1987 Ford Sierra Sapphire 1.8L - Absolutely fascinating* discovery - see page 48

[Peter C]

9 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Electric boot release? 

I like your sense of humour! 

[High Jetter]

6 minutes ago, Peter C said:

I like your sense of humour! 

I wasn't joking! Some hatch & booted Sierras had them.

[mk2_craig]

7 minutes ago, Peter C said:

You're right.

I looked in the obvious place before, the underside of the boot lid and didn't find anything exciting.

But looking deeper into the boot, there it is, hiding on the rear panel.

But why would a manually operated boot lock need an electrical supply? 

Could the lock mechanism also act as a switch that activates the boot light?

 

If it’s anything like the higher spec fiestas of the same age, there will be a tilt switch located where the bootlid travels through the biggest arc. Though on the fiesta this was a single wire switched earth. 

[Peter C]

2 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

I wasn't joking! Some hatch & booted Sierras had them.

Mate, an L spec Sierra didn't come with such luxuries! 

[Peter C]

2 minutes ago, mk2_craig said:

If it’s anything like the higher spec fiestas of the same age, there will be a tilt switch located where the bootlid travels through the biggest arc. Though on the fiesta this was a single wire switched earth. 

What purpose would it serve on a car with basic electronics and no traction / stability control?

[adw1977]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

What purpose would it serve on a car with basic electronics and no traction / stability control?

To activate the boot light?

[High Jetter]

6 hours ago, Peter C said:

Mate, an L spec Sierra didn't come with such luxuries! 

OK, fair enough, but it looks like the wires go to the boot lock from your pic. Is there a warning lamp on the dash for 'boot open'?

[Peter C]

6 hours ago, adw1977 said:

To activate the boot light?

Until this morning, I've never heard of a tilt switch. I assumed, incorrectly, that is would be something that a mid-drift Nissan Skyline would need to prevent it from flipping over. But you're right, I now understand what a tilt switch is and you are probably right, it is there to activate the luggage compartment light.

[Peter C]

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

OK, fair enough, but it looks like the wires go to the boot lock from your pic. Is there a warning lamp on the dash for 'boot open'?

Nope.

I think I now understand that the wires serve a tilt switch, which activates the luggage compartment light.

[Peter C]

I had more time this afternoon to make some progress with the non bodywork related matters.

I drained the engine oil. It wasn't that dirty but it stank of fuel. Too many cold starts over the years and excess fuel probably washed down the bores into the sump, hence the smell.

Note to self - clean the sump and crossmember. 

I overfilled the sump slightly, allowing for oil that will find its way into the filter.

The thermostat housing was filthy.

So I gave it a clean. Not perfect but it will do.

I hoovered and thoroughly inspected the luggage compartment. 

Nothing to worry about other than some slight localised surface corrosion.

I painted the seams and rusty bits with the not so good matching Rust Oleum paint.

The floor carpet extends to the top of the rear panel and is secured with velcro. The bits of velcro stuck to the carpet need stapling back but are otherwise ok.

 

The other side of the velcro, which was stuck to the back panel, was knackered. Someone replaced it in the past and didn't do a good job of it. I removed the old velcro and adhesive residue and stuck down some fresh, unfortunately white coloured, very strong velcro. I'm not fussed about the white, it will be concealed behind the carpet.

Then the postman brought a nice little parcel that contained a new water pump and thermostat.

I fitted the new bits, together with the previously acquired fan belt.

Finally, I re-assembled everything under the bonnet....

....added fresh antifreeze....

....reconnected the battery....

.....opened up the garage doors....

....turned on the ignition.....

.....and....

.... the Pinto fired up straight away and ran like a dream. The engine is silent, runs smoothly on all four cylinders and nothing leaked out for the duration of the test.

Winner!!!!

 

[High Jetter]

I think that, despite initial misgivings, you're enjoying this? We all are, for sure.

[Peter C]

9 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

I think that, despite initial misgivings, you're enjoying this?

The weather is awful and I wouldn’t want to drive the Sierra this time of year so spending time in my workshop fiddling is a fine way to pass the time, especially as most things have worked out ok and I am making good progress.

I plan on taking the Sierra out for its maiden voyage on the 1st of April, which gives me enough time to complete the outstanding repairs.

[jim89]

34 minutes ago, Peter C said:

 plan on taking the Sierra out for its maiden voyage on the 1st of April, which gives me enough time to complete the outstanding repairs.

Fate tempted.... 🙂

[Peter C]

4 minutes ago, jim89 said:

Fate tempted.... 🙂

I bet it will piss down on the 1st of April and I won’t even leave the house. With all the cleaning and rust proofing I’m doing, I’m not getting the Sierra dirty by going out in the rain. I know how lame that sounds.

[lisbon_road]

1 minute ago, Peter C said:

I bet it will piss down on the 1st of April and I won’t even leave the house. With all the cleaning and rust proofing I’m doing, I’m not getting the Sierra dirty by going out in the rain. I know how lame that sounds.

Doesn't sound lame to me.  As an ex Sierra owner, it just sounds sensible.

Do you know if this is a Dagenham Sierra - with an SFA VIN or a Belgian one?  Just wondering.  The number of Dagenham ones left must be tiny.

[Peter C]

42 minutes ago, lisbon_road said:

Do you know if this is a Dagenham Sierra - with an SFA VIN or a Belgian one?  Just wondering.  The number of Dagenham ones left must be tiny.

Dagenham all the way my friend.

