Starting on a new project at work.
Customer asked us to build him a 1969 Ford Cortina for his daughter.
He requested a Ford 2.3 from a Pinto and a 5-speed transmission.
Shell arrived the other day and the engine should be in our hands next week, the only thing left is everything.
I'm also looking for an OEM front-sump oil pan, pickup and disptick for a Ford 2.3 Lima if anyone has one they would like to sell.
I was out in Mission a few weeks ago picking up a starter from a guy who has a Mk1 with a pinto in it as well as a mk2. On my way back to the city I realised I should have asked him which pinto motor it was. I still have his contact info if you're interested.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this build goes.
Road & Track 1972
Yup, they were all just cheap used cars once.
In reply to Datsun310Guy :
I know who ought that Lotus. He still has it!
In reply to TurnerX19 :
I want to find those owners and talk about the cars. Future classic? Yep, you called it.
Finding out how much room I don't have.
Looks like I'm going to be cutting the forward part of the transmission tunnel out. The shifter lines up with the hole though, so there's that.
Trans tunnel is cut out for the T5, needs a little more trimming still.
Cut the sump off the oil pan and plated it. Will add the sump wherever it needs to be once we know where the engine will sit relative to the crossmember.
A little more whittling to make some more room, engine and transmission are where they need to be.
Engine mount fabrication is next.
If it wasnt a clients car, I would try to convince you to use a Miata 1.8 and 5 speed but with the Ford Escort GT valve cover.
Cool build. Anything special planned with the Lima?
In reply to RossD :
People suggested the Duratec too but it's not my car.
I picked out the engine parts, we're building something fun and reliable, not a crazy street machine. It's for his daughter after all.
Engine has had a rebuild, 0.030 overbore, Comp 268H camshaft, oval port head with the best flowing stock intake (can't remember what they call it), Weber 38DGES carburetor and the Mustang/Ranger cast iron header style exhaust manifold.
Not sure where the power will be at. The 2.3 is around 100 stock which will be 20hp more than the 1600 Kent that was in there. We should have a little more with the cam and carburetor we picked out. A 20 - 25% increase over stock should be plenty fun.
Motor mount fab.
Fiero radiator installed. Biggest radiator that fits in the hole.
Dual 10" fans installed:
Not much room in the transmission tunnel so we're attempting to build a hydraulic clutch conversion using a later Mustang slave cylinder:
Hoping the stackup isn't too much for the pressure plate. Will know more once we bolt everything together.
Cool. Is that slave from the 05-10 Mustang that still used the T5?
In reply to obsolete :
That's the one.
I know there are aftermarket options out there but when we build a car, we try to make it so you can walk into any parts store and get the item you need.
It's no fun finding out the company that made your weird little part is no longer in business.
ShawnG said:I know there are aftermarket options out there but when we build a car, we try to make it so you can walk into any parts store and get the item you need.
It's no fun finding out the company that made your weird little part is no longer in business.
I like it! It's great when an aftermarket part exists to solve a specific problem, but when a major car manufacturer has already engineered and mass-produced a part that you can use to do the same job, that's the right answer.
In reply to obsolete :
The OEM also has far more development time and dollars invested.
Engine going together.
Thats gonna be a great fun little runabout.
Built a dipstick guide tube:
And a new oil pump pickup:
Front sump pan is on:
Shifting gears for a a bit until I can get a lift bay freed up.
Wiring time. Main harness, headlight harness and taillight harness are in. Dash pad is back from the (not a shop we use or recommend) upholstery shop, small gauges are in and harness for them is built:
Trans tunnel fab today:
Transmission tunnel is done, front end going together and lots of little things fitting into the engine bay.
Customer wants gas struts instead of a hood prop so I'll be sorting that out shortly. Ordered all the bits to build an ignition system for it as well.
Customer has supplied us with seats but they don't appear to fit this car. This car came with a front bench and we have buckets with round tube seat frames that should clip into some sort of bracket on the floor. Every picture I can find of Cortina buckets shows flat bottom seats with conventional slider brackets. I think we have Escort seats.
This thing is starting to look like someone just assumed that all the parts included were actually parts of this car. I love starting my work halfway through a project.
Looking good so far! The customer handed you a box containing Legos and Lincoln Logs and said "make these fit together" and you're doing it. 
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