Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Classic Ford

Engine swaps have come on a long way since the heady days of the classic tuning era. Who’d have thought 60 years on, a classic Ford enthusiast would be fitting a 2-litre, all-alloy, 16-valve mass production engine that revs to 9000 rpm into their Mk1 Escort (above)? Bigger engines in smaller Fords are nothing new, of course — Jeff Uren’s Race Proved outfit was offering a Ford 302ci V8- powered Capri from the early 1970s. The difference now is that technology has improved the quality of the both the engines and the conversion parts required no end — and the home-brewed engineering cunning involved has come on leaps and bounds, too. We’ve cherry-picked a few great examples of this in this issue, and detailed what’s involved with 10 of the…

The new Electric Mustang from London-based Charge Cars wowed crowds at the recent Salon Privé event at the Royal Hospital Chelsea when it made its global premier.The Electric Mustang is a hand-built, zero emissions version of the iconic 1967 Fastback Mustang adored by car fans all over the world. Using cutting- edge technology, coupled to a new steel bodyshell and composite body panels to minimise weight, the Electric Mustang’s quad-motor configuration provides 536 bhp, which serves up a 0-62 mph time of just 3.9 seconds.The project even comes complete with the blessing of Ford. Originally shown as a prototype in 2019, the production-intent version of the Electric Mustang is the culmination of six years’ work for Charge Cars, and the Salon Privé London event at the end of April was…

For as long as people have been tuning old Fords, there’s been an enthusiasm for shoehorning in different motors with the aim of achieving more power and more Saturday night kudos. Once upon a time, it was de rigueur to bolt an Essex V6 into a Mk1 Escort or Cortina; Pintos went into 100Es, YBs into Mk2 Escorts and, more recently, Zetecs and Duratecs into everything. And while all this has been going on, there’s a polarising issue at the heart of it all that drives a division between concours purists and horsepower junkies: swapping in engines from rival manufacturers. The huge number of classic Fords on the scene running Vauxhall XE and Honda F20C motors demonstrates that a lot of enthusiasts are totally cool with this manner of crosspollination,…

With the Classic Ford Show based at a showground rather than motorsport venue this year (see page 22), we just had to do something to redress the balance — and so the Classic Ford Track Evening was born. Kicking off at the infamous Cadwell Park circuit (see boxout on your right), it gave track-focussed Ford fans the chance to experience one of the UK’s (if not Europe’s) tightest and twistiest circuits this side of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and those who took part made full use of the fantastic circuit. Track Evenings are great — held during the week, they’re more often than not cheaper than a weekend track day, and because they’re held after normal working hours, you don’t need to take a day off work. Simply knock off an…

SAFE TECH When working on cars and using tools of any kind — especially power tools — always use protective gear: goggles, gloves, ear defenders, masks and a decent set of overalls are essential. A fire extinguisher is also advisable. Never work under a car without supporting it with axle stands and if you’re not completely confident of your ability to complete any task safely, leave it to the experts. The ABC of tuning C is for... compression ratio Compression ration (CR) is a key factor in how the engine in your classic Ford will perform, and is the ratio between the volume of the cylinder and combustion chamber when the piston is at the bottom of its stroke, and the volume of the combustion chamber when the piston is…

QUERY OF THE MONTH FLAT BATTERY Q My Mk1 Escort struggles to charge its battery, which is located in the boot, so much so that I constantly have to recharge it when not in use. If I drive it even briskly its charge levels drop right into the red until I slow down again. I’m guessing that my alternator simply can’t cope, but is there a better charging alternator available from another Ford rather than getting one from a race specialist?The engine is a Pinto with a mild cam and twin 40s, running a five-speed ‘box. Liam Rogers UK A First, check the battery condition, or have it checked. If the battery’s shot, it won’t hold the charge regardless of what kind of condition the rest of the system is…

