19 replies to this topic

[Bantam]

Hey, I was after a new weekend cruiser to replace a 60's sport car ( Just not me anymore). Wanted something restored, under $10k, and able to transport the family. Got two right!



1970 1300 Super done 80,000 miles.Little old lady owner since 1973, who said it was in excellent condition, untouched and runs well. She must have seen me coming! Her old man, since departed this life hand painted any rust with with PA10 by the looks of things. It has saved it from to much rust, but the cancer is still there.



Has chrome trim down low. Fancy hubcaps and wheel trims



Had the BBC World service pumping out of this custom install. Speaker wire was cloth covered and a fire risk, so out that came.


Under the sheepskin covers the seat were almost mint. Interior is in great condition, so less expense here.


Boot area is great under mats. Needs rubber around edge.


The engine had a bit of a miss when pressing the pedal to the metal. Cleaned the carb and gapped the points( special order at superchp and repko New plugs and now runs ok.Note the 1970's alarm mounted on a wooden block.

So the plan is this:

RS1600 replica.


All on a $3000 budget.
Minilites, spotlights, panel and paint=done. In a year or so, I will get a 1600 kent engine. Two years, I might go for the full monty and get a 1600 twin cam.
Had Coby extractor fitted with just the one muffler.





Wow the power.
Panelbeater will take the car in 3 weeks time.
I want the car on the road all the time with no major parkups. The last car took 7 years to get back on the road and revinned. The Miniltes 13x6? will be a big expense. Ive brought a B&C inlet and downdraft twin throat Weber ready for the 1600. Will send to Weber Specs to rebuild.

Update.

Got some Minilite style wheels and tyres for $600 on TM. 13" x 6" with good rubber. Came with MK2 studs so rang around Saturday morning and Mag & Turbo Panmure got some in before closing for me. Sweet! Looks the part now.



As you can see, I also scored some new Hella spotlights off TM. Was going to cut front bumper and shape it like the quarter bumpers, but it was handy for fixing the lower spotlights. The upper ones I found some sliding door brackets in my garage that were suitable for them.



Got this Weber twin throat, K&N air filter and Berry & Chung inlet from TM. Carb jetted for 1600 at moment. Will get that changed. The inlet is very porous(?). Shouldn't effect the running.

[Bantam]

Discuss:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=29141

[Bantam]

Finally got the Weber 32/36 DGV back from Weber Specs. Full rebuild, new air filter and ready to bolt on.
Ended up using a MK2 manifold.
The old standard setup worked ok, but going for that 1970's boyracer look


Heres the new beast looking a million dollars

Removing the old manifold wasn't to hard. Did break the breather hose connector, was corroded. Had to drill it out and retap it. The heater hose connected was stuffed too. Got some new brass fitting from a hose shop in Neilson St, Onehunga.

New gasket and on it went.

Had to get new breather hose as it wouldn't reach around the cable mount. The old cable mount was on the rocker cover, where the MK2 is mounted on the manifold.


Easy job for a clown like me.
Now the moment of truth. Checked I hadn't knocked off any wires, and everything looked safe. Turned the key and full choke................


Fired up first time.A few minutes to warm up and check for fuel leaks. All good, so off around the block. Run brilliant. Feels a bit more top end.
I must give full credit to Weber Specs

[Bantam]

Hopefully thats a better photo

[Bantam]

Change of plan.Brought a 1600 711m complete. Not as easy as I thought for a retard like me. Every part took at less 3 attempts. Fucken cheap socket set didn't help. When pitstop reopens I will get them to lower the exhaust 15mm as the whole car rattles with it touching the floor. That the difference between 1300 and 1600 coby extractors.

[Bantam]

Took the motor out again! Two hour job so not so bad. Getting the sump altered so it doesnt touch the subframe and steering rack. Will slot the subframe so it has adjustment on the mounts. Hopefully by giving the mounts some adjustment, I should be able to tilt the engine a fraction and not have to alter the extractors.

My son giving a hand.
Got some MK2 Capri front struts and brakes to go on

To replace these antiques

[Bantam]

Long overdue update. 1600 is running well after a quick change to the timing. Had to mod the sump to fit.

Have being taking it easy as had no rev counter. Thats changed thou, after hunting the net for instructions on how to wire a Smiths RVI, I made my own diagram. After 40 minutes it was working. Have being well off the rev limit when changing so should see some improvement.


