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Shaneo's 1978 Ford Escort MK2


shaneo

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Success and bit more time spent yesterday afternoon fixing lots of small jobs that I have been putting a band aids on up in till now 

 

Twin sway bar fitted and no more broken bolts sits pretty low but keen to take it for a drive and see what the difference is like

 

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Fixed the speedo which hasn't worked since before the Nationals due to the sur clip being worn and not holding it in properly. Fixed all the messy wiring that I had behind the grill and moved the electric fan switch I had cable tied to the grill for a quick fix all back inside the car now and wiring all hidden out of place like it should be.

 

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I need to find the fault that is causing it to miss I'm sure its got to do with the leads that I made up as sometimes it happen and some time it doesn't. So I have put a spare set of leads on to see if that fixes the problem. Tarmac series on Sunday so I might take all the extras out of the car. Seen I don't use it that much at the moment and it will be ready for the rounds to come. New engine rebuild is still work in progress only need rings and a cam and it can put back together. I have been taking with Peter from Kennelly Cams trying to what would be best to suit my heavy footed high revving style of driving. 

 

The last cam I got was a regrind it it just doesn't seem to reach it's specs that it should, I have decided to get a brand new cam. Also I want a brand new dizzy seen the timing is such an important part to a xflow .  

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  • 2 weeks later...

After the autocross I have had a small exhaust leak so had it all jacked up to fix this Sunday thought it was a crack around the top of Number 4 header

 

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So during the removal it didn't go well and I ended up with two parts and what was I thought a small leak turned out to be the end of the headers.

 

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Also have a small coolant leak so I will need to get a that added to the list

 

vho4.jpgI didnt want an off the shelf cam

 

I have ordered a new cam from Kennelly cams in ChCh . I didn't want an off the shelf cam. I have all the other bits that I need so the rebuild will start this week coming. Was gifted some ARP conrod bolts so now I will have ARP head conrod and flywheel bolts / studs

 

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Today we started the new bike carb mainfold build here are a few pic's of todays work 

 

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And we finished up here for the day

 

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So looks like the car is out of action for the monthly meet

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Today and my new cam arrived.  Here is the spec sheet 

 

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Still not running as i'm just not sure what to do about the headers . Don't really want to put Cobys on as I have seen so many broken ones now. Hill climb is coming so I will need to sort something soon. It might be import time????

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  • 2 weeks later...

Done a little over due maintenance on Saturday changed the coil as it's been really hard to start for the last month and it was the last thing left that it could be. It start first turn of the key back to normal which is great as I have to use it for the next two weeks as a Daily till I get a company car back. 

 

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Picked up a 5 speed during the week I doubt it's any good there is a lot of play in the front shaft . I will pull it apart and see if a rebuild kit will fix it other wise I now have a bell housing and the drive shaft yoke.

 

Took the car for a drive to the Coromandel and back on the weekend loads of fun . I do wonder what it will be like next weekend in the hill climb?? 

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Hill climb was today and it went well . Didn't break any records and dropped a lead off the dizzy twice but I still managed to keep up with Max in his V6 escort and only losing to him buy 0.11 of second not bad I was very happy with the days results.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oYfBi7Z_cw

 

Bring on the dual sprint been quite a while since the car has been on Hampton Downs . And have an LSD , new semi slicks , and a twin sway bar now so I hope I can gain at least one second.

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  • 1 month later...

Been a while done the dual sprint with the Fiat club and was happy but dissapointed as well beat my best lap time by 1 second but sturggled with top end couldnt get it over 120km per hour and as the day went on the top speed got worse down as low as 105km on the main straight.

 

A brand new set of semi slicks that stuck the car like glue to the track and the Lsd twin sway bar all made a difference to the way the car was on the track. I think the top end speed was due to lack of fuel as I only have a very small fuel filter and my foot was hard down all the way around the track due to grip.

 

I have only taken the car out once since this event and it ran fine no top end speed issue but I was only giving a quick burst compaired to 12 mins with my foot flat to the floor. Droped it off for a Wof check today last one before the body goes away for panel and paint.

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The inspection was OK and the engine rebuild is on hold as I need a wof fail points steering rack end , oil pump leaking , horn not working , rust , leaking muffler , Just all the normal stuff for an old school car.

 

Went for option B with the rack end and bought a brand new 2.4 quick rack from Plamside instead of part repairing a 35 year old rack

 

Had a brand new oil pump already for the new engine. Have ordered a flow master for the exhaust system after 2 x pit stop mufflers in 15 months time for another brand.

 

Prep ed the rusty drain channel well what was left of it after a clean up. It was getting welded today and treated as the main thing is to have a warrant ready for the bent sprint.

 

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The body is starting to show its age and that it's never been though a full rebuild at least all the running gear has been replaced

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  • 2 weeks later...

All legal again quick rack was very tight at the start of last weekend has eased a little now.I am liking the brand new rack money well spent . I also have lost the vibration that the car had that nobody has been able to locate maybe it was the buggered rack end the whole time.