1. Don’t just renew It’s all too easy to let the direct debit continue and sign up for another year with your existing insurer. Before you do though, have a look at quotes from other insurers. If they come in cheaper and you don’t want to switch, call your existing insurer, quote the cheaper prices and quite often they will be able to bring your renewal quote down to a similar level. 2. Look at classic insurance They’re often tied into AgreedValue, limited-mileage polices but classic insurance specialists can offer some great-value policies. Most class a vehicle eligible for classic insurance as being over 20 or 25 years old, but some allow exceptions for modern classics, so do your research before you dismiss a classic insurance policy out of hand…

Gordon Laird is no stranger to classic performance Fiestas — he’s owned, built and restored the lot, from Supersports to XR2s, XR2is and RS Turbos. So when you’ve had the keys to such a fine array of fast Fords, where do you go next? For Gordon, the answer was obvious — four-wheel-drive (4WD). Ford, obviously, have never built a 4WD production version of our favourite supermini, but that’s not going to stop someone like Gordon who clearly likes a challenge, as he’s well on the way to creating his own. Based around the underpinnings of a very-rotten but low-mileage Mk6 Escort RS2000 4x4 (a car that sadly never sold in big numbers when new), it’s proved perfect for this project’s needs. When Gordon reveals that this project is six years…

THE BIG PICTURE British actor, Dennis Waterman passed away in May at the age of 74. Waterman had key roles in two classic British TV series — The Sweeney and Minder — both of which are close to the hearts of classic Ford fans thanks to the prominence of the cars featured. Waterman played the role of Terry McCann (above right) in Minder, alongside George Cole as Arthur Daley in the series based around a dodgy second-hand car dealer, which became one of the most popular TV series of the 1980s.…

UPRATED COSWORTH ALTERNATOR £238.80 Powerlite YB owners rejoice, unavailable for some time, Powerlite are now supplying brand-new, high-output alternators for the Cosworth range — up from the standard 90 amps to a whopping 120. Built to the exact same design as the original unit, two versions are available — RAC698 to fit 2WD and early 4WD cars with the twin V-type belt, and RAC699 for later 4WD cars including the Escort, with the multi-V belt set-up. Contact: 01384 261984, www.powerlite-units.com DOWNDRAUGHT CARB INLET MANIFOLD FOR CROSSFLOW £358.20 Webcon The perfect carburettor for the Crossflow for road use is the Weber 32/36DGV. However supplies of new, original manifolds dried up years ago. Webcon has now launched its own, brand new, intake manifold to allow the fitment of a Weber 32/36 DGV,…

Just about every car fan has dreamt of owning or building a particular classic Ford in their mind. Whether it’s a modified masterpiece or restored rarity, we’ve all wanted that perfect Ford. For some, the idea stays in our heads for years, and for many it never comes to life at all. But after years of waiting and wanting, Glen Sexton has managed his longterm goal of building his dream classic Ford and it happens to be one of the cleanest, neatest and nicest examples we’ve come across. Although it wasn’t exactly what you would call a quick and easy process, as this build has been in the making for many years ago, as Glen explains. “For about as far as I can remember, I always wanted a rear-wheel-drive, Series…

It’s the wood trim that really draws you in, enchanting you with its complex swirls and mesmeric waves. Look closely and it starts to feel irresistible, like a Magic Eye picture in the 1990s. Sure, the Daytona Yellow paint outside is a strong hook, but the psychedelic timber really is something else. This is the sort of eye-catching specialness that a Granada Coupe really deserves. After all, as magnificent as the mainstream saloon version is — and we really do love a big bruising four-door Granny — the act of scything out the rear doors and smoothing down the tail created something improbably rakish. It’s almost like a US-market Galaxie or Australian Falcon that’s been scaled down to fit on European roads. Is it unfair to call it a mullet-on-wheels,…

Warren Marshall From: UK Car: Mk2 RS2000 Warren has owned his fair share of classic Fords including a Mk1 RS2000, RS Turbos and a couple of Mexicos. Ten years ago, he made a return to the RS badge with this stunner which came courtesy of a friend of his. “It only has 87,000 on the clock, six previous owners and a Ibelieve its led an easy life,” Warren smiles, “so it was in good condition when I bought it.” There was still room for improvement, Warren stripping down the bay and removing the Waxoyl before repainting. New wings, rear arches and a windscreen scuttle have been fitted too while the sills have also been repainted. That trusty Pinto still remains in situ, the 2.1 benefitting from a Kent cam, lightened…

