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73 Consul T5 B5234T3 Rattus Restomodicus

Works

New member
Joined
Oct 31, 2009
Location
Finland
Ahoy there :wave:

I have this (side) project car, which im doing for daily driver for myself.
Its going to be a budget build, so no expensive stuff to see here.

Little history rambling about the car:

It's an 1973 "euro"Ford Consul (name changed to Granada on later models 75->) 2 Door, (2.3 V6 + manual from the factory).
Previous owner bought it because the engine 2.6 V6 (which had been swapped into it at some point), he wanted to swap it into a escort mk1, but never got it out of the car, so this one sat under a tree for 10+? years waiting to be stripped, which then never happened.

Someone has also sandblasted & welded the whole car floorpan and painted it. (So thats alot of work done there, which i dont need to do. (There are some few holes what i need to patch though and some surface rust ofc since its stood outside for so long.)

I was really interested in it, because it was A: Rare 2 door model and B: Solid shell C: Cheap (200?/220$) D: I had 3 of these cars in past, so i have alot of parts in my storage that i can use/dump into this.
So off i bolted to get it in 2018 summer
I knew i didnt want to use the old lump, so i sold it immediately when i got the car at my workshop and got the 200?/220$ back, free shell for me then :lol:

After that i got an cheap V70 Mk1 T5 for spare parts, since my better half drives an V70 mk1, which needed some expensive parts, id sell everything from it that i dont need.
Engine for me and other parts for her. win-win ;-)

End of history

Heres some pictures of the thing, it looks kinda rough on the outside, but looking underneath its hard to believe its the same car:

<a href="https://ibb.co/hQKwk0"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/nfxhQ0/20181029-123135.jpg" alt="20181029-123135" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/hWPCQ0"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mjJHsf/20181029-123125.jpg" alt="20181029-123125" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/nyR6eU"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/fYdxm9/20181012-114735.jpg" alt="20181012-114735" border="0"></a>

Crossmembers sandblasted and painted, added new polyurethane bushings and Spax lowering kit, Vented brakediscs+calipers, new wheel bearings (All parts are leftovers what i had in my storage, so only the paint was all i had to buy:

<a href="https://ibb.co/cYRrD38"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/XY6CSL5/20180627-092804.jpg" alt="20180627-092804" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/3mjcMrB"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/QvTMCbr/20180628-191125.jpg" alt="20180628-191125" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/TKv3vL4"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Q8bwbdP/20180712-115157.jpg" alt="20180712-115157" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/Ct716kP"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/N3jVr8T/20180712-115213.jpg" alt="20180712-115213" border="0"></a>

The V70 T5 engine dismount:
<a href="https://ibb.co/dPU6W9"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/iY8ddp/20181014-154237.jpg" alt="20181014-154237" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/mEKvPU"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mzt0r9/20181014-154243.jpg" alt="20181014-154243" border="0"></a>

Engine is B5234T3 2.3L T5 from 1999 V70 mk1 with automatic gearbox (all expensive stuff had been sold from it before i bought the donor car (turbo, throttlebody etc.)
Bought m90 gearbox out from a 960+Propshaft+Oilpan+Clutch master cylinder (this was the most expensive purchase so far (400?/440$ IIRC for them all)

<a href="https://ibb.co/cDV8yL"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/ikHXQ0/20181031-104007.jpg" alt="20181031-104007" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/eHriR9"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mUxezU/20181013-193219.jpg" alt="20181013-193219" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/mqhMJL"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/dNAVCf/20181030-202256.jpg" alt="20181030-202256" border="0"></a>

V70 mk2 R Injectors + Inlet manifold + Exhaust manifold. Traded for some stuff with my bro.
<a href="https://ibb.co/e9bpzU"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/fnBdtp/20181010-120452.jpg" alt="20181010-120452" border="0"></a>

Basically i did all the parts and swap in a weekend:
960 oilpan shortening:
<a href="https://ibb.co/k16gJL"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mZgFdL/20181031-080703.jpg" alt="20181031-080703" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/joacQ0"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/dOVBk0/20181022-115607.jpg" alt="20181022-115607" border="0"></a>

