M_C's Mk2 Escort of Boost

[M_C]

So keeping an eye out for a new engine for Green machine I came across this. Headed over with some cash and managed to get it.

 

It came bolted onto this...  

 

 

So now I have a new TOY. Yes capital letters as it has rather a few nice bits in it...

My lovely wife was somewhat unimpressed at another escort being dragged home, particularly when I only told her late on the afternoon that she was supposed to be going out on girls night and I was to be on kiddy duties and added to the 2 weeks of garage gorging to get another escort ready for the GumBoot Rally. Hmmmm. But it was worth it! The little Kraken has been pushed onto the back burner as she has been properly superseded by TripleR.

 

The name DogBox was considered, but this really would put me in trouble. Let’s not go into detail, but the home front is rosy and I have a bigger smile on my face. I worked out very quickly I needed to put a ring on Shannon’s ringer after first meeting her.

 

Dicsuss //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/43079-m-cs-mk2-escort-of-boost/?p=1301390

[M_C]

So once harmony was restored at home the mad rush began to bolt the suspension back onto two escorts already blocking the drive so they were moveable so I can get TripleR sorted out. High on the list was sorting boost, traction and brakes. When checking the car out the advice was to put it into 3rd before sticking the boot in it at 60, oh, OK.  Que 3,500rpm boost and FARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRk!!!!!! Can someone please let Captain Kirk know that Scotty has misplaced his spare warp drive under the hood of an unassuming little escort? This thing is hysterically fast on full boost. Matched by puckeringly bad brakes. Nothing nothing, lock up...

 

Videos posted on discussion explain the traction issue quite well... The tires are dead. They served well, RIP.

I hear a new dwarf planet has been found and added to the solar system. I wonder if it is as big as these?

Picture does not really do it justice. The 15" minilights I just bought do not fit over the brakes...

So why doesn't it stop? Partly dead tires. Rear brake pressure also shut right down. Maybe also related to videos? Balance bar adjustment was not adjusting as missing lock nut. Dialling up some rear brakes and putting my Mk1 wheels on it found some traction.

 

Also looks legend on steels:

 

Bugga, the steels have a few issues. Don't really clear the brakes, but of guard rub on rear at bump stops, and found they are buckled when trying to balance and get alignment.  Must have been hitting the rumble strips a bit hard at Hampton. Maybe that is what that marshal signal meant?

 

So another late night mission and back on mags but better tires.

 

Little interior shot with some goodies peaking out.

[M_C]

This week has been a made rush getting ready for GumBoot Rally. First on agenda was WOF, very little fettling needed of a gear knob that is actually attached as it will be getting a bit of manhandling, an interior mirror (Thanks Heath!) and good look over resulted in a nice pass, Yay!

 

Then the list was worked through:

Find traction and brakes. Very important. Boost reduced from InsanoLevel 11 where I might not have made it back from this weekend. No I am not exaggerating… I have dyno sheet for previous “lower” tune of 184.7kW + 761Nm at 21.7psi. Current tune is supposed to be 201kW. Needs map checked on dyno and engine mount showing signs of stress replaced before track run at Full Monty. Oh, and some VeryBraveUndies need to be found.

Now boosting around 10psi feels almost pedestrian. Must…Resist…More…Boost.

After changing several sets of tyres reluctantly settled back on old mags + new tyres and alignment resulting in a much better ride. The steering doesn’t shimmy at 90km/hr like a crack addict coming down and goes in straight line.

Brake balance sorted and now actually stops well. That’s a bit important too.

 

Just another late night fettling session

 

Change all fluids. Gearbox gave up some pastel green oil and swarf in the nonmagnetic sump bung but seems happier. Diff bung also had assorted metal on it but needs sorting anyway.

 

Pulled the front strut out to get my Bilsteins in. Only to find they don’t fit. Good news though as the struts are full group 4 spec and a Very Nice piece of kit. I need a larger nut to hold the top of the insert to the strut and a sleeve. Ah well, bolt it all back in. check disk run out and spacing etc.

 

Put a mean little alarm system in, details of which will not be posted up for obvious reasons. Plus lots of minor details like bolting the boot latch back on, installing an accessory socket for GPS as we will be out in the boondocks with GumBoot, temporarily patching crack in intake plenum, clamping handbrake cable away from driveshaft, new wipers etc.

 

So mission critical list completed. Phew Will tackle next list a little slower as I think my lovely wife would like to see me a little next week.

 

Much Excited for weekend!

[M_C]

What a legend weekend!

Big thanks to Andy and his crew for organizing it. More big thanks for Billy for reasons explained below and to the guys who made it such a great event.

 

Prestart sledging and LeMans start preparation

 

Rolling south

 

OOoh, that’s not a graceful pose. Hope he can get out of that before the heavens open or we start, which ever is sooner.

