MK1 escort van with mexico running gear

[freddy686868]

Up untill recently i have owned a 106 rallye but the escort bug bit me when i was 13 so after 8 long years thought it was time to buy an mk1 escort for my 21st birthday. I set out looking for a two door escort car but i seen this van on the net and after veiwing it i had to have it so i bid for it on ebay.




Soon the 13/07/2010 i went to pick it up. Shortly after sorting out the paperwork and money side of things i started the van up from cold with out the choke and drove off. I was just joining the A13 thinking god this van runs very well considering it has been standing a year since it's rebuild. Then all of a sudden the van looses power and comes to a stop. Totaly gutted isn't the word! So i get out make sure the choke isn't stuck open and all the leads to the dizzy were secure and tried to start it again. Oddly enough it started, so off i go again with my brother in his 106 following only for the same thing to happen again! Then for a third time. By now i was getting pritty pissed off with my newly aquired pride and joy UNTILL i remembered what the seller told me. The last thing he told me was the petrol is seriously low but you should have enough to make it to the petrol station 10miles away so i sent my brother to buy a jerry can and petrol which he returned with very quickly. So i put the petrol in and started the engine thinking this is going well so for the forth time in half an hour we set about continuing on our 200+mile trip home. I was really nervous about the van stopping again as i thought the carb wasn't set up correctly and was causing it to cut out when hot.
I can't explain how relieved and how happy i was when the van made it to the petrol station for more juice and wind in the tyres. From there on it drove brilliantly apart from the wheels needing balancing and the tracking. It trundled along the motorway with out any weird noises being made at around 80mph returning around 35mpg whih isn't bad for a 40year old car.
So after looking at the van more and spending over 4 hours in it i found that there are some simple jobs to be done to finish it off lovely. The only update i have apart from the journey is a picture of it outside my house. It will be off for M.O.T tomorrow as i got home too late today to carry out a full one. So fingers crossed.
I thought it would be hard to enjoy a slower and even more basic car than the rallye but i was totaly wrong apart from the 4 speed box it is very comfy as it has retrimmed mk2 rs2000 roller top seats and it's so fun to drive and i look forward to driving it a hell of a lot more! They also say the first long distance trip is the biggest test for any old car.

[freddy686868]

Well i had the van up on a mates ramps not long after getting it home to have a real poke around the underneath to check for nasties in the form of rust which i'm happy to report is very minimal it might need a passanger floor pan in around 2years which is expected of a car of this age and there are two patches needed at in the rear wheel archs just to stop the rust advancing any futher. Whilst i was there i had to put spreader plates on the SEAT bolts! They were just bolted striaght in to the floor with a couple of washers. Vairious bolts do need shortening through out the van as you can see from the picture of the back.

Just a couple of pics of it on the ramps









Putting the van to good use again for the second day by taking my toolbox into work (it's about time though as it's been in my house since christmas :P) and the van hasn't been on the road since 1981.

[freddy686868]

I am getting an alarm and and immobiliser fitted friday although i don't know what they will cut the power to as i understand the fuel pump is mechanical so that would just leave the coil or ignition.
I've also got a brand new NOS ford clock for the center consol off my cousin whos father found it in the garage about a week ago and was due to throw it out! Result, what are the chances

[freddy686868]

Well after covering about 400miles in the van it has developed a problem where it will run for 20 mins fine and then cut out it won't start again untill 5 or 10mins later. I have changed the coil thinking it was that breaking down but it's still the same so i am some what annoyed with the van at the moment. I will have to strip the carb down, check all the jets are clear and check the points again.

[savvi]

Nice van, i was watching that on ebay and thought it sold cheaper then i expected it would.

I'd look at a 5 speed conversion for normal use, that's what i have lined up for my camper, my pinto panel van already has it and makes a load of differance.

I see the backs boarded out, has the roof been done ?

[cobweb]

looks great mate. you must be well pleased.

[freddy686868]

Yeah i was willing to pay 6 for it so was really pleased when it came in that cheap! With the 5 speed i'm guessing the best one to use is the type 9 box? My question is do you need to make the tunnel bigger and shorten the propshaft? I can't remember if the roof is boarded although i think it is.

