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

[mk2_craig]

Well done Peter, nice to get these little bits sorted. If nothing else it removes defects that prospective buyers might make a big deal out of when it’s time to sell. 

[Peter C]

7 minutes ago, mk2_craig said:

prospective buyers 

You know something I don’t?

[mk2_craig]

I’m not in a position to pester you to part with the car but if I was, I’d be saying “come on man, sell me your car man”

[Soundwave]

Happy to help.

It just goes to show, presentation is everything - if the seller had cleaned up the light before listing it, I expect the Cossie mob would have been on it long before now.

[Wibble]

That’s great news Peter!

[stuboy]

well done to all involved..

[Peter C]

The Sierra seems relatively happy, parked under the carport whilst I am working on the MGB.

I drove it last Friday and today I took it down to Basingstoke and back, a round trip of about 130 miles.

No problems to report. 

As soon a I get the MGB back on the road, I will upgrade the Sierra's ICE with the head unit, amp and sub that I removed from the E46. Some new speakers will also be coming its way. 

Still loving the old Ford.

 

[Wibble]

4 minutes ago, Peter C said:

The Sierra seems relatively happy, parked under the carport whilst I am working on the MGB.

I drove it last Friday and today I took it down to Basingstoke and back, a round trip of about 130 miles.

No problems to report. 

As soon a I get the MGB back on the road, I will upgrade the Sierra's ICE with the head unit, amp and sub that I removed from the E46. Some new speakers will also be coming its way. 

Still loving the old Ford.

 

Glad it was dry here in Basingstoke today. Looking great as always.

[Peter C]

@Wibble

When will your ‘Tina be ready for a photo shoot with my Sierra and @egg’s Mondeo?

[Wibble]

2 minutes ago, Peter C said:

@Wibble

When will your ‘Tina be ready for a photo shoot with my Sierra and @egg’s Mondeo?

Sorry Peter, I really need to pull my finger out and make some more progress. I’ll try and make more of an effort this week, shouldn’t take too long.

[stuboy]

55 minutes ago, Wibble said:

Sorry Peter, I really need to pull my finger out and make some more progress. I’ll try and make more of an effort this week, shouldn’t take too long.

looked forward to the picture/s

[Peter C]

Another trip to Basingstoke completed today and another milestone reached.

[MantaGTE85]

QuarterLight's latest YouTube video features the early Sierra Sapphire from a 1987 Ford brochure. Very informative and I could listen to him all day. This must be the only time I have ever seen an LX with 13" steels. I thought they all had 14"s, including the mk1.  

[Peter C]

 

[Peter C]

The first and only time that I washed the Sierra was the day it arrived, on the 30th January. Since then, I've cleaned it with a brush and rag to get the dust off it but after standing outside under the carport, exposed to moisture for a couple of months, it needed a deep clean. 

It got one today.

Looking rather splendid again, the Sierra is now tucked away in the garage.

All being well, I will be upgrading the ICE over the Christmas break. I have asked Santa for new speakers.

 

[Peter C]

I haven't updated this thread for a while as nothing has really happened with the Sapphire. It spent the festive period tucked up in a dehumidified garage and I either started it up once a week or took it for a spin around the block if the roads were dry.

I wasn't happy with the 2nd to 3rd gearchange. If I held the gearstick like this and engaged third gear:

I could feel resistance and if engaged too quickly, a little crunch.

However, if I pushed the gearstick forward like this:

The change was a lot smoother.

Evidently, there was an issue with the selector mechanism. Some time ago, I removed the gearstick and put some washers between the top of the gearbox and the gearstick fixing plate, which lifted the base of the gearstick by a couple of millimetres from the selector mechanism.

I'm pretty sure that the gear selection was smoother but still not perfect. Today, I doubled up the washers.

I refitted the gearstick, all gears still engage fine but I won't find out whether this has improved the gearchange until I undertake a test drive, which I am planning on doing tomorrow.

In other news, the Sapphire looks great in the new Autoshite calendar. It's going to be April for a long time.

More soon.