I should not hassle too much as I needed a bump start after the briefing as little taste of the days entertainment…

 

Stranded 3km from the start when a nut of Billy’s brand spanking new carb decided to jump ship. Engineering side of Hamilton shut down so we ended up rummaging through a friendly mechanics spare nut and bolt pile in the corner of the workshop.

 

Then was TripleR’s turn to play up when trying to leave the mechanics. She would not idle and alternator belt was protesting leaving us 1km around the corner and helpfully directly outside Maccas.

 

Issue ended up being not enough electrical energies and broken alternator bracket. Billy to the rescue this time with a nice contact for and welding and persuasion we were rolling again after adding a new bigger battery as well.

 

Topping up at gas station on way out of the Tron we noticed some incontinence from TripleR. Will we never escape the Tron!!!???

 

This resulted in tools out again and close call with a local.

Not particularly tight alternator belt had upset the water pump shaft seal and luckily it settled down after taking a little tension off.

 

This meant we needed another stop here for commiseration supplies as we were now 2-3 hours behind the field.

 

Cracks were not appearing in the team moral as wheel bearings were inspected at Waihi while the others enjoyed themselves on some Coromandel roads. Repco call sourced 1 wheel bearing in Whakatane and triage rules dictated LHS would be done at lunch Sun when we rolled through as it was on the route anyway.

 

And then the gang arrived and we were back in!

 

Yay, we found a clue that the others missed!

 

Photos became forgotten as beers then whisky came to the fore and a great night was had. Only managed to get a shot of the custom leaf resetting and tyre warming JamieJamSandwitch in the back of Doug’s sons little BionicSmurf 4dr escort as our sober driver ferried us the unwalkable 1km distance back to the motel for more debriefing over wee drams. Suffice to say it was hilarious and we were glad it wasn’t much further…

 

Service/sledging park at Repco Whakatane before we were into some Fantastic quiet back roads.

 

Run boys, it a modern and going the wrong way!

 

Rare moment behind leading Targa prepped and rapidly peddled van. Also rare moment where vibrations and firm suspension didn’t spoil photo as well as finger selection on navman screen…

 

Cheshire cat grins after another back road spank from said rapid van.

 

Escort gang gathering at checkpoint on route.

 

Line up of tasty things outside Rotovagas

 

Bionic Smurf seems to have recovered from the evenings festivities and is in its accustomed position hounding the back of Shaneo’s much higher spec ride…

 

Another scenic rest stop/check point at dead cat hill.

 

Then my camera was exhausted. Bad timing as we came across a modern broken down with attractive lass in summer dress elbow deep working on it. So it wasn’t only old fords being fettled on the trip, Honset! Trying to source photo now from other cameras…

 

Gathering at Karapiro of some very happy and very tired GumBooters.

Oh, there were some moderns too but couldn’t be bothered getting pics for them.

 

Very happy with TripleR and glad to have some mates and tools for the big shakedown run. The only tool box we didn’t dip into was the battery drill. Boost was rather handy for overtaking. Just had to have two hands on steering wheel…

[M_C]

I was super keen to drive the RumblingRedRocket down to the OldSchool meet tonight as it would be the first time I have made it in one of my cars. Can anyone see where this is going yet… Buuuuuut on checking her out last night and about to swap out weeping water pump I found the crack in the engine mount had not got better by itself and seemed not to like several (read Lots of) ponies pushing past it. Bottom two bolts are now completely separate and the top bolt I can easily reach is backing itself out.

 

Hmmmm, not quite the ideal situation to be driving on. Closer examination shows a cunning fabrication of the alternator mount included in the engine mount and now it is coming apart the top alternator bracket and belt is trying to hold the engine in place also doing not so good things to the water pump. The top alternator bracket has given up again and this seems to be the root cause of the issues we had over GumBoot and in now way any reflection of the quality of Bmac’s superb welding fix.

 

It has also allowed the sump to get up close and jiggy with steering rack.

 

So now car is parked up so I can pull out and strengthen the engine mount, put new water pump in, pack radiator slightly forward so I can somehow get engine another 3mm forward for a bit of clearance on sump. And that is just the critical list. I have already got a further page list of fettling I would like to do.

 

Very thankful I made it home with no worries! Seems the car has a good heart and looking after me with few warning signs and not throwing any major tanties. Alternative endings to the story if the car was not quite so sweet would result in a very unhappy face.

[M_C]

A few more pics from the Epic GumBoot, thanks Elliot

Pre-pre event gassing up

Pre event just gassing

Small weapon of mass tyre destruction appears to be warping the space time continuum…

[M_C]

So apart from glorifying the epic GumBoot in the earlier post there not much progress to report. TripleR is still immobile in the garage and a no show for OldSchool on Wed. Pulled bit out of the engine bay to get at the offending engine mount. Marvelled at how tiny the engine block is after getting all the supporting acts out of the way. So many horsies from so small a block…

Hmmm, should probably have an engine mount in one piece I think.

