N19's fleet - Capri rebuild moving forward at pace

[High Jetter]

It lives, tho?

[N19]

I hope so, but we shall see. Unfortunately a combination of needing the space, lack of time and insurance running out pushed me to sell it on quickly, but it's with a Bluebird enthusiast now. I did hold on to the old numberplates, which I've now mounted :-

 

The Capri should be returning this week, to go to a local paint shop - I have my list of Things To Do To Reassemble it. I'm trying to think it through logically so as to make the process easy and avoid any double-handling and repetition. As well as the actual re-fitting of parts, a lot of other bits will be replaced - fuel lines etc, the coolant will be getting a wash-out and replacement. The rear washer has never worked on this, and is an absolute pain in the arse to get to, but it makes sense to tackle the job now whilst the car is in bits. There are a mere 51 items to do before the car is road legal! That will be a particularly nice (and rewarding) moment, when I'm able to take it out and about again. The remaining 43 items (thus far) are cosmetic, interior etc related. Of course, although some of these items will take about two minutes (re-fitting of the grab handle) others will be a much larger job.

A little more reasonably satisfying tidying while I've got the space. These mushroom trays (the green one with the angle grinder) are reasonably light duty, but are very handy for keeping things together - one for the angle grinder and bits, one for crimps, wire, crimp tools, another for lamps and fuses, another for sockets, another for pliers/mole grips... and most fruit/veg shops have a few dozen hanging around that they're happy to get rid of. Stackable too.

Nursing a sore mouth as I've had a wisdom tooth out today.

[N19]

Capri returns!

Now fully solid and just in need of paint. 

Feels very odd without the windscreen. But it's a great feeling to drive her, even if that's just manoeuvreing around the yard. 

While I wait for her to go in for paint, I've got a couple of jobs to do. I've got some new nylon fuel line here, plus all the rubber bits, and I've also taken the headlining down to look at the rear washer system. The pump works, so there's a blockage somewhere...

[N19]

The rear washer hasn't worked in the time that I've had the car, so now's the ideal time to give it all a clean.

Time to pick up some cleaning agent...

I've flushed the line through with it, and left the nozzle sitting in a little pot overnight. I'll get the pump out over the weekend and try shooting it through.

[N19]

A few rear end jobs today, so I turned the car around in the garage. Getting out was fun* especially given that the black parcel on the passenger side is the windscreen and rear quarterlight glass!

The trusty off-brand cola was deployed. Everything runs through fine, except when the washer jet is attached.

I'll have a fiddle with that and try to unblock it.

Meanwhile, new fuel lines arrived and fitted. Shiny!

When cutting the old one up to be put in the rubbish, they are actually all in perfectly fine condition, just covered in years of underseal. Can't hurt though.

There was also an issue when the car was away being welded, I can't remember if he said the bolts were sheared or lost but there's currently a cable tie on the rear bush of the leaf springs. Another rear end job.

 

Heat has stopped play for now.

[Matty]

Looks boss!

[N19]

Rear spring shackle had sheared off. Replacements have been ordered, so in the meantime, better get the old ones off.

Easier said than done! They are a bit of a pain. When the two parts are separated, I jacked up the rear body so the chassis rail sat higher than the spring, to give a bit more room for manouvre. One half popped out after some careful prising.

The other half remains in there, seemingly held in purely through being stuck fast in the bush?

Bit worried that I'll have a right game getting everything back into position on the car. I've never worked with spring bushes, so I don't know whether this is practical or if I'll end up taking the springs off to do it on the ground!

EDIT: Although, now I think about it, the bit that's in there now is perfectly sound - it's the bottom section (the part that's out) which has sheared off. I could save myself some hassle by just replacing the broken one (and copperslipping it!).

 

[N19]

A lot of swearing, levering, grumbling, prising and coaxing later and...

...

Oh what's that,

Only forgot to move the bushes over to the new shackles, small thing. 

Bollocks. 

[N19]

The bushes are entirely seized onto the old shackles and not for coming off. A bit of measuring, in which I almost felt like I knew what I was doing...

Ordered up some new ones which, I hope, will go on and then everything can go back together for one last time. Hey, I suppose it's all part of the fun* of a project!

I noticed when parking up the focus that the headlights seemed to be varying with the engine revs, which worried me a bit, although there was a lot of draw on the system at that point with ac, headlights, wipers, radio etc so I suppose it's a fairly extreme test. An eye will be kept.

