N19's fleet - scrape

[N19]

Yes, I think that you're right. I think mine had 4 different types of bolt holding it down! For now, I've cut slots into the M8 bolts so they could be tightened with a screwdriver, but I'll see about ordering up the right ones.

[N19]

Not sure how long I've put this off for. But bumper corners now properly screwed in and tight. Last bit of valance trim nut & bolted in. 

 

[danthecapriman]

3 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

Dredging information from the depths of my memory, those seat bolts should be the M8 threads with a 10mm head with a flanged washer iirc. Hopefully someone will confirm, but is that why you can't get a socket on it?

Having said that, it's 30+ years since I was in a Capri, and MK2 sons is still a pile of parts buried in my garage 

Pretty sure this is right. 
I definitely don’t have slotted head bolts or screws on mine, they’re bolts. Don’t remember having trouble getting to the heads on them either. Although its been a while since I last fitted them! 
Im sure I had a load of spare ones in a tub somewhere too…

[High Jetter]

Had Ford not progressed to Torx by then?

[danthecapriman]

12 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Had Ford not progressed to Torx by then?

Not on stuff like this. Certainly the mk2 doesn’t anyway. Mk3’s are basically the same in most respects. 
Pretty sure Torx crap started coming in more and more through the 80’s.

[N19]

The only Torx I know of on the car is the cambelt tensioner.

Although that said, fresh Torx bolts of the right size might not be a bad shout to replace the motley selection I've got now - easier to tighten and torque up than slotted.

[robt100]

18 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Had Ford not progressed to Torx by then?

Half of it hadn't even progressed past imperial measurements at this point 🙈

[danthecapriman]

Do the Pinto head bolts count as Torx!? Or splined? 
There really can’t be much on these cars.

3 minutes ago, robt100 said:

Half of it hadn't even progressed past imperial measurements at this point 🙈

This😄    
Mines got an assortment of imperial and metric fittings!

[High Jetter]

I mentioned it as my first experience of Torx heads was on seat runner mounts.

[N19]

Sorted out the other bumper bracket. Had to loosen everything off and do a bit of fiddling around, but that's the bumpers now sorted.

Current remaining snag list.

• replace all fuel hose with fresh (I was waiting until I'd finished messing around with the pump to do this)
• re-fit footwell kick plates (driver & passenger footwells)
• connect up HRW and park function for rear wiper
• look at vacuum leak in or around the servo

I'll also have a look over all the bits and pieces as there's a couple of bits where I've noticed a bit of trim that needs a clean, or a fixing replaced, etc.

[Bmwdumptruck]

When you do the fuel hose try and get proper crimp clamps or the screw clips that are a full circle.  Jubilee clips aren’t really suitable for fuel hose.  

[N19]

1 hour ago, Bmwdumptruck said:

When you do the fuel hose try and get proper crimp clamps or the screw clips that are a full circle.  Jubilee clips aren’t really suitable for fuel hose.  

Aye, it was only recently that I realised this and that the spring clip clamps are sprung for a reason actually. I've got a pack on the side which I will fit.

They might be an utter bastard to work on without the right tool, but I suppose that isn't an issue if they're on properly and permanently. Jubilee clips are useful for rapid testing/modification/adjustment. 

[N19]

Did one of my occasional long distance trips in the Mondeo. Up and then back down the A1.

The tracking still looks to be out. To investigate.

On the way home, the brake light came on. Checked the fluid reservoir, it was low but not below minimum, topped up, light went out.... then returned a little while later. Checked and this time the fluid was still happily very high. Checked all brake lines and connections for any signs of leakage, checked brake operation on a long open road by making some very enthusiastic stops - everything normal - all brakes seem to be absolutely fine. After that I elected to carry on, having satisfied myself, and no nuns nor kittens were harmed. Wondering whether a stuck sensor or wiring issue. It is dimmer than usual and when the handbrake is on, it brightens. But will check both switches.

I even treated it to a wash, which it hasn't had since before Christmas.

The Capri has a bit of trim that's to go back on around the windows, but if the weather continues this weekend will be going out for a nice run.

[N19]

Got a good 50 miles in the Capri down today. And a few bits of jobs done.

Trim reinstated.

then turned my attention to the servo vacuum leak. With the radio off I could hear an inrush of air when the brake was applied. One brake applicator used...

Some trial and error occurred with the brake cleaner. The carb area is generally ok although there might be a slight leak on the carb to manifold (which is frustrating as I previously re-sealed that) but the servo vac connection is much worse. The engine picks up rapidly when sprayed.

 

 

[Andrew353w]

You were spotted! That pale blue Capri was seen turning left on Barnet Hill into Underhill at about 4.45 pm this afternoon. I strolled over to your lock-up, but you had driven off somewhere. I noticed your rear left indicator was flashing too quickly as you turned left, which might be worth examining......

[N19]

Slight new trousers moment when fault finding the air leak by spraying around the carb... caught something hot and we had flames. Luckily, as soon as I stopped spraying, it went out, so we did not require the fire extinguisher!

