Ford Sierra GVG 510Y

[ianb Sierra]

Hello.

Thanks for the add.

It seems that my new addition to my household needs no introduction to this forum.

After my fortunate win on retroshite, I now own one of the first and last For Sierras.

I have had a K reg GLX Estate for a few years.

I've not had much of a chance to go over her, but looking forward to keeping this automotive rarity on the road.

Any information would be greatly appreciated, a bonus if any more about its original Norfolk life.

Ian

[SiC]

@BorniteIdentity is going to be your man with the most know as he owned it last. I'll let him fill in the (extensive) details !

[davehedgehog31]

Welcome!

Sounds like it's gone to a great home.

[Peter C]

Welcome to AS.

I’m on the same Sierra Facebook group as you and this is the story of my Sapphire.

https://autoshite.com/topic/57197-1987-ford-sierra-sapphire-18l-no-thrill-on-trip-to-brill-mill-see-page-54/

I hope you will manage to post updates on forthcoming adventures with your Sierra.

[Floatylight]

Welcome, great to see  you here!

Here is the previous owners thread on his fleet, should keep you busy!

 

[JJ0063]

Welcome to the fold! It would seem you’re very local to me (I’m Swaffham-ish) so I look forward to hopefully seeing the Sierras around!

[beko1987]

Congratulations and welcome!

[cobblers]

Phew, I feel massive relief that this has ended up in really good hands. Congrats!!

[danthecapriman]

Welcome.

It certainly sounds like it’s found an ideal home, which is a relief. 
Looking forward to seeing more about both your cars!

[Angrydicky]

I am responsible for the frankly, lazy and appalling filler job after I fitted a new arch to the drivers rear.

I did a proper welding job and cut out the rot, but it was a bit of a rush job to get it ready for shitefest so I literally wobbed some filler over it and some aerosol paint.

Really it needs those replacement doors fitting, more filler putting in that arch join, smoothing off and the entire side of the car painting. Bornite had the other side painted.

It was surprisingly solid underneath, there was a bit of filler in it but I think I was the first one to weld it. I welded up the drivers sill as well, and had a new windscreen fitted. It’s got a Mk2 seal on it as the Mk1 seal wasn’t available. I think I did keep the original but it was in poor condition.

It was still on the original autochoke at the time and I took it to Cornwall and back from Essex, a journey it took in its stride with no problems apart from the bonnet cable which jumped off so I had to use a long screwdriver to open the bonnet.

The reason the seats and steering wheel are so good is because they had covers on for many years.

It had been in East London for at least 20 years, there was an ancient no smoking logo on the corner of the drivers window which suggested some kind of fleet/commercial use for its first owner, perhaps a hire car? It may be possible to get some info from the DVLA, @trigger did recently with his Cavalier.

Good luck with it!

[junkyarddog]

Great to see it found a good home,

Welcome along.

[vtec-e]

Congratulations on the win and welcome.

[ianb Sierra]

23 minutes ago, Angrydicky said:

I am responsible for the frankly, lazy and appalling filler job after I fitted a new arch to the drivers rear.

I did a proper welding job and cut out the rot, but it was a bit of a rush job to get it ready for shitefest so I literally wobbed some filler over it and some aerosol paint.

Really it needs those replacement doors fitting, more filler putting in that arch join, smoothing off and the entire side of the car painting. Bornite had the other side painted.

It was surprisingly solid underneath, there was a bit of filler in it but I think I was the first one to weld it. I welded up the drivers sill as well, and had a new windscreen fitted. It’s got a Mk2 seal on it as the Mk1 seal wasn’t available. I think I did keep the original but it was in poor condition.

It was still on the original autochoke at the time and I took it to Cornwall and back from Essex, a journey it took in its stride with no problems apart from the bonnet cable which jumped off so I had to use a long screwdriver to open the bonnet.

The reason the seats and steering wheel are so good is because they had covers on for many years.

It had been in East London for at least 20 years, there was an ancient no smoking logo on the corner of the drivers window which suggested some kind of fleet/commercial use for its first owner, perhaps a hire car? It may be possible to get some info from the DVLA, @trigger did recently with his Cavalier.

Good luck with it!

I've been pondering on, do I keep it as it is? Or sod it and get it sorted with a new paint job, dash etc. It's running poorly, but I did notice part of the carb has fallen away. I'm going to do the basics (I'm electrical/mechanical engineer) and see where we go. I have seen some mk1 front doors on marketplace that look OK and are only a hour away.

