Anyone know this escort?

nicko1805 · 03-02-2011, 04:23 AM

Hi people, I'm still relatively new to these forums, though i know it's the best place to look and ask about the cars.
I am looking for an old car to do up without spending my whole salary on it and found this sundowner and thought maybe someone knew something about it before I enquire?

Any help would be great

Here's the link:
http://www.boostcruising.com/forums/...owtopic=614342

Thanks in advance, nick

P's. Didn't know where to put this post sorry

T3man · 03-02-2011, 04:28 PM

I don't know that car or owner personally - but the Sundowner is a bit of a collectible nowadays and would be a nice pick-up at about $4000. It looks like he's put a bit of work into the car and if it's in reasonable condition and the work has been done to a good standard you have a very reliable runaround and a great car for cruises and shows.

PS. Don't buy it if you're married.

nicko1805 · 03-02-2011, 06:50 PM

Hey mate thanks for e info yeah, I plan to contact him soon when I return home. Are you able to point me to somewhere where it lists the common problems/ causes etc. No worries if you can't but thought I'd ask.

Hahaha and no I'm not married, too young for that stuff :P

T3man · 03-02-2011, 07:46 PM

There's nothing that's too serious a problem with them - EXCEPT you have to be very watchfull of the plenum at the top middle of the firewall - commonly called the "bubble". Leaves get caught in there - it's the air intake for the ventilation system - and the drain hole at the bottom gets blocked casing a huge potential for rusting the entire firewall out if it's let go unchecked.

You need to check the usual rust spots; lower sills and behind rear wheel arches etc.

Mechanically you need to be aware it has a rubber timing belt for the OHC and it's service interval is only 30,000km. Many people don't replace them this often and the consequences if one breaks can be very VERY expensive so it's something you should replace as soon as you buy the car so you know for sure it is done - good insurance policy in my book.

Other than that check the front wheels for signs of excessive negative camber - tops of wheels tilted inwards (inside edges of tyres badly worn). The stub axles are prone to bending if subjected to hard driving on dirt roads etc. You can fit an adjustable camber kit to the front in order to correct the wheel alignment but the only real solution is new units. We used to weld gussets in the bottoms to strengthen them when we rallied. Driven normally on normal types of roads most cars don't have this problem at all - just mentioning it so you can check it out right from the get-go.

Parts for them are still generally available and won't cost you a bank-roll - very reliable and cheap motoring but you do need to keep onto the "old school" items like plugs, points, condensor, leads because they don't have the service life that new cars have.

If you like tinkering and learning about the way cars work these are a great toy. There is nothing overly difficult about servicing and repairing most items yourself.

Edit: PS. I forgot ... if it hasn't already been "upgraded" the Eskies had Lucas (Prince of Darkness) alternator. Most people replace them with a Bosch unit - a 55amp unit off any X Series Falcon can be adapted easily.

nicko1805 · 03-02-2011, 08:04 PM

Wow cheers mate, that's a huge help you have no idea, I'll make sure to note all of this down if I do to look at it, especially with the plenum issue etc.
And that's exactly what I want to do really with a car like this, tinker and learn.
Thanks again mate, HUGE help

allanv6gt · 03-02-2011, 10:44 PM

Just check that it is agenuine Sundowner for that price.

Yes, It does have the Sundowner style 'moon' windows, but these can be easily fitted to any old panel van. I'm old enough to remember these things when new....and they had lairy young-at-heart (target demographic) hockey stick decals down the sides of them. Suggest hunt around the web for promotional pictures.

Model codes http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au...tification.htm
41788 Sundowner 1.6 / 2 6/77 - 12/78
41789 Sundowner 2.0 / 2 6/77 - 12/78
41988 Sundowner 1.6 / 2 12/78 -
41989 Sundowner 2.0 / 2 12/78 -

And also official Ford model brochure.....see pg 38
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au...1979_range.htm

....And really cool Cadiz cloth seat facings....whatever that means, probably nice colourful stripes....

And another UniqueCars reviews with meaningful pictures....

allanv6gt · 03-02-2011, 10:45 PM

links truncated,,,just google 'Ford Escort Sundowner'

allanv6gt · 03-02-2011, 10:46 PM

http://www.uniquecarsmag.com.au/news...eid/57444.aspx

nicko1805 · 04-02-2011, 06:38 AM

Gee thanks allanv6gt that's a huge help again, I will take this into consideration also. Another thing which stands out to me (along with the hockey stick decals) is there is no driving lights on the front and also the grille has a FORD badge in letters rather than the blue oval ford logo, should this be an issue? As I know they are interchangeable and all..
Thanks again for the info guys! It's been a huge help

allanv6gt · 04-02-2011, 07:04 PM

I think the letters were the first release Mk2 Esciort, with the oval Ford badge being the 'update' model of 1979. See that listing of model codes above.

Also, check the brochures section on this forum (may be something useful), accessible from the home page.

The badging chg was consistent with what happened withg the Falcon range in 1978(?) when the handling pack became standard, to compete with Holdens 'RTS' (Radial Tuned Suspension) hype....geez !!!

allanv6gt · 04-02-2011, 07:12 PM

Yep, Letters for 1975 model onwards.
Oval FORD badge for 1978 models onwards.

Grilles/lights etc will probably just swap over as too expensive to start changing panel work for a simple marketing-based product update. I think the square klights became std somewhere along the way, as opposed to only appearing on Ghia verions, and changes from L/XL/Ghia to L/GL/Ghia badging.
But then .....Mk1 Capris have subtle changes over the model years.....e.g. seat belt anchor points.

Comments are neither for nor against the sale.
Just try to be very clear about what it is you are buying.

nicko1805 · 05-02-2011, 08:01 AM

Ok yeah I researched it and got the same results thanks, this forum is a huge help too by the way, all guys like you people lol
And the grille looks like a simple swap from what I see.

Yes no I understand that, and I am very grateful as to any help anyone can give me because I do, as you said, be extremely clear as what I am buying.

Cheers again for the help mate

Forte · 05-02-2011, 11:01 AM

yeah the grill is a simple swap, just a few screws along the top and bottom, i have a Blue ovel one here i may be able to post if you end up getting it? i would have to depend on sizing though? i am actually looking for a round light "FORD" grill if anyone has one?

nicko1805 · 06-02-2011, 07:14 AM

cheers mate, Ill let you know if i end up buying it (as I like the blue oval grille better), because as i said up above, I dont want to be spending a bucketload on it all in one hit.
does the grille you have come with the headlights etc?

Forte · 06-02-2011, 01:53 PM

nah no head lights sorry, i need them for my car, so its just the grill, its a round headlight one same as the one in the picture so you wouldn't need them?

feral · 07-02-2011, 05:27 PM

not a sundowner, but looks the goods. Interestingly enough, the guy selling the sundowner is interested in this one????

http://classicford.mine.nu/forum/top...TOPIC_ID=22264

nicko1805 · 24-02-2011, 07:43 PM

Hi people sorry for such a long reply, been back from holidays and working everyday since.
thanks for all the info from all who contributed, now its just time to figure out what to do now im home.

Cheers,
Nicko1805