Please forgive what is surely the most basic of questions: if I buy an Escort Mk2 with a 1300 automatic engine, can I bolt a 1300 manual gearbox on it instead?

There are a few automatic Escort Mk2s around, but I can't find a manual one. Perhaps this is the answer.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Quite easy to do

Apart from the gearbox and clutch release gear you wil need a flywheel, spigot bearing, sandwich plate. The starter was also different on automatic Escorts but depending on your flywheel this may be OK

[Edited on 4/7/05 by britishtrident]

I used a 1600 x-flow engine from an auto - it's identical to a manual one except for one thing. The end of the crankshaft where the flywheel would normally sit has a steel cap on that's a very tight fit. It's like a steel ashtray jammed on the end, but looks like a permanent fixing - very confusing.

I knocked mine off after stripping the engine, but you would probably be able to lever it off if you wanted to leave the engine alone. Once that's off then all you need is a flywheel and a spigot bearing. As BT says, you'll need a starter motor to match your flywheel (get the flywheel first!).

David


[Edited on 4/7/05 by David Jenkins]

Great... thanks for the info :-)

errm...........

would that be a thin thing that you put the bolts through into the crank?

If so, mine just fell off when i removed the torque converter!

Sounds like it!

You'll soon know if you've got it right - if it's still on the flywheel just won't sit right. When it's removed the end of the crank fits snuggly into the recess on the flywheel.

David