Harrison's Garage - The garage 2.0

[rob88h]

Harrison’s History #54 – Ford Sierra L

Dear AutoShite. This is because of you.

Over the Christmas holidays I had been enjoying some good read threads: explosive-cabage's against-all-odds 306 collection “somebody stole half my car”, Bollox’s “K-series Kapers” and that group buy Base Spec Sierra. Well, inspired by the reads, the next natural procrastinatory reflex is to brows some classifieds… I wasn’t all that interested in a 306 but the 205 tow-vehicle used in that thread tickled my fancy, K-series 75’s also definitely fell into my “would” pile and of course a Mk1 Sierra is probably on most people’s wish list here.

I didn’t want to do a buy, I was just looking. My first mistake. 205’s (vegable) and 75’s weren’t everywhere, but I certainly didn’t get any now-or-never feelings whenever I came across one. I found a Sierra though, honest looking thing, patina’d to peak misery and it got under my skin and I came back to the listing a few times in a few days. My second mistake. I got in touch with the seller and tried to go and view it, but we couldn’t make a weekend work, so I tried to put it to bed and move on. Then it showed up in the tat thread and I lived in hope someone else would do a buy and I could live vicariously through them.

That didn't happen either. Two months passed and I had almost weaned myself off checking the FaceBook listing, every week hoping it’d sold by using the classic distraction technique of bending over to the Universe to hopefully receive a tatty Volvo 740 estate by fate.

(I caught the Volvo listing just after it went live – I laid my cards on the table to let fate decide, stating that I’d have it if it’s not sold by the next weekend. I was away and didn’t really need a 7^th car, but it was local, MOT’d, cheap and look at it!

Three days before V-day, and after being messed around no end by other FaceBook cheap car buyers (the type dodgeybastard attracts) the seller was all but going to give up and reserve it for me when luckily some one plainly turned up and paid the man – a not insignificant feat for FaceBook Marketplace these days)

Getting close on that Volvo was my third mistake. I now knew I had the mental capacity for another heap and it coincided with the Sierra appearing in the eBay tat thread again AND the price had dropped. I really need another project like I need a hole in the head...

A few days later and it’s now on my drive.

[rob88h]

Sierra DieseL

[rob88h]

( For the mods - This is not a @BorniteIdentity Sockpuppet account by the way. Other opinions on Early 80’s Minis and Sierras are available  )

[ProgRocker]

Having once briefly owned an Escort 1.8 diesel saloon that gradually achieved 60 mph in around 20-25 seconds, I approve. 

[Dan302]

Video of the Sierra starting and ticking over please!! 

[Snake Charmer]

Now get the T shirt. 

[High Jetter]

  On 05/03/2022 at 19:59, rob88h said:

Harrison’s History #54 – Ford Sierra L

Dear AutoShite. This is because of you.

Over the Christmas holidays I had been enjoying some good read threads: explosive-cabage's against-all-odds 306 collection “somebody stole half my car”, Bollox’s “K-series Kapers” and that group buy Base Spec Sierra. Well, inspired by the reads, the next natural procrastinatory reflex is to brows some classifieds… I wasn’t all that interested in a 306 but the 205 tow-vehicle used in that thread tickled my fancy, K-series 75’s also definitely fell into my “would” pile and of course a Mk1 Sierra is probably on most people’s wish list here.

I didn’t want to do a buy, I was just looking. My first mistake. 205’s (vegable) and 75’s weren’t everywhere, but I certainly didn’t get any now-or-never feelings whenever I came across one. I found a Sierra though, honest looking thing, patina’d to peak misery and it got under my skin and I came back to the listing a few times in a few days. My second mistake. I got in touch with the seller and tried to go and view it, but we couldn’t make a weekend work, so I tried to put it to bed and move on. Then it showed up in the tat thread and I lived in hope someone else would do a buy and I could live vicariously through them.

That didn't happen either. Two months passed and I had almost weaned myself off checking the FaceBook listing, every week hoping it’d sold by using the classic distraction technique of bending over to the Universe to hopefully receive a tatty Volvo 740 estate by fate.

(I caught the Volvo listing just after it went live – I laid my cards on the table to let fate decide, stating that I’d have it if it’s not sold by the next weekend. I was away and didn’t really need a 7^th car, but it was local, MOT’d, cheap and look at it!

