Cortina GL - now home with bits missing

[ShiteRider]

Lego shape cortinas are for winners.

[JohnK]

 

The '70's called and asked for their cars back. JohnK told them to piss off they're staying.

 

So, after collecting the car and getting fuel, I hit the road to make some swift progress. At speed I could soon feel the n/s front brakes sticking, so I pulled over for a quick check. No excess heat which was fair enough so carried on. Few more miles went by and there was an annoying squeal from the n/s front which disappeared under braking. Time to pull over and have a look.

 

Fortunately I had a few tools with me and was able to clean everything up and although it's still not perfect, it was much improved for the remainder of the journey.

 

Slightly later, I heard a hell of a clunk, followed by some vibration, scraping and then a deep thud. I pulled over as soon as I could, checked her over and could see nothing out of place. I must have driven over something. I was stood at the rear of the car talking to a lorry driver who was parked in the lay-by for the evening. As I was talking to him a thought came over my mind - where the fuck is my exhaust?!

 

The backbox had detached and is on an A road somewhere in Scotland.

 

Then the heating stopped working. I had to take a diversion as the road was closed and subsequently got lost. So I was driving with my coat zipped right up, hood up in sub-zero temperatures. This in turn probably contributed towards me getting pulled by the rozzers for looking dodgy and an impromptu insurance check, which obviously hadn't yet updated, so I have a producer to sort.

 

Fortunately they were fairly interested in the car and one of them was restoring a Mini so we had a good chin wag for a bit, they then drove ahead and got me back on track.

 

Today she sounds fruity with no exhaust and the heating works spot on again.

 

She's not perfect but I don't think she's a bad base to start from. I'm sourcing an exhaust as we speak and also a few other bits and bobs and we will see how it pans out.

[mouseflakes]

Super-neat styling on these I think. Lost the plot a bit on the mk 5.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Forget about the exhaust, get the black squares painted on the wheels- all silver Sports Wheels offend me .

[trigger]

Love it! I had a none working caliper when I collected mine so when I braked it would steer right which was fun on a 200 mile drive.

[vulgalour]

Nice.  Behaving exactly like the Cortinas of my childhood too.  Does it stink of burning oil and produce blue-ish puffs of smoke on start up and gear change?  If so it's pretty much exactly like all the Cortinas I remember.

[cort16]

  On 08/03/2016 at 16:27, trigger said:

Love it! I had a none working caliper when I collected mine so when I braked it would steer right which was fun on a 200 mile drive.

 

Me too. I drove from Fife to Ayrshire with only one front caliper working. It must be a cortina shitey brakes thing.

Also my heaters don't work.

 

I got most of my bits from http://www.burtonpower.com/

What's the paint like? It looks pretty good in the pictures.

[Bren]

My mate has YRK 408S years ago - 1.6L in grey primer. Even like this he polished it with Mer.

 

He fitted seats with headrest pads from a CX . It was flogged to death.

 

Another mate of mine who is shit nuts about cortina's has recently obtained an early 2.0 S in silver.

[Bren]

Oh, and please, get that valance painted.

[JohnK]

Paints pretty good actually, it's not had a bad job done - I will get some close ups at some point. I'm unhappy with the n/s front door alignment where it's been refitted so that's a priority for me to sort when I get some free time.

 

Valance definitely will be painted - there's a load of spare paint in the boot that he gave me!

[captain_70s]

Looks tidy.

 

Funny how much older the Tolly looks when parked next to the 'Tina despite the fact you could still go out and buy both cars (Tolly would have a longer boot and a new name badge) in 1977!

[CortinaDave]

Ah its the Turbo Tomato - at least that's what the previous owner called it. this lived locally to me in Falkland in fife for a good few years, Id guess about a decade. A bloke called John had it. He still had it mid last year but i noticed it had changed hands a couple of times lately. Its a very nice car!

 

 

top purchasage!

[JohnK]

Trigger sent me that pic on Facebook the other day - she's looking a lot smarter there! She will get there though

[cort16]

thanks god the grill lights have been ditched

[320touring]

  On 08/03/2016 at 19:41, cort16 said:

thanks god the sill lightholes have been ditched

EFA for your tina..

[cort16]

Not yet!

[Tamworthbay]

That is gorgeous, I really need to scratch my cortina itch before they are out of my price range.

[RobT]

Tidy looking car that. Shitefest transport?!

[oldford]

  On 08/03/2016 at 06:38, purplebargeken said:

Needs a white Sierra next to it to show the progression in real life. Oh look, I have one here!

As the Sierra is coming up to my neck of the woods, I think that it could be a distinct possibility to get my Crusader next to it for some photos.

[trigger]

Its going to be a few weeks now but I'm looking forwards to getting a photo of it next to my Mk3 and even better next to my old/my dad's white Mk1 Cortina!

[Noel Tidybeard]

  On 08/03/2016 at 16:59, vulgalour said:

Nice.  Behaving exactly like the Cortinas of my childhood too.  Does it stink of burning oil and produce blue-ish puffs of smoke on start up and gear change?  If so it's pretty much exactly like all the Cortinas I remember.

yeah and has it got a square camshaft?

[JohnK]

She's had a top end rebuild so isn't smoky or smelly. Well, I don't think so once she actually has a bloody exhaust.

 

Rob - yes it is likely this will be Shitefest transport.

 

I'm currently away in Staffordshire with work and Mrs JohnK has joined me - it was a debate between taking the Cortina or the ST, I was ordered to bring the Cortina. I consider that as approval and a welcome to the fold.

 

I parked it next to a rather smart MK2 Cav in Lichfield when we went for tea, unfortunately I had left my phone and couldn't get a picture.

[mat_the_cat]

Do you need a Hyundai Stellar (i.e. thicker) front ARB?

[Skizzer]

  On 07/03/2016 at 09:35, Skizzer said:

In my defence, I thought GL got you rubbing strips rather than pinstripes.

  On 08/03/2016 at 19:15, CortinaDave said:

http://autoshite.com/uploads/monthly_03_2016/post-212-0-73137900-1457464717.jpg"

Ha! See? Rubbing strips.

 

I really should get out more.

[JohnK]

Ha ha alright calm down - I will let you off for that one

 

I think rubbing strips will need to make a comeback - another thing to add to the ever expanding list!

[trigger]

I think you need to buy the Vanguard model of your car and just doctor the number plate a bit.

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=152008461169&alt=web

[cort16]

  On 09/03/2016 at 22:39, trigger said:

I think you need to buy the Vanguard model of your car and just doctor the number plate a bit.

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=152008461169&alt=web

I've got that one (see previous page)

[JohnK]

But that's an L - not a GL. And you guys profess to know about cars.

 

I've had this conversation already I'm sure.

 

Wankers.

 

[Split_Pin]

Love that! My Uncle Rolland had an ex Taxi 1.6L in 1987 the same colour as yours except it had a beige vinyl roof. OTS 968R. It must have had a huge mileage as I recall that third gear was incredibly noisy. 1st, 2nd, then bwaaaahhhhh!! He kept it unit he ball joint collapsed and then that was that. Enjoy!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

My first Mark IV was VGN655R, a 1.6L in Venetian red. Sold via Witney car auctions inn 1989 and subsequently used in an armed raid on Jewsons in Swindon.