Cossie Information

[ibrooks]

Wotcher folks,

Not really kitcar related but hopefully someone will know this for definite or be able to point me to a source for it. I need definite facts here.

 

I'm looking at buying an Escort Cosworth, the hitch (and the reason I can afford it) is that it doesn't have an engine and gearbox. My thinking is that I could break an xr4x4 and use the kit from that. I've also been drooling over the engines of rusty Scorpio Cosworths. I quite fancy a 4x4 Escort with a Cosworth V6 up front. I know Ford actually built almost precisely the car I'm thinking of as a prototype (I've even sat in it). I'm just wondering how many one-off parts it would need.

 

So I need to know how similar the Escort was to the 4x4 Sierra Cossies and what were the differences between those and the 4x4 V6 cars. Things like which gearboxes they used. Any differences between the front diff setups? Lengths of the front half-shafts, distance from the gearbox mounts/drive-faces to the centreline of the front diff?

 

All info/sources of info greatfully received.

 

Iain

[Guest Robin Allison]

Escort Cossie was built on a shortened sierra floorpan.

 

XR and Cosworth 4x4 front diff, box, sump hubs and drive shafts are completly different but look the same.

 

All the XR4x4 parts should fit. Only problem is the rear prop will need to be shortened. To use the BOA V6 the XR sump needs to have the oil drain returns fitted, as the BOA oil drains run from the rear of the head.

But the BOA engine will be a tight fit due to the size of the heads at the rear. There will be only mm's of clearance.

A BOB engine will fit better as the heads are shorter. I have one in my Sierra, it makes working on it a lot easier. But the BOB loom can't be used unless your very good with bypassing the PATS system, use the BOA loom and it will run fine.

 

As for a cheap Escort Cossie ? A real legal shell with logbook is worth £5K at least, Bumpers, bonnets, spoilers and seats are big money as there not made anymore.

Edited December 30, 2007 by Robin Allison

[ibrooks]

I knew it was a shortened Sierra floorpan but what bothers me is that it's a shortened and modified floorpan. As far as I know it's got both diffs/axles and the props (yet to get such specifics).

 

I've been doing some digging and reading and now know the box is the MT75 on the Cos as well as the late XR4x4 so it should just bolt in.

 

The one that really bothers me is that the distance from the transfer case to the centreline where the intermediary shaft passes through the sump must be the same on the V6 as the 2.0 turbo. If it isn't then the front "axle" won't line up without moving the gearbox backwards or forwards. t's one of those things that you would think they'd keep constant to make life easier for themselves but can quite easily see them changing for no sensible reason.

 

Anybody know if the part numbers for the front propshafts of each car would happen to be the same?

 

Iain

[nicko]

Hi, I seem to remember reading years ago, that the front wheels on the Cossie Escort are further forward than a standard escort. This was so the Sierra stuff would fit. I know proper Escort Cossie wings don't look right on a standard escort, due to the wheels not centering in the wheel arch.

 

Hope this helps.... Or doesn't hinder too much!!!

 

Nick

[Guest Robin Allison]

Nick, your right about that.

 

Everything Sierra fits under the Escort. The Escort Cossie did get uprated parts i.e. ARB's

 

A m8 of mine has built up 2 RWD Escort cossies for trackcars using 2wd parts and just a shortened prop.

 

2 very fun cars

 

[ibrooks]

Thanks for the info guys. I've looked at the shell and decided against it. It's obviously had a thump on the rear corner which has been repaired by replacing the panels but there's a lot of filler over the joins which bothers me. I'm wondering what they are trying to hide since they said it was in order to repair rust. I'm also not convinced about the panel gaps around the tailgate which speaks of misalignment.

 

Back to plan A then (SPD200 later in the year).

 

Iain

[Guest Robin Allison]

Escort cossie rust a lot. Its due to them being a standard escort that was cut up and all the RWD panels added. Rust protection and seam sealing was not the best.

[Guest Robin Allison]

Iain by any chance was it a blue escort with a white rear 1/4 ??

[ibrooks]

Yep - you spotted it somewhere?

 

I'm still wondering if it's really as bad in the flesh as it looked in the pictures and thinking I should maybe have taken a couple of days to go and have a look. Suppose I'll always wonder "what if?".

 

Iain

[Guest Robin Allison]

A m8 of mine deals in Cossie and he was offered it, think they wanted £4000 for it. I got told it was a dog, but i have not seen it

[ibrooks]

Price has come down then - they wanted £5k before.

 

Iain