Corona

[alanh]

Come on you guys while you have been off these last couple of weeks you must have done a little on your cars hopefully getting ready for Combe (fingers crossed) let’s see a few pics of your cars ready for the big day.
It’s gone very quiet on here lately and you must have all a bit of time on your hands to put a few posts on 😀😀😀

[vernon240]

Well, I have made progress, so will get some pictures up soon! Gearbox now back in, prop reconnected etc, so finally have been able to get the interior sorted. Bar a few screws for the sill trims, it’s there. Waiting on a couple of bolts and washers to come. I’ve ordered gearbox oil and engine oil, which should arrive next week. The new battery has just arrived, so can start to test electrics. Need to fit the front indicators and the front grill.

Next steps, get an mot when possible, then back to restoraford to correct a paint run on the sill and fit stripes.....which are coming from Germany, since I donated my set to another owner to get his car done last year.

[rscapriman]

Well done Vernon please keep us posted, my progress has been hampered as i cannot get down to the shed.
The car has been in the paint shop for 4 weeks now and they are making good progress I was hoping to have the engine rebuilt awaiting its return but looks unlikely to happen, I stripped it to find 3 pistons were damaged so they have been replaced also decided to replace rings, main bearings and big end bearings all the originals were stamped standard so got a complete set from motomobil only to fit them and find that the big ends were not as they were stamped they were in fact plus 40 thou so another set are waiting here for re assembly.
On a plus side I have all minor repairs done to seats I have fund a mint set of door cards, carpet, crash pad and binacle all ready to go back in, alloy wheels have all been refurbed along with new bolt in valves, centre caps and tyres.
Alternator has been rebuilt and regulator renewed as there had been a problem which caused wires to burn through at both alternator and regualtor I have also been given a replacement loom to save repairing original.
Brake calipers have been rebuilt as has master cylinder, all 4 bumpers re-chromed, numerous brackets catches and fitting re-pasivated so to sumarise a lot has been done just need to be allowed to get back to work on it.

[vernon240]

OK, guys, first of all, I hope everyone is well, given the current situation!

sorted out another gearbox, so once checked over, I stripped it back..



Turns out I was missing a bif spring at was held in by the reverse light switch...but stripping the old one down to investigate issues eluted in two small parts lost from the selector rods....they might turn up, bit not sure!

Anyways, primed and was then painted black:



and finally in, I hate how heavy these boxes are, but it was relatively simple to get back in one I had it on the transmission jack. The problem ws I had not got te car high enough, so it really had to be manhandled under the car with not really enough space, so was time consuming!



You can see here she really wasn't that high





Cross member back on and prop shaft on:







and those eagle eye'd of you will notice a part missing....forgot to paint this first time around, so painted and will be fitted over the weekend:




Looking forward under the car:






The brakes are all bled and ready to go.

So back to the interior, which took a while to do, but in the end, came together well. I need a few screws for the sill trims, then it will be pretty much done.

I had one NOS seat belt that went in, then used the best of the other two. The instructions seemed to indicate that these are handed...but TBL had two the same...which seems to agree with What Gareth and VDH have. The brackets, however, are definitely handed.




and finally, the interior looking very nice!



So, the last thing I did tonight was fill the engine and axle with their respective oils. I didn't have enough EP80 for the gearbox...it's been a while since I used the stuff...the T5 in my mk2 uses ATF, which I have plenty of...so I have ordered it on line...should be here early next week. I have a new battery which arrived today, so once I have the gearbox oil, I can get her back on her wheels and go for start up. The plan is to spin the oil pump with a drill to build pressure and until oil gets to the top of the engine, up the rockers, set static timeing and go for it! There are a couple of paint runs on the sills that will need to be sorted at restore a ford, plus I have ordered stripes, which will be fitted at the same time...so while the lock down has meant I've made progress, it will soon stop...but at least I'll be ready for an MOT as soon as the lock down eases! I need to get the front indicators on as well..so that will probably happen tomorrow, along with the grill. I do need to get some fuel, so I'll be filling up a jerry can, assuming they will let me!

I'll post updates as they happen!

Stay safe guys!

[alanh]

Looks absolutely stunning Vernon you must be really pleased with her,real credit to you mate👍

[rscapriman]

Yes Vernon, looks a cracking job cant wait to see her in the flesh. Keep us posted buddy.

[vernon240]

Yep, sure will guys! I'm waiting for the gearbox oil and a few screws etc....hang on...a white van has just pulled up...oh yea, we have gearbox oil! That will be going in tonight, then the old girl goes back on her wheels! I need to connect the battery and the starter motor, then it's time for a start up I guess! I don't think I'll try until Friday, as not rushing it after all this time!

[boz]

Looking great Vernon. When do you find the time to do your day to day job?
I think getting her to Restore a Ford for the finishing touches is classed as an essential journey.

