1985 Ford Escort mk3 Popular - welding time again!

[cjhillman]

Cheers guys. I knew that garage would wash there hands of it. I guess it cant be proved even though it was fine for 124k . I keep thinking about getting it fixed and selling it maybe at least for £800. We have another Car coming tomorrow that my misses bought to replace her tiny Aygo (she decided to buy it the day I picked my van up, apparently not related). In theory I wont need the van anyway with this new arrival plus the Escort, Capri possibly needs a clutch and maybe a new carb.
If I want to sell it Id only get £800 maybe... i duno. It made sense as a cheap hack for me but i'm going to have to try and be sensible here. Maybe that does mean fixing it and selling it on.

[cjhillman]

Update!

So, the new Car arrived... I have to say, its really really nice to drive. I've never given these things a second thought but so far its lovely. It has Air Con!!!



Selling my misses old Car which was a bit of a nightmare. She was bartered down on price a bit due to the new people complaining about the clutch but in the end it was ok as she just wanted to get rid of it and neither of us have the time at the moment to sell it on/ try again. For a couple hundred quid its a headache we now don't have plus... they were probably right.
Although on the way home I managed to put two scratches down the side of my Escort on a country lane by hitting a bush. I was enjoying myself too much. It only dawned on me yesterday thats how it happened and luckily before I accused the postman of scratching it luckily I think it'll buff out and its mainly in the Wax. 





Also the garage bolted the oil pump pulley back up on the van and the Cam Belt tension came back, no horrible noises and No oil lights !! This is great news although I don't think I have much need for it unfortunately I've driven it around locally yesterday and then we used it to drive to the Pub and leave there so its now the Pub Van it seems. I think it might be up for sale soon though as I guess with my misses new Car I could be spending that monthly money on my Escort & Capri which also need new clutches (honestly I havent burnt all these clutches out!) . shame as I love cutting around in this.

[cjhillman]

Only a small update. I've been working away again for another week and the week before was preparation for this week just gone... anyway.

Had some nice goodies delivered to my folks house from delboy1984 ( Thanks again mate!!! shame we didnt get to meet). Some new shocks and lowering springs off his mk3 Cab that I think will sort out my ridiculously high ride hight Its always had a tone of body roll and bounces for days so, this should help a bit haha! Not sure when I'll get to fit them as it seems like we have thunderstorms all week and Thursday when its nice I'm going to try and do the Clutch Quadrant . I want to do some good before and after pics.

With it being curse word weather i'll probably get liberal with the penetrating oil this week. Its all a bit old under there. Any advice if I end up snapped the heads off those decent size bolts? I'm wondering if i'll be able to drill them out with my Black & Decker   i've been pretty lucky with this on the Capri... I think its been apart that many times in a previous life.




I also got to have a quick look at my dads Triumph Spitfire on my trip and test his battery for him. Never noticed it had a Yuasa fitted but I think its a bit passed its best. Dropped to about 11 or 10v on cranking. Unfortunately no time to take it for a spin.




Also, i'm pretty chuffed to be in Classic Ford Magazine in their "Home Built Heroes" section. Might be a bit of a stretch but I thought i'd send in my Cars and let them decide. Shame they said my Escort was a mk4 though . 




Lastly I went back to Halfords today in the van to take back a few items. On the way back I was taking some photos to sell the Van and sods law, as i'm taking the photos I heard the oil pump noise starting again. I high tailed it back home and parked it up. Shes now on facebook and gumtree for sale. I'm asking £600 which might be a bit much as it needs an MOT in a couple of weeks but these vans seem to be doing decent money. It'll be on ebay soon if nobody bites. I think if someone put a new oil pump on them selves it would be a great van or nice quick flip/little earner. Of course if anyone is interested just send me a message... I just cant justify spending the money on it.

[delboy1984]

We will get a meet up when I'm next down matey,looking forward to seeing this lowered

[cjhillman]

So I started a job I wish I hadn’t. The clutch quadrant . I know people said fit the expensive £60 alloy one but seen as I have two spares I thought id use these . I'm struggling though with the new White one.

1) Mainly getting the return spring in the pedal and the quadrant on the cross shaft... that seems an impossible task. I can get it all together without that spring but can't get it on the pedal at that point.

2) also I don't think the end of the clutch cable will fit in the end of the quadrant. It seems slightly smaller than the old one. I guess i'm going to have to modify it.