[N19]

I took a trip up to Biggleswade to pick up some wheels for the Capri.

I'm not sure how to interpret these tyre codes, but I think it's pre-1991...

 

New tyres will be fitted anyhow. The wheels could do with the vinyl stickers for the slots for full authenticity, but they look alright enough. To be honest, the ones I've got on the car right now are decent enough anyway, just mucky - but these were half an hour away and a good price and in decent nick, not an opportunity I'd expected! If I get the new tyres on this set, the original set still has decent tyres and with a clean and polish up can be kept... maybe I'll go all OMGOSF and have a different set for best (!)

[N19]

Capri is going away for paint on Monday or Tuesday of next week. The bushes ordered above came in the post earlier in the week ,so time to get them fitted. Getting the inner metal bush into the poly bush was a pain in the absolute arse. I went with a very long nut, bolt and some washers in the end. Assembly instructions strictly demand that you do not over tighten these to avoid shearing the stud on the other side. I'm always left with slight paranoia in these cases!

I've got three weeks off* during August, if things go properly I may have it back by then which would be fantastic as I could spend a good few solid days working on it, but the best laid plans...

[N19]

Long nut and bolt on the other side and the bush was in. All tightened up and back on the ground now.

I'd had the car back-to-front in the garage to how it usually sits, and because of the windscreen being stored (albeit wrapped) where the passenger seat isn't, I decided the safest thing to do was to climb in from the back again... I'm not the smallest chap in the world, but I managed it!

and she was out! (ft pre-1991 tyre, and carpet offcut to prevent the boot latch locking)

The engine had a nice run up to temperature and I went up and down the drive a few times, in the hope of keeping things moving a bit!

 

[N19]

Endeavouring to avoid any Annie Lennox moments. Windscreen temporarily living in the corner of my living room, as it's less likely to have any accidents than if I keep it in the garage I think.

[High Jetter]

Sod Annie, keep Hazel O'C at bay

[N19]

I've been squirrelling away various parts to go onto the Capri, including this timing belt... but then I looked at the company name, and the phone number...

T&N Plc - the lot who went bankrupt from all the asbestos claims.... in the 90s. And phONE day was in 1995.

I know UV light etc etc but I may get hold of a newer belt... I'm not sure they'd respond to any Telexes about a failure..

I did a pre-MOT check on the Mondeo today, I'm putting it in two months early to try and space things out as I currently have three MoTs due in late September, together with half of the country so it seems. This wing is corroded to heck but it's not, as far as I can tell, a prescribed area. I'll tidy it up after the MoT (I would rather present it in an honest condition than slap some shiny underseal on it).

[N19]

Rear washer - to pin the cause definitely on the nozzle, I bought a generic one online (£1.99 delivered). Fitted and a good flow.

Will try blasting the genuine one with compressed air at some point over the coming weeks.

The headlining wasn't for staying up, then I remembered it had spring clips on when fitted. The nearest thing I could find were these re-usable paper clips, fitted a couple of these.

Once the paint is done, I'll be re-fitting the nozzle, then clipping/taping the headlining and the rubber seal will go on top of these, so I'm not too worried about minor imperfections.

I've got a few weeks off work upcoming, and I'd quite hoped that the car would be back from paint so I could get on with it during this time. Best laid plans and all that! There's also a niggle in the back of my head that I'll run into problems re-assembling, but I think most of that is me worrying purely because it's not in my nature to not be doing anything, if that makes sense.

[N19]

Took the Mondeo out on a nice run to Bristol. Seen here on Vale Street, which is supposed to be the steepest street in England. I had faith in the handbrake.

The photo really doesn't convey just how steep it is. I make a point of driving up it if I'm going through Totterdown, just because.

 

Focus, behaving fine, gave it an oil change - remarkably easy as the filter is right on the front, you need only jack it up a few inches to be able to reach under and do the job. It's been with me for 3 months and 1,000 miles now. From the weekend I'll be using it more, given that pretty much any use of the Mondeo is a £12.50 charge.  Which I can justify if I'm driving a long way, as it's a much comfier long distance car, or if I'm moving big/heavy stuff, but day to day use will decrease. We shall see.

The Capri wait continues.