[sierraman]

Controversial opinion perhaps but best way to ensure long term survival might be just to do it properly now, it’s got the basics there it’s not like it’s been dragged out of a bush. Sometimes peace meal efforts while they keep it on the road just make more work down the line. Things like doors etc are not going to get cheaper, look how much complete panels are for older Cortinas etc. 

[KWhite]

Welcome! I am so glad that this has gone to a good home!

[HMC]

Great to see it about and on the forum still.  Isnt it featured on the main login page or something?  

[Lonestar]

5 minutes ago, HMC said:

Great to see it about and on the forum still.  Isnt it featured on the main login page or something?  Raffles online can have various outcomes, this is a great one!

It's the icon on the shortcut I have on my phone's home screen.

[Pieman]

Welcome to the site Ian, a pleasure to have you here to continue the saga of one of Autoshite's most famous cars.  Really pleased to see that it's going to continue to be looked after well - as I've said elsewhere, it's almost a museum piece.

[UltraWomble]

Oooh

A dangly mirror Sierra. Cant remember the last time I saw one of those. Hello & welcome to the asylum. 

[beko1987]

If your capable of having an hour or 2 every day on it whilst the weather is shit and just tinker at it and fix the simple thins, throw some new gaskets on and get it running well that would help it!

Then you can drive it and get it warm and used and sort the bodywork when the weather is nicer.

Otherwise it'll just sit over winter and that won't be any fun, you need to drive your rare* car 👌

I remember it turning up at the FoD once (I think @Angrydickydrive it over but I'm sure Mr bournite was there too that day. Was very comfy the few yards I sat in the back around the paddock in it!

Take care of Emma ❤️ (hope it doesn't fight you too hard 😬)

[BorniteIdentity]

2 hours ago, ianb Sierra said:

I've been pondering on, do I keep it as it is? Or sod it and get it sorted with a new paint job, dash etc. It's running poorly, but I did notice part of the carb has fallen away. I'm going to do the basics (I'm electrical/mechanical engineer) and see where we go. I have seen some mk1 front doors on marketplace that look OK and are only a hour away.

Hi, Ian. I'm Daniel - nice to sort of meet you.  The car has been in my custody for the last 10 years.  Everything you'll ever need to know about the last decade is documented on here but if there's anything that has you scratching your arse and wondering 'wtf' then I can answer it.  Apologies for the short reply here; I'm on a run of night shifts and my body currently thinks it's about midnight.  

The carb was added in 2019 as part of a full head rebuild.  The auto-choke finally gave up and the sensible thing was to have the head skimmed and a Weber 32 put on.  @alf892 and I did a lot of the work but the head was done properly by an engineering firm and the choke cable fitted by my friendly garage because I have big hands (as any girl who knows me will attest). (!)

Part of the carb went PINGFUCKIT at some stage and disappeared off into the great unknown.  That's why it doesn't always idle nicely when you come off throttle - a quick blip will wake it up and you're then fine.  That said, I've had to run it on a small amount of choke for the last year so a carb kit would see most of your woes disappear I'm sure. 

I always thought it ran pretty well and I wouldn't do too much 'tuning' until you've got a rear section of exhaust on it.  There's another door which is owned by me which I never got around to collecting and - brilliantly - it's in Norfolk.  @Crusty Sills was going to deliver it to my Father in Felixstowe but if you could get it from him that would be brilliant for all involved (You, me and the car).

In the end I gave up on it because - frankly - it deserved better.  @RetroShitemade an extremely generous offer for which I'll forever be grateful and - well - here we are!

It's yours to do whatever you so wish with.  If it gets fully restored? Great! If it gets a sympathetic renovation? Great! If you do nothing and just bang around in it? Great! You'll find a lot of help and encouragement on here and, without it, I'd have given up a long time ago.  I just took it as far as I wanted.

Despite its looks, it is much loved.  When the chips were down last summer it got me to my Mother's bedside with aplomb and without complaint. I know it's a machine but things like that are valued by a sensitive old fool like me.

Best of luck with it.  I'm sure you'll do it proud.  You'll certainly do a better job than I ever did.  I'm a driver, not a fixer.

Most of all. Enjoy. 

[Angrydicky]

2 hours ago, ianb Sierra said:

I've been pondering on, do I keep it as it is? Or sod it and get it sorted with a new paint job, dash etc. It's running poorly, but I did notice part of the carb has fallen away. I'm going to do the basics (I'm electrical/mechanical engineer) and see where we go. I have seen some mk1 front doors on marketplace that look OK and are only a hour away.

