Author Topic: The Escort  (Read 53272 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline 116ciHemi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
Re: The Escort
« Reply #120 on: March 26, 2011, 07:52:22 PM »
Well, I have been busy since after spring break, but I figured a few things out. Ignition is squared away by retrofitting the duraspark 2 from the '82, the factory carb is working OK, and the engine runs like crap, popping out both ends and having no guts. Theory is a blown headgasket and possibly a vacuum leak, it might have lost its seal either when I was pulling it or dropping it in, since I usually have to lift by the head. Current plan for the engine is to get the crank from the '86 engine turned and use it's .040 over domed pistons in the blue engine, use whichever head is in better shape, and use the Mustang carb. Should be a solid increase in power between the increase in compression and the overbore, and fuel system upgrades.

Over break I got tired of trying to deal with hacked wiring, so I cut most of it out and started fresh with switch panel and new fuse blocks. Right now I have the critical systems wired, I just need to figure out the lights, turn signals, and windshield wipers.


Offline 116ciHemi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
Re: The Escort
« Reply #121 on: April 20, 2011, 12:40:26 AM »
Well, indefinite hold. Just got the go ahead to take summer classes to try and boost my GPA some more. So that means being up here and ready for classes on June 27th, which will make it hard to pull of Maxton. It sucks, because I have been looking forward to racing all year, but that's life. School first.  Maybe I will slip down there and watch or make a pass in my DD Focus before Maxton is unavailable.

Offline Anvil*

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 173
Re: The Escort
« Reply #122 on: April 20, 2011, 12:59:17 AM »
> engine runs like crap, popping out both ends and having no guts

I'd first double check firing order and rather than believing, take out all the plugs and slowly crank the motor the cylinder huffing out air is the next to get a spark. Check compression while you're there.

If both check out the cam is likely retarded.

Good you're working on the GPA.

Offline Rick Byrnes

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 436
Re: The Escort
« Reply #123 on: April 20, 2011, 09:42:43 AM »
Walt

Remember, if you get down to Detroit area any time, I have a new head for you.
One of the good ones, It is safely in storage, but easily accesable.
Rick

Offline 116ciHemi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
Re: The Escort
« Reply #124 on: April 20, 2011, 10:02:00 PM »
> engine runs like crap, popping out both ends and having no guts

I'd first double check firing order and rather than believing, take out all the plugs and slowly crank the motor the cylinder huffing out air is the next to get a spark. Check compression while you're there.

If both check out the cam is likely retarded.

Good you're working on the GPA.

Firing order, cam timing, and ignition timing are all fine. I should also mention that there appeared to be blowby coming out of the radiator overflow outlet, though I didn't get a chance to check it further.

Rick,

Next time I am down that way I will swing by. I just don't get down there much now that I spend most of my year in da UP.

Offline Anvil*

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 173
Re: The Escort
« Reply #125 on: April 21, 2011, 01:25:32 AM »
> should also mention that there appeared to be blowby coming out of the radiator overflow outlet

Hopefully you can spare some time to drain the water and dry the cylinders soon. Water can do a lot of damage.

I have toasted a few engines, but none with a headgasket resulting in popping from both ends, so there's a curiosity to hear what you find when you get a chance to crack it open. Seems I read about something I haven't encountered at least weekly on the forums (usually more often than that). So thanks for posting whatever you observe, it helps.

Offline 116ciHemi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
Re: The Escort
« Reply #126 on: April 21, 2011, 05:28:04 PM »
I'm sure there is some damage already, but since the next iteration of this engine will have new rods, pistons, p+p on the head and intake, new crank, and a .040 overbore on this block assuming nothing is cracked. It did live outside over the winter, but I had a 25/75 water/antifreeze mix in it to try and avoid cracking due to that. Also, it ran fine when I pulled it into the garage to yank it. Since I won't be racing this season, I should have a chance to do things right and try and turn some good numbers with a CVH. After this engine though, I am done with SOHC 4 bangers. The search will be going out for duratec or a zetec to take it's place.

Two weeks and I will be able to get at it and start work again.  :-D

Offline 116ciHemi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
Re: The Escort
« Reply #127 on: May 01, 2011, 07:49:55 AM »
OK, I am on my way home toward the car. I didn't rock this semester, but I appear to have pulled by, getting my cumulative GPA from a 1.91 to just above my 2.5 minimum. I am just waiting on one last grade to make it official, but the grade should be an A, and all I needed from that class is an AB.

For now though, I have two months to wrench on the car. It's gonna be good to get back under the hood.

Offline Milwaukee Midget

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 6662
    • Milwaukee Midget Racing
Re: The Escort
« Reply #128 on: May 03, 2011, 06:57:44 PM »
It's gonna be good to get back under the hood.

A bad day turning a wrench is better than a good day cracking the books.  You've earned the wrench time.

Glad to hear you're turning the grades around.
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline 116ciHemi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
Re: The Escort
« Reply #129 on: June 08, 2011, 08:31:12 PM »
Well, life goes on and I keep nicking away at things. I went and rebuilt the carb right up to refitting the float arm, when I broke the aluminum tab that the pivot shaft goes through. I need to find some aluminum casting flux around here and some 3003 rod to try and repair it since I don't have a tig. I've never gas welded on a a casting before, so I don't know how it will go. I guess I'll go slow and be careful.

