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Shaneo's 1978 Ford Escort MK2


shaneo

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I finally got to the track on Sunday first time since the new engine has been run in. What a diffrent car to drive . It passed cars that it should not have even been anywhere near and kept up with quite a few not to bad as well. had it on 3 wheels more than a few times. There where a few small issues but nothing as bad a the R8 that lost a wheel down the back straight and the Mclaren that didnt take turn one at all. So thanks to Max here are some photos and I will post a video when I get some more time.

 

It was double entered for the day A ringer from down south helped put it to the test. so it was doing two sesions per hour back to back all day.

 

What do you mean I wasn’t beating him…?  so this was the look on Billys face when it took him a whole sesion to get past the little escort even with a hairdryer helping him along.
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Guest driver that only put the go pro on the roof twice till it went flying but luckly it still went.
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Pushing hard holding off the turboed Trueno Mule
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Getting some blueing on the headers so we have decided to build  a airbox set up to keep the heat away from the carbs

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The first problem was the sweeper had taken its toll on the sealent not a major fixed in 15 min with the help of a few others.
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(The Mule did get it in the end…)
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Mid afternoon it started to run a little rough so I thought one of the leads had come lose but to my suprise I had lost the clip to hold the cap on off one side so we cabled tied it down and carried on.So all and all the day was great and the car made it home in one piece. There is some bleed on my garge floor but it is a ford thats how they let you know that they are alive.

 

Next on the plan is a 4.1 diff and replacment housing to see if that is where the vibration is coming from a set of 45's ( more fuel is required) and the airbox a new dipstick and a few other little things.         

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  • 3 weeks later...
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So the Bleed was bad gave it a clean up and found the breather on the side of the engine had come out and the dip stick was blowing oil out the top fixed it all and not to many leaks now but it is a ford after all.

 

Made a choice on the diff going to get a 4.4. It was the first on the list of things to get but these came up for sale and I had to have them. Gen 7" a special import 30 odd years ago for a track car and have been sitting around ever since. Work needed on the lip but they really suit the car and the era.

 

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And they had these as well which was another on the want list 

 

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As the set up on my car is on lend to see what was to best to run it on so now we Know it needs 45s 

 

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So thanks to Mark105 father I have some very nice bits for my car. So now new manifold carbs on and a dyno day to see what this little car is doing now. The next plan is getting it all set up ready for the next gumboot rally and maybe a few events in between. 

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New wheels are on gave them a quick clean still loads to do on them mainly the lip I have all the plastic alloy nuts off for cleaning 40 per wheel . So all I have had done is the wheels machined to take my current wheel nuts the re furb quote was $1200 so i'm going to wait for a while.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Working away on getting a few more parts ready for the 45's . Also ordered the a new 4.4 crown wheel and pinion which should be here in a week.

 

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Picked up a Red line Manifold 

 

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Mangoletsi throttle linkage

 

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And a get out of my F### out of my way for the Auckland drivers that think they own the road and don't care about the older quality cooler cars that drive on the roads

 

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The plan is to make the dual sprint on the 19th in Taupo . Found a more cost effective way of getting the wheels restored.

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So close but so far after Loads of porting to the Manifold fixing the dizzy's broken clip new 4.4 crown wheel and pinion I was in great hope for a start up . But yet another quailty product that I have imported has failed so getting a new acclerator cable made today and then I should get to take it for a drive.

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A few snap shots no luck today new battery they forgot to order new lead ends are very hard to get due to being 9.8 mm and I want straight ends instead of bent ones. Cable was left on the bench all day at Auto Stop GI when they said it would be sent this morning WTF meant to be finished tomorrow so want to drive this now.

 

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And last but not least another quality Burton product I seem to have a bad run with there stuff

 

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Finally got all the bits so last night after work we went for start up first problem was the starter just worn out and not enough power. So we had a search around and Paul had a few lying around so we got a 2 bolt one in there for the mean time to get it started. Joy it wound over but still no joy no spark. Bloodly thing drives me nutts so hopefully tonight it will get started to see what it goes like.

 

Went home and got the garage all cleared up after having 4 engines a parts washer and a pallet rack system to look after for a friend sitting in the middle of the floor thought I should make space for the home coming. But the Garge queen has still not arrived #####

 

Taupo is looming and still no car

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So found the problem carbon tip fell out and damaged this part 

 

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If I can get a replacement part will be a different story.I have emailed to find out. On at least a good note it was running tonight so I'm going there on Sunday to help with tuning running on a points dizzy but it is going which is the main thing

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Went on a trip for the weekend down to Taupo Dual sprints was the plan Friday night down there  Saturday morning Racing and Sunday home how could I go wrong. The car was ready Wednesday night and all running but no time for a dyno tune before the weekend only the skill of the right coloured plugs and a lot of motor way loops to get it running right. It was running very well a very different car now on the 45's. The new catch can arrived in time to get fitted to help with the oil leaks which it done a great job.

 

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Took it for an early morning run on Thursday. And found another small problem I was running out of fuel after a run of high revs though the gears in 4th she was out . So with time running out we decided to put a low pressure fuel pump between the tank and fuel pump. So far it is working but have been unable to give it a real test as yet.  Heading down on Friday night and Managed to get a speeding ticket not very fast just enough to pulled over by a police man with not much to do but my fault for going to fast.

 

He started looking over the car a lot and asking lots of questions and sent me on my way. More about Taupo on the next post....

