Ford Cortina Mk 1 LHD to RHD

@brianp38dse is yours a GT by any chance and mostly original?

I could do with a few photos when you get a minute or 5 please?
Inspection for the conversion reveals the steering column comes through a bolted in plate and there is a similar pressing, not cut, on the other side so that looks o.k.

Steering box needs replacing but the pedal box area looks to be plated for strength and not sure how the accelerator rods will fit with the wheel arch in the way.

I have the 28/36 carb with a rotary rod to the carb and need a photo of how the linkage gets from the pedal rod on the bulkhead (engine side) to the carb.

Also would love to see the instrument panel and what switches should be present. Mine has a few extras and a wiper delay unit plus a washer plunger that doesn't plunge!!

If you or another with a GT could post a couple of shots it would be much appreciated.
Thanks Andy

Hi Andy
mine was a 1200 deluxe all original when i got it and slowly got upgraded to a rally car with basically a full race spec engine on side draft webbers
i added the extra gt gauges on a pod i mounted of the ashtray and it has has lots of there stuff added over the years when Cortinas and Corsair`s could still be found in the many scrap yards of the eight`s, like mine is fitted with two speed wipers out of a corsair v4 and an electric washer pump actually out off a Skoda Estelle
you will probably find that the throttle rod is the same and just the rod that runs inside that will be different and mounts on a block both ends
get a Haynes manual it covers every thing on the car they are that simple
unfortunately mine is a bit buried in the garage so access to it is very limited.

Thanks Brian,

Yes, have ordered a ring binder Ford manual and a trip to a local classic car show should also help!

Will try to make it as original as I can.

Fab, helpful images.
So the LHD throttle has a long pivot rod that runs over the top of the tunnel and will no way fit on the rhs without sticking out the side of the car!!

So the RHD throttle is needed too. The bit from the bulkhead to carb looks the same.

You just don't see Cortina's on the scrappy anymore!!
I have a good fabricator near me so will be drawing bracketry and fittings, maybe even the throttle and then get them made up.
If anyone has parts to help out please shout!!

Thanks, what forum is good for cortina tech info etc?? Obviously, apart from here!!

You should already have the control shaft and linkage the peddle and shaft will need modding
somewhere i may have a throttle peddle but god knows where as i scrapped one thirty years age

Cortina mk1 owner club is a good place for new spares and info they have a facebook page as well but you have to be a member

Had the GT up on the ramp today.
Survey confirms that it is probably one of the best shells now in the u.k.
No rot anywhere, surface rust on components and a couple of bushes look a bit perished. Only mark is where someone has carelessly jacked it up and dinted a cross member.
So, electric fuel pump fitted and appears to be flooding the carb, will rebuild the 28/36 DCD but revert to original glass bowl pump as the retro fit is badly done.
Speedo doesn't work, no idea why yet but only oil leak is from the gearbox take off.
Drives really well, don't really know this gearbox but slight syncro whine when gear is being engaged on lower gears.

some photos

Sent off a stack of paperwork to DVLA to hopefully get my age related plate - what could possibly go wrong at DVLA??!!

andyfreelandy said:

what could possibly go wrong at DVLA??!!

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sometimes they get things right

anyway, nice 'Tina, I've been recomissioning a mk2 Lotus for a friend and have worked on plenty of dagenham-dustbins (and rallied escorts) so will follow this thread

Rich.

Just an idea why not leave it LHD I drive a RHD here in France and it is not a problem, as it is a fun car would it be a problem and being as it came out of the factory must be worth more? Cars do not seem to rust much in this part of France, I have seen a mark 1 Capri that has not had anything done to it near to me, you see old people driving around in mark 2 escorts they have had for years, but no mark 1 Cortinas

Very very nice in dead clean straight and no rust just a few bits to do on it, the electric fuel pump should have a pressure regulator on it set at 4psi, looks like the brake pipes have been changed it could probably benefit from new bushes on the front arms and the wheels are mk2 rostyles but look ok
all in all very nice
may be leave it lhd as its so clean

Thanks, weirdly it has a UK MOT from 2018. Bushes identified there and they look a bit rough.
Hopefully the MOT means headlights done.
Can't decide on whether to change it or not. Solved fuel leak for now by using the correct size fuel pipe. It was too big diameter and clips can't make up for that.

