[KOBI-Dave.]

I wasn't going to do a build thread , don't especially like the idea of big brother knowing what I'm doing, but I'll stick a few bits up just for the crack.
I'm a Ford man, got my first Mk1 Escort in '85. Never been without at least one since then. I've had the lot, 1100, 1300, 1600 , twincam, RS2000, RS1600. Done competition since the late 80s, so I just fancy that I know my way round the running gear of an Escort.
So why did I just drop the clanger of all fkin clangers?

I've been doing rallying for a few years now, but fancied getting back into trialing. No way am I building another Escort for trials, they are too expensive for that, so something using Ford running gear and a chassis and a hotrod /ratrod look.

Evil bay to the rescue got me an old chassis and front suspension ( way too heavy to be competitive, but I don't care). Model A body and wings off here and hopefully most of the rest out of the shed!

Stuck in an A framed atlas axle on coil overs, a 1600 Kent and a 5 speed T9 I had in the shed. That's where it all started going Pete Tong! The T9 was out of a diesel and I didn't spot that the bell housing was longer than a petrol one. When I was mocking up I didn't have a clutch, so just bolted engine/ box together, fabbed up engine/box mountings and stuck them in.
I didn't have the right bits to make up a prop, so got a new one made at driveline, 115 quid delivered to the door mustn't grumble.
Anyway, got a clutch, fitted it, reassembled , and realised that the clutch bearing didn't reach the clutch because of the extra length in the bell housing. So had to doctor my clutch arm and make it like a bridge to reach the clutch. Can't beat me, I thought, until I went to fit a starter motor! The bloody bell housing is completely different , the bolt centers are wrong, a bendix starter wouldn't go in, a preengaged starter wouldn't go in. So what to do? If I changed the bell housing for a short one, the prop would be too short unless I moved the engine back, and the input shaft would be too long. How I laughed!
Out came the gear box AGAIN , along with the grinder, and the pictures show what happened next! The bastard thing didn't beat me anyway !

 

[68roadrunner]

That clutch arm looks very much like the one I had to make when I put a V8 Rover in my 2dr Sierra way back, I had an RS500 T5, B/W 35 bellhousing off an auto, and the adapter plate was between the trans and the back of the B/H, I extended a Transit arm and the 1.6 stock clutch cable fit perfectly

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

The things you gotta do!

I think a stock clutch cable will work for me. I am guessing a mk1 pedal box will be going in, just because I've got them in the shed, and I've seen a cable somewhere too, just gotta find it!

 

[Taxirod]

I'm sure that everyone who has built a rod of any description has had problems of one sort or another.
I reckon it's all about having the determination to stick with it through whatever you have to go through. Don't give up keep going, once you take it for that first drive around the block it will all be worthwhile!!!

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

I won't be giving up Ian, if I've said I'm doing it, that is what's happening. Sometimes it takes longer than other times though!
I'm seeing this one as being a quick build. We'll see!

 

[blackpopracing]

No such thing as a quick build, lol.

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

OK, relatively quick !!!

Edit. Yes, you are absolutely correct, there really isn't such a thing. However, I've set myself a deadline. I've said to my mate (navigator) that we are doing next years Landsend Trial in it, I also said it to one of my trialing friends. That means the word is out with all my trialing pals, so it's got to happen. Easter 2023 sounds a long way off but I will have my builders head on(bricks type building, not cars) come summer, so nowt will happen for a while.
Let's see what happens......

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

Spent a lot of time messing about trying to get it running today. I've given myself a talking to and ordered some decent battery terminals, a few lugs and a new solenoid.
I was titting on with bits of wire tied together and jump leads. A half decent temporary set up should see it running. I know I've got oil pressure already. I've certainly got compression, so a reasonable cranking speed and it will go.
From there, I know I can crack on with the job knowing the running gear is stopping in.

I put a pair of tyres on the front wheels. Not exciting to most folk but I bet it gives Ian (taxirod) the horn!!!!

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

Stuck some decent cables on, first touch and it was running. Sounds great too, so hopefully it will be OK.
Made some decent gearbox mounts and welded them on, replacing those upturned bits of channel. I think the next thing I'll be doing is getting some fiberglass kit and glassing in the floor on the tub.

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

As can be seen, space is at a bit of a premium , so this one is going together on or above the trailer .

