LOWMK11 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Hi everyone, after about 15 years since I've built my own car the time had come to build another and this time with a little more knowledge and $$ another mk2 escort was chosen. Mainly because I had one years ago that was my pride and joy and this one will end up in the hands of my boy nathan eventually. The photos of when I first got it is on the other camera so we'll start here after I'd stripped it and send to the blasters Right now we were off to the workshop before it started raining...which I made the 30min drive over just in time! After blowing as much sand out as possible into the booth it went to cover up the bare metal in layers of sikkens primer epoxy... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post LOWMK11 Posted February 20, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 20, 2016 So next up was to bare metal the panels... well that was interesting. Long story short I didn't use any of the original panels and found replacements and ended up with 4 rust free usable doors and bootlid only going to put up a couple pics of this as its not that exciting. Next up was to weld up all the mess in the engine bay while I waited for the new front end from palmside Nathan checking out dad's work and getting a little steering wheel time Yay brand spanking new panels arrived!! Can't help but sit them on for a look W50 celica box and alloy bellhousing and shortened 8inch lsd with 3.5 gears will do the trick I reckon Also managed to track down the plate that's Been on this car since the mid 90s! Probably paid too much for it but had to have it lol And finally tonight trial fit of the pinto turbo, w50 and lsd, fits like a glove. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 After the engine was in the hole it was time to fit my shiney new intercooler. Which by the way took a heap of measuring and searching for the right one, it had to be big enough to do the job but small enough so that it wasn't "look at my intercooler"lol The shiney new radiator was next And carefully cut out the front panel for intercooler piping. Pretty tight squeeze here Once I was happy how this all was fitting it was time to square up the front and weld it all into place. Radiator support panel- Front valance- And finally the front guards... Sweet looking like a car again! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Ok now that the new front end was on it was time to bare metal those bits and put into epoxy primer I had run out of the sikkens ep and and only needing another litre so used some lechler epoxy I had instead of $800 for another 8l kit! Forgot to mention that the rust repair work was completed down the road at the local panelshop( owed me a few favors so was sorted for the right price lol)just before the front went on, don't have any pics of this and really not too exciting,just the usual bottom of rear guards, front lower door jambs and c pillar stuff. Then the dreaded filler work started sigh... These are the only pics of this until I got to the sprayable polyester stage. For those who don't know about this stuff its basically spray on bog,which you apply thru a 2.5mm gun over your already straight filler work to make it not just straight but super straight... This was applied over the whole car and blocked down again before the final primer coats. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Few more panelbeating pics of the front and back to finish up the dusty stuff... And finally after blocking and repriming twice it has the last coats of primer before topcoats. Bear in mind filler, spray poly,primer and repriming probably took the best part of 6 months only working on it when I get a spare moment between customers cars. But good times the worst is over!! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 And this is the stage I'm upto right now. The boot and rear parcel tray prepped and then color finally! Real happy with the color should look real sweet real low on hotties. Next is the engine bay which is all rubbed down(after 6hrs sitting in there with a bucket of water and plenty of p800 abrasive) and seam sealed all ready for masking and spraying hopefully first thing tomorrow morning before any customers arrive Till tomorrow and hopefully a painted engine bay 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/51987-lowmk11s-1980-escort-rebuild-discussion/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 So today was rather successful and quite strange it's like everyone knew it was my birthday and let me have most of the day to work on my car before anything turned up about 3pm! Awesome!! So the engine bay was first and after masking and degreasing it was ready to spray the titanium grey basecoat... Then after the basecoat flashed off its time for the top of the line sikkens autoclear plus. Man I love this clear, it just flows out like glass 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 Since I seemed to have some time up my sleeve l put lowmk2 up on axle stands to pull the suspension out to blast,paint and rebush Got all the front out and dismantled Will leave the rear in till I've fitted the panhard rod to the diff and chassis rail. While I was pulling out the suspension I thought I'd better check the bushes I'd brought earlier were all there... Yip they are And while I'm at it the new tail lights And the seats I picked up a while ago So since it's my birthday why not ring palmside and make a rather large order lol! Rubber kit, headlights and buckets,front indicators, panhard rod, adjustable lower control arms, vented discs, caliper spacers and a coup more things that I'm struggling to remember. Should be here in a couple days, can't wait!!