N19's fleet - Capri's second test drive (sans odometer, but now with added cassette tapes)

[sierraman]

Can you still get those plates with the raised digits? 

[N19]

4 hours ago, mk2_craig said:

Those fresh plates look ace. How did you get hold of them? 

A seller on faceache called "Retro Plates". He was able to reproduce them from some quality photos of the original rear one. He also did a set for my Bluebird (RIP).

[N19]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Can you still get those plates with the raised digits? 

The ones which are (I think) screwed to the plate? I believe that you can but they aren't cheap. That's not to say I might not be tempted to splash out on a set...

[N19]

The postman brought a few finishing touches today. Rear numberplate lights, boot seal, and battery clamp. Old plates still on, am going to have a look for the plastic surround which seems to be bonded to the rear plate. Boot doesn't shut properly with the seal in place so may need a bit of adjustment to the latch.

[AnnoyingPentium]

14 minutes ago, N19 said:

A seller on faceache called "Retro Plates". He was able to reproduce them from some quality photos of the original rear one. He also did a set for my Bluebird (RIP).

Used him also for a set of reproduction plates. Absolutely spot on with some source photographs from my original ones.

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, N19 said:

The postman brought a few finishing touches today. Rear numberplate lights, boot seal, and battery clamp. Old plates still on, am going to have a look for the plastic surround which seems to be bonded to the rear plate. Boot doesn't shut properly with the seal in place so may need a bit of adjustment to the latch.

You can get the old raised pressed ally plates and raised separate plastic figures plates from Framptons. No idea what they cost though, I’ve not ordered any for ages.

I was going to ask how your boot lid closes with that new seal… mines exactly the same. I think it’s the new rubber being thicker and stiffer. My door seals were the same. But after a while they do soften and settle. My doors are ok now but the boot lid is still a bit iffy! I’m periodically rubbing on a bit of gummy phledge to help soften them up.

[N19]

40 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

You can get the old raised pressed ally plates and raised separate plastic figures plates from Framptons. No idea what they cost though, I’ve not ordered any for ages.

I was going to ask how your boot lid closes with that new seal… mines exactly the same. I think it’s the new rubber being thicker and stiffer. My door seals were the same. But after a while they do soften and settle. My doors are ok now but the boot lid is still a bit iffy! I’m periodically rubbing on a bit of gummy phledge to help soften them up.

Yeah, seems a bit tight for now - going to have a look from the inside and see how far out we are...

[danthecapriman]

Just now, N19 said:

Yeah, seems a bit tight for now - going to have a look from the inside and see how far out we are...

I’m pretty sure actually my tailgate did need adjustment. Mine closed down against the seal in completely the wrong place. I’m sure the tailgate has a specific shape where the seal sits, the metal is lower there if memory serves. 
Even after adjusting it, it was still tight though. I could close it fully but it took some effort! I’m pretty sure the latch is adjustable too if you still get trouble at the back end of the tailgate.

[N19]

I was planning on looking from the inside, seeing how far out it was, potentially packing it out with a couple of washers if needed.

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, N19 said:

The ones which are (I think) screwed to the plate? I believe that you can but they aren't cheap. That's not to say I might not be tempted to splash out on a set...

I think they had a sort of press washer on the back to hold the letter on. Very labour intensive compared to the print plates. A pair of Serck plates wouldn’t look out of place either? 

[N19]

5 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I think they had a sort of press washer on the back to hold the letter on. Very labour intensive compared to the print plates. A pair of Serck plates wouldn’t look out of place either? 

I may end up with a few pairs and swop them around.

[High Jetter]

43 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I think they had a sort of press washer on the back to hold the letter on. Very labour intensive compared to the print plates

This was before vinyl print plates though. IIRC we had a jig that punched the holes in the metal plate, then plastic digits applied that had little prongs. A quick turn over and secure by punching starlock washers over the prongs - like these:

[danthecapriman]

2 hours ago, High Jetter said:

This was before vinyl print plates though. IIRC we had a jig that punched the holes in the metal plate, then plastic digits applied that had little prongs. A quick turn over and secure by punching starlock washers over the prongs - like these:

Those things are what my Capri plates have on the backs. They’re old, but still not in bad condition.

[captain_70s]

5 hours ago, N19 said:

. Old plates still on, am going to have a look for the plastic surround which seems to be bonded to the rear plate. 

If it's anything like my Acclaim's original plates it'll be an aluminium backing plate. Not sure if modern plates with rounded edges will fit in them. I don't think anybody makes blanks for square edge plates any more...

[N19]

The garage got the windscreen refitted today. The side quarterlights are in and bonding. I'll fit the trim at the weekend. 

Reinstated the wipers, but one of the wiper arms seems to not "bite" the toothed spindle. This results in the wiper not moving at all. It's definitely (and fortunately) the arm, not the spindle, as swopping the arm moves the problem. 

So that's one part to order up tomorrow. 

Tried to start it, no joy. Is the fuel pump playing up yet again? One thing I did wonder is that I am yet to re fit the inline filter between pump and carb. Although this is an addition rather than an original fitment, perhaps it could help if it stores enough fuel to run the engine and allow the pump to draw fuel through. I may yet order a(nother) new fuel pump just to be on the safe side. 

Very very close to being able to do some proper test runs. 

[Bmwdumptruck]

Ah I guess (almost) poverty spec didn’t get opening quarter lights?  Really looking good though👍

[N19]

1 hour ago, Bmwdumptruck said:

Ah I guess (almost) poverty spec didn’t get opening quarter lights?  Really looking good though👍

Yeah, I did think about retro fitting them a while ago, but decided against it.

[N19]

Current list before test running can commence...

