Author Topic: The Escort  (Read 53280 times)

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Offline 116ciHemi

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The Escort
« on: December 31, 2009, 01:23:31 AM »
My Dad bought this car for me just before I turned 16 as a project. I was less than enthused art first because I really had wanted something rwd a little sleeker. After having the car for two years now, I am glad I ended up with it. It is a 1982 Ford Escort, the base model of the base model. Manual everything, no radio, no a/c. It took me a year of tinkering on the car before I finally got to really drive it, when my parents put plates and insurance on it for my 17th birthday present and parked it outside of the school I go to. By this time, I had painted the car two tone with rustoleum paint. Up till this point, I really had no real direction with the car, until I started hanging out on bangshift.com and started reading the stories posted there about Maxton. I started asking questions and decided that I would build the car to conform to the G/GRS class, even if I only ran time only.

This is what we drove home in January 2008:

Bondo, bodywork, and some white paint and it was starting to look decent:

After the red was laid on and the trim put back in place I had this:

Now while this paint job looks good in these pictures, the paint wore poorly and rust is already showing through due to my lack of bodyworking skill. It still looks better than it did when I bought it, though.
After dealing with the weak old 1.6 I decided that I had enough and I built and dropped in a newer 1.9 engine with a slightly better flowing head, but only about 8:1 compression ratio.

I drove it out to the local 1/8th mile where it lit up the boards with an 10.8@ 64 mph with the new engine, which means I have about 85 fwhp. That more or less brings us to present day, where the car serves as my daily driver and gets about 30 mpg.

Offline bvillercr

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2009, 02:23:05 AM »
Very cool, you will learn a lot working on your car.  I like your paint scheme. :cheers:

Online rancheroman

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2009, 09:42:13 AM »
Good job.......Hope to see you at Maxton in April, Paul.
Paul Calaguiro, 1962 Ranchero F/CGC  140 cu.in. SOHC Ford 4 cyl. Doug Nash 5 speed, 8.8 Ford rear-end. 2004 Dodge SRT-10 street pickup.

Offline SPARKY

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2009, 10:09:22 AM »
Congrats---you have a great start----ie your comments about the heads---looks like you are as smart as your mom and pop---gave you something to work with and let you get after IT to "git'r done"---your way what a great start---have fun and stay in school.

I have a machinist class, classmate who did the same thing when his son was 14, then helped him restore it to running before his drivers lisc.---drove the car through highschool and college and to his job interview just before graduation from college with an engineering degree. 

During his job interview, the recuriter ask him, "What have you done?",  the young man said, " Well its in my resume"---"No what have you done with what you have learned" The young man got up and took the recuriter over to the window and pointed at the '72 Camaro and said---"I have been working on that car, with my dad untill I got my Lisc and got out of high school. Since then my dad just helps when I need a hand".  I have changed  and the overhauled the eng, changed the suspension and brakes, redesigned and made new suspensi, ect ect ect--

Bottom Line---he had a job with Garette Turbo before they sat back down...  As I suggested earlier, Stay in School, 'ave fun, and as Pork Pie says  "Think fast---always"
 
« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 10:45:43 AM by SPARKY »
Miss LIBERTY,  changing T.K.I.  to noise, dust, rust, BLUE HATS & hopefully not scrap!!

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."   Helen Keller

We are going to explore the racing N words NITROUS & NITRO!

Offline Milwaukee Midget

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2009, 10:11:06 AM »
This is what hot rodding is all about.  You start out with a light weight, castaway car, clean it up, throw some paint on it (or maybe not), stick a bigger engine in it, and bingo - you have a hot rod.

It's so easy to look at some of the really great examples of the hot rod art that include billet, chrome, high-tech electronic wizardry, intercoolers, etc., and think, "gee, I can't afford to go fast".  But what I see here is a postmodern version of a Model A on a set of '32 rails.

This is a Hot Rod.  Congratulations, and thanks for reminding me what a Hot Rod is supposed to be.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 04:33:23 PM by Milwaukee Midget »
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline SPARKY

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2009, 10:46:24 AM »
MM you are---- SPOT ON
Miss LIBERTY,  changing T.K.I.  to noise, dust, rust, BLUE HATS & hopefully not scrap!!

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."   Helen Keller

We are going to explore the racing N words NITROUS & NITRO!

Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2009, 03:35:59 PM »
Thanks for the kind comments. Whether or she's a hot rod, I don't know. But she's mine. My father has been out of the performance loop for about 40 years, but he enjoys helping me build on it. He mostly works just enough to keep it from occupying the garage long term. In fact, I waited till was gone for a week to pull my engine so that he wouldn't see the mess I knew I was going make. He has been there through all of important parts, teaching me to drive stick, to race, to fire up the new engine I built, and always there when I go in a little over my head. Aside from getting tires, the only time I left the car in someone elses care is when I needed the right rear wheel cylinder replaced I left it with the voc ed auto shop. Last year I was in the automotive program at the local voc ed center and when I changed programs to machining and drafting, I kept up a good relationship with my auto shop teacher and as a result, I can get bay and hoist open when I have need.

