Jump to content

Mofs 1979 Ford Escort Panel Van


Mof

Recommended Posts

Discuss

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/43865-mofs-1979-escort-panel-van/

Hey OS

 

This is probably going to be a long slow process but ill try post when I can

Because we're going to the US later in the year I don't have any moneys to spend on it yet, so im doing what I can for free

Bought this van about a month ago

Most of the hard work has been done, the panel work is pretty good but the wiring and running gear is not good

 

There's a couple small bubbles of rust, 1 in the r/h door front corner, and one on the corner of the bonnet.

I haven't found anywhere else...... yet

 

Heres some starting photos, I borrowed these from the old owner as they are better than dim lit garage pics.

Someones modified the dash and made it a 5 dial

3sq23nnt.ri5.jpg

And this isn't original right?

xdne1mam.y2h.jpg

post-18231-0-85593300-1402056472_thumb.jpg

post-18231-0-30383900-1402056508_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 42
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

So it came with blue neons and LED strip underneath, that was the first to go

 

And I removed the grill when I got a chance

Figured out the headlights are Gen1 Accord, they fit pretty good on the slam but stick out the front a bit

 and the old buckets have been removed and covered over.

So ill be looking for some Accord headlight surrounds in the future, and fit the ford grill between them.

 

Pulled the front wheel off last night as I had some spare time to fuck around

The wheel bearing was loose and rough (I don't know how it got its last WOF coz ive found a few other things it should have failed on) and I found this

czhfl0ts.zkh.jpg

uulfuvaw.vfy.jpg

Sooo what/where are these discs from?

gjubo14i.13x.jpg

Only about two thirds of the pad are on the disc, so at some point when the pads wear

down the pads would touch and have no brakes...

xkve52sk.th2.jpg

I also found theres wheel spacers behind the front wheels, but the wheel spacers are

just loose and I think its putting off the balance coz they are not centred.

Because of the spacers the studs barely poke out thru the rims aaah

15o3pf5w.ial.jpg

g4o2p2hk.cbq.jpg

Maybe I should be posting in failed mods lol

I relocated the aerial as it looked silly

xxmhfkpe.qjj.jpg

cnnd3flq.hx3.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The dirty great hole that was hiding under the grill

hj34mi4h.330.jpg

And the classy console made of steel complete with sharp edges, gaping holes and random screw holes

bkkhoko2.4u5.jpg

Note the fuse box l/h side, and the door cards ha

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Took radiator out today to see what was going on with the mounts

Half the front crossmember is missing, will need to be boxed

qe1jvyux.yfq.jpg

Also spot the quality of coolant :thumbleft:

 

Jobs to add to list:

Gas and wire for mig

get Panel steel

get some damn antifreeze

 

Looks like the engine and box will be coming out some time too, good chance to paint the bay while im at it

 

Are Escort radiators 2 core?

And are Cortina radiators 2 or 3 core?

This one has auto cooler tubes in it so suspicions are raised...

 

3 months till I can start spending coin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Removed the Weber today to give it a clean and see if that will make it run less lumpy

1d4e3r4m.puf.jpg

And then Bang it exploded!

ke3gokvh.5wt.jpg

So, todays questions

The return outlet on the carb has been plugged, but the brass tube leaks where it meets the alloy.

I was going to remove the tube then tap and plug the alloy hole

- Do I need a return line? it hasn't had one so far, and the 1.3l didn't

The auto choke is had it, the bolt rusted off the end, and the diaphgram is split.

- Replace auto choke assy? (providing I can find one)

- Peg butterflys open and run with no choke?

- Bang up a manual choke?

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/43865-mofs-1979-escort-panel-van/

Cheers

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

So two days back from Murica and I'm in to it

Scored some 1/4 bumpers to replace the homemade 1/4's on the front,

thanks Mr.Mainstream :thumbleft:

Also picked up some 13x7 Hotwires

5cisalhl.uko.jpg

Spokes were painted black, so I scratched the paint off, sanded, more sanded, then polished one wheel so far

Only took 2 hours

luxksjbm.omk.jpg

So what do we prefer, Modgies or Hotwires?

(Modgies are staggered 13x7 neg offset front, 13x8 rear 0 offset)

3aufe2ui.nir.jpg

Needs more low, but that can wait

tbf2vkai.ilh.jpg

Got a full set of the proper wheel nuts from Appco for only $50!

(Priced BNT $9 each)

Also, still got some unanswered questions, and some new questions if youse peoples in the know could share your knowings with me?

