M_C

Big thanks to Elliot and Mark for sorting out the matching Pinto - W50 clutch. Toyota Hiace petrol, Autostop part R8593. CheeRS guys! This allowed final bolt up of gearbox, All went well until I noticed a couple of busted bolt holes in important places. Spy the sneaky patch of daylight where it shouldn't be. One was solved with a dodgy artful dodge. The starter motor one may have to receive similar treatment...? Hey. the engine is getting closer!

Time for a little tidy up while the engine is out: Before During After Hmmmm shiny

Pulled all the font out as the easy way to get the engine and gearbox back in, And while the suspension seemed pretty good for the track and hill climbs, lowering springs + Big Bilsteins = Better

I was very happy to find some ARP bolts here. But not so happy when my three clutch plates in the garage don't fit Pinto to W50. Can someone suggest sources and prices for clutch to suit Pinto to W50? Thanks!

Hmmm, been a while so thought I had better prove I turned a spanner on the car... Approved summer use of engine crane

Update hot off the press... (Sorry Elliot is jumping the gun, but Holy Batman that is Cool!!!!!)

An example of great ideas leaking into many peoples consciousness at the same time... I have a friend who has a Sierra wagon that used to have a YB turbo in it. Again dollars to put one back in was higher than benefit ratio so it currently as a 1UZ filling the hole. But he is tempted to put v6 in yoeddynz style and has been internet stalking your build. This post may even tempt him to reply, or shock horror, do some work on the car...

So for a short while my garage looked like this. Temptation was there for an engine transplant. Not overpowering though as I have just broken up with my overpowered turbo Geisha girl and really it was a short term dalliance with Cossie and a nice new home was found for her so I can finally get back to my long term flame Felicity. Closer investigations on the mystery package angry(?) pinto revealed some nice touches. Clearing out some of the scenery from the dent in the sump showed a nice wire tie on the sump bung Breathers have a guard in the rocker covers, cam does not seem to have a marking but lobes seem to be of decent size. Hmmmmmm Edging slowly closer to first test start up.

Nice escort, what are you fixing/hunting in the dash? If fitting bubble arches, try fitting them down a bit for instant low look, otherwise I can be hard to fill the arches. I wish mine had been fitted a bit lower.

Yes, had been sitting there for 15 years. Completely original with the exception of brick phone. Surprises me how many people know the Cosworth cars.

Washing the accumulated storage grim off Felicity revealed her lovely condition. Oh she looks good and I must admit a few caresses were shared as she was tucked back into the garage... With inspiration flowing the W50 gearbox and Pinto bellhousing was trial fitted. Success! As it came together nicely. Then I left my rubber arm a bit too close to the guys and ended up accidentally buying something... Why chose this jellybean shape of '90's excess...? Because YB Turbo. Hmmmm a little distraction, again. Thank goodness I have an understanding wife as I dragged this home.

DougD having a moment as his UnderCoverBrother coupe heads off with her new caretaker Appropriately under cover... Headed up to a Northland dairy farm for a full resto by Steve

Is this container rusting hard won personal experience, or internet rumour becoming fact? I ask as I am also in need of 2 year storage for my Mk1 Escort and am a bit precious about her. As a lot can change in 2 years I was thinking for renting a place rather than mates shed. Are the storage places built from containers OK? Generally have roofs over etc that may help?

NZ Warbirds have their D Day air commemoration this Sun. Supposed to be quite good from couple of friends who have been before. A few of us are heading down. From their FB page Our next Open Day commemorates D-Day, an event that took place on the 6th June 1944. Dubbed "Operation Overlord" the invasion consisted of over 100,000 troops, 900 armoured vehicles and 13,000 aircraft. Not to mention over 2000 ships. Come on out to Ardmore and join us in remembering this huge day of the Second World War. There will be plenty happening on both the tarmac and in the air. Flying slots confirmed as 1030-1130, 1230-1330 & 1430-1515. Adults $15, Children under 14 free. https://www.facebook.com/events/373629229501097/373629232834430/

Another minor moment of progress. With the sad sale of Geisha I could finally get the green one back home. Dragged out into daylight for the first time in far too long. How can a car get so dirty at the back of a clean storage unit...??

Geisha is gone. Long Live Geisha. She will be missed. For assorted reasons I decided to sell my beloved Geisha girl and let someone else have an obscene amount of fun in her. A last minute tour of duty. Family trip to parents. First time we had all been in car and needed to be done. Pretending to be a work hack picking up parts on her last morning. And driving away. Headed to CHC with Russ. Decent guy who races a per '65 Anglia and will be a good caretaker. Look for her boosting up a passing lane or hillclimb near you.

The good thing about being a hoarder is when you need a new part, say like an engine, you have plenty of bits to chose from...

Some more shots of our convoy enjoying the hospitality of NZ's finest back roads Hooray, We Did It! Gumboot #3 sticker well earned Thank you GumBoot Team for another Legendary weekend!

I'll see you one SR20DET and raise you a 4AZGE+BigT Then even more Epic back roads were hunted out from the route book and run Just visible in the front is a muppet in a new XR8 who thought he could drive, then got all offended when he realized he was holing up real cars... Was amusing watching him try to look cool with arm out window when the penny dropped. Another tunnel for dorting usage, insert downchange ad boosting effects here.

Gumboot photoblog continues with roadside shots from the next gathering A few moderns sneaked into the background. Need More OldSchool. Wait, what are you doing in the gutter...? More heavenly back roads were run up to this scene. Some say this may have been in improperly parked escort? But blemished we continued to refuel at Mercer

A quick squirt on some lovely roads led to a group challenge. Andy is not really sure what he has created with a non motorsport interpretation of drag racing... Prize giving Waterbomb prizes Photobomb by Mark

We had to lure the rest of the moderns away so we could bask in the glory of classic fast fords. Cue mass photography and self congratulations on our superb choice of motor vehicles Bonus appearance of NZStig

Sunday start line antics

Gumboot part 3 Trying to shoo a modern out of the EscortMafiaSubcommittee line up to get another gratuitous group shot when people decided it was time to roll on. This lead to a sedate convoy behind the interrupting modern. No problem as the next stop was just up the road. Not feeling our sharpest we managed to get side tracked on the run to Tauranga. I am sure there was meant to be a back road in there somewhere as we re-grouped at the mount but we were a bit fried and just quietly looking forward to beer and sleep. Settling in for the night in the booked out motel. Early morning services because escort that gets driven hard

Cool! It is in Napier now and very well looked after.