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Taupo woke up that morning and someone had left the freezer door open all night. It was bloody cold the poor car was not happy about it running a borrowed dizzy as my good one was broken. So I was on point's , but running never the less. Anyway 15 mins of trying to wake all the guests at the motel . I had managed to get it running ( bloody garage queen)  

 

Out to the track car went though scrutineering no problems. Went on practice as I had never been on Taupo before. In and straight back out for qualifying seemed to be going pretty well I was holding on very tight tyre pressure was very wrong due to the cold but I managed to keep it on the track .Second last lap then this happened.

 

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And number 2,3 where cracked as well

 

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So that was the end of the day until the guys sent me to Rookie Dave's place for a huge amount of old school help. 3 and a half hours later it was fixed. Back out to the track we went expecting the day to be over it was pretty much done. I managed to get one run in and beat my qualifying time by 3 seconds and the tyres where still far to hard.

 

A great weekend car done well even if it had a rest in the middle of it . There are some new things on a list that I thought was almost done but no funds for a while now so I  just have to wait. A dyno has be done very soon thoughts on where to take it ?????

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Went to the All Ford day last weekend in Hamilton car went well . Putting the heater back in was agreat idea . I need to address the fuel supply issue as I wound out going up the bombays and 3/4 way up started to run out of gas again. Might be able to get away with a float adjustment but waiting till I get it on a Dyno now till I make any more changes. Still working though what jets it should be running as there is quite a few to change from what it is running on at current.Have to sell a few tresures from my shed now to fund new jets bugger. Due to small pump jets I would say . It does run very well at the moment.

 

I need to get new tyres for it as It is just a hand full now and gets lose in 3rd gear Looking at getting Toyo 888's funds are very dry after the last few months so it's on hold for the moment.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Been a while haven't driven the car much with shifting and work . Went on a run up to the Pioneer and Packard museum with the chrome bumper guys . 

 

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Seen this up north pretty cool 

 

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Thought I would take the car for an early morning delivery to Matakana . Half way though clearing some space I found a flat Tyre and I was 6 beers in so no drive yet again. Flat tyre has been fixed just waiting for some nicer weather  now . 

 

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Been working though the space trying to everything to fit but a little tight compared to my last garage

 

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Have to get moving again on this soon as Gumboot Rally is looming and there is a list of jobs to be completed before then.

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Been busy with Van lately so the Sport has been left out a little but I have had the exhaust fixed so its not dragging on the ground and has a support on it now.

 

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So here is hoping I wont break anymore headers also added another small muffler to the rear to tone it down a little 

 

Gave the rubber to the van so need a new set of Rubber looking at Yokohama A539 so all going to plan I should have so new tyres on it in the next few weeks as its sitting in its new home with no wheels and a flat battery as The wee boy turned the inside light on two days later I found it . Hardly driven this now for 3 weeks need to get it moving . 

 

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Not its best look   :cry:

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  • 1 month later...

Getting the car ready for Gumboot was a tight time line this time with work and everything going on. Had the car checked over all was well needed new rubber so picked up these and they where very good all weekend and very sticky.

 

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Next was the jetting in the carbs which a quick trip up to webber spec on Thursday morning problem solved but was worried all the jets changed 1 day before 1000km run but I had faith and it paid off the delivery of the fuel now is great the power is very smooth now and it's not running out of gas any more which is even better.

 

Then a mad rush on Friday morning stickers on and tools packed quick check over and ready to go.

 

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Next was the start and plan for day one was this 

 

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The car was running great couldn't fault it was doing everything I asked of it the main issue was to much weight in the car should have packed lighter. Half way though the day the HP of the engine was showing though with the other escort's just A little more on the hills and the longer straights ( Even the hair dryer car was taking it easy on day one aye MAX )  until it started to feel a little flat still had a little bit more but didn't feel right so at the next stop had a look and one of the leads was off the top of the plug on and away again

 

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After this stop was one of the best roads I ever driven the car done a couple of quick passes then had 20km of clear road and it drove like a dream and quick.Then another gravel road for a little more fun.

 

End  of day one I was done nothing left I had driven as hard as could all day petrol usage which pretty on par with the other guys which was a surprise due to the 45's . The gear box was starting to feel the pain 1st and 2nd where near on impossible to select so a little brute force and keep going.

 

Start of day 2 

 

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Jenn and I where first to leave 5 km from the first stop we finally got caught up by an sti subbie and broken headers again dropped the rear exhaust . Lucky this time we where at Whangamomona ???? not much we could do but keep going so drove the day out and kept hooking the exhaust back on all day . a small group of us where lucky enough to find a dissed quarry and do a few rounds . There is a video of 3 of us all at the same time I will put the link up later.

 

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A quick stop at the top of Messenger hill and then to the finish with a few stops on the way while we waited for Doug

 

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Joes garage and the escorts where very early back beers and pizza rate this great spot then home 

 

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Great weekend If you are thinking of doing  Gumboot you will love it great fun , great people and great roads and more great roads 

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  • 1 month later...

Its been a while and after Gumboot the car sat in the shed for a few weeks untouched .The exhaust was broken again runner 4 this time so I got that fixed. Was taking it for a WOF when it just stopped dead no power checked it over slight burning smell every thing was tight couldn't find any problems so a tow truck was called turned out that the dio plate had fallen apart after 1500km

 

Next the gear box was starting to show signs of wear 1st and 2nd gear where getting very hard to select and the car was bleeding all over the place

 

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So we are one and a half weeks away from the drags and the motor is out to replace the gear box and fix the oil leaks which turns out to be the rear main seal and the fuel pump as well as the gear box . Also found one of the carbs was leaking fuel as well so picking some seals from webber specs on thursday.

 

Did manage to pick up a new set 13x7 of race wheels

 

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