Project 1975 Ford Granada Coupe - Lots & lots of tinkering

[TripleRich]

17 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Fantastic work as ever, your knowledge and understaning of these things go together is remarkable.

Were they built this well when new?.........

Thanks!  Since I started working on classics 5 years ago I've built about 5 Consul/Granadas so have become quite familiar with them.  They were built  quite well mechanically from new and had a good reputation.  Body and trim on Mk1s can be a bit sloppy.  One of my trim pieces on the rear needed new mounting holes as the existing ones were very off.

[TripleRich]

46 minutes ago, DSdriver said:

I saw a pic somewhere of the vinyl clipped into a rectangular frame which was then lowered onto a roof. I've no idea if this is how they were all done but it did seem quite a good method of getting it in the right position.

I'm sure there were various methods.  I found this the other day which is worth a watch.  GM in the 70s put about 3 or 4 guys on the job.  The vinyl looks to already be cut to size before its fitted.

 

[Sir Snipes]

Ford's semi-trailing arm arrangement looks nicer than Nissan's efforts in the 1980s. They used box section which are really pretty damn heavy. 

I don't have pictures anymore but when I rebuilt mine I slotted the other mounts, had a bracket welded on and fitted eccentric bolts for camber adjustment.

[dollywobbler]

Excellent. Really starting to look like a car again, even if the wipers leave a little to be desired...

[TripleRich]

10 hours ago, The Mighty Quinn said:

Which wheels are you fitting? All three types are fine looking.

I'll be going for standard GL spec which is the 'sport' wheels with a chrome embellisher around the rim.  They need to be overhauled but they are a decent set of 5 with not too much corrosion.  I may pick up at set of the alloys in future as I quite like those.  

 

 

[ETCHY]

I always thought the wheels made a massive difference on Mk1 Granada's. When fitted with the standard hubcap type the car IMO looks really dumpy.

The alloys or GL sport ones really lift the looks.

[ProgRocker]

On 3/23/2020 at 7:23 PM, TripleRich said:

I'll be going for standard GL spec which is the 'sport' wheels with a chrome embellisher around the rim.  They need to be overhauled but they are a decent set of 5 with not too much corrosion.  I may pick up at set of the alloys in future as I quite like those.  

 

That's how my parents' 2000 L's wheels were. Exterior wise it looked more like a GL as not only did it have the chrome wheel embellishers it also had the vinyl roof and front fog lights too. I learned this after I acquired a 1976 Ford brochure in the 1990s.

All the other Granadas I used to see around in the 1980s tended to be Ghias with the T bar auto. 

[UltraWomble]

This popped up on my FB "memories" today - though I would share...

[Shite Ron]

On 3/26/2020 at 9:54 AM, The Mighty Quinn said:

Oddly, the last of the Mark I Granada base models (not even an L) used the original GXL type stainless hubcaps. A taxi driver I knew had one new, Roman bronze, tan cloth

The estate’s also had stainless hubcaps, my estate is Roman Bronze with tan cloth but I will be fitting the sports steel wheels as I think they look great on Granada’s.

I got excited seeing this thread and was hoping to see an update but I suppose the workshop is locked down ?

[Shite Ron]

2 hours ago, The Mighty Quinn said:

Olympic blue?

Yes

[TripleRich]

I've reached a milestone.  The car is now back on it wheels which brings 3 years of sitting on body rollers and trolleys to an end.

First I built most of the front sub frame.  As usual everything is either new or overhauled.  The front springs are not much fun on these, have to be very careful and try not to scratch anything.

Plenty more to fit but at this stage its easier to finish once installed on the car.  Fitting is very easy via 4 large bolts through the chassis legs.  After fitting I overhauled the front hubs, painted them and fitted new wheel bearings.  Below you can see the cleaned & painted stub axle just prior to fitting the hub.

Next I installed the rear sub frame.  Both front and rear units are very heavy to handle so I ensured I had assistance with those particular jobs.  You can put them in alone but it takes much longer and you risk injury.  The dampers are original bilstein units in very good condition.  Gives the car a very soft ride just like they should be.  You can see I've some touch up to do on the stone guard from the trolley its been sitting on for over a year.

 

The old Viking Norway tyres still hold air despite being 35 years old!  I'll be changing them when the car nears completion.  I will of course sort the wheels out at the same time.

Continued to work through the mountain of parts left to fit.  I've done the rear brakes and installed the handbrake cable.  Will continue to work on the braking system and front sub frame next time.

[HMC]

Stunning. I really like how all the way through you have had such a keenness for originality. In fact “as new” doesn’t cut it- Clearly in standards  it far exceeds what they turned out at the plant.

[dozeydustman]

Not much else to say apart from awesome

[TripleRich]

I've also finished the Ghia pictured a page or so ago.  Pleased with this one, I spent a lot of time cleaning red over spray off so many parts.  Lot of work to get the trim looking like it does now.  Requires a sunroof seal, mot and road test before returning to the customer.

Hoped to move on to something different.  Nope, have a Mk2 Granada Sport instead...  Cheers!

This one will be entertaining.  Customer took it apart 10 or so years ago.  Everything is knackered, nothing labelled, no pictures and 20% of the parts are missing...

We do restore other types of car, honest!

[HMC]

@Junkman has had one of these IIRC.

[TripleRich]

We have plenty of facelift Mk2 Granada pictures on file from others we've dismantled in the past.  Very lucky, I'd be buggered otherwise.  Also have a contact with a Mk2 sport should I get into any issues.  We have parts on site but as yet I don''t know exactly whats missing.

