MK2 ESCORT - AUTO/WIDER GEARBOX TUNNEL INSTALL -

Welcome back all,
I've recently came to the conclusion that I need a bigger gearbox tunnel to future proof my Mk2 Escort & make it easier to remove the gearbox in situ. In this video I tackle the daunting task of cutting out the original tunnel and replace it with an auto/wider tunnel. As you will see from the video this was not the easiest panel to line up and took a bit of trimming before I had the new tunnel fitting perfectly. Once it was in position the plug welds and stitch welds that I produced were some of my best to date!
It was exiting to also test fit my short shifter which subscriber Lee kindly gifted to me. I mention at the end of the video that I've got a week off work to make some big progress on the escort and some of you will probably be able to guess what I'm doing...!
Merch & Contact:
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Subscribe to the channel to see more escort progress content!

[@robjmorse]

Thanks again For another great video, it makes sense to future-proof the car then you have it all stripped down, Keep warm, and do not overdo it.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you pal 👍🏻

[@jimmyk9523]

Remove or cover your windows when grinding, or they'll be full of metal sparks.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for the comment pal! When I purchased the car the previous owner had been welding with all the windows in and therefore they are scrap to me. I will be purchasing all new glass very soon 👍🏻

[@adeh503]

Good work man that's a mammoth task, when I saw the size of that hole when you finished cutting it out I thought forking hell no going back now

[@Mk2Mitch]

Haha I had the same thoughts...🤣

[@darrenrevill8664]

Great progress. Closer and closer.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you Darren! 👍🏻

[@alantaylor2694]

Ohhh, 'Automatic'!...God I'm such an idiot. Although I have indeed built my own car, I don't really know about cars...I know mine intimately. I was a computer nerd who had a crazy idea. Great vid once again, Keep em' comin'.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you pal, glad you enjoyed the video! 👍🏻

[@welshmaniacs16]

13:01 3mm thick plates would be stronger but they will still bend upwards. you could do with gusseting or boxing off the plates to the tunnel. much stronger and your future proofing your car so you wont have to do any repairs. great job on the tunnel 👍🏻

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for the comment, I'm currently working on a solution for the gearbox mount 👌🏻

[@mroldschool609]

Great work m8, pretty sure you have to re weld the old gearbox mounts back in

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you pal, I will be looking into this! 👌🏻

[@strugglyboys]

Lovely stuff. Big job, seems to have gone very smoothly indeed, well done mate!! Big up to dad for always lending a helping hand🫡👍. P.s. shorts in this weather... loonatic!!😆😆

[@Mk2Mitch]

Cheers guys, Dad always loves helping and nearly always has a solution! 😎 Shorts all year round here 🤣

[@tennesseehewitt8737]

It has gearbox rip mount for box to bolt too..weld to tunnel and floor

[@wayneturbish1525]

Well done,good job!

[@stephengreatbatch1269]

Mate I put a group 4 in mine and was shocked by how much I had to cut out them extenuation you put on the gearbox bracket box them in for strength and would look much nicer but great job 👍

[@Mk2Mitch]

I'm looking for another solution for the gearbox mount at the moment mate, just need to draw something up! 👍🏻

[@oliknight270]

Cracking work bud, really enjoying the escort series!

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you Oli, plenty more to come! 👌🏻

[@Classic-Shack]

Cracking job and another great video.👍👍

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you pal! 👍🏻

[@richardjones7036]

Just finished work perfect timing 🙏

[@Mk2Mitch]

Glad the timing was spot on 😎

[@eoghanomahony8481]

Great work Mitch..have you tried using the gearbox mounts from the old tunnel and weld them back in place?..that would save you having to extend the rf mount

[@Mk2Mitch]

I haven't thought of that, I'll give it a go. Thank you! 👍🏻

[@Jut123]

Type mk2 escort auto tunnel mounts in to ebay mate you can buy the proper mounts to bolt the gearbox mount to, it then tucks the gearbox mount right up into the tunnel

[@Mk2Mitch]

Brilliant! I will look into this mate 👌🏻

[@Bucharestguidedtours]

Great vid and great progress on the MK2. Best wishes .

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for watching 😎

[@carlomahony3016]

Great work love the vids keep them coming

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you pal, glad you enjoyed the video! 😁

[@_Brad_D]

Good work - that gearbox mount needs to be more substantial than a couple of pieces of flat plate. Maybe weld a piece of 'top hat' section onto the underside of the new tunnel to accept the RF bracket, or extend the RF bracket with some heavy u channel. Flat plate will be too springy and your gearstick will move around under the torque of the motor

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for the suggestion, I'm currently working on a solution for the gearbox mount! 👍🏻

[@allanmcintosh8455]

Cracking video mate your welding is coming on a treat the more you do it the better it gets 👌 forget the negative comments as you say it's your car do what you want to It always the scope to change gearbox types if you every want later on in life the hard work is done now keep up the good content 👍

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for the positive comment mate, I'm glad the tunnel is all welded in and I'll never have to worry about widening it in the future! 😎

[@trainingday391]

An absolutely facinating series this, Mitch. Great videos. I keep noticing the Stock Car stuff on the wall. Haringey? I guessing your dad was/is a fan. My parents took me (9 yo) and my brother (7 yo) to the BRISCA F1 Stock Car World Final there in 1973! Dave Chisholm 252 won, much our disgust us being from up north, from the front and Stu Smith 391 (my fave) came from the back to take second. Was your dad there?

