>Glenn: Droooool. Ok, I'm officially jealous. You have a
>Cortina also do you not? nice.
how many nice cars SHOULD one man have, lets go gang up on hgim, hold him down and zoom aroud riiiiiipin up his yard, yeeeeeehaaaw!!!
>
>JVL: OK, give me some more to go on besides "no" on a bug.
OK and I should remind you that I have a lot of expeience using VW PARTs, infact I have supplied or showed how to use VW parts in numerous OTHER carsinclusing Datsun L seires, Mitsu G54, Saab 2 liter 8v, Saab 16V, Saab (Ford) V4, and Opels.
I know aircooled stuff reasonably well.
Even supplied All the front a arms, hubs, knuckles, steering racks etc for the sick 2.7liter Turbo 4wd (and told him where to get the front diff) that the demented Dave la Toureete built way back, too bad Dave never paid for any of the stuff before he sold the car.....
I
>appreciate the opinion, and that's why I posted, not just
>for everybody to say yeah dude. Just seems like they'd go
>around corners nice for reasonable dollars.
>1.Bugs are everywhere.
Well not up here anymore.
>2.cheap and plentyful bodyparts (cause I have no dilusions
>about smacking a couple trees at some point
)
That's a plus, and the fact that YOU can swap the out is a Good thing.
>3. Strong motors are also easy/affordable to acquire/build.
Wrong. Type 1 cases are all long since 10 to 15 years ago whupped on and the cases are the weak link.
The cute little crank is forged steel but those cases are crap and upgrades are very expensive.
The cylinderhear combustion chamber is way open and detonation prone and that beats on the cases and the pooooooor little rod bearings.
>4. the suspension may be ancient, but known quantity.
Yeah but the short wheelbase and tall shell and above all the bad design of the rear engine which as soon as you give it a bit o' boot and you lose grip when cornering the rear end WILL want to lead.
Yeeeeeeehawwww!!
Even 911s were hard pressed to make results agains simple crude escorts. Too heavy, too weak and not enough poop even out of their 2.7
>I know bugs aren't "sexy" or super-exotic Rally cars, but
>the different factor's pretty high, I don't see (or really
>don't see) why nobody's rallying one.
Several people have done them and with some degree of sucess HERE, see it's all been done before, don't fall into that trap, make the results be the unique thing or the degree of fun.
>
>I guess I can see the clearance situation being a problem on
>a 914 and Ghia. So I guess that questions answered...
Too small, too short, too weak , poor visibility outward.
>
>so what's ballpark for a decent MK1 or MK2 escort, not
>prepped just decent starting point= good shell and
>motor/tranny?
A MkII could have a price from $750 for a roller to 3500, and transport from Sweden to Newark is in round figures $1000 if it runs. more if it's a roller.
Motors I have seen from £350 to $4000. trannies as low as 750 for a real close ratio Ford typ9 5 speed.
Maybe I shouldn't be daunted by getting one
>over here...I'll start looking in the spring at what I can
>find. It's good to have this forum to get opinions on the
>situation and if I ever look at importing a car I'll sure
>come here for advice on that. Just looking at options, I
>really want to run H in something. An escort would be cool.
>
>RX-3?
Junky shells and bad bad steering, may as well drag a stick on the rear tire of the side you want to turn in......
>Opel Manta?
Well..........I'd look for an Ascona first.
>fairlady?
Z car????
Shirley you jest.
>
>too many choices- but If I don't start something... you
>can't finish unless you start. (sigh)
right, and a good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
>
>
John Vanlandingham
Seattle, WA. 98168
Vive le Prole-le-ralliat
Black Rocket Rally Tires
http://www.blackrockettires.com/