Autoshite GT

[whitevanman]

It's about the same dimensions as a Pinto, same as the I4 fitted Sierras etc, just a larger displacement, same bellhouse pattern, different mounts, Granada/Scorpio have a seperate loom for the engine and ecu, so not to hard to do the electrics, word of note change the fan belt tensioner when the engine is out, they are a common failure, otherwise they are a good engine with turbo kits etc available

[garethj]

off we go for the MoT, where it failed on a few things...

 

Rear brake pipe was stretched

One rear brake wasn't at full efficiency

One rear brake binding (probably a siezed wheel cylinder as it's the same wheel)

No indicator repeaters fitted

Number plate light not working (I suggested he give it a thump and it should come on)

Exhaust leaking

Emissions too high

Fuel pipe not clipped properly

 

I'd call that a result

Tweaked the brake pipes to get the flexi unstretched

Changed the brake cylinders, might as well do both

Fitted some repeaters

Fixed the numberplate light by giving it a thump

Had the exhaust centre section changed, although the back box is still knocking on the chassis a bit

Emissions should be better, although the HT leads I ordered still haven't arrived

Fuel pipe clipped on. I'm not sure what the chassis is made from, but it's harder than most of my drill bits

 

MoT retest booked for tomorrow afternoon

[whitevanman]

I spy the same Halfords Proffesional 1/4 -3/8 socket set as my back up one

[Captain Mainwaring]

Cor, never seen one of these beauts before, nice! Get a V6 under t'bonnet if one'll fit! And I'm with Bollox on the Cossie wheels an' all!

[Talbotman]

Its looking good! My soft spot for these is getting even greater!!

[garethj]

Get a V6 under t'bonnet if one'll fit! And I'm with Bollox on the Cossie wheels an' all!

The V6 won't fit, even the 2 litre is a tight squeeze!The offset of the Cossie wheels is wrong so I'd have to use massive spacers too, I'll try the existing wheels on spacers to see how they look - to be honest I don't like wide tyres on light cars so hopefully I can stick with the 5.5" rims

[whitevanman]

try these on it

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Deepdish-Alloy-Wh ... 2c53939d0a

[garethj]

MoT retest booked for tomorrow afternoon

Woo-hoo, it passed!!

 

try these on it

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Deepdish-Alloy-Wh ... 2c53939d0a

They look ace, but they're a bit wide. The original wheels were 7J which is a bit too wide I reckon, the ebay ones are 8J

 

I've ordered a pair of 25mm spacers so I'll see how they look and maybe order another pair for the front.

 

I took it to work today, and other than the rear silencer still knocking on the chassis, it's a hoot. Needs a new thermostat to stop it running on choke all the time, then a million other things. But it's on the road

[Mr Lobster]

Congratulations!Looks pretty cool that

[jonny69]

I quite like that :DIt needs a serious dose of lowering though. Looks like you've got a jack under the back

[whitevanman]

there is loads of room for 8" rims under those arches

[garethj]

there is loads of room for 8" rims under those arches

Maybe, but I don’t like wide tyres on a light car, the 185s on at the moment give a nice lack of grip on the roundabout outside work. It’s nothing like as nimble as an old Escort but you can feel it’s light by the way it corners and the long wheelbase makes it quite stable once it starts to slide.I’ve got some ‘80s Recaro seats to go in which I should be able to mount lower than the current Rover coupe seats, saving me vital headroom and the steering wheel rubbing across my legs. The thermostat is stuck so I’ve got a new one of those to fit and I’m chasing a bloke on RetroRides for some Cortina springs I can cut and fit to bring the back down a bit and the front up a bit. At the moment the front is so low I can’t get my trolley jack under it, and it’s not GR9 4 SPEEDBUMZIt seems to drive pretty well, the exhaust is still clonking a bit but it’s benefiting from some regular use. I’ve been taking it to work for the last few days and I did the school run in it this morning. When it warms up (see stuck thermostat moan, above) it’s quite nice. It accelerates well around normal speeds and the 2 litre Pinto revs with enthusiasm, it’s a lot more lively than the Pinto powered Granada I used to have, but then it’s probably half the weight.It’s far from quiet but then it’s missing most of its interior trim at the moment and I’m sure there are various things dragging and knocking that should be secured. The ride is quite comfortable which is the opposite to Futuramic’s experience, it’s no Citroen CX but it’s a smoother ride than my Polo, which is good enough.To sum up: it’s quite good and I like it. Improvements over the next few weeks and months should make it a lot better too.

[whitevanman]

who are you chasing for parts?if you get stuck let me know as I have shed loads of Cortinas and spares for them

[trigger]

Just caught up on this, Great news on the MOT!, I love hearing storys about car's passing their MOTs for the first time in years.Edited due to being a dyslexic fuckwit!

