Project Project Capri. Back on the road! Running like a scouse watch!

[danthecapriman]

Nice! That amount of work is what I'd call normal for an unrestored Capri these days.  The A posts are more complex that they look and take a good deal of effort to sort out.  The rest is a matter of unpicking all the spot welds and replacing with new panel work.  Theres also quite a bit of work getting the new panels to fit if they're aftermarket.  I've no idea what the last place charged you but at least the work you paid for has been done well.  

 

Are the doors ok?  Solid ones are quite difficult to get hold of now.

Both door skins are pretty poor, ok though as I've got a new pair, one being nos Ford.

The frames, one is fine just needing a few small repairs. The other is worse but still fixable but I've managed to get hold of a very good used spare so I've given them that to use if they want to, just needs the new skin putting on. If any parts come back unused I'll either keep them as spares or sell them on.

[danthecapriman]

I've cleaned up the ally inlet manifold now too. It spent last night soaking in a bucket of degreaser which got rid of all the gunge and oil.

 

IMG_0541 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

The carb has also had a quick scrub with a toothbrush and degreaser. It wasn't too bad though really.

It's a little baby Weber! From a Weber direct replacement kit to replace the fucked original fomoco carb, it's dated 2002, I remember fitting it on a boiling hot day in August, pissing off the old crone next door to my old house with all the smoke etc when setting it up afterwards!

Yes, I could stick a twin choke Weber on instead but I'm sticking to stock spec or as near as dam it.

 

IMG_0542 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

Here's both parts clean and free of filth.

The manifold had some very old black paint on it in places. I've used a dremmel with mini wire brush attachments to gently scrub it all clean and 'shine' it up a bit. Looks ok I think.

Just needs a new gasket and bolting back on to the engine now.

 

IMG_0543 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

[danthecapriman]

It's getting hot outside again, but I've reassembled the inlet side onto the engine.

 

IMG_0544 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

IMG_0545 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

All went together ok, also cut some new petrol hose (unleaded ethanol compliant) added a new fuel filter and jubilee clips and connected the pump and carb back together.

Just need to paint the remaining exposed bits of the cylinder head black. That can be done later though, too hot now.

[JeeExEll]

Hope you thoroughly rinsed out that degreasing tray before you put the chicken in the oven today.

[danthecapriman]

Hope you thoroughly rinsed out that degreasing tray before you put the chicken in the oven today.

Naa, all adds to the flavour!

[Hendry]

This is fucking epic!! Love threads like this, nut and bolt rebuilds!! Itll be like new, concourse when its done. Just mind and actually finish it, too many times ive gotten drawn into a thread like this on other forums and after all the work the car never gets finished!

[TripleRich]

Very nice.  A coat of high temp lacquer on the inlet manifold will keep it looking like that for much longer.  Same applies for other bare metal parts like thermostat housings, distributors and alternator brackets.

[fordperv]

Looking great dan keep it up, maybe when its done the forums capri' s should have a meet and greet

[danthecapriman]

This is fucking epic!! Love threads like this, nut and bolt rebuilds!! Itll be like new, concourse when its done. Just mind and actually finish it, too many times ive gotten drawn into a thread like this on other forums and after all the work the car never gets finished!

Oh it'll get finished alright! This bastard cars almost ruined me at least twice in my ownership of it and I'm this deep in now so nothing (touch wood!) will fuck this up for me now!! Though I was close to bailing on it the most recent time...

 

I've done shit loads on this car over the years and had it apart once before for quite a big overhaul not long after I bought it but never gone this far into it. It's great to see it in its most bare basic form, then start to see it come back together again. Just doing the engine has given me a bit of a kick, to see it looking as good as it does now.

 

It'll be coming home well and truly into its retirement phase though when it's done! No more living outdoors, no more use in the wet, no more use as a daily driver, getting it's very own purpose built garage, never again will it feel the kiss of fucking road salt against its nether regions!!

I really can't wait to see it in paint!

[danthecapriman]

Looking great dan keep it up, maybe when its done the forums capri' s should have a meet and greet

Now there's a plan!

