Mk 2 Escort RS2000 restoration.
I've posted before in other threads about my RS2000 and that I've planned to get it back on the road at some point. I figured it was more appropriate to post the restoration in this part of the forum, so for those who are interested here is a brief history of the car and few photos of how it stands at the moment:The car was bought by my Mum and Dad in 1980 when it was about 18 months old. My Mum drove it to work until 1985 when they had a full respray and bought another daily driver so they could keep the RS for summer use only. I bought the car off them in about 1995 for a 'token' amount on the proviso that if I sold in future I would split any profits with them. I ran the car for summer use only for a further three years, only doing standard servicing and putting a new set of tyre on the newly blasted and polished wheels (which still look pretty good even now). I compounded the whole car when I got it to remove light surface scratches and it left an 'orange peel' free finish. Unfortunately, divorce, moving house, kids and years of DIY meant that the RS has sat in my garage for the last 10years waiting for me to do some welding on the inner wings and some other MOT type repairs. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
I finally finished the DIY on our house, so this summer I'd planned to finish wiring in some lights and getting the garage in order so that I can start doing the repairs: I need to remove the front nose cone, outer wings and strut top plate to access the rusty bit and then 'let in' some fresh metal. I'll refit the original wings as I'll be using a spot weld cutter that will leave 8mm holes on the wing rail and where ever the wing is joined to the car. These holes will be 'plug' welded using my trusty (soon to be repaired itself data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7) MIG welder. I did a similar job a long time back replacing the floor pans, sills and other parts on an old MGB GT, so it's common ground but I'm a little out of practice.
As you can tell from the photos, the wheel arches etc aren't in bad condition at all, only slight surface rust on the lips that will sand off easily. I'll just blow these bits in locally as longer term I will have a full respray in 2 pack done professionally. I'd planned to spray it myself, but cellulose is very expensive these days, less durable and I may upset the neighbours having too many flammable chemicals in the garage. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 The paint under the back bumper has lifted (some kind of reaction/adhesion problem with the original paint underneath), so it needs removing and repainting. At least any colour mismatch will be hidden by the bumper/body crease.
The only reason it's been off the road is the inner wings. I'd poked one side through before it's last MOT (despite it looking quite innocent like the near side shown) and knew it wasn't worth taking it in until repaired. Being the perfectionist (fusspot some would say data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 ) I didn't want to just plate over it, so the car has languished in the garage and only been moved twice since: Once to the 'new' house and once to store in a relative's garage while I replaced the leaking garage roof a couple of years ago.
I have a spare new steering rack in the boot (an advisory at it's last MOT) and various suspension bushes that will need replacing to match other's done to get it through a previous MOT. Unfortunately this long lay up has meant that the brakes need stripping as they were sticking when we towed it to the relatives two years ago and the exhaust has also gone (a stainless steel one will be put on once all the other work is finished). I put a new master cylinder on it when it was last on the road, so I'm hoping it just needs the calipers stripping and then the brakes bleeding.
The interior is good, with the typical build up of surface mould on the vinyl trim. I clean this off every now and then, but lack of use means it comes back after a couple of years. I daren't use bleach (even diluted) so if anyone knows of a plastic friendly cleaner that will kill the mould, then please let me know. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 I plan to remove the front seat covers and wash them on a cool wash (it's worked a treat on other far dirtier seats in the past), they will probably shrink a tiny bit, but this helps to remove the slight baggyness that seats get after nearly 30 years and 64,000 miles.
I'll try to post back here once I actually start some work, but I fell off my stepladder yesterday putting up my toolboard data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 , so I have a few bruises today. I'll try to get on with clearing some more space to work in and soaking the nose cone fixings so I can remove it.
I've linked to my thread on the RS Owners club (as I can't post pictures on there directly), so hello to any visitors from there. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 I'll edit this post once I've scanned some older photos of the car when I first got it (they are on prints so I need to find my scanner). That should keep you out of mischief for a while!
Should also be great fun both to do,and when it's done....do you have any plans for the engine? Look forward to seeing and reading the updates on this - looks like you have a real nice starting point for an excellent project and the RS is such a legend of a car data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Good luck data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 One of my all time favorite cars, RS2000 Custom, keep the pictures coming hope it all goes well for you The engine is near standard at the moment, apart from an unleaded head that I swopped some years ago from a Granada 2.0 I had at the time. I might look at doing some mods to it once I get it back on the road, but I don't think I'll be going to full 'Group 1' spec with twin 40s.
It's a real shame about the inner wing area as the rest of the car is really good for a nearly 30 year old Ford, though it has had a sheltered life since 1985. I reckon the water probably settled on the inner wings after my Dad washed it, then put it away in the garage...it's the perfect shape to do that.
I could do with pulling it out of the garage and giving it a wash down to inspect it closer. However, once I do that it may be noticed by people and I haven't got it insured at the moment. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 I'll have to sort out a low mileage policy (1,500 a year or similar), then I may even get to drive it before it expires next year. If I get too sidetracked into restoring it I'll still be working on it in another 5 years time.data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 Should be good fun!.....I can see your point about insurance,and it does make sense as there is reasonable demand for these cars.
Hope it goes well. Good to see you're finally going to make a start on the RS Kelvin.
They look great in black, definitely the best colour for a Mk2.It looks pretty tidy from the photo's, so hopefully there won't be too many surprises for you.
As for insurance, I've got my Mini on a laid up policy at the moment with Adrian Flux, costs less than £100 and I can convert it to a normal policy when its ready for the road.
Now hurry up with those updates, as I need some motivation to get my Mini sorted and back on the road. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 Always a pleasure to see an absolute working class classic restored for posterity. It's a thing of beauty and will only go one way in terms of future values!Good luck!