have the same type I think.

I have always liked the vans and actually have a 1971 mini K panel van with no side windows, tucked away waiting for a rebuild. It's pretty much rust free maybe only a small amount (last time I looked at it, it was anyway. It's been stored under cover on concrete so should be ok still)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, gerg said:

One upgrade that shouldn't be too hard to do is an electronic ignition. I'm sure somebody in the UK is more than willing to sell you one for a reasonable amount. Gas likes a nice powerful spark.


there is a direct points replacement electronic kit for these, panko has it i think but i have it on My gemini also.
a simple lock up of the mechanical advance would see the dissy "graphed" close enough for LPG 
My dyno tuner was impressed with the function of My electronic ign kit, as dwell improved with revs, something he couldn't understand how they did it so compact and cheap, but was disappointed i didn't upgrade the coil for better spark(have now)

this is a good idea seeing it's missing the carby already anyway. 
find an LPG tank that fits somewhere well(donut tank recessed? or scuba falcon wagon tanks? ) or one big 100L one behind the seats as a "cargo barrier"  rest is simple. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That's pretty much the plan. I'll get the details on the kit at a later date but I knew about that sort of thing from wanting one for the rover. It's a definite to make it's way in there.

Gas tank plan will probably find something that fits the space where the old fuel tank will come out of. Will work that out when I get that far along.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
we may have a gas tank you can have .. would fit in the back? [mention=291]deankdx[/mention] would know

I've got one from the rover that's similar to that spare one you got. I don't know what size area the original fuel tank is yet, don't really want to use up cargo space if I can help it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This'll work if the original motor is usable. I had a carbie I kept from the Fargo stash of spares. It's an original that's been modified for LPG to work I guess like a mixer. The bolts line up and the base is the same size apart from the internal bore being slightly larger than the escort manifold inlet.
b5038407b1a9f09f426d304bd2a4f7a3.jpgd5e50f90a84a0252156a37d7e32d17cb.jpg57b5bedb45860d50dde9b334bfaa8093.jpgab22dbed3044f0007c1d4a4512c14275.jpg55b57e45ff0dbadc1eaafed58e0e52cf.jpg
Would just need a bit of rearrangement of the linkage and feeds to clear things.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah saw that the other night. Looks great except I wouldn't do the bubble flares or orange, otherwise very nice unit. The Suzuki throttles is a neat idea too and I'd look at that if I was doing fuel injection.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites




I've been a fan of LPG for a long time so it's not scary to me (don't understand everything but I get the fundamentals). That's why I want to go straight gas not dual fuel.


You can't get much simpler electrically than 2 solenoids and a tachometric relay (the "Med" box). That's all there is.

Everything else is ridiculously simple. No fuel pump, sender can be configured to your gauge, mixer has two moving parts, converter is dead simple too. There are 2 screws for mixture (low and high speed) and that's it. Maybe one on the converter if it's fancy. I love LPG, in case you were wondering

Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites





You can't get much simpler electrically than 2 solenoids and a tachometric relay (the "Med" box). That's all there is.

Everything else is ridiculously simple. No fuel pump, sender can be configured to your gauge, mixer has two moving parts, converter is dead simple too. There are 2 screws for mixture (low and high speed) and that's it. Maybe one on the converter if it's fancy. I love LPG, in case you were wondering

Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk


Me too, cheaper pump price is the icing on the cake

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
7 hours ago, 2redrovers said:

This'll work if the original motor is usable. I had a carbie I kept from the Fargo stash of spares. It's an original that's been modified for LPG to work I guess like a mixer. The bolts line up and the base is the same size apart from the internal bore being slightly larger than the escort manifold inlet.
d5e50f90a84a0252156a37d7e32d17cb.jpg
Would just need a bit of rearrangement of the linkage and feeds to clear things.

 

 

...and a little grindy, grindy on the inlet manifold.  😄

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
 
...and a little grindy, grindy on the inlet manifold.  

Yeah that too. It's not much of a difference but it would be a definite step in the flow path. I'd already figured I'd take the die grinder to it when the time comes.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×