I dropped the body tub on and had a little smile to myself it's gonna be high. It will make ' Henry Highrise' look like Billy Bungalow! I don't do the slammed look , but I guess I don't need to say that do I.
As I've said, trials will be on the cards, and dragging the arse on the ground is not what you need in that game.
It is actually a bit more progressed than in these shots, I've got the floor finished, I couldn't glass under it as the floor went in in 3 bits. Different heights and working around turrets made it , well not impossible, but certainly impractical .
Needless to say, the body tub is not a new one it will have sat on a few different chassis, just never got built. It has suffered a bit for it , but hey, it'll survive.
Next thing I plan on doing is bulkheads, front, and one behind the seats, a bit of framing work around the edges to take out some of the wibbly wobblyness , then, some serious fiberglassin, no g, to bind the lot together . I imagine it will be really solid if I get it right.

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

Well, I think I've finished the joinery, which is as well because I'm sick of that game!
I made bulkheads for the front and rear, glued and screwed in. The difference in rigidity of the tub in absolutely chalk and cheese, at the front, it hardly moves when you push the scuttle sideways at the A post. It doesn't move at all when pushed at the firewall.
The back is solid too, apart from the B posts, which it stands to reason, will move.
I bodyfillered around the ply to fill in the gaps. This made a big difference as well. It took out that last couple of millimetres of movement.
I've got some (loads) of 20mm box coming to frame the A post/ dash area, and the B posts too. Now the body is secure, I wil trim off the loose flaps of fiberglass on the floors. They were left on to hold it together.
When that's done, I'll glass the whole lot in.
Happy days

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

Made a stainless firewall out of a bit of scrap industrial food machinery

 

[V6Minor]

Liking this very much!

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

Thanks v6 , I was thinking that maybe this wasn't exciting enough for on here. My thoughts are that 'bloke in the garage' knocking something up with what's lying about is the origins of special building.
It's keeping me amused between everything else that's going on, so I'll keep posting.

Cheers, Dave

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

Had a little bit of play time, found an alternator, fan and belt so fitted them. Less certainly is not more, less is less. Less moving parts is easier and cheaper if you haven't got more! So no electric fan if I can avoid it.

Alternator is about an inch off the chassis. A new belt will have it further away.

Titting about with a pedal box, I need to straddle the column with the brake and clutch pedals. An Escort column is to one side, but that ain't happening here, no room for that caper.
So, I split a box down the middle and widened it. Then had to straighten the pedals so they aren't too far apart. Only had enough box to do one, but you get the idea. I've got loads of box to collect in the town, but it's a 50 mile round trip, so I'm waiting to get all my bits at the same time.
I'll have to brace the pedal box to the chassis and dash hoop I guess. It will put too much stress on the bulkhead if I don't.

 

[mygasser]

make do and mend

 

[V6Minor]

Thanks v6 , I was thinking that maybe this wasn't exciting enough for on here. My thoughts are that 'bloke in the garage' knocking something up with what's lying about is the origins of special building.
It's keeping me amused between everything else that's going on, so I'll keep posting.

Cheers, Dave

It's great, also might encourage some younger people to give it a go. Not a fan of mega bucks builds anyway.

 

[MYTHING]

Nothing wrong with a basic build using what you've got not what you can buy

ITS GREAT

I like these sort of builds like Taxirod's stuff its not about the money

 

[V6Minor]

Nothing wrong with a basic build using what you've got not what you can buy

ITS GREAT

I like these sort of builds like Taxirod's stuff its not about the money

100%. People get sucked into peer pressure builds, better to do this and have a hot rod than a pile of expensive must have parts that sit there causing divorces for decades. Don't let perfection be the enemy of good, or even it's work in progress... taken me a while to get this.

 

[KOBI-Dave.]

I've done my own thing for many a year now. Essentially, I don't give a rats arse what people think of what I drive, if it pleases me, then alls well. The comments that I'm getting are making it worthwhile letting people see my take on building a rod. If they were negative, I'd not change what I am doing, I just wouldn't share it!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I found another bit of box and made my other pedal. I've splashed out on some alloy go faster pedal grip thingys off ebay. Just need a throttle pedal modifying to fit , oh and a locator for the clutch cable end, and and and and and and, and then its finished.............