The Autoshite holy grail is now one of us!

[Felly Magic]

mmmmkay, that's an odd one

[trigger]

Wow. Had 6 waves already!

 

Ah. Right. Figured out why. Every time I brake... the headlights flash. Obviously.

 

I found this more amusing that i probably should have! I haven't a clue whats gone wrong there, clearing a wiring/earth problem somewhere though. Do the brake lights or even the rear lights come on as well?.

[BorniteIdentity]

I found this more amusing that i probably should have! I haven't a clue whats gone wrong there, clearing a wiring/earth problem somewhere though. Do the brake lights or even the rear lights come on as well?.

It was very amusing in fairness.

 

It has now stopped... and the horn has also started working having briefly declared an hour previous.

 

Business as usual.

 

Keys now handed over and Richard's Essex bound.

[BorniteIdentity]

Flipping heck. I seem to have accidentally deleted my previous post.

 

For those watching on Catch Up...

 

I kept getting waved at.

Thought I was popular.

Turns out every time I hit the brakes the headlights flashed.

 

[cobblers]

It'll be a dodgy or incorrect brake light bulb

 

EDIT: Or people thinking you're Bono

[BorniteIdentity]

That'll be the incorrect brake light bulb I fitted earlier then.

 

Famous. Last. Words.

[Angrydicky]

So, I agreed to weld the Sierra up and get it through its MoT. That meant getting the car to its spiritual home in Essex, so BorniteIdentity and myself hatched a plan where we would meet halfway at Potters Bar this afternoon, and hand over the car. 

 

I got a lift from my best friend Marcus in his knackered Fiesta. We arrived at the station about 15 minutes before Daniel did, so got some shopping, then fruitlessly looked around for a toilet. While we were doing this, a very ropey old Sierra pulled up. That'll be Daniel then! So some introductions and starting tips later, I fitted the battery clamp properly and we bade farewell after the traditional handover shot...

 

 

I was a bit apprehensive at first, but once I'd got used to the high and heavy clutch, it was fine. The car felt really good and surprisingly nippy, it's also excellent on the motorway as despite only being a four speed it is a very tall ratio. 

 

Got stuck in the usual M25 traffic on the way back, and fortunately it didn't get fussy like some cars do. I did notice the headlights coming on when I braked, reflected in the car in front! We stopped to use the toilet at the esteemed Autoshite London/Essex meet venue, and Marcus informed me that the brake lights had started out dim but now weren't doing anything without the lights on, and with the lights on they were just getting dimmer when I braked. Bum.

 

 

There was a quarter of a tank showing on the gauge, but I stopped at Tesco in Southend on the way back and put £20 in, which didn't move the gauge at all. So I suspect that's stuck at 1/4.

 

 

Back home with a few other old crocks to keep it company

 

 

 

 

I was really impressed with the old Sierra. It's running very nicely for the work Daniel did on the engine, has plenty of power, is nice to drive, fun to drive and inspires confidence. Maybe I just have low standards, but I can see why the previous owner kept it for so long. It's also got a nice driving position and gearchange. I'd never driven a Sierra before today and I can see why they sold so well in the 1980s.

 

Yes, there's quite a lot of work to do. Lots of welding, random electrical faults I'm hoping are mostly bad connections, and a pair of wiper blades should see an MoT. Then it needs a clutch, which I ordered this morning - Daniel informed me it had slipped a couple of times when he was driving it, although I didn't actually notice it slipping until I reached my road and was accelerating in third gear. I'll also get the cambelt replaced as goodness knows when it was last done. But the car certainly isn't beyond redemption.

 

Was good to meet BorniteIdentity, and should be able to start the work on the Sierra very soon!

[Noel Tidybeard]

oh look the maestro matches the house

[trigger]

This thread goes from strength to strength!

[beko1987]

I still really want to help vulgalour it! If there's a genny at shitefest I can bring a vacuum cleaner!

 

The best of luck fixing it, if the communal pot needs a small donation do let us know, I'll lob another tenner or so in!

[BorniteIdentity]

I still really want to help vulgalour it! If there's a genny at shitefest I can bring a vacuum cleaner!

 

 

You can FRO, sunshine.

 

(!!)

 

Seriously though - I explained in no uncertain terms to Richard that the fag packets are structural, the air freshener is 'technical' and that the blue film on the number plate is sacrosanct.

 

Thanks for the donation offer though.  Many, many parts have been recently purchased - so we might be round shaking the tin soon! 

[Angrydicky]

Day One.

 

Opinions are divided on how far we should go with this car, but I think everyone was in agreement that the aftermarket stereo and associated gubbins had to go. BorniteIdentity had already removed the head unit, so I made a start by removing the 'cage' and wiring. It was typical amateur radio wiring with wires twisted together and wrapped in insulating tape. I cut as much of the rats nest out as I could and taped up the wires before refitting the original blanking plate. 

