Found this on craigs list and for the price I couldn't pass it up. guy said it runs but couldn't keep it running and gave up on it. any one know where I can get some tail lights,and front floor pans for it? should I keep it stock or do a V8 swap
Fuel injected and Blown Big Block only way to go with one of those . Oh yeah and a 12" wide rear axle . There is one that shows up at the Nats in Louisville evry year that is more motor than car WILD little toy . Rick
cool as hell,I'd get it running good,clean it up some ,and drive it this summer.tear it apart this winter when you've decided what you want to do with it.aV8 would be sweet, just my $.02
injected small block ...those Thames vans are real COOOOL ..more often known here as 100E Prefect van. Stock you'll be lucky to pull dunny paper off the roll with it
If your just going to use it as an in-town cruiser, I'd just get it running and clean it up. It reeks "Cute". If it is being built for a carshow attendee with highway usage I'd go V6 with overdrive. Remember the engine compartment is small....Just my thoughts. P.S. Is it for sale "As is"
Don't know about sheet metal or lights but yes by all means do a V-8 swap. After the rule change the wheel base would have been to short to run gas class but I have seen a couple that competed well in altered class. neat little run about.
Fantastic find! I'd perhaps source some windshield glass before doing anything else. I know I had an obscure British car that was a real pain to get glass for. Can't tell if its flat or not. eBay UK or Australia might be the best bet for tail lights. These have a little flat four as stock don't they? If you go V8 then its going to need a decent amount of massaging. A modern Zetec four cylinder might be cool - the stock rear axle might even survive it.
Doing some Internet searching....probably has a 1100 cc engine....0-60 in about 29 seconds,30 mpg. An MGB 1800 engine is 100 hp and there's got to be plenty of them with 4 speed gearbox drivelines in rusted out MG's.
Yeah, a tiny little flathead 4banger ( what the Brits call a sidevalve ), 1172cc Dont throw that engine away. There are people racing them, and they will be looking for spares...
Olds quad 4 with side draft Harley carbs, a little more cam and compression, T-5 gear box, and set it up to handle. Leave the paint and interior like it is, then go "auto crossing". I do love a sleeper. I'm weird as hell, your milage may vary.
Have a 1959 100E in the shed .I got it in early 70's for daily driver. 29 miles each way,to work, very soon I decided that , even if the 1959 english Ford was european car of the year . It was a death trap on I-75 , speed limit was 55 due to fuel going over $1.30 a gallon. I could go 55 all day long ,if I was going down hill all day. Wonder what they are bring these day? Jimb
I know it's new tech, but what about a supercharged 3800 out of a Riviera/GP? You can even do a manual tranny with the bellhousing out of a late 80's S10.
In England where those cars are popular, they rarely get built with a V8. Makes the car too heavy and only fast in a straight line. Practically on the road a 16V Ford Focus engine with a Mazda transmission would fit easier (all the parts needed for the conversion are available in England) and be much faster. Subscribe to Retro Ford to get all the information about upgrading your car. See http://www.retrofordmagazine.co.uk/ They even do an App for your iphone so you can get the mag without sending it over the ocean. It's a well written magazine full of information. Ed
Might wind up being a LTI swap tried starting it to day with no luck turns over,feals like good compression but will get the gadge out tomorrow. spark feels week though trust me It bit me a few times and a lawn mower got more bite. going to recheck timing and a new coil if it will not fireup well V8 time.
You might want to pop over to RodsnSods and have a look at the 300E that is being built up. Good work! http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/garage/100e-escort-gasser-build-9673 P.
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