mk1 escort strength

bones · Post by **bones** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:38 am

Ok all, need some advice on this one, is a mk1 able to handle a 600+ bhp engine, It has got a rollcage plus 2 bars going to the back in the boot and braced, also putting some to the front but need tubing bent for that and fitted to bulk head, Chassi rails are the standard items ,but welded all the way along. could be me dreaming but worried it might lift the front up or twist it. all advice welcome

rich

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:46 pm

Is this for a street drag car, or a track car? or sprint/ hilclimb?
For a drag car, you probably want to tie the strut tops into the the roll cage, brace across the car at the front of the roll cage and tie into the front bulk head, tie the cage into the A pillars behind the screen. I'd put a single cross brace either side from about half way down the B post pillar (level with the bottom of the rear windows) of the roll cage to the floor at the base of the A pillar, take the point where this cross brace joins the B pillar back at a level just below the window level right back to the rear bulk head and join it up through the boot to the rear spring mounting (I am assuming this is a 2 door shell). Tie in your rear suspension mounts to the chassis rails anr into the the bottom of the cage area close by. Fit a diagonal to the hoop at the B pillar and a full X brace to the roll cage running back to the back of the shell. Tie the cage into the shell where ever you can with short tubes or 16g sheet.
With the front of the chassis ahead of the bulk head I would double up the chassis rails with 16g plate and put spreader plates where the rails meet the bulk head, If you have the space it might be worth even adding a 2x1.5" pisce of box tube along side the existing rail, but I would doubt the space is there. gusset the corners of the transmission tunnel where you can where it meets the engine bay. Tie in the front cross member into the strut towers with 1" 14g CDS and spreader plates.
That should cover it

Mike

bones · Post by **bones** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:06 pm

Nothing to much then, just a days work and its done,

. and yes it is a 2 door, bulk head been cut back and gearbox tunnel done, pics on garage thread under Rear end,

rich

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:38 am

It looks as if you do have room to double up the frony chassis rails inside the existing ones, you can then put spreader plates onto the bulkhead. I would move the engine mounts to the doubled up chassis raoils away from the cross member, I would also beef up the cross member and tryangulate it onto the chassis rails to stiffen up the whole front end if there is room around the sump. I would get a set of rally strut towers and weld them in. You would then have the base for putting a 2.5X1.5 brace across the bulkhead above the bell housing and brace from the centre of that to your strut towers tieing in the front of the box bits extending from above the transmission tunnel. you will have to do somthing like this because when you try and fit headsrs they will most likley have to go through the sides of the engine bau into the inner wings weakening this area. or just leave it and live with the flex

.
Mike

bones · Post by **bones** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:08 pm

Hi Mike, i thought it had the other pics on there, the engine is fitted ,bulk head cut back and gearbox tunnel done, will update with some new pics og rollgage aswell ,so far

rich

bones · Post by **bones** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:56 am

well ive been told by work that ive still got 3 weeks holiday to take by the end of march, so will get some more done to rollcage and get some pics up

rich

bones · Post by **bones** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:55 am

is it ok to cut and shut roll cage tubing as i need to make some bends at the front to connect from cage to chassi rails, i know its not the right way, but is it ok

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:13 pm

all cages are cut n shut to some degree....but what do you intend cutting ??

Generally all important sections would be in one piece.

ie, you wouldnt simply cut a single piece of tube and weld it together for no real reason, between mounting points.
The only common exception to this, would be where one bar forms part of an X brace, and obviously has to be cut.

bones · Post by **bones** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:25 am

i think i need to strengthen the front of the chassi rails up, engine is a 302 sbf that will be stroked to a 347 with a eagle forged crank and h-beam rods, probe pistons, engine bhp between 400 and 420 with 250+ of nitrous on top, ive put corner plates from chassi to bulk head already,and welded all along chassi rails to inner arches, but think i will need more strength to the front of the rails. thought of putting a plate on top of strut and welding to cage tube then angle a bar down to chassi,??

rich