[robt100]

Just catching up on this, some great progress!
As for the spare key front, it should just be a standard TX key for that era Ford. Most key cut places should still be able to do them👍

[Datsuncog]

57 minutes ago, robt100 said:

Most key cut places should still be able to do them👍

And if you can find a proper old-school key cutting place, they may even have one of these genuine leather fobs still hanging on a little carousel display by the till...

Great to see all the work that's been done here, and the excellent results so far achieved.

More power to your elbow.

[Peter C]

11 hours ago, lisbon_road said:

The number of Dagenham ones left must be tiny.

Why?

Were not many produced in Dagenham? 

[lisbon_road]

5 minutes ago, Peter C said:

Why?

Were not many produced in Dagenham? 

I think they made loads but there's a general consensus that they went a lot more rusty than the Belgian ones.  I think that generally the Belgian ones were the GL and Ghia but I'm not certain and it is probably a generalisation.  In my opinion you have an amazing survivor.  

I remember when I took mine, a Belgian GL Mk1 for an MOT, the examiner came out from underneath and asked why it wasn't rusty.  

Dagenham stopped making Sierras sometime around 88 or 89 I think, then they all came from Belgium.  

[cort1977]

On 05/03/2024 at 08:07, High Jetter said:

I wasn't joking! Some hatch & booted Sierras had them.

My hatch has a cable boot release, were there really electric ones?  Seems a bit decadent for an 80s Ford.

[Surface Rust]

On 05/03/2024 at 16:11, Peter C said:

Until this morning, I've never heard of a tilt switch. I assumed, incorrectly, that is would be something that a mid-drift Nissan Skyline would need to prevent it from flipping over. But you're right, I now understand what a tilt switch is and you are probably right, it is there to activate the luggage compartment light.

Useless fact: tilt switches like these were the favoured method of triggering car bombs back in the 70s/80s.

[Peter C]

1 hour ago, Surface Rust said:

Useless fact: tilt switches like these were the favoured method of triggering car bombs back in the 70s/80s.

And my Sierra has come from Northern Ireland! 

[greengartside]

Glad to see good progress on this fine machine.

You’ve just reminded me of the fact that there is an estate sat in my local scrapyard at the moment. Not sure what’s left of it but I know it’s a 1.8 CVH, L-spec.

[egg]

VIN talk sent me off trying to find mine, I didn't find it, but did find the invoice for when my dad bought the car from Godfrey Davis at 3 years old and 51k on the clock (later sold to me). It was a massive upgrade on our previous family car - MK2 Escort which we'd had since 1980.

£5,795.

[tooSavvy]

Posh B#ttd....

 

😉

🚙💨

[Peter C]

A standard sized stapler wasn't man enough for the job so I brought this beast home from the office today.

It worked a treat. The meaty staples went though the carpet and folded over the velcro strips, which are now securely attached to the carpet.

[Shite Ron]

19 hours ago, robt100 said:

Just catching up on this, some great progress!
As for the spare key front, it should just be a standard TX key for that era Ford. Most key cut places should still be able to do them👍

TX keys were on earlier Ford’s, the Sapphire had the fancy new Chubb locks as below

https://www.rarespares.net.au/rarespares/buy/f2524/key-blank-ford-xf-xg-xh-ea-eb-ed-ef-el-au-to-0599

I remember swapping a few passenger side to driver side door barrels in these as after a few years use the barrels failed and you could not get in, unlike the TX locks which you could open with anything when they become worn.

My dad had an E reg Escort company car which the company extended the lease on, by 4 years old both the driver side and passenger side locks had failed and we had to climb through the hatch to get in. My dad was not impressed by this and the car went back, we had a hired 405 until his new Orion arrived.

Edited to include a better option:

Looks like I was wrong, these are Tibbe which in turn were replaced by Chubb.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116079506736?itmmeta=01HRD12XH23NK07P6RGKCFPJXB&hash=item1b06e0b530:g:dzMAAOSwjcJhEXYD&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8IvMHye1MdR9vaQFYFRyQfQrfctWAHvlehtu4XQEU1n8YX1QMNLeEIAabDQxfkZoHFFV1erFWks7ydA6apYnX2KormkiarX4CgsI8x5%2FpGhe2TAQ3GoXPKoSmP%2BkXI62A1ZQtrn%2BqSneQSQSNF1aiOqyw%2FyEPVxG7ALvbqwLsgDM1WfZCEc3Xo6ezxNGisn9u%2BWMQGX67qneKkqlXxUjBdt0npIgBsgjNL2dy9fDU9KDqO3v0rqHvBnv%2FPMDQrVlTsg5rZTVaDXh2faSlIG3f1o1qH%2FHatY5nMKpnsazbZovftoGo%2FgpPoq3CpBkZ4GKKg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR87Yi6HDYw

Edited March 7, 2024 by Shite Ron
Added eBay link

[Peter C]

I used the +12V socket located in the boot of my new Quashqai to pump up the tyres.

13” Sierra steel and a 19” Hyundai alloy wheel. The same but different.

The spare wheel looks happy.

[robt100]

1 hour ago, Shite Ron said:

TX keys were on earlier Ford’s, the Sapphire had the fancy new Chubb locks as below

 

Must have been facelift only, as im pretty sure the 1982 Sierra we had was TX key, but you may be right about the 1985 Sierra we had, got a feeling that was the newer type. Then again, facelift was 87........I know one had the square lights with the slatted grill, and the later one had the solid front with the wider lights.