Lastly the old quadrant pawl would slip over the quadrant teeth and ratchet all the way down. This new White one only ratchets a few teeth then gets stuck... is that because its new or is it the wrong one? This is the first time I've ever messed with one.

I've been at this hours now so lying down absolutely spent.

[teaboy]

I don't remember much about these, haven't fitted one for years.

I would say that if the old one used to work properly before, and the new replacement one is different to the old one and doesn't work, it sounds like you need another one which is like the original one.

[cjhillman]

I had another play with these before and the old Pawl (ratchet bit) and the new quadrant "ratchet" over each other easily but, the new Pawl part seems to be the problem. Also there is a size difference. I put them both on the bake/clutch pedal bar and you can see the problem here.

from looking through Fordopedia there are two types and part numbers . 55mm (6194025 -88AB 7L609 DA ) and 50mm (6186200 - 88AB 7L609 AA ). According to Fordopedia the Black one is the 55mm one which seems to be the other way around here as my Black one is smaller.










Also the cable will pass through the end of this part and not through the white part. Although, when I look back at pictures from this morning the cable was only resting underneath the quadrant anyway.




I'm going to see if any motor factors have one tomorrow morning.

[Archie01]

I seem to remember changing a white quadrant on mine to a black one to get more movement on the clutch arm at the gearbox end as the cable sits higher in the groove on the black one.

[cjhillman]

right so, called Midnight Motors who said they would have a look for me and turns out they have one that should be getting delivered soon! fingers crossed this is the same as my black on in size. I measured 50mm from the edge of the spindle to teeth and they said this one is 51mm haha. must be the same.

Also the Van has left today. 3 Bulgarian guys turned up and handed over half of what it owes me. I think i'll stick to classics and new Cars after that.

[cjhillman]

3rd time lucky!! What a horrible job. I filmed it all so hopefully it will help others in the same situation. I'll compile that later. Recived a call from Midnight Motors in Watford today who found me an old copy part that they used to sell back in the day... high tailed it up there to get some great advice and a great part! once home i swapped over all the bushes and parts over to the pedal to find a working ratchet, success!!




I'm not going to lie, putting it back together was a nightmare. Easier with this part though. In the end I set the quadrant/pawl, that rested on the plastic bushes just enough (the old one didnt) to slide the spindle bar through the pedal. Then after a few tries I got the clutch cable through and clipped in (again it wasnt on the old part) then I used a guitar string round the handle of a hammer, though the eyelet of the clutch pedal to pull the return spring into its rightful place, with the nudge of some pliers from behind. After this it was easy enough to fit the brake pedal and clip it all in.






The only other issue I had was getting enough slack on the clutch cable. At first with the Quadrant set to its most neutral position I couldnt get it to reach the gear box. Lots of head scratching and thinking about putting the old Quad back in passed and then after another go it must have moved down the ratchet a bit to where the black quadrant was sitting. Then I had just enough slack to get it on the gear box fork.



I guess this means the clutch is about half way worn? Either way. Went for a drive and it was a lot better! even managed a pretty low powered wheel spin which used to send the old quad into a hissy fit.

I might sound like I want a medal for this job but it was pretty claustrophobic and twinged my back etc so, thought a good write up and video to follow would help others.

[cjhillman]

[cjhillman]

Right then tomorrow i'm going to have a look at these lowering spring/shocks if I get time. I've gone around all the 19mm bolts with penetrating oil but, bit concerned i'll snap the head off them looking at the condition from the back.
With all the rubber gators and brake hoses it doesnt look a great place to get the heat gun on them plus its probably not good for the shock absorber right? Anyway... whats the best thing to do pre trying to get these off other than oil and a smack with a hammer? Be nice if a job went smoothly 

[cjhillman]

I started on the suspension today. Got it all on there (front shocks/springs and rear springs) but still some fine tuning to be done I think. The front shocks were a pain to get out of the stub axles and back on. I think it could probably be slightly lower at the front and the passenger side still isnt sitting properly. I think I need to screw down the nut on the top of the spring maybe?

Before


After (back end looks a little low here)


This side looks more level but the front is actually a little high in reality by about 20cm compared to the other side.


Both sit a bit more level with each other now.










With the rear spings I had to keep the old shocks as I couldnt get off the brake pipe holder/nut. I guess this wouldnt affect the ride hight as the shocks still seem ok... its all about springs right not the dampers? 