[grogee]

I was also admiring the April page of our holy calendar. Great pic. Fingers crossed for a 2nd to 3rd fix

[Peter C]

As planned, I’ve just completed a 48 mile drive to Silverstone.

The Sierra is an absolute joy to drive, it’s comfortable, quiet and gets down the road without fuss. The recently upgraded ICE, which I haven’t told you about, sounds amazing and makes trips like this more fun.

The gears are slotting in ok, I think that fitting the additional washers to lift the gearstick has made a difference.

The car park at the track is empty. If I was half my age I would probably take the opportunity to burn some rubber, not today.

Just realised that I missed the first anniversary of my ownership of the Sierra, which was last Thursday. I’ll make sure that I’ll celebrate the next one.

[MorrisItalSLX]

6 hours ago, Peter C said:

Is it just an optical illusion, or are the tyres different sizes? The rear looks to have less sidewall than the front.

[Peter C]

10 hours ago, MorrisItalSLX said:

Is it just an optical illusion, or are the tyres different sizes? The rear looks to have less sidewall than the front.

All four tyres are the same size and shape.

[Peter C]

What a lovely day, perfect for a trip in an old car. I had planned to take the MGB out today but, as we know, that was not possible.

On route to my destination the Sierra achieved this milestone.

I stopped off near RAF Halton for a photo opportunity.

And again, twice, in Aldbury.

The Sapphire is running sweet and is a joy to drive.

 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

What a lovely day, perfect for a trip in an old car. I had planned to take the MGB out today but, as we know, that was not possible.

On route to my destination the Sierra achieved this milestone.

I stopped off near RAF Halton for a photo opportunity.

And again, twice, in Aldbury.

 

The Sapphire is running sweet and is a joy to drive.

 

I'm not a Ford guy, and  I derided the shape of the Sierra when it came out ending the straight lines of the Cortina & Granda era. However, I have to state that looks bloody great now,.

I wonder if the Sierra take up might have been quicker if it had the option of a boot to start with?

[lisbon_road]

@Peter C how about bringing this to the Flower Farm meet on the 6th April?  I'd love to see the Sierra!

Edit: and meet you, obviously.........

[Peter C]

14 minutes ago, lisbon_road said:

@Peter C how about bringing this to the Flower Farm meet on the 6th April?  I'd love to see the Sierra!

Edit: and meet you, obviously.........

Where’s that?

[lisbon_road]

Peter, it is pinned at the top of the main forum.  This link might work:

I am trying to get my red Astra back together in time for it, but I'm sadly less diligent than you with the updates. 

 

[Matty]

@Peter C @BorniteIdentity

Just out and about and found this

 

[Peter C]

14 minutes ago, lisbon_road said:

Peter, it is pinned at the top of the main forum.  This link might work:

I am trying to get my red Astra back together in time for it, but I'm sadly less diligent than you with the updates. 

 

Thank you for that.

Weather permitting, I’ll be there.

[Peter C]

9 minutes ago, Matty said:

@Peter C @BorniteIdentity

Just out and about and found this

 

@BorniteIdentity should have it coz Mk1 hatch.

[adw1977]

50 minutes ago, Matty said:

@Peter C @BorniteIdentity

Just out and about and found this

 

Hyde's have a range of beers branded like that, including Princess and Allegro!

Morning Advertiser

Hyde's brewery

[Peter C]

I brought the Sierra over to the Flower Farm meet yesterday.

The drive from home to the venue was fine, approx 55 minutes along a mostly clear M25. Unfortunately, the drive home took 1 hour and 45 minutes, mostly due to stop start traffic on the M25. Argh.

The meet was great fun, met lots of smashing people and drove away with a bag of priceless Sierra artefacts, thank you @lisbon_road, a box of latex gloves, thank you @CaptainBoom and a tube of Gripfill, thank you @inconsistant

Whilst the Sierra looked great in the spring sunshine, a stunning Skoda Rapid and a Saab 900 must have shared the best in show prize. 

Thank you for a great day out, more soon.