RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

Hey folks,

Although i'm not participating in IP right now i'd like to keep my car compliant for the future, to that end I have a question.

Given the later MK1 shells had the MK2 style upright rear shocks, are you allowed to weld in that shock mount panel (as some people do) to effectively replicate this later body. Iv'e had a good read of the regs but thought it may be one of those grey areas that is a bit more difficult to get by with in real life, I was just hoping someone might have some first hand advice on the legalities of it.

Further to that, and potentially more important for justifying the mod. Can anyone confirm that the original ford workshop manual or parts manual covering those years would show the later bodies as having the more upright shocks? I don't really want to spend a few hundred dollars on ebay manuals if they aren't of any use.

Any help apreciated,
Llewelyn

You can put the 73 onwards rear shock mounts in without any dramas but you have to enter and present the car as a 73 onwards Escort

Thanks for that Danny,

I had assumed that was the case, the only thing that had me worried was that some people I speak to say they have never seen a mk1 with the later style mounting and yet some say they have. This makes me think that it's one of those things that is not really clearly understood by most and because of that someone may complain at which point I would have to prove it was the case, hence my thought that a workshop manual or similar might show the later style and would be a good thing to get hold of.

Like I said, i'm not even competing in IP at the moment and perhaps i'm just thinking too much about something that would never really be a problem unless i make it to the pointy end (not likely) but really want to keep it IP legal and would hate to do this mod to be shot in the foot down the road by some random bloke who likes to make life difficult.

Next question, and perhaps a little trickier is this. I am planning on installing a new cage soon and have had a good read of the rules once again relating to bracing etc but there seems to be a bit of a grey area in this case as it relates to "bracing" in this case. The pic below shows what I believe to be one of the later style mk1 rear firewall. As you can see the front of the shock mounting panel is actually inside cabin compartment.

Given I would have to cut up the rear bulk head a little anyway to fit the shock panel, do you think it would be legal to replace the firewall with one piece of sheet that replicates the one in the pic, i.e leaving the shock panel exposed to the cockpit. The aim of which is so that you could tie the cage into that panel for the obvious benefit of stiffness without the cage having to enter the boot space, as is not allowed. And further more, do you think it would be legit enough to do that given that there is a general notion in the rules that it is not allowed to be additional "bracing" other than the cage, but nothing that particularly specifies how the cage may be tied into the shell within the passenger compartment. Obviously in some cars (hatches etc) where the rear turrets are inside the passenger compartment they are naturally the best place to pick up the rear stays from but obviously in the escort the argument could be made that since the primary mount point for the rear stays would not be the shock mount that any additional members tieing into that panel could be considered "bracing"

Hopefully that all makes sense, Any input or ideas would be great. And I realise a chat to an elegibility officer would be the ticket but obviously any input from you most knowledgeable escort blokes could be of great benefit also.

cheers

I don't think that the rear stays are inside the cabin despite being exposed to the cabin. It would also be different to interpretation of all Escorts I've seen, not that I've seen all escorts running IP.

The other thing to remember is the cage is regulated by CAMS and not generally the eligibility officer, although if CAMS certify something that is ineligible for its logbook then I'm sure the eligibility officer may get involved.

Good luck with the build.

Looking at the latest rules, CAMS is in the process of changing the IPRA rules in regards to cages. Section 14 in the document below.

Hi,

They are not in the process - it has now changed. Must comply with schedule J. Now allows through to strut towers from front leg.

Section 12 of schedule J deals with closed cars and touring cars. There's also drawings that will help within schedule J.

Cheers