Ford Week at Speedshop44
It’s been a Ford-filled week here at the workshops, with some real icons rolling through our doors. We’ve had a trio of Ford’s best-selling models come in for a refresh and mapping - the Cortina, Mustang, and Escort Mk2 - each one representing a unique chapter in Ford’s rich automotive legacy. It’s always a pleasure working with our clients to get these modern classics running at their best.
One of the classic Fords entering our workshops this week at Speedshop44 was a maroon Ford Cortina. The Cortina was launched in 1962 and was a beloved family and fleet car, designed to be affordable and practical. Over 20 years, 5 different models were released. The Cortina was a phenomenal success and Britain’s best-selling car for many years. A more modern Z-Tec engine was already installed with a carburettor; therefore we wanted to make sure it ran well and map it to optimise performance. The engine was second-hand, which meant we had to make some adjustments to the camshaft pulley and set the timings properly. We then placed the Ford Cortina on our rolling road dyno for tuning and mapping. However, the Cortina didn’t have a throttle positioning sensor installed, therefore this sensor tells the ECU how far the throttle is open, which is crucial for 3D mapping. Because the sensor was missing, we could only complete a 2D map, a similar simplified method.
Another, classic in our workshop this week was the Ford Mustang Notchback. Released in 1965, the Mustang is considered the start of the muscle car era. It was a huge success with its iconic design and V8 power. Offered as a hardtop or a convertible. The Mustang was the first pony car with its distinctive design and focus on performance, and it was designed to have a low centre of gravity. The Ford Mustang was one of the first and most successful pony cars, setting the stage for the muscle car era. The design remains highly recognisable and stylish to this day. The adjustments we made to the Mustang in our workshop include setting the idle to ensure a good air-fuel ratio and making sure everything runs smoothly.
Additionally, we had the pleasure of working on the Ford Escort MK2 saloon this week. The Ford Escort is a small family car that was in production between 1968 to 2002. It was a popular car, frequently topping sales charts, especially in the UK. The Ford Escort MK2 is the second-generation model released in 1975. Featured a more modern and boxy design, and upgrades to seating, ride, and handling as well as improved heating and ventilation. The saloon body was a popular choice, offering a practical and comfortable four-door option. The Ford Escort came in for mapping the ECU to ensure reliability and smooth performance and to optimise drivability, fuel economy and throttle response.
It was a pleasure working on these Fords and we hope our clients enjoy their modern classics on the road this summer. We are always looking to take on new projects at Speedshop44. If you are interested in any of our remapping or dyno-tuning services, please contact us with confidence. Call us on 0115 9262266 or email us at info@speedshop44.co.uk.