Owner's Mk1 Escort bare-metal resto with Cosworth YB
4-page write-up
My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord
Read the full write-up at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Photo: My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFordA Mk1 Escort 1300E bare-metal resto built around a Cosworth YB
Ginn L documents a full bare-metal restoration of a Mk1 Escort 1300E, with extensive fabrication by his father Colin, converting the shell to take a rebuilt Cosworth YB turbo engine. The thread covers years of bodywork, custom fabrication, paint and a rush to finish for a Classic Ford show, with the car left in a part-finished, not fully running state.
Specs
As stated in the original write-up.
- Engine
- Cosworth YB turbo, Harvey Gibbs rebuild, GT3071R turbo, on a 200 block
- Clutch
- AP Racing Organic Clutch
- Injectors
- Siemens 83lb Injectors
- Engine management
- L8 MSD management
- Rear axle
- Atlas axle
- Suspension
- Gaz Gold coilovers with Eccentric top mounts
- Rear suspension location
- Watts linkage kit and strut brace
- Wheels
- 15 inch BBS RS wheels, re-drilled
- Paint
- Porsche Gruenoliv Pearl
- Seats
- Recaro Pole Position seats
- Interior trim
- Door cards, dash top and steering column trimmed in Alcantara
- Intercooler/Radiator
- Airtec Intercooler/Radiator
- Harness
- Schroth harnesses
Parts used
Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.
Engine 2
- Cosworth YB turbo engineHarvey Gibbs
Harvey Gibbs rebuilt engine on GT30 spec fitted to the car
In the shops
Ford Pinto/Cosworth Turbo Dry Sump Kit (Pump on Block) ↗
C Bradley Motorsport· £1,719.00 GBP
Dry Sump Pump Mounting Bracket for Ford Pinto/Cosworth Turbo ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £129.00 GBP
Magnecor 7mm Black Plug Leads for Sierra/Escort Cosworth Standard Turbo (Single Coil) ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £166.80 GBP - GT3071R turbo
Fitted turbocharger on the YB engine
Fuel & Ignition 1
- Siemens 83lb injectors
Fitted as part of the engine's existing specification
In the shops
Siemens Fuel Injector 630cc/min Short Minitimer (Blue) ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £98.00 GBP
Cooling 1
- Airtec intercooler/radiatorAirtec
Fitted cooling unit for the turbo engine
In the shops
Radiator and Intercooler Assembly (200 TDi) ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $1,422.25 USD
Gearbox & Drivetrain 2
- AP Racing organic clutchAP Racing
Fitted clutch for the engine
In the shops
Exedy Racing Stage 1 Organic Performance Clutch Kit ↗
Moss Miata· $421.99 USD
Exedy Stage 1 Organic Performance Clutch ↗Moss Miata· $426.00 USD
Exedy Stage 1 Organic Performance Clutch Kit ↗Moss Miata· $656.99 USD - Atlas rear axle
Fitted axle, shortened for the build
In the shops
ZF Atlas Axle LSD Thrust Washer ↗
Gartrac· $33.00 USD
Escort Mk1 & Mk2 Atlas Axle Carrier Shim ↗Gartrac· $2.00 USDFord Atlas Axle Group 4 Fully Floating Half Shaft Nut ↗Motorsport-Tools· £17.50 GBP
Suspension & Steering 4
- Gaz Gold coiloversGaz
Fitted suspension with 13 inch rears
- Eccentric top mounts
Fitted with the coilovers
In the shops
Peugeot 205 Aluminium Eccentric Top Mount ↗Rally Design· £39.50 GBP
VW Golf MK2 Aluminium Eccentric Top Mount ↗
Universal 160mm Aluminium Eccentric Top Mount ↗ - Watts linkage kit
Fitted for rear axle location
In the shops
Watts Linkage Kit (TR2-4) ↗
Racetorations· £857.45 GBP
Watts Linkage Centre (with Bushes) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $209.25 USDWatts Linkage Bar Bush | Aftermarket RGX100960P ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $25.50 USD - Strut brace
Fitted to the engine bay
Wheels & Tyres 1
- 15 inch BBS RS wheels
Fitted wheels, re-drilled with re-chromed bolts
Body & Trim 2
- Mexico wings
Fitted replacement front wings, requiring modification to fit correctly
In the shops
Mk1 Escort Mexico 4 Door Front Wing RHS ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £499.00 GBP
Mk1 Escort Mexico 4 Door Front Wing LHS ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £499.00 GBP
Mk1 Escort Mexico 2 Door Front Wing LHS ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £495.00 GBP - Inner wing top panelsExpress Panels
