johnny boy 159 Posted January 3, 2019 15 hours ago, nascar66 said: I considered going the MX-5 route but picked up a cheap mondeo in the end. I think it can be done on the cheap if you can make your parts such as engine mounts and water rail. If I ever get around to it I will be using the mondeo ecu to keep the cost down even further. Yep, I like the keep with the ECU, but I also like the look and sound of a pair of dcoe or dhla twin carbs. So initially I,ll be going with a pair of Weber's, with the option of turbo, with injection, maybe later on when all the teething trouble is done with.😁 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny boy 159 Posted January 3, 2019 (edited) I managed 2 hours in the barn this evening, and removed the front struts, crossmember and anti roll bar. I mocked up the new roller strut top mounts and re-drilled one hole. I'm using Volvo 240 top mounts, on the Capri struts. They aren't a direct fit, I had to have some sleeves made up, and they make the strut about 1in longer. But they are 1/4 the price of escort ones, and look stronger .. Edited January 4, 2019 by johnny boy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny boy 159 Posted January 6, 2019 Here's the twin cam engine, and 5 speed gearbox I will be using. It will be running on twin DCOE carburettors. Next job, new clutch and cam belt. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nascar66 74 Posted January 6, 2019 A bit of detail work and that will look right at home in the cortinas engine bay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave A 17 Posted January 10, 2019 Yeah and the 5 speed gearbox will be nice! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyg64 7 Posted January 14, 2019 Johnny, when you say Capri cross member is too wide, was this at the lower arm mounting holes you measured?. Asking because a few people have done it with Capri stuff and I have stuff waiting for mine too. I have lower arms from Capri too with struts so Im hoping to use them. Cheers Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny boy 159 Posted January 14, 2019 Hi Tony, You have fallen into the same trap a me , by reading forums, and believing what others say is true. Here's what I now know from experience. The Capri cross member is 5 inches too wide .(cutting it down you loose the steering geometry as the rack pivots in the wrong place). The Capri frame rails are 5 inches wider, and not tapered in like the MK1 Cortina The rack is also too wide. The TCA's can be used. I'm not sure about the Capri anti roll bar yet, because I haven't got that far. But looks like it needs shortening. The Capri front struts work. Capri top mounts are too big, and aren't roller mounts anyway. I used Volvo 240 Roller mounts, But needed to have a sleeve turned up, because the hole where the strut rod goes is too large. They then raise the length of the strut by about an inch. So you need shorter springs, or as I have done, shorter springs , and cut down the top spring seat by an inch. You need to re drill the mount holes in the mount to match the car. I'm sure They will be more obstacle's to over come, as I haven't yet fitted it all up, I still getting the engine bay sorted. That's what I know so far. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyg64 7 Posted January 14, 2019 Ok cheers, do you know which year the capri stuff was you got?. I wonder if there was a change as Ive been mailing a guy whos done it and even sent sketches etc. My stuff is from mk3 I believe. I was going to go Volvo top mounts too. Cheers Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyg64 7 Posted January 14, 2019 PM sent Johnny Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny boy 159 Posted January 14, 2019 3 hours ago, tonyg64 said: Ok cheers, do you know which year the capri stuff was you got?. I wonder if there was a change as Ive been mailing a guy whos done it and even sent sketches etc. My stuff is from mk3 I believe. I was going to go Volvo top mounts too. Cheers Tony Hi Tony, My Struts came from an 1984 2000 S car, The Discs were new 2.8 Capri vented. New inserts, new escort 2 inch 145 lbs front springs. original brake calliper's fitted with spacer kits to clear the vented discs. Unknown date on the crossmember. I'm sure you can make the Capri crossmember fit, but for me seeing it was 5 inches too wide, it was too much work, and would loose all the steering geometry anyway. The track would be a few inches wider at the front, unless you used adjustable TCA's to get it back, and then they would be undesirably short. Look at these pictures of the Capri, Alan dent, and Mk1 Cortina. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyg64 7 Posted February 13, 2019 Hows progress Johnny? Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny boy 159 Posted February 13, 2019 I'm having a dry run of fitting up the struts/crossmember/rack. I had a problem with the track rod ends fitting the metric rack and not the imperial strut taper. I got the answer from a chap on here, use Mexico/RS2000 ones, So I've ordered up some. I've replaced the cam belt and water pump on the engine, and painted it to look like a Lotus, got a trigger wheel made for the ignition system, and ordered a fabricated twin 40 dcoe intake manifold. Once the wheels are back on I can move it about and start on the conversion to RHD, and see where the gear stick wants to come up. then its a dry fit of the engine and gearbox...……………………………….. I will post up some pictures in the next couple of days 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyg64 7 Posted February 14, 2019 Cool cheers :) Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny boy 159 Posted February 14, 2019 (edited) On 1/2/2019 at 10:59 PM, nascar66 said: 😁 Edited February 14, 2019 by johnny boy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
