Ford Cortina MK3 rebuild

[whatdamn]

jinkl,
good luck with your ride too! i've decided to strip most of the current paintwork myself and then only transport the shell to the welders/painters for them to touch up. should cost me less since i've got some time on my hand AND i will know that i've removed all of the layers of paint+primer. and some rust here and there.

darth,
thanks for the contact. will make a trip to his workshop when i'm ready to start rebuilding the engine. could you give a brief history on him and cars that he's worked on?

kendconcerto,
it's gonna be restored to it's original condition BUT no pimping like what they do on mtv. i find that wayyyy to rice for my taste. but i will make it track worthy. who knows, one day i may be able to enter it for the super series classic category. haha!

i'm definitely all for a roll cage as i've felt what a bolt-on 7 point roll cage can do for my putra...imagine a weld-in cage. :D


still can't post pics because i can't access my photobucket. ish. so irritating.

updates for today:

1. started chipping off the paint from the driver side quarter panel.
2. chipped off mre paint from random areas around the body.
3. realized that i need a electrical sander/buffer to speed up my work.

 

[E3newbie]

Can't you use paint remover?

 

[whatdamn]

e3newbie,the idea is to chip of as much paint+body filler as i can before using the paint stripper. since the car has got such thick layers of filler, using paint stripper alone would be a waste of money and time. so, gonna slowly chip out the paint first.

might have to invest in jackstands. cause i'll need to strip out the transmission and engine.

umm, is there any other way to remove the engine without using a engine crane?


btw, to all ZTH members, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

[ken yeang]

the best way to remove engne is still using engine crane. Try borrowing one or just 'rent" (or belanja the mecahnic kopi) from a workshop during weekends. Just make sure the crane is foldable type. Before taking out the engine, try find a trolley (medium duty) so that the removed engine can be placed on the trolley and can be shifted here and there for conveinient sake, or if you having space problem.

I had the same problem whn my engine taken out, now the engine just sit there and can't be shifted....

 

[khoyos]

this is where u want to go when u have completed body rebuild and u want to start doing up the engine

http://www.burtonpower.com/

 

[jethrel]

I've read through it all as much as I can and you can ignore my advise as it's just a suggestion.

If I had your car, I'd

1. Fill in the holes, re-weld back what is ruset and what not and then only paint the car interior. Exterior you can do it after you plonk in the engine.
2. I do hear alot of carb eunthisiast here though perhaps to me, for long term use, I'd go for injection. That sorta big car, there's quite a number of engine you could consinder. Yet however, to source it out - GAM BAH TEH! lol
3. After the work of re-welding, painting and putting in the engine, then there's the carpeting (PJ Old town or Bukit Kemuning or Klang there's a place to do it)
4. Then there's the interior other parts that you can mod; Seats, dashboard, meters etc.
5. If you're ICE fan which I am not, then only I'd put in the sound system.
6. Last but not least, and idea on a body kit or you're keeping it standard?

 

[jinkl]

i found a 2 door cortina cabriolet in klang , yellow colour, original ? dunno

 

[whatdamn]

ken yeang,
what if i remove the engine bit by bit? like remove the rocker cover, cylinder head and cylinder block? it should be lighter to remove by hand then right?

khoyos,
already visited that website when i first got the car. very tempting, but the engine modifications will have to wait as i plan a rebuild of the current engine (for now). bodywork is of utmost importance.

jethrel,
thanks for your opinions. anyway here's what i think:
1. will be doing the bodywork and painting of the interior and exterior in one go. since i'm not capable with engine rebuilding, i'll farm out the rebuilding to somebody else to complete while the car is having bodywork done.
2. i'd honestly love to go fuel injection. example maybe a zetec or duratec conversion. but not really bothered due to budget constraints. so it'll be a rebuild of the stock engine to get the car functioning smoothly again.
3. i might not bother with carpeting as i have plans for a weld-in roll cage at this point of time. however, things might change depending on circumstances.
4. seats will definitely be full bucket for me, and a semi-bucket for the passenger. i'm still contemplating on whether or not i should put in the rear seats as i have a habit of removing the rear seats and not putting them back in (like my putra for instance). as for the dashboard, i'm leaving the air con out of the picture and will be looking around for speedometer, rev meter, fuel gauge, water temp gauge and a vacuum gauge among other things, to replace the meter cluster. will hold it all in place by a sheet of aluminum.
5. no ICE. period.
6. i might consider wheel arches and a front skirt. like some of those ford rs2000 race cars. really nice stuff. but it depends on the budget once again.

jinkl,
are you sure it's a cabriolet? cause the vinyl top can be deceiving. haha. you want a cortina? :P

picture update guys!

 

[whatdamn]

oh, for those of you who are really interested in keeping up to date with this project, feel free to visit

Ford Cortina MK3 Rebuild

 

[jethrel]

Have book marked your webpage on rebuilding the Ford Mark 3. Interesting ...

1. That's the way it should go mate! Body and paint would be a side by side job and well, to me, it does require some time and quite a lot of speculation here and there for the outcome to be sweeeeeeet. The engine building I'd usually leave it to the mech with a slow step by step rebuilt. Unless of course I want more power, I'll have a discussion with the mec wanting this to fit here and there and blah blah blah ....

3. Oh! I didn't know that you're planning to put in a roll cage ... fuh ... can't wait to see the ending of this rebult.

Anywayz, good luck yo ...

 

[whatdamn]

jethrel,
thanks. pls feel free to comment on my work. always welcome constructive criticism.

i'm obsessed with roll cages. hahha. they really give a good solid feel to the car.

 

[E3newbie]

Hi Nick,
Happy New Year to you too! It seems to me that you are quite competant in bodywork ya? I don't think i have any good imputs for you but i'm just wondering why not mate a newer engine to it? It'll probably cost less than a rebuild & be much more powerfull. Maybe even Forced Induction??:)

 

[whatdamn]

e3newbie,
thank you :). but just to be clear, i'm not a panel beater. just your regular engineering student hahah. no skills in bodywork. just stuff i picked up along the way from personal encounters.

going for a newer engine would require JPJ approval, and you know how that is. i've read up on the duratec and zetec conversions for the cortina and it is very very tempting. but alas, my budget is very very small. hahha. so no choice la.

also, i don't think a newer engine would be more feasable than rebuilding the current engine as the additional costs of wiring, firewall and transmission tunnel modification, not to mention engine mounting relocation/tampering and other miscellaneous items might bring up the cost of the whole project.

the number one goal is to get the bodywork done and get the car driving again so that my grandad can see. hahha. have to let him see some results right?

more pics at the blog. should be up by tmrw morning.

i shall not waste zth bandwidth and posting space.
but keep the ideas flowing.

 

[Kendconcerto]

Bro,

I do hope your car project goes well.
When I was a kid, my parents used to have a 1600cc Ford Escort.Running on 16 inch I think.....

That car was a monster, too powerful that my dad replaced its carb with a 1300cc (less FC)

But eventually, the car aged, we are not rich, so after parents bought an Iswara (which im driving now) n let the car to rust.

Several years ago, they gave the Escort to a mech, and I think, its somewhere in chopshop, Im afriad.....

I am using Weber in my Iswara now, How I wished if my Weber is in the ESCORT!

Anyways, All the best to ya bro!

GAMBATE

 

[whatdamn]

kendconcerto,
16 inch wheels! wow. what a waste. should have kept it as a family heirloom. which is why i wanna restore the car.

thanks man. :)

do visit the blog fordcortinamk3.blogspot.com for more updates ya.

