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

[Peter C]

32 minutes ago, bezzabsa said:

proper ICE for the Saph

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1183568786132119/?rid=8174737522550483&ad_id&rt=1&refID=0&refType=0&referral_code=commerce_attachment

Certainly looks impressive but I doubt it sounds as good as my modern Kenwood and that spec unit and graphic equaliser have no right to be in an L spec Saph.

[Peter C]

Hottest day of the year (so far), work related trip ahead to Aldershot via the M40, M25 and M3, then to Slough, then back home - I know, let's take the Sierra! 

Got stuck in horrendous traffic on the M25. 

The temperature gauge didn't move past half way and the engine idled smoothly at all times. Replacing the water pump, thermostat and coolant has obviously paid off.

The fuel gauge readings are getting better, it's providing more than just full or empty statuses but it's still intermittent. 

I had an opportunity to park outside a client's property in Aldershot but I opted to stick the Sierra under cover in a multi-storey car park. When I returned from my appointment, the interior was nice and cool.

My second appointment was in Slough and, sadly, I had to park the Sierra out in the street. It was baking inside after two hours of exposure to sunlight. Not good for 37 year old Ford plastics and fabrics. 

Approx 90 miles completed, no problems to report. 

The Sierra has become a drive anywhere car for me. I need to sort out the exhaust / downpipe / manifold blow (which is minor) and I would love the solve the fuel smell problem and this weekend I will be replacing the front suspension lower arms but these minor issues aside, the Sierra really is great to drive.

On the motorway, it will happily cruise at 65-70MPH all day long. According to old What Car? magazines, the 1.8 Pinto version (mine) hits 60MPH in a respectable 10.7 seconds. The Pinto has good low down torque and doesn't need to be revved, which enables decent acceleration without too much drama. The seats are comfy and the ICE sounds great. 

Absolutely love it. 

 

 

[RoadworkUK]

You know what, after the initial misgivings after it arrived slightly* shabbier than described, I'm incredibly glad of this outcome. Particularly after the effort you've put into it.

One of my favourite cars on Autoshite.

[Peter C]

13 minutes ago, RoadworkUK said:

after the initial misgivings after it arrived slightly* shabbier than described

And there it is ladies and gentlemen, the understatement of the year.

[stuboy]

Spotted on book of face..

[cobblers]

Just watching the Cook Report on loan sharks in 1988 and I seen you:

 

[N19]

I love the fact that a D-reg Sierra is in use on work duties in 2024. I'd love to see the mileage claim be submitted and the finance secretary go "err what's this reg number, and what's a Ford Sierra?"...

(reminiscent of booking a car park space at work a long time ago and confusing Security with a suffix reg number)

[Peter C]

9 hours ago, N19 said:

I love the fact that a D-reg Sierra is in use on work duties in 2024.

I have the Sierra insured for Class A business use, I have to disclose the certificate to my employer and for mileage expenses, the Sierra is registered on our company car database. 😎 

[RoadworkUK]

Would be absolutely amazing if your firm took it over and had it sign-written as an icon of the company.

[Peter C]

The replacement lower arms arrived mid week. The weather was just right and I'm enjoying working outside but in the shade, under the carport. 

I got the front of the Sierra up in the air at 9:15am.

The old lower arms came out no problem. Three nuts / bolts to remove (per side) and a smack with a ball joint splitter later, I had both arms on the floor.

Old and new.

Fitting the new arms was a little fiddly. Evidently, the rubber bushes were tighter than the old worn ones and I had to use a jemmy to lever the arms in place.

I was done by 10:45am.

I will test drive the Sierra around the block tomorrow.

On Monday I will take it to Salisbury for a work appointment - 180 miles there and back. Wish me luck. 

 

[Peter C]

Test drive completed. The knocking over small bumps that plagued the Sierra has disappeared. Win.

Full tank achieved, we’re ready for tomorrow’s trip. Departure time 7:45am.

