JPSC Forum

Hello everyone,
Just bought a MK 2 Striker from the Wrexham area and trailered it back to West Wales last Friday
From the mountain of paperwork that came with it I seem to be the fourth owner since its original purchase as a kit back in '94.



It runs a 1700 crossflow on twin 40's of unknown spec, a BGH 2.8 Capri type 9 and an Escort axle with 3.9 diff(non LSD)

Its already been on my local rolling road where a few jobs have already been noted - it needs a set of rings, the throttle linkage is a modified single carb one which does'nt allow the butterflies to open fully and the fuel pump isn't up to delivering the demands of the carbs!

Theres a list of other work to carry out over the winter including a complete rewire, fitting a 4.4 LSD (which I got before the car), fitting the later type bottom wishbones(as opposed to the escort TCA set up thats on it now) and getting the suspension geometry sorted.

The intention is to use on the road and also to compete in some hillclimbs and sprints - Pembrey is half an hour away, both Llys y Fran and Epynt are an hour or so, Llandow much the same and then theres Anglesey and Castle Coombe should I fancy a longer trip.

So be prepared for a lot of questions (I'm new to this Ford stuff having driven and competed in Mazda's for the past 20 years or so) and hopefully meet up with some of you along the way.

Cheers,Rich

Hi Rich

I envy you in being only 30 minutes from Pembrey (one of my very favourite circuits, from which I'm about six hours' drive) -- and, welcome to Striker ownership. You are going to be astonished with the performance.

However, I possibly have to be the bearer of further expensive news -- the tyres in the pic look like Yoko AO32s, which means that they are probably at least three years old. They may be fine for the odd track day, but before you do anything seriously competitive I suggest you change them for AO48s or Toyo 888s (or, better still, Kumho V70As or Avon ACB10s -- though the latter, being X-plies, will require different camber settings)

Oh, and keep asking the questions. There's no such thing as a dumb one!

David

HI David,

Thanks for the welcome, oh and the bad news!! I did'nt realise they were that old but I'll use them now until the season begins and get some of the ones you suggest.

Forgot to mention that on the rollers the engine wouldn't rev past 6500 due to the fuel pump problem but produced 85BHP at the wheels,so a strip down is definately on the cards to try and improve that a bit

Maybe see you at Pembrey next year then?

Cheers, Rich

Welcome to the fold Rich.

6,500 rpm from a crossflow is pretty much at the limit for one of these as standard (but you probably know that !)

Have fun.

Pete

Thanks for the welcome Pete

I didn't know that - as I say I'm pretty new to this Ford stuff, hence signing up on here
Cheers, Rich

Isn't a 4.4 diff going to mean you are on the Redline at 105 or so MPH ?

Not sure what it'll work out at but I'm not worried. There are plenty of tight and twisty B roads to enjoy around here so top end is not such an issue

Hi Taff
welcome to the highly addictive striker. Nothing like screaming around the b roads to get the adrenalin pumping.
Mine started like yours but a previous owner took out the crossflow and replaced it with a a Yamaha R1 engine 150 bhp -Lightweight car and engine lots of of fun !!. Have fun and keep posting the questions
ps
if you want to do a trackday here I am 5 mins away from the circuit de catalunya (montmelo)in Barcelona
regards
Paul

Hi Taff

I had a crossflow in my Westfield and in escorts years ago, so I have a bit of a thing for them. An old engine by today's standards, but very easy to work on, tunable and they sound great with the 40s.

With a 4.44 diff you'll accelerate like stink but you'll be lucky to get to 100 mph at 6000 RPM. It certainly won't be a motorway cruiser, but that's not why we drive these cars eh?

Steve

Thanks guys
Yes sticking with the crossflow for a while until I learn to drive the thing!
Already been offered a 4AGE locally but really want to get it set up properly first and then be in a position to say its only the engine thats holding it back not the driver
Thats some way down the line yet so roll on winter to start the mods