Build Officially Started!

[Tatey]

So changing the water pump/cambelt was a good idea as the cambelt idler pulley bearings weren't in a good way. The new water pump is on, I am just waiting for a new coolant hose to arrive as the water pump outlet on the escort pumps is a straight fitting rather than pointing backwards.

The trailer was due to be collected today but the dealership decided to close this weekend so they are instead going to deliver it to me this week. It doesn't sound like I'll be able to go to my rolling road session next week given the soon to be announced lockdown.

[twinturbo]

Let's hope they can still deliver..

I should really look at the cam belt on my Escort Cabrio. I am so use to things having chains that I forgot they were a thing . But in the last 18 months I have gone from having no cars with camblets, to all 3 cars ( that could be in play ) now having them..

Was it easy enough on the Silvertop?

[Tatey]

The silvertop was easy to do with the timing kit (a bar to lock the cams, a pin to lock the crank and a home made tool to lock the cam pulleys.

You need a few big torx bits for the cam pulleys/cam tensioner pulleys, T50 and T55 I believe.

If you are doing the belt for the first time you'll need a new tensioner spring/spring post (very cheap) and a tensioner pulley post, they sometimes come in the kit but sometimes don't (mine didn't).

The Haynes obviously has a ample room and good clearance around everything so it may have been very easy.

I can send you the Haynes manual for the zetec engine which has the step by step if you'd like it?

[Tatey]

The trailer has arrived! It is a squeeze to get it in the garage but luckily all of my measurements were correct and it all fits. I need to get a proper winch plate laser cut for it and get a motor mover to help move it on my own as with the car on and my drive being on a slight slope it wants to run away with you.

[twinturbo]

Trailer looks a good fit in all respects.

[Tatey]

Well the day was finally here!

After the dyno breaking a few weeks ago meaning I had to rearrange my rolling road session again it was finally time! And what a day for it as it was absolutely chucking it down. I do need to drill some holes in my seat and floor to drain the water out!

I really just wanted the day to shake the car down, make sure there were no major issues with it and make sure the fueling was safe.

The day turned into more of a mammoth session that I had hoped as for some reason the engine was running massively rich. Trying smaller jets, different needles and different diaphragm springs got it nearly dialed in, however it is still fuelling a bit rich but it is in a safe running condition now. I will go back again in the future with some 2.0l cams and a full selection of main jets.

Other things I found out from the day were that I have wired up the rad fan the wrong way as it is spinning the wrong way. I need to put a 2x offset in for my rpm gauge and change some settings on my dash to get my temp gauge linked to the right input. It is now also reading the correct road speed.

It was fantastic, although nerve wracking see the car that has taken 12 years to get here finally being run through its paces.

I have my IVA test booked for 28th May so here is hoping that all goes well. I still have a few jobs to complete to get it ready but hopefully there won't be too many things to correct.

[Ianr]

Good progress and fingers crossed for the IVA

[jps]

Originally Posted by Tatey

Out of interest - how did you cover the steering column underneath the brake reservoir? I was thinking to position it like this - but leaning towards putting it offset to towards the middle...

[Tatey]

I fabricated an angled cover over the top of it which is then rivetted in place. It was quite a complex folded piece which it does a good job of covering the column. It then seemed like a sensible place to put the brake fluid reservoir.

[Tatey]

A quick update. I now have a rolling road booked for 9th January and I'm planning to take the car to Blyton Park on 31st January if everything goes well on the rolling road.

My neighbour mentioned to me that there is actually a rolling road 1.5 miles from my house so I have now booked in here. It saves me the 2 and a half hour drive up to Bogg Bros. It is a lot more expensive but I think the hassle saving will be worth it.