TEST FITTING MY 2L PINTO INTO THE MK2 ESCORT

Welcome back all,
In this weeks episode I'm out in the garage making progress on the Mk2 Escort project. I first start by welding in the bulkhead corner gussets which I had forgot to weld in on the previous video. These were a popular request and I'm glad they are welded in to make the engine bay/front end more rigid.
Once the welding was finished me and dad cracked on with fitting my RS200 bellhousing and then bolted the gearbox and engine together for the first time. We shuffled everything around in the garage and finally managed to roll the engine under the escort and lifted it up into the bay! As satisfying as it was seeing the pinto sitting in the bay, when I checked if the gearbox mount fitted I didn't have the same luck. After days of head scratching, I finally came to the conclusion that I will be fitting a automatic gearbox tunnel...
So to summarise the engine fits, but the gearbox needs more room!
Merchendise & Contact:
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Thank you all for watching, subscribe to follow the Mk2 Escort build!

[@geofffletcher5739]

All you needed was the rs lowering blocks for the gearbox mount. No need to remove engine and box with stock tunnel for clutch/box change.

[@Mk2Mitch]

I've heard different, people talk about hanging the crossmember down etc... Anyway no harm in improving my escort with an auto tunnel at this stage 👍🏻

[@geofffletcher5739]

@@Mk2Mitch yes just lower x member on longer bolts to do a clutch etc. Same process on factory fitted pinto escorts. Just be aware the auto tunnel will need to be made taller around the gear stick to get the engine at the right angle

[@countmurcielago9802]

There is a book MK2 escort rally preparation am sure Burton have them Also MST in wales will have everything you need a big tunnel is just run of the mill stuff fitting pinto along with shortened prop shaft and joints. You taken me back to my 20s when I used to rally a mk2 and show a RS 2000

[@Mk2Mitch]

I'll have a research for that book, thank you for the company recommendations too 👍🏻

[@AshleyBurch]

Open the standard tunnel with a scissor jack I can remove my type 9 with engine in situe. While you are there chassis mount the engine makes life easier. I used a capri gearbox mount and bolt it directly into the floor.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for the advice, I'll still be fitting a auto tunnel as it's no bother at this stage in the project and future proofs the car 👍🏻

[@vincedavis4328]

I've just fitted a type 9 with the rs2000 bell housing into a MK2 escort, we used a great gearbox mounting from Burton power there's 2 available from them a narrower one and a wider one. Very straight forward, no messing. ✈️🍌

[@Mk2Mitch]

That's brilliant news & thank you for the info, very helpful 👍🏻

[@borisdemsar7339]

Do u got standard tunnel? And you used the narrower gearbox mount and bolt it through the floor?

[@vincedavis4328]

It's still got the narrow tunnel, we opted for the wider mount from Burton power and yes we had to drill the floor to fit it. Another advantage is it's fully adjustable so you can set the height to get good engine and prop shaft alignment. 👍🏻

[@TheOriginalDaveJ]

Get yer mate MH round, he'll sort the tunnel out with his hammer and a couple of cable ties🤣 Are those dents in your bulkhead not annoying you yet? It's the first thing I see when you show us the bay. Cracking vid fella! Take it easy.

[@Mk2Mitch]

🤣 The warping in the bulkhead is annoying me, however will be sorted when we prep the bay for paint! Thank you for the comment 👍🏻

[@mikeymike3240]

Freaking awesome Mitch, loved this video man, very enjoyable watch.👍👍👍😎🇬🇧

[@Mk2Mitch]

Glad you enjoyed watching Mikey! 😁

[@AndrewNeilBaird]

In the old days 70,s and 80,s 😂😂 doing a clutch on a mk1 or 2 , was a knuckle skinner . I had several spanners cut and re-welded just to get 5 of the difficult bell housing bolts off , also, you do need a 1st motion shaft as an alignment tool , not just a plastic thing , as it's a pure beeyatch if the friction disc and flywheel are not perfect in alignment when you go to put the box back on . When to occasional mk2 came along with the auto tunnel and 5 speed box it was 2 hours quicker to change the clutch and an easy 1 man job .

