Posted on behalf of John Rohdes
May I ask for some advice on preparing an Escort, please?
I've done lots of trials of all sorts in the last forty years but only a
couple of Classics. My buddy just bought a genuine works built Mexico for
historic rallying but he also asked if I'd like to go out on a classic
occasionally, too. It seemed rude to turn him down so I had to accept, well
you do, don't you?
I noticed the back end of Escorts don't seem to be fastened to anything when
they go up rough sections, are the dampers two feet long or just taken off
altogether?
Given that we have a professionally prepped rally car, what temporary
alterations would be suitable to make, prior to a Classic trial? It will
obviously run slowly and smoothly, it will pick up cleanly and rev freely.
The bodywork is stiff and better than new. Sump, etc. guards and other skids
are fitted and we have decent seats. What about the front legs? Probably a
bit hard, any thoughts? I wondered about screwing the spring seats right out
and fitting long soft springs. (Off what, though) I suppose just using
longer spring shackles at the back will fix that end, subject to something
doing with the dampers.
It has Minilites available as well as any others we might need, what tyres
are OK to use, sizes, compounds, brands, treads? Can we use, say, 14" steels
off anything, like a Sierra? Stud PCD's spring to mind.
This all came about because after he built a decent 911 for sprints and
hillclimbs from a few boxes of bits there are enough bits to make a second
rough one and I said "let's go for a jacked up Porsche for Classic
Trialling", when he stopped foaming at the mouth he suggested using the
Escort. Humph! I'll persue that one later in the year, watch this space.
Any suggestions are welcome.
John Rhodes. West Yorkshire.
I've done lots of trials of all sorts in the last forty years but only a
couple of Classics. My buddy just bought a genuine works built Mexico for
historic rallying but he also asked if I'd like to go out on a classic
occasionally, too. It seemed rude to turn him down so I had to accept, well
you do, don't you?
I noticed the back end of Escorts don't seem to be fastened to anything when
they go up rough sections, are the dampers two feet long or just taken off
altogether?
Given that we have a professionally prepped rally car, what temporary
alterations would be suitable to make, prior to a Classic trial? It will
obviously run slowly and smoothly, it will pick up cleanly and rev freely.
The bodywork is stiff and better than new. Sump, etc. guards and other skids
are fitted and we have decent seats. What about the front legs? Probably a
bit hard, any thoughts? I wondered about screwing the spring seats right out
and fitting long soft springs. (Off what, though) I suppose just using
longer spring shackles at the back will fix that end, subject to something
doing with the dampers.
It has Minilites available as well as any others we might need, what tyres
are OK to use, sizes, compounds, brands, treads? Can we use, say, 14" steels
off anything, like a Sierra? Stud PCD's spring to mind.
This all came about because after he built a decent 911 for sprints and
hillclimbs from a few boxes of bits there are enough bits to make a second
rough one and I said "let's go for a jacked up Porsche for Classic
Trialling", when he stopped foaming at the mouth he suggested using the
Escort. Humph! I'll persue that one later in the year, watch this space.
Any suggestions are welcome.
John Rhodes. West Yorkshire.
Hello John I definitely do not have the answer to this question and can not answer in the way Murray did about the peoples car. You seem to have most of ideas already. The longer rear spring hangers are a good idea as is the raised front. I think that Capri dampers fit and are longer but I have normal Escort ones fitted. If you fit 14" wheels you will jump up to Class 7 as they were not a production item for a RWD Escort. 165/13 or 175/13 will give a little more height and take a look at the ACTC tyre list for the types allowed. There is a link on the Classical Gas page. A couple of questions as well. As your car is prepared for rallying a couple of nice mods are a limited slip diff and a 5 linked disc braked rear axle. The LSD will definitely see you excluded and I imagine so will the back axle, as I believe that you are unable to modify the rear axle casing. I could (read probably!) am wrong about the axle and hopefully somebody will correct it! In any case I would want them on a rally car and I suppose if a spare axle is available it would take that long to change it over. The gearbox casing has to remain standard as well. I haven't got any further than this but with some weight in the boot you will have some fun (most important) and see the top of some of the sections - pleasing! Mark
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