August 2019Problem with your
classic Ford? Email
your query to
classicford.ed@
kelsey.co.uk
or write to us at the
address on page 5.Help!
Q I’m having a load of trouble with my
Mk1 Fiesta. The problem occurs when
I start the car in the morning. It sounds
really rough, almost as if it’s running on
three cylinders, until after a while it just
cuts out, which it continues to do
when the car’s stopped and is just
idling. It’s not too bad once it’s warmed
up but it doesn’t feel as if it has the
same amount of power it had before
the problem started.
The one thing I’ve noticed is a slight
hissing sound coming from
underbonnet once the engine’s stalled,
and the same noise when I kill the
engine. Any ideas what the problem
could be?
Keith Jarman
EmailA We would suspect that you’ve got
an air leak somewhere, and if it’s still
there when you’ve switched the
engine off, it sounds like it’s a servo
or servo pipe problem. It’s the most
likely culprit because the vacuum
reservoir is the only thing which
could continue to draw air after the
engine has been switched off. It’s
best to check that the carburettor
base gaskets are sound, as well as
the vacuum and breather pipes.
If you have got an air leak, it will
effectively make the engine run lean
and that’s why you’re losing power.
More importantly, a weak fuel air
mixture could also damage the
engine so get it sorted out quickly.Burton Power
020 8518 9127
http://www.burtonpower.
comExpressed Steel
Panels
01535 632721
http://www.steelpanels.
co.ukH&H Ignition
Solutions
01384 261500
http://h-h-
ignitionsolutions.co.ukContacts
Pinto distributor
Q I’ve got a problem with my Mk1
Escort. I fitted its Pinto engine with a
Bosch hall-effect dizzy from a Sierra,
and a Mk2 Escort ignition box. After it
went on I discovered it’s got an in-built
rev limiter which runs to just over 6000
rpm. Obviously I want to go a bit higher
than this so is there any way of altering
the unit’s limit?
John Barret
EmailA How modified is the Pinto? If it’s
fairly standard, you don’t want to be
pushing the revs much beyond 6000
rpm anyway. The problem with
mixing and matching components
from various cars is that unless
you’ve got mates who’ve done exactly
the same mod before, you don’t really
know how it’s all going to work
together once you’ve got it on the car,Which rack?
Q I’m looking into fitting my 1972
1300 Mk1 Escort with a quickrack.
How can I tell whether the existing
rack is the long stem or short
stem version?
Robin Franks
EmailA On the standard rack, the stem is
about 1.5 inches long, whereas the
long stem is about 4 or 5 inches long.
Where the stem comes out of the rack,
if it splines almost straight away then
it’s a short stem. It’s just a year range
thing, the type of rack isn’t specific to
the different models of the Escort.ROUGH-RUNNING
FIESTAor if there will be any hidden surprises
— like the rev limiter you’ve found.
Cracking this could be difficult.
You might be better off fitting a
complete aftermarket system from
the likes of Burton Power or H&H
Ignition Solutions, which will mean
that you’ll know exactly what you’re
getting, but it will also give
you more scope if you decide to
modify the engine even further.Escort van wings
Q Can you just clear something up for me: are
Mk2 Escort van wings the same as saloon wings?
If not, what is the difference?
Robert Cole
EmailA No, the van and estate wings aren’t the same
as the saloon. The difference is where the rear of
the wing bolts onto the A-post, and it’s not just a
case of a few bolt holes in different places — thewhole flange is a completely different shape.
We’ve got no idea why Ford did this. You’d think
the van, estate and saloon would be identical
from the A-posts forward — but they did exactly
the same on the Mk1.
Van/estate wings are quite hard to find.
Expressed Steel Panels Ltd currently
manufacture the right-hand side wing, but not
the left — if you can’t find a good used or
new-old stock one, you could modify a saloon
wing to fit if you’ve got the skills to do it.QUERY
OF THE
MONTH