Miss Fitts

[98ciHemi]

OK, so the batman license plate actually didn't come with the car, but when you look at it, it's just the vibe that it projects.

So, it's actually a 1986, not an '87 as a originally thought. For $700 I got this:




All of this junk:


and two scca logbooks from the car, a haynes manual, and some assorted receIpts and the title from the last time the car was registered.

I have a few goals for this car:
First- Street legal and drivable. I want to drive this down to Maxton in May.

Second- I am looking for something that I can race drag, autocross, landspeed, or even open track. Autcross and open road will be dead easy with this car. It's got lowering springs in the back and adjustable coilovers in the front. The 8 point rollcage will need some modification, but nothing to serious. The body and chassis do need a few fixes, and the front clip was poorly installed, so it needs to be redone.

Third- Bonneville. Find a way to make big power. Figure out how to make it aerodynamic. Go fast. Or blow it up trying.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Looks like a black version of my Dad's deathcort. For $700 it looks pretty good. Does it actually run (I can't remember....). Need engine/engine bay shots. ;D

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Oh yeah, my Dad may be sending his to the junkyard soon, I believe it's a '91, it's a GT with a 5-speed. Any parts you may want off it before it goes?

[98ciHemi]

Re: Batman's commuter car

The engine runs, has good oil pressure, is louder than hell with the open header, and worked well enough to move it on an off the trailer. Tomorrow I plan on giving it a hour or so of work and see how it runs with clean plugs, good gas, and some general TLC.

If it's a '91, it's pretty much all mazda designed, and nothing will interchange with the 81 through 90 Escorts.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Hmm, maybe it's an '89? It looks like yours, same rims even.

These are the only pictures I have of it, lol.

[98ciHemi]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Yeah, that is an '89 or '90. Nothing really comes to mind, maybe some of the engine electronics if they are in good working order. I need to know more about what I need first.

[BangShift McT]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Dude...I like it. Sick puppy that I am, I'd find some kind of tan/champagne color and paint it...leave cage and all...

I'm curious for a comparo between it and your '82 when you start driving it.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Hmm, maybe it's an '89? It looks like yours, same rims even.

These are the only pictures I have of it, lol.

It's amazing how much an Escort and Buick Land Barge look a lot alike. Thank God it has a Blue Oval on the hood or I'd be really confused.

[nesabo]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Hmm, maybe it's an '89? It looks like yours, same rims even.

These are the only pictures I have of it, lol.

It's amazing how much an Escort and Buick Land Barge look a lot alike. Thank God it has a Blue Oval on the hood or I'd be really confused.

Had me confused for a bit as well.

[98ciHemi]

Re: Batman's commuter car

The squirrel cage:

[Monster]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Second- I am looking for something that I can race drag, autocross, landspeed, or even open track.

Cool stuff Walt, but just keep in mind, that the more you compromise your set-up to work across a wide spectrum of events, makes you less competitive in all those events, than if you build a purpose-built car for one event.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Batman's commuter car

It's amazing how much an Escort and Buick Land Barge look a lot alike. Thank God it has a Blue Oval on the hood or I'd be really confused.

Had me confused for a bit as well.

Look at the tiny thing chocking the wheel on the right :P

[STINEY]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Wow, you got a car and a half! Good score.

Is that a header in the last picture?

Caster/camber plates? Didn't know they were available for escorts?

Those headlight lenses will clear up with a Mothers Powerball and some Mothers polish. Might take 10 minutes, maybe they aren't very cloudy, hard to tell in pictures.....

Congrats!

[98ciHemi]

Re: Batman's commuter car

Second- I am looking for something that I can race drag, autocross, landspeed, or even open track.

Cool stuff Walt, but just keep in mind, that the more you compromise your set-up to work across a wide spectrum of events, makes you less competitive in all those events, than if you build a purpose-built car for one event.

This Escort was already set up for SCCA road racing, so most of the handling work is already done. The carrera adjustable coilovers that were installed along with the camber plates will make it easy to mess with the setup. I should be able to drop this car another 2-3 inches in front with coilovers. The heavy duty swaybars will probably slow me down in the 1/8th mile, but I don't see the point in swapping it out for the pedestrian stuff I have now. I don't think the cornering stuff will hurt me at all at Maxton. Maybe if I was more competitive it might be different, but since the only reason I would want to do the drag and roadracing stuff is for fun, I think I will do OK.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Batman's commuter car

I'm not sure on how to set up a front drive car for drag racing. Normally, you want to have weight transfer to the rear for traction, but since your car gets it power up front I don't know. I've seen those NOPI cars that seem to use wheelie bars to put leverage on the front tires. Lifting the rear and dropping the front with coil overs could theoretically move the weight forward to help with traction off the line. If you have access to a set of wheel scales, you could mess around with settings to see what happens.

I think you got a screaming deal on that car. It seems there at least double your purchase price in just aftermarket parts. Throw a muffler on it and you could street drive it.