Mk5Mike

Blimey, time flies doesn't it? Nice one on the MOT :thumbup:

Hi Lee - just replied!

Cheers Ste - I am pretty gutted about selling but got to get my priorities sorted.

Reality bites now the summer hols are over - the simple fact is that at the moment I don't have either the cash, the time or the space to look after all three Cortinas properly and I really want to get stuck into the estate. So it has to be one of the Mk5s that goes and the Crusader is the more practical car, which means that the 2 door is now officially for sale. A lot of you will have seen my resto thread on here or seen the in the flesh at Cortina Day or Stratford this year so I won't post up lots of details (but feel free to PM me for more info or photos etc). MOTed until April 2017 (no advisories). I've shamelessly used Clare's Facebook account to post it up on the Mk1-5 Club and Mk4/5 Fanatics page - it's listed at £3,750 but I'm open to any reasonable offer from someone who promises to keep the car as original as possible! I've got nothing against all the nice modded 2 doors out there but after all the effort I've put into this one it would be nice to see it kept as close as possible to how it rolled off the line at Genk...

This is what came out when I drained it:- I still had half a bottle of concentrated Thermocure left so after flushing through with condensed water a couple of times I thought I'd treat the system again before I go back to antifreeze.

Do you just need a like for like replacement for the original? There are loads of them on eBay, mostly at inflated prices but there are a few under 3 all in eg http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-FORD-Bonnet-Arm-Prop-Stay-GROMMET-Capri-Escort-Fiesta-Cortina-Granada-/162134926982

The cooling system on my Mk5 2 door had been very neglected and was full of rust. Even after I'd reverse flushed it, taken it all to bits, replaced the heater matrix etc I was still getting a lot of rusty sediment. After doing a bit of reading I bought some of this stuff from Frosts:- Tested it with some rusty bolts and the results were astonishing. I drained the system before Cortina Day and refilled it with a 1:3 mix which has been in it ever since - going to drop it out this week and put to back to a 50/50 blue antifreeze mix but hopefully the waterways are now nice and rust free, certainly haven't had any overheating problems. I don't know what the active ingredient is but it isn't oxalic acid and is supposedly non-toxic/corrosive.

This is the one I was thinking of but its LHD: http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C734317 )

Sounds like the one that was being advertised by a dealer in Holland recently for some mahooosive amount - will try and locate the details.

What he said :thumbup:

Found the thread http://www.buysellcortina.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/13634-martin-vaggs-mk5-estate-restoration/page__fromsearch__1

Got to agree with Ste there - haven't seen the car in the flesh but remember the resto thread well, full nut and bolt rebuild.

Said it before and I'll say it again - I love that TC2 estate!

Not a very clear photo but you can just about see how the stat sits flush in the block, no rubber seal or clip.

Sorry, got distracted by the footie. Pinto stat on the left, crossflow on the right: Close ups of crossflow stat: Genuine Motorcraft version:

Yep, you've got a pinto stat there, crossflow one is bigger diameter - give me 5 mins and I'll pop to the garage and take some pics.

Very nice - is this a keeper Dave or heading the same way as Popeye?

I've been with Footman James and its predecessors (Aon / Bain Hogg) for about 20 years - although this year there was a fairly big hike in the premium to nearly £200. Mind you, that covers five cars all with agreed value and unlimited mileage...

Craig's rebuilt two lock sets for me so they all run off the same key :thumbup: but if it's a just a new key you're after cut to a Ford TC or TX lock code, I've used these guys in the past:- http://www.mblocktec.net

Pic from Richard

Pics from Richard

Unfortunately not - he wouldn't budge on price (£80 for a genuine Ford V6 centre section so not too bad by his standards) and I didn't have enough cash...

Those NOS Mk5 rear lights were back again, last year they were asking £120, this year £130, no doubt next year they'll still be unsold and gone up to £140...

Despite lurking on BSC since 2004 (and on the old forum that it replaced), last year was my first time Cortina Day so I can't compare with Symonds Yat. However, coming back this year for me was definitely more about the camping/spending time with all the top folk I got to know last year than the show itself. I thought this year's camping set up on the showground was perfect with the bar right next door - put the kids to bed and sat up nattering with beers from the bar all night. Then there's the added advantage of not having to drive anywhere on the Sunday morning, which was definitely a good thing after topping off the beers with Ste and Gem's killer pimms cocktail!

I get all my tyres online these days and my local MOT place fits them for a small (cash) fee - paid £20 for all four wheels on the 2 door a few weeks ago.