• investigate fuelling issue - add filter/non return valve - check pump operation - try running off a jerry can?
• fit NS + OS window trim, inside & out
• fit NSR + OSR bumper corners
• NS wiper not functional, swap over wiper arm (if not in and the only thing stopping a test - do a temporary repair using some packing... plumbers tape?)
• check speedo cable as it seems to have stopped speedo-ing
• adjust tailgate catch so that it catches
• replace bellhousing bolts - ones with (I hope) the correct pitch arrived this evening
• fit exhaust rubbers
• do a final check of brakes, engine, exhaust security, lighting, tyres

[danthecapriman]

Not much on the list really👍

For a temporary repair on the wiper arm, a bit of tin foil over the spindle then forcing the arm over it can sometimes work. Just add more layers of foil until you get a really tight interference fit. 
I’ve fixed one before now by popping off the plastic cover bit, then drilling a small hole through the arm where the spindle goes through it. Tap a thread into the drilled hole. Refit the arm over the spindle and wind in a grub screw tightly to lock the arm and spindle together. Refit plastic cover bit so it can’t be seen! 
I did my Volvo that way and that temporary repair is still working a couple of years later! Despite now having the parts to fix it properly!

[N19]

Foil sounds good, I will give that a try. The usual capri parts suppliers seem to have no stock, I've found one that's breaking on ebay which should arrive soon.

I am quietly hopeful that - assuming the fuelling issues can be resolved without needing to wait for more parts - I will be able to take the car for a drive this weekend.

Re: temporary fixes, I did one on the Bluebird which lasted many years, also on a wiper. The wiper links had a cup and ball type fitting at one point and this was worn to the point it would pop off regularly. Parts for these being a real pain to get, replaced the ball with a bit of metal rod with a hole drilled in it, and the ball I drove a self-tapper very tightly into, through the hole in the metal. The whole thing was lashed up with grease and worked perfectly for the 12,000 miles that I kept the car after that. There was at least one other cup/ball fitting in the system in case the shear point was needed.

[LightBulbFun]

6 hours ago, captain_70s said:

If it's anything like my Acclaim's original plates it'll be an aluminium backing plate. Not sure if modern plates with rounded edges will fit in them. I don't think anybody makes blanks for square edge plates any more...

might be worth talking to Tippers Vintage Plates to see if they could put something together  

https://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/

[adw1977]

3 hours ago, Bmwdumptruck said:

Ah I guess (almost) poverty spec didn’t get opening quarter lights?  Really looking good though👍

Opening rear quarter lights were standard on Ghia only at this time, optional extra on all other trim levels.

They never did become standard across the range.

[N19]

12 hours ago, adw1977 said:

Opening rear quarter lights were standard on Ghia only at this time, optional extra on all other trim levels.

They never did become standard across the range.

Interesting - did this include Laser as well? I had thought that they were standard by that point.

[adw1977]

5 hours ago, N19 said:

Interesting - did this include Laser as well? I had thought that they were standard by that point.

Yes, this is the November 1986 brochure, right near the end of production. 

Full brochure

[N19]

Floppy wiper replaced with a spare - had to resort to ebay as nobody seemed to have them in stock. Front wipers now in full working order.

Side trim sorta-but-not-properly-in.

Fixings I'm told are from the inside, so I'll sort that in the morning. An added complication is that some bits have warped slightly during storage.

Boot seal fully in,

Boot wouldn't close and latch, so I took the catch off and packed it with a washer, which gave it just enough to latch.

One minor modification that I have gone with, is to fit ball type boot struts.

The original screw-through type aren't easily available, you have to swop the fixings over, but often these don't fit perfectly. This should make life a bit easier. The fixings I bought are a bit long, have now been cut down. 

Still no fuel coming through. Bloody thing. Too cold and tired to look tonight, so that's a job for the morning now.

[N19]

This morning I had the same issue with no starting. Removing the fuel line clip proved that fuel was coming up to the pump. I poured some petrol into the carb bowl and she started!

Whilst getting up to temperature I looked into a few other jobs. 

The reverse light switch connector seemed to not want to go on the new rls, so I crimped new bullet connectors. 

 

The speedo wasn't working, although manually flicking the input on the back made it jerk. Thought there may be an issue with the cable.... oh

 

 

New cable ordered up. 

No point in putting the dash back together now, as it'll need to come out again to have the new cable fitted. 

I did realise the backlight not working on the dash was down to the rheostat not being connected. 

 

Final checks on lights, brakes, exhaust security etc were done and, gingerly, took to the road. 

i kept local for a few reasons, i want to do a good number of short local trips as fault finding runs. Worst case if problems occur i can at least limp home or else call for help or walk home. There's also been frost lately and some roads were gritted so I kept to main roads where it'd all been washed away, and washed the car down on return. 

There's an extensive list of issues and things to be addressed, but WE HAVE RUN ON THE ROAD and this makes me so unbelievably happy you wouldn't imagine. 

[Rightnider]

Wonderful to see it out and about!

[N19]

The only glitch occurred when I returned to the garage, and selecting reverse, the gearstick came off in my hand.

I thought I'd got it sorted and in properly, as this happened a while ago. Some people have suggested aralditing it in, but I'm not sure if that is a wise idea!

[High Jetter]

12 minutes ago, N19 said:

The only glitch occurred when I returned to the garage, and selecting reverse, the gearstick came off in my hand.

I thought I'd got it sorted and in properly, as this happened a while ago. Some people have suggested aralditing it in, but I'm not sure if that is a wise idea!

IIRC it was common, BITD. 

[Andrew353w]

Mays and Barnet Lane having been conquered my the Capri I'm only sorry I was in Watford all day and missed this major event!