====== 1974 Ford Escort mk1 - Second Rebuild ======

I had run the Escort in its original 1600cc configuration for a year or so, and though it was fun, I new in around 2003 that I wanted more. We talked over what exactly to do with it and settled on doing an engine conversion that lots of others were doing at the time - fitting the Vauxhall/GM 'Red top'.

The Red top is a fairly strong engine, with a 16v cylinder head designed (and produced, in some cases) by Cosworth. It's pretty similar to what a road-going, normally aspirated Cosworth YB engine would be, with a healthy 150bhp as standard.

At the time the engines were fairly easy (and cheap) to get hold of (times have changed!) - the only real issue being the custom bellhousing, clutch and bearing needed to mate the Vauxhall block to a Ford gearbox. Many people do these components now, but at the time [[https://www.sbdmotorsport.co.uk/|SBD Motorsport]] were the only people with the parts available off-the-shelf.

===== Engine Removal =====

Removing the original crossflow engine:

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The Vauxhall engine can be ECU driven, but we didn't have the budget for that so we stuck with a a distributer - which meant cutting back some of the bulkhead for clearance. We are starting to cut!

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New crossmember fitted:

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Trial fit of the replacement engine:

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Engine bay repainted and starting to dress the engine:

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===== Gearbox & Transmission Tunnel =====

A larger transmission tunnel had to be fabricated to fit the bigger 5 speed gearbox:

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===== Rear Axle =====

Although the original axle would have //probably// taken the power of the new engine, we decided to uprate it to the much stronger (and wider) Capri 2.8 '//Atlas//' and fit a strong single piece propshaft:

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===== Front Brakes =====

Refurbishing a set of Austin Princess 4-piston calipers:

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Calipers fitted to the Capri 2.8 struts and vented front discs:

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===== Wing / Wheelarch Extensions =====

Probably the biggest job of all... in hindsight (and with enough money, which I didn't have at the time!) these should really have been done in steel, not GRP. But, when you're a recent graduate on the bottom rung of the ladder, you do what you can:

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===== Interior =====

Interior we kept pretty simple - stripped the original paint off, painted it white and fitted a rev counter (the 1300XL didn't have one in its original gauge cluster) as well as a basic centre console with battery cut-off and an Omex rev limiter, since the engine would have no other form of safety from over-rev.

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===== Final Specification =====

1974 Ford Escort mk1

   * Chassis stitch welded as per Ford 'blue book'
   * GRP bubble arch extensions fitted
   * 2.0 16v DOHC Vauxhall Astra GTE/Calibra/Cavalier GSi 'Red top' engine
   * Ford Sierra Type-9 5 speed gearbox
   * Twin Dellorto DHLA 45 sidedraught carbs
   * Facet solid state fuel pump
   * Adjustable fuel regulator
   * Capri 2.8 Atlas rear axle with 4.1:1 final drive
   * RS 'anti-tramp' bars
   * Capri 2.8 rear drums
   * Single piece heavy duty propshaft
   * Heavy duty single leaf springs
   * Gaz adjustable rear dampers
   * Capri 2.8 Bilstein front struts
   * Austin Princess 4-piston calipers with vented discs
   * Double width/Anti-dive front anti-rollbar mount
   * Twin-cam / heavy duty front anti-rollbar
   * Compomotive MO 8x15 wheels, alloy extensions on front hubs
   * 205/50x15 tyres


===== Completed Images =====

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