N19

Very true and there are a number of options (ranging from scratching head and reading the manual and re-doing stuff myself, to phone a friend, to paying someone to do a job properly) if I do.
My phone is progressively fuller of photos of the car in various states of disassembly i the same way that 'normal' folk have repetitive pictures of kids or pets... 😂 wiring looms labelled up etc.
The engine itself shouldn't need any work doing to it as it is in good fettle and runs fine, other than an exterior clean up and degrease perhaps. I will do new service items (points/plugs) when it's finished but don't want to do unnecessary jobs while it's out, find there's an issue with it, and have to trace lots of different variables!

Being entirely new to removing engines, and somewhat of a worrier, I'm half convinced that I'm making a massive cockup and it'll never in a million years go back together. But then credit myself with a little confidence that it's all a case of following instructions and being methodical, and even if I do somehow cock it up, I'll learn in putting it right.
Pep talk over, I went through the list from the HBOL...

 
I thought I'd be a smartarse and mark up the propshaft lining up with a chinograph pencil, luckily realised just before taking it off that the grease and so on down here won't guarantee it surviving. I ground a little nick to be sure of having some reference when putting it back together.

The nuts were a bugger to undo with limited ground clearance and a bit of play in the shaft! A spare extension bar was used to stop it rotating, which allowed the nuts to be cracked. A little tugging later and the propshaft slid off.

Also, there's something satisfying about looking at shiny new parts, even if you know that within a few miles it'll be mucky! 

Next job, try to separate the bits of exhaust which really aren't for coming apart... (or, give up, take the angle grinder to the bottom of the manifold, and treat myself to the new manifold as the current one is a bit rusty...)

Nice work so far. It’s a Capri with a Pinto… there’s not much you can get wrong!😆
Worst of it when disassembling is all the grime and crud on everything. Obviously that won’t be such an issue when putting it all back. 
Just take plenty of pics of it all before you do everything.

Being entirely new to removing engines, and somewhat of a worrier, I'm half convinced that I'm making a massive cockup and it'll never in a million years go back together. But then credit myself with a little confidence that it's all a case of following instructions and being methodical, and even if I do somehow cock it up, I'll learn in putting it right.
Pep talk over, I went through the list from the HBOL...

 
I thought I'd be a smartarse and mark up the propshaft lining up with a chinograph pencil, luckily realised just before taking it off that the grease and so on down here won't guarantee it surviving. I ground a little nick to be sure of having some reference when putting it back together.

The nuts were a bugger to undo with limited ground clearance and a bit of play in the shaft! A spare extension bar was used to stop it rotating, which allowed the nuts to be cracked. A little tugging later and the propshaft slid off.

Also, there's something satisfying about looking at shiny new parts, even if you know that within a few miles it'll be mucky! 

Next job, try to separate the bits of exhaust which really aren't for coming apart... (or, give up, take the angle grinder to the bottom of the manifold, and treat myself to the new manifold as the current one is a bit rusty...)

I've been quiet for quite a bit, a combination of weather, work, and illness.
The wait for paint drags on, I've been pointed towards somebody who has said he can take the car at the end of Jan. We shall see.
After a while discussing engine out vs engine in, I decided it should come out so the bay can be painted too. May as well.
Started by removing the bonnet - a 2 man job, which I managed alone, although I think if it was a finished car with glass in I'd have wanted a second person.

Oil and coolant drained, rad out and all hoses, fuel line off, vacuum, choke and throttle off, battery out, carburettor off...
Lots of random photos taken along the way as reference points of linkages etc, hoses marked up with chinograph pencil.

 

Rest of the fleet - Focus is plodding along quite happily, albeit it is slow on the take-off - whether this is a clutch issue or something I'm not sure, but may need to check and adjust. Mondeo is fine, I did a coolant change and had an air lock I think as we had intermittent heat output and at one point wildly varying temperature gauge - ran the engine parked uphill with the cap off and topped up a bit, seems better now.

I've been quiet for quite a bit, a combination of weather, work, and illness.
The wait for paint drags on, I've been pointed towards somebody who has said he can take the car at the end of Jan. We shall see.
After a while discussing engine out vs engine in, I decided it should come out so the bay can be painted too. May as well.
Started by removing the bonnet - a 2 man job, which I managed alone, although I think if it was a finished car with glass in I'd have wanted a second person.

Oil and coolant drained, rad out and all hoses, fuel line off, vacuum, choke and throttle off, battery out, carburettor off...
Lots of random photos taken along the way as reference points of linkages etc, hoses marked up with chinograph pencil.

 

Rest of the fleet - Focus is plodding along quite happily, albeit it is slow on the take-off - whether this is a clutch issue or something I'm not sure, but may need to check and adjust. Mondeo is fine, I did a coolant change and had an air lock I think as we had intermittent heat output and at one point wildly varying temperature gauge - ran the engine parked uphill with the cap off and topped up a bit, seems better now.