[MrRegieRitmo]

I *1 hearing storys about car's passing their MOTs for the first *2 in years.

*1 love??*2 time??

[trigger]

Me spellin giz worzer evy day.

[retrogeezer]

That looks great - good work that man.Where did those number plates come from by the way?

[garethj]

Where did those number plates come from by the way?

The plates came from Framptons. I really wanted some Serck style plates but they don't have a press for letter Q Raised plastic letter plates were a second choice, and it means I can get the MoT done by the blind bloke

 

More work today, I changed the thermostat so it'll warm up and fixed the heater flap so the warm air will come into the car. I did an oil change too, not an easy task when the front is too low to get my jack under, and too low for the drain pan too.

 

I think the bumpers would look better if they were black.

I can't stand the pressure, I give in

 

 

I fitted one of the replacement seats today too, more headroom and I don't scrape my legs under the steering wheel, it's win-win

 

Out with the old Rover seats

 

In with the Recaro

[barrett]

looks miles better with the bumpers like that. Good to see you not messing about and cracking on with this, though I do think a nice set of wheels would really set it off.

[trigger]

Oh yeah, That looks muh better! and I agree with barrett, You need to get some better wheels asap!.

[Albert Ross]

What about these??

 

http://autoshite.commlm/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 92133d3fd9

 

Don't know how close they are to you, but they would fit under them HUGE arches.....! Need tyres like....

[michiel]

Looking good!

[garethj]

Be like me, only with something that's finished

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GINETTA-G26-FORD-BASED-CLASSIC-KIT-CAR-FINISHED-PROJECT_W0QQitemZ130381151355QQ

 

 

It’s funny (not really) how just a few things can all add up. I got some replacement seats so I can fit in the car properly and they were £60, a new set of clocks with revcounter to replace my Hirst-spec clocks was £15, the horn sounds like an asthmatic moped one, a new horn was a tenner, new radiator cap was a few quid, I’m wondering if I can justify newer springs for a hundred quid…. It all adds up and it still needs carpet, headliner and other interior trim parts.

 

On the other hand the car has been reliable, it’s huge fun to punt around, the kids fit in comfortably and I’ve wanted one of these Ginettas for a while.

 

I’ve done quite a few little jobs that needed doing, it all takes time and there’s plenty left too.

 

I fixed the heater cable and that seems to work well now although the motor is still a bit noisy and generally poor. I replaced the vacuum pipe to the servo so I no longer need both feet to brake. The headlight mechanism gets a squirt of oil whenever I’m passing, but it’s still a bit jerky. I painted the wheels silver and it looks a lot better, although some nice Ronal turbo alloys would be the business (costing more than the car did….) The boot has a cable release which wasn’t quite good enough so I’ve made it disengage better.

 

It’s all cheap or free to do, which is my kind of budget at the moment.

 

Are Cortina Mk3, 4 and 5 springs the same or all different? I read somewhere that The Mk3 springs are an inch longer than Mk4, and the Mk5 was an inch shorter. Anyone know before I take the plunge and get some lowered ones off ebay?

[Father Ted]

When was it first registered as side repeaters are only needed from 1986 onwards. Methinks the MOT tester was being a bit pedantic.

[garethj]

When was it first registered as side repeaters are only needed from 1986 onwards. Methinks the MOT tester was being a bit pedantic.

First registered in 1987, first used in 1971 according to the MoT computer. The holes were already there so he was only being a bit pedantic

[whitevanman]

Are Cortina Mk3, 4 and 5 springs the same or all different? I read somewhere that The Mk3 springs are an inch longer than Mk4, and the Mk5 was an inch shorter. Anyone know before I take the plunge and get some lowered ones off ebay?

They are all the same size, spring rates vary but thats irelevent on your car as it won't be much weight to her, at a guess I'd say that you want about 250-275 lbs on the front and 300lbs on the rear all -1" or -2" if you want it that bit lower, you may find that the -1" will actually be the same hight as standard due to the weight

[garethj]

They are all the same size, spring rates vary but thats irelevent on your car as it won't be much weight to her, at a guess I'd say that you want about 250-275 lbs on the front and 300lbs on the rear all -1" or -2" if you want it that bit lower, you may find that the -1" will actually be the same hight as standard due to the weight

Arse, so why are they different listings on ebay? Do you know which are the softest ones?

[whitevanman]

I can only assume that they don't know hat they are selling, I'll pop on later and see what I can find for you

[CIH]

hey I just caught up with this. Looks great, wheels aside ofcourse. Manual flippy headlights get a lol, though.

[Pete-M]

I spy the same Halfords Proffesional 1/4 -3/8 socket set as my back up one

And mine. I've done engine transplants without using much more..