 

 

The junk that came out:

 

 

Much better!

 

 

The speakers also bit the dust.

 

 

 

 

The inside of this car was pretty disgusting, it obviously hadn't been cleaned in a very long time.

 

 

 

I started by removing the odd CB ariel and loads of rubbish from the car, then cleaned the dashboard and centre console with baby wipes. I also removed the front seat covers (which are safely in the boot) to reveal near perfect front seats.

 

 

 

 

I then got the mats out and spent ages vacuuming the carpets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The distinctive steering wheel cover was falling off, so I removed it to reveal a near perfect condition steering wheel.

 

 

The mats. A pair of Nissan rears and a couple of random aftermarket ones!

 

 

After the cleaning was complete, I changed the spark plugs. This car is leaking a LOT of oil, it's leaked down the head and the plugs were soaked. Whoever the hero was on here who donated the Haynes manual, I salute you. I've also got the package with the parts danthecapriman kindly sent along for the project, which will definitely come in useful. 

 

 

 

I then cleaned up the steering wheel cover and the wheel and re-tied it on properly. Just a few shots of how it's looking at the moment.

 

 

 

 

Had a quick look at the underside and it isn't as bad as I was expecting. Unbelievably, it's never been welded before, which is a good thing. It does have filler in the arches and doors but not really that much considering the life it's had. Approximately half the drivers side outer sill needs replacing, but the inner sills and floors are all absolutely fine. Should be able to do a decent job on it, starting tomorrow hopefully

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[adw1977]

Love the radio blanking plate, proper poverty spec again!

[danthecapriman]

Nice job Ad. The radio blanking plate looks much better in the dash than that old cage/hole.

It's come up pretty well with a clean up too, definitely worth doing just to get rid of all that manky mess!

 

Best of luck with the welding! I shall be watching this with interest.

[Skizzer]

Excellent stuff.

 

See, I've been saying all along it's not a complete rust bucket! Glad the carpet dirt isn't structural, too.

[phil_lihp]

That interior looks a lot better.  I'm surprised it ran at all with those plugs in it, they're disgusting!  I always found a new set of plugs brought about more of a transformation in an old car than any other service items, a quick and very satisfying job.  

 

I don't think I've ever seen a Sierra with those little 13" wheels, they look tiny on it, makes the car look bigger in proportion.  Good luck with the welding.

[trigger]

Cracking work there Dicky, that blanking plate looks much more insuiting with the rest of the interior. I can't see this being a lovely old thing once all the works been done to it.

[BorniteIdentity]

Well done that man.  I'm only sorry I couldn't get the car to you sooner - it's been with the wrong person for the last couple of months.

 

Good work.

[oldcars]

Great work indeed. The Sierra/Little Chef brings back memories from the 80s. Love it.

[Spottedlaurel]

Great work indeed. The Sierra/Little Chef brings back memories from the 80s. Love it.

 

Ditto. But for 1980s read January in my case for that particular one.....

 

Laurel and Minx at Little Chef by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[oldcars]

Shame about the broken springs on the Minx 

[Felly Magic]

That interior is proper mingebag spec. Good luck with the welding

[egg]

It is beautifully basic it is 'just a car'. Look at that capitalist decadence of the coin holders though.

 

It has so little, you wonder how much it cost them to tool up for front seats without headrests, blanking plates and the like just for the base!

[Lord Sterling]

Dicky - you've outdone yourself. You've done a job I love doing (well, used to love doing). You've done a seriously great job done the Sierra, it looks so much fresher inside. What are the plans for the mats?

 

I hope one day I'll be able to see this lovely old Sierra.

[bub2006]

Great job on the tidying. What's happening with the cb aerial?!

[Skizzer]

What's happening with the cb aerial?!

I don't think the CB aerial is particularly vital to the car's integrity, is it? I've not seen it fitted in any of the various Flickr photos. In which case I for one would be happy for you to have it if you want it Bub. What do the other 'trustees' reckon?

 

Suppose we could raffle it for 20p a ticket but my PayPal account can't be arsed with that.

[Angrydicky]

You can have it if you want Bub, but I cut off the plug on removal, and half of the ariel was already missing!

[BorniteIdentity]

That little mag-mount aerial was probably good at nothing.  Too small to be resonant at CB frequencies - probably more suitable for PMR stuff around 400MHz which isn't genui...

 

 

I just bored myself.

[RoadworkUK]

Brilliant work AD.

 

I absolutely love how the lower-than-pov spec Sierra looks on your immaculate drive next to your extremely nice house.

[Angrydicky]

Brilliant work AD.

 

I absolutely love how the lower-than-pov spec Sierra looks on your immaculate drive next to your extremely nice house.

My parents aren't so chuffed, especially as the house is currently for sale. I've had to promise to hide the Sierra in the cul-de-sac down the road when they have viewings over the weekend!