Glossary
A basic explanation of common terms used with Ford
Escorts.
Models
Twincam: Mk1 Escort Fitted with the Lotus
Twincam Engine. Also know as the "Twink"
Mexico: Originally a Mk1 fitted with a
1600cc Kent engine. The Mk2 version was fitted with a 1600cc Pinto
engine. The Mexico was produced after Ford Escorts finished 1st,
3rd, 4th and 5th in the 1970 London Mexico Rally. These cars were
fitted with 1850cc Kent engines and 5 speed ZF gearboxes. The winning
car (FEV1H) was driven by Hannu Mikkola.
RS1600: Mk1 fitted with a 1600cc BDA Engine
RS2000: Mk1 and Mk2 models fitted a 2
litre Pinto engine
RS1800: Mk2 fitted with a 1800cc BDA engine
which was enlarged to 2 litres and fitted to the "Works Rally
Cars"
Sports Sedan: Not a recognised model but
a form of highly modified Race car (include here for clarification
only)
Engines
Pinto: The common name for the 2 litre
motor as fitted to the Cortina, Capri and RS2000 Escort.
Kent: The common name for the over head
valve, push rod motors, usually found in either 1100cc, 1300cc or
1600cc form.
Crossflow: See Kent
Twincam: Twin overhead cam engine produced
by Lotus. First used in a single seater (Formula 2 ?) race car in
the early sixties. The car blitzed the rest of the field until the
engine expired.
BDA: Successor to the Twincam. Belt driven
twin over head cam 4 valves per cylinder . Originally 1600cc in
the mk1 then 1800cc in the Mk2, subsequently enlarged to 2000cc
with an alloy block.
Dry Sump: Engine lubrication system where
the oil is stored in a container usually mounted in the cars boot
as apposed to the standard wet sump system where the oil is stored
in the sump beneath the engine. A dry sump system scavenges the
oil from the sump and pumps it back to the holding tank from where
it is pumped back to the engine. The main benefits are engine does
not suffer from oil surge as well as better cooling.
Gearboxes
Rail: Refers to the number if rods used
by the gear lever to select a gear.
Three rail gearbox: Fitted to the Mk1,
Mk2 Cortina and Twincam Escort (see gearboxes for further details)
Single Rail gearbox: Fitted to Mk1 and
Mk2 Escorts.(see gearboxes for further details)
Bullet Box: Close ratio version of the
Three rail gearbox.(see gearboxes for further details)
Rocket Box: Close ratio version of the
single rail gearbox. (see gearboxes for further details)
Differential
Diff, Differential: Usually with either
a removable diff head (known as the "English" axle) or
with the diff head fixed in the axle casing. For competition the
Atlas Axle (from a 3 litre Capri) or a narrow Atlas are the preferred
options, however the English Axle will handle up to 150 HP, if secured
correctly to prevent axle tramp.
LSD: Limited Slip Differential refer The
differential page.
Live Rear Axle: Solid or "beam"
axle as fitted to all small Fords
Suspension
Compression struts: Where the front lower
control arms (also known as track control arms TCA's) are located
by a rod fixed to the TCA and fixed to the chassis rail below the
fire wall. These were originally found on the base model cars and
vans however some tuners use this method locate the TCA's instead
of the more common method of using the sway bar. The compression
strut allows for an adjustable front sway bar.
World cup cross member: An Escort cross
member with modified engine mounts. developed for the London Mexico
"World Cup" rally
Turrets: Modified mounts for rear shock
absorbers, changing the shocks a vertical position above the rear
axle
5 link Rear axle: This consists of 5 separate
rods, 4 of these extend from the axle (2 above and 2 below) forward
to mount on the body work approximately where the front of the rear
seat rests. The other rod is the Panhard rod which normally extends
from the spring mount on one side if the car to the chassis rail
on the opposite side. For a five link system to work correctly the
rear springs should have the front "eyes" removed with
the resulting flat part of the spring should mounted between two
rollers.(see 4 link kit)
2 link Rear axle: This consists of 2 separate
rods which extend from the above the axle forward to mount on the
body work approximately where the front of the rear seat rests.
Can also be used with a Panhard rod. (see 4 link kit)
Trailing arms: Name for the rods used
in the 5 link and 2 link setup (see above)
Pedal Box: As the name implies this house
the pedals, accelerator, brake and clutch. Originally based on the
Twincam setup with hydraulic clutch and single brake master cylinder.
Most competition pedal boxes have dual brake master cylinders with
an adjustable balance bar to alter brake bias, these units may have
either a hydraulic or cable clutch.
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