Escortn Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Discuss viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36591 Hey all, After my last 2 RB projects i still missed my old mk2 ford escort project so much that ive decided to get back into the old school scene with this. A Mk3 Ford Cortina! Always wanted one and after selling my last project which was a C35 laurel this came up on the forums. Put new front springs in the front the next weekend i got it and it also needed valve stem seals replaced so got stuck into that pretty much as soon as i got it back to dorkland only to find that not only were the valve stem seals buggered but the head needed a bit of work around the valves. Number 4s valves had recessed about 5thou and the seal that goes between the valve and head had been chewed up and spat out at some point in its life. Got it all fixed by The Cylinder Head Shop (awesome guy runs that outfit, super helpful with these things) chucked it on and ran mint. Also had some escort rostyle rims widened, 7" fronts and 8"rear, pic has a standard 5" rim infront for comparison. Decided to paint them for now until i figure out if i want to try polish the lip myself or pay someone to do it for me Took it down to taupo for a track day that was intended for the laurel but since id already paid for the day i figured id take the cortina on for a giggle. Only to find it had used pretty much a whole sump of oil and ruined a few of the brand new plugs i had in it. Tried a few suggestions through the forum to diagnose and also rang the cylinder head shop for a bit of advice. Turns out bottom end needs a rebuild (was planing on doin it at some stage but the cortina wanted it now) So i went out and bought these .5 oversize pistons new rings and bearings, place wanted them gone so got a good deal. Thats where its at now, future plans are get the bottom end sorted then start tidying up the body and interior etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 Finally got the time/motivation to pull the motor out. Sending it to get the pistons in and an overall reco on monday. While the motors out i plan to tidy up and hide as much of the wiring as possible and hopefully clean and paint the engine bay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 Ordered me parts from burton to! Few chrome trim pieces, quick shift and front adjustable shocks. Fizzing at the bung for em to turn up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted December 16, 2012 Author Share Posted December 16, 2012 Got plenty done this weekend, sorted heaps of wireing and hid plenty of it, only wires that whould be noticeable in the engine bay are going to be the alternator, coil and sensor wire. Im happy with that. Had SFA to do at work recently so been painting all the motor bits while its away getting the short block assembled Parts from burton arrived this week to, was really quick, payment went out on friday and parts turned up tuesday, got front shocks, pcv valve and a short shift kit. Chucked it all in today and emptied a can of spray paint onto the engine bay Standard shocks compared to new ones, bit shorter so im interested to see how its goin to sit with the motor and box back in Before: After: Engine bay so far: Looking sad 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Got a call from the guy rebuilding my engine today. Turns out someone's had the motor out before and has tried to cut off the baffle inside the block with a gas torch, ruthless. On the hunt for a bare block now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted February 27, 2013 Author Share Posted February 27, 2013 Got motor in and running in the weekend. Really happy once again with the work from The Cylinder Head Shop. Goes pretty hard and i havent given a heap of stick yet either. Was going to paint the block and head the same orange colour but didnt want to take off what had been torqued on etc and i was to eager to put it back in the car. Handles really well with the shocks from burton just need to get me some rear ones now. Onto the body now. is caked in bog, the front valance and guard gap had been bogged over and the fuel flap is surrounded by about 10mm of filler, so im worried what its gona look like under all of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Escortn Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Stripped the bonnet to see what was underneath and wasnt to bad, just a few dings and the bottom drivers side is dented at the front so im going to have to sort that out, have just left it in etch primer atm till i get some time to do it properly. Decided to pull the front valance off the front and found its full of bog (about 10mm thick in some places) and a shit load of rust. ive decided to make my own front lower valance and replace a decent chunk of the upper valance. Just a trial fit to check the guards line up with the curve and where to cut to fit over rails. drivers side guard is fairly mint and passenger is rolled just a bit to much so ill sort that. Also on another ford related note, my brothers recently bought a cosworth in pieces and we just put the motor in. Now he has to put everything else back on it and give the remaining panels paint. Epic semi material 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Escortn Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Was playing around with drivers door gap and found that somewhere along the line someone has put spacers behind the door hinge?? no idea why because it fits better without them. You can see the spacer on the right side of the hinge, just Before: After: Whack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted April 29, 2013 Author Share Posted April 29, 2013 My landlords given me his garage to use for a couple weeks while he sells his place so ive been trying to take advantage and get stuck into some body work. Removed most rust and have predpd those areas and have also got the passenger door sorted as the paint that was on it had heaps of hairline cracks through it. I also just bought some wheels arches, currently mocked up for now so any and all feedback is welcome. Rears would need spacers IMO and i would mould them to the body as opposed to just bolting them on, What do you guys think? give me shit: http://oldschool.co....74-mk3-cortina/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 Bolted the arches on. Got some nice looking button head socket screws, sits pretty nice. Got stuck into sanding it down aswell. Its been a bitch because the blue paint on it is a lacquer so its clogging up the paper really easy. I now have mad blue bogeys. Sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted May 11, 2013 Author Share Posted May 11, 2013 Most major sandings done, just got roof left and door jams etc. Got some bucket seats off trademe a while ago and my workmate mentioned hes getting into a bit of re upholstery and offered to do the bucket seats for me because he hasnt done any before, hes refoaming parts aswell so im keen to