[vernon240]

Ah, well, Phil, I knew I had last week off, so needed to get the gearbox ready to go...so that was stripped and painted in time. Given I could go nowhere (I was planning on riding, pop down to see Stu...all sorts) I had to do something! Lets face it, TBL has been painted and in my workshop since December 2013. So it's about time I got it done!

Here is how it was delivered:



So I'm living up to the tile of 'worlds slowest restoration' which som guy at an Avo show accused me of!

Wasn't I going to do something, look to see if I had something, get something to you or something else I've not done? I seem to have some time and work is quiet!

[boz]

Probably but I've forgotten as well. I think it was the company who can make new discs.

By the way, anyone seen this www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/back-popular-demand-reinventing-ford-capri
What are your thoughts? Personally i think the Capri is a GT and not a crossover but I keep getting told I'm stuck in the past.

[vernon240]

Well, Guys, oil in the gearbox..as ever a messy process, and the old girl is back on her wheels!





I decided to go further and prime the oil pump and pre oil the engine, taking the dizzy out and using a drill on the oil drive shaft. If you have even wondered how much oil comes out of the rockers...it's a lot. An old drill I was using really strained a bit to pump the oil and I think I partially killed it, as this thing was smoking after after a while! My battery drill didn't seem to have a problem though. Before I realised it...it was a bit dark in the garage, I'd dumped a fair amount of oil down one side of the engine...which left quite a pool this morning..ooops! Anyways, once I had faffed around and put the dizzy back in and set what looks like 10 degrees timing..I'm sure the dizzy will need tweaking, I set the points gap and put the new looking cap, along with the HT leads that were still together as they had come off TBL.





I'm using my old rocker covers...I have nicely painted ones to go on when I tighten the head bolts and go around the valve clearances again, plus new leads which will be properly positioned with their separators. The starter is connected, along with the engine block earth now.

The only thing I really need is the plastic overflow stub that goes in the top of the radiator, allowing the overflow pipe to connect. On order and I hope it will come before the weekend. Everytime I have filled an essex, there have been airlocks, so it takes a few heat cycles to get these out, so I'd rather have an overflow pipe in place!

More as it happens!

[vernon240]

Well, guys, things have moved on! The engine started up, after replacing the points and condenser in my NOS distributor..the points failed as soon as the engine attempted to start..the condenser was just a precaution. I immediately set he idle for 2000rpm and left it there for 25 mins...standard flat tappet break in procedure. The rest of the household were not amused!

So, once done, set the timing properly, re torqued the Heads and inlet manifold, reversed an exhaust manifold gasket some idiot had fitted incorrectly (reversed), reset the valve clearances for this cam (it's a piper cam profile, but Kent cams made it...or the other way around...came from Cris LePalmier) set the mixture and the tracking...way off as you'd expect, plus solved my non charging alternator. Turned out to be a failed ignition bulb on the dash. If the bulb fails, your alternator doesn't charge..it needs a voltage on the single thin wire, the exciter, to start. I found I could swap alternators really quickly, including the pulley and fan, so selected one of the three alternators based on looks and the best output. Turned out the best looking one had the highest output as well. I'm sure I fitted this one to my mk2..at least 16 years ago and it didn't work and always meant to have a look at it....so maybe it was working all along...we'll see how long it lasts though!

I had the old girl driving down the drive in a vain attempt to bed in the brakes...and despite my fears, they actually weren't awful!

I'm actually running out of things to do. Everything works, I adjusted the washer jets, fitted the nicely painted rocker covers..the heater motor works on both speeds, the fuel gauge works, wipers work, all lights work. I took the black sticky stuff off the 'ford' sill badges, cleaned them up and stuck them in place with new 3M tape, the front grill is on. I'm awaiting screws for the radiator panel and sill carpet retainers/trims...I'll work out where the wing 3000 V6 wing shields should go and get them on..but that is it. I'll clean and repaint the battery retainer....but that's as far as I can really go.

The stripes on on their way from Germany now, so I'm interested to see how they look. I'd like to get my spare wheels..actually, TBL's originals, refurbished then I'll go for new tyres. The ones I have are fine, tread wise, but are over 10 years old now. Top contenders are the Pirelli CN-36's or the relatively new Dunlop Sport classic.

So, here are some pictures. I'm really happy with the way she looks!











Finally, here is a video:

youtu.be/5NYiDWh_PVI

I'm not sure when the next update will be, as next steps are MOT and down to Restore a ford for stripage and sorting out a paint run on one sill.

Stay safe guys!

[caprirs00]

She looks and sounds great top job vernon

[rscapriman]

Superb Vernon bloody superb cannot wait to see her in the flesh and many thanks for sharing this with us you have brightened up our days.

[vernon240]

No problems Len, glad to make progress!...so that thing that has made progress possible, now stops things!