21 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

A while back I posted some photos of the Escort RS2000 Mk.2 my son was building for historic rallying.

It is based on an Escort Popular 2-door shell which was originally LHD. It was being built to have a Vauxhall 2.3 engine and 5-speed gearbox when we got it, but is now a completely re-built car with full RS2000 body-shell mods, a Pinto 2-litre engine, rocket gearbox, 4.7:1 FDR with LSD. It is RHD with the Ford quick-rack, Minilite 13" wheels, full cage with FIA seats and 5-point belts.

I really enjoyed doing the engine build and it is giving just over 155 bhp from 6000 to 6800 rpm with very high torque from just over 4000 right up to 6000 (standard RS2000 has 100 bhp at 5750 rpm). It seems as though the carb intake is slightly restricting inlet airflow, so the big single carb is going to be machined out a bit. It looks like that will gain it about 5 more bhp and a bit of unwanted play in the new dizzy seems to be causing some high-end ignition issue which could be a couple of bhp. We are hoping for 160 when all done.

Anyway, with that sort of power it should be competitive on its first event next month.

We believe if we do some tarmac special stage events, where we can fit a pair of 45DCOE carbs the bhp will increase to around 190.

What a lovely car it is and great to drive. Much quicker than my 1964 rally Cooper 'S'. No wonder the Mini became less competitive after the Escort arrived on the rally scene.

[Luapno]

Have you got any photos of the finished car?

[DomCr250]

The old Ford Pinto what a great engine ... they still use them for racing in some of the oval classes.  And you can do a clutch swap in 45mins!

 

It was Escorts and Mini's that made Cars and Car Conversions such a great read.

 

A mate had a droop snoop RS2000, first car I ever sat in and did over 110mph in.

Edited by DomCr250, 26 September 2017 - 10:03 AM.

[Cooperman]

I've always liked the Escort and  the first time I rallied in one was in early 1968. It was a Twin Cam and I was amazed at how well it went, even when compared to the old Lotus Cortina. Later I did several internationals in a 'works assisted ex-works' Twin-Cam and that had around 150 bhp.

I'll try to put up some photos later.

[Clint221]

:)

Edited by Clint221, 29 September 2017 - 08:57 AM.

[sonikk4]

Always miss my 1980 Droop snoot. RJD 2.1 on twin 45's with a Type 9 conversion. Yards of fun and on the Auotbahns in 89 to 92 i used to hunt down BMW 325i's and show them what an old skool Ford was capable of. That engine used to red line to 7K and would rev there so quickly.

[Cooperman]

https://imgur.com/a/p0yML

 

Here it is as it was a couple of weeks ago.

The only change from this photo is the rear suspension has been raised about 20 mm as it was a bit low at the back.

[jomaoliveira79]

Very nice mk2. I'm sure it will be a very competent rally car specially on tarmac.

[Cooperman]

Thanks.

I can't wait to drive it again. When I drove it recently it was very new so I kept the revs to a max. of 4200. It also had a 3.9:1 FDR and now it has a 4.7:1 and will rev to 7000. The rear has been raised slightly which will help it on rough roads and balance the handling a bit more. My son said it is very well-balanced and drives just like an Escort should - nicely sideways!

With that diff and the high torque we reckon 0 - 60 will be around 6 seconds and 7000 rpm in 4th will be around 90 mph. That's ideal for a rally car. 

[absx2]

Wish I still had my mk1 Mexico, I spent most of the time driving sideways and even a bog standard 1100 was fun on damp roads :)

[Northernpower]

We rallied a Mk1 Twin Cam in the mid 70's with a 4 link rear suspension conversion. We bought a modified head from QED in Spalding and after fitting it along with new cams. I then experienced a new style of tuning, the rolling road, and thought it was going to blow up when the exhaust manifold glowed to the point of going translucent.

On the very first outing it was totalled; we were hit on a closed stage by a farmer travelling against the stage direction. He'd already missed our minute man but was out to prove a point.

In those days it was practical and relatively inexpensive to re shell, so we did, and immediately sold it.

[spraybeater]

Wish I still had my mk1 Mexico, I spent most of the time driving sideways and even a bog standard 1100 was fun on damp roads :)

+1 on that, had a MK1 Mexico back in the 70s! 1760 crossflow, 28/36 DCD Weber World cup

ex manifold, few other bits and pieces, downside was it used to eat head gaskets, which was

eventually traced to the block being cracked when the liners were fitted.

Nice looking car by the way Cooperman 

[Cooperman]

4-link rear suspension is great, but my son can't use it on the historic rallies he will be doing. If he turns it into a full-on tarmac stage car it might be changed at which point we'll build an all-steel engine with twin 45DCOE's and around 205 bhp. I just hope that it is as successful as my Cooper 'S' was when he and I were seriously rallying it (32 historic events, 5 outright wins and many 2nd & 3rd places).

 

There may be cars from that era with better road-holding (e.g.: the Porsche 911 Carrera, Audi Quattro) but for pure handling there is nothing to beat an Escort Mk.1 or Mk.2. I've driven them on gravel tyres and racing tyres and whatever you have, the handling is simply so predictable and safe. Roger Clark said that unless you are having to look out of the rear window you are still in control  . To me, Roger 'Albert' Clark and Ari Vatanen were the kings of the Escort, but there were so many ace Escort drivers. I had the privilege of doing some studded tyre testing with Hannu Mikkola in Sweden on a frozen lake in 1970 in a 'works' Mk1. It was truly awesome and I learned a lot about driving on the snow & ice from him.

[Northernpower]

4-link rear suspension is great, but my son can't use it on the historic rallies he will be doing.

I'm surprised, are you saying that although it was a period modification on the works cars as well as being carried out by Dave Richards on the Rothmans cars that you can't modify to that period spec?

[Cooperman]

You can only do it for Group 4 cars running on stage events. For Historic road rallies it must be single carb. and standard Group 1 suspension (up-rated with Bilsteins, high rate springs, etc).  This car will be doing both historic road and stage rallies.

 

It can't have the G'p4 vented front discs or discs on the rear either.  

Edited by Cooperman, 27 September 2017 - 11:17 PM.