Who else has a Capri? Obviously you and I, Tamworth has one too and Junkyarddog, anyone else?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

This will be such a sweet car when done.

 

Any decisions on colour?

[danthecapriman]

This will be such a sweet car when done.

 

Any decisions on colour?

I reckon you all know already...

 

 

 

Miami!

I was talking about this with the new guy and he thinks it's a very good choice, given the cars age and spec. Plus I've already painted the VIN tag in Miami with lacquer and I love it!

Although I must admit Purple Velvet was a close contender right to the end. Just not sure I could live with it long term?

[danthecapriman]

I'm lucky really as I bought this one for £100 in 2001, taxed and MOT'd! Obviously that was before the prices went mad.

I've been a life long Capri lover though. As a school kid everyone else liked Ferraris or Lamborghinis, Astons that sort of stuff. I wanted a Capri! I was laughed at a lot for that as they were seen as old and unfashionable then but they can all do one! I got this one as soon as I possibly could after leaving school when I was 16, spotted it roadside for sale and went straight to the bank and withdrew my savings to buy it. My dad came with me to actually buy it and he drove it home for me as I didn't even have a licence.

Even then though, this car was not short of problems but none the less I was over the moon with it! I'd done well too as not only did I get the car I wanted but I got an early one in superb 70's spec and look. Exactly what I'd wanted.

Now of course £100 wouldn't get you much of a Capri at all let alone one that's road legal.

 

It's sad in a way that values have gone the way they have. These cars were always the working mans hero. It's what normal people could have and be proud to own. But now it's not those same people generally that can have one. The vast majority of these cars biggest fans are now priced out of the market with them.

The same is true of Cortina's, Granada's, Escort's and loads of other cars, Ford or other makes. I'm just glad I did manage to get one and had the bloody mindedness to keep it despite what people said at the time.

This particular car has a lot of sentimental value to me too so it's always going to be special to me, beyond what most other people would see it as. Not sure everyone would understand tbh, but some things are more important than money, this car being one of them for me.

 

Anyway, the work has now begun on the body! So watch this space...

From what I've been told progress should be fairly swift now, obviously unless there's any unforeseen issues but I doubt there will be at this point. Everything that needs to be taken into consideration is now fully visible.

[JeeExEll]

^^ In 1994 I sold a mot'd useble X-reg 2.8i which had some early 80s magazine history for £160. ( £ one hundred and sixty). I posted a little bit about that one in the Street Machine thread a couple of weeks ago and Bunglebus kindly looked out the articles and scanned them for me. Fortunately I saved the scanned pics as the recent Photofuckit carry on ripped that thread to bits. I expect the pics will probably be reposted in a relevant thread at a suitable time.

 

That particular 2.8i, graphite grey-over-stratos silver, was totally standard and a close brother of the first Tickford 2.8 turbo development car.

[danthecapriman]

^^ In 1994 I sold a mot'd useble X-reg 2.8i which had some early 80s magazine history for £160. ( £ one hundred and sixty). I posted a little bit about that one in the Street Machine thread a couple of weeks ago and Bunglebus kindly looked out the articles and scanned them for me. Fortunately I saved the scanned pics as the recent Photofuckit carry on ripped that thread to bits. I expect the pics will probably be reposted in a relevant thread at a suitable time.

That particular 2.8i, graphite grey-over-stratos silver, was totally standard and a close brother of the first Tickford 2.8 turbo development car.

I know where there's a blue over silver X reg 2.8i sitting unused on a driveway near here... looks saveable too. I've had my eye on it for a while but I'm out of space and if I come home with another one I'm dead.

 

It's surprising really that there's still a few of these cars sat around like that.

[eddyramrod]

Not sure everyone would understand tbh,

We do.  You can rely on us to understand!

[mk2_craig]

Its a conundrum owning a tired example of a desirable car innit. You know its gonna be worth a handsome amount when restored, but restoring it is gonna cost a handsome amount. At least you're not sinking thousands into something that isn't on the rise and never likely to be worth decent coin. Like a Renner 21 or summat

[eddyramrod]

Or a Rover 213................