Black and Green were earthed
Red/White for the rev counter night light went to the light switch parking wire
Red for power went to the key barrel wiring ring ignition wire
White with red tip went to the coil. Take wire off the negative terminal that has a wire going to the dissy. Plug it into the wire end.
White with black tip goes to the negative plug on coil.

[Bantam]

Also fitted a monster mega buck stereo surround system.


Didn't want to take the pleasure of listening to the motor lol

[Bantam]

Have some bigger jets and emulsion tubes coming for the carb. Forgot it was still jetted for a 1300. The weber system is quite simple once you read and understand it.Plenty of options to change and improve performance.

[Bantam]

Ripped out the drum brakes on ANZAC day. Bolted the Capri struts to the body. Needed new brake hoses as Capri brake are metric. Had to fit the Capri steering rack as the Escort ball joint tapers different.Had to change the wheel nuts also due the metric thread .
After much swearing and spanner flying I finally got it bleed and running today.




Also had an alternator fitted to replace the generator. Idles heaps better now. Will get an electronic ignition fitted too.

[Bantam]

Third try at the rear end. 3 set of springs I had were too soft. Sent one set off to Snell Springs. Back in two days with 2 new leaves and resetting. Ordered polybushes from Flo Flex on Ebay from Wales:) Only took 12 days to arrive.


So off again with these ones

Had to drill holes then use a jigsaw to cut the inner sleeve out. The outer sleeve then came out easy

Nice

30 minutes later

Stiffer than a porn star. Will be cutting off the u bolts don't worry
Now the to replace the front shocks and bushes

[Bantam]

Brought a Butlers rally map reading light on TM.

[Bantam]

Had new shocks fitted in the front. Also needed front wheel bearings and RH side ball joint, rear brake cylinders $$$$$$$$$$. Turns out the rear brake line that runs across the diff wasn't flared on the ends. Is now.
Got a WOF, just. Different testing station, but they knew it was a 1600cc. They let it thru as my mechanic mate took it in. Need to get cert.

Mechanic got pissed off with it as the dissy is worn and the 32/36 is much the same so he had trouble getting it running right. $$$$$$$ might get a new 32/36 off ebay when $$ come my way. They are selling new eletronic dissy's on TM for $220 so might get one.

Fitted a MK2 throttle cable which is quite a bit different to a MK1, but got it sorted. Just need some fine weather now.
Ahh the joys of classic motoring:/

[Bantam]

Car is pretty much sorted other than body work
Jobs done:
New electronic dizzy fitted
New sports coil fitted
Weber carb issues sorted
New lower and stiffer front springs fitted
New electronic rev counter fitted
New genuine RS Escort three spoke on its way from UK

Dizzy and coil have made a huge difference. Runs smooth, starts easy.
The 4 carbs I was playing with, the correct one was the dirty worn looking one I didn't try. I was trying to get the carbs with two acclerator pumps so both barrels were getting fuel, but only one was open until second butterfly opened. Now idles smoothly and great mid range power.

Thanks to Billy for spotting carb issue and helping fit the springs.

Am starting to build a centre console for some gauges, fuses, and radio.

Looking forward to track day at Hampton Downs.

[Bantam]

Track day at Hamptons Downs!

The Escort made it to the track, first hurdle overcome! Took the rear seat out and pumped the tyres up to 42psi, bit of octane booster in the tank, new engine oil and filter, gearbox and diff oil topped up.
Being 20 years since I've being on a racetrack.
Car ran like clockwork, no engine or tune problems. Revs straight up to 6000rpm 1st,2nd,3rd, hitting 85mph before braking at turn1 with only about 5300rpm. Handling wasnt too bad, tyres were melted at end of day.







Developed a loud rattle coming off the motorway close to home. Checked this morning, two extractor bolts were loose plus one that fell out yesterday sorted that:)

[Bantam]

Merry Christmas to me!! Bigger steering wheel means now I can see the dials.

[Bantam]

Took the Escort into friendly old school boys, GT Refinishers in Penrose for rust repairs. Seven days later and they have being busy.

[Bantam]

Two new floors fitted,POR15 to go on yet.


Petrol tank coming out to get this little sucker welded