see how they turn out. this is a before pic of the drivers (the passenger is a shitload worse) will chuck up an after pic when i see the end result this week hopefuly also ordered a chin spoiler off olds cool autos aswell and that should get here in the week, so i can trial fit and see if i like it. Churs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 Managed to score a genuine front valance on trademe for cheap as, been sitting in the guys garage for years after he bought it as a spare, little bit of surface rust on the front but nothing major. Was happy with the one i made but nothing beats original. Got the lip from olds cool aswell and chucked that on, im not set on it yet but i want to see what it will look like all the same colour. And i got my seat back from my workmate, did a pretty good job. only issue he had was sticking the bottom of the back down where you can see its bunched up a bit but he reckons it should stretch down and be fine after a couple months of sitting in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 Finally got some proper car paint on the hussy! Set up a paint booth in the olds garage and is working pretty sweet. Only have the sandable primer on at the moment (3 coats of the shit) then its blocking everything, 2 coats black undercoat, 2 coats colour, 2 coats clear. Its gona be a long process. Got some spacers made up aswell, 30mm thick, keen to get it all back together now and see how it will sit with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted July 14, 2013 Author Share Posted July 14, 2013 Got all the black undercoat on on saturday then blocked everything that arvo and this morning then this arvo got the door jams, boot lid jams etc in paint and clear. Now got to block some more, paint the inside of the doors and guards etc then bolt it all on and paint everything. Fuck sanding cars. Body in undercoat. Photos pretty pooey because id just finishing spraying clear, that shit gets everywhere To give you an idea of colour 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted August 3, 2013 Author Share Posted August 3, 2013 Got it all back together yesterday after letting the paint dry for a week. Needs a polish tho but im stoked with how its come out. Now its onto tidying up the inside of it and sorting out things for a warrent, starting with the exhaust since it sounds like an aeroplane. anywho pics!! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 Have been cut and polishing this thing in the spare time i have, pictures will be a plenty when i finish doing it and take some. Scored a decent exhaust system off tardme today. It was off a mk4 cortina originally but all i had to do was shorten the pipe where it bolts to the extractors. Its 2 1/4" piping with a flowmaster muffler in the front and a super turbo muffler at the back. Took it for a hoon and sounds heaps better. I did notice that when i had the revs high and foot to the floor it blew out heaps of white/greyish smoke, am i right to think that its all the crud and shit burning out of the 2nd hand exhaust ive just put on??? Ease my paranoia: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/34512-escortns-74-mk3-cortina/page-2#entry1145299 Also ive been looking into electronic ignition, What brands have people here used and whats the price like? ive been recommended this one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/performance/electronics/auction-645106022.htm but i dont want to pay that much if one of the trademe 100buk jobbys will do the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 Finally finished polishing and got it running mint with the electronic ignition. No more smoke out the exhaust either wooop 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 I have no words, this is just so sweet man! You changed the shocks to spax, but you didnt change the springs? Cheers mate, I actually changed the springs the weekend after I got the car, it had horrible dobi springs in it I think and they where as hard as rocks. Here's the link to the discussion thread if you wana ask any thing else //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/34512-escortns-74-mk3-cortina/page-2#entry1145299 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted November 29, 2013 Author Share Posted November 29, 2013 Wooop got the cortina a WOF on tuesday stoked as. Theeeen i kind of bought what i like to think as a 'the cortina got a warrant present' The famed 3L V6 Essex motor out of a Capri! Haven't had a chance to pull it apart yet but im not expecting anything perfect, it was cheap. From the looks of the sump however someones had it apart previously and cut and welded the sump either bigger or to fit into something. Ive also been playing around with the centre console. A while ago i bought a centre console gauge cluster out of a MK3 GT Cortina but it was a bit cracked in places and was missing the piece that went over the gear stick and joins to the piece that goes over the handbrake, i then found a MK5 cortina center console that just covered the gearstick and joins up to the handbrake cover luckily. So with some rivets and plastic putty i came up with this... I used a small sheet of ali to cover the top of the mk5 piece to make a tidy compartment. Along the line someones cut the rectangle holes in there (no one needs that many switches) so i made a cover and used those to mount it. The GTs dash is different to mine and slopes down steeply where mine is more like that of a mk2 escort so i made the cover to also try and fill the gap and bring the console into line with the dash. Painted it all black and used that carbon vinyl crap for my front cover (covers up the rivets and scratches really well i reckon) Now to make mounts to fit it to the tunnel and see if it looks any good in the car. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escortn Posted January 18, 2014 Author Share Posted January 18, 2014 So my front brakes packed up a few weeks ago. Front right siezed so i decided to strip, clean and rebuild both fronts. They were both in pretty bad nick when i pulled them apart, looks as tho they hadnt been bled in years! One of the pistons was siezed in so i boiled it for a bit then popped it out with a compresser. (Dont do this if your better half is going to come home within an hour, it makes your place reek!) Chucked in a new seal kit and gave em a lick of paint. After i bled them the pedal was still going down way to far. Had a look at the master and found some fluid leaking down from where it bolts onto the vaccuum doofer, so chucked a seal kit through that aswell (no pics coz it was giving me the shits). Bled again and it was alot better but it still feels like it goes a bit to far. Ive bought some braided lines aswell but their yet to go on. Looking into getting the master resleeved then putting them in. Theeen i can concentrate on getting my gauges and centre console in. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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