The idea of an anti-roll bar sounds simple, doesn’t it?The name says it all: it’s a bar that resists body roll… But what should be a straightforward subject is surprisingly complicated, and by altering the front and rear anti-roll bars we can have a massive influence on how a car behaves. And then we need to consider other factors such as spring rates, what the car is used for, what kind of handling balance we’re trying to achieve – and even a bit of good old-fashioned physics – and then try to string together the perfect setup for our specific application. Some cars need stiff roll bars, some need softer bars, and some don’t even need any roll bars at all. And there’s no hard-and-fast rule that says ‘cars like…

On a normal road-going car there would be no benefit from fitting an oil cooler.The oil will never get exposed to constant high revs for a sustained period of time causing the oil to heat excessively, unless you’re going flat-out for the entire length of the M1 — and we all know that isn’t going to happen. If on the other hand you have a fast, road-going track car that gets the odd bit of abuse then you could benefit from fitting a cooler just to keep things on the safe side. The purpose of the oil cooler is to keep engine oil temperature at a constant 110 degrees C (this is the optimum operating temperature). If the oil reaches over 120 degrees, it starts to breakdown and its cooling…

Ian usually have an engine out in 35-40 minutes,” remarks Wayne Courtenay at The Blue Oval Rescue Centre as we look at the CVH engine and five-speed gearbox on his workshop floor with a Mk2 Fiesta XR2 perched above it on the two-post ramp. We’ve not been so quick this time because of taking almost 100 photos and drinking half-a-dozen cups of tea, but we can see that such a job is feasibly quick if all the tools are at the ready, nothing’s seized and there are no distractions. As we work through the engine removal, Wayne shares numerous hints and tips, which are outlined over the following steps, such as being careful with the rubber dust covers for the lower suspension arms’ outer balljoints. Genuine dust covers are expensive…

When it came to the design of the Zephyr Six, the notion that bigger is better certainly shone through. Making its debut alongside the Consul in 1951, it was the first UK Ford to feature a six-cylinder engine and its front end was also 7 inches longer than that of its four-cylinder counterpart, the extra length needed to physically cover the sizeable 2262cc engine. It was a big step for Ford UK, too. It was far removed from anything they’d previously built and, together with the Consul, it also represented its first attempt at monocoque construction. For customers, the company’s bravery translated into a great driving experience, with the overhead valve straight-six motor producing 68 bhp and 112 lb.ft torque from just 2000 rpm, making for effortless smooth progress. Despite…

Ford is no stranger to releasing a specialedition model to commemorate motorsport success, and it’s been at it again with the release of yet another special Ford GT.The new Holman Moody Edition pays tribute to the legendary 1-2-3 success at Le Mans in 1966. While the history books and films tend to focus on the input from the Shelby American team, engineers at Holman Moody played a crucial part in the success of the original GT40 race cars too. Alongside Shelby American, Holman Moody was tasked with reworking the car into what became the Le Mans-winning Mk2, and Holman Moody’s chassis P/1016 became a test lab on wheels, helping to develop redesigned brakes, suspension and tyre setups that would eventually help take Ford to victory at the famous 24-hour race.…

Clear your diary for the day on Friday, July 8 as the August issue hits the shelves featuring a fine brace of outstanding feature cars photographed by the very best photographers including this Alan Mann Racing Escort courtesy of Dan Bevis. All this plus a monster celebration of RS Fords, Mondeo ST200 buyer’s guide, Mk2 Escort van project, all the action from the most-recent Squires meet, the latest on the magazine’s project cars, and all you need to know about dampers. Find all of the above and more in the August 2021 issue, on sale and available to download from Friday, July 8. Why not subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it? See page 106 for the latest subscription offers.…

