91 Escort GT ?'s

T

trueblue

New member
I am looking to make some modifications to my street driven 91 escort gt. I amy eventually convert it over but for now It will be a daily driver with some solo II action. Where can I find performance parts for this thing? I need sway bars, springs, exhaust and a limited slip.

Thanks,
Jim
 
Grassroots had a good article on these Mazdas (err...Fords)about 5 issues ago; see if you can get a hold of the issue.

Try www.feoa.net and www.erdt.com links and search around for Mazda Protege performance parts. These are also referred to as "2nd Generation Escorts".

There are several racing in ITA.

You can get Ground Effects struts for them. Not sure about the tranny, so I do not know for sure if Quaife has a direct bolt-in for it. You can always go with an OPM or the like.

Exhausts? A good many racers fab their own (or have them made up) since you doo not have to deal with a CAT.

Good luck.
 
Actually, I am prepping my '91 EGT for ITA racing. I have tons of links and I will provide them below. I know of one person (who knows of a few more EGT Racers) who races his '91 EGT. I get a lot of info from him. As far as performance parts go, the EGT is a lil bit tough. Remember it is the bastard child of Ford and Mazda.

Most of the parts from the 90-95'ish Protege LX (1.8L 4 Door) will bolt right up to the EGT. This goes for Suspension (struts, springs, brakes, etc) and engine mods. Most of the engine stuff you can do yourself.

Also, I believe Wiseco (if you really want to get into the motor) makes pistons for the 1.8 Miata that will match up to the 1.8 from the Escort. I know you can get Tokico's, Eibachs, strut bars, rims, intake, exhaust, and header all on the aftermarket.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

http://www.oemfordparts.com/
They have a few items listed for the ZX/2. Of note is the Tokico's they have from the ZX/2 SR that bolt right up for the 2nd Gen GT.

http://www.nopionline.com
Aftermarket supplier. They have a good price on the pacesetter header. Other parts are ok from there as well.

http://www.ctamotorsports.com/
They make a descent cold air intake. If you can't make your own, go with these guys. They also have a lot of parts that can be found on nopi and the oem ford parts link. Slightly more expensive though.

http://www.corksport.com/
These guys are one of the oldest Escort/Protege shops. They deal mostly with Mazda stuff but they still have their line of products for the 1.8. If you want to get a stock mazda 1.8 GTX motor (JDM Turbo 200 HP motor in the light version, quite a bit more in the GTR form) these are the guys you want to talk to. They have quite a few little bits and pieces from motor to suspension to brakes.

-Jeremy-
 
Thanks for all the links. Any sugestions on springs? I saw a set of Tokico struts with sprint springs for sale on ebay. They lower the car 1.80" but do not mention spring rate. Can we use coil over kits by the rules in ITA? I want to get some sway bars too. I am a little baffled. There are a few sizes available 7/8", 24mm and 3/4" It seems to me that the rear sway bar would be the most important. Which size for the front and which size for the back? Is there still a place that sells the old Pacesetter 4-2-1 header? The new design does not look as race friendly.

Thanks!
 
Well here is the problem, most of the aftermarket springs are meant for the street. I spoke with Ground Control and they set me straight. Eibach Sport springs are progressive meaning as you push the spring harder it responds back with a tougher spring rate. Not exactly optimal if you are tuning for the track and want a specific spring rate all the time. Most of those springs are for the kids on the street that want to look good or the occasional racer or like me the budget racer. They will definately be an improvement over stock. I had a set of Eibach's and Koni's on my Taurus SHO. I liked them, but I don't know anything about tuning for the track or for the street for that matter. Hey, I'm learning!

Ground control offers straight up specific rate springs with their coilovers. But these are not "true" racing coilovers. My understanding is that when you adjust the collar on true coilovers you can dial in a specific spring rate. On the Ground Control unit, no matter where you turn the coller you are going to get the same spring rate. Only thing you get is ride height adjustment. Again, geared more for the street than the track. Usually when you are pricing coilovers they are about $400 a pop. From GC, an entire set is $400, remember you get what you pay for.