Mondeo brake warning sorted itself out - not sure if it just had to settle. The heated seats seem to blow a fuse when turned on after a few minutes, which then means the electrics for the adjustable seat don't work. This can be solved by not using it!

 

[N19]

2 minutes ago, Andrew353w said:

You were spotted! That pale blue Capri was seen turning left on Barnet Hill into Underhill at about 4.45 pm this afternoon. I strolled over to your lock-up, but you had driven off somewhere. I noticed your rear left indicator was flashing too quickly as you turned left, which might be worth examining......

Ah yes I saw you wave! I went home to pick some bits up before returning to the lockup a little while after. The n/s/f indicator bulb was loose, hence out of circuit, hence the n/s/r flashing fast. Now corrected although it is the second time it's happened.

[N19]

Colour me annoyed.

Came back to the Mondeo after having it parked on the street near the station, to see this on the ns A post.

It's a very odd place to get damaged. No other damage on the car at all. Looks as if something has reversed(?) at a weird angle, with a projecting thing (scaffold pole, tail lift, bin lift...)

Of course, no note or anything. 

I know to most people it's an old banger, but it's a good car to me and they should have the decency to stop and report the damage.

I'm not sure if it's possible to bash it out as it's very close to the windscreen. I think the door should straighten alright, though, and will need painting to avoid getting rusty, and sort the trim out.

Sigh. People.

[danthecapriman]

Bastards! That’s a bizarre bit of damage though. Has the screen been damaged too?

You could try those pullers like a slide hammer but with a screw on the end you wind into a drilled hole in the dent then pull it out with the slide hammer bit. Failing that, a similar approach but with a screw and claw hammer or something to lever and bend the worst of it out? 
Obviously access inside the screen pillar to knock it out is going to be impossible.

I don’t suppose anywhere around there has cctv you could look at?

[N19]

The screen hasn't been damaged at all, luckily. The side trim has popped out, but will go back in, I will give that a clean behind and maybe a blob of silkaflex if the snap in isn't perfect.

You're right, it's in an odd location, and is very localised - no other damage. Some good suggestions there - I'm not sure whether I'll get it looking 'right' without a lot of work, but I'll definitely try to tidy it up. There's no point claiming on insurance, they'd just call it a write off.

There isn't any CCTV that I'm aware of, although I might drop a note into a couple of the houses. Frustrating really. 

[danthecapriman]

58 minutes ago, N19 said:

The screen hasn't been damaged at all, luckily. The side trim has popped out, but will go back in, I will give that a clean behind and maybe a blob of silkaflex if the snap in isn't perfect.

You're right, it's in an odd location, and is very localised - no other damage. Some good suggestions there - I'm not sure whether I'll get it looking 'right' without a lot of work, but I'll definitely try to tidy it up. There's no point claiming on insurance, they'd just call it a write off.

There isn't any CCTV that I'm aware of, although I might drop a note into a couple of the houses. Frustrating really. 

I was absolutely livid when some twat broke my windscreen on the Volvo some years ago, so I can imagine you were pretty pissed off coming back to that. 
Definitely worth a go with a screw in type puller though, get the worst of it out then some filler maybe to get the shape back.

Theres certainly some arse holes out there!

[Bmwdumptruck]

I’d certainly knock on a few doors to ask which is bin day.  If it coincides I reckon a claim against the council might be worth a punt??? 
Had a builders merchant lorry scrape round the rear quarter corner of my Renault Extra van many many years back.  Saw the guy pull up behind to unload to next door, never thought to keep an eye on him, but a few hours later when I went out I noticed the crease, but the merchant denied any delivery in that street….lieing b4st4rds.

[Wibble]

I’d definitely be asking around for any cctv footage.

[Andrew353w]

Where precisely were you parked? As we're both Barnet based I'll sniff around the area for you. Can't promise I'll find anything, but it'll be good to put my former skills to use again......

[sierraman]

Cunts. I think you’d need to put some self tappers in that pillar and use a slide hammer to get it out then fill it the bits that won’t go straight. 

[uk_senator]

That is incredibly weird damage, I really cant work out what would have done it, if it was a passing truck/van box, there`d be a perfectly horizontal gouge, which would have also gouged the door... Even if a truck had backed into it, there`d be a much squarer indent, but thats rounded off.. Unless it was something like a pole hanging off a (scaffolding?) lorry, which turned sharply next to it? Its very weird. Was it adjacent to, or opposite, a turning? Very lucky it didn't do the screen, not that its much of a "bonus"..
Yeah, I`d be knocking doors to see if there's any CCTV/doorbell footage.

[N19]

There is a house being renovated slightly up, and it was on a road with quite a few parked cars. It could have been a scaffolder manouvering. I don't fancy trying to talk sense into a scaffolder mind you.

[kevins]

All you can realisticaly do is tap the high spots down and fill it, I wouldn't be drilling holes in something as structural as the A pillar.

I once saw some sort of modern SUV (they all look the same to me) parked in Holt high street with a paving slab through the windscreen and the bonnet all smashed in where it had bounced off first, must have fallen off a passing skip lorry or builders truck, no sign anyone had stopped or left a note etc.