Engine&gearbox mounts
<a href="https://ibb.co/nPsadV"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/eQTsQA/20181102-212658.jpg" alt="20181102-212658" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/bW5QCq"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/jzcGJV/20181102-212712.jpg" alt="20181102-212712" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/hpzz5A"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/fGORkA/20181102-212729.jpg" alt="20181102-212729" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/iiTsv0"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/knvGNf/20181101-183242.jpg" alt="20181101-183242" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/mHG6Nf"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/n3Zt2f/20181101-183147.jpg" alt="20181101-183147" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/i07P8L"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cxT9a0/20181101-183439.jpg" alt="20181101-183439" border="0"></a>
Im amazed how well this engine fits in the engine room, without fouling anything, like its ment to be there.:wtf:

To Do list:
- Propshaft welding & balancing (Already shortened)
- Propshaft is hanging now from the middle like: \/ So gearbox rear mount & propshaft bearing mount needs to be modified higher.
- Mount turbo (friend gave me for free, once used chinese turbo + do exhaust
- Weld the holes in shell (atleast 2 that im aware of)
- Lights (Source some another dual headlights & wire them
- Clutch (have all the parts waiting, 850 R clutch kit, 240mm hard flywheel
- Clutch pedal modification, cable to hydraulic
- Source 960 COP's

Next thing would be the engine management, which im not sure what to use since this is a budget build. Any suggestions?

1. Standalone programmable engine managements are straight out of the budget. ( Ive been looking for used standalone engine managements, but theyre 500?+ still.)
2. I know megasquirt is cheap and ive soldered few boards in the past, but theres so much job in it that im not really keen doing it again. + im not so sure if would rely an MS in everyday use, like some aftermarket or oem ecu.
3. Source an 850 T5 and strip the engine loom? Problem: They have distributor and this engine does not. (which could be done with some drilling&modding), but then next problem would be the firewall. Iirc theres also a kit that relocates the distributor at front of the engine aswell, but :roll:
4. ?
 
Interesting swap choice. Haven't seen anyone do a Consul in a while.

On the engine management, what are you doing for a throttle body? That engine had the electric DBW one.

If you are planning on installing a cable throttle body, you could use an 850 ECU and harness and an M4.4 ECU (through '98). VAST Tuning does a COP conversion for the M4.4 ECUs and you go that route, and not deal with the distributor.
One way or another you're dealing with modifications, or paying money.
 
Yep, i have an 850 N/A throttlebody, which i already fitted to to one of those newer inlet manifolds, its not as big as the hole in the inlet manifold, but probably works until i find an 960 TB that should be bigger/same as inlet? in diameter.

Interesting that cop conversion, but i assume VAST tuning is located outside EU? So ordering from there adds 24% VAT + shipping costs = No go, thats almost as much as standalone ecu bought in here.
 
Well, it's a small bit of soldering inside the ECU for the conversion, and you could build your own harness. Then it's just getting the bin file from him for a reasonable cost.

It's also probably just as easy to mod the firewall. Hard to see in your pics.
 
Very cool project, looks like you're off to a great start already and you have the room to do it, added bonus!

The Consul looks like our (US) '70s Toyota Celica in my opinion, cool looking car!

celia1.jpg


800px-Toyota-Celica-1600-ST-TA22-rear.jpg


8014139883-f6b8a0d6f9-o.jpg
 
The dizzy would hit right into that corner + heater box thats taken off:
<a href="https://ibb.co/kBJrKcM"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/7CQTvyb/20181101-183221.jpg" alt="20181101-183221" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/M89sSBW"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/db7rMm1/20181101-183229.jpg" alt="20181101-183229" border="0"></a>

And the inlet manifold + TB:
<a href="https://ibb.co/TMHG4C6"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/F4B15P2/20191114-155529.jpg" alt="20191114-155529" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/2gp1WtD"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/nzKN6cH/20191114-155603.jpg" alt="20191114-155603" border="0"></a>

@Vol242vo Yeah and a bit as 70s dodge challenger aswell.
 
