N19's fleet - very slow Capri progress

[sierraman]

They are incredibly straightforward engines, time wise sticking another engine in but have you got the set up to do that and also chances are stuck another clutch in? Personally I’d have the head off and see the damage, if it’s serviceable skim it and belt it back up. 
 

What’s the top end like? Sometimes they rattle like fuck as they get old. If it’s not using oil etc it’s probably good to go again. 

[N19]

I haven't the ability or time to do it myself, so I'd be asking the garage to work on it. Clearly this comes with a cost. Cambelt done 4 years ago and a clutch put on 3 years ago so it's not that it's been undisturbed forever.

I suppose I've nothing to lose.

[N19]

16 minutes ago, sierraman said:

What’s the top end like? Sometimes they rattle like fuck as they get old. If it’s not using oil etc it’s probably good to go again. 

No noticeable oil loss prior to the issue, and no major rattles etc. An odd wandering idle occasionally, but that's it.

[sierraman]

From looking through this thread I think you could do it no problem. Time it up with the locking pins, belt off, exhaust manifold off the front, lift the inlet manifold out the way, from memory release the camshaft top shells in a fashion that releases them gradually, lift the cams out then undo the cylinder head bolts. As engines go these are very basic. 

[grogee]

+1 

I've seen what you've done with the Capri and I reckon pulling the head on the Mondeo will be child's play. 

FWIW I've had the head on and off my Maestro about five times recently and I got the time down to about 4 hours to remove and refit. Admittedly it's an 8v but it is OHC and FWD. 

[N19]

Thanks guys.

I guess it's a confidence thing on my part - not wanting to start having it to bits and then getting stuck, or doing something stupid.

But, as you say, what have I got to lose? The car is effectively un-usable as it stands.

And, I suppose, doing it myself will save quite a bit on labour costs...

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, N19 said:

Thanks guys.

I guess it's a confidence thing on my part - not wanting to start having it to bits and then getting stuck, or doing something stupid.

But, as you say, what have I got to lose? The car is effectively un-usable as it stands.

And, I suppose, doing it myself will save quite a bit on labour costs...

Also build confidence and widen mechanical knowledge. Plenty of help here from those who know them intimately.

[Surface Rust]

3 hours ago, N19 said:

Thanks guys.

I guess it's a confidence thing on my part - not wanting to start having it to bits and then getting stuck, or doing something stupid.

But, as you say, what have I got to lose? The car is effectively un-usable as it stands.

And, I suppose, doing it myself will save quite a bit on labour costs...

If a ham fisted idiot like me can do a head gasket on a DOHC engine (Saab 900), then anyone can.

Just be methodical. It'll give you a great sense of achievement, after THE FEAR has long since vanished.

[N19]

For various reasons, mainly being swamped with work, I haven't updated this thread in ages.

Mondeo is back on the road. I am afraid to say I chucked most of the work to the garage in the end. Mainly through working long days for most of the last month, and having a deadline of needing the car again. The head was taken off, skimmed, then had new core plugs fitted, reassemble with new cambelt. On re starting, a misfire was found and sorted. I've had it on a few local journeys and probably done about 30 odd miles, it takes a while to build up oil pressure - I'm not sure if they chucked 10W40 in it when reassembling, but that's easily changed.  I have a trip to Scotland in a weeks time, followed by another one a month after that - I'll do a couple of longer round trips this weekend to identify any issues... including a nice long motorway run which is the acid test.

Focus has been in use for absolutely everything, but will now rest a bit!

Finally some Capri progress. It's being picked up and taken to the painter on Monday. Everything has been arranged and at long last things can move forward! I have a period over the next 6 weeks when I'm pretty busy with work and other non-work things, but hopefully it'll come back just as things calm down. And in the meantime I have a few bits to do - the garage needs a good clean and tidy, there's a number of parts to get ordered and picked up and so forth.

[N19]

Also, in honour of the fact I chose to put the money and time into it, rather than any other option, I decided to splash out on a dealer sticker for the rear window. This wasn't the original supplying dealer, but they re-sold it in the early noughties, and Haywards Heath is where I bought it from @garycox four years ago, so it seemed appropriate.

[N19]

Things are moving forward!

Following a few days of local trundling, I decided to test the Mondeo on the motorway. 

I figured that a gentle run at 50-60mph would be wise first, so I popped up to Stevenage, then full speed on the return. Suitable period signage deployed.

 

Arrangements had been made for the car transporter to pick up the Capri, so time to get things ready. The car was pulled out into daylight...

