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Cortina upright strength
Hellbilly_Racing - 7/7/06 at 01:46 PM

Cortina uprights are very popular, but what fails on them first?

I'm planning to use them in conjunction with 280mm brakes on a quite heavy Ford V8 powered car.

The Sierra uprights are proven on race and rally cars the world over for about 20 years, so no worries there, but the cortina never got the chance to prove itself on the track, and I'm concerned that a weakness may show up on a heavier car that never would on the lighter ones?

Over concern or got a point? lol

Confused but excited. - 7/7/06 at 02:04 PM

The guy that I bought mine off in Manchester, used them on V8 Chevy powered stock cars, with a chassis made from 50x50x3mm RHS and 150mm channel and fitted with massive wheels. He didn't seem to have any problems with them.

Marcus - 7/7/06 at 02:07 PM

They were well used in South Africa for racing the Cortina Savages (V6 ISTR), so they're pretty well proven!

britishtrident - 7/7/06 at 02:07 PM

Seen them used on various race cars at the height of the Superloon/Donnington GT era.

jollygreengiant - 7/7/06 at 04:02 PM

Don't forget they also used them on Granada's and some of them were pretty heavy, especially the stretched ones.

Syd Bridge - 7/7/06 at 05:14 PM

The Cortina and Granny uprights LOOK the same but the Granny's are much heavier, and larger in all directions.

The Cortina's are similar to the USA Mustang 2's, which are used by rodders all over and are more than man enough for the job.

Cheers,
Syd,

jollygreengiant - 7/7/06 at 05:17 PM

Ok syd I stand (or sit in reality) corrected.

Syd Bridge - 7/7/06 at 05:41 PM

That's OK JGG.
A common misconception. Same as the one that says Granny/Scorpio and Sierra are the same. Nowhere near, just look it, like the Sierra 4x4's with the bigger top spigot.

But I'd second the use of Scorpio back end. Uses proper cv's, so easy axle changes.

Cheers,
Syd

Stu16v - 7/7/06 at 09:17 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Syd Bridge
The Cortina and Granny uprights LOOK the same but the Granny's are much heavier, and larger in all directions.

The Cortina's are similar to the USA Mustang 2's, which are used by rodders all over and are more than man enough for the job.

Cheers,
Syd,


It does depend on the Cortina upright you compare too - which also changed considerably over the years

Danozeman - 7/7/06 at 10:19 PM

The hot rod boys use them on there machines which pack huge engines. U never hear of any failing.

gazza285 - 8/7/06 at 03:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Hellbilly_Racing
But the cortina never got the chance to prove itself on the track


It proved itself on the banger tracks.

Syd Bridge - 8/7/06 at 03:18 PM

[quote
It does depend on the Cortina upright you compare too - which also changed considerably over the years



I've got four sets of uprights laid out in the shed. One set is Granny 2, the others Cortina. No two sets are the same, but the Granny's are bigger than all the Cortinas.

With the abuse the Cortina stuff gets on the tarmac ovals, you could near to use 'em for anything!

Cheers,
Syd.