The Autoshite holy grail is now one of us!

[SeanRG]

It's the start of a problem...

[AlabamaShrimp]

What's the difference in the grills either being flat or with the holes in? As in was it a trim level or year thing?

[vulgalour]

I've always assumed it was down to engine type with bigger/diesel engines needing more ventilation.

[Noel Tidybeard]

flat face/twin lights for GL & Ghia EXCEPT when an diseasel donk was fitted they always had slats

[adw1977]

The grille type is a combination of year, trim level and engine.

1982-84 all Base, L and GL had holes, Ghia flat.

1984-86 Base and all diesels have holes, L and GL petrol models get the Ghia flat type.

Sean RG has the original L and a later petrol L, perfect for comparison purposes!

[AlabamaShrimp]

Ta! I know the grey ones special but I still like the flat one more

[tooSavvy]

Thats all i know! I see it about and i know he lives in Felixstowe. I heard that his son was going to have it when he dies to use for a kit car.

Simples : Kill boy, make Dad an offer he cannot refuse (.. to take the car, and thus save him both a funeral & Ebay mongs in the same week!)

 

TS

[John F]

...or Tredia Turbo.

 

With digi-dash, naturally.

[garbaldy]

My tredia didn't have a digi dash, it's bigger brother the galant definitely did though.

[fordperv]

It's the answer to a problem...

Ftfy

[jonny69]

Just checked in to see why everyone was still arguing over this one. Autoshite back to its best!

 

My only contribution here was going to be that my first car in the mid 90s was a clapped out 35 year old Ford which cost me £650. This is pretty much the same thing but 20 years later. It really doesn't look all that expensive when you think of it that way.

 

How much can you read into this car? 5 doors suggests it might have been bought for the family. Luxury of a new car but the total grimness of the zero spec model. Bet the kids were well* excited. Be good to hear if the previous owner has any stories.

[Grundig]

Well saved 

 

A lad I used to knock about with just after we left school had a job working as a storeman, his boss offered him a promotion to a Gofor, storeman & part time salesman. To clinch the deal his boss told him he would get a company car, He thought that meant a Caviler SR or a Sierra Ghia ? oh how we laughed when it turned out to be a 3dr base in what we described as primer grey with lacquer on,  it had less luxury than another mate who had a Cortina style P100 pickup 

[BorniteIdentity]

UPDATE:

 

Can't believe the car has been here a week already.

 

It's not been anywhere since I stashed it in the garage last week.  A few urgent jobs are being sorted this week: a good service, new thermostat and new rocker gasket are all being sorted on Thursday.

 

Interested in opinions on oil.  A lot of people run 20w50 in these cars, but apparently Ford changed their tune back in the 80s and said nothing thicker than 10w should be going in.

 

Any thoughts/experiences?

[danthecapriman]

I think Ford specified 10w40, which is ok. I use a quality 10w40 semi synthetic in my 2.0 pinto Transit, but that's only done very low mileage so doesn't leak or burn any oil.

On my Capri, which has an early 1.6 pinto it's a bit more worn and does leak and burn a bit, so I use 15w40 semi synthetic which has been fine for all the years I've had it. I use Castrol gtx 15w40 most of the time which is a decent quality but not too expensive.

I use the same in my mk2 Granada but that's a V6 not a pinto.

 

I think the reason why they shouldn't have too thick an oil in is because the camshaft spray bar needs a good flow of oil through it to stop the pinto death rattle! Thicker oil will obviously reduce the flow.

[Felly Magic]

Can't wait to see more photos of this utterly mingebag spec Sierra, I can only  remember seeing the odd one even when new, there was an A reg grey grille diesel in white in my street that was a minicab, but that ended up strangely with a white grille and Ghia front bumper, probably after a prang

[SeanRG]

UPDATE:

 

Can't believe the car has been here a week already.

 

It's not been anywhere since I stashed it in the garage last week.  A few urgent jobs are being sorted this week: a good service, new thermostat and new rocker gasket are all being sorted on Thursday.

 

Interested in opinions on oil.  A lot of people run 20w50 in these cars, but apparently Ford changed their tune back in the 80s and said nothing thicker than 10w should be going in.

 

Any thoughts/experiences?

I purchased a bottle of 10w40 today for the beige Sierra, which runs on the same engine as your grey grille. Opted for 10w40 on the recommendation made by a friend that's been running Sierras for ten plus years now.

 

Ps you're right about Ford changing their tune on oil requirements. Quoting said friend: "Ford changed the spec to 10w40 because the poor viscosity characteristics of 20w50 at the cold end was starving the cam followers of oil after a cold start and together increased detergent additives and improved cam and follower material specifications the life expectancy of Pinto cam shafts improved to an acceptable level".

[trigger]

Is 10w40 a bit thin?, I've always used 15w40 in mine.

[dollywobbler]

Barely any difference between 10 and 15. My 2CV gets whichever of those I have at the time. The 10 is only the cold figure so that will improve cold starting.

[fordperv]

I have always used 10/40 in pintos never any problems, so did my father back when he was running cortina's then sierra's as he didn't trust the recommendations, between us we have never had one that suffered cam failure

[sierraman]

I used to use 10w40 mineral. But it was a CVH so don't know if it makes a difference.

[BorniteIdentity]

Car was awoken from its slumber today. Started first turn of the key after 5 days of R&R.

 

Took it up to the village garage for a damn good service. Son #3 is almost besotted with the Sierria (pron Sea Air Eee Arrr).

 

Pics.

 

It's a shitefest up at the garage. In the workshop ATM he's got an Austin Somerset (from memory) a Mini Van and a MK3 Escort Ghia.

 

These also outside.

 

One more for tonight.

[Angrydicky]

Sounds like the right sort of place to take it

 

Pics of the Zummerzet please, if you get a chance!

[Felly Magic]

The roof of that white van would come in handy for someone on here's 4x4 JDM people carrier

[AnthonyG]

Only just caught up will all of this, brilliant. Look forward to seeing it at SF16.

 

I have a HBOL I can donate but I think you already have one now? Let me know if you want it, it will be at Shitefest in my usual box of freebies anyway.

[BorniteIdentity]

Thanks man - yes I had 3 offers and 1 came the other day.

 

Many thanks nonetheless.

[worldofceri]

If it were me, I would not have been able to resist peeling that blue film off the number plate for more than about twenty seconds.  RESKEPT.

[BorniteIdentity]

If it were me, I would not have been able to resist peeling that blue film off the number plate for more than about twenty seconds.  RESKEPT.

 

I hear you.  But it's Skizzers actual favourite thing about the car.  That, the fag packets and the Nissan rubber mat. (singular).

 

I think (know) he'd rip me a new one...

[Skizzer]

Damn right.

 

All my cars are getting AASHISH MOTORS number plates from now on.  With 70% blue film.

[AnthonyG]

Can imagine the front yard of Aashish Motors now, one of those heavily fenced in plots chock-full of clocked Almeras and Civics, with a Portakabin with razor wire on the roof.

 

Either that or it's a really low key money laundering front for Islamic State cunningly disguised as a motor factors.

[lisbon_road]

Go for 10w40 not 15w40.  As stated above, the first figure is the cold viscosity and it is simply the lower the better.  The second figure is the hot running viscosity and 40 should be fine.