1998 Ford Escort WRC

[rprzybylo]

Hi everyone,
Thought I'd share this in order to motivate myself to finish in a timely manner. My last build probably took the better part of 3 years (off & on). You can check it out in the completed projects gallery (the 206): http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul....php?t=1063148

Anyways this is the 98 Escort WRC. Base kit is the Tamiya 94 Escort RS Cosworth. I believe the 96 Swedish Escort could also be used as they share a lot of the same parts. The transkit is from Renaissance for the 98 Network Q Rally of Great Britain, the last appearance of the Escort. I plan on building the Kankkunen version (finished 2nd).



The transkit is fairly good but there are some major differences not addressed which I plan to remedy:

- X-type rollcage, slightly different placement
- fuel tank
- rear suspension/exhaust
- kit tires are pure slicks whereas I believe they had grooved/cut slicks by then
- each wheel decal should have 2 instances of "OZ Racing" split by Ford logos where these have one & the word "Motorsports" instead
- probably a few others things I'm choosing not to identify as to not get out of hand

The biggest issue is the rear suspension & tailpipe which are drastically different. You can see how much by comparing the instruction sheet to a great photo I found (might be a 97):

[rprzybylo]

First step was to cut the front bumper off and replace with new one. I found mine didn't sit flush with the front of the hood so I had to build it up with putty.



The rear wing was a little more trouble. The instructions make it look easy to build up the inside and cut off the remaining wing but I found there was no way to do without severing the bottom of the window. As a result I had to build it back with lots of putty test-fitting along the way and scribe new window lines. Looks like it should come out well.

The spoiler wing was also too short to fit the mounting and had to be extended.



You can also see the work I'm trying to do with the fuel tank. Squaring it up, rounding the corners and attaching a little compartment on the side based on some photos (and the aforementioned X cross-bar).

[rprzybylo]

This is the current state of the rear underside. I still need to cut off more of the existing arm part but will wait until I get the rest of the pieces in place so I don't mess up the ride height. The tailpipe is made up of extra parts & sprue so it snakes around everything convincingly and protrudes through the hole in the bumper.



This is as far as I got. Hopefully won't be too long before more progress is made!

[Borjacho]

Very good proyect and good focused. I really like this type of transformations as there are much more to do that only parts coming with the TK, so lot of scratch is necessary to do.
One question. In picture you show of the rear suspension exhaust looks divided into two sections, one to the left and one to the right. In fact, I don't see the final exhaust colector. It's no there by any service operation, or it's really the configuration used on the car? Do you think modify it in so deepth?
I don't see too the round box for the spare wheel. Are you going to eliminate it, or the angle of the picture avoid see it?
Also it's one of the tons of projects I have waiting on my shelves. Good to see this "classic" remains in our heads.
I will follow this thread with so much expectation

[JesusM]

Good job!! I will follow your job because I have it in my future models, like Borjacho, but I will do the Repsol version of Studio27.

[Vladamor]

Wow! Very interesting build. One of my favourite car of all times, the Escort Coshworth. I have to rebuild mine, but it's very difficult to get nice refs. pics.

Anyway. I'll look forward to your progress.

CHEERS

[rallymaster]

I agree with others, very interesting project !
I started same transformations few years ago for my brother's model and gave it to him but he never finished him and I recently got it back from him.
I didn't have same skills, materials and tools than today and was a newby scratchbuilding, I think I will be more easily be able to finish it today.
I had started modifying or rebuilding rear suspensions arms, exhaust...
Haven't decided for the exact version except the official Ford livery, maybe I'll try to build Ari Vatanen's Portugal car... Or Kankkunen's RAC car too...
WIll follow your wip closely !

[rprzybylo]

Borjacho,
Yes, I'm confused about that too. The pic shows the orange on the bodywork which makes me think it's the 97 car. Could there have been some big differences from 97 to 98? At the end of the day however I still need to make everything fit so that will be the determining factor! If anyone has a better photo or knows for sure I'd be grateful.

Good call on the spare wheel hub, I keep forgetting about that. Again I'm not sure. It makes sense that it would be gone (should be pretty easy to do) since the spare sits on the tank.

Also, does anyone know what the colour the front grill should be? In some photos it looks blue. Does that seem right? Does anyone know for sure?

[rallymaster]

All grilles are black.

To answer the question about the exhaust and 97/98 eventual difference, the first reference pic you posted (from Klein's book) show the 97 version which still had the side exhaust like the Cosworth Group A.
All 98 cars had the rear ending exhaust and it has a classic square/oval silencer just before exhaust tip.

The Gr. A cosworth used one piece suspensions arm , whereas the wrc used independant sides arms.

I don't have more reference than you have, not easy to find good pics from these early WRC...

[Borjacho]

Hi. Looking at other reference books (Rally Giants, Rally and WRC 3 special) I have, no useful pictures for rear section appart that this you posted from Rally Cars book.
I was looking for over there, but nothing reaaly valid.
Maybe this link will be useful for you in order to improve other areas as fuel tank and modules in front of it:
http://www.timeattackforums.com/foru...t-rebuild.html
It´s not the official one, but sometimes the privateers is the only way to see some cockpit areas.
This link for Cunico 1998 WRC car confirms that there is not spare whhel box under the car:
http://www.rsownersclub.co.uk/rsocbb...ad.php?t=89000
And here you can see other Escort with the rear suspension installed, and also the exhaust distribution, but it's not sure what car it is.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...e-to-fit-MK2-3
About grille, better pictures in Rally Giants book show them in black.

[Vladamor]

Hey!

Talking about exhaust... I remembered sometime ago in the "Rally El Corte Ingles", standing on one of the starts, we were waiting to the Escort Cosworth from "Golly Picar". The car started, and when it passed before me, I fell off the mountain where I was watching, because the car had the side exhaust end. Like someone says before, maybe it was because the car belong to a privateer. Sadly I don't have the pics of the cars. Those were the times of the film cameras, and I lost all the pictures.

By the way, the spare wheel mounting is almost the same that the Focus WRC. Maybe if you have one for spare parts...

CHEERS

[stevenoble]

Great start, I'll be following with interest. It's one I always planned to make but never got round to doing...

[Tim Lucas]

For a detailed look at the rear suspension please see following diagrams from the Ford WRC workshop manual.

I hope this helps!

Thanks Tim

[JesusM]

Hi for the exhaust, in the same Ford Escort WRC workshop manual:

[Borjacho]

I supposse that all is for sure studied, more in WRC category, but it's really strange have the exhaust going out directly to the rear wheels, because of not any picture where exhaust pipes were visible at sides of the car.
Maybe intention is directly heat the rear wheels as soon as possible?
But, taking into account that exhaust gas temperature is really high (I'm not sure in WRC, but street cars could be around 750ºC depends of circunstances), more when bang-bang system is mounted, and that from my experience tire temperature for good function must be around 85-90ºC (also depends of category and compound), I don't understand this pipes scheme
I think something is missing.
Please, gurus of WRC, advice