[N19]

A day of odd jobs today, popped up to Watford, passed @Andrew353w on the way, came home, decided to whip the starter motor off the Capri. Going to drop it off at the rewinders tomorrow so they can give it a look over and check if anything needs done, clean it out etc - it works perfectly fine, but they're 10 minutes away and will give something a once over and a clean up in return for a contribution to their tea fund, so it's another thing done and fresh. The whole area under there needs a thorough clean too, so I think it'll be a tin of degreaser and some rags tomorrow.

Oh, and I washed the Focus - it hides dirt well, it looked alright-ish, but looks shiny and lovely again after a quick once-over.

[N19]

Starter motor picked up this morning. Reconditioned by Unit Exchange in Borehamwood, who as ever provide a first class service including obtaining an obscure part. If you're anywhere nearby, I thoroughly thoroughly recommend taking any starters alternators etc to them.

It almost makes you not want to fit it, looking pretty as it is!

[Andrew353w]

41 minutes ago, N19 said:

Starter motor picked up this morning. Reconditioned by Unit Exchange in Borehamwood, who as ever provide a first class service including obtaining an obscure part. If you're anywhere nearby, I thoroughly thoroughly recommend taking any starters alternators etc to them.

I, too, would strongly recommend this company for refurbishing starter motors, dynamos and alternators. They've sorted out numerous items for me for many a strange and weird car, as well as more conventional stuff for customers of mine.   

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, N19 said:

Starter motor picked up this morning. Reconditioned by Unit Exchange in Borehamwood, who as ever provide a first class service including obtaining an obscure part. If you're anywhere nearby, I thoroughly thoroughly recommend taking any starters alternators etc to them.

It almost makes you not want to fit it, looking pretty as it is!

Looks phallic. Or is that just me?

[grogee]

On 7/23/2023 at 11:25 PM, N19 said:

T&N Plc - the lot who went bankrupt from all the asbestos claims.... in the 90s. And phONE day was in 1995.

I worked for T&N Technology in Cawston, Rugby between Sept 95 - Sept 96. There was a connection with Ferodo Brakes but I can't remember who owned who. 

My job was to operate a very old machine (think Chockablock) that tested prototype tractor brake materials, then produce graphs showing how good or bad they were. They were all about the same. Colleagues used to test new brake pad formulations on a different rig using Mondeo discs and pad backings. 

My mate Neal worked the Porosimeter which was fun because it used mercury and we had a bottle to play with carefully store. 

[N19]

After feeling rotten at the back end of last week, I was well enough to inch forward with the Capri a bit.

Got nicely up to temperature and keep things moving. Starter fires beautifully now. It'll be like a new car when I'm finished with it... maybe, sort of, I hope.

On my to do list was to remove the fuel tank, check it and the area above it for corrosion, and fit new straps.

7

innovative use of trolley jack to control the drain flow.

I took a couple of gallons of fuel off (chucked into the Mondeo - it's probably a bit stale but will mix fine with the full tank of fresh) before removing the tank and pouring the remnants out. I didn't get a picture of this, but it was very yellow and there was a fair amount of crap floating around in it. That I'm going to get rid of, much as it feels wasteful it's probably too risky to chuck it in the Mondeo - if I had the Bluebird I'd have had no hesitation, it would run on anything! You can take it to the tip if it's mixed with engine oil... I'm just going to chuck it down the interceptor at the petrol station, call it a test...

Tank itself is battered in places but no leaks, I'm going to see about costs for blasting/powdercoating vs replacing with a new one.

The area underneath the tank will need some rust treatment, but other than one hole isn't too bad. I daren't start it for a few days as I'm paranoid about the amount of petrol in the air!

 

The Mondeo rear brake light has been loose and floppy for a while, a combination of the threaded inserts (plastic) being crap/knackered, and the inset washer being cracked. Bodged a washer and a self-tapper, and silicone'd the inserts in.

Still managed to get the Mondeo around despite ULEZ, just requires careful thought.

[uk_senator]

24 minutes ago, N19 said:

 

Still managed to get the Mondeo around despite ULEZ, just requires careful thought.

Good to see progress.. Interesting about your unit guy, I`ve been looking for somewhere decent since AMPS closed down in Tottenham.. Do they do upgrading too? I need a high output one for that 260Z I`ve been working on..

Funnily enough, I saw a shonky old Mondeo estate go up my road a few hours ago, wasn't you was it? (& if it was, what route did you take to avoid the cameras!)