 

[ae101rulez]

wah....really reminded me of my childhood cars......my aunt and father's friend used to owned one of these but both were the 1.6 model. My father used a Ford Escort 1.6GT before he crashed .....As i am also dealing with a old car(Toyota LE), my advise is
1) strip the car, reweld, restrenghtend, and make sure you repaint the car with antirust and all sort before applying final coat.....so that the car chasis can last for a long time.
2) Try to keep things as original as it is......especially the interior....from my pov, there is no use a old car is kept original outside but inside looks like a modern car, the aroma of the car heydays is gone......take for example, a 1979 Toyota KE70 but fitted with a 1993 Toyota AE101 Levin dashboard, doesn't make sense......
3) For redyeing of the interior, try to ask Wecolor for their help....it may not be cheap, but their workmanship is quite good. ( I am not working for them:tongwink: )
add: No8, Jln T 6/10, Tmn Industri Subang,
47510 Subang Jaya, Selangor D.E.
phone: 03-56311916
4) For exterior, try to keep those crome parts, cromed, for it retains the originalness of the car..... The most important is the badges, antique badges are hard to get, especially if the car is almost 30 years old, so treasure them.....
5) For ideas on exterior, try googling.....especially those brit websites....for most of them are diehard ford fans.......
6) For engine, if not over budget, try overhauling or rebuilding........these is ur best option....if you are able to find rare ford racing parts in m'sia, quickly grab them.....
7) If cannot find them, try some european brands, eventhough the price is high, but guranteed superb satisfication.......
8) Based on my opinion, my best option for engine is do a engine rehauling and fit in a weber....eventhough high on fc, but these type of cars are meant to be weekend cars....so should be no prob.
9) On suspension, if cannot find, try those customise shop.......Some people import the suspension parts from brit, but those cost a bomb:confused_smile: ,
10) on wheels, try getting those retro rims.........the size shouldn't be too big...most prob around 14" to 16" is also enough oredilah....if not will look like those 'new gen' cars pimped........

If the car is done up to its original state properly, i am assure you that sure you will treasure this car....just try looking that motortrader, even a refurbished mini cost around 22-30k......if your car is mantain and retain its original state, surely the price will be higher....:_: :_:

 

[whatdamn]

ae101rulez,
thanks for the writeup. points have been noted. however:

1. do you know of any reliable place that can do good sheet metal fabrication and welding of the rusted parts?

2. the dashboard will be kept. only thing is, the current meters will be replaced where possible for more modern ones from autometer or maybe stack? about the same price for the whole lot of them.

3. i have dealt with wecolour before and i'd say they're alright. but the dye they used on my steering wheel came off after a few days.

4. all exterior chrome finishings have been stored for re-chroming later on. and the 'FORD' and 'Cortina' badges will be restored sometime during the paintwork stage. will be looking up sources for other original badges that used to come with the car.

5. a more stylish apron will be fabricated and maybe wider wheel arches. maybe.

6. gonna rebuild and dump a weber. screw fuel consumption because it'll be a weekend driver with no air conditioning.

9. suspension won't be a problem as i can always go back to uncle richard from Titan Suspension to get my suspension setup. no probs there.

10. as far as retro rims go, i would probably source for those deep-dished rims. either minilites or those long champs. really like those. max i'll go will be 14 inch. although come to think of it, most classic fords use 13x6 or 13x7 wheels. see how la....those all are not top priority.

doubt i'll sell the car. :P looking to keep it for at least 10 years then restore if needed. hopefully i won't have to go through this same process when the time comes. haha.

 

[ae101rulez]

bro,

1) about welding shop, i dun know, bec i also currently finding one:emoticon_U: :emoticon_U: ...hehe
2) hehe, but on research, try googling for ideas....

www.markthreeownersclub.com/
www.mk3cortina.com/

maybe these websites can help....hehe....tells abit of history of mk3.....aniway gud luck...:_: :_:

 

[ae101rulez]

bro,

1) about welding shop, i dun know, bec i also currently finding one:emoticon_U: :emoticon_U: ...hehe
2) hehe, but on research, try googling for ideas....

www.markthreeownersclub.com/
www.mk3cortina.com/

maybe these websites can help....hehe....tells abit of history of mk3.....aniway gud luck...:_: :_:

 

[whatdamn]

ae101rulez,
already visited those sites when before i got the car. but almost little to no help. most of the stuff they refer to does not apply to our very own tropical country, malaysia. most of them diy the restoration themselves. which is why, if i had good welding skills, and a real garage, i'd do the whole thing myself. cheaper in the long run and at least i won't cheat myself by producing poor results ma. hahha.