The guy I know out east uses them and he swears by them. Problem is, they may NOT be legal. In the GCR for club racing it specifically states that PERMANENTLY mounted (adjuster mounted directly to the strut, IE true coilover strut) coilovers where not fitted as stock equipment is not permitted.

He says its legal because ground control uses a sleeve that fits over your stock type strut housing, so it isn't PERMANENTLY mounted. But in the begining of the GCR it goes on about how, if it doesn't specically allow or disallow a modification, it is still illegal. But seeing how most racing in regionals are fairly loose you can pretty much get away with murder unless you are protested (this is a very liberal generaliztion. My info comes from attending some racing and speaking with racers). This is the feeling I get from other members I talk to.

As far as sway bars. My advice to you is the same advice I was told. Look at your tires and brakes before you do anything suspension wise. Find a tire you like that give you great grip and then move on from there. Your tires will make more of a difference than almost any suspension mod you will do.

If you want to autocross, buy a set of extra rims (15" obviously) and buy a set of Falken Azenis. Dont' run these on the street because you will just eat them up. Autocrossers swear by this tire.

Almost Race compound grip tires at a very very low street tire price. Falken has come out with a new Azenis that is supposed to be better than their last model, but it is a lil pricier. I have a link to a tire company where I got a set of 4 Falken Ziex-512's for $214 delivered (what I run on my Escort on the street, when it gets on the street). These tires are so hot right now, you can't get them locally because Falken has them on backorder. This place still has a lot of stock left. Let me know and I can give you the link. They may still have the old model of the Azenis as well.

-Jeremy-

P.S. Heh, to answer your question, I believe Nopi has that sway bar set you are talking about. To stiffen my car up, I put poly almost everywhere. Motor Mounts, front and rear endlinks, control arms, (still haven't replaced the sway bar mounts) etc. With all that and my stock bars, struts and springs, the car stiffened up quite a bit from what little I have driven it thus far. Of course before I did this, all the rubber on the car (including the tires) was rotted out pretty bad.
 
Prophet--the adjustable perch on a coil-over strut are used to adjust ride heights and set you corner weights. They have no effect on the spring rates.

If you tell Ground Control you are going track RACING, they will set you up (in the ball park) with the correct rated spring--probably from Eibach. They will most likely be 2.5 inch ID coil overs with a 6 to 8 inch free length in the front. Rates are likely to start at 450 in lbs in the front.

Threaded Strut tubes are now (1/1/2005) IT legal. You no longer need the threaded collar sleeve.

Cheers.
 
James, Are you going to Roebling in April either weekend? I missed you at Road Atlanta. I was able to pick up a second in the SARRC again.

Ron Sattele
 
Congrats on the 2nd place finish! That is awesome! I am planning on running at the double at Roebling. I didn't have the time to make it to Atlanta. Did they take Birmingham out of the SARRC?

[This message has been edited by trueblue (edited March 01, 2005).]
 
Yes, but good news for you they will be running it at Roebling on the same weekend as a double, July 9-10 I think. We are going to try to hit all three race weekends at Roebling, April 9-10, 23-24 and July
 
Well geeze... it looks like there will just be a contingent of Mustangs as Roebling this year
smile.gif
Maybe I'll get to have some fun after all, instead of just chasing the VW's around!!

See you guys there.

------------------
-Marcello Canitano
www.SilverHorseRacing.com
 
It will be nice to see some mustangs there. I don't know if I can make the July race. That is the first day of my vacation. I don't know if the wife would understand me staying behind to race. We'll see.
 
Ron,

I need to contact you about some parts if you still have them. I will be putting a new rear in my car this weekend or the next.

Jim
 
Call me 7702189967. My dad is heading down soon. Also the April 9-10 race has been cancelled. See you at the end of the month.
 
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