I'm thinking about a possible project. I have a 12A large street port motor from my '83 RX-7. I was looking to sell the motor as a complete setup but I haven't had any luck so far. I have close to $5k into the setup. The for sale thread

A friend of mine has a '65 Ford Cortina LHD that has sat for about 35 years but is in relatively good shape. The car has very little rust except surface rust. The interior is shot. The motor runs good but the fuel lines are gone. Brakes and clutch are seized. I can get the car for under $300.

I'm thinking it would be a great car for a motor swap. I'm thinking of turning it into a track car. I would loose the interior and install a cage. Install a fuel cell and SS line (I already have the line). I would have to make custom cross members but that doesn't look all that hard. I would also have to find a radiator that will work good but I don't see that being all that hard.

The biggest hold up is figuring out what to use as a donor car for the suspension, brakes, and steering. I'm looking for coilover setup for all 4 corners, R/P steering, and upgradeable brakes. I was thinking of using fox body mustang suspension but I'm not sure I can get it to work without serious modifications. I just joined a Cortina forum so I will be asking them. I have a 9" small bearing rear from my '64 Galaxie that I can have shortened and use that in the rear is need be.

Thoughts on the possible project?

 

anything is possible with money and thought

 

There used to be a guy a a local autocross who ran a cortina. It went like stink and handled great. I always thought they would make a great rotor swap candidate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2CveY82mBs

 

and another

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a4B_...eature=related

 

That wagon is that car I was using to figure out the motor mounts. http://www.cortina-mk1.com/sr20.php

 

1965 ... is that a Mark I Cortina , as I think the Mark II came out in 1966 ? (I had a GT in my long forgotten youth). Anyways , as much as I love Rotaries and think they are great for almost everything, I would save this Cortina for a Ford 4cyl , preferably a twin cam (remember the Lotus ones )? Just my 2 cents .....

 

it is an MK1 Cortina. '67 is actually the first year of the MK2.

The one I'm looking at is a base model 2 door car.

 

Go for it I say. It'll be bloody good fun when finished.
Cortinas of all mk's must be pretty rare in the states eh?

 

+1 my rotary brother. Its nice to see a rotary transplant on any car but for the most part, I say leave it alone to another enthusiasts as I would hate to see a piston powered RX

 

I have a friend in PA that has one and he wants me to come out there and do some wiring on it. We also know someone in Bklyn that has (5), yes five of them!

 

The reason for me making this car a rotary car is because I already have the motor. It would be a cool car to install a built pinto motor in.

Even though I would be installing a rotary in it, I still think of it as saving the car. This car would most likely just rot away.

I'm looking into the fesability of upgrading the suspension and steering. I'm looking into the posibility of doing a 4link with coilovers in the rear. I'm thinking a 9" is the way to go. I'm still working on what the best setup would be for the front.

 

Ok...now we really have to meet up...lol

 

Rotary in anything is great. Nice!

 

Well, that's right up my ALLEY. MY project next is a Morris 1000 with a ported 13b. I already have two donor cars with all the props, but looking for a crisp base.