Author Topic: The Escort  (Read 53267 times)

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Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #15 on: January 19, 2010, 01:18:29 AM »
Well, with the cash accrued through various means tomorrow will probably see the purschase of either new rear tires, a new cv axle, new drivers side front end stuff, or a new clutch. All need to be replaced. Anyone have any recomendations as far as a decent tire that I could get in P165/80 13? I could go down to 155s, but I would rather not, since I do drag race the car in the summer.

Last week I had ice build up in my drivers side door jam and break off a patch panel, so I had to take of the drivers side door, oxy acet weld in a new patch, bodywork, paint and re hang the door in a temp range of -4 to 25 degrees in a garage with an old torpedo heater for or only source of heat. took me 48 hours from roll on to drive out.

Offline Milwaukee Midget

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #16 on: January 19, 2010, 09:06:11 PM »
Hey, Hemi -

You've got those darned 108 mm bolt pattern wheels, don't you?  So later 14" Escort wheels won't fit.
 
13's are getting real hard to find, but if you're looking for a performance tire to race with, Hoosier makes an A70/13 Vintage race tire that's intended for vintage road racing on MG's and Triumphs.  Probably get you better bite than any street tire you're likely to find in that size.

Perelli makes a 175 70R13 - probably about the same diameter as what you're looking for, but a bit wider, the Cinturato P5.

As to what to do next, I'd try to get the tough stuff done - after all, you proved that the heater works. :-D  Any way you can just make a weekend of it and get the clutch, front end and CV handled all at once?  Sure beats tearing it down three times.

Cheers from the other side of the lake.

Chris in Milwaukee
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #17 on: January 19, 2010, 10:02:13 PM »
Yeah, this is all gonna wait till it's warm. The only tires I can get up here are FR380s for $53 apiece. The tires I will do at school where I can get them mounted for free and hold it to my tolerance for balancing as opposed to the tire shop. CV shaft I will order tomorrow though since they are hard to find and no one makes them anymore.

Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2010, 04:05:32 PM »
The roads are to bloody slick right now to drive aggressively on, so I found a place where I could. It's still bloody slick, but I think that's to be expected.
 :evil:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybsjF8VDaCI

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #19 on: February 03, 2010, 01:54:50 AM »
My first vehicle was a four cylinder flat head willys engine in a farm tractor.  I got it running but not rolling.  You are way ahead of where I was at your age and know more about cars than I do now.  The lake driving will teach you not to panic when you lose traction.  You will know what to do when it happens.

An undergraduate student has a lot of basic material to learn.  Some of the little schools with no graduate program and no prestige are very good.  They are focused on the undergraduate, only.  Although I did not go to this small college, engineers from it have made a good impression on me.  It is St Martins College in Washington State.  Farther than Lansing, for sure.

Offline Milwaukee Midget

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #20 on: February 03, 2010, 06:44:46 PM »
The lake driving will teach you not to panic when you lose traction.  You will know what to do when it happens.

There is so much truth in that statement.  Driver's ed will tell you what to do in a skidding or sliding situation, but there is no responsible method of learning it on the street.  Testing one's abilities to control a car on a slick surface, something we "Northern Tier" folks encounter every winter, can only make you a safer driver.

My only concern is that you -
A.  Don't fall through the ice
B.  Don't knock over my tip-ups! :-D

"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #21 on: February 03, 2010, 10:17:05 PM »
I bought 2 175/70 R13 Falken Sinceras. I should have them mounted by the weekend. If I ever go really serious with the Escort those hoosier road race tires are on the list. That or a set of 14s.

Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #22 on: February 21, 2010, 12:15:44 AM »
Well, I am still plunking along on the Escort. Right now I am within $500 of having all the money I need to get her down the track in June. One thing that I have been debating in my  mind for awhile. If I get a job, I will have no issue working the money to race. Swag theory says My car should run right around 95-100 in it's current form. With the right mods, I would like to try for 115 at the June meet. I know that is a big difference, but it's a goal. With that speed, I should have no legal need of a roll bar or 5 point. Frankly put though, I am sure that if I lose it near 100 I'm not gonna be around to care about what happened to car. I would like to weld in a 6 point from jegs (they make a weld in kit for the exp- same floorpan) use a kirkey prostreet seat that I can get for free, and an inexpensive 5 point. Now here is my dilemma- if I cannot get a job before the meet and I am stuck with either safety equipment or the parts I need to meet to my speed goal. What are you guys thoughts and opinions? Of course, to further complicate matters, there are no local welders that I have found that will do a cage. I do have a friend in Ohio that might do it for cheap, however. 

