lisbon_road

It does not extend under the rear seat. You're right that you have to drop the tank to access the sender. There are three screws that go through clips. It isn't that bad but certainly one to avoid without good reason. I think people sometimes used to make a hole in the floor to access but probably best avoided especially on such a clean car. Petrol tanks. I fitted a new one to my Sierra and patiently painted the outside. The inside was bare steel and went unbelievably rusty very very fast. I replaced it (again!) and used an expensive tank sealant on it. This seemed a bit mad, but I reckon it was the right thing to do. The tank sealant sticks really well to the fresh metal. Just sharing this as it was so painful finding a newish tank basically full of rust so I don't want you or anyone else to end up the same way. Not that you've mentioned any problems with the tank.

I do a lot of ebay adverts and won't use it. I tried it and it makes it sound as if some simple car part is going to change your life. Seems to me that'll piss off potential purchasers more than a simple plain description.

Will try

I think they made loads but there's a general consensus that they went a lot more rusty than the Belgian ones. I think that generally the Belgian ones were the GL and Ghia but I'm not certain and it is probably a generalisation. In my opinion you have an amazing survivor. I remember when I took mine, a Belgian GL Mk1 for an MOT, the examiner came out from underneath and asked why it wasn't rusty. Dagenham stopped making Sierras sometime around 88 or 89 I think, then they all came from Belgium.

Doesn't sound lame to me. As an ex Sierra owner, it just sounds sensible. Do you know if this is a Dagenham Sierra - with an SFA VIN or a Belgian one? Just wondering. The number of Dagenham ones left must be tiny.

Professionals? Stealing that? I'm lost for words. Why would they steal that?

Harry Buckland is simply the best scrapyard left anywhere.

Sorry I have been slow. Here are the two 'tools'. One is a home made thing for holding the hub on the front of the water pump still. It locates on the M6 screws. The other is an old Pinto tappet adjusting spanner/tool, which may have spread a bit. If you want them there are two condition. You have to take both and you must promise not to give them back. Anyway, I've been so slow with this you've probably done the job several times over.

You might still need that. All mine does is hold the hub while you undo it with something else. I'll be embarrassed if I can't find the thing after all this build up.

My tool is a bit of lasered out steel that grips on the M6 screws on the front of the hub. It stops the hub rotating and you put a thin spanner in on the left hand thread of the coupling. It is a home made modified tool, though it definitely worked. I really don't want it now. I also have a Pinto tappet adjusting spanner which I suspect has spread a little, so if I send a parcel, we can put that in too. But if someone else has a better tool, get it, that's fine.

I most definitely won't want it back!

I made a special tool for that, very simple. I'll see if I can find it tomorrow evening.

This is heroic work. And all the right stuff to do for sure. On my new shell, there were loads of bits underneath that needed seam sealing as they'd done a really poor job of it in the factory. You may know all this - sorry if so. Might be worth getting a tin, if you know the stuff (one of the pros on here might know the better brands):

I seem to remember that you can fit hatch ones but they sit at the wrong angle and look really odd.

I think that's right. Struggling to remember but had something similar on my D reg MK1 2.0 Pinto Sierra.

And those coasters are orgasmic

No. Came from one of various Sierras I stripped years back. Have very little left now. Really good to contribute to this amazing car, which has given us so much interest on this forum.

You've got the MOT history to help with at least some of the milage history. Personally I believe it.

I suggest a key benefit is the differentiation. The traditional idea that Ford could supply a wide range of models, so that the hierarchy of the company could be reflected in each person having a slightly posher model as you work up the tree. Compare this with (going back a bit) British Leyland who made say Allegros and Marinas, where the differentiation wasn't clear, and Vauxhall who just didn't make enough models. Ford did base, L, GL, Ghia and probably loads of others. Nevertheless, they make a lot of cars so a small saving times car volumes gets worthwhile.

Are these ok? No little plastic cap on one.

I am almost certain that I have a couple of window winders, which I will be posting to you FOC (I send a lot of post) so please PM me your address - won't be tomorrow. Despite everything, it is still an amazing car I think.

Well it looks great in the photos. If really it just needs a touch up, slight exhaust blow, cambelt and a small oil leak, I reckon you've done really well. Really hope this works out for you! I might have a cam cover gasket - I will have a look and let you know.

Really? They made a 1.3 auto - presumably a three speed torque converter traditional ............ that must have been unbelievable.

My Amazon order for Mannol Dextron III atf turned up. £11.92 for 4 litres. Euros want £73 for five litres.