Mk2 Escort Rebuild

[warrenk]

Hi guys

 

I've got a mk2 Escort 1.6GL that's rusting away in my yard, the car is completely stripped, although i still have all the parts except for the motor (witch i sold) and the gearbox that's in 2 pieces.

I want to rebuild this car into a track car.

Im keeping the body standard but i want to cage the car, fit decent brakes and suspension but i still want to be able to drive the car on the public road.

Parts here are hard to come by for these cars so i'll be fitting a japanese motor as it is relatively cheap and powerful with a 5speed and lsd.

 

Now what i would like to know is, what suspension setup do i go at the front and back? How do you guys lower the front of the escorts? do you get other springs or have the standard ones compressed or cut?

I know the guys are using the 2.8 Capri front struts as they are 2.5inches shorter but we only got the mk1 Capri here in SA. & at the back, do i need need to get different leaf springs or can i just lower the back?

 

One of my father's friends imports the Superlites from Australia into SA, so i will be fitting a set of 13" 7J Superlites, what brake setup is recommended?

 

We've got a bookshop here in our local mall that gets magazines from overseas, Classic Ford, Retro Ford, Performance Ford and Fast Ford being the ones that I buy. Last 2 is the books i buy when the others aint available. By the time the books get here it is somewhat outdated but very informative.

 

Any help or input will be gladly appreciated

Thanks in advance

[over_head_cam]

Shorter/uprated springs for the front is most common, but you can use coilover conversions (from places such as Rally design) or a coilover specially made for an Escort (Gaz is a name that springs to mind)

 

For the rear you can go with lowering blocks which come in various sizes or perhaps de-cambered single leafs.

 

HTH m8