Three days before V-day, and after being messed around no end by other FaceBook cheap car buyers (the type dodgeybastard attracts) the seller was all but going to give up and reserve it for me when luckily some one plainly turned up and paid the man – a not insignificant feat for FaceBook Marketplace these days)

Getting close on that Volvo was my third mistake. I now knew I had the mental capacity for another heap and it coincided with the Sierra appearing in the eBay tat thread again AND the price had dropped. I really need another project like I need a hole in the head...

A few days later and it’s now on my drive.

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Space for more chod there too! Well done.

[rob88h]

 

  On 05/03/2022 at 22:12, ProgRocker said:

Having once briefly owned an Escort 1.8 diesel saloon that gradually achieved 60 mph in around 20-25 seconds, I approve. 

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A few years back I had a 1.6 diesel Fiesta, which I think is the same Ford LT diesel family as the Escort diesel of that era. Pretty hateful thing but I enjoyed the misery. The Sierra has an engine designed by Peugeot (which is also the same diesel in the mk2 Granada's in 2.1 form I think)

  On 01/06/2020 at 17:10, rob88h said:

Harrison’s History - #21 Ford Fiesta mk2 F738 HKE

I’d spotted a mk2 shaped gap in my Fiesta history which coincided with finding this lovely mk2 diesel at a local garage forecourt for an absolute steal. This was my first foray into Diesel ownership, and the naturally aspirated 1.6L Ford LT Diesel I think was a good example of the shortcomings of diesels. Driving back up the M2, which previously I’d not realised was uphill, requires a downshift and I was still firmly in the hassled-by-trucks category. Then there was the noise! This thing was an absolute tractor and starting it up in the mornings I’d wish I’d parked it away from civilisation as to not annoy too many neighbours. Amazingly the thing had scissor timing gears (presumably broken!) to try and reduce rattle

Refinement and performance aside, the car was pretty good. With a different engine I can see this being as good as the other Fiesta’s from the era, which it is largely similar too anyway. Personally, I prefer the looks of the Mk1 and I have the first-car-affinity to the mk3, so this one is only my third favourite Fiesta. I took pretty standard care of the car yet learnt the value of replacing fuel filters after running the tank down to get a good average for a fuel economy calculation. It all came to a head when my partner tried to join a dual carriageway with a maximum speed of 25mph – and because it wasn’t a Metro she had no sympathy. I sold the car as I was still doing quite a few motorway miles and the Fiesta was more suited to chugging around town never leaving 3^rd gear. I got probably the most profit I’ve ever made on a car selling this one due to a bidding war between two people who learnt to drive in one like it. They both seemed to have a now or never crisis as according to howmanyleft.co.uk it was one of two surviving 1.6L Diesel mk2’s. Personally I wouldn’t bother…

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  On 05/03/2022 at 22:54, Dan302 said:

Video of the Sierra starting and ticking over please!! 

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I'll get working on this! To video it is a two man job currently. One to crank it and squirt easy start into the airbox, one to hold a camera and look alarmed as the engine thrashes around making a bid for freedom from the engine bay on random firings like a stroppy teenager punching a mattress rather than getting out of bed.  @worldofceri can confirm the start procedure. 😆

[Bren]

Those 80's ford diesel engines were the epitomy of crude. Performance was for other manufacturers. I bet the ford engineers did 0-60 tests with a calendar.

[Dan302]

  On 06/03/2022 at 07:17, rob88h said:

 

I'll get working on this! To video it is a two man job currently. One to crank it and squirt easy start into the airbox, one to hold a camera and look alarmed as the engine thrashes around making a bid for freedom from the engine bay on random firings like a stroppy teenager punching a mattress rather than getting out of bed.  @worldofceri can confirm the start procedure. 😆

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😂😂😂 now I REALLY want to see!

[wesacosa]

that looks truly grim.  But I reckon a bit of T cut will have it gleaming.   Honestly can't remember the last time I saw a low series mk1 Sierra but it must be 20 years ago.   I much preferred them with the smaller lights/slatted grille/aero wheel trims

My only experience of old Ford diesels is when my Dad has a 1995 N/A IDI ex BT Escort van which was incredibly noisy and slow. will be fascinated to see how the Peugeot derived DERV compares 

[BeEP]

Putting the, admittedly great, cars to one side for a moment, I'm intrigued by the bungalow with the watchtower thing on top!

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Well bought - one owner! It seems a lot of classic Ford for the money but I guess there's plenty to discover yet following its lengthy slumber...