Offline Milwaukee Midget

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #23 on: February 21, 2010, 12:43:15 AM »
Okay, this is brutal, cold, and a mean thing to say, but I'm gonna say it.

3 reasons to build the cage:

1 It's better to walk away from a poorly executed 100 mph run than to be stuck driving an electric wheelchair.

2 It saves your next-of-kin the headache of e-baying all those used power parts they scavanged before they scrap what's left of your car.

3 We like you, and we want to see you become an old fart, like us. :-D

Chris

"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline landsendlynda

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #24 on: February 21, 2010, 02:13:45 AM »
Okay, this is brutal, cold, and a mean thing to say, but I'm gonna say it.

3 reasons to build the cage:

1 It's better to walk away from a poorly executed 100 mph run than to be stuck driving an electric wheelchair.

2 It saves your next-of-kin the headache of e-baying all those used power parts they scavanged before they scrap what's left of your car.

3 We like you, and we want to see you become an old fart, like us. :-D


Chris




Well said!

Lynda
« Last Edit: February 21, 2010, 02:15:58 AM by landsendlynda »
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Offline t russell

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #25 on: February 22, 2010, 06:59:56 PM »
Okay, this is brutal, cold, and a mean thing to say, but I'm gonna say it.

3 reasons to build the cage:

1 It's better to walk away from a poorly executed 100 mph run than to be stuck driving an electric wheelchair.

2 It saves your next-of-kin the headache of e-baying all those used power parts they scavanged before they scrap what's left of your car.
x30000

3 We like you, and we want to see you become an old fart, like us. :-D


Chris




Well said!

Lynda

Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #26 on: March 03, 2010, 11:52:18 PM »
Well, I compiled the massive list of stuff I have to get done on the car. Tonight I finally got around to sandblasting my old wheels and in a few minutes I will go out and prime them. Then tomorrow I will throw on some paint and take them to school to mount up the falkens and get rid of my mismatched rear tires. I am just slowly pecking away at anything I can afford to. I will be grinding my spare flywheel at school so I can use a larger clutch than the one I have on now. I am working on an adjustable cam timing pulley as another school project. I also bought the new drivers side control arm and tie rod end, but I am still in need of the cltuch and CV axle before I can swap everything out.

Offline Milwaukee Midget

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #27 on: March 04, 2010, 01:14:11 AM »
So tell us about this adjustable cam timing pulley :-o!  Are you modeling it on an existing piece, or is this your own design?  What kind of material are you building it with?  If you can, post some pics.

As long as you still have access to the shop at school, I'd say make as many parts as you can.  I'd be looking at the 'to do' list and see if there's anything else you can get a grade on and save some cash.

Chris 
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Online Dynoroom

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #28 on: March 04, 2010, 01:34:03 AM »
Well, I compiled the massive list of stuff I have to get done on the car. Tonight I finally got around to sandblasting my old wheels and in a few minutes I will go out and prime them. Then tomorrow I will throw on some paint and take them to school to mount up the falkens and get rid of my mismatched rear tires. I am just slowly pecking away at anything I can afford to. I will be grinding my spare flywheel at school so I can use a larger clutch than the one I have on now. I am working on an adjustable cam timing pulley as another school project. I also bought the new drivers side control arm and tie rod end, but I am still in need of the cltuch and CV axle before I can swap everything out.

Walter, Call me. Time to talk. clutch & CV joints should not be things you're thinking about....  8-)
Michael LeFevers
Kugel and LeFevers Pontiac Firebird

Without Data You're Just Another Guy With An Opinion!

Racing is just a series of "Problem Solving" events that allow you to spend money & make noise...

Offline 116ciHemi

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Re: The Escort
« Reply #29 on: March 04, 2010, 11:05:47 AM »
Well, I compiled the massive list of stuff I have to get done on the car. Tonight I finally got around to sandblasting my old wheels and in a few minutes I will go out and prime them. Then tomorrow I will throw on some paint and take them to school to mount up the falkens and get rid of my mismatched rear tires. I am just slowly pecking away at anything I can afford to. I will be grinding my spare flywheel at school so I can use a larger clutch than the one I have on now. I am working on an adjustable cam timing pulley as another school project. I also bought the new drivers side control arm and tie rod end, but I am still in need of the cltuch and CV axle before I can swap everything out.

Walter, Call me. Time to talk. clutch & CV joints should not be things you're thinking about....  8-)

I will be calling, but I kind of theink that I do need to think about the clutch. This sucker doesn't have a whole lot of life left: