N19's fleet - Capri brakes, Mondeo fuses, and other fun stories.

[danthecapriman]

2 hours ago, sierraman said:

I can only imagine it’d get bought to use the engine and bits?

Possibly a re-shelling project. If you know what I mean.

[sierraman]

1 minute ago, danthecapriman said:

Possibly a re-shelling project. If you know what I mean.

I’ve noticed that Mk2s seem a (comparative!) bargain to Mk3’s. The ones left tend to be quite good, but there’s a lot of Mk3s that are just tarted up old shit. Especially round the 10k mark. 

[danthecapriman]

Just now, sierraman said:

I’ve noticed that Mk2s seem a (comparative!) bargain to Mk3’s. The ones left tend to be quite good, but there’s a lot of Mk3s that are just tarted up old shit. Especially round the 10k mark. 

Mk2’s are the least desirable version. They were made for the shortest time and sold the least. They seem to be a bit forgotten really compared to the others. 
I think the styling got old quite quickly at the time. Chrome bumpers and the big fish bowl headlights looked old in the late 70’s but the fairly basic facelift of the mk3 made the Capri look much more modern and in style. 
 

[N19]

Values have levelled off slightly and will probably fall because (I suspect) every bloke who had a Capri in the 70s/80s as a teenager/20something, who wanted one 40 years later as a mid-life-crisis, mortgage-paid-off-kids-gone-have-fun -toy, has got them already.

Just like house prices though, high/rising prices are only good if you've got something and want to sell it, no use if you want to hold on to it other than paranoia about somebody wanting to nick it!.

[N19]

Speaking of mid-life Fords at their lowest ebb, this one got into the new lockup with space to spare, which is definitely good news. Various jobs which had previously been frustratingly long-winded, and involved working out in the elements, will be significantly easier when I can just leave things in bits and with tools strewn everywhere, and shut the door.

[danthecapriman]

2 minutes ago, N19 said:

Speaking of mid-life Fords at their lowest ebb, this one got into the new lockup with space to spare, which is definitely good news. Various jobs which had previously been frustratingly long-winded, and involved working out in the elements, will be significantly easier when I can just leave things in bits and with tools strewn everywhere, and shut the door.

Have you got any further with the rust? Hopefully it’s not terminal…

[N19]

1 minute ago, danthecapriman said:

Have you got any further with the rust? Hopefully it’s not terminal…

I've not got deep into it yet, as waiting to hear when the garage can plate it. It doesn't seem to have spread too far though.

Also, when using words like 'terminal', you are underestimating my willingness to throw money at a £325 car...!

[danthecapriman]

5 minutes ago, N19 said:

I've not got deep into it yet, as waiting to hear when the garage can plate it. It doesn't seem to have spread too far though.

Also, when using words like 'terminal', you are underestimating my willingness to throw money at a £325 car...!

Nothings terminal!😄

I guess there’s no repair panels for these? Like in the good old days when you get a Hadrian pattern repair panel that never fit properly and wasn’t actually even the right shape!?

[N19]

I wouldn't have thought so. But, it looks like a fairly easy bit to plate over.

[sierraman]

Looks to me like it’ll want the inner sill fabricating then for sake of simplicity I’d just get a sill and cut the bits you need out. Probably step it with the joddler to get a reasonably neat job. I think the decider will be how rotten it is under the seam sealer between the boot floor and the inner arches. 

[sierraman]

30 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Mk2’s are the least desirable version. They were made for the shortest time and sold the least. They seem to be a bit forgotten really compared to the others. 
I think the styling got old quite quickly at the time. Chrome bumpers and the big fish bowl headlights looked old in the late 70’s but the fairly basic facelift of the mk3 made the Capri look much more modern and in style. 
 

I quite like the Mk2. When I was a kid there used to be one outside a pub nearby a green one. It sat there for years covered in leaves and tree sap until the brewery sold the pub to make it into one of these ghastly gastropubs. 

