Transmission

Unless you’re really unlucky or lack mechanical sympathy, the RS2000’s MTX75 gearbox shouldn’t give any grief. Okay, synchromesh on the third cog can cause aggro if you’re hammering a bigbhp machine.

It comes with beefy internals, broad driveshafts and chunky CV joints, and is really all you need in any RS2000. But that’s not to say it can’t be enhanced.

According to OKC, the gearing is perfect for any Escort with decent power. So the first improvement is a Quaife ATB limited-slip differential, which helps to transmit power to the tarmac for sprints, circuits and fast road use. There’s also the option to fit a set of Mondeo threepiece equal-length driveshafts, which reduce torque steer.

For 300bhp or track action you’ll need a beefier clutch – choose an uprated organic or Helix four-paddle clutch depending on what you’ll be asking of the car. Don’t forget a lightened flywheel at the same time, which will rev more happily than the heavy standard part.

If you’ve chosen to turbocharge your RS2000, or you’re entering motorsport, you may also want a hardcore gearbox. Quaife and Competition Transmission Services offer stronger ’boxes, including shot-peened gears and straight- cut options, while an Xtrac six-speed or seven-speed sequential ( as used on the RS2000 rally car) is pretty much the ultimate.

Finally, don’t forget the RS2000 4x4’s weakest point is its transfer box, which isn’t exactly designed to cope with a throttle-bodied 2.3. A Mitsubishi Evo setup can be machined to fit the MTX75, but you’d be better advised to simply keep a stack of stock transfer boxes instead.