Because of the history of the car-related rivalry, people almost always come down to some camp. I have always found the idea to devote themselves to a single manufacturer or a specific region or style quite interesting.
None of us is born with these preferences; They are previously developed and fed by our friends, family and social groups. If all your friends love Nissans and drift, chances are that you will follow a similar path. While your love and passion for one brand blooms, your abnormal opinions grow for the ‘other side’. This is of course more often than not a friendly rivalry. After all, we are all in love for cars, right? Whatever the case, there are also the more heated rivalry …
I would like to think that in this modern times most of these conflicts have been thrown away in the name of progress and harmony. However, some still burn strongly and are kept alive by a generation that fought at the front line. Few illustrate a car rivement, just like the one who exists between the suburb of Dagenham in London and the city of Luton, not 50 miles away. That is, Ford and Vauxhall respectively. There is nothing above the proximity to keep a feud going. And although this disagreement will probably continue for an indefinite period, there are the few who have chosen to step over the combat lines and make peace with the other side, so that they can enjoy the best of both worlds with a pure conscience.
One of those few is Paul Reene, and this is Ford Escort driven by Vauxhall.
Although he could say the opposite, I do not think that Paul is too lightly the final evolution of his escort to be too light to be engaged. It has seen various iterations about his property, including a pinto and a more modern Zetec -Swap, before it was removed from the road, the ultimate incarnation.
While you are about to see, this is anything but a simple motor-and-wake track structure. This is the highlight of Paul’s experiences and how to build the best car he could possibly, while still retaining all the things that make the car special in the first place.
Paul had possessed the escort for a shadow for 10 years prior to the large change. He knew that the scale was in good condition and he wanted to build on this. Stripped by car, the work began by seam by welding the scale and installing the FIA-conforming roll cage. Although it was a car from ’73, rest was no problem and it was not necessary to even patch an inch of the car.
With the scale with maximum stiffness and strength, Paul wanted to try to reduce the burden of the added weight of the T45 cage. Everything that is not essential was removed or enlightened as much as possible without losing the structural integrity.
It would have been easier to tube chassis or space components of the car, but Paul was planning to stay an escort and not just the silhouette of one. The car still has its original chassispotes, and only a small part of the inner front wings has been removed.
Where the Irish motorsport community is fairly adhered and terribly Traditionally, some were stunned about the idea that a perfect MKI was changed so heavily. “Some collecting locals went crazy when they heard that I had cut so much away and said I had ruined a good scale. I even improved a good scale, “ Paul told me.
With everything that could be removed, it was then time to move a different weight to a more optimal location.
That starts with the engine, which has been moved back 9.0 inches (228 mm) and is about 1.6 inches (40 mm) lower than the factory engine would originally have. This was made possible by completely re -manufacturing a new shot, which used much thicker steel than Ford originally did, and adding a dry carter system.
In a further attempt to move so much of the overhanging weight lower and closer to the center of the car, the fuel cell was sunk through the rear floor.
Now at the lurking out of sight, the reduced tank company is held by a Sytec fuel pump and a corresponding vertebrate pot. Also in the shade is a 6-link setup with adapted fostek English axis and tran-x limited slip differential.
With such an obsession for weight saving and weight location, there would only be one chair in this proverbial house. Of course every old chair would not cut it, so Paul finally chose a lightweight aluminum kirkey bucket.
Fiber -optic front wings, front panel, bonnet, doors and boat lid all do their part when reducing the weight of this escort to an impressive 770 kg (1,697 pounds).
One of the most important parts when retaining the essence of the escort was choosing the right engine for the task. As such, it would always be a highly renewed and naturally extracted engine. As we already know from above, Paul opted for a Vauxhall engine in the form of a JRE-built C20XE. What probably soften the blow to a Ford fan is that the C20XE shares a strong Ford connection in the sense that Cosworth designed the XE for Vauxhall in the late 80s. A thin link, but I am sure it can easily sleep at night, so we let that one slide.
However, what Paul pushed to the Vauxhall engine was the large number of options and parts available to him. It is a proven engine with an enormous amount of knowledge and expertise there is, so there will never be one ‘What if’ situation. It was a simple case of choosing a combination of parts to build on the 150 hp of the stock engine. 48 mm JenVey Gas valves, an excellent Tony Law outlet manifold, along with fully forged internals and adapted camshafts and the valve brings the total power to 250 hp and 189LB/FT (256 Nm).
In a world where 1,000+HP has the norm for performance columns, 250 hp may not seem very much. Due to the low weight of the car, the XE still offers this escort by more than 320 hp per ton. That is much more than necessary to put a smile on your face and to allow yourself to post competitive times.
Because the chassis was only 50 mm from the ground, clearance would have been a problem for a traditional under-and-out exhaust system. The adjusted side-exit system runs its way next to the gearbox and ends in the atmosphere just behind the passenger door.
The shorter system also has the extra advantage of saving weight and an increased exhaust current.
To ensure that none is included in the electricity delivery, the car is equipped with a quaife 60g sequential 6-speed gearbox with Bradley Motorsport-tailored proportions, along with the required hardware for flat gearboxes. With its Dunlop slicks warmed up, the escort is able to sprint from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds.
Helping to return to a stationery are AP -Raceremmes, both in front and rear. Lightweight compomotive wheels help to maintain the lowest possible non -recognized weight.
The setup of the suspension does not shoot at the goal either. Gaz Sproet both front and rear with external reservoirs on the fully adjustable front. The feathers are tailor -made to match the lightweight escort. As such, Roll is almost eliminated with around 40 mm travel available. If you are not yet guessed, this is a car-all-track car.
When I met Paul to shoot at his escort, it was his first time he was driving it in any form of anger. Looking at how he the XE the relatively short back directly in Tynagh, Co. Galway, the relatively short back let go, you could immediately feel the happiness and the relief that the car brought it. Everything will always work in theory, but it is only when you turn the key and put rubber, you can honestly know if the hundreds, if not thousands of decisions you have made, were the right ones.
The low -hanging escort absolutely tore around the track, with the immediately identifiable pops on every flat switch that was accompanied by the incredible induction roaring that can only produce a naturally extracted car of this kind. Auditory perfection.
Before our time was on the right track, Paul delivered the required amount of post-build festive donuts to the bottom hairpin, so that the peace of the Irish countryside sealed in a fairly only way.
I think there is something that we can all take away from a build like this. Of course there are the hundred small details that can be included in our own cars and builds. What we all really have to learn from Paul’s Build is to strive to build without a compromise, to follow your own ideas and plans and that it is sometimes great to step over the battlefield and get help from the proverbial enemy. It might be surprised to discover what you have in common …
Paddy mcgrath
Instagram: PMCGPHOTOS
Website: PMCGPHOTOS.COM