[lisbon_road]

Those compliance bushes were definitely a weak point.  Back in the day, you could get heavy duty bushes from every motor factor.  I fitted PU bushes to mine which were definitely better.  The OEM ones are ok but they don't last long.

I used to fit them by using a scissor jack on the wheel against a wall to get the bolt on the lower arm in.  Not especially easy. 

One day, I'd love to see this car.  So impressed with all you've done. 

[Peter C]

18 minutes ago, lisbon_road said:

One day, I'd love to see this car.  So impressed with all you've done. 

My door is always open.

[lisbon_road]

Not tempted by Shitefest?

[Peter C]

13 minutes ago, lisbon_road said:

Not tempted by Shitefest?

Tempted, yes.

But I’m out on the Saturday evening and I won’t be fit to drive on Sunday. Also, the venue is a bit far for me.

[Noel Tidybeard]

compliance bushes were almost a service item at MOT time!

[Peter C]

The plan for today was to leave home at 7:45am, get to the centre of Salisbury for a work appointment scheduled for 10am, allowing time for a piss and a cuppa, then to make it home in one piece. 

The route:

On route to Salisbury, the traffic was surprisingly light and the Sierra got me there ahead of schedule.

And here we are, the Sierra parked in a side street in the centre of Salisbury and me up on the roof of a block of flats.

The person that I came to meet arrived in the green Landie. Nice. 

On route home, I stopped off, briefly, at the Army Flying Museum, located just outside Salisbury. 

Got a couple of cool pics.

Is that a Pinto?

A tank and a Sierra.

175 miles achieved without any trouble and the mileage has now gone up by over 1k since the 7th April, which was the date of my first proper outing in the Sierra.

I'm still winning.

 

[grogee]

On 21/06/2024 at 09:17, sierraman said:

Choice of music… I’d go with the following from that ‘era’

Mister Mister - Broken Wings

The Adventures - Broken Land

Breathe - Hands to Heaven

Johnny Hates Jazz - Shattered Dreams

Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There

Its Immaterial - Driving Away from Home

All fantastic music to drive to staring into the middle distance as you play over all the wonderful things that have happened in your life despite returning home to find a red letter from your endowment provider on the door mat and discovering the local pub has replaced Stella on tap with Labatts. 

 

 

 

Distinct lack of Dire Straits there S-man. Maybe 1987 was the point at which everyone realised Brothers in Arms was shit after all.

[Peter C]

8 minutes ago, grogee said:

 everyone realised Brothers in Arms was shit after all.

Incorrect.

Admittedly, I prefer a bit of Telegraph Road.

[grogee]

17 minutes ago, Peter C said:

Incorrect.

Admittedly, I prefer a bit of Telegraph Road.

Me too. First four albums = best four albums. 

[Wibble]

2 hours ago, Peter C said:

The plan for today was to leave home at 7:45am, get to the centre of Salisbury for a work appointment scheduled for 10am, allowing time for a piss and a cuppa, then to make it home in one piece. 

The route:

On route to Salisbury, the traffic was surprisingly light and the Sierra got me there ahead of schedule.

And here we are, the Sierra parked in a side street in the centre of Salisbury and me up on the roof of a block of flats.

The person that I came to meet arrived in the green Landie. Nice. 

On route home, I stopped off, briefly, at the Army Flying Museum, located just outside Salisbury. 

Got a couple of cool pics.

Is that a Pinto?

A tank and a Sierra.

175 miles achieved without any trouble and the mileage has now gone up by over 1k since the 7th April, which was the date of my first proper outing in the Sierra.

I'm still winning.

 

Yes you are, you really are. Brilliant!

[egg]

56 minutes ago, grogee said:

Me too. First four albums = best four albums. 

Yeah 1988 our family went on holiday to Yorkshire Dales - Dire Straits the soundtrack to the holiday in 1.6 Escort GL (diesel) E963 WKK.

[Peter C]

The new exhaust downpipe arrived today.