[@anotherdayinparadise7443]

Hi Mitch,s dad here , 73 made me (6yo) Haringey was our local track being less than 5 miles away (N2 London) We had a guy up the road from our house who did Banger Racing and when ever he put the Banger on his trailer I would go home and tell my Dad and we would go and watch him. Totally got me hooked on cars from that young age, Unfortunately for Mitchell I took him regularly to Arena Essex 😂 but like so many tracks it’s closed 😢 Just loved the smells ,sounds and that rush as every driver trying to get across the finish line 1st. Can’t remember being 6 but like all others memories are Golden .

[@nickwhitney1534]

Nice work👍

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you nick!

[@dave320s]

Awesome mate 👍

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for watching! 😁

[@neill4133]

Great work Mitch 👏 Can you remove the gearbox mounts off of the old tunnel and weld them to the auto one so the RF mount bolts up to it so you don't need the long plates?

[@Mk2Mitch]

Hi Neil that's a great idea, I will be looking into this! 👍🏻

[@meXicossie]

Just saw this vid & came on to tell him that but decided to check to see if anyone advised him of this 1st

[@davidgreen7841]

Brilliant job on the tunnel Mitch and done properly by plugging and stitch welding both sides. Auto tunnels are the way forward.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you pal! 👍🏻

[@andyday1981]

Good work on the tunnel Mitch. I got most of my panels off James at Avolution, got my Gaz suspension, Rix hubs and a load of other bits off him too. Great to deal with.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you pal, funny enough I've just been enquiring with him about a pair of gas coilovers! 😎

[@GPH2474]

I honestly see that mount solution before you said it. Great work, looking forward to the first roar....

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you mate, It's getting closer by the day 😎

[@NickHudson2]

Awesome job of that tunnel Mitch well done mate and decent video too! Looking forward to seeing the weeks progress now I reckon there’s going to be paint involved as your dads mk1 has moved 👍

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you Nick! You might've guessed correctly 😎

[@shadowzion1384]

Another great video Mitch the escort looking so ready for the road hope to see it at the Isle of Wight takeover next year :)

[@Mk2Mitch]

It's getting there mate! Should be time to put it all together in the new year 😎

[@peugeotobsessed7772]

Great stuff

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you! 😎

[@nushooz6731]

It's going well mate if you had to guess when do you think you'll be ready for the road..

[@Mk2Mitch]

May is the deadline 🤞🏻

[@iannorton4463]

Shit hot 🔥 mate 👌..your doing bloody great. I'm well chuffed for you. Also, I reckon you have moved the fiesta because your gonna do some spraying paint 🎨 😉

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you Ian! You could be right...👀

[@countmurcielago9802]

It’s standard practice a big tunnel it’s just one of them jobs has to be done you can even make a bigger diff tunnel to to allow for suspension travel I would make some nice box sections for your gearbox mount Also when you get it in the road them gear stick vibrate like hell so don’t worry

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for the suggestion, I'm currently trying to brainstorm a solution to mounting the gearbox mount! 👍🏻

[@countmurcielago9802]

@@Mk2Mitch you need Ford rally preparation manual there on eBay every answer in that book you need 👍

[@sidsxr3irestoration]

Great work Mitch 👍 lovely panel work and welding 👏👏 take it escort going for a roll soon?..

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you mate, May is the deadline!

[@jamiegrant1979]

looks good i have this to come. does heater box fit with that tunnel?

[@Mk2Mitch]

I’m unsure yet! Haven’t test fitted the heater 🫣

[@paulriggers1558]

yup, that is a wide tunnel, + a nice bit of welding is there enough room for the clutch pedal ? , looks a bit tight, hopefully i am wrong 12:30, there will be quite a twisting load on those mounting plates, thicker plates will transfer the stress the floor. do you not fancy boxing in those plates onto the new tunnel [with bolts welded in, acting as studs], then that new cross-member will simply bolt right onto your new bodywork. keep up the good work young man

[@Mk2Mitch]

I think there is another room for the clutch pedal... 😬 Thank you for the suggestion I'm currently working on a solution to mounting the gearbox 👍🏻

[@chriswilson2236]

Did you learn nothing on the mot course. Don’t cover it up till it’s tested 😂.

[@Mk2Mitch]

This won't be tested...😎

[@cross13000]

Great vid well done.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video 😎

[@drucowan643]

Great video as per mitch great work well worth doing you sound well happy with it well done..look foward to next video i know where your at with it from fb hopefully this week went well for you…that thing should be with you by now hope it of use to you 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🥶🔩😅 5:44

[@Mk2Mitch]

Very happy with the outcome Dru! I like to give teasers on Facebook 😎 Yes all arrived thank you very much 👍🏻