[M_C]

A tiny amount of progress, but anything is good after I finally got back to one of my cars.
A bit of spannering and finger yoga disentangled the intake plenum. This engine bay has a bit more going on in it than the V6...
Revealing that some of the boost thinks it has better things to do than make horsepowers and is trying to escape. There are also some hairline cracks needing attention above the one I knew about. Will get some welding and maybe add a brace on it.


Block getting more naked. Still scratching my head on how I will adjust the mounts to get some clearance on the steering rack. Calls for cogitation over another whisky I think.

[M_C]

Progress has been made! And not just buying stuff, although there has been a little of that…
BMAC has kindly welding up the intake plenum and fixed the engine mount. Now I just need to try and remember how it all goes back together after so long. Committed to GumBoot round 2 so better hurry up!


A little bamboozled by some plumbing. See //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/44851-rwd-4age-water-works-advice-please/

Made up The List, it came to a page long and promptly got to work buying stuff that was not even on the list. I just could not resist these wheels and super bargain.

They should do three things I hope. Actually be round unlike the silver ones from my Felicity my Green Mk1, fit over front brakes hopefully, look super awesome. Now you see bling bling modernity

Now you don’t

[M_C]

So my little geisha girl is not going to give up her bling bling shoes yet. My super bargain steels get 3 out of 5. According to NCEA makes that a pass, but not in by books. Dia good, width good, PCD good, but offset not so much and centre hole small. Ah well, I do actually like the bling and don't dislike them enough to pay lots to change them.
A little light retail therapy. Right TCA needs replacing so might as do well do both and get some nolathane in too.

[M_C]

A middling modicum of mediocre mumblings to minute.

Engine mount that had been super duper reinforced and rebuilt including 4mm plate over the top has been prepped. Needed to cut a hole in the new reinforcing plate so I can get the mounting nut back on...


The turbo oil feed pipe had been weeping so I replaced it with a new shiny one. This tiny tumbling twist of terrible torture took a tortuous time to get right.


Gumboot is getting closer and my withdrawal symptoms from driving getting worse. Daydreaming of driving her so much it tried to indicate in the hilux and turned the windscreen wipers on.
Working through the detail and trying to get clearance between sump and cross member I pulled the gearbox tie mount bolt. Looks like it has kissed tarmac speed humps occasionally.

[M_C]

Progress! A weekend of some garage time resulted in a pleasing portion of progress despite being side tracked for 3.5hours rebuilding the trailer.
Much fussing and fettling has got the engine is back sitting on engine mounts, intake side of engine bolted back together and sprinkled with shiny new bolts. Sump now has some clearance from the steering rack although I will see if I can get a little more.

[M_C]

Garage time was going well until I discovered a minor bit of trivia.
Admiring my pleasingly perfect gasket goop lines around the water pump I noticed the pulley face was quite proud. Hmmmm, turns out there is at least two types of 4age water pumps and the one kindly donated from a mates spares is 10mm taller so the belt alignment is nogo. So a water pump hunting I will go tomorrow.

[M_C]

After a little tiki tour of Auckland I arrived back home with the correct FWD water pump. Enjoyable last drive in BMAC's escort wagon as he wants it back. Bit sad to see it go but now I can actually walk into the garage without first having to pull two bikes and one car out. Besides Geisha should be (Has to be) going shortly...

Supposedly super easy bolt back together had another little wrinkle waiting for me. Mr Alternator would not line up. Que mutterings about rebuilt engine mount.

My new favourite tool was brought in to release some clearance. Can't believe I have lasted this long without and angle grinder in my life. Anticorrosion oil treatment spread in the engine bay looked a little flammable so wet rags employed.

Assorted custom washers, spacers and general fiddling has engine ancillaries back where they should be. Only just noticed colour matched tools and beer holder when looking at pic.

Slowly getting closer to engine start!

[M_C]

ITS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
So happy when she kicked into life quickly for the first time in 5 months and all good = BigSmile! Cautious celebratory circuit around the block was successful. Had forgotten how loud the blow off valve is from inside the car and how slightly intimidating it is to drive.

Proof of life; car is actually outside garage and on her feet instead of axle stands.

Now onto the list of details...

[M_C]

Critical to do list is almost done.
Spend a bit of time chasing ghosts in the wiring with very odd tail light behaviour. Thank You #1 goes to the good guys at AutoLights in Sydenham CHC who had a Mk2 tail light in stock. Ironically I ended up using the original one as the odd behaviour was cured with a better earth, new connection replacing double tail light plug and a bit of love.
New WOF + Rego plus list of details completed.
 
When installing new TCA and swap bar bushes she ended up madly toe out and drove like a cross eyed drunk. Thank You #2 for the boys at Autolign on Carbine Rd AKL for a proper set up.


