Type49

Hi everyone, i thought i'd start this so if anyone has any questions etc i could try to answer them. Cheers

Brief spec on the car before the rebuild was 1600cc Xflow, Kent 244 cam, big valve head with double springs and steel rocker posts and solid spacers. Datsun pistons and twin 45mm Webers.  4 speed Straight cut , close ratio Tran-x gear kit. English axle with a steel plate type LSD 4.9:1 Ratio.  Two link rear end. 4 wheel vented discs and bilstein shocks all round. Quick rack and a world cup cross member. All pretty normal for a rally car of that era. 

Plans for the rebuild are making it look more like a period works escort of the 70's, ie. Satin black interior with correct works twin cowl dash and centre console, correct smiths gauges etc etc. Improving the rear suspension travel by adding mini tubs and a diff tunnel. Adding a panhard rod, proper seat rails and sill mounted jacking points. 

I will still use the Tran-x 4 speed and same rear axle, i may have to change to a 5:1 diff ratio tho with the new engine. 

Axles prepped and waiting for new bearings tomorrow.  

Evening all. I thought I'd start a discussion thread if anyone had any questions about my build.  Cheers Steve

Taking shape , finally. .

Diff head has been all checked,  cleaned,  painted and fitted to the housing with new nylocs. 

Evening all, I'm really wanting to complete the rear axle so have had a really big push on it today.  Have assembled one side of the brakes, happy with the outcome... even if nobody else sees them. 

More work on the rear axle today,  bare housing has been stripped,  rust treated, etch primed and painted satin black. Will be checking diff, cleaning, painting and hopefully fitting it to the housing today.  Pics to follow.  

And the brackets welded onto the axle. 

After a really busy start to the year and then Covid I have finally managed to get some more time on the van.  Have started fitting the anti- tramp bars... 

Etch primed and another job done.  

Started prepping the drivers side front panel to accept the new indicator assembly. 

Rechecked dash and dash top all fit correctly. 

Gotta love a long weekend for working on the van.  Converted the dash to RS spec with correct dash bracket and etch primed. 

I wish i could work on this full time.... Making some good progress this weekend. 

Tidied up the new shape, etch primed it and fitted the lamp.  

Another nice little mod I'm going to do is fit Hillman Imp/Hunter front indicator/park lights. All the works Mk1 Escort rally cars ran these lights and i also fitted them to my rally car when I built it. So after I made I template of the light unit I set about modifying the front panel. 

Have started on the rear brakes too, all stripped and ready for some sandblasting... 

Have also stripped the alternator.  Will be vapor blasting the alloy housings.