Hello people!
I am posting this to get more info about this
cortina. A friend of mine is thinking about
getting a BEC locost so he is giving me this
ford cortina for free !!!
It is a ford cortina 1.6 GL with an automatic
gearbox. The carb attached is a double Weber (don't know more info about it).
Tha car was full extra equiped and it also
has an A/C unit that was working till now.
The car is being left outside for some years
but my friend did turn on the engine occasionaly to to keep the engine in a running shape and also charge its battery.


My questions are the following :
1. Is it a pinto or a crossflow engine in the bonnet?

2. Should I keep the automatic gearbox to
use in the locost or it is absolutely stupid to use and I should go get a cheap manual one?

3. Since I am building a chassis with book
"dimensions" can I use cortina's wider rear
live axle? It is wider than the escorts axle.
Will I have any problems then with front track width? Will it be ugly or will it affect
handling?

These are some photos I took. Sorry for the
low quality, I took them with mobiles little camera.









and that is my progress on chassis so far

the engine is a pinto
im unable to help with the other questions sorry

[Edited on 2/10/07 by eccsmk]

Its a Pinto and I dont think most people would use an Auto box. The first tool you will need to get that out is a lawnmower
Steve.

1 Pinto.
2 Personally I would ditch the auto.
3 The cortina axle will go in fine, just need a tad wider arches, MK ones fit my book chassis and cortina axle with no problem for example.


edit to add you hit a gold mine there, front end sorted, wheels sorted, back axle sorted.........

[Edited on 2/10/07 by Jon Ison]

yes engine room has become so dirty and
dusty that if you drop some plant seeds they will probalby grow up with the first rains....

And what about it's horsepower? My friend told
me that engines power is about 90hp
combined with that carbirateur. Is this true or I
am going to have less power with this engine?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jon Ison
1 Pinto.
2 Personally I would ditch the auto.
3 The cortina axle will go in fine, just need a tad wider arches, MK ones fit my book chassis and cortina axle with no problem for example.


edit to add you hit a gold mine there, front end sorted, wheels sorted, back axle sorted.........

[Edited on 2/10/07 by Jon Ison]

---

As said before, you've hit a gold mine.

I have used the back axle from a Capri which AFAIK is the same.

I'm sure I used the book wishbones on my car.

Use the automatic gearbox if you like, they work well in lightweight sports cars. I ran one in a V8TR7 and it was as fast as a manual.

quote:

---

Originally posted by mr henderson
Use the automatic gearbox if you like, they work well in lightweight sports cars. I ran one in a V8TR7 and it was as fast as a manual.

---

Front uprights, dif you mentioned, wheels and tyres, engine and geabox, handbrake lever, in fact complete handbrake mechanism, seats to have a cup of tea on in the workshop, loom, bulbs, all engine ancilaries, rad is too much of a squeeze, fan might be good though.

I am about to start making transmition tunnel.
Any ideas about how wide should be the
opening in the end of the tunnel next to
engine room?

Should I use the "book" measuraments
to tack weld the two "H" tubes? I will use
cortina's automatic gearbox. I will take the
car to my mechanic to check it and service
it before taking it home for dismantling.
So probably I won't have it home soon and
I must go on with the chassis.

any ideas?

You really don't want to use this gearbox ---- yes an decent automatic transmision with big V8 is fine but the Bordeaux made autotramision used in the Cortina Mk 3-5 caused no end of problems.

You will find yourself building a car around a useless transmision

If you change the gearbox you will need to find a flywheel.

Yeah, I know I won't ever love this automatic
gearbox but I don't mind using this for a while.
If I ever need more speed, torque, fun and
trackdays etc, I will just put a bike engine on...
So for now I will go on with this "free of charge" engine-gearbox.

Does anyone has the dimensions or any plans of the automatic gearbox? I am not sure but I think it is a ford C3 gearbox.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Jon Ison
1 Pinto.
2 Personally I would ditch the auto.
3 The cortina axle will go in fine, just need a tad wider arches, MK ones fit my book chassis and cortina axle with no problem for example.


edit to add you hit a gold mine there, front end sorted, wheels sorted, back axle sorted.........

[Edited on 2/10/07 by Jon Ison]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Yes it is a gold mine, I know!
Another question. If I use this back axle, should I use Cortina's steering rack as well to keep front and rear width the same?

And what about the front wishbones? Do I have to redesign them or can I find plans for
them?
(Front wishbone design plans in book are to match escror's live axle narrowed width)
Correct me if I am wrong.

hi
you wont be able to use the cortina steering rack
its way too big for the front end of a standard book chassis escort is the way to go
cheers
colin