| Just a few pics from when I built my last car, sadly I never got to race it as I took the decision to sell up all my racing stuff. |  1. Just a F plate model, body seems quite good for its age, if a little mossy. |
 2. I always start stripping at the back of the car, it just seems easier that way, here is the very clean and solid boot floor, a good start up to now. |
 3. After various bits of trim and seats are removed, its time to pull up the carpet to see what horrors lie beneath |
 4. This just a rear side view of the partially stripped rear half of the car, door cards removed ready fopr inner panels to be cut out. |
 5. Out comes the carpet, all one piece, quite big they are, not much wear around the heel pad which could tell a tale |
 6. Front lower sound deadening remains... |
 7. After its removed all seems well, floor and inner sills are nice and solid/clean, in fact very like my other Escort |
 8. Looking forward at the floor from the rear, wiring on back seat area is from the rear sides, its just been pulled through. |
 9. Remove the windscreen by pushing it forward fromt he inside, I split this one - unusually - but it can still be used as a template for the visor later on. |
 10. After pushing all round, it does gently pop out, easy job this |
 11. Take off the steering wheel to aid dash removal, and take off the stalks and lock assembly, you need to keep the lock assembly as it holds a bearing. |
 12. You MUST keep this little white plastic thing, it acts as a thrust bearing and means your steering will be nice and smooth and light, replace after the lock/bearing holder is back in place. |
 13. The masses of wires and heater with associated gubbins behind the dash, carefully remove it all and cut out all the wiring, its no use - apart from the brake light switch and wires, keep them they are needed. |
 14. After dash removed, bulkhead sound deadening still there, as is wiring etc |
 15. Thats better, all the useless stuff now gone, pull all the wiring through the hole on the bulkhead into the engine compartment, then cut off what you dont need = most of it! |
 16. To cut the ally sheet for the various plates, this tool is a godsend, an electronic nibbler - it sails through large/long pieces of tin / ally plate (no, I am not trying to drill through it!!). |
 17. Front light holes plated, and split in bumper ducked together, a lick of paint over it and it wont be noticable. |
 18. Rear light holes plated up, these are the easiest ever being very square and flat, use the lights own gasket as a template |
 19. One set of door inner panels cut out (picket fence fitting is optional!! lol) taking out the door inner panel reduces weight, and allows access to the outer panel to straighten it. |
 20. I Found this old metal storage tray in my shed, good for storage but when cut in the right places and then turned upside down..... |
 21. ...... Its even better to use as a dash/switch panel!! Watching Blue Peter as a kid paid off here!! hehe |
 22. Fitted to the window lower edge, top part will be painted body colour |
 23. With room for a couple of gauges, here it is with two warning lights and ignition switch / starter button fitted, this part wil be painted black, probably |
 24. This is my engine, given to me by SG, see his site HERE, engine is from an XR2i and I sourced an adapter plate thanks to Stu Fairbairn. |
 25. Front springs, 5 full coils have been kept per side, this lowers an Escort quite a bit, but still with some spring action. |
 26. Looks are decieving, these are well used struts (and not famous yellow ones!) with a lick of paint and they given to me by DB as spares, see his site HERE |
 27. If I put some big wheels on, it could pass as a 4x4!! |
 28. Very empty in there, shouldnt be for long though |
 29. This is the cradle the gearbox mounts to, with a rubber mount fitted and one loose. |
 30. Cradle now in place, gearbox will drop in on top of it |
 31. Not doing a hole in bonnet centre this time, moved it back a bit to the heater grille and I am going to run an open carb (no filter) |
 32. Gearbox with correct mounts, ready to go in. |
 33. New release bearing fitted |
 34. Gearbox in place, mounts all meet up. |
 35. Brake lights fitted, ready for wiring up. |
 36. Front struts fitted, and calipers a lick of paint. After driveshafts were fitted the shorter one was too short, bugger!! |
 37. To stop rear springs falling out, jack up bottom arm to meet the spring, then fit some chain to hold it taught |
 38. Looks better already, with the engine weight to add it will balance up |
 39. Rear side view |
 40. Window bar fitted and painted |
 41. At last, engine crane arrived, in among the rubbish is an engine!! |
 42. Aha!! there it is after all this time |
 43. Stuff to do before it goes in - remove plate at end of cam for dizzy fitting, remove thermostat, replace clutch, replace cam belt |
 44. New clutch ready for fitting |
 45. XR2i engine has elongated inlet ports, where the injectors pointed in, no good for carb'd inlet fitting.... |
 46. ...So an adapter plate is used to cover the holes, here it is loosely fitted so you can see what it does. |
 47. Engine ready to be dropped into the bay. |
 48. Almost there, a shove here and there makes the gearbox input shaft push into the clutch plate. |
 49. View from other side, nearly done now. |
 50. All in place, and here the exhaust manifold is fitted |
 51. A start is made on the wiring, carb and exhaust pipe still to fit. Wiring will be made neat when its all tested and everything runs. |
 52. Its now July 19th and I am back onto getting this car done, here we have the visor installed and behind it, a new mirror with wide view to see out of the side as well as the rear. Handy. |
 53. Got my tank, and its now installed, some final fittings still to be done but tank and tap operational [cheap taps - 'mini lever ball valve ones, Hazel Grove Plumbing, £3.51+vat] I can still supply tanks, this one sized 8x8x10 is £35 |
 54. Decided to remove the crappy XR2i cover for a newly painted one I had, I was expecting the usual 'tar like' insides of a high miler unserviced CVH, it very clean although its oil isnt. |
 55. Amazing is the power of a sticker and a lick of paint. |
 56. Shortened gear lever makes for quicker shorter change, about 4" cut off. This is something that works well for myself. Also, it doesnt get in the way of getting in and out via passenger side. |
 57. Isolator fitted, one side fitted direct to earth, battery side with ex Railway 25,000v cable, no alternator in this car so I need all the voltage I can get!! |
 58. Thats kinda weird! top of drivers door removed which.... |
 59. ...Gives the appearance and feel of a larger window aperture |
 60. After cutting holes in A &B pillars insert bars and weld them in |
 61. Not much left of the door after its been cut to allow door bars to fit |
 62. Place some padding over the bars to protect elbows and knees, bolt door back on |
 63. H Frame, it was originally built by Helliwell Racing [red part of it, which was powder coated] with removable crossbar, but I later changed my mind so modified it to have two fully welded crossbars with end plates. Just needs lick of paint to finish |
 64. I welded the joints myself using an industrial spec Cebora Mig Welding machine, I dont do much welding but these joints are nice and strong. |
 65. H Frame painted and fitted, seat back in and strapped up |
 66. Side view of frame |
 67. Home made bonnet fixings |
 68. Roof painted and bumpers undercoated [I assume on going back to blue, if not I will use the older car!!] |
 69. After sanding it lightly, to give the paint a key, on we go with rollering the paint on for an undercoat. |
 70. Rollering the bonnet is the most difficult, but you always get streaks on the under / first coat |
 71. Starting to take shape now and look like a 161 car |
 72. Almost done, it will need a second coat in a day or so, I have normally second coated it same day, but am giving paint chance to dry properly this time |
 73. Rear view, bumpers need a second coat anyway so any yellow will be covered over |
 74. Paint extends to cover top of dash panel |
 75. Tank fire wall in place |
 76. Second coated, its not brilliant, but then they never are when gloss rollered. |
 77. I went for yellow bumpers in the end, just for a change!! |
 78. Looks better with mirrors and Ford badge added |
Thats all folks! Thanks for looking in |