[N19]

1 minute ago, uk_senator said:

Good to see progress.. Interesting about your unit guy, I`ve been looking for somewhere decent since AMPS closed down in Tottenham.. Do they do upgrading too? I need a high output one for that 260Z I`ve been working on..

Funnily enough, I saw a shonky old Mondeo estate go up my road a few hours ago, wasn't you was it? (& if it was, what route did you take to avoid the cameras!)

yes it was! I did wonder if you were around! I went Wood St - left onto Meadway - up your road - through the gate at Hadley - then right onto Hadley Highstone. No cameras up that way (yet?) maybe it's too posh and there'd be objections? I also notice none at all in Totteridge. 

I'm not sure about upgrading but I'd imagine so  (paging @Andrew353w) - they are a very easy to deal with lot and they know their stuff.

[Steviemillar]

A new fuel tank will pay dividends in the end even if you’re original one looks ok inside, ask me how I know….

[grogee]

6 minutes ago, Steviemillar said:

A new fuel tank will pay dividends in the end even if you’re original one looks ok inside, ask me how I know….

Or, spend days and days restoring your rusty one because it's unobtanium. See my Maestro thread. 

[N19]

44 minutes ago, grogee said:

Or, spend days and days restoring your rusty one because it's unobtanium. See my Maestro thread. 

In my case, skip replacing it now, then 10 years down the line it really does need doing and in that time they have become unobtainum. 

[N19]

Tank ordered last week, hopefully will arrive soon.

The old one has been rinsed out as I'm a little paranoid about a metal tank of vapour being an explosion risk...

Existing, perfectly working, fuel sender has been recovered for fitting in to the new tank

Whilst the tank was off, I took the opportunity to clean up the bottom of the spare wheel well and a couple of patches above it.

Much easier with the tank removed, so when the new one arrives it can go back on to be forgotten about for another 40 years. 

Mondeo had an MoT yesterday and sailed through. 5,991 miles in the last year.

Focus had some hesitation when moving off at low revs. I decided to have a look at the spark plugs.

excuse the photo, clearly close up focus (groan) is poor on my phone's camera, and this was after they'd been cleaned up a bit, one (2nd from left) had furry deposits and a burnt electrode. Can't have helped!

I fitted 4 new plugs, which kindly came from Ben's stock passed over when he sold me the car. The engine then was mis-firing, which was concerning. With assistance from a passing @Andrew353w , a little head scratching, worrying and only a minor injury, I discovered one of the plugs to be almost entirely closed up - that's what happens when you fit things whilst not paying attention and thus not checking them! When re-gapped (and having burnt off the oil that had seeped into the engine thanks to an earlier over-filling spillage, sloshing around the tops of the plugs) everything was running nicely. A nice 40-mile trip around some A roads followed, just to be sure(!). Oh and I've realised how much a difference cleaning the inside of the windscreen makes - everything's that bit brighter now!

[Andrew353w]

13 minutes ago, N19 said:

Tank ordered last week, hopefully will arrive soon.

The old one has been rinsed out as I'm a little paranoid about a metal tank of vapour being an explosion risk...

Existing, perfectly working, fuel sender has been recovered for fitting in to the new tank

Whilst the tank was off, I took the opportunity to clean up the bottom of the spare wheel well and a couple of patches above it.

Much easier with the tank removed, so when the new one arrives it can go back on to be forgotten about for another 40 years. 

Mondeo had an MoT yesterday and sailed through. 5,991 miles in the last year.

Focus had some hesitation when moving off at low revs. I decided to have a look at the spark plugs.

excuse the photo, clearly close up focus (groan) is poor on my phone's camera, and this was after they'd been cleaned up a bit, one (2nd from left) had furry deposits and a burnt electrode. Can't have helped!

I fitted 4 new plugs, which kindly came from Ben's stock passed over when he sold me the car. The engine then was mis-firing, which was concerning. With assistance from a passing @Andrew353w , a little head scratching, worrying and only a minor injury, I discovered one of the plugs to be almost entirely closed up - that's what happens when you fit things whilst not paying attention and thus not checking them! 

I hope your hand is O.K! Clean up the injury and dab some TCP on it, just to be sure. As you say, it's so often the "bloody obvious" that's the problem! Good to meet again and I'll keep an eye out when I pass that way, which is almost daily.