 

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Think I should have got a group 4 joint as well maybe later on. The rust repair looks great no paint as yet as I'm not to worried about it rebuild of the body is looming and I could buy other things with the money.I picked up two brand new engine mounts for the new engine if I ever get around to getting it put together.

 

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This came up on Trad me the other night no photo but the price was right so we will see if there is any difference 

 

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But other wise the car is running great no problems I have a few jobs to get done before the bent sprint this weekend . The car has managed to compete in all 5 events with very little work being done to it and its done better than ok just need to learn to drive it harder now.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Bent sprint over, the only loss to the car was the fuel cap which now belongs to the country side some where??? it went very well had a guest driver from the deep deep south and I only managed to beat him by 1.5 seconds. The fuel starve problem came back to bite as well. Main speed point hard down on the pedal and nothing more top speed was 125km .Work on the fuel system needed to sort this.I did manage to drive the whole course with my foot hard to floor and only brake for the 45km corner.

 

It sticks to the road like glue now and showed that I need to get the bigger engine built now as power shortage was an issue some video thanks to Heath

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntS8AroznMA&feature=youtu.be

 

Was gifted a group 4 steering link and started looking for the new dizzy for the engine rebuild as that is the last part been checking out the 123 ignition but they are very pricey.Any one got a better suggestion these look very cool? And then there is to balance or not to balance as all the internals weighing the same already . So I think I will just get the flywheel checked.

 

Took the car to the Cormandel for the weekend ran really well very nice drive around there. 5 speed needed 3/4 of a tank of gas for the trip but loads of fun

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Been driving it a little but spent the evening getting ready for uncles night tomorrow with the fuel starving problem M_C has loaned me his set up so I can try it out while his big end is resting his car and to see if I can get to the bottom of the problem.

 

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Catch can was full after bugger all km partly due to high revs with the 3.9 and 4 speed and far to much xflow blow by . Five speed has been dropped off for a rebuild. After one gear box rebuild I have decided I don't want to do another. Looking at getting a long first gear for the 5 speed from Burtons no rush will wait to see what is wrong at current first and then make a call. Car is all ready apart from gas for tomorrow I would think it will be the last run on this engine. the build has started again a few new parts due to arrive and its off for balancing next week.

 

Aiming to beat my best time which stands at 1:30:50 not bad for 100hp at the fly wheel on a great day.  

 

 

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Hampton Downs was a mixed bag went really well for the first few runs but as per normal it run low on power again after a few outings. Had a look over found a semi lose lead and turned the fuel pressure up slightly and off I went again.It was ok for a lap and then power was running low again at top end, 2 laps in down the main straight there was a mass puff of blue smoke out the back and loss of power of off to side I went.

 

Session finished car was still drive able a little noisey and loads of smoke. Thought cant do any more damage now it's been done. Let the car cool down for half an hour and made a call to drive it home. Just took it easy it was very smokey. started up the Bombay hill got slower and slower oil pressure dropped down to 2.5 psi stopped at the top checked the oil still some there and a brand new oil pump so kept going. Pressure came back to 10 psi and it made it home .

 

Sorry to all the people that chose to follow me so close for the smoke screen . Need to push the new engine build along now.

 

I would say broken rings  

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Little gutted drags on and broken car . Received a brand new set of bolts from the uk last week ready for the rebuild 

 

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dropping the crank assembely off tomorrow for balancing . Picked up another 5 speed today to add to the 6 gear boxes I have lying around..

 

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Thinking now with the broken engine It might just time to do the panel and paint.

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  • 2 weeks later...

After receiving the throttle bodies . I'm not sure if using this brand as a base is the best move. as the two end ones will just be to steep or rebuild a whole new manifold and fuel rail

 

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I have found a brand new throttle bodies that bolt up to a twin side draft webber manifold which will be better way to spend the money. I would like to use some old 45 side drafts to keep it looking old school if any one knows where I can get a cheap set.

 

Engine is being started on rebuild soon just a couple of more parts that I need to get like a variable cam timing wheel and a grunty oil pump. 

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The head came off today and I have broke a few engines in my time but I have never done this before.In saying that the engine did come from a $600 written off special over 2 years ago and has done 9 events 2 different tracks and over 6000 km. And as a good friend of mine would say drive it like you stole it.

 

First part out we where WTF as I still drove it home from Hampton downs 

 

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Head off to see this umm is it savable not sure on this one

 

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Then the block, the funny part of all of this it has never been re-bored still at standard block size and not a mark on the bore so a new set of rings and pistons and a quick hone and away I could go again.

 

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Impressed drove it 30km home like this. Go the broken old xflow!!!! New one already being rebuild put an order in for the oil pump and adjustable cam gear last week only a dizzy to get now.. Rebuild in progress and the 5 speed should be all sorted ready for the new year. Just doing more research into ITB before I buy anything. The 4age ones are just to hard to match compared to brand new

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  • 2 weeks later...

Been slowly working away . New dizzy on the way . And a different throttle body set up is as well which will line up loads easier. The 5 speed is sitting in place and I dropped the drive shaft to be shortened today . Engine is planned to all together before Xmas so with any luck I can get it all fitted up and run in over the holiday . 

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