I figured a reg should be used, the needle valve is ridged though. Hate the wheels, will fit 5j or 5.5j steels and caps.
Rostyles a bit flaky but will sell. Need to check age of tyres too.
Very pleased, interestingly the most rusty part is the exhaust manifold!!!
If not too thin could be blasted I guess.

The original exhaust manifolds were known to crack and fail and they are quite thin, best bet would be a new one ,
has to be 5.5j steels the original lotus ones have 881a stamped on the hub cap locator bit but you will have to pay quite a bit for a set or the period Dunlop d1 alloys

andyfreelandy said:

Thanks, weirdly it has a UK MOT from 2018. Bushes identified there and they look a bit rough.
Hopefully the MOT means headlights done.
Can't decide on whether to change it or not. Solved fuel leak for now by using the correct size fuel pipe. It was too big diameter and clips can't make up for that.

I figured a reg should be used, the needle valve is ridged though. Hate the wheels, will fit 5j or 5.5j steels and caps.
Rostyles a bit flaky but will sell. Need to check age of tyres too.
Very pleased, interestingly the most rusty part is the exhaust manifold!!!
If not too thin could be blasted I guess.

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The tv prog with Drew Pritchard about buying and selling classic cars,he had some steel wheels made up at a company at a very reasonable price,exact copy of any wheel you want,plus hub caps as well,if i can find the name of the company i will let you know,if that is any use to you mate?.

Thanks, JBW do a wheel which looks perfect at around £70 each including a stainless hub cap, but always looking to save cash!!
If anyone wants the chrome rostyles shout!! Not perfect but very good, only got 4 as spare is an alien.

andyfreelandy said:

Thanks, JBW do a wheel which looks perfect at around £70 each including a stainless hub cap, but always looking to save cash!!
If anyone wants the chrome rostyles shout!! Not perfect but very good, only got 4 as spare is an alien.

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Ok,you have it sorted then,the tv prog was the one where they bought a MK11 gt Cortina which was a South African import,you can watch it online using discovery +,if you are interested.

Is the gearbox flipped over too ?

Got an escort 1 LHD gearbox here and the starter motor is on the opposite side but then it's going in a Dutton so more useful that way

As for the rostyles let me know. Old man's got a MK2 1600e been in pieces for 30 years but slowly getting back on road. He may be Interested in some wheels to roll it about on etc

The JBW wheels look good and at that money are half the price of genuine ones and with caps as well which are £100 a set,
i was lucky i picked up ones from scrap yards and members of the motor club that quote ( i used to rally one of those i have a few bits you can have)

with changing to right hand drive there is also the umbrella hand brake to sort out that mounts on the steering box
@Flossie is also restoring a 1600e

Fl@pper said:

Is the gearbox flipped over too ?

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so the gearstick points @ the floor??

Fl@pper said:

Got an escort 1 LHD gearbox here and the starter motor is on the opposite side but then it's going in a Dutton so more useful that way

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Photo???

LHD & RHD had nothing to do with startermotor position.

mk1 escorts with their startermotor on the (UK) drivers side were either the 'Twincam', Mexico'. or RS1600 models.

hydraulic clutch bellhousings had the startermotor on the (UK) drivers side.
cable clutch bellhousings had the startermotor on the (UK) passanger side.

Ford generally used Cast Iron but some Lotus cars had Aluminium bellhousings.
Ford did sell aluminium & Magnesium bellhousings, gear casings and diff 'pigsheads' but these were aimed at racing for weight saving.

theres exceptions like the mk1 & 2 Escort RS200 (& mk2 Escort Mexico) that had an aluminium bellhousing with provosions to take a startermotor on either side - BUT only used the (UK) passanger side

AND aftermarket aluminium of various descriptions.....

Rich. (anorak on.)

I'll dig it out from under the bench and dust it off later. Maybes it's a twin cam box and I never knew. Cool