Info on South African Chassis codes for RS2000 MK2

[RS20004x4]

Just about to buy an Escort RS2000, South African Import, and wanted to check if anyone had any info on the chassis numbers and how to read them. Also any info on the body. Do they have all the same features as a normal Mk2 RS2000 i.e. tramping bars...

[Rally Pack 2000]

Actual South African RS2000s are quite rare. Made from late 1978 to 1980. I have heard various production numbers from approx 700 to a seemingly very accurate quote of 1183 so when someone says about a thousand its a reasonable average of figures.

 

Yes there were differences between the Euro RS2000s and the South African ones and are different again to the Australian ones. Some of the internal panels and seam locations are unique to South African cars. They dont have factory radius arms but instead a rear stabiliser bar like the Australian cars. They do however have the alloy sump and mirrors of the European cars. Strangely unlike the Euro and Australian cars that have a 3.54 ratio diff fitted the South African cars got a 3.7. They have the unique South African large fuel tank which is located in the boot over the axle with a long neck pipe going from the filler to the tank.They had thin pin stripes down the side but never had the RS2000 logo on their flanks. All you go was very basic steel wheels as standard.

 

I have never seen a chassis list for the SA cars but no doubt an enthusiast in that country keeps such a log however I do know that as well as the vin plate there is a separate body coloured plate that is riveted underneath it that states its an RS2000, its paint colour and interior trim colour.

 

There are a few myths I have seen around about the South African cars which I think often stems from people getting them confused with the Australian versions. Unlike the Australian versions the South African RS2000s were all 2 doors. (All the reviews I have read make reference to the model being build around a strengthened Mk2 2 door shell) Also its been said that like Australia they made flat nosed 2lt cars similar to the Australian Rally Pack but I have never seen evidence of this. All the Mexico Styled cars I have seen have been 1600 Sports. The South Africans didnt start using the Pinto engine till they started assembly of the engines locally in 78.

 

Hope this is helpful

[RS20004x4]

I have the chassis plate which is not in the best of condition, It does have the large centre fuel tank with the long neck. No engine or gearbox. I will need to see how the Australian Axle fits so I can check against mine. The axle is different to the last RS I had. The previous keeper said it was a cologne, but I will need to check this further. No interior, I will have to do some comparisons to see if I can spot the differences.

Thanks for the info, it's much appreciated

[Vista]

Re the axle, are you sure it wasn't Koln he said?

[Rally Pack 2000]

I have the chassis plate which is not in the best of condition, It does have the large centre fuel tank with the long neck. No engine or gearbox. I will need to see how the Australian Axle fits so I can check against mine. The axle is different to the last RS I had. The previous keeper said it was a cologne, but I will need to check this further. No interior, I will have to do some comparisons to see if I can spot the differences.

Thanks for the info, it's much appreciated

 

All Australian Mk2s use the traditional English axle. Im pretty sure the South African RS2000s dont however. I mentioned above the axle ratio of the South African RS2000s is 3.7. I meant literally 3.7 not the 3.77 that can be found in some of the English axles. I suspect that this maybe be a Koln Axel ratio and was what Vista was alluding too. This would also fit with all other South African cars. Why go to all the trouble to import a different axle just for one short run model. It would also help explain why they chose 3.7 as they probably couldnt find one close to the English 3.54

[RS20004x4]

Re the axle, are you sure it wasn't Koln he said?

Could have been, He was Welsh and I'm not, so a few words were lost on me. Nice chap though. I had meant to look it up further before I typed what I thought it was. I'll be stripping it and will check the ratio and report back.

Still need to try and read the Chassis code. With there being so few RS2000 made I would like to be sure it's genuine as it's the difference between restoring the shell to original or doing a few mods. It needs a bulk head, gear box tunnel, floor repairs, parcel shelf (someone mounted a sub) spare wheel well... etc

[Rally Pack 2000]

From what I have read a South African RS2000 has the engine code "J" with a Manual Transmission Code "N"

 

There should be a secondary plate thats painted body coloured with ESC.RS2000 on the top line. On the third line it should give the body colour and the 4th line the trim colour.

[katana]

Don't the Koln axles have an octagonal cover plate to the rear - like an atlas but not round?

[RS20004x4]

I'll check the Axle but I think it's round. I also came across a couple of South African RS's that showed the Engine code as 'J' and a couple of 1600 Sports showing the engine code as 'D' which is what's on my plate. It could be one of the last ones made and they just chucked everything they had left in, but it's looking like a 1600 Sport rather than an RS2000

[Vista]

Koln Axle

 

[RS20004x4]

I'll stick my nose under the back end tomorrow and put up the pics, I'll also get some pics of the RS bits that are confusing me as to what it is. It's probably some mismatch of what they had left like the last Capri's made here.

[RS20004x4]

[katana]

That's the octagonal cover I was thinking of - definitely different to Vista's example

[Vista]

Not a Koln, Atlas or English Axle but a South African Borg Warner M68. From another thread on here:

 

They are Borg Warner M68 units. Fairly popular here in South Africa. I believe some Australian car's use them as well.

 

The M68 from the SA Escort is exactly the same width as the Salisbury axles. The side shafts and wheel bearings are interchangeable between the two and the rear brake setup can be unbolted from on axle and transferred over to the other.

 

It's common for the people here in South Africa to fit the bigger M70 and M75 diffs in the Escorts.

[RS20004x4]

and as if by magic I just spotted one on ebay!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk1-escort-mk2-rs2000-Borg-warner-axle-heavy-duty-export-axle-genuine-very-rare-/231834822004?hash=item35fa6ea574:g:AGUAAOSwa-dWlAqr

 

But are they any good?

[RS20004x4]

[Rally Pack 2000]

and as if by magic I just spotted one on ebay!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk1-escort-mk2-rs2000-Borg-warner-axle-heavy-duty-export-axle-genuine-very-rare-/231834822004?hash=item35fa6ea574:g:AGUAAOSwa-dWlAqr

 

But are they any good?

 

The information on that Auction is wrong. The Borg Warner axle was never used on any RS car in Australia only our 1300 mk1s. When Mk2s were released they all got the English Axles instead as the Escort line was going to get the bigger 1600 and 2000 engines. That to me does cast doubt on the strength of these axles. The South Africans put this axle in their Mk2s. I was surprised they used it in their RS2000s though. Get yourself an English Axle, cheap and a good range or ratios to choose from.

[RS20004x4]

I'll keep an eye out for one. As to ebay, wrong information,,, now there's a first!

The RS2000 I had in my youth was slightly tuned and forever eating diffs, I snapped the crown bolts twice (genuine Ford) and then replaced them with some better ones and the pinion gear shattered and that was the end of the RS Diff!

[Rally Pack 2000]

I'll keep an eye out for one. As to ebay, wrong information,,, now there's a first!

The RS2000 I had in my youth was slightly tuned and forever eating diffs, I snapped the crown bolts twice (genuine Ford) and then replaced them with some better ones and the pinion gear shattered and that was the end of the RS Diff!

 

Yes the torque of the 2lt Pinto could chew through diffs. As part of a group of Escort owners we would troll the wreckers every weekend looking for diff replacements. Those who did burnouts suffered most. However now there are variety of reasonably priced LSD centres for the English Axles to choose from that will save you from those days ever again.

 

PS Does your car have the second ID plate thats body coloured? Doesnt that tell you if its an RS2000 or not?

[RS20004x4]

That ones missing. Someone started stripping it some time ago and probably got scared off by the bulk head, which I think is what happened with the last guy. So I think the bits have got spread out over the last 4 years (since it was imported) Also with it being a 1981 it may have been a mismatch, RS 2000 body but nothing else so they badged it as a sport, then who ever imported it took off the plate and resold it as an RS requiring registry. Not that it really matters, from what I've read you can't get a V5 from DVLA that says RS on it anyway.

It's going to have to wait for space in the garage for the time being, but hopefully I should be putting up another garage in a month or so. I'll keep an eye out for an English axle then