[Shite Ron]

20 minutes ago, TripleRich said:

We do restore other types of car, honest!

I am a long way from being bored with looking at mk1 and 2 Granada’s ! Your work is fantastic and very interesting.

[dollywobbler]

Wow, startling to look like a proper car now. Excellent.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

On 5/24/2020 at 7:54 PM, TripleRich said:

I've reached a milestone.  The car is now back on it wheels which brings 3 years of sitting on body rollers and trolleys to an end.

First I built most of the front sub frame.  As usual everything is either new or overhauled.  The front springs are not much fun on these, have to be very careful and try not to scratch anything.

Plenty more to fit but at this stage its easier to finish once installed on the car.  Fitting is very easy via 4 large bolts through the chassis legs.  After fitting I overhauled the front hubs, painted them and fitted new wheel bearings.  Below you can see the cleaned & painted stub axle just prior to fitting the hub.

Next I installed the rear sub frame.  Both front and rear units are very heavy to handle so I ensured I had assistance with those particular jobs.  You can put them in alone but it takes much longer and you risk injury.  The dampers are original bilstein units in very good condition.  Gives the car a very soft ride just like they should be.  You can see I've some touch up to do on the stone guard from the trolley its been sitting on for over a year.

 

The old Viking Norway tyres still hold air despite being 35 years old!  I'll be changing them when the car nears completion.  I will of course sort the wheels out at the same time.

Continued to work through the mountain of parts left to fit.  I've done the rear brakes and installed the handbrake cable.  Will continue to work on the braking system and front sub frame next time.

That looks stunning; the attention to detail is something else. The only thing I'm not 100% sold on is the vinyl roof,  but I get that you want to make it as factory accurate as possible. 

I think I mentioned it earlier in the thread somewhere,  but I still feel it's relevant - I wonder what percentage of car restoration companies would go to the lengths you've gone to in a 'nut and bolt restoration? I'm guessing 0.0000001%.

I'm so glad people like you, and the company you work for actually exist. 

[TripleRich]

The original fuel tank is a right mess.  Despite being rotten its also quite beaten up/dented.  Luckily I was able to obtain a secondhand replacement that was clean inside.  On the outside it was the usual mix of stone guard and rust.

I've stayed a few nights this week and got the job sorted.  Removed all the loose rust and took the tank back to bare metal (about an hour of noise and mess).  These were never painted from factory, they just had a very thin e-coat or anodized finish which never lasted.

Applied a rust treatment and left to cure.  Once compete the rust turns black.

Coat of etch primer and then some silver enamel.  I usually stone guard customers tanks for max protection.  Decided on a less robust but more interesting finish for my own tank.  I also rinsed out any dirt that got into the tank during the process.

Cleaned & painted the filler neck.  New old stock seals & sender have been fitted of course.  Being a face lift this car is fitted with a fuel return line hence the two outlets.  Early cars didn't have this which can lead to hot start & vapor lock problems on some models. 

Fitted to the car with new tank straps and rubber pads to stop it rubbing the boot floor.  Not the easiest of jobs but I'm pleased with the result.  Contrasts nicely with the black stone guard on the body.  I'll tidy up the red over spray on the floor pan at a later date.

The finishing touch

Another job ticked off the list.  I'm getting closer to engine & gearbox with each day.  Will sort the fuel lines out this weekend.

[Rod/b]

I’m so impressed with the level of care and detail you’ve put into this. Really hope you’ll be fitting a tracker of some sort. 

[Spottedlaurel]

Awe-inspiring work, as ever. Great to see that you're still going through everything so thoroughly when there must be the temptation to quickly lob it together and see it complete.

Scanned this old photo in during the week, this seems like an appropriate place to put it:

1974 Ford Granada 3.0 Ghia Coupe Auto GDA 460N (1990) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[treehugger]

10 hours ago, Rod/b said:

I’m so impressed with the level of care and detail you’ve put into this. Really hope you’ll be fitting a tracker of some sort. 

Its a banger drivers wet dream, so take care.

[Talbot]

12 hours ago, Rod/b said:

Really hope you’ll be fitting a tracker of some sort

This.  And a very effective immobiliser.  It would be really quite awful to hear that some scrote has decided to nick this and then banger race it.

[Skizzer]

Or indeed anyone nicking it for any other purpose, before we tar all banger racers with that brush.

[TripleRich]

As said previously I will be taking the relevant security precautions with the car as per many of our customers.  I've not mentioned what exactly I'll be doing for obvious reasons.

[TripleRich]

14 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Scanned this old photo in during the week, this seems like an appropriate place to put it:

Fantastic photo, I can hear the A posts rotting from here!

[Talbot]

1 hour ago, Skizzer said:

Or indeed anyone nicking it for any other purpose, before we tar all banger racers with that brush.

A fair & valid point.  I think the worry is that if it was nicked by someone who tried to give it a new identity or sell it or something similar, it would quite possibly be able to be tracked, and it turn up intact and be able to be recovered.  Were it nicked for banger racing it would be devastating to see it ripped to pieces within seconds and then smashed to smithereens.

I've nothing against banger racing at all, in fact I quite like it.  What pisses me off is the very few who openly brag about smashing up something rare/valuable/in astonishingly good condition.  Three categories this car would fall squarely into. (Amongst many others)

[Talbot]

1 hour ago, TripleRich said:

I will be taking the relevant security precautions

This team on permanent security detail:

[Spottedlaurel]

10 hours ago, TripleRich said:

Fantastic photo, I can hear the A posts rotting from here!

This one I saw back in 2007 has a different issue......

1977 Ford Granada Mk1 coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr