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Escort Twin Cam

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curtis

curtis

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I am going to view a Twin Cam and I should be grateful for any tips on the engine. I remember many years ago when I had one the water pump was often going wrong and it was a pain to change!
What should oil pressures be? Is the engine prone to leaking oil?
Curtis
 
Water pump indeed is the "Achilles Heel" of the 1600 T/C engines. Check the "weep-hole" for traces of leakage. It ~IS~ possible to change it without pulling the head, but better to do it "according to Hoyle." O/P after engine is up to normal operating temp should be 20~25 lb/psi, to 60 lb/psi at revs. Old joke used to be "If it ain't leakin' it's likely out of oil!" Actually they can be built without the leaks if attention to detail is applied on reassembly. Another thing to look out for is flex in the front frame. The Escorts and Cortinas would age (read: rust) and begin to exhibit a fair amount of weakness and flex in frame/chassis at the bulkhead. The Escorts got tubing braces, the Cortinas had to be fitted "aftermarket" with 'em.

BTW, I'm jealous: I've wanted an Escort T/C for years.
 
Twin cams are easy to find...

Escorts over here in Canada are pretty rare...

You're lucky to have enough to choose from to even consider passing it up!
 
Curtis:

Just so you know, Escorts in North America are front-weheel drive and are a complelely different car than the rear-wheel drive Escort you are looking at.

Recently, I got two American fwd Ford Escorts for free and one is a twin cam (came with optional Mazda engine). I'm building a club racer out of these cars.

I owned a 1600 Cortina many years ago and I have raced one in the last year, but I really wish I could find a rear wheel drive Escort....they are a great looking car.
The only one I ever saw was a BDA twin cam rally car in a Pro-Rally I ran many years ago.
 
I still have a "jones" for a rwd Escort... I have all the T/C engines I'll ever need. Just a tub or roller would be FINE with me! Unfortunately, they're hen's teeth in these parts.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I still have a "jones" for a rwd Escort...

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif Especially a MkI with Grp4 flares in full rally spec. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
*drool!* yup... that would make "one-each" terriffic street machine. Bring on th' 'ricers'!!! That'd show 'em wot old English Iron is all about. WHEEE!!!
 
You can't attach items yet. Basil hasn't completed that part of the server transfer yet. Should be next week for that.
 
Bash me all ya will, but th' deputy car is th' one I *want*. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
No way, that ones sweet. Classic white with the black bonnet to cut glare. Nice!

I've thought about painting the bonnet on my MkII Cortina black to emulate that look.
 
On the MkI Lotus Cortina we used to have, I did the bonnet up like the J. Ckark car of the period...only ONE fella in ten years ever remarked on it. Sad, really.
 
I do love those pics of the Escorts.. Mine is in the garage now getting a bias pedal swap.. The brakes have just been a major pain, and hopefully this will sort them out.. I've decided to sell my BDA instead of putting it into the car.. It just doesn't make enough power really, and it's too expensive to modify to my liking..

The car had a Cosworth YB in it before I got it, and we have an importer here in Vancouver of Cosworth cars who can help me with a turbo YB conversion ( in fact he's practically drooling over it..).

That should get me the power I'm looking for..
 
Love those Mk1's. Just think, if Ford had officially imported them to the USA, where would that have taken "sporting" saloons? How could they not have been a success? Even compared to the Mk 3 fwd Escorts from Europe, the US-market cars were dire, from the styling through to the dynamics. Awful!
 
Yup. Dee-troit whined over the imports having an 8% share of the market back in the early '70's yet did absolutely NOTHING to engineer a product to challenge. Suspensions hadn't (and still basically haven't) changed since the 1920's. Stupid. Hateful.

I'd have purchased a MkI Escort in an eyeblink. And would likely still own it.
 
I'd probably have 2 or 3 of them right now
(1 Street,1 Auto-x,& 1 Modified Street version).

- Doug
 
Just realized that I didn't update you guys. I went to see the Twin Cam in Spain and having the cash in my pocket I couldn't resist it.
Have done some competition already, the rallye Neige et Glace in the Alpes. Not enough snow but quite interesting driving quickly on the tarmac with studded tyres.Got let down by a propshaft UJ which gave up; Love the car though!!

costabrava7.jpg
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