Have you seen this? It looks as though the owner still cared for it even though they weren't driving it. The comments mention that it was cared for and kept under the cover. The sun deflector looks to have been too little too late though!

[Eyersey1234]

Phoooaaarrr that Sierra is chodtastic

[rob88h]

  On 06/03/2022 at 08:56, BeEP said:

I'm intrigued by the bungalow with the watchtower thing on top!

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Haha, yeah. I’d like them to convert it to a 360 panorama toilet throne. As it is, I think it’s just a leak hazard. 

  On 06/03/2022 at 09:00, Dick Longbridge said:

Have you seen this?

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Indeed I have. Also in the comments of that photo is one of the old For Sale listings (not the one I bought it from), so I’m building up a little bank of past photos of it. 
 

The glow plug relay earth is… interesting. Me thinks this is part of the starting troubles. Most of the insulation has burned off.

Also, it last had an oil filter in 2001? We shall remedy that!

I’m going to do a bit of parts gathering (and being at work), but poking around it this afternoon gave me a promising feeling about the recommission work ahead. Got the window up at least!

[wesacosa]

it might be worth posting on cars you don't see anymore,  tagging Jude Currie to see if he took any more pics of it other than the one he posted on Flickr

[stuboy]

  On 05/03/2022 at 22:54, Dan302 said:

Video of the Sierra starting and ticking over please!! 

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u ever seen how much the dash and steering wheel vibrates in idle..

[worldofceri]

  On 06/03/2022 at 07:17, rob88h said:

To video it is a two man job currently. One to crank it and squirt easy start into the airbox, one to hold a camera and look alarmed as the engine thrashes around making a bid for freedom from the engine bay on random firings like a stroppy teenager punching a mattress rather than getting out of bed.  @worldofceri can confirm the start procedure. 😆

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Correct.

[worldofceri]

Collection photos may be of interest to @motorpunk…

[Floatylight]

Friends Dad used to have an estate 2.3D as his company vehicle, he had a tool rack in the back with all the necessaries to fix 53 seater coaches, man was it slow.. He did use it to tow coaches to a place of safety tho.. Met its demise when it bowed in the middle...

[motorpunk]

  On 07/03/2022 at 09:19, worldofceri said:

Collection photos may be of interest to @motorpunk…

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I know exactly where that is! When I made the book it wasn't quite dilapidated enough to be featured, but this one is very close and is a belter - https://www.motorpunk.co.uk/out-and-about/abandoned-ladaprotonperodua-dealership/

[sierraman]

Remember years ago going to look at a 1992 Sapphire, it had a 2.3 diesel in it despite the 1.8TD replacing it in 1989ish. Supposedly there were a number of late Sapphires that were fitted with left over units at the end of production that wouldn’t have otherwise been used so I assume that to have been one of them. I also recall finding a 1.6 pinto engined K plate Azura in a breakers at Treeton, when the 1.6 CVH should have sat, didn’t look like someone had dropped it in as a replacement - when people swap engines on old cars there’s usually loads of tell tales like cables not routed right or it being hacked about. 

[rob88h]

New glowies and an earthing cleanup with some new ground wires sees the Sierra DieseL keen to spring to life!

 

[Fumbler]

That's a most delightful clatter.

[ProgRocker]

The delicate sound of a hundred blacksmiths hammering away on anvils.

[cort1977]

  On 07/03/2022 at 13:25, sierraman said:

Remember years ago going to look at a 1992 Sapphire, it had a 2.3 diesel in it despite the 1.8TD replacing it in 1989ish. Supposedly there were a number of late Sapphires that were fitted with left over units at the end of production that wouldn’t have otherwise been used so I assume that to have been one of them. I also recall finding a 1.6 pinto engined K plate Azura in a breakers at Treeton, when the 1.6 CVH should have sat, didn’t look like someone had dropped it in as a replacement - when people swap engines on old cars there’s usually loads of tell tales like cables not routed right or it being hacked about. 

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Yep, my azura on a k plate has a pinto. 

[Dan302]

That video is everything I wanted and more!!

[Talbot]

Mmmmmm  Smoooth*

*as 40 grit sandpaper.

[sutty2006]

  On 13/03/2022 at 19:02, rob88h said:

New glowies and an earthing cleanup with some new ground wires sees the Sierra DieseL keen to spring to life!

 

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Music to my ears that is! Painfully knocky music indeed!!! Lovely. 

[Talbot]

This is the era of diesels where you set the idle speed by ensuring that the dashboard is in focus.

Not. Even. Joking.