[N19]

4 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Looks to me like it’ll want the inner sill fabricating then for sake of simplicity I’d just get a sill and cut the bits you need out. Probably step it with the joddler to get a reasonably neat job. I think the decider will be how rotten it is under the seam sealer between the boot floor and the inner arches. 

Looks like they are available, although looks like outer sill.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375639777199

[N19]

6 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Looks to me like it’ll want the inner sill fabricating then for sake of simplicity I’d just get a sill and cut the bits you need out. Probably step it with the joddler to get a reasonably neat job. I think the decider will be how rotten it is under the seam sealer between the boot floor and the inner arches. 

PS the cache of parts you kindly gave me 4? years ago during lockdown remains very useful and has got me out of a few challenges! thanks!

[danthecapriman]

42 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I quite like the Mk2. When I was a kid there used to be one outside a pub nearby a green one. It sat there for years covered in leaves and tree sap until the brewery sold the pub to make it into one of these ghastly gastropubs. 

I like the mk2 (obviously!). I like the more smooth softer 70’s style to them. They’re not quite as ‘butch’ as the mk3 but I like that. 
It’s actually quite a difference between the early mk2’s and the last of the line mk3’s. My mate had a D reg Laser and it was much more refined than my mk2. The interior in particular was much better trimmed and equipped, and it had much more sound proofing than mine. Although there was 12 years between the two cars.

[sierraman]

1 hour ago, N19 said:

PS the cache of parts you kindly gave me 4? years ago during lockdown remains very useful and has got me out of a few challenges! thanks!

I’ve had loads of Mk2 over the years, part of the reason I kept buying them was I’d stash bits away I’d picked up in breakers over the years or cars I’d broken up so having things like starter motors etc on hand meant you were good to go if you had a breakdown. Thinking back they weren’t bad cars at all to work on, most jobs very straightforward.

The inner sill I think you’ll have to fab but it’s out of sight so it doesn’t need to look good just be sound. Then use a pattern sill to repair what you have. A coat of Shutz, some Wax inside the sill and a top coat and it should last a fair while. 
 

They seem to have broke the back of the rust a bit with the Mk4 - this is inside the sill of a 17 year old example - not that bad I don’t think! 

[N19]

Starter motor is a good example actually, mine failed earlier in the year so whipped it off and the spare from your box went on, I intended on putting the old one into Unit Exchange for a recon but haven't got that far yet! 

[N19]

Sadly one of the bits that i don't have to hand is a wingmirror, as someone clearly decided that the Mondeo didn't need one when I was parked earlier. 

 

Ebay breaker replacement jobbie coming on Tuesday though. They'd picked the glass up and left it on the wiper so clearly noticed...

[danthecapriman]

24 minutes ago, N19 said:

Sadly one of the bits that i don't have to hand is a wingmirror, as someone clearly decided that the Mondeo didn't need one when I was parked earlier. 

 

Ebay breaker replacement jobbie coming on Tuesday though. They'd picked the glass up and left it on the wiper so clearly noticed...

Bastards!

Hopefully it did more expensive damage to their car.

[N19]

16 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Bastards!

Hopefully it did more expensive damage to their car.

£20.79 for a replacement from a breaker. So not bad. 

[robt100]

That must have been quite a speed to do that much damage to it. Lucky they didnt hit the body of the car! How far through the text message to we think they were when they realised.....

[N19]

10 minutes ago, robt100 said:

That must have been quite a speed to do that much damage to it. Lucky they didnt hit the body of the car! How far through the text message to we think they were when they realised.....

Impressive as its a 20mph lane... but the PCP BMW broccoli haired stoners use it as a racetrack

[N19]

Wingmirror arrived, but wrong fit. Listed as Mk2 Mondeo O/S 96-00, but clearly different fittings and different glass shape. Is it from a mk1?

Not going to argue with the seller who would probably tell me I should have checked the photos in more detail so if it can be discovered what it belongs to I'll happily pass it to a shiter who can make use of it. Anyhow the right one arrived today and fitted so I have a legal Mondeo once more.

 

[N19]

Capri joining Christmas tackiness.

[egg]

Not sure that is a MK1, I'd imagine the fittings would be very similar.

[N19]

I did my usual 'Christmas day drive around central london' trip, which was mostly smooth and fun. 

Empty and abandoned Zone 1. 

Now, I don't think there's a "good" place to throw a fan belt, but I think that Christmas morning in Trafalgar Square definitely isn't it.

There's a reason I carry a spare. 3 minute replacement and we were back on the way. 

[Andrew353w]

Blimey, you really choose your dates and places to break down!

In the early 1980s l was "moonlighting" for some extra cash at a pub called "Ye Olde Cherry Tree" on Southgate Green (great pub, by the way!) and was rostered to work Christmas Eve. After leaving the pub at about 1am on Christmas morning I "wended" my way home & had a short sleep before driving down to my parents' house in Keynsham, near Bristol, early on Christmas morning. This was pre-M25 days, so it was the North Circular to the A4, then the M4 west.

At that time there was no AA/RAC cover on Christmas Day, no garages were open (apart from Motorway ones) and the roads were completely empty-totally so! All I saw were the occasional Police car & milk tankers (cows don't know it's Christmas Day!)  I'd wisely refuelled the day before and I reckon I could have driven down the wrong side of the M4 for most of the journey without hitting anything! 

It may be my age (65) but I wish Christmas Day were still like that; just ONE day in the year when we can pause, stop and think what it's all about.....

[N19]

I counted 2 shops open on the High street and 2 down by the Odeon when I came back. Both international greengrocers, probably incredibly useful for anyone who suddenly discovered they'd forgotten an onion or run out of salt or something. I suspect that the proprietor don't celebrate Christmas in the same way, so a win win for all. 

In central though, various chain stores open (Pret at Aldwych for example) which I thought was very consumerist. Quite a few tourist coach tours running around. By the time I was heading back home, around 11am, it was mainly the lack of LT buses that showed any difference. 

[N19]

In a world where manufacturers (of anything) make noises about supply chain delays and parts shortages, I often raise my eyebrows. I walked into one of the local factors at 11am to order, and came back at 3pm to pick up a fanbelt for a 45 year old car. 

A few more bits on the list for the rest of the Christmas break including swopping a relay over, topping up the gearbox oil and checking a few lights (and the HRW?).

[N19]

Is it really a year since the capri got its first MoT post refit?

passed for another year, albeit not legally required. 

Couple of bits of underseal to tidy up, and probably want to have a look at the nsr drum brakes, but all good.

[N19]

The Capri only did 15 miles during January, which is understandable, it's freezing and there's salt everywhere. It was damp today but not too bad, so I took the opportunity to do for a fairly decent run of around 30 miles, and make sure the car was dried off underneath before putting it away.

Bled and checked the rear brakes, they seem better now (drum brakes remain something of a dark art as far as I'm concerned, but managed to get the adjuster backed off enough to get the drums on post-bleeding).

Following up by bleeding the fronts, I found one of the flexis was chafed, so will order up a new one.

and as I can never get the wheelbrace the right way round the first time I sprayed the correct arm with the Capri's body colour!

 

It's been time for the Mondeo to get a bit of attention. I drained the oil one evening when the engine was warm, leaving myself a suitable reminder that the engine was drained of it...

I've also been looking into a couple of remaining electrical issues. First off, the heated seats/drivers seat adjustment fuse keeps blowing. I *think* this is something to do with the drivers seat, as I replaced it, it sat fine with both heated seats on, then blew as soon as I tried to move the seat. So will have to try and get under there to find out what's wrong! The heated front window is also not working, but it seems to not 'click' the relay when pressed, so could just be that. There's also an ABS light which comes on occasionally but is *always* sorted by starting the car again - someone suggested that there might be a brief dip in voltage from the alternator to cause this.

Anyway, it's still running and other than those issues, fairly happy.