It came with a replacement gasket and new fixings. Nice.

I'm going to fit it on Saturday.

I am proposing to remove the exhaust manifold and smear sealant around the cylinder head ports and on the manifold flanges, before re-fitting the gaskets, as well as on both sides of the manifold to downpipe gasket.

I've got this stuff.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't apply this stuff so close to the engine?

Will it cope with the heat?

[Macscrooge]

On 26/06/2024 at 21:06, stuboy said:

Spotted on book of face..

That’s the Esplanade at Broughty Ferry. The apartments in the distance are in the site of the old Sands nightclub. I’ve almost certainly driven along that road in a Sierra at some point 😁

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

The new exhaust downpipe arrived today.

It came with a replacement gasket and new fixings. Nice.

I'm going to fit it on Saturday.

I am proposing to remove the exhaust manifold and smear sealant around the cylinder head ports and on the manifold flanges, before re-fitting the gaskets, as well as on both sides of the manifold to downpipe gasket.

I've got this stuff.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't apply this stuff so close to the engine?

Will it cope with the heat?

It'll  blow out after a bit of use - if both mating surfaces are sound/flat then don't bother with anything other than the metal gasket - torque it all up nicely then recheck after a wee while

[Peter C]

6 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

It'll  blow out after a bit of use - if both mating surfaces are sound/flat then don't bother with anything other than the metal gasket - torque it all up nicely then recheck after a wee while

That’s what I did previously and there’s still a small blow coming from somewhere. As I don’t want to make removal of the downpipe and manifold a regular event, I thought I might seal everything with the Holts paste. However, I take your point that the sealant may not last long when applied to the exhaust side of the cylinder head.

[lisbon_road]

Hopefully the new exhaust will be flat.  You could try linishing the manifold, basically put a sheet of wet n dry on something as flat as possible and rub it up and down keeping it level. 

[Peter C]

I had a bit of time to replace the exhaust downpipe this afternoon.

On the basis that the exhaust manifold to cylinder head gaskets are almost new and the (almost new) bolts are nice and tight (I checked), I decided not to disturb the exhaust manifold and have a go at just replacing the downpipe.

Getting the exhaust manifold off is not difficult but I did not want to make too much work for myself.

Up the Sierra goes, again.

I had the downpipe off in less than 10 minutes.

Oops, this doesn't look right.

The replacement pipe is a good 100mm too short. Bugger.

An inspection of the manifold to downpipe gasket revealed some sooty residue. I guess it's possible that the blow was coming through the joint.

The original downpipe isn't pretty but there is no evidence of any rot, splits, cracks or sooty staining that would cause a blow.

The flange is a bit pitted.

And the manifold flange isn't much better.

I applied a bit of exhaust sealant to the downpipe flange.

Fitted the gasket and smothered it with more sealant.

I have reassembled the downpipe and will leave it for 24 hours for the sealant to set before firing up the Pinto to see if sealing the joint has made any difference. 

I'm tempted to get a full new stainless steel exhaust system, including the manifold, made up and fitted. That will solve this problem once and for all.

Are Pinto exhaust manifolds known for cracking?  

 

[Peter C]

I've enjoyed getting the underside of the Sierra clean and tidy so much that I've done the same to the rear suspension and floorpan of my E46. The Rust-Oleum spray stuff is really good and doesn't drip (much). I highly recommend it if you need to tidy up rusty metal.

I also gave the exhaust system a good scrubb.

 

[lisbon_road]

24 minutes ago, Peter C said:

I've enjoyed getting the underside of the Sierra clean and tidy so much that I've done the same to the rear suspension and floorpan of my E46. The Rust-Oleum spray stuff is really good and doesn't drip (much). I highly recommend it if you need to tidy up rusty metal.

I also gave the exhaust system a good scrubb.

 

Impressed, this is just the sort of work most people don't do.  Glad you've enjoyed it - several cars here you can do - I will make tea gladly.

(Sorry)