Garage find Capri

[danthecapriman]

Great work, looks stunning.

The wheels look brilliant, and you’ve got the correct plain black centre caps too. Early cars with that 4 spoke laser wheel had silver centre caps with the Ford logo on. Later cars got plain black ones. (God I’m sad!)

[vaughant]

On 10/6/2022 at 10:07 AM, DSdriver said:

I believe people who worked at Ford's Dagenham plant were able to buy cars at a discount.

Any Ford factory worker got the discount 👍👍👍. 

In the end they did a lease scheme which spoilt it a bit but they needed to compete with merc and BMW on the borrow a car front. 

Honda always did it but it was a pretty shit scheme in my eyes unless you put 30k a year on it, you could get the cars for the same price through a lease company. 

The Ford scheme was mental in 1995 when I started, a fiesta derv for a few grand down and £40/month, yours after 3 years 🤣🤣🤣. 

I think it worked out at about £4500 to us for a basic mk3 derv, no pas, CL or ew, proper BAsE. 

 

 

[ProgRocker]

Nice Capri   @trigger  .

[N19]

Looking fantastic. If you need parts there's various traders around, Martin at Capri Gear has a good selection.

[trigger]

I've still been pretty busy on this, last weekend dad came over and helped me change the valve stem seals, they were absolutely shot, it took most the day using the compressor route with the head on but it worked and now there's no smoke at all. 

I also fitted a new electric aerial which was a faff as a fuse had blown behind the ignition column that I didn't know about, eventually sussed it out and now works, the rear orginial speakers were rotted out too so swapped them out for some new ones. 

Then today it was MOT day! I won't lie, I was proper anxious about this as I hadn't even driven it before! I need not have worried though. 

It was a new garage about 10 miles away down the A12 but they were a great pair of lads who own old Fords and were very understandable with the old cars which is what I like, it flew threw though, just a verbal to sort the welding probably on the strut top.

The only fatality was the rear axle cover sprung a big leak which is apparent common with them, £65 for a new one with a gasket and bolts so not the end of the world. 

So all in all a pretty good result I'd say! 

 

[N19]

Fantastic! The key with these cars is a sympathetic and realistic garage/tester...

 

 

 

[ETCHY]

Stunning motor.

Enjoy !

[stuboy]

well done

[Matty]

Just now, trigger said:

I've still been pretty busy on this, last weekend dad came over and helped me change the valve stem seals, they were absolutely shot, it took most the day using the compressor route with the head on but it worked and now there's no smoke at all. 

I also fitted a new electric aerial which was a faff as a fuse had blown behind the ignition column that I didn't know about, eventually sussed it out and now works, the rear orginial speakers were rotted out too so swapped them out for some new ones. 

Then today it was MOT day! I won't lie, I was proper anxious about this as I hadn't even driven it before! I need not have worried though. 

It was a new garage about 10 miles away down the A12 but they were a great pair of lads who own old Fords and were very understandable with the old cars which is what I like, it flew threw though, just a verbal to sort the welding probably on the strut top.

The only fatality was the rear axle cover sprung a big leak which is apparent common with them, £65 for a new one with a gasket and bolts so not the end of the world. 

So all in all a pretty good result I'd say! 

 

What do you reckon to it now you've had a drive? 

[Split_Pin]

Superb stuff. The pictures you've taken remind me why I like the shape of these so much.

The best thing is that it's in original condition and not over restored.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Classy! Kudos for the turnaround in such a short space of time too. 

I'm racking my brain... were the front grilles normally colour coded on these run-out models? I'm assuming so...

[Wibble]

9 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Classy! Kudos for the turnaround in such a short space of time too. 

I'm racking my brain... we're the front grilles normally colour coded on these run-out models? I'm assuming so...

Yes, they were. Looks great!

[trigger]

26 minutes ago, Matty said:

What do you reckon to it now you've had a drive? 

It's hard to say really but I like it, it just feels like a Cortina but with a longer bonnet really! 

One thing I do think is that it's not very quick, it doesn't pull very hard, my old Mk3 Cortina with the same engine, Type 9 box and Atlas axle felt much quicker? I'm hoping a bit more use will start to free it up a bit maybe? Even my Dolly 1850 feels more responsive? 

[Steviemillar]

Good catch with the diff cover, usually the first indication that it’s rotted out is when the diff explodes…..

Car looks fantastic 👍🏻

[Popsicle]

Well done, turned round in under a month, thats really good going, brilliant to see the pass.

[Matty]

Just now, trigger said:

It's hard to say really but I like it, it just feels like a Cortina but with a longer bonnet really! 

One thing I do think is that it's not very quick, it doesn't pull very hard, my old Mk3 Cortina with the same engine, Type 9 box and Atlas axle felt much quicker? I'm hoping a bit more use will start to free it up a bit maybe? Even my Dolly 1850 feels more responsive? 

I've never had the pleasure of a capri. I had a manta gte and that always felt quick with the CIH. Mebbe your right and it just needs a bit of use and oining a bit to blow the cobwebs out. Looks bloody great though!