New top pieces ordered and fitted to repair sandblasted inner wings
In the shopsMk1 Escort Mexico 4 Door Front Wing RHS ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £499.00 GBPMk1 Escort Mexico 4 Door Front Wing LHS ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £499.00 GBPMk1 Escort Mexico 2 Door Front Wing LHS ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £495.00 GBP
Interior 2
- Recaro Pole Position seatsRecaro
Fitted seats with aluminium side mounts and Recaro runners
In the shops
Recaro Pole Position Seat ↗West Wales Rally Spares· £1,028.00
- Schroth harnessesSchroth
Fitted racing harnesses in the interior
Other 1
- Thermal sprayed copper exhaust manifold
Standard cast manifold coated in copper to stop rusting, pending a stainless replacement
Photos
292 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.
Ginn L · Dec 26, 2011 | 02:26 PM 30this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Dec 26, 2011 | 02:40 PM 36this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Dec 26, 2011 | 04:44 PM 30this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 1, 2012 | 08:40 PM 11this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 6, 2012 | 02:49 PM 3this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 7, 2012 | 06:16 PM 9this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 14, 2012 | 09:51 PM 22this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 18, 2012 | 09:11 AM 5this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 18, 2012 | 01:32 PM 3this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 19, 2012 | 02:20 PM 6this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 21, 2012 | 10:08 PM 11this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Jan 30, 2012 | 09:13 PM 7this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Mar 15, 2012 | 12:30 AM 12this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Apr 29, 2012 | 03:26 PM 29this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Apr 29, 2012 | 04:40 PM 5this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · Apr 29, 2012 | 09:58 PM 2this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · May 23, 2012 | 10:50 AM 19this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · May 28, 2012 | 03:35 PM 21this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · May 28, 2012 | 06:42 PM 29this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Ginn L · May 28, 2012 | 08:32 PM 2this post at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
How it was done
Starting condition
Bought as a complete 2-door 1300E that looked decent until sandblasted, revealing extensive rot requiring new floor pans, sills, rear quarters and arches.
Body repairs and fabrication
Over many months Ginn and his father Colin, a coded welder, fabricated new floors, sills, widened rear arches, a Sierra tunnel, inner wings, A-posts, rear bulkhead, rear crossmember and a bolt-in roll cage, sourcing replacement panels from Express Panels and others, with mixed quality from reproduction wings.
Engine and running gear
A fully rebuilt Harvey Gibbs Cosworth YB on GT30 spec was bought and fitted, along with an Atlas axle, Gaz Gold coilovers, Watts linkage, and a 4WD manifold for clearance; the rear axle rebuild and running gear completion were still outstanding.
Paint and trim
The shell was painted in Porsche Gruenoliv Pearl shortly before Classic Ford, with interior trimmed in Alcantara, Recaro seats and a temporary carpet fitted in a rushed effort to make the show deadline.
Progress so far
The car debuted at Classic Ford 2012 part-assembled but not running, with the rear axle rebuild, bespoke stainless manifold, and final fit-out still to come; the owner later paused work after buying another car, leaving the project unfinished.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at My Mark One Escort Build — PassionFord ↗
Worth knowing
- Sandblasting or acid dipping a shell reveals hidden rot that paint and filler can hide
- Reproduction front wings can fit poorly and need significant modification
- A cast exhaust manifold rusts quickly, prompting a thermal spray coating as an interim fix
- Making the roll cage in bolt-together sections allows it to be finished and painted outside the car