Introducing my 1985 American ford ltd sedan

[Ianlea73]

I had planned on blowing out the brakepipe from the master cylinder to the rear flexi pipe, then I could have bled the rears & job done. Unfortunately the fitting was a bit tight & tired so I've ordered some imperial brake pipe spanners.
So, this is when I decided to crack on with the front.
6 hours to strip out completely. I did find a case of design over mechanical function when removing the lower arms. The front bolts can only be removed once the steering rack is loosened off to give enough room for the bolt head to pass the steering gator. Rubbish but done now.

[grizz]

Funny how you miss some threads. 
 

I like this era cars as well, probably because they are now distinct and different. 

[Ianlea73]

A couple of weekends ago I did some engine checks. Compression tested all 6 cylinders, checked & adjusted spark plug gaps, did continuity test on ht leads & checked base timing then with the help of my mate we fired the engine in what I believe to be 7 years. 

Unfortunately I can't loads the video but it ran really well, no hesitation or lumpyness.

I've also been cleaning, stripping & rebuilding loads of engine parts ready for the rebuild.

 

 

[Ianlea73]

On 26/07/2024 at 09:08, grizz said:

Funny how you miss some threads. 
 

I like this era cars as well, probably because they are now distinct and different. 

It's for that reason I bought it too. Most people want corvettes or f100 pick ups or the usual must have yank stuff. I was looking at a g20 van but this came up very local to me. This is a 4 door foxbody that I bought for vauxhall astra money. 

[flat4alfa]

I’d pop the video up onto YouTube then place the link here

[Ianlea73]

I've removed the crossmember for powdercoat so I decided to remove the sump & pick up filter.

There was about 5mm of sludge in the bottom but no debris.

Took a few pics up into the engine to inspect the cam & all looks great. 

 

[Ianlea73]

First time I've tried this so I hope it works.

https://youtu.be/OFqUJwnhvFk?feature=shared

[flat4alfa]

You never know, you could become a YouTube ‘star’ … and be on Strictly by Christmas 😁

Imagine, you could ‘recreate’ the Banana In The Tailpipe scene, perhaps outside Royal Crescent Clifton no less.  Or perhaps not.

[flat4alfa]

8 minutes ago, Ianlea73 said:

First time I've tried this so I hope it works.

https://youtu.be/OFqUJwnhvFk?feature=shared

Subscribed!  😄
 

 

[Ianlea73]

15 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

You never know, you could become a YouTube ‘star’ … and be on Strictly by Christmas 😁

Imagine, you could ‘recreate’ the Banana In The Tailpipe scene, perhaps outside Royal Crescent Clifton no less.  Or perhaps not.

If only I could dance!!

Banana in the tailpipe would be funny.

[Ianlea73]

Another productive day on the old Ford. The powdercoated crossmember is in, as is the new suspension, refurbished spindles & arb with new bushes.

Refitted the sump with new hardware After I'd removed & cleaned the pick up pipe.

 

[Ianlea73]

Stripped & rebuilt the power steering pump with a new seal kit.

 

[Ianlea73]

More progress on the old tank.

Fitted the disks & packed the bearings. Fitted new calipers, pads & flexi brakelines. 

 

Then I decided to start the rebuild on the engine. New water pump, thermostat & housing, auxiliary belt aswell as refurbed brackets & pulleys. 

New plugs & leads going in tomorrow as it's beer o'clock now 🍺. 

Looking at a new alloy radiator but it's not cheap, however it'll improve cooling massively. As it's for a manual I'm going to fit a remote oil cooler for the transmission. 

 

[Ianlea73]

Lower arm bushes are in. Thanks to my mate for taking them into work for me.

Paint & fitting next.

 

[Ianlea73]

Getting closer now. Front end fully rebuilt, brakes bled including the master cylinder.  New to me 15x7 wheels with staggered 195/65 & 205/70 tyres.
Loom stripped, checked & wrapped. Vacuum lines stripped checked & wrapped.  Routed fuel lines. Waiting on matrix pipes, fuel line clips & a radiator.

 

[danthecapriman]

Lovely car! Looks like new up under the front now too.

Keep up the good work 👍

[eddyramrod]

What Dan said!  That'll drive like brand new, top work.  Incidentally I had the same stagger on my 1980 Buick Century.  It sat right and was very comfy to drive.

[Ianlea73]

21 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

What Dan said!  That'll drive like brand new, top work.  Incidentally I had the same stagger on my 1980 Buick Century.  It sat right and was very comfy to drive.

I literally can't wait to get the last few bits buttoned up so I can get it mot'd & start using it.

[Ianlea73]

Shiny new radiator.                Coolant hoses turned up today so only a few jobs to do this weekend & it should be a runner.

 

[Ianlea73]

Finally started back on the old Ford.

Buttoned up a few jobs on the engine & fired it up for the first time in my ownership. She runs like a charm. I'm soooo excited now.

So I needed to remove the old headlights as they were rusted inside & frankly looked shit.

So I removed the buckets too & my mate is going to blast them in work for me.

I'm now trying to sort wiring to the sidelights as this cars sidelights are in the bumper indicator & corner indicator which is obviously orange, someone's been here before & hacked up the wiring So I'm going to sit with a multimeter & work out how to do it. I'll probably drill into the back of the outer headlight & fit a universal bulb holder. Hopefully I won't crack the reflective inside.

 

[Ianlea73]

[cort1977]

That's looking immense. Cleaned up buckets and new headlights will really lift the front end.

 

[sheffcortinacentre]

Some similar age jap stuff uses the same headlights 

[Pauly.22]

Great looking car. Never seen one before except in GTA 

[Ianlea73]

Drained the gearbox & removed the sump. Surprisingly clean considering its age. I made a gasket on the plotter in work as I couldn't find one in cork for an 11 bolt sump.
Prepped & primered.

I've ordered some new lights from Germany so cracked on & fitted the buckets, inner headlight & bezels.

I pulled the headliner out as the cloth had sagged & was rotten. I replaced it with a bit of jazz. I need to fit some thick pvc strips to the back side as it bows a bit at the back.

I then pulled the doorcards off thr passenger side to access a crease/dent that I want to try & make less denty. It was nice to see all the original sound deadening & insulation still in place & date stamps on the back of the panels.

The dates corresponded with my Marti report.

[Ianlea73]

Good progress today. All the interior, other than passenger doorcards, is all back in the car for the 1st time since I bought it & parts where in the boot.
I fitted my pool ball selector & a 12v fan from Ebay. Refitted all the roof trims & sun visors.

I finished the last few bits in the engine bay & gave it a tidy up. I've got rocker cover gaskets too fit & I was going to paint them but I've decided to rub them down & lacquer them to keep the original look.
 

I've just got to fit my npt fittings to the gearbox, run the lines & make a mount for the remote oil cooler.

Unfortunately im out of commission now for 6 weeks. So roll on the New Year so I can button this car up & give it, it's first Mot ever since being imported in the early nineties.