[N19]

I find with mine - it probably isn't a thing and certainly isn't scientific - but it feels like it runs nicely when it's had a good few runs and 'blown the cobwebs off'. 

What oil are you using? this in itself turns into a debate on any capri forum.

Check the timing, you may be able to give it a bit more advance.

Not sure what carb is on it - is it the original VV? a replacement Weber with a manual choke makes things much better, you can also get a replacement exhaust which is slightly larger without being OTT.

[trigger]

Cheers, it's running a brand new Weber 32/36 with a auto choke and we did set up the timing with the gun but who's to say it's right? 

I'm currently running some cheap 20w50 oil as I want to get about 50 miles on it and then I'm going to drop it out and run some Castrol 15w40, is suspect that's probably part of the issue really, the oil is a bit thick really. 

Once I've fixed this axle plate and done a few miles in it I'm hoping it will liven up a bit! 

[Matty]

When I was setting mine up I timed it to the book. When I took it on a rolling Road the mechanic  dialed quite a bit more advance in.

He said that book settings have little relevance these days due to modern fuels and so on. It does go very well after that so maybe that's something to try as @N19 says above.

[warch]

1 hour ago, Matty said:

When I was setting mine up I timed it to the book. When I took it on a rolling Road the mechanic  dialed quite a bit more advance in.

He said that book settings have little relevance these days due to modern fuels and so on. It does go very well after that so maybe that's something to try as @N19 says above.

That's very interesting, It's something I've suspected for a while now. I think they were still selling 2 star when this Capri left the assembly lines. 

[mercedade]

I adore this. Thanks for sharing @trigger.

 

[horriblemercedes]

2 hours ago, Matty said:

When I was setting mine up I timed it to the book. When I took it on a rolling Road the mechanic  dialed quite a bit more advance in.

He said that book settings have little relevance these days due to modern fuels and so on. It does go very well after that so maybe that's something to try as @N19 says above.

Pretty much this. My dad has a 1972 Range Rover. Since he's only ever going to run it on Esso super (because it's 0% ethanol at the moment and his local petrol station is Esso), it made sense to advance it as far as possible to limit it to 99 RON

 

Not the end of the world to retard it a bit if circumstances change

[Jon]

9 hours ago, trigger said:

I'm currently running some cheap 20w50 oil as I want to get about 50 miles on it and then I'm going to drop it out and run some Castrol 15w40, is suspect that's probably part of the issue really, the oil is a bit thick 

I've owned my Mk3 Mondeo for 7 years and for the first 6 years or so, had mistakenly fed it the 'wrong' 10/40 oil, whilst it should be 5/30 (I think - whatever the official number is, is what it now gets). Can I sense any change whatsoever in performance, fuel economy or general engine behaviour? Not at all.

I understand it's a far more modern car (also with close to 300000 miles, so very worn in) but I'm not sure a different grade oil will do an awful lot.

Whatever though, I'm here for the ride in enjoying another jammy Trigger purchase, with a nice fast turnaround, great write ups and equally great photos. Please keep it all up, it's very much appreciated!

[The Vicar]

Wow - that is wonderful. The kind of garage find most of us could only dream of. Health to enjoy

[steveo3002]

cracking find there , cleaned up a treat , wont find many like that 

[sierraman]

Get it waxoyled underneath to keep it solid!

[CrapCarNerd]

On 10/31/2022 at 8:25 PM, trigger said:

It's hard to say really but I like it, it just feels like a Cortina but with a longer bonnet really! 

One thing I do think is that it's not very quick, it doesn't pull very hard, my old Mk3 Cortina with the same engine, Type 9 box and Atlas axle felt much quicker? I'm hoping a bit more use will start to free it up a bit maybe? Even my Dolly 1850 feels more responsive? 

It interesting you say its not a quick car.  I always assumed my Capri 2.0 Ghia was going to be quick when I got it sorted (Type 9, 1.6 axle) but its really not. My 1.1 Escort is way quicker off the mark but understandably once going, is like a train.  I've been using 20w50 for a couple of year and just about to change it again.  What have you got it timed too? I think mine is at 6 BTDC which I was told might make it a bit sluggish. 

[trigger]

I timed it too 8 BTDC as recommended in the Haynes book of lies in the supplement section for post 1979 engines, it possibly needs backing off a bit? I need to get some more miles on it ideally really but can't do anything until I've replaced this axle cover. 

[dozeydustman]

Wonderful work @trigger

[CrapCarNerd]

56 minutes ago, trigger said:

I timed it too 8 BTDC as recommended in the Haynes book of lies in the supplement section for post 1979 engines, it possibly needs backing off a bit? I need to get some more miles on it ideally really but can't do anything until I've replaced this axle cover. 

Yeah 8 BTDC sounds better. Also had a problem with the diff cover. Got a new one from Martin at "Capri Gear" for a decent price. Its a gorgeous looking Car mate! The body work looks incredible.