 
The gearbox is making some worrying noises and has me a little concerned. Hope it makes the trip...
Accessory socket refused to work today so added to the minor details. I think I may been the GPS out on the Gumboot back roads.

[M_C]

Geisha honourably filthy after honourably completing 1,000kms for Awesomely Epic Gumboot.
Bed time now, I am shattered...

[M_C]

Gumboot episode one
In the beginning there was darkness, and the boys deliberated, then the Gumboot was declared. Share the secret deserted flowing back roads was the call, convoy runs and overnight gathering before more epic roads to be run the next day. This cannot be refused was the answer. Lines in sand are to be drawn, deadlines set and provided suitable motivation for car fettling. Focus on critical items and resist distraction.

And the day dawned early and clear



Rolling south of the Bombay border



Ready for tarmac storming




Or running from SWAT… Strange I didn’t see them after this…




First stop was Cambridge with is crazy thick weekend traffic.


Heath scared a few kids with his costume so we were looking forward to getting out into the quiet roads after group shot complete with random part of car. Some moderns were also allowed to take part in Gumboot out of pity. Or in Heath’s case so he could bring his beautiful wife. (And his real car is waiting a heart transplant.)

[M_C]

The Gumboot part 2

From Cambridge the roads quickly became epic flowing deserted roads through places I didn’t know existed. Top marks for the Gumboot crew for scouting these out and creating the mission packs to follow the clues.

Proof for female rally entrants! Pleasing to see a quarter or so of entrants were the fairer sex. Regular stops for clues made for good chances to re-gather crews and general sledging.

Andy in the weeds after being stuck in the mud.

A lack of chipmunks under the bonnet and concerns on the unhealthy gearbox noises kept my pace to a quick tour. Still enjoying the roads I regrouped with the boys in Te Kuiti.

What the hell is on my boot!

Another gathering for sucking of jungle juice before hitting the back roads again.

No no no Doug, you put petrol there, not piss in it

Rolling out to hunt more back roads

Another clue stop

Stunning weather for a strop on epic roads with your mates

Lack of chipmunk chuckles from under the bonnet was not ideal for pressing on and further investigations revealed the cause. Hmmmm plenty boost escape route here I thinks…

Which quickly lead to some of this

To be continued…

[M_C]

The Gumboot part 3.
Chipmunk containment effort #1 was not successful, but did not stop us enjoying some truly Epic roads. A stop at an virtually abandoned town somewhere in the back blocks between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui was a chance for try #2. Who would have thought it would be that hard to put an intercooler pipe back on.


After getting laughed at in Taumarunui for trying to buy a longer pipe to replace the slightly short intercooler with I managed to get some basic hose camps. Then noticed a fellow competitor had a minor indiscretion on an optional gravel stage. Pretty sure that wheel was more centred earlier in the day…


Then we headed out to the Forgotten Highway and started to run out of words to describe how Awesome the driving was. Only on getting home did I notice how few photos my co driver took while on the move. Maybe his attention was elsewhere on self-preservation, anyway, quite a dereliction of duties.

Arriving at the overnight service park on Ohura we were buzzing. This was a mostly converted prison in an almost abandoned town literally in the middle of nowhere. Attempt #3 was followed finally by successful attempt #4 to keep boost blow off chipmunks contained. Thankfully my service was in the shadow of the orange wheeled golf surgery.


Andy arrived in Bumblebee with an engine running poorly so we all gathered round and helped out, but made worse until it gave up all together, got sulky and refused to start… (Sorry Andy)

The count got to 6 tool boxes and 26 people trying to help out. I blame the engine sulk on the dark and alcohol… This is one of the few publishable photos from after sunset.


In the weak light of the early foggy dawn Bumblee was brought back to life! Cunning artist to the right timed his run to fix her to perfection with maximum appreciation from Andy. Bumblbee escaped the low loader and lived to drive home again. Unlike Mikeys Starlet that had popped a valve spring and collected at the unusual hour of 2.15am.


And it got better! My boost was Back! Oh God Yeah! And 500kms of spanking roads to go! But first a slightly creepy spot for the morning briefing at an abandoned Ford garage after a hearty truckers hangover cure breakfast. Cue photo opportunity.


(Nice shot by Elliot above)
Briefing time. More people and cars than Ohura sees in a week.


Minor traffic jam on the way out of town. I am sure the farmer moving his sheep was a bit surprised to see a car, let alone this many.


The only shot I have of the gravel section before my navigator went quiet and just held on… Such fun once past some slow cars.


Climbing into the morning mist


One of my favourite iconic shots of the trip. But where re all the people…?


Ah, there they are. Spot the Aucklanders crowding the coffee machine after the instant brew from the overnight services.


Next edition, pressing on.