Do check that the engine actually fits The ideal scenario is a mod-less drivetrain fit, so do your homework with the tape measure, plus remember the ethos of weight distribution that says the engine sits as far back and as low as possible. Ideally, number one spark plug should run through the transverse centre line of the front suspension. Making the bare block fit is not that tricky but most current engines sit transversely where bulkhead clouting isn’t an issue. Therefore protrusions such as turbos, coil packs and water manifolds need to be fitted, too. It’s the same if you intend to use sidedraughts/throttle bodies — fit them before you make engine mounts or cut the bulkhead. As a minimum you need a finger thickness between any hardware and the…

In terms of unexpected things to find beneath a bonnet, Chris McNair’s Mk1 Escort is up there with the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. Like the wolf, this four-door has grown teeth and devours all before it, but provides few visual clues as to the beast lurking beneath the surface. Subtlety is a key ingredient of this build — that, and a screaming four-pot that originated in the land of the rising sun. A 9000 rpm redline and the thick end of 250 bhp from a naturally aspirated 2-litre is big money in tuning terms, and quite often comes with a compromise: daily useability. Having persevered with an all-steel 1.9-litre Crossflow and finally tiring of the tinkering and infinite adjustments needed to make it a reliable lump, Chris has…

Cortina Mk3 Club National Weekend, June 18-19 30 31 JUNE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 4 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 JUNE Bromley Pageant June 12 Norman Park, Kent, UK www.bromleypageant.co.uk Cortina Day June 12 Monmouthsire Showground, Monmouthsire, UK http://tcfg.org.uk Harrogate Car Enthusiasts’ Motor Show June 18 Harrogate Rugby Club, North Yorkshire, UK 07785 355307 FEBRUARY Cortina Mk3 Club National Weekend June 18-19 Battlesbridge Showground, Essex, UK www.cortinamk3club.com Players Classic June 18-19 Goodwood Circuit, West Sussex, UK www.players-show.com/players-classic Festival Of Speed June 23-26 Goodwood House, West Sussex, UK www.goodwood.com/motorsport/festival-of-speed Wonderland International Classic & Sports Car Festival June 25-26 River Trent Ferry Farm, Nottinghamshire, UK www.capriclub2000.co.uk/wonderland Ford Nationals June…

classic ford’s project cars What’s been done this month: Weld in damper towers and an A-frame, fabricate a roll cage Next on the to-do list: Sort the interior Thanks to: Bishop’s Bespoke Builds 07921 437410 www.facebook. com/bishops bespokebuilds Milton www.milton. 105e.com Jhonatan Villalobos @wheelstudio_ve My estate was to do a rough and ready build to have intention for my two-door something fun to drive, but also to try a few ideas out. Progress has been hampered by a house move but finally I’ve got the car back to our new house so I can start tinkering.You’ve previously seen the mods to the window apertures, well at the same time the only other modifications to be made to the shell were completed. The aim was to get it handling a little…

Up until the end of the 1965 racing season, Broadspeed had successfully campaigned BMC Minis. Towards the end of the year Ralph Broad, the owner of Broadspeed, had been approached by Ford’s then competition manager, Henry Taylor and asked if he would be interested in working for Ford, managing the 1-litre Anglia race program. Ralph knew nothing about Anglias, having never worked on one, but a deal was struck. Ford would supply the cars and some financial support, Cosworth would help with engines and Dunlop and Castrol would support with tyres and oils respectively. From the time the Anglia was first introduced in 1959 it had been very successful in club racing, but not so in the international classes. This was due to a greater freedom of modifications permitted in…

I naquest to find the most original Mk1 Capri available, somehow Bryn Ilsley managed to track down this rot-free 1974 1600XL with just 10,000 miles on the clock. As a self-confessed perfectionist, that ultra-low odometer reading, and unmolested shell still wasn’t enough to stop a full bare metal restoration taking place. It may only have been a few months ago when we ran a feature on this Capri in our Grafters section (January 2022 issue), but you could be forgiven for not recognising this car as its changed substantially since then. Progress by Chris Gaunt at Doncaster-based restorers, Chris’ Automotive Restoration Shop (CARS) who were tasked with the rebuild has been swift to say the least! Back then, Chris had just reached the bare metal stage after a complete strip…