Initial inspiration. (Disclaimer: this is not my sketch, I have just edited the colours Source: Classic Ford Magazine)
The original interior at time of purchase
Its general condition, after 30 years of sitting still.
This vehicle had been in this position and condition for over 10 years and stood in a barn for 20 years before that.
First Job was to remove the engine, strip it down and assess its condition.
It required the bores honing, new pistons, con-rods (converted to shell bearings) regrind of the crankshaft, new valves, adding hardened valve seats for unleaded petrol, new cam shaft and skimming of the head.
The finished result of the engine work was a great success. The engine fired up first time, ran like a dream and seem to make most, if not all of the original 36hp!!
Whilst the engine was out of the car, I stripped the rest of it down to a shell and removed all the rust, repaired the chassis and panel work, and applied rust protection to the underside of the car. This consisted of rust inhibitor, a couple of etch primer coats and topcoat of black stone chip.
The car was then re assembled with fully overhauled engine, gearbox and axles. All serviceable items were replaced with new.
The original interior cleaned up well but I had plans to replace it all.
additional to putting the car back together in standard form, I replaced the cross-ply tyres with new low profile radial tyres and wider rims. I matched the colour of the wheels with a material I planned to trim the interior in. I also lowered the car by 2 inches to get the stance right on the new wheels.
We also trimmed out the boot too.
This is how the car looked for approximately 4 years before further transformations began.
Living with the car some of the old technology got to me and I believed it was necessary to bring the car more up to date so that it could deal with the modern conditions of driving. The car was only capable of a crusing speed somwhere between 45-50mph due to the gearbox and axle ratios. also the vacuum wipers were next best thing to useless and potentially dangerous so these would have to go. This was the basis for the next stage of modification.
So at the beginning of 2015 work commenced on upgrading the engine, drive train, suspension, steering and brakes, along with a completely new wiring harness, heater box, exhaust system.
....out with the old engine and gearbox.....
...carefully removed all of the interior and dash...
so this is the original engine bay which would not be big enough to contain the new engine and gearbox.
I recessed the bulk head and enlarged the prop shaft tunnel in order to create space for the new engine and gearbox.
This is after the work was complete and paint added.
Here is the collection of new parts to go in the new engine bay. Ford Escort Mk2 coil-over suspension and M16 Brake calipers, type 9 5 speed gear box, and various other parts.
I also up-rated the rear axle with a Ford Escort English axle with 3.89 rear diff.
... and this is the new engine. 1.8l Ford Zetec which will be fitted with 4 bike CV carburetors and Nodiz ECU
Engine and gear box ready to go in.
Final assembly and testing stage....
.... and finally all complete
gLike
Ford 100E Project 2007
Restoration and Modification of a 50's Classic