[danthecapriman]

It's funny really. It's not necessarily the cost of sorting the car out so much. If this Capri was something else, say for arguments sake a Rover 213, and I'd wanted one and had the same long term ownership because I loved the car then it's kind of irrelevant to a point. The owner loves the car/has sentimental attachment blah blah whatever the reason so it's done for the love not what the car might or might not be worth. I'd still do it, put it that way!

 

What does piss me off and turn me off it though is when someone who your using to do a job on said car takes the piss!

The up side to me doing this car is however that it is a now desirable car. Not that it matters because I'll never be selling it. I suppose it doesn't really matter what the car is if it's done for non financial reasons.

[danthecapriman]

More painting done. It's starting to get boring now!

 

Most of what's left is little bits, brackets and odds and ends.

 

IMG_0546 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

The little tank type thing in this pic is the crankcase breather catch tank. It plugs into a hole in the top of the crankcase and any pressure and oily gas/residue is vented up through it and then back into the engines induction system to be burnt. The tank simply catches any solids or oil before it can clog up the induction system. This has also been sitting immersed in degreaser for ages to clean it out.

This had a rubber hose attached to it which was held on by a really really old and rusty hose clamp. I ended up forcing a screwdriver into it to get it off, which didn't work but it did slip off with my full force pushing on it and sliced the palm of my hand open! Not very nice!

The two U shaped channel sections are the rear leaf spring clamps. They've been blasted and now painted in the same chassis paint as the new springs.

 

IMG_0547 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

Also got the ally alternator mount plate cleaned up. I soaked it in degreaser for a week, agitating it with a stiff brush every day. It was absolutely filthy before. Cleaned up using the same method as the inlet manifold.

You'll barely be able to see this once the engines back in the car but that's not the point is it!?

 

IMG_0548 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

Finally for now...

 

IMG_0549 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

Front end fully assembled with that lovely yellow fan the dishwasher did such a good job of cleaning.

I've picked out the fan bolts heads in blue, and also been around the engine touching in any other bolt heads and exposed metal, mostly in black.

It's not actually that far from being finished now.

[Essex V6]

Now there's a plan!

Who else has a Capri? Obviously you and I, Tamworth has one too and Junkyarddog, anyone else?

Me but might not be able to make the meet!

[Essex V6]

Great idea!

Unfortunately it's been over 20 years since I last owned a Cappa and nearly 10 since I last drove one. Given the prices asked now for one worth having I can't see that changing anytime soon.

Fortunately I had my share when they were affordable (and still quite rot-free) in the late 80s and early 90s. Would especially love another 3.0S but should the lotto numbers align then it would be a Mk1 Perana.

Interesting link -http://www.themotorhood.com/themotorhood/2015/9/3/south-african-wildlife-1970-ford-capri-perana-v8

That is lush - thanks for posting up. There are a few Perana's out here. I have seen a pale yellow one with the number plate ZULU and I know another guy who is currently restoring one

[Essex V6]

I'm lucky really as I bought this one for £100 in 2001, taxed and MOT'd! Obviously that was before the prices went mad.

I've been a life long Capri lover though. As a school kid everyone else liked Ferraris or Lamborghinis, Astons that sort of stuff. I wanted a Capri! I was laughed at a lot for that as they were seen as old and unfashionable then but they can all do one! I got this one as soon as I possibly could after leaving school when I was 16, spotted it roadside for sale and went straight to the bank and withdrew my savings to buy it. My dad came with me to actually buy it and he drove it home for me as I didn't even have a licence.

Even then though, this car was not short of problems but none the less I was over the moon with it! I'd done well too as not only did I get the car I wanted but I got an early one in superb 70's spec and look. Exactly what I'd wanted.

Now of course £100 wouldn't get you much of a Capri at all let alone one that's road legal.

It's sad in a way that values have gone the way they have. These cars were always the working mans hero. It's what normal people could have and be proud to own. But now it's not those same people generally that can have one. The vast majority of these cars biggest fans are now priced out of the market with them.

The same is true of Cortina's, Granada's, Escort's and loads of other cars, Ford or other makes. I'm just glad I did manage to get one and had the bloody mindedness to keep it despite what people said at the time.