1- Do I need a fuel return line on the 32/36 Dgav, or can I plug the outlet?

2- Why do I have M12 1.5 wheel studs on the rear and 7/16" on front???

Could this be linked to the small rotors?

Do I have mk1 hubs on the front?

I thought mk1 hubs don't fit mk2 stubs?

and mk1 stubs wouldn't fit the struts/steering?

wtf?

Please don't guess your answers, facts saves a lot of fucking around on my end

I eagerly await replies and discussifications :):)

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/43865-mofs-1979-escort-panel-van/

Also looking for a glovebox if anyone has one going spare?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Whoa hey wait a minute...

I did something today

After an inactive hunt for front hubs I finally got some

and some paint

Cleaned, painted, new bearings and new rotors.

dpe2p2gh.bsk.jpg

The plan was to get it rolling, then remove the engine to tidy it up, and paint everything

But I've run in to another problem..

It's got tiny calipers! WTF

What were these people thinking!

Went to fit the new pads and uh ho

mrn3kofb.3og.jpg

so anyone got a pair of M16 calipers floating around?

any condition

Cheers all for looking

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers Valiant for the calipers!

I got a bit carried away this afternoon

Completely forgot to get a pic of the state of them when I got them, but this is the state of the struts they came off, the car had been on fire

o1cdyt2b.hd2.jpg

Stripped down, Wire wheeled, honed, sanded, painted

guy1imo0.3sy.jpg

And fitted

u42hy0fn.yve.jpg

And back on wheels, first time since June

hxgekq3x.ycu.jpg

Discussinate

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/43865-mofs-1979-escort-panel-van/

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Got stuck in on Sunday, and did some more tonight

Engine and box are out, I should have got a photo of the sump mod, it's amazing.

vdc5nvjn.50t.jpg

There were some treats hiding underneath...

Seat mounts

i2pv1x1e.a5h.jpg

Type 9 tunnel modification

ezrsiloe.bc0.jpg

And there's something funky going on with this box mount, hiding under the underseal. And the top part has broken the spot welds

cg5txfni.scg.jpg

I can't believe this is all certed.

Check out the amazing colour scheme

kggtryuf.hjh.jpg

r0dt3hro.zjg.jpg

So...

Lets get some work done

lnwoak0r.1xs.jpg

uubn0gxp.zmr.jpg

All ready for Hover conversion

ho5iu0ea.vq4.jpg

I definitely need some argoshield now

Cheers

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Got some gas and wire yusss

Started off with 0.9mm, didn't go so well, now on 0.6mm, so much better

(that's why I'm not showing the 'before grinding' shots)

Started filling all the random screw holes and drill holes

wylsud3s.zlw.jpg

High quality fire extinguisher on the floor there^^

and cut the abortion clutch cable pipe off that was rubbing through the cable, and replaced it with a piece of the correct size and length. still needs a couple grinds, but its too late for the noise.

iviwwsxv.1fe.jpg

Not so easy welding touchy thin panel with a manual helmet, so I quick-fixed the free auto one someone lost the battery covers from

hf2kvc32.ea0.jpg

by free I mean saved from the skip lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Progress

So the battery tray had been relocated from its original position, to about 1/2 an inch lower

but the spot welded strip was left on the guard, so I cut/smashed it off.

then tried to fill the spot weld holes, but wasn't going so well

So I cut the whole tray off through the welds and bog over welds

And underneath there was this

j2wj3tia.jzx.jpg

The panel behind has been beat to shit with a hammer, and I attempted to fill the holes, but the more I looked at it, the more it annoyed me

So I cut it out and made a new panel copying the lines from the other side

My first ever attempt at making panels and I think it went ok, just need to be a bit more accurate on the gaps

c5xcyurq.ova.jpg

And welded in

ybtwiepj.5sv.jpg

That is some of the nastiest welds I have ever done!

I just can't seem to get the settings right on the mig, its so frustrating

Any advice muchly appreciated, cheers

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/43865-mofs-1979-escort-panel-van/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Been a while since I did anything on this, but the boulder bashing, mud chucking daily has been very needy (I think it misses the attention) and would be nice if it stayed together for more than a couple weeks.

So I wasn't happy with that panel as the steel I used was a bit thin.

So I cut it out and started again. Unfortunately I was on a roll and forgot to take pictures

But here's the end result

hn4zgcct.dg4.jpg

Then I cut out the loom hole and panelled that in

I did it again and got no photos dammit

5td1w1gh.rcu.jpg

aaand that's about it.