[savvi]

Yes, type 9, you need to move stick back, use gearbox lowering blocks shorter prop and open the tunnel entrance with a large instrument !!!


I'd like to see some interior pics if you have a chance, mine was draylon as it was a 70's custom van, but got rip out before i bought it.

[Ratters]

nice buy like the colour/stripes too

[freddy686868]

I lovely the olimpic blue and the rs2k strips just makes it totally different.

I will get pics up of the interior soon although it could do with a new carpet and a good clean.

[Montyman]

Gwan the vans, mine is taking longer to finish than anticipated (don't they always?) You don't leave it parked on the street like that over night do you?

[cossymax]

Cant beat a good van, Really looks a nice Van you have there.

And hope you get it sorted soon

[freddy686868]

Yeah it is living outside at the moment untill i find a lock up for it.

Good news the van is up and running again! The problems were the ignition timing was miles and miles out, the carb wasn't set up properly and there was only around 8l of petrol in the tank. Going well now! I've also been told by my old mans mate who set it all up that the engine has i nice little cam in it

[freddy686868]

Well since having the engine set up the problem with it cutting out started again so i decided to take the plunge and remover the old fuel tank which was rotten and blocking the filter in the tank thus starving the engine of fuel.

So out with the old



In with the new. Luckily i found a nos tank that someone had bought for thier kit car and never used so i had painted it up and slung it under there.







The next thing i done was (with lots of help from my mate kiwi) was get all the clocks working. So after a few hours of potching we found the problem which was a broken power wire coming from the fuse box.

AFTER that i changed the wheel bearing on the drivers side and loved it as it just fell apart nicely although i had to use my mates hydraulic press.
Well since having the engine set up the problem with it cutting out started again so i decided to take the plunge and remover the old fuel tank which was rotten and blocking the filter in the tank thus starving the engine of fuel.

So out with the old



In with the new. Luckily i found a nos tank that someone had bought for thier kit car and never used so i had painted it up and slung it under there.







The next thing i done was (with lots of help from my mate kiwi) was get all the clocks working. So after a few hours of potching we found the problem which was a broken power wire coming from the fuse box.

AFTER that i changed the wheel bearing on the drivers side and loved it as it just fell apart nicely although i had to use my mates hydraulic press.



When i changed the wheel bearing no oil came out of the axle so i thought it would be a good idea to top up the oil and found out that who ever put the bolt in the axle wreaked the thread and the axlke was leaking oil so off to the hardware store that sells all types of weird and wonderful sized stuff and 80p later i had myself a new 1/2 unf bolt and copper washer





So the list of to do's was now getting shorter just leaving

Just the windscreen rubber and a new exhaust and the van would be up to my standards for now. . . . . . . BUT whilst i was under the van trying to stop the exhaust banging off the chassis i noticed one of the dampers were leaking and all the bushes had perished which got my thinking i should really just change them for peice of mind.

So first to be done was the windscreen and after taking four hours to put it in wrong myself i gave my mate who works for a well know automotive window fitting firm and he fitted it with abit of a potch but having all the gear made it much easier!

[freddy686868]

Then i moved onto removing the leaf springs to fit the poly bushes inplace of the knackerd ones and i also have a nice set of adjustable avo dampers to go on there from from Peter Lloyd Racing which are nicely priced.

As you can see i couldn't just change the bushes i had to got the whole hog and strip everything down and paint it up properly so it has taken abit more time effor and money that i'd thought.





Next months project is to have a custom made stainless exhaust system fitted by prospeed which i'm looking forward to as the van will be near enough sorted!

[savvi]

Looking good mate, glad you got most of it sorted.


When you have the exhaust done can you find out how much they would charge for another one ?
I'd like to replace mine at some point although it a pinto so the front pipe would be different, wondered if they could post it to me ?

[fullathepipe]

Lovely wee van there since I joine this site I've seen alot of these vans I like the work your all doin on them! Would nearly put me in the notion! Prob alot more reliable than the last of the newer escort vans. Had to go lift our works van the other day, needs it third engine. Anyway enough of that waffle... Nice van!

