Ford Cortina Mk 1 LHD to RHD

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andyfreelandy said:
Have bought the JBW 5.5J wheels, fitted 175/70 tyres and when fitted with car in air and wheels hanging all is fine.
When I drop it to the ground the threaded portion of the ball joint on the base of the strut touches the balance weights!!!

Marked location and removed for now, but a 20mm + offset is suggested which these are. Clearance must be tight even on a 5J.
What am I missing???

Looks fab though...
Click to expand...

Cant say i ever had problems like that but mine are the genuine 881a lotus wheels mind i do have some other 5.5js and still not had that issue, my current setup involves one inch spacers on the front so the wheels clear the Austin Princess four pot calipers, you could fit small spacers with out any issues
 
So, found a RHD bulkhead, dash, steering box, accelerator pedal, idler arm and bracket and steering column floor filler panel. Handbrake pivot bars are readily available, just need to work out how to do it now!!.
I think I will use the bulkhead and dash as a pattern and make up adaptor brackets to fit the speedo and column. The main column mount is on the pedal box so that is where the strength is.
Just had a good look and measure, looks possible to do the drilling with the engine still in.
Have also got a RHD loom but may well make a new one with a fuse box! Did we not understand in the 1960's that if you short circuit a car battery with 5 to 10 Amp wire it would end badly? Currently only the indicators are fused! So that's OK then.
 
Sounds good, i put a fuse box in mine after i changed the wiper motor over for one out of a Corsair ( the later ones had two speed) and something jammed and it burnt the loom out, that was a fun time with the loom on the dining table striping it out and replacing the cooked wires:rolleyes:
using the bulk head as a pattern sounds good you dont want to be changing that one in a hurry:D
 
@brianp38dse how well do you know your Ford gearboxes please?

What was fitted to a Mk1 1500? I have read 2000E and 3 rail but are these the same?

Did the GT have different ratios?

Have found a good Anglia box, looks identical but will it fit? Trying to find out which Anglia it came from. I want to have a go at rebuilding one without taking my car to bits!!

Thanks. Or anyone else do gearbox anoraking!!???
 
Right the the Cortina gearbox`s all had the same ratios and are the three rail gearbox the same as Anglia
2000e refers to a ratio set that was in the 2000e Corsair and had a closer set of ratios and is a better box to put in, the standard Cortina ratios have quite a gap in between 2&3 rd which when yo have a bit more power will kill the clutch ask how i know:rolleyes:

The Anglia should be the same if its from a 1200cc i think the 997 had different ratios

if you can get a 2000e box there a different ratios in them a semi close which is standard and then an ultra close with a very high first 2.5:1 which is also referred to as the bullet box which are lots of money which is what i am rebuilding:D
these boxes were also fitted
  • Ford Cortina Mk1
  • Ford Cortina Mk2 to 1968
  • Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 / Mk2 to 1968
  • Ford Escort RS1600 / Mexico
  • Ford Escort Twin Cam

expect to pay £450- 600 for a 2000e, if you are going to rebuild a box to put in you would not regret a 2000e as the ratios are so much nicer but you would have to use the tailshaft housing from your old box and the three selector rods so you can use your remote gear lever to keep the interior the same

if you change the box look at putting a crossflow clutch in as they a diaphragm instead of coil spring and are much better and easier to get.
hope that helps
 
Cortina ratios
20210706_183046.jpg
 
2000e ratios
4-speed, all synchromesh 2.972, 2.01, 1.397, 1 to 1. Reverse 3.342. Known as the 2000E box. Fitted to Lotus Cortina 1966-70, Corsair 2000E, 1966-70, Escort twin cam 1968-71, RS1600 1970 on, Mexico 1970 on, Cortina 1600 G.T. 1968-70, Cortina 1600E, 1968-70, Capri 1600 G.T. 1969 - , Capri 2000 G.T 1969 --, Cortina MK3 1600 G.T. 1970 -
 
Thanks, really helpful. So much bull written about Ford boxes and not easy to work out what is what!

So to be clear the mk1 cortina gt had same box as other Cortina's of that period and the anglia also had the same if a 1200 or 1500?
If so would the anglia 1200 box fit the Cortina if I bought it and refurbed it or does it need bits swapping over?

For a rebuild of the Cortina gt box will the kit labelled as a 2000e refurb kit fit the standard box as it has the layshaft, bearings and needle rollers etc?

Thanks for your help once again.
This is better than the Cortina forum which is dead!!!
 
Glad to be able to help:)
The Anglia box should straight in, the 2000e box rebuild kits the bearings and gaskets are all the same as is the layshaft bits the only thing to sort is the right input shaft seal the anglia / cortina box has a smaller size shaft so the seal is to big but easy to get, i found this out on my box.
I would really look at fitting a 2000e box it will look the same as the old one but with much nicer ratios which make it drive like a dream, if your going to the expence of a rebuild do it on a 2000e and they are always sort after so money in the bank.
 
I meant to add i am not on the Cortina forum i did request to join but not heard anything back maybe because i am not a current member of the owners club i was up till about 1992
 
Here's my box which I am waiting to some bits for so I can put it in with a GT remote gear change, this is a rs1600 with the very high 2.5 :1 first
20210707_130823.jpg
 
as theres gearbox stuff happening, lastyear I rebuilt a 3-rail box (2.9:1 first gear - the so-called '2000E' box) for a 1969 Cortina Lotus, started as a refresh with gaskets & seals but found doomed layshaft spindle & needle-roller bearings as well as the selector-forks being worn thin on their tips, luckily theres a few sources of new parts so it was rebuilt:cool:

iPd6A9w.jpg

sandblasted evrything.

ggLahJk.jpg

bit of paint.

ZGYpAIo.jpg


6ous1qq.jpg


9iS3dEZ.jpg

sorta finished.

MMpiXQ9.jpg

ready to fit:)

lovely boxes to build but they are showing their age, amusingly they were scrapped ~20 years ago as everyone wanted the 5 speed but origonality and retro / period mods are the current favourite now.

Rich.
 
Zed. said:
as theres gearbox stuff happening, lastyear I rebuilt a 3-rail box (2.9:1 first gear - the so-called '2000E' box) for a 1969 Cortina Lotus, started as a refresh with gaskets & seals but found doomed layshaft spindle & needle-roller bearings as well as the selector-forks being worn thin on their tips, luckily theres a few sources of new parts so it was rebuilt:cool:

iPd6A9w.jpg

sandblasted evrything.

ggLahJk.jpg

bit of paint.

ZGYpAIo.jpg


6ous1qq.jpg


9iS3dEZ.jpg

sorta finished.

MMpiXQ9.jpg

ready to fit:)

lovely boxes to build but they are showing their age, amusingly they were scrapped ~20 years ago as everyone wanted the 5 speed but origonality and retro / period mods are the current favourite now.

Rich.
Click to expand...

Oww Very nice :) love a twink
 
@Zed. thanks for posting - good rebuild.
Looking forward to striping and rebuilding mine. I will try to get a 2000E to fit ultimately. I think, as I have never touched the innards of a box, I will buy the Anglia one, strip it, see how it works, replace bearings and then I have a fall back gearbox. Then, if feeling confident I'll invest in a 2000E and do the GT box. Then I can flog the Anglia one.
 
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