Y plate Sierra Ghia. A little prang.

[Stixy]

The stains are water thats leaked in around the sunroof  

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Pinto belts are simple, but the crank pulley can need a three legged puller to ease it off. If the belt breaks theres no valve to piston contact unlike the 1600.

[laser wheels]

Sadly, DMB don't appear to have a dealer set for Glebe Garages, Cheshire.

 

That does need the DMB Graphics touch re:number plates/dealer sticker etc.

[laser wheels]

The stains are water thats leaked in around the sunroof  

 

Yeah, that's what I thought as well but thankfully I have experienced no water ingress - so far. The rest is almost definitely nicotine though as all the plastic trims have that telltale grubby patina.

 

Thanks for the tips about the headlining, guys, I really could have knackered it if I had just gone at it as planned!!

[laser wheels]

Popped into Halfords early doors then to the jet wash. Looking a bit better now but still needs a reet good old fashioned hand clean as there are still a lot of grubby marks all over the body work. However, they rub off easy enough with a moist finger so I'm hoping a clay bar and some T-cut should have it looking proper nice.

 

Still, scrubs up okay for now, I think.

 

 

From Halfords picked up some Turtle Wax dry foam upholstery cleaner and some goo for the plastics. After being suitably warned about the Sierras head lining by fordperv and Stixy I thought I would give it a go with some foam sprayed onto a micro fibre towel and just the lightest of touches ...

 

No.

 

This happened within minutes.

 

 

Feck.

 

What is worse though is that the foam stuff was great, too! On the plus side I was able to use it on the velour and carpet trim on the doors. The driver armrest in particular had a big greasy patch which this stuff shifted with just a quick wipe over. Great stuff!

 

With that fail out of the way we move onto the plasticz with much more success.

 

Before.

 

 

After.

 

 

Look at that! Much better!

 

Then this bit next.

 

 

What you see here is now just actual wear, but 90% of the greasy muck has now gone.

 

And, yes, I know what it looks like ...

 

 

... and no it isn't wallpaper paste ...

 

 

... but you could eat your dinner of it now. Lovely!

 

 

Not bad for an hours elbow grease!

[Bren]

Glebe Garage used to be located on Lunts Heath Road in Widnes.

 

It has only gone within the last ten years - it changed to a kids playbarn thingy but then this closed, not sure what it is now - the workshops are now Lunts Heath tyre and exhaust.

 

Likwise there was Dougherty's in Runcorn - now Polar Ford.

[Stixy]

For the  plastics i take them off and get them in the sink with hot water washing up liquid and a nail brush 

[RobT]

If I had a Sierra that hot I'd probably 'emit' all over the dashboard too...

 

The Ghia badge in the door wood capping is a nice touch.

[trigger]

I like this thread, your doing some great work helping this old girl last a few more years.

[laser wheels]

Thanks, Trig, although hopefully it will be a few more decades! And may I just add that despite people at work taking the piss, I got more thumbs up and compliments from strangers today - people just seem to love the old girl!

 

And in breaking news my air filter arrived today so hopefully should be able to get that on before work tomorrow. I've also probably almost decided that if it stays dry next week will get the seats out for a damn good hoovering.

[laser wheels]

Glebe Garage used to be located on Lunts Heath Road in Widnes.

 

It has only gone within the last ten years - it changed to a kids playbarn thingy but then this closed, not sure what it is now - the workshops are now Lunts Heath tyre and exhaust.

 

Likwise there was Dougherty's in Runcorn - now Polar Ford.

 

Now you come to mention it there were some bits from Polar Ford in the service history. I'm guessing that must be where the original owner took it after Glebe shut or something.

[Pillock]

Is there any way of rescuing baggy headliner?

I'm thinking some sort of spray glue - poke a little hole in the headliner, stick a little bit of spray glue in using an aerosol and a thin pipe (like WD40 but stickier) and hold it up for a bit. You'd have to hope that the hole you poked wasn't noticable though.

 

Or maybe for that bit, lever off one of the handle blanking plates and insert a tube that way.

[greengartside]

Thanks, Trig, although hopefully it will be a few more decades! And may I just add that despite people at work taking the piss, I got more thumbs up and compliments from strangers today - people just seem to love the old girl!

 

Who DA FUQ would take the piss outta that honey? Haters, that's who! I'd feel like a King driving that everywhere. Twenteen million thumbs up from me.

[fordperv]

Agreed, it's usually narrow minded folks who don't understand why anyone would choose a fully paid for 31 year old classic that's got character and is only appreciating in value over an over priced diesel euro shitbox on tick from a quality* outlet like arnie Clark's that depreciates like buggery and is worthless as soon as the dmf, dpf and injectors crap themselves,

 

I leave these people to live in their little bubble and live smug with the satisfaction that I love my well looked after shite

[Stixy]

Is there any way of rescuing baggy headliner?

I'm thinking some sort of spray glue - poke a little hole in the headliner, stick a little bit of spray glue in using an aerosol and a thin pipe (like WD40 but stickier) and hold it up for a bit. You'd have to hope that the hole you poked wasn't noticable though.

