tooSavvy

Being Essex boys, me and my mates have had dozens of these and the other RWD Ford favourites.
At one point three of us were running around in silver 4 door Ghias, two of which were mine at one point. My main one was a 1.6 auto (on the left), the other two were 1300s, one very tidy one that my mate bought back from the guy who bought it from his mum when we were kids, and a shabbier midnight blue one - thanks to a 4th Ghia bought as a donor, all the panels were swapped over and the rest of the car rattle canned to match (the one on the right)

Several times we took all three out for a cruise and a slide around the lanes, the old bill didn't seem as impressed as we were.
All these cars were cheap, my auto was £150, not sure on the midnight blue one but probably similar. Donor Ghia was £50 and didn't deserve to be parted out but I didn't do it.
The then-silver one became mine then got sold on to a knob who didn't have a license and killed it ragging it around in the woods

Don’t know whether I’ve made it look better or worse but here we go. Took the door card out, pushed the top part out by hand and then got a block of wood and a rubber mallet to get as much out from the lower part. 
 
It’s certainly still very uneven but it’s not so caved in now, bit less noticeable. 
 
Also took the blower motor out, it seems to be the actual fan making the noise so will likely just replace it. Have put some oil on the bearing tonight, will let it soak for a day or so then plug it in and see if it’s any quieter first.
 
Before:



After:

New drop links fitted, knocking sorted!

Got the split gaiter replaced on Friday.Is there a more hateful job?All that horrid black grease flung everywhere.All went well though.I'd wire brushed and sprayed the suspension nuts a few days previously,with GT85.Those stretch boots amaze me.Got some proper lube for the cone this time.The last time I used it  with some silicone spray,which didn't work well.Anyway,all done now.

Okay so I've been doing a bit of double checking on caliper part numbers. The caliper pair I linked earlier are not for this. Those are bigger and only fit the 2.5si and 3.0i/3.0si. This 2.2 has the same as the 2.0 and 2.5i, which are more expensive.
I think this is correct based on the part numbers on RealOEM:
https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk/car-parts/braking/calipers/nk-2115207-brake-caliper-2115207-detail
Unfortunately eBay doesn't have any offers on with parts in motion right now. At nearly £50 I probably will only buy that left side as I can't justify doing the right as well at that price, when it appears okay at the moment. Maybe I'll regret that decision...

This evening I had a few hours to put these new rear pads in. 
Apart from the E320, pretty much every car I've bought in the last year has its rear or front end in the air soon after I've bought it. 🤣

 
This is the offending side.


There certainly isn't much meat left on this pad! (More in a moment)

 
Slider pins are covered in white grease. Now I'm never sure if you should grease these pins? I thought you did but I have read that BMW say not to.

Pulled it all off and inspected it all.
Disc looked reasonable. It's had some heat through it but no massive scoring that I could see.

Slider pins were covered in grease. The bottom one I'd already started cleaning up (then remembered to take a photo) hence why it has less on it in this picture.

Piston doesn't look too bad under the boot from what I can see?

Carrier was crusty and filthy. I cleaned this up and greased the pad touch points. 

Piston went in but did take a fair bit of force with the spreader.

Now those pads...
Bottom is the inner and top is the outer.

I don't know what the pros think but my view is that I bloody luckily got away with not damaging the disc! There is a wafer thin amount of pad material left and the top just started kissing the raised lip of the disc.


I reckon the disc will be perfectly okay to reuse and isn't damaged? Incredibly close to doing so though.
I'd rather not change it if I don't have to, as they're not that old. Doesn't feel to have any high or low spots either.
Bloody lucky though!
The other side has loads of meat on the pads still. I didn't take pictures as I wanted to get it finished. The caliper piston and carrier were actually in far worse a state than the passenger side. Yet it span more freely. 🤷‍♂️

I put it all back together with new pads, cleaned up sliders and carrier. After pressing the brake pedal, the drivers side rear rubs ever so slightly but you get a tiny bit of spin after letting go. The passenger side however is really stiff and you need the wheel on for enough leverage to turn it. 
To me I definitely need a new passenger rear caliper. But tbh I think I might need both and be done with it. My thought is also that the drivers side might either be or become soon seized if the other side already has. 
I should also say while I think about it, I did try some hard braking on the way back. It didn't brake straight and true. More squirrelly and needed a fair bit of correction to keep it braking straight. Hopefully two new rear calipers will sort it all out properly.
Also noticed the passenger side has an older (rusty) Bilsten damper while the drivers side had a shinier newer looking Sachs damper. Tempting to lob a new one on that passenger side to have a matching new(ish) pair. Depends how much they are though.