This particular car has a lot of sentimental value to me too so it's always going to be special to me, beyond what most other people would see it as. Not sure everyone would understand tbh, but some things are more important than money, this car being one of them for me.

Anyway, the work has now begun on the body! So watch this space...

From what I've been told progress should be fairly swift now, obviously unless there's any unforeseen issues but I doubt there will be at this point. Everything that needs to be taken into consideration is now fully visible.

A man after my own heart. I have been nuts about Capri's since I was a kid and have had 16 of them at the last count. First was a 1981 2.8i VJS824W. It was the very first 2.8i I saw when I was 11 and ended up being that exact car about 9 years later. Always been my dream car and have pretty much always had one on the go for the last 25 years!

[danthecapriman]

Moar engine bollocks! Nearly there now though, and I must admit I think it looks ace!

 

I followed the great advice you lot gave about the rocker cover. The paint said oil resistant but who knows what could happen to it when it's getting hot oil flung at it? There's no way I'm going to risk blocking oil ways or the pick up pipe so I've stripped the blue off the inside of the rocker cover.

I used a very potent chemical paint stripper, it smelt fucking awfull but it eat right through the enamel and the primer beneath within minutes. This then washed off with warm soapy water and a stiff nail brush. The outside survived untouched so no harm done. Better safe than sorry!

After that had dried off I smeared the inside with engine oil to stop flash rusting since the engine will be sat unused for a few months yet.

Then it got a new cork gasket and bolted in place on the engine. All the bolts were tightened and I've even replaced the two rubber seal washers on the front cam bearing end for new ones. Once it was all tight I painted the bolt heads and washers in the same blue enamel.

 

Various other brackets etc have been put back in place. The cam belt cover got a new '1600' sticker, and I've painted the engine number, casting number etc in silver enamel. Same for the tiny timing marks on the bottom pulley. Finishing touches really, that stand out nicely against the black block and show a bit of attention to detail.

 

IMG_0554 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

IMG_0552 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

IMG_0551 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

IMG_0550 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

IMG_0553 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

Painting the engine number was a pain, the numbers are very faint and none are stamped in line either!

Not much left now. Engine mounts need to dry properly before I bolt the rubber mounts (brand new) back on and the exhaust manifold. Not made my mind up yet on that. The cast original does look a bit shit tbh, so I might look at a tubular replacement. Any recommendations? It must look good though, no boy racer shit!

[richardthestag]

top work, what stripper did you use? Most I have tried struggle with enamel

[danthecapriman]

top work, what stripper did you use? Most I have tried struggle with enamel

Believe it or not this stuff https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/solvents/125pq18

 

It's a model making paint stripper I've used on my model trains! It's pretty strong stuff though, as I say it cut right through this enamel with ease. Just got to be careful where the stuff gets to as it will start dissolving any paint surface as soon as it touches it. Even a tiny bit flicked off the old toothbrush I was using and landed on one of my freshly painted engine mounts and it did mark it!

 

The silver enamel I used for the numbers is also model paint! A Humbrol tin. Does the job.

[adw1977]

IMG_0553 by Dan Clark, on Flickr

 

Painting the engine number was a pain, the numbers are very faint and none are stamped in line either!

 

 

Worth the effort, though - looks great.

[TripleRich]

Believe it or not this stuff https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/solvents/125pq18

 

It's a model making paint stripper I've used on my model trains! It's pretty strong stuff though, as I say it cut right through this enamel with ease. Just got to be careful where the stuff gets to as it will start dissolving any paint surface as soon as it touches it. Even a tiny bit flicked off the old toothbrush I was using and landed on one of my freshly painted engine mounts and it did mark it!

 

The silver enamel I used for the numbers is also model paint! A Humbrol tin. Does the job.

 

I've got some of that!  Bloody good stuff, the paint they do is very nice too.

[fordperv]

Ashley manifolds are plain looking and pretty cheap as well, i'll pop to the shed and pap a picture of mine for you

[fordperv]

The only problem with them is the paint they paint them with is shoite and burns off quickly, this one didnt actually come painted in the black paint, in hindsite i should have painted it in bbq paint, thats only surface corrosion so I still could