 

Or maybe for that bit, lever off one of the handle blanking plates and insert a tube that way.

No unfortunatly this ends in disaster with even more baggy headlining ( tried it ) , the only answer really is either replace or re-cover it 

[mercedade]

No unfortunatly this ends in disaster with even more baggy headlining ( tried it ) , the only answer really is either replace or re-cover it 

 

Had exactly this on both my Jags and my Mk1 827. Hateful stuff.

[fordperv]

on ebay i picked up 2m of 54" wide, grey foam backed material for £10 all in and bought a litre of high temp brush on contact adhesive £15 (it must be brush on high temp as spray on shits itself on a hot day) and re did mine, if you do trim yours just be careful when removing the old material from the fibre board as no doubt the board will be brittle mine was and had broke down in a couple of places at the rear (you can see on the picture what looks like dents on the rear edge of the headliner) but that didnt fuss me to much as it looked 500% better when done than it looked before with its staining and baggyness

 

 

theres a couple of places around where the sunviser's tuck into where it didnt quite stick at first because of the shape which i sorted after i took this picture with a bit of pressure and heat 

[laser wheels]

^

^

^

I will have to have a crack at something like that when the weather gets a bit nicer.

 

In other news, have just realised that the aerial in the Ghia is actually electric hence why I have been unable to get it up*. Now, does anyone know how to fix this as a Google search this evening has turned up zilch? Could it be a fuse, or more likely a burned out motor? I have scanned ebay for replacements but they all appear to be for MK2s.

 

It's not a big deal as radio is usually shite anyway but I just know it will start to bug me knowing that one of my toys isn't working!

[Stixy]

The standard electric aerial is triggered by the radio  there is a fuse behind the steering column cowling in a black fuse holder but its probably the motor thats packed up  .

 

If you replace it the aerial wire unscrews off the mast part of the electic aerial to screw onto a standard one   Ive got new mk1 standard aerials  will pm you

[overrun]

How have I missed this #stunna?

 

Loving your work, laser.

 

Do you reside in Washington? Now that I have seen your location, 'NE' I shall be keepin em skinned for yo ride.

[CortinaDave]

I replaced the electric aeriel on my mk1 ghia with an aftermarket jobbie which was near identical and an easy swap.

 

One of these is what you want:

 

http://bit.ly/1bE4k0y

 

Pretty much plug n go

[Stixy]

Yes that will do it   with an extension lead 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-5M-CAR-RADIO-STEREO-AERIAL-EXTENSION-CABLE-LEAD-NEW-/300804410540?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Terminals_Cabling_ET&hash=item4609570cac

[Vince70]

Put a bit of WD40 or spray wax or a bit of 3 in 1 on the chrome on the base of the aerial on quite a regular basis, otherwise it will be covered in rust within a couple of months..

 

I think it's the same aerial as I fitted to my Audi and it works well it's just that the chrome is a bit on the thin side..

[greengartside]

How's the Sierra running, Laserwheels?

[Grundig]

I remember both Glebe Garage & Dougherty's in Runcorn, I'll get some pics of what they look like now - Ex works price is dealer stock, cars in the showroom ready to go, rather than ordering a factory one to be built to your spec 

[laser wheels]

How's the Sierra running, Laserwheels?

 

Clocked up 300 miles so far and running great! Lack of funds mean not much going on but finally had another crack at fitting the K&N. It's in place now but for some reason can't get the last few clips on the airbox lid, but it's all screwed down tight and doesn't seem to have any gaps. Get paid on Friday then it's time for new plugs, filters, etc. and possibly an oil change if I'm feeling flush (no pun intended, if indeed that was a pun). Also going to order a new temp sender from ebay so hopefully will have a working temp gauge soon. Oh yeah, and finally got the clock/trip computer set and working properly!

 

Also gonna order a load of valeting goodies to get the paint looking as good as possible!

 

Oh yeah, and gonna look at getting one of them electronic ignition conversion kits, too.

[fordperv]

but laser wheels, sierras had electronic ignition as standard

[laser wheels]

but laser wheels, sierras had electronic ignition as standard

 

Now that's what I would have thought but the mechanic at the MOT place where I bought the car pointed at the distributor cap and was all "look how original it is - still got the original points! Hasn't even been converted to electronic ignition LOL!" Although I did think it was a bit odd to point at the distributor cap and say "don't see many of them anymore!". But at the time I just thought, "well he's the professional I suppose", and took his word for it.

 

Quite happy to save £30, though!

[Split_Pin]

First time I've read this thread, ace stuff. I love the wheel trims on these, and the dash. Imagine how that must have looked in 1982! Ive got the Corgi 1/36 model of the Ghia which they did around the time it was launched. The box has text on the back extolling the virtues of the new range of aerodynamic cars from Ford.

[mat_the_cat]

Just because it has a distributer cap doesn't mean it still has points, although I can understand most modern mechanics won't be that familiar with. Not sure you'd be able to get an electronic ignition kit (that didn't still rely on the points as a trigger) for £30 anyway?