Misremembered likely.....
 

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MrGetz jostling with other 'runners n riders' @Gosforth MacciD...
 

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I don't remember that version 

Making good progress and half way.
Heater fan stopped working below half at Stratford area. Now at Birmingham Frankley services to get my glasses out of the boot. Heater fan coming in and out randomly when set to full now. Iirc these are based on E46 and I remember they have a hedgehog something that causes issues? Just some old car fun.
Anyway roof is staying down for now as 18C. Pushing on. 
 

Washed and now time to go!
 

Sorry, but these people @wuvvum and @sierraman 's brother are surely winning at life?
Escort to Allegro VDP = win. You'd be beating the girls off with a shitty stick. "Can I try out the picnic tables, oh PLEEAAASE" 
Escort to Lada = win. You've gone from decadent Western frippery to robust Eastern common sense. You're advertising your socialist credentials and again, the knicker elastic should be snapping on every street corner. 

I love how HMC’s example looks exactly like how a slightly shabby one would have looked circa 1989. Including the Capri wheels bought off an unknown geezer in the pub for £40.
Three streets away from said pub, there would be a Capri sitting on bricks. 

It’s a 20 footer. Any closer and start seeing issues. Last owner for 17 years and well loved and it’s been kept functional and safe but will need restoration within a few years. 

now I do like that. Fantastic colour as well!

I turned it round on the trailer for weight distribution but it caused another issue that I thought might happen.
The wind got under the pop up roof and lifted the rear end of it. I had to stop on the hard shoulder and lower it again and even though I thought I’d locked it down it came up again within a couple of miles.
I managed to get a couple of small camloc straps tied round the inside roof mechanism and through seatbelt buckle which kept it in place the rest of the way back. 
Will have a good look round it next week and decide on my next move. 
if I keep it then I’ve some better seats to replace what I think are Rover SD1 ones. 
There are many more jobs that need doing first but it’s always nice to change something to make you feel a bit better, 

Due to limited access on the road where I collected from, we had to drive it on to the trailer. I’ve stopped and turned it round before heading up the M5 just to make sure we don’t have the tail wagging the dog scenario. 
 I have also adopted a sitting tenant….,

Loaded and about to head north. 
 

I hadn’t thought ahead to post so 1st journey already commenced. 
I’ve got the trailer on, a few podcasts downloaded and off south today. 
 
Vehicle 1 is 200 miles from home in one direction and vehicle 2 is 325 miles from home in the other. 
Plan is to get the first one back into the warehouse at work by mid afternoon today then an early start tomorrow for part 2. 
 
Breakfast was Shreddies and a brew with 2.  - Loo count is 0 but might have to keep legs crossed and I don’t like leaving car and trailer unattended at the services after losing a trailer before when only running in for 2 minutes once. 
 
Left home 7am, came the A46 route to get on M5 so cut a few miles off but return journey will stay on M5 to M42 and M6. 
 
Will update when I remember as I go along. 
I had offers to accompany me but sometimes I just like to do my own thing after having to deal with many people in the week. 
 
Start mileage and the rig. 

of all the cars I ever owned this is the one I'd love one more drive of

I brayyed a replacement bearing onto our MK3 Cortina axle.... Completely forgot the retainer plate 😱 = simply hacksawed across the opposite  corners & added two washers over the split....
I wouldn't forget next time..... If ever 🤣🤣
GR9 Mottah
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It’s on. It took 225 degrees, 20 minutes and hammer and brick chisel BUT ITS ON. 
 

 
and it’s fitted. 
 

It’s not ‘your’ thread though is it? Even if you started it, you only have ownership of your own contribution, not other people’s replies.

No longer permitted an opinion.  Will remove it.

The Past!
The Dream!
The Reality!
Mrs6C said don’t do it, but I gave into peer pressure and bought a black 1984 Austin Mini Mayfair.
The trouble is that it is a project that needs a lot of welding and as yet I have no idea if the engine and gearbox are any good. As it has not been on the road for 24 years I have to assume the brakes and exhaust will need attention and the interior has been exposed to the weather.
Yes this car is a full restoration project and I said no more projects. If you can spare a few working brain cells please put them in a jam jar and send them to me!
Now what, first off is to see if I can get it started which I am looking forward too.