kris

Thanks all. Decisions decisions....

HI All, hopefully not a repeat question - I've read the last 100 pages of this thread and not found an answer. If a car has been on reg hold for say 10 years. Is it best to get it back on the road unmodified, register it, wof it, and then do the mods. Or just mod and cert. Obviously the former is easier as you can test it on the road etc. But, from the certification point of view - any advantages either way?

Screw it. New goal: I'm flagging most of the modifications. This includes putting back all the panels etc. I cut out. I've just received a big cardboard box of new radiator support, crossmember, battery tray etc. panels from the UK. I'll return everything body wise as close to factory as I can. From this point on, only mods will be bolt on, period(isn) and easily reversible. Because of this, I can't fit the supercharger into the engine bay. So I won't do this anymore. I'll still fit the 2.2 pinto and 5-speed box, LSD axle, capri struts, HD + rear tramp bars (the only weld on mods I'll do), and some minor brake upgrades. I will keep the fishnets and some of the RS bits I picked up along the way such as the RS dashboard, clock cubby etc. I will keep the front rubber spoiler - as this seems to have been fitted originally to this one, and the rear spoiler. I may fit a low boost turbo and the EFI if I can make a turbo manifold that will clear the brake booster. I'll flag the 13x7 hot-wires that it came on and put it back on original steel sport wheels and skinny tires. The original Sport: gearbox, rear axle, engine, radiator, seats, struts, dash etc. Will be kept and cleaned up. I may also at some point throw my hands in the air during this and return it to original 1.6 powered kent goodness (with twin sidedafts). I don't know if I can be assed with LVV certification. Next, I need to take the wings off to sort a little rot in the front edges. Now a far less interesting project - but I want to preserve the period character of the car.

Yeah mine rusted in the rear window sills. What year is this one - 79? Good luck! Mines 11 years in the garage and not done - lazy.

Fortunately the car is fine, its been up on axle stands in a snug garage. There are still a few little historic rust repairs, but it hasn't got any worse. Just very very dusty. I have to rework the front inside panels back to 'standard' again, as I no longer want to run a huge intercooler. Will be looking to use a smaller air to water intercooler maybe inside the LH wing (not using the Subaru one either). I guess I won't be able to compliance the 13x7 hotwires with the 185/60x13s anymore . Don't think 205s will fit, hmm...

I've been through and dug up most of the engine, and there's good and bad news. The block survived with only a little surface rust in the bores: The crank was not so good: My Beautiful offset ground, radiused, balanced, and zero decked crank Considering it was stored in the house, this is pretty upsetting. The machine shop I used no longer exists, so I'll be taking it in to a local shop to see if there is any hope of a polish saving it. Pistons are fine of course. Here is the decompression pocket, which exactly matches the head. I only finished 2 of the 4. Machined xflow con-rods (narrowed, modified to non floating gudgeon pins, relocated oil squirt hole, matched weight) and the taper gudgeons and new cam springs all survived perfectly due to sitting in oil. As did the big Esslinger valves (biggest you can fit without relocating the guides, 1.75in 1.5ex), slim head. My ported head also survived with no rust: Ported ala Vizard, exhaust shown here: Chambers opened to align with bores: Big valves fully de-shrouded: Uprated clutch is a bit rusty, but will clean up fine: Lightened flywheel: Block cleaned up well, I guess you could say the bock is well seasoned lol... Studs and dowels to align head chambers. So, mostly still a good foundation for building this engine, shame about the crank, I'll see if it can be saved.

OK, that was an understatement 9 years since starting it and 7 or so years... ...without touching it. Last week I went into the garage and sat in it. I will dial back the spec a bit so I can get it on the road sometime in my lifetime. P.S. Mods, I am reclaiming my thread. P.P.S In order to follow the rules, discussion thread here: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/18538-kriss-escort/?hl=kris

Looks fab. A couple of questions, how good was the stripe kit, especially the text in the back 1/4? Also, where did you find the UK cast TCAs? Cheers.

It looks great!