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1972 Ford Escort MkI – 'dry' engine build
As you can see, the ‘new’ 1660cc block is back from its hot caustic soda bath, and has been built up – sort of. There's only one piston in it, but at this stage it's just a 'dry' build to check that everything fits and the valves don't hit the pistons.
The bath didn’t manage to shift all the silt inside, my engine builder spent hours with a ...
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Words: Mike Goodbun
Posted:
Also see: Other posts by Mike Goodbun
The TVR Griffith Experience: part 7
Whrrrrrr-umph, whrumph, whrr-click. Not a good start to my day, and a Monday at that.
I’d dragged myself out of bed early enough to remove and stash the Griffith’s outdoor cover, I’d even taken the time to lift out the hard roof panel and feed it into the boot – a task that requires the precision and patience of a bomb disposal expert – but I was going ...
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Words: Phil Bell
Posted:
Also see: Other posts by Phil Bell
1972 Ford Escort MkI – engine out
Real progress is being made with my 1660cc engine transplant, as you can see by the oily 1.3-litre Kent Crossflow now dangling from the end of an engine crane. For the first time in its 35-year life it's out of the car – the unmolested engine mounts were a tell-tale sign.
Seeing the operation take place made it all look easy: everything unconnected, gearbox supported with a tro...
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Words: Mike Goodbun
Posted: 11:03am, 13 February 2008
Also see: Other posts by Mike Goodbun
1972 Ford Escort MkI – on the move
It's moved! For the first time in far too long, around 18 months, my beloved Escort has seen light other than the murky dark of my garage. I've got classic car owner Robin Hunter (www.car-transport-services.co.uk) to thank for the hauling, as it currently doesn't run on its own.
Soon the kaput 1.3-litre Kent engine will be ousted by a 1660cc fast road version of that venerable m...
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Words: Mike Goodbun
Posted: 5:34pm, 31 January 2008
Also see: Other posts by Mike Goodbun
Phil’s 1973 Ford Capri joins the blogosphere
If you’ve been following my TVR Griffith blog (see 'Other Posts By Phil Bell' at the bottom of this posting or just keep scrolling down to find it), as The Two Ronnies used to say, ‘Now for something completely different.’
The other car that competes for my time and money is a 1973 Ford Capri 3.0 GXL. That means it’s a MkI, the original booted version that sold a million...
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Words: Phil Bell
Posted: 10:56am, 24 January 2008
Images: Phil Bell
Also see: Other posts by Phil Bell
1972 Ford Escort MkI – engine rebuild latest
I’ve just returned from Burton Power’s Ilford workshop with a boot full of parts for my 1972 Ford Escort’s engine rebuild. The crankshaft, con-rods, pistons, clutch cover and flywheel were in for a full dynamic balance (£141), but having flicked through the new 2008 Burton Power catalogue on the counter – almost as dangerous as the adverts in Classic Cars magazine – I also came away ...
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Words: Mike Goodbun
Posted: 4:46pm, 16 January 2008
Also see: Other posts by Mike Goodbun
The Griffith experience part 6: don't fear the salt
When I arrived at the pub near the Classic Cars offices for a pre-Christmas drink, I had to stop and gaze at the artful white streaks of salt tracing long curves over the Griffith's bodywork. The car had a hint of that road-warrior look that you see at Le Mans when the brake dusted cars emerge from the night like charcoal drawings of the colourful machines that started the race.
...
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Words: Phil Bell
Posted: 4:33pm, 21 December 2007
Images: Phil Bell
Also see: Other posts by Phil Bell
The TVR Griffith experience part 5: seems like I've jumped onto a crazy train
I have no control over my life these days and I can blame the Griffith. My destiny seems mapped out and resistance is presumed futile.
You must have noticed that with some cars there’s a sequence of experiences that’s triggered the moment you grasp the keys for the first time. I knew a guy who bought a perfect Ford Sierra Cosworth – the heroic-looking three door version wi...
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Words: Phil Bell
Posted: 10:41am, 5 November 2007
Also see: Other posts by Phil Bell
The TVR Griffith experience part 4: Le Mans in the rain
I collected my Griff from Staffordshire on the Saturday before Le Mans, stopping off at TVR Power in Coventry (where they built the TVR engines originally) for a couple of essential spares – a new poly V drive belt for the alternator and water pump and a space saver roadwheel. The drive belt is a huge thing so there'd be no chance of finding anything to fit if the original broke in the middle...
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Words: Phil Bell
Posted: 8:54am, 20 August 2007
Images: Phil Bell
Also see: Other posts by Phil Bell
The TVR Griffith experience part 3: the test drive
Remember, I’d only looked at a couple of other Griffiths before finding this one and even before the test drive and a chance to check that all of the paperwork was right a voice in my head was saying ‘buy it, go on, you know you want it.’
I’d like to call it a sixth sense, rather than impetuous behaviour but I’m convinced it’s worth trusting. When you go to look at a ...
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Words: Phil Bell
Posted: 6:07pm, 23 July 2007
Images: Phil Bell
Also see: Other posts by Phil Bell
