Phoenix Brakes

[philfingers]

The donor in the magazine article was a Mk1 Escort 1300. The disc size 217/218/219 x 9.5/10 (depending on disc manufacturer) tally's with this.
Just finished stripping and rebuilding the calipers at the front. They have been rebuilt in the past but just starting to seize due to lack of use. Calipers have a ford part number for sure. The discs are only shared with Mk1 and Mk2 escort 1100 and 1300 (only 1100 on mk2)

Certainly at 218mm they're small, and yes nice and light. I've just got big problems getting the discs. will try some other motor factors tomorrow. At nearly £50 for the ones that do have stock it seems way excessive for a disc little bigger than the one on my bicycle!

[philfingers]

Calipers appear to be Girling 14LF MkIII's, which i got from googling the casting numbers.
The mounting holes are 3.25" apart.

[philfingers]

Front brakes sorted, other than the bowstring like hoses, need to move the mounting points on the the chassis to relieve the tension at full lock. Quite how it got through 15 years of MOTs I have no idea!



Back brakes, this is the near side. Sierra caliper (so i'm led to believe anyway!) is mounted to the rear of the axle. So the bleed nipple points down and the cable up. I'm thinking I should swap these around but the cable is proving tricky to get at. Not even sure there's any adjustment. The handbrake is on the tunnel. Although the bracket is there for the upright passenger side, i guess it was moved when it was rebodied from a striker to a phoenix. Any ideas what the upright handbrake is off? I may see if I can fit one, I prefer the position.

Also what should I do with the bonnet vents, they're not my idea! Any suggestions welcome!

[jeffw]

I have a lot of it cut out with fine mesh in the holes.

[matt_gsxr]

Mine has holes but I haven't done the mesh trick (they are rear facing, so didn't bother), with black rubber trim around the edges.
Yours should be easy to convert to something more conservative.

Here are some Phoenix photos and maybe you can find the design that you like most.

http://picasaweb.google.com/10467181806 ... ollection#

[matt_gsxr]

you could also (if feeling flush) get a round sylva badge from stingray which sort of fits the bonnet indentation that you have.

"sylva bonnet badge" from www.stingraymotorsport.co.uk

shop is down at the moment, so probably telephone is the way forward.

Matt

[philfingers]

i have a plan for the badge! I'm going to remove it, fill the hole and put a stick on number plate over the top. 'proper' number plate will be used for MOT purposes only

[philfingers]

well been working on the car, so it's not a post about brakes but more on work done.
New discs fitted at the front. Moved the brake hose chassis mounts so that the hoses aren't used as lock stops anymore.
All the wheel studs had to be cut down. In most cases the wheel nuts were bottoming out (enclosed nuts) on the ends of the studs. All these little things you'd have thought would have been caught by an MOT over the years.
Carbs stripped and cleaned ultrasonically. I bought a tank of Ebay and used that, effective but takes time. Carbs back on and now have the correct movement instead of being bolted tight to the manifold. Got it all back together and then realised the fuel line front to back was perished so new 8mm hose. Would use copper ideally but as the tunnel top had been sealed down and rivetted hose was easier.
Had the car booked in for an MOT today but indicators don't work for some reason. patience was running out so, re booked for next week. Will need to sort the indicators out this week. Can't be much to it but it's such a B******d to get at on the Phoenix behind the dash... . . Westfield and Striker were much easier.
Hopefully I'll get the car to Stoneleigh. The good thing was the insurance quote, £101 fully comp with 3000 miles. Not bad I didn't think.

Phil

[matt_gsxr]

Phil,

You have my sympathies, the electrics can be very tricky to get at.

I always hope that its the switch or the fuse, as in mine anything else is a real pain to get at.

Maybe see you at Stoneleigh. I hopefully will start the engine (post-rebuild) tomorrow.

Matt

[philfingers]

going to Stoneleigh Monday, dry (ish) weather permitting and indicators permitting. Haven't looked properly at the indicators, there's a 3 terminal flasher relay, which seems to click when the hazards are switched on AND the switch is either L or R but nothing flashes. Fuses fine.
My background is electronics so I will get it sorted, I'm just putting it off.
last night removed the rusty self tappers holding the light covers on and fitted nutserts with st/st button heads. better!