disco_monkey79

Thanks for confirming. It knackered the thread on the bolt and the cup, so I bored it out and will use a spanner that both ends.

Hi I bought a used SP bush remover. It got the first trailing arm bush out, but in doing so has knackered the thread on the bolt. I had to use a breaker bar, so perhaps it was just the amount of force? Anyway, it looks approximately M12 sized, but doesn't look like standard M12 thread size. Can anyone tell me what size it actually is, so I can source a replacement bolt? Thanks

I hadn't thought of re-siting the tank, but I want to LPG it at some point so that will probably go where your capri tank went. Using a carboard template, these should fit OK side-by-side. I didn't think I needed a cat on a '79 car, but the guy in the shop insisted...

Annoyed by the rain stopping play, I spent some time over the winter making this as a quick stop-gap until I can get the proper workshop built... The workshop will be across the back of the garden, but lots more work needed first. But then I got feeling guilty about having not touched the car in 2024, so I cracked on with the inner and outer rear valances, inner and outer lower quarters, and the rear arches. I then popped the new wheels on to see how it would look. A bit pokey-outey I think is the technical term. I had some wheels wider than the arches on an old truck and all that got me was an advisory at MOT time. But as I live 2 streets away from the police station, I don't really want to invite any unnecessary bother. So... Mk3/4 Escort arches. They are concave as standard, but I re-worked the top edge so it's convex. The one on the right is quite early in the process - it had a bit more work before fitting. Bu it got me to this... The very bottom on each side of the arch needed a bit more work to fit , and they came down too far but all got chopped and hacked in to shape.. I am sure you hawk-eyed lot will have noticed that the valances aren't finished at the exhaust cut-out. I am going to fit twin pipes, so that will be widened in due course. Then it was time to jack it right up and sort the inner arches I hope to finish welding the back end this weekend. Then I can slather the underside in paint, and re-fit the fuel tank and axle, and turn it around to attack the scabby front end.

Brill, thanks for confirming.

Hi, did you simply cut a flat ring from the material? I am getting close to re-installing the tank, so should probably stop ignoring this job! I have a NOS Ford sender seal, and it's like a u-channel, presumably so it squishes up nicely, but I can't see how I can recreate that from flat sheet. When I pulled the sender unit, it had a simple flat disc type of seal. However, whoever put that car together was a maniac so I am wary of following their lead on anything... Thanks

Given the crazy prices these go for, has anyone attempted scratch-making one? Getting the profile top and bottom and side to side doesn't seem insurmountable. Once that basic frame shape is established, the rest seems relatively straightforward. Having seen one just pop up on FB for Eur 350 plus shipping, it got me wondering...

Brilliant, I should have looked more closely! Thanks

Hi, I got a prop from a 2.0,so that should be fine. The seller split it to post. Are the two pieces balanced independently? So it doesn't really matter how I rejoin them? Or is it balanced as one whole unit, meaning I really need to get it right? Thanks

Brill, thanks. Will be going with points (at least initially), so that is an excellent point I hadn't considered!

Hi, I have been offered a recon starter motor for my 2.8 v6, but the motor was apparently intended for a 2.3. I am getting conflicting advice as to whether there was any difference. Some sellers list the same unit for all, some have them as for 2.8 and 2.9,which I thought were different! Are they all the same? Or did specs change? Thanks

Late model Sierras had hardened valve seats. Can't remember from what year (I did this to my 2.0 Capri many years ago when such things were still plentiful in breakers' yards). P.s. I mean swapping cylinder heads. I took one from an injection model. The slightly different-shaped inlet ports weren't an issue

Brill, thanks. Does it need to be from a manual car? I believe the autos were a different length?

I am sure this is well trodden ground, but the search function isn't being my friend. I am putting a 2.8 and 5-speed type 9 in to my mk4, and using an Atlas axle. Which prop shaft do I need, please? I am pulling the 1.6 speeder prop out. I know the splines won't fit the new box, but can it be adapted/converted? Thanks

On the subject of budget spoilering, I was determined to have a duck tail. Until I saw the prices of the repro rs Capri ones... I happened to be walking past my local body shop as they rolled out a late 80s (3 box shape) 3 series bmw that had been beautifully respayed. Which had a duck tail... £80 on ebay got me one. It's going to need work to fit, but I dare say a Capri one would as well, and was waaaaaaaaaay cheaper. Again, I will share pics when I get finished with welding!