I doubt you’ll find a dash as they are mega £££ due to OMG Cosworth tax. I thought a. pair of good doors came with it?

[BorniteIdentity]

Just now, Angrydicky said:

I doubt you’ll find a dash as they are mega £££ due to OMG Cosworth tax. I thought a. pair of good doors came with it?

There are two offside doors and Crusty Sills has a third.  There's nothing for the nearside from memory.  The ones on the nearside aren't TOO bad and could be wobbed up or welded.  The offside ones are more fucked than Bonnie Blue.

[ianb Sierra]

1 hour ago, BorniteIdentity said:

There are two offside doors and Crusty Sills has a third.  There's nothing for the nearside from memory.  The ones on the nearside aren't TOO bad and could be wobbed up or welded.  The offside ones are more fucked than Bonnie Blue.

The o/s front is FUBAR.   

[ianb Sierra]

1 hour ago, Angrydicky said:

I doubt you’ll find a dash as they are mega £££ due to OMG Cosworth tax. I thought a. pair of good doors came with it?

Rear doors

[ianb Sierra]

1 hour ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Hi, Ian. I'm Daniel - nice to sort of meet you.  The car has been in my custody for the last 10 years.  Everything you'll ever need to know about the last decade is documented on here but if there's anything that has you scratching your arse and wondering 'wtf' then I can answer it.  Apologies for the short reply here; I'm on a run of night shifts and my body currently thinks it's about midnight.  

The carb was added in 2019 as part of a full head rebuild.  The auto-choke finally gave up and the sensible thing was to have the head skimmed and a Weber 32 put on.  @alf892 and I did a lot of the work but the head was done properly by an engineering firm and the choke cable fitted by my friendly garage because I have big hands (as any girl who knows me will attest). (!)

Part of the carb went PINGFUCKIT at some stage and disappeared off into the great unknown.  That's why it doesn't always idle nicely when you come off throttle - a quick blip will wake it up and you're then fine.  That said, I've had to run it on a small amount of choke for the last year so a carb kit would see most of your woes disappear I'm sure. 

I always thought it ran pretty well and I wouldn't do too much 'tuning' until you've got a rear section of exhaust on it.  There's another door which is owned by me which I never got around to collecting and - brilliantly - it's in Norfolk.  @Crusty Sills was going to deliver it to my Father in Felixstowe but if you could get it from him that would be brilliant for all involved (You, me and the car).

In the end I gave up on it because - frankly - it deserved better.  @RetroShitemade an extremely generous offer for which I'll forever be grateful and - well - here we are!

It's yours to do whatever you so wish with.  If it gets fully restored? Great! If it gets a sympathetic renovation? Great! If you do nothing and just bang around in it? Great! You'll find a lot of help and encouragement on here and, without it, I'd have given up a long time ago.  I just took it as far as I wanted.

Despite its looks, it is much loved.  When the chips were down last summer it got me to my Mother's bedside with aplomb and without complaint. I know it's a machine but things like that are valued by a sensitive old fool like me.

Best of luck with it.  I'm sure you'll do it proud.  You'll certainly do a better job than I ever did.  I'm a driver, not a fixer.

Most of all. Enjoy. 

Many thanks Dan.

I had difficulty finding a standard exhaust for my estate. In the 3nd I got one made.

I'll probably suck up thr cost of a stainless, but a copy of the original.

I'm into originality where I can.

[Angrydicky]

23 minutes ago, ianb Sierra said:

Many thanks Dan.

I had difficulty finding a standard exhaust for my estate. In the 3nd I got one made.

I'll probably suck up thr cost of a stainless, but a copy of the original.

I'm into originality where I can.

There are nos exhaust centre and back sections on eBay. I welded the patches on the silencer but it was only meant to be a temporary fix, that was 10 years ago!

Im fairly certain the door waiting for you with @Crusty Sills is a drivers door, in the right colour!

[ianb Sierra]

47 minutes ago, ianb Sierra said:

Rear doors

Sorry, o/s doors!

[dozeydustman]

Welcome @ianb Sierra and thank you for joining with a forum favourite*. It looks like the right person won this car and I look forward to more updates as you get to know and tinker with it.

[Rightnider]

Wonderful news, good luck, and most of all, welcome!