Little progress in these parts. Fuel tank was fine, everything nice and tight and running well, gauge works - chucked a couple of gallons of 4* in (at great expense) and it registered (even showing empty on the tank, before taking the old one off, I drained about 2 gallons out).
The old tank itself is still kicking around, I offered it for free online, it's got surface rust but it is intact and perfectly servicable.
Paint wise, I've contacted a couple of other painters that I've had recommended, and one is coming to have a look at the car next week. Hopefully, that will mean some progress!
I'd no idea it'd be quite this long (but I suppose that's the nature of a project like this) and feel a bit silly given that others can work miracles in half the time.
I popped down today for a bit of a tidy up, and to have a looksee at some shiny parts ready for refitting, as some form of motivation. And to figure out the fixing holes for the side rubbing trim which is supposedly a complete cow to get back on! The longer runs have studs along the middle and some sort of clip should be inside for them to locate on. Hmm!

Opportunistic (or magpie-like) as ever, I found an old coat hook board and re-used it as a fan belt storage unit...

Meanwhile, the Mondeo had a further tart up with a couple of coats on the front bumper.

I've been quiet for quite a bit, a combination of weather, work, and illness.
The wait for paint drags on, I've been pointed towards somebody who has said he can take the car at the end of Jan. We shall see.
After a while discussing engine out vs engine in, I decided it should come out so the bay can be painted too. May as well.
Started by removing the bonnet - a 2 man job, which I managed alone, although I think if it was a finished car with glass in I'd have wanted a second person.

Oil and coolant drained, rad out and all hoses, fuel line off, vacuum, choke and throttle off, battery out, carburettor off...
Lots of random photos taken along the way as reference points of linkages etc, hoses marked up with chinograph pencil.

 

Rest of the fleet - Focus is plodding along quite happily, albeit it is slow on the take-off - whether this is a clutch issue or something I'm not sure, but may need to check and adjust. Mondeo is fine, I did a coolant change and had an air lock I think as we had intermittent heat output and at one point wildly varying temperature gauge - ran the engine parked uphill with the cap off and topped up a bit, seems better now.

I've been quiet for quite a bit, a combination of weather, work, and illness.
The wait for paint drags on, I've been pointed towards somebody who has said he can take the car at the end of Jan. We shall see.
After a while discussing engine out vs engine in, I decided it should come out so the bay can be painted too. May as well.
Started by removing the bonnet - a 2 man job, which I managed alone, although I think if it was a finished car with glass in I'd have wanted a second person.

Oil and coolant drained, rad out and all hoses, fuel line off, vacuum, choke and throttle off, battery out, carburettor off...
Lots of random photos taken along the way as reference points of linkages etc, hoses marked up with chinograph pencil.

 

Rest of the fleet - Focus is plodding along quite happily, albeit it is slow on the take-off - whether this is a clutch issue or something I'm not sure, but may need to check and adjust. Mondeo is fine, I did a coolant change and had an air lock I think as we had intermittent heat output and at one point wildly varying temperature gauge - ran the engine parked uphill with the cap off and topped up a bit, seems better now.

I've been quiet for quite a bit, a combination of weather, work, and illness.
The wait for paint drags on, I've been pointed towards somebody who has said he can take the car at the end of Jan. We shall see.
After a while discussing engine out vs engine in, I decided it should come out so the bay can be painted too. May as well.
Started by removing the bonnet - a 2 man job, which I managed alone, although I think if it was a finished car with glass in I'd have wanted a second person.

Oil and coolant drained, rad out and all hoses, fuel line off, vacuum, choke and throttle off, battery out, carburettor off...
Lots of random photos taken along the way as reference points of linkages etc, hoses marked up with chinograph pencil.

 

Rest of the fleet - Focus is plodding along quite happily, albeit it is slow on the take-off - whether this is a clutch issue or something I'm not sure, but may need to check and adjust. Mondeo is fine, I did a coolant change and had an air lock I think as we had intermittent heat output and at one point wildly varying temperature gauge - ran the engine parked uphill with the cap off and topped up a bit, seems better now.

The new slave cylinder turned up today. The attachments are for a later bluebird - mine has a banjo style connection. Nevertheless, it provided a replacement for the perished seal which was the killer. Assembled, bled, perfect.

Test drive round the block with appropriate cassette background for the fault...
 

Scrap caliper arrived today. Initially I thought it was the wrong part, but once I'd had a proper look I realised it was ok. The carrier, discs, pads, caliper went back on all good. Nice little 12-mile test run seems fine. Old oven loaded ready for tip run tomorrow.

"It's just... Err... I don't have my wallet to pay for this unique British Leyland keyfob, six randoms on a roffle and a NOS bit of Ford Sierra trim... Maybe we could... Come to an arrangement?"

"It's just... Err... I don't have my wallet to pay for this unique British Leyland keyfob, six randoms on a roffle and a NOS bit of Ford Sierra trim... Maybe we could... Come to an arrangement?"

"It's just... Err... I don't have my wallet to pay for this unique British Leyland keyfob, six randoms on a roffle and a NOS bit of Ford Sierra trim... Maybe we could... Come to an arrangement?"

