Paul B

Nice bit of work on the dolly 😎 Can't wait to see your car finished. Keep it going! 👍

That looks great. I'd be keeping that one if it were me.

What's with yer one in the back seat? Trapped wind maybe? 😀

I think it was an old trick of theirs. They did the same thing to my mum. The problem was she fell for it and paid up. I knew it was a con job, hence the reason I'd never use them again.

Hmm... "Back in the day"... Well I bought this Cortina (back in the day) for 250 quid from a banger racer. That was November 1991 and I was a fit 22 year old, not afraid to take on anything. Fast-forward to now and I'm an ever so less fit 51 year old who is left thinking "how the f@#k did I ever do that "back in the day?" When the car landed back from the paint shop I fitted the engine myself and everything around it. Also the gearbox, made all brake pipes and refitted the whole car, including screens, etc., all in a small garage or rolled out into the yard. I've never had anything other than a trolley jack and axle stands. Regarding the exhaust, I would never have gone to my local KwikFit as they were a complete shower of c#nts (no offence). We had an ATS centre but I couldn't really get it there without an exhaust so I bought a system from the motor factors and had a go myself. From memory, I rolled it half out of the garage like it was in the photo and jacked up the back end. And I completely remember that corkscrew manoeuvre to get the back bit over the axle! 😀 So there you go. That's what happened. I'm growing older, I've got more afraid of having a go and I've forgotten a lot too. All the best!

Thanks for that. I'd used Peter Lloyd many moons ago for something and found them very good. Sad that they've gone. I e-mailed the Sportex crowd yesterday but no reply yet.

This is just a photo of my photo, not a proper scan. This is the photo I took. Bromley Pageant '93

Wow. Thanks for that. I'll try to give it a dose of looking at tomorrow.

OK, so a nice new bush has arrived this afternoon so I just need a bit of time to fit it now. My question is, how DO I fit it? Presumably I separate the ball joint first. And then what? Do the parts all screw off? I've no idea and can't find it in Ye Olde Manual. Also, when reassembling, how much oil goes into the boot?

A question about the Ford manifolds.... What's the differences between the Escort, Cortina and Capri ones? Is it the length of the downpipe or is there any other difference? Are there part numbers clearly stamped into them or is it a lot of guess work? There seems to be a fella down the road from me who has one for sale but he deals with Escort and Capri parts so I think it's going to be one of those and not Cortina.

Yeah, location could be a bit tricky but I'm from Kent originally and I do get back over every now and then. Never driven the Cortina back over yet though. I'd be delighted if I could get it done for 150 over here. I'm going to try and get a couple of quotes, see what happens.

Good luck with the sale. I don't think there were ever many 2-door GXL's made. They must be thin on the ground now. I only ever saw one in the flesh. Sapphire blue too I think. I have a photo of it somewhere. I don't suppose the reg is GPP _ _ _ _ is it?

Jeez! Anyone got an original they want to part with?

Thanks Craig. Yes, definitely keeping the car and I'd like a stainless system. Any thoughts about the manifold? Is there good reason why they're not normally done stainless?

Evening all. I'm looking for a bit of honest advice, opinions, thoughts or whatever regarding a replacement exhaust. The car is a facelift 2000GT. It has all its standard bits still.... The square, cast manifold and a mild steel system. That system cost me £40 back in the day and I fitted it myself laying on the garage floor! Anyway, the system has a few holes at the back end which I've pugged up a few times and where it joins the manifold is leaking too (once again). I always fancied one of the tubular manifolds as it would, at the very least, look a bit more GTish. But I've never come across a good one for sale. And one of these days there's going to be one too many holes to fill. It's all OK for now. I can dickie it up a bit more but I'm starting to think of the replacement. All I see everywhere is Ashley. They've got the twisty tubes going on and a matching system. I've read good things and bad about them but never experienced them myself. Are they any good? What do they sound like compared to standard? Will they last long? Any improvement in performance? Now, another option MIGHT be a stainless system one day. But then what manifold? Stick with the cast iron box, go for Ashley or is it possible to do stainless manifold too? Sorry to go on so much and sorry if I don't make much sense. Thanks in advance though