...giving space, whilst waiting for the transporter, for a good wash of the garage floor with de-greaser.  The engine, previously having been down the side, has been moved into the middle (note - moving a pinto with gearbox attached, on your own, is not recommended).

Scuse the terrible picture, but it was taken quite late in the day!

Now wait to see what the painter thinks of it. In the mean time, there are parts to order...

[N19]

When taking the exhaust off I was utterly stuck separating the manifold and centre section, which needed separated to come out. The manifold was in worse nick with some corrosion in quite a few places so I decided to sacrifice that and the angle grinder made light (ish) work of it.

This left the centre section with about 2" of manifold jammed in it.

Picture was after the flanges(?) on the centre section had been opened up, and the whole thing liberally sprayed with penetrating oil. It was not for budging. I got a small flathead screwdriver hammered down the side a few times to allow more penetrating oil to be sprayed in. I carefully cut grooves in the stuck section so that a claw hammer could get some grip and eventually allow some lateral movement. I was then able to use the claw hammer to "scoop" it up slightly (very slowly).

 

Some quite significant time and swearing later.

Centre section "flares" left slightly enlarged for now.

Back section needs rubbing down and a repaint, manifold to be in the next (final? hm not sure) parts order.

I also updated my sad interesting little spreadsheet - 169.5 hours of my time spent on the car since I started stripping it - not counting planning and ordering, discussing jobs, etc.

[RoverFolkUs]

On 20/04/2024 at 13:00, N19 said:

Also, in honour of the fact I chose to put the money and time into it, rather than any other option, I decided to splash out on a dealer sticker for the rear window. This wasn't the original supplying dealer, but they re-sold it in the early noughties, and Haywards Heath is where I bought it from @garycox four years ago, so it seemed appropriate.

Snap! Just a wee bit more modern!

[High Jetter]

14 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Snap! Just a wee bit more modern!

Yeabbut, the old one looks more modern? No STD code tho

[N19]

There was definitely a time when STD codes were omitted in favour of exchange names, probably still is in some places. I suspect that the one I've got is actually from the 80s.

[RoverFolkUs]

11 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Yeabbut, the old one looks more modern? No STD code tho

You reckon? My sticker looks very noughties I think. I've still got the (sadly knackered) dealer plates as well! Just in case anyone wanted to mockup a set of Dinnages repro's? 😅

[N19]

The plates it had when I got it were Dinnages, but they deteriorated and I had new ones made up.

Your sticker matches the logo on some paperwork I have from them dated 2006.

[High Jetter]

11 minutes ago, N19 said:

There was definitely a time when STD codes were omitted in favour of exchange names, probably still is in some places. I suspect that the one I've got is actually from the 80s.

Exchange names came before STD (Standard Trunk Dialling).

[N19]

12 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Exchange names came before STD (Standard Trunk Dialling).

I meant the habit of using area names instead of the codes, oops tired.

Although there were some exchange names which lasted in dialling parlance *after* the introduction of STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) until 1967 when AFD (all figure dialling) was introduced. These were in the "director" areas - London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. Exchange names were dialled by means of the letters by each number on the dial - so for example if you had to phone Archway 1234, which would be written as ARC 1234, you would dial 272 1234. (A-2, R-7, C-2). This changed in 1967 when the link between the letters and numbers was abandoned, since the number of exchanges exceeded the names available.

[High Jetter]

I well remember paternal g'ma's no. - 777 (for Springpark, tho she lived in West Wickham) 2874. A party line, shared with next-door. She was thrifty.

Mum's parents were 462 5216 in Hayes, Kent.  Funny what you remember. 

Those were 01 days if you were outside London, before 071/081 or 0207/8

 

 

[N19]

To be superbly pedantic, when we moved from 0171/0181 it was to 020 - the 7 or 8 was added to the phone number. If I want to call London Underground, instead of ringing 020-7222 1234, I can just ring 7222 1234, despite the fact that I have an "0208" number - it's actually an 020 number that happens to start with an 8.

[High Jetter]

It's fascinating, right? I have a phone No that my parents took over in the 70s - 4607. Then a 2 was added, 24607, and now it's 724607.  I also know where Eastbourne 1 was installed.

[Andrew353w]

8 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Exchange names came before STD (Standard Trunk Dialling).