"It's just... Err... I don't have my wallet to pay for this unique British Leyland keyfob, six randoms on a roffle and a NOS bit of Ford Sierra trim... Maybe we could... Come to an arrangement?"

I'm working a Friday afternoon in Eastham, not a time or place I usually work but hey ho.
I get despatched a job and dutifully turn up at the address. An old man with a grey beanie hat and an NHS walking stick exits his pensioner's bungalow and gets into the front passenger seat of my 400,000 mile Mondeo estate. He tells me he wants to go to the chemist to collect his prescription and then to the small Tesco nearby. No probs, I take him to the chemist and after five mins he returns with a massive bag full of his essential medication. He gets back into the front passenger seat and I run him the few hundred yards to the Tesco. This old fella with a grey beanie hat and NHS walking stick informs me that he'll only be a few minutes.
I spend the next ten minutes on waiting time amusing myself on FB and AS but then start to wonder where this OAP had fucked off to. I look up and notice that waiting at the bus stop in front of me is an old man wearing a grey beanie hat and using an NHS walking stick! Shit! My punter is clearly a bit senile and forgot that he had a taxi waiting! 
Now, remembering all my Dignity and Respect training, I walk over and cheerfully tell the OAP that I'm here in his taxi and would he like to get in the car so I can take him home. He tells me that he hasn't ordered a taxi which means I have to try a different approach. I've written off the idea of getting paid for the job by now but I want him to still have his many tablets that were currently in my front passenger footwell. I tell him no problem, feel free to get the bus home but advise him to take his drugs home with him that I have in the car. 
It's then he starts to get aggressive, he says that he doesn't want any of my fucking drugs! I can see this isn't going to be easy so I tell him that I'll get his prescription out of my car whilst turning around and motioning to my Mondeo estate. It's then I see an old man with a grey beanie hat and an NHS walking stick opening my passenger door and get into my car! Yes, I'd been trying to entice the wrong old man into getting into my car with the promise of drugs!!!  At this point, I looked hopefully at the ground on the hope that it'd swallow me! I make my humble apologies and scamper back to my car to take the correct old man with a grey beanie hat and NHS walking stick back home!

A couple of hours ago I got a job taking me to the arse end of Wirral. When I drop off I'm happy to see a job on my PDA taking me back to the busy area. I pull up outside the pick up location, a pub unsurprisingly, and two fellas walk out, one more pissed than the other. The slightly more sober one wants dropping off RTFC and even after the quarter of a mile his mate is totally comatose. I say that there's no fucking way I'm taking his mate without a full address so his mate shakes him and gets the road name and door number from him. I let him sleep for the rest of the trip.
It's when I get to Baldy 50 year old Penfold's house is when the fun starts. I have to wake him up and he starts flattering between whether he wants to pay by cash or card. I get my card reader out and set up the contactless payment for £14.70, get in the back and sit on the left rear jump seat holding my card reader. He's now starting to get a little bit nasty so I get out and start to walk to his house to summon assistance from his missus.
B.P. "Don't you go knocking on my door making my dad angry."
So he's 50 and still lives with his parents? 
W.T.C. "So pay your fucking bill then!"
B.P. "Don't fucking eyeball me! I don't like it! Do you know who my dad is?"
I don't know who his dad is but he'll be about 75 and hardly a threat.
W.T.C. "Don't be a prick. Just pay the fare and fuck off".
B.P. "One phone call from me and I'll have a car full of lads screaming through the tunnel from Liverpool to fuck you over!"
W.T.C. "Having to call mates over to do me in isn't something to be proud of. It just means that you're a mummy's boy little shithouse who can't take me on alone".
This clearly triggers B.P and he tries to take a lunge at me from the back seat. I'm standing by the open NSR door and my first thought was to slam the door on his arm but then I notice something that makes me change my mind, his wallet on the back seat. I let him finish his pissed lunge which only results in him laying flat out half in the cab and half on the wet pavement. I put one boot on his back to restrain him, reach in to get his wallet and take a contactless payment.
B.P. "You fucking cunt! I'm getting my dad!"
W.T.C. "The payment's gone through for the £14.70 plus the fiver tip".
I drag his legs out of the back and drive away.

Use it as a good excuse to buy one of these:
https://www.costco.co.uk/Tyres-Automotive/Garage/Trolley-Jacks-Axle-Stands/Arcan-2750kg-3-Ton-Steel-Service-Jack-Model-XL2750EU/p/254971
You will never regret it. I got one a few years ago and use it often, having made do with the usual little DIY one for ages.
It makes SO many jobs easier and safer. Could make a nice Xmas present too 😉

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

Near Goodge Street, in this area there's a few older cars that seem to sit and seldom ever move. Presumably owned by somebody with enough money to live locally!

Near Goodge Street, in this area there's a few older cars that seem to sit and seldom ever move. Presumably owned by somebody with enough money to live locally!

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.