Here are a few more pics that show a little more of what the car looks like. It's a lot rougher than the first pictures make it appear.

Before:

After:

My welding isn't pretty, but it works.

I am working on making an aluminum CAI at school, but this works for now.

Me getting tree'd on my first ever pass. For a point of comparison, I was running three tenths behind this Lumina with a stock 3800.


I know that this car won't take me through college. I will be dealing with a ten hour drive between home and school and I want something a little more comfortable for long trips.

Offline SPARKY

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2009, 03:56:59 PM »
As MM said ---a small light car with a bigger eng is a HOT ROD
Miss LIBERTY,  changing T.K.I.  to noise, dust, rust, BLUE HATS & hopefully not scrap!!

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."   Helen Keller

We are going to explore the racing N words NITROUS & NITRO!

Offline sockjohn

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2009, 03:57:53 PM »
My current rule book is packed up, but believe there is a record held by an Escort in GT.

I will try to find the write up online about it.  I have not seen Jack Dolan on here in a long time.

Offline Genuine GM

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2009, 04:21:37 PM »
Man, when I was a kid my mom had a 82 Escort Wagon and then an 86 Escort GT.  I have a soft spot for those cars.  What they lack in "sportiness" they make up in praticality. :cheers:

By definition, your car is a hot rod.  A discarded car, repaired and modified with a larger than stock engine to increase performance.  I am also diggin on that CAI you have fabbed up there.   8-) That shows the same spirit displayed by the likes of Vic Edlebrock Sr., Dean Moon, Mickey Thompson, Smokey Yunick, Clay Smith, Blackie Gejeian, Alex Xydias and countless others.  Your car is definately more of a hot rod than the spoiled teenager, who had daddy buy him a new Mustang, then had daddy pay for a shop to bolt on some goodies.  A lot of people have become jaded by the quickness and ease of driving a new performance car has.  A new Camaro at 85 is quiet and smooth.  Drive my modified '65 C-10 at 85 and you know it.  I think driving an older car should be a requirement.  It make you a better driver and more knowledgeable with what the car is telling you.

The welds don't look good, so what, your haven't been welding for years.  We all were born cold, wet with one head and crying.  NOBODY was born a master welder, engineer or basket weaver.  Look at it as a learning experience.  You got some practice and now you know where you stand with welding skill.  

You show an above average sprirt to make it yours and learn through trial and error.  That is a very special trait in todays world.  You will make fine machinst and draftsman.  Never take what someone tells you for fact unless they can prove it, never stop asking questions and never stop learning.

I will leave you with this.  Before asking a question, trying to research and find it out yourself.  You may not understand the answer you find, but you will be ahead of the game when you ask  a "grey beard."  

C. J.

Don’t let the troubles in your head, steal too much time, you’ll soon be dead - so play. You Never Know – DMB

Offline Seldom Seen Slim

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #10 on: December 31, 2009, 04:59:30 PM »
I'll make no promises but will remind you -- and everyone on the Forum -- that the vehicles featured on the Salt Talks t-shirts are chosen from build diaries on the Forum.  It's my way of thanking you folks for sharing the fun and hassles of building.

No promises -- but take this as encouragement in your build.  And - where are you going to college?  Did you decide yet?
Jon E. Wennerberg
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 (that's way up north)
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Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2009, 08:47:30 PM »
I am 95% certain I am going to MTU. I had to visit the campus at State for an AFROTC scholarship interview and Lansing is a place I would hate living. I was just selected for one of the MTU presidential scholarships. It's only worth $2000 a year, but it's 2k more than I had before. I really hope that I will get an AFROTC scholarship, which would pay at least full tuition, and a chance at room and board.

Offline Seldom Seen Slim

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #12 on: December 31, 2009, 09:01:49 PM »
I applaud your (probable) choice.  And remember -- the initials of the school stand for M(y) T(ummy's) U(pset).  Don't let them fool you into thinking it's Michigan Technological University.   The full name of the school is like that -- but it's five words long.   Michigan Tech -- no logical University.

Happy New Year.  Signing off and going to bed.  It's past 9PM - getting late for us.
Jon E. Wennerberg
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 Skandia, Michigan
 (that's way up north)
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Owner of landracing.com

Offline SPARKY

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #13 on: December 31, 2009, 09:02:51 PM »
Hooray for you!!!!!!!!! :cheers:  :cheers:
Miss LIBERTY,  changing T.K.I.  to noise, dust, rust, BLUE HATS & hopefully not scrap!!

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."   Helen Keller

We are going to explore the racing N words NITROUS & NITRO!

Offline fredvance

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #14 on: December 31, 2009, 10:31:10 PM »
Yeah but what time are you going to sleep!! :evil: :cheers:

  Fred
WORLDS FASTEST PRODUCTION MOTORCYCLE 213.470
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