I investigated my poor running condition and found that I was running pig rich on 2 and 3 while lean on 1 and 4. Some investigation showed that I had fuel dripping from the carb and into the intake. I backed my fuel pressure regulator off all the way and now it runs OK, though with no real enthusiasm, and still a bit rich, though now on all four. Wiring is starting to get squared away, and I now have my oil press and water temp gauges plumbed and working. Still no turn signals, hazards, or back up lights, but I have headlights, running lights, highbeams, and brakelights.

Steering is all shot to hell. I need to take the whole thing apart, replace the steering column, give it an alignment, and re-bush everything. That will probably be done next time I pull the engine, since I have to yank most of that apart when I pull the driveline.

I gave myself a $100 cap for parts over break, determined to use some of the stuff I have stockpiled around. It has  worked pretty well, and I have gotten a lot of other little things done. Right now budget is the limit with many other life expenses, but I keep trying to sock some stuff away so I can drive the thing next summer.

One other thing that is in progress for the car. I have a passion for aviation, and that is where a lot of my inspiration for the style in which I build the car. I have always like world war 2 style noseart, and a friend was nice enough to do some concept artwork for me to use on the car. This is only on a test fender where I painted it, but it will be going on my car before I head back to school.



-Walt

Offline t russell

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 579
Re: The Escort
« Reply #130 on: June 09, 2011, 05:00:23 AM »
cool art hang in there
terry

Offline Milwaukee Midget

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 6662
    • Milwaukee Midget Racing
Re: The Escort
« Reply #131 on: June 09, 2011, 09:43:00 AM »
I think I dated her once . . .  :mrgreen:
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline 116ciHemi

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
Re: The Escort
« Reply #132 on: June 30, 2011, 04:43:05 PM »
Well, I decided that I would take the Escort for a little test cruise to see how things worked before I took it back to the airport for storage. So, about the point in my route that was farthest from home, I tried to shift from 4th to 3rd on my way to 2nd to flip a u turn. As I pushed the shifter forward I felt a clunk and then the shifter started wobbling around in my hand. I was to slow to save it and keep going, especially on the gutless wonder under the hood right now, so I pulled over to start see what had failed. The shift linkage bolt had fallen out somewhere on the road and left the link arm hanging under the car. Naturally, I had no cell phone with me (I hate cell phones. I only need one .3% of the time. Of course, it would be nice to have mine with me that .3%, but I digress), I had left my license on the kitchen table, and the car is not street legal yet so I had no registration or insurance. And I was just in sight of a state road that is heavily patrolled by state and county police. And the car was stuck in gear so I couldn't push it to get it off the road. So, I found a zip tie under the drivers seat, and as best I could I crawled under the car (rather a feat given the lowering springs) and reconnected the shift linkage and secured it with the zip tie. By this time, my Dad had realized that something was wrong so I passed him coming with the tow rig to bail me out while I was driving home. Fun stuff. Good news though- it drives. I have headlights, taillights, and brake lights. I need to get a turn signal switch wired in, and then I am good to go for lights. The steering is still bad, but I managed to get some things squared away enough to make it cruiseable, though it will not see a track until it is done right. The trans shifts OK, though I am debating seeing if I can rebuild it and replace the shifter bushings. I tore down the old four speed before I scrapped it, and to my surprise, it was pristine and looked brand new. Nothing excessively worn, no metal on the magnet on the case. I figured that trans was a lost cause the way I drove. Powershifting or shifting clutchless, sidestepping the clutch at 4 grand, and many hard launches on the dragstrip.

The engine is a lost cause, however. The headgasket is shot and it won't idle anymore, so next on the list is to tear the engine down and get it to the machine shop to get it back in shape for the the rebuild. If I can figure out how, I will yank it at the airport over break and leave it with the machine shop over fall semester so I can do assembly and start top end work over christmas break, and then send the head to the shop over spring semester and throw it all together over spring and summer break. It's a royal PITA to build a car a week at a time, but it always seems worth the trouble when I fire it up and tach it up a little bit.

Offline Milwaukee Midget

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 6662
    • Milwaukee Midget Racing
Re: The Escort
« Reply #133 on: July 02, 2011, 01:00:30 PM »
Shift linkages.  AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! :|

My second car was a '66 Cyclone GT - 390, 4 speed - pretty cool.  This was back in prehistory, when zip-ties were considered "industrial supplies", and not available at Kmart in the checkout aisle.

I imagined myself as Don Nicholson for a couple of summers.

1st Avenue, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, hot summer night, a ratted out Road Runner pulls up next to me at the light.

I took him off of the line, grabbed second, and the shifter snapped off in my hand!

We both had a good laugh at the next light, as I waved my "magic wand" at him.

I'm glad I didn't have to back up into the driveway when I got home.


Keep punching - one week here means one less week down the road.
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline Anvil*

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 173
Re: The Escort
« Reply #134 on: July 02, 2011, 03:40:43 PM »
If I can figure out how, I will yank it at the airport over break and leave it with the machine shop...
Renting a break-down engine hoist would handle it though if you have free access to a tow rig I'd go with that. One thing, have your paperwork handy, a engine pull in odd locations is a PD red flag. The good cops will check you out.

Where to stash accesories will depend on security where it's parked. Engine clean-up and transport... Yep, a few things to figure out.