Keeping Old Skool fords alive these days,

[ShaunS]

Hi All, 

Was just wondering on the general consensus of Old Skool ford owners, on how to keep these motors on our roads these days.

Is keeping the Kent or Pinto running as clock work  still up to date in 2024? or would you change to modern Zetec or worse yet switch to alternate brand power ?

Also from a location perspective,  Kent/Pinto bits are are becoming not as abundant as they used to be, well here in ZA that is. 

Thanks

Shaun 

 

[Nige65]

Keeping my 1600 Sport x/flow Kent as I rarely do any sort of driving that involves long journeys on major roads so don't really need an abundance of power, it's a standard engine with standard running gear, I might send it for a freshen up and a light tune in the near future 👍

[GrahamU]

5 hours ago, ShaunS said:

 

Also from a location perspective,  Kent/Pinto bits are are becoming not as abundant as they used to be, well here in ZA that is. 

 

 

 

Is that because they are all being shipped over here

 

 

I've just taken the zetec conversion out of my RS2 and put a pinto back in, to me its worth more and better with the pinto

For my sport (SA import) I did think that being an SA it would never have the resect that the UK cars have so I can change from a kent if I wanted, but I like the kent engine so it will stay.

I'm not interested in going stupidly fast in it, just a bit of fun and you can still get parts and good enough power from them

[Dave Knight]

Definitely keeping my Kent in the Escort. It’s about originality and regular servicing, like the old days. We are the last bastions😉
 

For the miles I do it’s perfect, even down to the 4 cog box. 

[Vista Estate]

Well said @Dave Knight and @GrahamU. The Kent engine may not be fast but in the car round the twisty stuff if feels like you are doing 60 at 20mph.

As @Dave Knightknows you can give it a good thrashing to get the blood pumping and wheels spinning if you need to.

More smiles per mile 😊

[Dave Knight]

Yes I was in the passenger seat when said car was thrashed, AKA John Cleese! 🤣

[ShaunS]

23 hours ago, GrahamU said:

 

Is that because they are all being shipped over here

 

 

I've just taken the zetec conversion out of my RS2 and put a pinto back in, to me its worth more and better with the pinto

For my sport (SA import) I did think that being an SA it would never have the resect that the UK cars have so I can change from a kent if I wanted, but I like the kent engine so it will stay.

I'm not interested in going stupidly fast in it, just a bit of fun and you can still get parts and good enough power from them

Not really, theres plenty of old escorts, sierras & cortinas around, just that the general spares supply has dried up. I was shopping around for Pinto gasket set and shop assistants take a step back for a moment when they hear you request, 

For me personally, I do intend to drive it and enjoy as much time as I possibly can, rather than have it up on jackstands waiting for parts. The thought of alternate power has entered my mind tho, 

 

Edited May 17, 2024 by ShaunS

[Dave Knight]

Mmm, plenty of Escorts left? 

[Vista]

On 16/05/2024 at 09:30, ShaunS said:

Hi All, 

Was just wondering on the general consensus of Old Skool ford owners, on how to keep these motors on our roads these days.

Is keeping the Kent or Pinto running as clock work  still up to date in 2024? or would you change to modern Zetec or worse yet switch to alternate brand power ?

Also from a location perspective,  Kent/Pinto bits are are becoming not as abundant as they used to be, well here in ZA that is. 

Thanks

Shaun 

 

There's no problem whatsoever getting pinto and crossflow parts over here as there's a huge market for them.

[accord83]

 I like my little 1300 Kents, 1360 screamer with standard 4 speed gearing is a hoot on twisty roads. It's a nightmare on motorways, but I live in rural Shropshire. It was built when we lived in the Yorkshire Dales and had to drive at least 25 miles in any direction to see a traffic light (country boys make their own entertainment😂). I don't need a trailer queen with a hi-po engine to have fun.  Small Kent parts are still reasonably easy to get as they seem unloved. I wish I had a Pound for every time I've been told by a non Escort owner, "You want a Zetec in that mate".  WHY?  Bragging rights?  B0LL0CKS! Your car, your rules, It's all about fun..........

Isn't it?

[ShaunS]

19 hours ago, accord83 said:

 I like my little 1300 Kents, 1360 screamer with standard 4 speed gearing is a hoot on twisty roads. It's a nightmare on motorways, but I live in rural Shropshire. It was built when we lived in the Yorkshire Dales and had to drive at least 25 miles in any direction to see a traffic light (country boys make their own entertainment😂). I don't need a trailer queen with a hi-po engine to have fun.  Small Kent parts are still reasonably easy to get as they seem unloved. I wish I had a Pound for every time I've been told by a non Escort owner, "You want a Zetec in that mate".  WHY?  Bragging rights?  B0LL0CKS! Your car, your rules, It's all about fun..........

Isn't it?

That's a winning recipe hey. In my younger days we used to play around with the diff ratios to get better final drive. ie using the Cortina gear sets. 

[Rally Pack 2000]

Yay I can post today! Not sure how long it will last but I will take it while I can! Bet no one noticed I was gone! LOL

I got to the stage where the nostalgia of the car became more important than the need for speed. I enjoy cruising and tuttering around in the car rather than flat chat boyracer everywhere. I get more pleasure from seeing the car as it once was in my youth then applying all the engine mods. Having an original Pinto is nice in that you arent hard up for parts and as standard its a breeze to tune and maintain. Its so reliable that I could tour the country in it if I wanted a classic car getaway. I always said that owning a Twincam on paper is one thing for fun factor but its practicality for wide scale use it isn't. Only that we didn't get Mk1 RS2000s here apart from a limited 25 then that would have been the car I would prefer. Not to mention standardising both cars on parts would be pretty nice.

When I was going to shows (had to put a pause on that) any other Escorts that came along were always modified. Not a single one still had the original carburettor and every RS2000 has twin 45s. So the engine in mine was always the most original. I think Escorts always lent themselves to be modified and thats why few seem to have been kept original mechanically. Whereas a Morris Minor they always seem to be left alone. I think there are more modern engines in Escorts these days than original ones. I guess it offers a cheap and reliable horsepower increase so that appeals to many. I think that because i have owned the car for so long is rattly noisy drive-train is second nature to me and those coming from modern cars and stepping back into the past into one could be a bit of a culture shock wake up call so switching into more modern engines is the smoothing out of the experience they need to enjoy it more.

[Vista Estate]

5 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Yay I can post today! Not sure how long it will last but I will take it while I can! Bet no one noticed I was gone! LOL

I got to the stage where the nostalgia of the car became more important than the need for speed. I enjoy cruising and tuttering around in the car rather than flat chat boyracer everywhere. I get more pleasure from seeing the car as it once was in my youth then applying all the engine mods. Having an original Pinto is nice in that you arent hard up for parts and as standard its a breeze to tune and maintain. Its so reliable that I could tour the country in it if I wanted a classic car getaway. I always said that owning a Twincam on paper is one thing for fun factor but its practicality for wide scale use it isn't. Only that we didn't get Mk1 RS2000s here apart from a limited 25 then that would have been the car I would prefer. Not to mention standardising both cars on parts would be pretty nice.

When I was going to shows (had to put a pause on that) any other Escorts that came along were always modified. Not a single one still had the original carburettor and every RS2000 has twin 45s. So the engine in mine was always the most original. I think Escorts always lent themselves to be modified and thats why few seem to have been kept original mechanically. Whereas a Morris Minor they always seem to be left alone. I think there are more modern engines in Escorts these days than original ones. I guess it offers a cheap and reliable horsepower increase so that appeals to many. I think that because i have owned the car for so long is rattly noisy drive-train is second nature to me and those coming from modern cars and stepping back into the past into one could be a bit of a culture shock wake up call so switching into more modern engines is the smoothing out of the experience they need to enjoy it more.

Wow you made up for your break away @Rally Pack 2000 🤣

[Dave Knight]

13 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Yay I can post today! Not sure how long it will last but I will take it while I can! Bet no one noticed I was gone! LOL

I got to the stage where the nostalgia of the car became more important than the need for speed. I enjoy cruising and tuttering around in the car rather than flat chat boyracer everywhere. I get more pleasure from seeing the car as it once was in my youth then applying all the engine mods. Having an original Pinto is nice in that you arent hard up for parts and as standard its a breeze to tune and maintain. Its so reliable that I could tour the country in it if I wanted a classic car getaway. I always said that owning a Twincam on paper is one thing for fun factor but its practicality for wide scale use it isn't. Only that we didn't get Mk1 RS2000s here apart from a limited 25 then that would have been the car I would prefer. Not to mention standardising both cars on parts would be pretty nice.

When I was going to shows (had to put a pause on that) any other Escorts that came along were always modified. Not a single one still had the original carburettor and every RS2000 has twin 45s. So the engine in mine was always the most original. I think Escorts always lent themselves to be modified and thats why few seem to have been kept original mechanically. Whereas a Morris Minor they always seem to be left alone. I think there are more modern engines in Escorts these days than original ones. I guess it offers a cheap and reliable horsepower increase so that appeals to many. I think that because i have owned the car for so long is rattly noisy drive-train is second nature to me and those coming from modern cars and stepping back into the past into one could be a bit of a culture shock wake up call so switching into more modern engines is the smoothing out of the experience they need to enjoy it more.

Yep I noticed mate, didn’t want to be a curtain twitcher 🤣

[Vista]

17 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Yay I can post today! Not sure how long it will last but I will take it while I can! Bet no one noticed I was gone! LOL

I got to the stage where the nostalgia of the car became more important than the need for speed. I enjoy cruising and tuttering around in the car rather than flat chat boyracer everywhere. I get more pleasure from seeing the car as it once was in my youth then applying all the engine mods. Having an original Pinto is nice in that you arent hard up for parts and as standard its a breeze to tune and maintain. Its so reliable that I could tour the country in it if I wanted a classic car getaway. I always said that owning a Twincam on paper is one thing for fun factor but its practicality for wide scale use it isn't. Only that we didn't get Mk1 RS2000s here apart from a limited 25 then that would have been the car I would prefer. Not to mention standardising both cars on parts would be pretty nice.

When I was going to shows (had to put a pause on that) any other Escorts that came along were always modified. Not a single one still had the original carburettor and every RS2000 has twin 45s. So the engine in mine was always the most original. I think Escorts always lent themselves to be modified and thats why few seem to have been kept original mechanically. Whereas a Morris Minor they always seem to be left alone. I think there are more modern engines in Escorts these days than original ones. I guess it offers a cheap and reliable horsepower increase so that appeals to many. I think that because i have owned the car for so long is rattly noisy drive-train is second nature to me and those coming from modern cars and stepping back into the past into one could be a bit of a culture shock wake up call so switching into more modern engines is the smoothing out of the experience they need to enjoy it more.

Yes, I knew you were in OSF jail 😆