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 The work piled in today but still managed a couple hours after work to spend on my little project. Got a bit of the front suspension painted- struts, swaybar,hubs and springs. I think the black blue and silver will work? Whatta reckon? Also finally finished repairing the dash with resin and epifill which has now joined the rear seat at the auto trimmers 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 Arriving at work this morning I had the courier waiting out the front "what have you been buying" he said. "Escort bits" I replied. "Well open the doors so we can have a looksee then" Missing the discs but turns out they'll be on the way next week as were out of stock. Had a chance this afternoon to tack in the panhard rod mounts ready for brad my engineer mate to fully weld it up(wasn't going to risk doing this myself as hard cornering will be pretty stressful on a car painters welds haha) All the suspension out Off to be sandblasted tomorrow morning Well this now leaves me the with lying under the car with a scraper and wire brush prepping for new underseal.... man I wish I had a hairy sometimes. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted March 4, 2016 Author Share Posted March 4, 2016 Haven't done alot on the car really in the last few days but brad came in today and fully welded up the panhard bracket for me so now I can finish cleaning up the rear floor and underseal finally And the auto trimmer has finished working his magic on the dash and back seat... super stoked with these, came up real mint and fabric is exactly the same as the front seats Some of the cool shit in the workshop that's been taking up my time recently as well as the normal insurance work. The xb falcon has been a work in progress for a while now and belongs to a good mate and has to be the straightest falcon around Bring on the Simmons!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 Managed to get over to work this afternoon and finished prepping under the car for underseal, now I thought that was a messy job but actually spraying the stuff was probably worse! Im still covered in black spots!! Anyway it looks the goods under there now. So happy that jobs done Now to finish the suspension and refit. Till next time... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted March 8, 2016 Author Share Posted March 8, 2016 Today was the start of the fun part....not the same old day after day panel and paint! (gets old after 20 odd years of it) refitting the newly painted and rebushed front suspension and steering rack Man I love these, look so much better than the originals And these adjustable lower control arms so sweet! After market super low springs that have had a little more compressing applied(needs to be low for the match the number plate)(may need more work to these yet but will wait till its all together,just made an educated guess) And finally tonight the 2.8 capri vented discs that will take care of the stopping duties Still waiting for the diff and rear suspension to be done at the sandblasted so might look at painting the insides of the panels in the meantime 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted March 8, 2016 Author Share Posted March 8, 2016 Still after a good bonnet too if anyone knows of one. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 So while waiting for the sandblaster to finish up my bits the insides of the panels got a prep up and a prepsol ready for colour. And on went the basecoat And the clear 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 And whattaya know the phone rings and it's Logan telling me my sandblastings done. So keen as a keen thing I'm off to pick it up. With it all back to the shop firstly hit it with the air to blow out all the sand and setup in the booth And hey presto with a coat of epoxy and a couple coats of satin 2k black and silver we're done and looking good Sunday rolls around and off to brads engineering shop to borrow his press,out come the old bushes from the springs and swaybar mounts and in go the new ones, all ready for refitting.... Real happy with the underneath now, all clean tidy and tight. Next will be the big block down and topcoats... stay tuned lol 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 The last week I've been chipping away at getting the final rub down done...firstly blocking with 240 wet to ensure everything's straight then moving on to 400 and finally 800(all wet sanding by the way) Once this was done I fixed a couple areas I wasn't happy with and we were ready Time to give the booth a good hose out and make sure that everything is clean. Doors and bootlid in,masked and degreased. And paint time! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post LOWMK11 Posted March 24, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 24, 2016 And today after all customers had their cars back for the Easter break and after nearly 18 months since I started,the body was in the booth and masked up After degreasing,checking everything was right,degreasing again and checking again color was on Letting the basecoat flash for 20 mins I hit it with 3 coats of clear And a 40min bake later out it comes Bootlid on And finally doors Real happy with the result and how straight it's come out...not bad for a painter lol Well I've had a guts full of cars for the moment so going to hook up the boat for a couple days fishing and diving. Thats all for now. Chur 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOWMK11 Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 Pulled the wheels off today to give them a spruce up. They were looking a bit ratty and wasn't sure if they were the right choice Gave them a good sand up with 320 then 800,1000 and 1500 A few coats of satin black and a rag with some thinner on to wipe off the excess. And finally a heap of rags,metal polish and elbow grease... Came up good,much happier now. Still needs about 2" of drop but will have to wait till the rest of the weights in.still thinking modgies but might leave that for now as I've realistically got other things to blow money on for a while. Also filled it up with cavity wax 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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