I remember when my daughter was at Q.E.G.S. (Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School) and was having what was called "social education" (=sex education) she kept saying "S.T.D." which now stands for 'sexually transmitted diseases' No wonder life's confusing for both young and old these days........🤩

[N19]

1 hour ago, Andrew353w said:

I remember when my daughter was at Q.E.G.S. (Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School) and was having what was called "social education" (=sex education) she kept saying "S.T.D." which now stands for 'sexually transmitted diseases' No wonder life's confusing for both young and old these days........🤩

Likewise if you look up "STD Hull" wanting to know the code (01482) - your answer will involve lots of special clinics!

[N19]

Another long trip in the Mondeo completed without issue. Kept a close eye on the coolant and oil levels, but not required. 1000 miles done.

Complete with shite petrol pump on the way.

back in town and I'm taking advantage of the space in the garage while the car is being sprayed.

New fuel pump fitted, the old one was absolutely fine but it is worth doing whilst the opportunity is there. The rubber mounting was fine, although the gaskets themselves had disintegrated. New fixings cut to size and used. Next job is the cambelt. Other jobs whilst the engine is out, not that they are really needed, include a new water pump, clutch kit, core plugs and thermostat.

A shiny package has arrived from Tickover including a large quantity of parts (shiny new manifold next to grotty old manifold)

Not to be outdone, the rear section - in good condition but some surface rust - had a session with the wire brush.

after which it almost looks as good

I also relocated the "sink" in my lockup. It's now near the entrance, nearer where the batteries powering the 12v pump are, and a little more convenient hopefully. It's quite handy being able to wash your hands and/or wash small parts with flowing water.

 

 

 

[N19]

Gearbox and engine split up. 

Now possible to actually move them any distance without risking pulling something. 

Lots of brake cleaner and a rinse with unleaded later, I've removed most of the accumulated fluff and crap from inside the bell housing. That's the black puddle that it's sitting on. 

Clutch looks in good order, but I've a replacement to hand. The old one can go in a box on the shelf as a part used but known good one.

[N19]

Bit of cleaning up of the gearbox done. I think the muck is a combination of oil, underseal, and general grime.

It's quite an unpleasant goo which has come off with a quantity of unleaded and quite a bit of brake cleaner, some wire brushes and small toothbrushes from the pound shop.

I hadn't intended on repainting the gearbox or engine, but by the looks of it after some brushing to get the shit off, the bellhousing may need it. Not planning on making it look beautiful, mainly for protection.

[N19]

The Mondeo had another nice trip up north. 

A little TLC on return included a new towbar, featuring a pin hitch, as well as the six monthly service. 

I think I've mullered the wire for the oil pressure sensor when doing the oil filter.

Also needing to do the rear shocks as it's rather vague back there. Ordered a couple of OE ones for £notmuch on eBay. The bolts holding it to the rear leg look very very corroded on, and ive no idea how to access the top of the shock, the haynes manual being conveniently vague. 

Capri - had the rocker cover off, given everything a clean and the oil spray bar a blast through with carb cleaner. 

Now sitting waiting to go up to the garage when the car returns. I took the opportunity to give the garage a good tidy and de junk at the same time. 

Focus trundling along fine, albeit not been used for a couple of weeks as I've been away in the Mondeo. It's been on the fleet for a year and has proved to be nothing but reliable and tidy. It's also due a service (just an oil change I think) and it feels as if the handbrake cable is stretched, so I'll fit a fresh one. 

[N19]

Looking at the rear shocks on the Mondeo

After a good soaking in WD, the bottom bolts were able to turn and wind out a bit, so that's good.

I looked at the top bolts, the access is dreadful. Here it is with a socket on. The combination of the rear subframe, the bodywork, the exhaust and fuel tank seem to prohibit any real access.

You can get a ring spanner on which might work if it was something done up lightly, but there's no swing to give it any sort of force.

Unless the likes of @sierraman have any tricks or tips from back in the day on these, then I may take the more drastic option 2 - cut an access hole through the boot floor, access it that way (which should then be a piece of the proverbial) and then screw said plate back on, whacking it with underseal as I do.

Bit more cleaning up of the Capri's gearbox. A new gasket will be sourced for the lid

and also the tail oil seal, which has a tendency to start leaking after a while. This will be the third replacement in my ownership - not a biggie, just covers the bottom of the car in a fine mist of gearbox oil over time.

I did get to use the seal puller I bought in 2016 for this job for the first time in anger. Both times I've had it replaced it's been in the garage on ramps for other works.

Predictably the new part I've had sitting on the shelf for the last few years has done a runner, so time to go and give Burtons or Tickover more of my money!

 

[sierraman]

It will likely snap to be honest. One of those nightmare jobs. I’d do as you say and access it up top.