[freddy686868]

Looking good mate, glad you got most of it sorted.


When you have the exhaust done can you find out how much they would charge for another one ?
I'd like to replace mine at some point although it a pinto so the front pipe would be different, wondered if they could post it to me ?

Thanks i love doing abit of work to my cars although i thought this would have been in better mechanical order but surely not. Atleast all the front end is new so that doesn't have to be done.

They want £272 to do my exhaust thats a 2" stainless steel exhaust with a singe silencer i did price longlife too although i don't rate thier workmanship as much as prospeed and they came in £50 more so it's a win win situation. About getting your exhaust sent to you i don't think that would be a good idea as the guy at prospeed (Charlie) like his exhausts to fit exactly, first time everytime and the best way to have one made is on the van/car it is going on but you could try.

[Darbo]

Agreed it does look mint

keep up the good work

[freddy686868]

Not much to show but a fair bit to tell. When i was dismanteling the leaf springs the bolts holding them together sheered which i supose is because they are made out of monkey metal and have been under tension all thier life. So in my dinner breaks over the last three days i knocked these up out of stainless steel as i couldn't find the bolts anywhere.



I have also made a battery tray out of some sheel metal with uprights that bolt through the floor and a bar over the top of the battery located behind the passanger seat. More pictures of it fitted when it is light.



The final picture of the day for me is of my new dampers. Which are all fitted up with the poly bushes and it has transformed the way the van drives and handles.



I have also mounted a fire extinguisher on the wheel arch in the back as i was given it out of a mates old rallye car so that is looking good although i hope it never has to be used.

[mk1van]

good to see some new pics up an dsome more progress on the van...what paint did you use on the tank???? looks nice n shiney

[freddy686868]

I found a door seal!!!! But i think it is boarder li ne useable but i have one none these less.

Also found some other goodies for the van, some not even needed



These also finish the back off nicely just need to fit the bumpers now after they have had some work done, although i have bought some off ebay too .



before


after


The left side shows the light with out the covers on and the right with the cover on

[freddy686868]

There is still some more progress although i have slowed down on the buying of things now as i am spent out this month i have turned to mates for favours on the items i have bought so far this month.

I bought some mk1 escort van quater bumpers off ebay for a pricey sum although they did come with brackets and bolts but i knew i could get them stripped back and painted up nice on mates rates (which is mainly beer )



More pictures of them soon as they have been stripped back to metal and are being etch primed and painted gloss black very soon.

After i have bought the quater bumpers off the net i actually found some bumpers off the back of a mk2 van so i sent them off to a mate in the local body shop to see if he could blast all the rust out of them patch the holes/blend in the new metal into the old metal then finally paint them. One is mint the other has suffered from years of being in the ground so fingers crossed. Here is a poor photo of the worst one and there will also be more updates on that soon hopefully.



Like i say this is nothing exciting but it is cheap and cheerful progress. Next month i will be changing the

engine mounts/gearbox mounts (IF I CAN EVER FIND NEW ONES FOR SALE)
a custom made exhaust made by Prospeed in cardiff in place of the crap on there now
Make another new pin for the other leaf spring shackle as the bolt has sheered off
and sort the handbrake as it isn't holding very well due to the rubber attched to the handbrake cable and brake bar. I'm guessing that it is only holding on the drivers side.

[freddy686868]

These carbs are tempting me to fit them on the crossflow too! Left over from my last project car are some gsxr750 srad carbs that would suit it down to the ground.

[freddy686868]

good to see some new pics up an dsome more progress on the van...what paint did you use on the tank???? looks nice n shiney

I'm not sure what paint was used on the tank but i would guess it is either 2pack or water based paint as it is what they use in the local body shop, i know the apprentice and is 'learning' to paint and prep on my parts

[freddy686868]

Looking good mate, glad you got most of it sorted.


When you have the exhaust done can you find out how much they would charge for another one ?
I'd like to replace mine at some point although it a pinto so the front pipe would be different, wondered if they could post it to me ?