Shaved the lip out of the exhaust manifold, fitted turbo on it & tried on car, plenty of space for downpipe etc:

<a href="https://ibb.co/XygGVB5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/wJX2YHQ/20191114-182713.jpg" alt="20191114-182713" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/xXCZZj6"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/BczkkZB/20191114-185304.jpg" alt="20191114-185304" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/9hnrD9g"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/ScN3jXy/20191114-185236.jpg" alt="20191114-185236" border="0"></a>

Broke the fragile plastic heater box while trying to force it in its place, guess ill redesign a slimmer one:
<a href="https://ibb.co/7x3Kh0Q"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/j9CDtjz/20191114-184624-LI.jpg" alt="20191114-184624-LI" border="0"></a>

Repaired A-pillar rust hole.

I think ill scrap the idea for M4.3/M4.4 engine management. Its so expensive and timetaking to source all the parts thats theres just no point in it, it would cost more than a aftermarket programmable ecu in the end. So ill rather just directly buy an aftermarket ecu like Maxxecu etc. and make another harness for my other project car. Then i can swap the ecu between cars, until i get ecus for both.

Though i will keep my eyes open if someone sells a cheap ready ecu kit or scrap car with all parts needed.
 
I was thinking the something similar!

Cool project btw, look forward to seeing how it turns out!
Very cool project, looks like you're off to a great start already and you have the room to do it, added bonus!

The Consul looks like our (US) '70s Toyota Celica in my opinion, cool looking car!

8014139883-f6b8a0d6f9-o.jpg
 
Been working on my van, so didnt had time for this project lately, nothing really happened on this.

Found a 2-Pillar car lift for my garage, going to fix that up and running asap.
Next would be the gearbox rear mount and propshaft bearing mount modification, then i can get the engine out and start bolting flywheel, clutch and other stuff in.

Celica similarities can be seen compared to my other project car "75 Granada" Coupe "or fastback as you say on the other side of the pond" (Its exactly same car as Consul, exept for the roof & trunk lid:

<a href="https://ibb.co/NxwRKqJ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/G7gmRD8/20190628-153711.jpg" alt="20190628-153711" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/FYg2MhP"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/pKJc81m/20190719-134503.jpg" alt="20190719-134503" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/z5gs3ps"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/JdTnYVn/20190628-153629.jpg" alt="20190628-153629" border="0"></a>
 
B

Celica similarities can be seen compared to my other project car "75 Granada" Coupe "or fastback as you say on the other side of the pond" (Its exactly same car as Consul, exept for the roof & trunk lid:

<a href="https://ibb.co/NxwRKqJ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/G7gmRD8/20190628-153711.jpg" alt="20190628-153711" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/FYg2MhP"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/pKJc81m/20190719-134503.jpg" alt="20190719-134503" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/z5gs3ps"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/JdTnYVn/20190628-153629.jpg" alt="20190628-153629" border="0"></a>


I love these cars!

Any more info on this one?
 
I love these cars!

Any more info on this one?

Well, it doesnt have any volvo parts in it(yet:lol:), so im not going to post much about it here. (Always free to ask in private too, trying to help best i can)
But when i have the T5 fitted into Consul(Test bench), it will bolt straight into this one aswell :nod:

In short:

Cosworth V6 24Valve (BOA) engine (Standard Ford EEC-IV engine management) + MT-75 manual transmission
Spax -40mm lowering kit (Same kit as my Consul has)
Consul front grille + bumpers(Granada ones have rubber trim on bumpers)
Headlights (from a Toyota Crown, but not 100% sure?)
Cragar Daytona 15" wheels fr 8" / r 10"
Fenders, Rear fender flares, hood, trunk lid, all fibreglass (made by me)
etc.
 
Last edited:
Well, it doesnt have any volvo parts in it(yet:lol:), so im not going to post much about it here. (Always free to ask in private too, trying to help best i can)
But when i have the T5 fitted into Consul(Test bench), it will bolt straight into this one aswell :nod:

Aside from a handful of VW's, my other non-Volvo vehicles have all been Fords.;-)
I had a couple of the XR4's and Scorpios (Granadas), but always liked the lines of the Mk1 Granada Coupes, but we never got them stateside.

Sounds like a nice build!
 
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