Toucan Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 Thought I'd finally start a thread as im turning this into a bit more of a project than just a daily. Known by all my mates as "the scrot", I bought it in april 2003, one owner since new, fairly tidy apart from a couple of dents and some minor surface rust, interrior was mint, engine ran... Got her home and gave her the cleaning of a lifetime Found out that the airfilter was still in its cardboard packaging and the old 1300 engine was running richer than Bill Gates. It probably didnt help that I'd only recently got my licence, we had alot of fun doing stupid things in this car haha, but one night mission I was chugging along and noticed a rather loud knock, I'd rooted the big ends. I intended on rebuilding the 1300 but once we got it apart it was looking to be a rather expensive task, new pistons and bore the block, head was stuffed etc etc. Found a 1600 for $150 and came with extractors, weber carb and manifold and a spare crossmember-turned engine stand, score So rebuilt the 1600, did simple things like new rings, gaskets, ghetto valve grind etc, bearings looked ok so left them... Got a 28/36 weber off a mates dad who reckoned they were a better carb than the 32/36 I got with the engine, so put that on, stock exhaust manifold for awhile due to not being able to weld the extractors on. Went way harder than the little 1300 used to, could drive anywhere without running into steep hills Needed new tyres so got all new wheels instead, $400 thanks trademe. old new Had to take a strut out after failing a warrant and found out I had monroe gt gas shocks in the front, so when I saw some matching rear ones on trademe for $40 I thought I'd get them. Went to raglan for a day, lots of coolish places to take photos... Put an electric fan in, trademe again, $70 Next thing must have been exhaust, had a muffler split open so Got two coby resonators and some 2" pipe and a mate helped make up a new system, including the extractors this time. Seem to have lost the phots but its nice and straight apart from the one smooth curve over the diff. Its nice and high under the rear of the car and doesnt hang out like some of the rice cannons you see, not deafening but still roars when you floor it, so I was happy. Raced around Taupo with it like this, did about a 1.05 on an incredibly wet track, great fun Got some new Brembo discs as my old ones were warped and undersize and had various other problems, Bendix Metal King Plus pads, stops alot better now A year of thrashing later I was getting slightly bored of it, wanted something different, was looking at a few options but anything newer was quite expensive and another oldschooler I would have to go through all the same kind of repairs as I had already done on the escort, so Ive decided to keep the car and do a few more things to it First up, I could recently hear the faintest knock when you put your head under the bonnet, so rebuild time... again. New bearings and possibly even a cam grind... I started on it yesterday. how the engine looked after I'd stripped a few things off my two helpers ran out of height on the lifter unit and had to use mang power no engine... ...oh there it is and all nice and tidy ready for the next effort Looking at getting a double swaybar or something to lessen body roll, and some stiffer front springs, do something to the rear springs, and put another diff in, which I picked up the other night, as my one was on its way out. Got a dished steering wheel, on the lookout for a bucket seat of sorts. Want it to be a bit more competitive so I will eventually be able to use it for trackdays and rally events Thats all I can think of for now, mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 Big end next to a main, I was expecting the big ends to be causing the knock but it looks as if the mains are worn more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 Fuck me my engine sounded GROUSE just then Went fairly hardout over the last 3 days, polished crank, replaced bearings put it all back together and put it in, just attached all the bits to the block, filled with oil and water and really wanted to test it. Although didnt have a ex-mani gasket and my extractors barely bolt up let alone bolt up flush, but I tried it anyway Sooo awesomely loud and crackly like a v8 through the leaks everywhere But aside from that it goes, got everything right first time so thats a good thing. New bearings Current state And took a picture to show my exhaust while I had the rest of the car apart, straight eh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted April 17, 2006 Author Share Posted April 17, 2006 Comfy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted April 17, 2006 Author Share Posted April 17, 2006 Went for a boost, always fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted May 3, 2006 Author Share Posted May 3, 2006 Extractors broke, drove from waihi to hamilton with open headers, gutterless as but wickedly loud/horrible, was a luagh at least. Got new ones, horrid coby item, red and henious looking, will modify flange at the end and bolt them in this weekend if I get a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted June 30, 2006 Author Share Posted June 30, 2006 Spose I should throw in the latest update... Escort has now been sold, so if you see it around then its no longer me driving. New owner has *big plans* featuring red paint, 17s, new engine and exhaust and a boot full of subs... Good luck old girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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