[cjhillman]

I messured the centre caps today, put a chalk marking in the middle of them and measured from that the ride hight.

passenger side is about 35cm (10mm higher than the drivers)



Drivers 34cm


22cm both rears


I tried turning the strut Allen key which brings up the bottom nut ( I was hoping this would allow me to screw that nut further down) It did but didnt change anything. 
On the drivers side after fitting I struggled with the strut jumping around in the turret. I did something similar to this and it allowed me to bolt it down correctly. 

I've never done this before so learning here. I know they are not adjustable coil overs but do I need to do something like compress the springs and then turn down that lower top mount nut? I obviously need to get this right before I start driving it or, get a wheel alinement (I'm guessing they wont do this for me)

Also the rear springs are on polly flex style bushes, the front are standard ford top mounts AND I was unable to change the rear shocks but guessed that wouldnt affect the ride hight. Just thinking of how to get it nice and level and what i'm doing wrong.



This is how it sits now, it looked like this before but with less threaded strut. 

[cjhillman]

Not a lot of news on the old Escort. I've gone to a few shows in it locally but as I'm still messing with the suspension I havent gone too far.

Last week I took off the old passenger rear shock and added in a new one but, it didnt change the ride hight that I hoped. I didnt do this previously as i was struggling to get off the rear brake line which is attached to the shock. I think I need to turn my attention to the front again... maybe something isnt right there. 

Anyway... Today I went to a local Wheel Alignment place for tracking advice as both Cars now need it. The guy said that the Escort can only be tracked at the front but i'm pretty sure thats wrong because since the last rear shock I've added that wheel is at a slightly different angle and I had a problem with the drivers side going bald a lot previously. Maybe I am wrong but cant it be adjusted buy tightening the nut for the rear tie rod on the wishbone?? (the nut with the blue superflex bush bellow)

[kevins]

He's right the tie rod will pull the wheel backwards and forwards if you use washers in front or behind the bush, it will have a small effect on toe but it's not really enough to adjust it with it's the bushes in the outboard end of the arm which control most of the toe if you have a problem I would look at replacing these with poly versions.

The hexagon in the top of the damper is usually for damping rate and won't affect ride height, most of these dampers need to be pretty close to their softest setting for road use.

[cjhillman]

I've not had much time of late to do anything Ford wise. Annoyingly the drop in temp/weather means I've missed my opportunity to do anything light rust repair while it was dry. Will do this ASAP though. Still havent had the Escort tracked up or tried to get the front lower (or the back higher) but!... As i'm traveling up the A1 to Skegness I decided to finely call in Market Deeping to find the old 'Southern Cross Garages' that my Escort was sold from. Its now a Co-op so I went in and bought a couple of things and took some photos. Crazy to think 36 years ago someone bought my Car new here and drove it home. I'd like to go back in the Escort one day and get a proper photo. 

[skodacious]

Before it was a Co-Op it was home to Terry Wright's Cycle shop. My wife harks from Deeping so if you want any info let me know 🙂

Update: Just caught up with this on the Retro Chat section and seems you have all the history covered 👍

[consul315]

Jul 29, 2021 18:23:40 GMT cjhillman said:

3rd time lucky!! What a horrible job. I filmed it all so hopefully it will help others in the same situation. I'll compile that later. Recived a call from Midnight Motors in Watford today who found me an old copy part that they used to sell back in the day... high tailed it up there to get some great advice and a great part! once home i swapped over all the bushes and parts over to the pedal to find a working ratchet, success!!

......

I might sound like I want a medal for this job but it was pretty claustrophobic and twinged my back etc so, thought a good write up and video to follow would help others.

it is a horrible job and when i last time did it on my everyday MK II Orion, i had this 16mm bolt made on the lathe (a rod or bolt with 16mm will do as well of course).so can fix all together and slip the pedal in situ, while the bolöd comes out again. makes the job a lot easier, as you don t have to remove the pedal cluster, though i used a cheap aftermarket quadrant, i didn t have any problems since 5 years.

once you have done it you could do a few again very quickly, but since it happens not that often i will have forgotten all the tricks and have to start from beginning.

sorry for my poor english, hope i could halfway express what i mean??

[cjhillman]

Dec 1, 2021 13:51:33 GMT skodacious said:

Before it was a Co-Op it was home to Terry Wright's Cycle shop. My wife harks from Deeping so if you want any info let me know 🙂

Update: Just caught up with this on the Retro Chat section and seems you have all the history covered 👍

Hey mate! yeah got a little info from the other post. If your wife knows how I might find any pics from the 80s I'm all ears. I know the chances are slim but i'm always trying to find more info/pics from google.