[@Mk2Mitch]

I’ve heard some nightmare stories about removing the boxes with standard tunnels! Glad I opted to put a auto tunnel in 😎

[@paulriggers1558]

bugger me, what a faff-on. in the eighties, me + my foreman used to fit pintos to escorts in our dinner hour, for £25. you needed a scissor jack + hammer [tunnel massage], gas bottles [propshaft shorten], + a cortina frontpipe + starter. everything apart fromV4/6 engine stuff used to swap over the full range, so plenty of bits lying in the back corner of the garage came in handy. 10 am, pushrod out, then gbox out, big hammer in. dinnertime, box in, pinto in., gbox support + prop. 3pm, cables/wires/rad. 5pm frontpipe/gearlever drive home, weekend to sort out heater pipes/speedo/airfilter etc. don't forget to give the handbrake lever a size nine from the left, so it clears the G/lever those old mk2s are still £80 - £200 right.... take care

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for your story, very entertaining 👍🏻 Although the swap may be simple, this is MY dream car. Therefore I will be making my own decisions and fitting an auto tunnel for the reasons stated in the video. This isn't any old banger of a mk2 escort and I take pride in paying close attention to every single section I work on.

[@paulriggers1558]

@@Mk2Mitch thanks for the reply, you are absolutely right in what you say + the way you are doing it, "built not bought" is the correct way to do things in my book i have subscribed to keep an eye on this build, it should be good the last escorts i built were with my brother in the late 80s, a '75 16 sport mexico replica [the reg was MEX820P, so it had to be done], 1700cc twin 40s, cage, twin tanks etc, etc. all in, it cost £2k, sold it 2yr later for £1500, + thought we had done OK... the next was an "economy drive" build, '80 4dr 13 ghia, running a sierra 2.3 diesel engine/box + rs2 diff. that build was done for £1100 all in [the car was expensive @ £750, minter, ziebarted [like black waxoyl] from new, only 40k, one owner. that did 100k @ 40+mpg on red, you never got pulled, because there was never a diesel escort made... sadly, the headgasket went, + whilst it was parked overnight outside my garage, it got set on fire inside, + the firemen ripped the bonnet + boot off, not a worthwhile repair then anyway, back to the point of this old man's drivel, don't forget about your handbrake positioning take care

[@davecoleman7431]

Great videos Mitch Soon as the notification came up I flew over and clicked on it 👍👍

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you, I'm glad your enjoying these videos! 😁

[@RobsSierraCosworth]

Well done Mitch, when you see the engine in the car it gives you more encouragement to crack on with it.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Agreed I can't wait to hear the engine running now! 😎

[@alantaylor2694]

Another great vid, thank you. I'm fascinated to see this 'auto tunnel' as I have a similar issue with my jeep. It was designed to take honkin' great V8s and the tunnel is massive. Been thinking about removing the whole tunnel and rebuilding it. Also I didn't know an ally bellhousing was a thing...nice. It's obvious but I just never thought of it. Looking forward to the next one.

[@Mk2Mitch]

The next video on my channel will be fitting the wide auto tunnel! Yes people are manufacturing ally bell housings which lighten up the transmission 👌🏻

[@uncensored5104]

I wouldn't bother fitting an auto tunnel for a type 9. We fitted shitloads in the 80's in manual tunnels. If you ever need to pull the gearbox, you just lower the subframe on longer bolts. Its no different to doing an RS2000

[@petebrown6952]

Totally agree, I've fitted a fair amount, plenty of room. We always cut out a 3" hole to check/fill gearbox oil.