I found a small bit of rust in the right side sill, right in underneath.

But I haven't grown the balls to tackle that yet

Also, still looking for a mk5 radiator so I can modify the mounts before I paint the engine bay...

Cheers

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Did some shit

 

Welded a bit of steel in to the hole in the front panel (ref post #3)

Tato pics

cvahhj0j.dyu.jpg

Welded and started to grind it back, Welding didn't go so well along the bottom as the lower front panel has had a whack and has been filled with a shitload of lead. you might be able to see the lead melting away under the paint

alrwbbbg.gzs.jpg

A bit of filler over and she'll be right

Heaps of filler along the bottom to make up for the missing lead. My sanding block had a hard time with the lead so there are slight rises where the lead came to the surface

kybgvflk.f12.jpg

But I'm not too worried, some time in the future I will go and see Palmside and get a new front panel, might even see if I can convert it to Mk1. I see this as good practise.

Also while I was waiting for the filler to set, I made these, and welded them in.

ztcw2zj3.vqs.jpg

Is nice to weld something thick where I can get a run going

Still looking for Cortina Radiator

Every one I find is rotten and I'm too stingy to recore.

Might have to bite the bullet

Thanks for looking (apologies for large photos in previous posts)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

Long time no post

 

I get a little bit of time to work on this every so often, and this is pretty much all I've done.

Stripped all the suspension right down, cleaned, painted, and started reassembling.

agqe4ye1.tly.jpg

kdtpw3n2.kj2.jpg

sbt5quer.ci3.jpg

While I had the rear brakes apart I found the auto adjuster hinge pins were too tight and stopping the adjuster from working. That would explain the brake pedal going to the floor.

oqonzbxh.jqy.jpg

And I made some new brake lines, the old ones were horrid, and crushed in a couple of places.

agax5lon.moe.jpg

Will do the rest of the pipes after I chuck some paint in the engine bay, and underneath.

Don't open the garage door while you've got stuff hanging from the track, idiot.

Oh yeah, and I cut the rusty bits out of the right sill, sprayed lots of rust converter in the sill, and ran out of gas to patch it up, dang

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Patched up the sill.

As usual I forgot to take during pictures, so you just get an after picture

post-18231-0-91135300-1476607598_thumb.jpg

 

No filler used

 

Boxed in that cut up crossmember

 

post-18231-0-91561000-1476607845_thumb.jpg

 

Purdy welding, I was enjoying welding something thicker than panel steel

 

Cut off the massive piece of steel someone had put over the tunnel hole, and welded in some panel

 

post-18231-0-79921700-1476608007_thumb.jpg

 

I'll probably put some more steel in at a later stage to make a much nicer round hole, when I figure out where the shifter pokes through

 

 

Some of that tunnel was pretty thin and ended up chasing a few holes.

 

 

Oh, and for your viewing pleasure,

 

post-18231-0-20651700-1476608123_thumb.jpg

post-18231-0-00715600-1476608152_thumb.jpg

This mig has some fault in the solenoids, so the more I turn it up for heavy welds, the more it pops the breaker in the garage. which is incredibly frustrating when you're crouched in the engine bay all set up and ready to go, pull the trigger and the lights go out. Climb out, reset fuse, climb in, set up, pop, Fuck!

So I put a piece of string on it. Weld, pop, pull string, continue welding. Take that shitty welder.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started making the battery/spare parts/stash box for the back

It will be sunk in to the floor just behind the fuel tank

 

Genuine Nissan Diesel JDM? toolbox

Welded up the seam around the base

post-18231-0-37680900-1476610835_thumb.jpg

 

Folded a lip along the top and welded some steel in to the corners

post-18231-0-11321200-1476610921_thumb.jpg

 

And made a battery clamp

post-18231-0-85445500-1476611144_thumb.jpg

post-18231-0-19839200-1476611164_thumb.jpg

 

Am going to put a vent in it somewhere too, and then figure out a lid.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

Welded in a vent

20170402_180329.thumb.jpg.9274ef96e41afe009fc4bcab98a04476.jpg

Ground back 

20170402_182659.thumb.jpg.f6584553ca0d9b53eeb3f162ac57276e.jpg

Cut a hole in the floor just behind the crossmember and fuel tank and welded it in 

20170916_180910.thumb.jpg.5dca9b3ea1348ab0839bf51335767517.jpg

Right after I started welding it in, I remembered I hadn't made a flush lid for it yet, at the rate I'm going that's next year me's problem 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...