Looked at thier website and it says they would want your car/van there for the day to ensure the fit is correct.
http://www.pro-speedexhausts.com/whatwedo.html
You can have the exhaust off my van for £20 plus postage if you want as i can't be bothered to cut and weld mine to get it to fit right, if not i'll scrap it. If you do want it let me know asap so i don't throw it out.

[freddy686868]

Well the bumpers i bought off ebay have been painted and are on the van all fitted up with stainless bolts. I'm very happy with them although one has abit of a ripple in it, but it is 30years old.

before


after

[freddy686868]

I also had a bash at repairing the other bumpers the other day and they are all ready to be welded up which i'm going to do myself.

All cleaned up and stripped back to see the extent of the rust damage




All the thin metal cut out and new patches made.





Old pieces of the bumper with the new pieces above and number three had to be bent into the correct shape which took a fair amount of time.







My new dash surround compaired to the old one


Painted a nice satin black

[james-gti]

nice van buddy, be good to see that out and about

[freddy686868]

nice van buddy, be good to see that out and about

Thanks, when and where did you see me out in it then?

[freddy686868]

Out with the falling off floor touching rubbish and in with the well made custom 2" pro speed exhaust i had fitted today.

In the end i went for a two box system to keep the noise levels down on the motorway and these guys done a great job and i would recomend prospeed to anyone. It did take a fair while but you can't rush quality. I know the prictures are poor but hopefully everyone willget the idea.

Had the middle box mounted just before the axle as you can get it higher up under the car




The nice 2 1/4" tail pipe that is just right and not too chavy.


An extra mount was also fixed to the underside to stop exhaust moment that caused the old one to knock off the fuel tank and chassis.


The new poly bush kit and avo dampers too.


New engine mounts and gearbox mount ready to go one when i have time then she really will drive just like a brand new car.

[mk1van]

progress is good on the van...keep them pics coming....how did your bumpers turn out????

[freddy686868]

progress is good on the van...keep them pics coming....how did your bumpers turn out????

Thanks for that still not finished lol. Got a nice little list to complete.

Do you mean the bumpers i bought off ebay or the ones i found and have cut the guts out of? The ones i had off ebay have been sprayed up and fitted on the van and the cut up ones are still cut up ready for when i have time to weld them up but it has been mad recently as i'm always on the go.

[freddy686868]

Just a small update seams the rear light screws were rusting i decided to replace them with stainless steel ones but as is the case with this van the guy who built it wasn't into finishing touches and had put the lights in with wood screws!!!!!!!

Out with the old and in with the new spacers that i knocked up in my dinner times in work again


Cleaned out the lights


All nicely bolted together and they are now fitted in the van. I had a look along the rear quaters when the lights were out and the good thing is they are very straight and theres no filler in them WOOP!

[freddy686868]

A couple of pictures i have just found on my computer from rally day

[exboyracer]

Nice work on turning out those spacers

[oldskooler]

lovely van you got there mate, great thread and progress, makes me want to crack on with mine some more!!

[savvi]

I've not touched mine for a while and this last week been watching your progress and feel the urge to get mine out and get it on the road.

Well done mate it's looking great.

[freddy686868]

Thanks guys i just want to get it finished up ready to put away for most of the winter now . But the list isn't getting any smaller and the mrs has just bought a 106 that needs getting through the mot so the van is getting pushed back ever slightly. I find that with forums too as i will sit down on the computer on a crappy day and start looking at wheat everyone else is doing then i think i'll do this or that to it when the rain is gone. Although i feel my progress has been slow so far progress is progress at the end of the day

The list of to do's stands at present at:
Finish adjusting the handbrake
replace the engine mounts
Replace the gearbox mount
Sort the stight leak coming from the bottom of the dip stick tube where it meets the block
Two patches of welding and a full underseal of wax oil
Repair the broken leaf spring shackle.

[freddy686868]

ARRRGGGHHHH! Well the pedal bushes need done on the van but a more important problem is the clutch cable is not attached to the pedal anymore but it hasn't snapped? Although there is a seriously important looking pin on the drivers side foot well i can't find any diagrams on where it goes although i have a funny feeling it holds the clutch cable in place. Any help would be great as i have looked through the forum without joy and don't want to repost what has prob been asked many times in the past.