[@andyhollands9279]

I agree that you don’t need an auto tunnel , unless you intend to be removing it regularly mid rally stage and every second counts. In the 80’s everyone just dropped the crossmember on longer bolts and lowered the engine down from above. It’s an extra 15mins in total effort off and back in max. Nobody I knew ever damaged their engine bay paint.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Cheers for the advice. At this stage in the build it will not hurt to weld in a auto tunnel, the benefits outweigh the small cost and couple of days work 👍🏻

[@NickHudson2]

That’s coming along a treat Mitch nice work mate😎

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for watching Nick, I'm really enjoying the process! There's two more escort videos lined up for December 😎

[@benjohnson7170]

Subscribed..Down the rabitt hole you go..... There's always something else..Cheers for the vids mate. I've got two resto's going atm. The parts wait is mad over here in Oz.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for subscribing, yes always something else! 🤣 Oh I can image, send some photos over of your projects to my Facebook page when you get a minute 👌🏻

[@iannorton4463]

Excellent vlog. You do things how you want to on your car pal. P.s looks like the your getting more comfortable with the welding mitch. 👍✌️

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you Ian, yes really enjoying welding & have made a huge improvement from the first ones! 👌🏻

[@iannorton4463]

Yes, you get to a certain point while welding and then it just clicks and your off with the nack of it mate 👍

[@chloeniall]

Hi Mitch I owned your 4 door I sold it to the lad u bought it off I believe he was called Jimmy I bought car for engine package I sold car with no engine in tbf I loved the car got lots of attention and was rapid but engine is now in my Mk2 van Keep up the good work

[@Mk2Mitch]

Great too hear from you pal! Your mate Dan Hagan sent the photos across 👍🏻 Love to hear the engines back in a classic ford! I've got a couple of questions if you don't mind messaging me on Facebook or I can email you?

[@Mk2Mitch]

@chloeniall Any idea what colour the car is??

[@chloeniall]

I’ve more pictures of car when I bought it also have videos of it driving and on rolling road where it made 190 bho

[@Mk2Mitch]

@@chloeniall could you be able to Facebook or email me? [e-mail]

[@rfw1992]

Love seeing progress on the Escort! 🙌

[@Mk2Mitch]

Glad your enjoying the build mate 👌🏻

[@neill4133]

I had to use lowering blocks on my type 9 but luckily my Escort was an auto. You will need the wider auto mount if you go down that route or a Capri mount bolted through the floor. Also you will need an auto or RS2000 propshaft.

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for the info, very helpful! 👍🏻

[@thomash2806]

Hi! Weren’t there four other corner pieces to weld in or were they the ones?

[@Mk2Mitch]

I don't think so? I've looked on a fair few websites and can only see bulkhead corner gussets 👍🏻

[@welshywilliams1692]

Where’s the gearbox mount from mate?

[@Mk2Mitch]

Not a clue sorry, came with the car 👍🏻

[@RobNelson-vu8nr]

Dad will rename you Jack😂

[@me777me]

Hi Mitch I fabricate a nice bigwing sump for a pinto good for road or race I could do you a good deal if you want one

[@Mk2Mitch]

Hello pal, could you please message me on Facebook Mk2Mitch or email [e-mail] 👍🏻

[@stonerwallsend9563]

Honestly I've had a few mk2s with pinto's and had type 9 5speed and I much prefer rs2000 4 speed

[@Mk2Mitch]

Personal preference! I'll be taking this all around the uk for shows and would like to have a 5 gear for cruising 😁

[@susanhenderson2322]

😀😀😀

[@kunekunepigsallday1185]

Watch Dave's garage. He has just fitted a auto tunnel

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you, I've just watched that video 😎

[@brookieant]

👌🏽👌🏽👍🏽

[@stephenmartin1037]

You really don’t need an auto tunnel

[@Mk2Mitch]

Maybe not, but it's my car & only going to make it easier to work on 👍🏻

[@stephenmartin1037]

@@Mk2Mitch yes it is your car and it’s a lot of work for no reason 5 speed fits in a standard tunnel with no issues

[@ozbrick498]

Hi Mitch watch Scott Doyle rs resto ep 3 on KZbin explains 5speed conversation very well

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you for the recommendation 👍🏻

[@Rodders1884]

Comeing along great Mitch …. Big milestone getting the lump in..did wounder why you changed tunnel makes great sense now you Put it like that..that thing should be on its way to you…🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🥶🔩😣

[@Mk2Mitch]

Thank you Dru and I appreciate you listening and understanding why I'm going for a auto tunnel 👌🏻 Thank you for the part, think it's due to be delivered today 😎