1979 Roman Bronze Mk4 Ghia

[Beowulf 87]

Stunning car that :) remember lovin it at the Yat.

On the ride height I think that the height yours is is as it was from new. the springs sag over time and most cars sit a lot lower even with their origional springs (mine (MKV) is around the same height as yours). I am thinking of lowering mine a bit as I do think they look better lowered. I will probably go -2" (FKLGLS's car is -2" and looks spot on) as I think this is the best height visually.

[mk4savage 57]

Thanks again guys for your kind words :thumbup:

 

I'm getting used to the ride height now. In all fairness I think it has dropped slightly since first fitting the new springs and it certainly drives better.

 

I had 2" lowering springs fitted for about 12 years and I just had enough of them in the end. Perhaps they had dropped a bit over the years but I just felt it was too low as I'm running it on standard steels, maybe Some nice alloys would make it look the part but I'm trying to keep with the standard look.

 

I'll keep it as it is for the moment but if i feel the need to lower it I will stick to a -1" drop.

[gl69super 2]

Thanks again guys for your kind words :thumbup:

 

I'm getting used to the ride height now. In all fairness I think it has dropped slightly since first fitting the new springs and it certainly drives better.

 

I had 2" lowering springs fitted for about 12 years and I just had enough of them in the end. Perhaps they had dropped a bit over the years but I just felt it was too low as I'm running it on standard steels, maybe Some nice alloys would make it look the part but I'm trying to keep with the standard look.

 

I'll keep it as it is for the moment but if i feel the need to lower it I will stick to a -1" drop.

 

Do you still have the 2" lowering springs and are they for sale please , :thumbup:

[mk4savage 57]

Got the Ford P21 radio fitted a couple of weekends ago. I had to strip the interior and cover everything else up with cardboard for my mate to weld the replacement panel in place. It ended up being a big job but I couldn't risk burning anything!

 

Sorry about the quality of the images, I forgot my camera on the day so had to use my phone so they're not great.

 

This one shows what we started with,

 

 

Heres a shot of the panel being tried for size.

 

 

Panel trimmed up and welded into place. He had to be careful here as not to warp the dashboard with too much heat.

 

 

Ground back and etch primered.

 

 

Then a coat of satin black. I suppose to make it absolutely mint it could do with a skim of filler to get it 100% smooth but it won't be seen behind the dash.

 

 

The finished article. Just need a facia plate now to finish it off properly.

 

 

I'm really pleased with it and the welder has done a fantastic job. I just wish I hadn't cut the dash in the first place

 

Many thanks to Gav gl69super for the dashboard section and Dave FKLGLS for the radio button which I needed...I still owe you for that!

Edited May 23, 2023 by mk4savage

[kevb 1]

wow... !!!!

 

a beauty!!! fantastic mate!!! :thumbup:

[Crayford MK4 10]

very clean mate looking good :)

[gl69super 2]

I have'nt forgot you mate , Sorry been a tad busy but i will 100% check for the facia plate for your radio in the morning , Speak soon , :thumbup: , The Dash looks spot on mate , :winner:

[mk4savage 57]

I have'nt forgot you mate , Sorry been a tad busy but i will 100% check for the facia plate for your radio in the morning , Speak soon , :thumbup: , The Dash looks spot on mate , :winner:

No problem mate, Didn't think you had. Cheers Gav :cheers:

[Danish 294]

 

That's a lovely job. I have this job to do yet and I doubt it will be as good... :(

 

I bought a spindle radio from Mr.Xwai so was 'somewhat disappointed' to find the radio hole had been butchered in much the same way as yours has.

 

Edit: I've just read through the rest of the topic. Your car is in fabulous condition, inside & out. :thumbup:

Edited November 19, 2012 by jayney

[mk4savage 57]

That's a lovely job. I have this job to do yet and I doubt it will be as good... :(

 

I bought a spindle radio from Mr.Xwai so was 'somewhat disappointed' to find the radio hole had been butchered in much the same way as yours has.

 

Edit: I've just read through the rest of the topic. Your car is in fabulous condition, inside & out. :thumbup:

Thanks Jayne for the comments.

 

I've only got myself to blame for the butchering of my dash. Originally I mounted the stereo in the glovebox because I didn't want to cut the dash but eventually I made the mistake of cutting the hole out, I'm so angry with myself when I think about it but it's not so bad now.

 

The welder did do a good job, He's a perfectionist when it comes to metalwork and he took ages to get it marked out and in the correct position before welding it in place.

 

I'm sure yours will be as good, I've seen your welding skills on your Mk3 on here :thumbup:

[cortinaboy 0]

Nice work on the dash repair, it looks really good mate! Also, as im sure ive said before, your car is beautifal, Roman Bronze is my favorite colour on Mk4 Ghias! :thumbup:

[allan d 1]

thats a nice job mate looks top notch v nice mint mk4 aswell :thumbup: :thumbup:

[mk4savage 57]

Nice work on the dash repair, it looks really good mate! Also, as im sure ive said before, your car is beautifal, Roman Bronze is my favorite colour on Mk4 Ghias! :thumbup:

 

 

thats a nice job mate looks top notch v nice mint mk4 aswell :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

Thanks Guys :thumbup: :thumbup:

[grifterkid 1]

What a glorious Mk4 that is... I think Roman Bronze is a stunning colour and it suits the Mk4 down to the ground! I'd like to get my hands on a Mk1 Granada Ghia in that shade, hmmmmm...!!!

[mk4savage 57]

Small update.

 

My Car is having the new front panels and crossmember fitted this week. I started by having the three panels dipped then I etch primered them, High Build Primer, Then applied some base coat and clear to the rear of the panels. Basically the bits you can't get at properly when they're fitted.

 

Here's a few pictures of the panels just after I painted them.

 

Lower Valance and upper panel

 

 

 

Crossmember

 

 

I must sort my slabs out Anyway, Back to the car,

 

I took the car down to the workshop on saturday and spent the day stripping the front end down ready to remove the old panels. Here's what I ended up with,

 

 

 

 

These next two show how bad the rust was/is getting,

 

 

 

 

Then this one is with the upper and lower panels removed, As I thought, The crossmember is well rusted.

 

 

 

 

 

It's quite shocking really how much the car has rusted on that front end, not rotten though thankfully, just bad surface rust. The welder says we've caught it in time. Also the underside of the slam panel and areas by the battery tray need attention. Luckily the Chassis rails and most of the surrounding area is still sound apart from having surface rust. All down to lack of waxoyl I think.

 

Yesterdays work was spent cleaning up the rust and a couple of small repairs to the radiator panel where it meets the crossmember.It had rotted through both panels.You can see the holes in the pictures above.

 

This one shows the repair on one side. He actually replaced that lower corner section on both sides, made from scratch. You can't tell it's had a section put in.

 

 

I called round this morning (Wednesday) and this is the progress so far,

 

The new crossmember is in and what a fabulous job he's done of it. He carefully picked the old panel off by drilling the spot welds on the inside, then the new panel has been spot welded back on where the original spot welds were. You can't tell it's had a new panel, it looks like a factory job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's the same at the back of the panel too, all spot welded into place.

 

 

 

 

That's it so far.I'm very happy with it. He's doing an absolutely fantastic job of it which I really do appreciate, Although it's not going to be cheap by any means but it's well worth it for a first class job. He either does the job right or not at all, A perfectionist.

 

More pictures to follow.

Edited May 23, 2023 by mk4savage