disco_monkey79

Having just replaced the rear brakes using a new fittings kit, I am left with a pair of these. All the other bits in the kit took the place of an old bit I removed, but whoever did the brakes last time must have left them out. Thanks in advance.

Ignore me! They just winkle off. Phew.

Hiya, I am trying to source some shoes, and there seems to be 2 types. I need/have all the fittings for the type in my photo. I do see these available, but none of the pictures include the hand brake lever. This doesn't seem like it's removable from my old shoes. Am I being dense? It appears to be riveted. The photos for the other type DO include the handbrake lever. Thanks

Brill, thanks., Thought it best to ask, rather than hope and ultimately get confused as to why the brakes don't work... Thanks again

Hi, # I bought an atlas for my mk4, but it came pretty stripped down. I believe the diagram shows the correct layout for the hard lines from the slave cylinders, but can you please confirm? As it's an atlas the holes are horizontal, rather than vertical as on the kolns. Apologies for the technical quality of the artwork, but hopefully it does the trick. Thanks

Blimey but people can be such @rseholes! Luckily my neighbour on one side is a mechanic working out of a workshop at the bottom of his garden, so he can't exactly complain about the noise I make! But even if I weren;t a car nut, no way would I dream of complaining at whatever anyone parked on their drive it's their drive!

So Chris Eubank was way ahead of the game???

Thanks for the info. At least Ford put more thought in to their line-up than BL. Interesting to read that the XR4i was a sales flop - I had one years ago and loved it (didn't love the incredibly cheap door cards and horrendously cracked dashboard, but that was 80s Ford penny pinching). It's a shame that coupes are now so rare. Though I am very glad Ford haven't (at least not yet) resurrected the Cortina name and slapped it on yet another bland SUV.

Is there a reason why Ford never offered the Cortina with a 2.8 cologne? Given you could buy one with a 2.3 it's not like they had to re-engineer anything. N.b. I am referring to the UK market - I am aware South Africa and Australia did get bigger engines. Were Ford concerned that this would encroach on the Granada and Capri territory? But a car sold is still a car sold, be it a Cortina, Granada or Capri. Just idle curiosity. Thanks

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!

Further thought: apologies if this is well-known but MK1 and Mk2 cortinas were sold in the US under their posh Mercury brand (we're European so we're fancy). If you are hitting a wall finding something, Rockauto* may well be your friend. I am not on commission, I promise. But every order comes with a free car-based fridge magnet, as my tool cabinets will attest *other US parts suppliers are available