Capris - Australia Day 2014

On Australia Day each year the Bayside Restorers Club organise a rally open to all car enthusiasts. This year it was sponsored by the Redlands City Council. The event starts around 7.30 am with a display of vehicles on the oval at Ormiston School together with a sausage sizzle breakfast provided just for the cost of a raffle ticket. After that there is time to wander around and see an extremely interesting mix of vehicles. The attached photos will show some of these. At 9.30, entrants then can participate in four different rallies of various lengths throughout Bayside suburbs with all concluding for lunch at the Alexandra Hills Tavern.
The weather has always been a bit of a problem for this event and it has been cancelled or postponed in past years due to rain. It can also be extremely hot. This year is was very pleasant. It was cloudy with one very light shower when we arrived but after that the temperature stayed down. There was a large turnout of cars of all descriptions with the oval being completely covered. There were a record two Capris in attendance. I took my white XL on its first real outing after major engine surgery and it went very well. I was a bit concerned about engine temperature but it was very stable. The other car belonged to club member, Paul, who drove his beautiful Capri V6 up from the Gold Coast on its first outing for a number of years. There were very few small Fords in attendance, perhaps only one Escort RS2000. The best car on the day, judged by the Mayor of Redlands, was a 1909 Renault – a beautifully restored vehicle that is 105 years old. I wonder if the Capris will last 105 years?  I don’t think I will be around to see them!

Capri - Waterlogged

 

This article & photo appeared in the Brisbane Courier Mail on Saturday(25 Jan). It recalls the record flood in Brisbane in January, 1974. I have previously seen parts of this photo but not the complete shot and did not know the story behind it. The photographer was Ted Holliday who walked along a nearby railway bridge in Toowong to take the picture looking down Slyvan Rd, Toowong towards Coronation Drive - the Regatta Hotel is the end building on the right.
The Capri looks pretty sad & is covered in silt. I suggest, by the stripes running over the fuel cap, that it is a 1969 Capri GT. (click on the photo)
I wonder what happened to it but I guess it ended up in Capri heaven soon after this.

Capri - Borg Warner 35 Kickdown Adjustment

I am gradually sorting out a few little things with my 1600XL after the engine rebuild.  So far, it is going really well & am gradually increasing my distances from home & running things in. Still running a fraction too warm but maybe the new temperature sender is working really well. I might consider some different type of coolant if it is necessary.
The little problem at the moment is the kickdown from second to first gear at really slow speed. It kicks down when nearly stopped or stopped but turning an uphill corner & it doesn't open up properly. I have adjusted both the kickdown cable & the accelerator cable but I might just require a bit more on one. It is not far off the spot & all the other shift downs & shift ups and really good. I might have to consult with my resident expert if I can't get it any better.
This picture shows where the cables were adjusted before the engine rebuild & they are very similar now so it just requires a bit more adjustment & trial.

Capri - Burton Power 2014 Catalogue

Just received  the 2014 Burton Power Catalogue from the UK.
It is full of great stuff for small Ford enthusiasts. Not only does it have a huge range of products, but also, there is a great deal of information about how to improve your car. Postage rates to Australia are quite reasonable.
Their web address is: www.burtonpower.com



 I would love a bonnet like this on my Capri but then I don't have an engine like that to show everyone!

Restoration (2) White 1972 1600 XL [29]

Did a couple of finishing off things to the car today.
Firstly, a bit of retuning. The timing was retarded a couple of degrees & it is now running at about 10 degrees before TDC & sounds pretty good. Also the carbie mixture screw was slightly adjusted. It is now sounding as it should..
Secondly, I drilled out a couple of paint blisters or small rust spots on the RH rear guard. It is 11 years since the repaint & these were the first little areas of concern. I thought there would be a lot more rust behind them but not so. I bit of filler & a couple of coats of Winter White & the area looks pretty good. I just need to give it fine sand & then buff it up & that is another little job done.

Capri H4 Headlight Conversion - Buyer Beware!

I finally got around to replacing the headlights with the set of H4 conversion lights I had purchased on EBay at the beginning of December. The photo shows how the chrome coating has started to rust away.

When the new lights arrived I had a very quick look at them & thought they looked really good & was pleased with the transaction.  When I went to fit them, things were a bit different.
1. They are not exactly the same size as the originals & therefore the metal retaining frame doesn’t fit over them. They were advertised on EBay as 7” x 4”. I think the seller has now added that they are 178mm x 128mm. My original lights measure 175mm x 113mm, hence the problem with the retaining frame.
2. The front glass section of the lights is different. The original ones have a depth of 40mm & the replacement lights have 25mm. So, if the frame did fit, the light would be recessed further back into the light module.
3. The advertisement on EBay showed there was an area where the parking light could be fitted. No parking globes were advertised but the new lights had no facility for the parking lights to be fitted.

Overall, not a good result! Some of the blame is mine for not checking the measurements properly or the parking light details. I have contacted the seller & advised him of these facts & that the ad should be modified to state that they may fit some Capri Mk1 models, but not mine. The pictures showing the ability to fit parking lights should also be explained. So far, he has not replied. So does anyone have any use for two 7 x 4 H4 lights?
I have sourced quite a few parts, both from within Australia & overseas, for my Capris over the internet & never had any problems so this is a first & a bit disappointing.

Restoration (2) White 1972 1600 XL [28]

Some final observations:
                After all the projects with my Capris, I usually make a few observations:

1.       As frequently said, any such project takes a LOT MORE TIME & A LOT MORE MONEY than you anticipate. This project dragged on for weeks & even though I am retired & have no real commitments, it took much longer than I thought.

2.       Take plenty of photos before you start & as you go. It is amazing how often you refer back to these to see where something went originally.

3.       Keep all nuts, bolts & fittings for a part together (eg. manifolds, carbie). I use small plastic bags & write on them with a marker pen. This time I only had one washer left over.

4.       Removing the engine by disconnecting the torque converter, as suggested in the manual, would have been very difficult, as the bolts connecting it to the flex plate were extremely tight & in a very difficult spot. The engine crane is essential in this type of exercise & makes things very easy. Re-connecting the engine with torque converter to the transmission wasn’t as difficult as I thought it might be, provided you have an old expert to help you. We just took it slowly & with the right angle, it slid together without too much fuss. Again, the engine crane is invaluable.

5.       Cleaning all the bits takes a fair bit of time and is also the messy part. Then add on the time to repaint everything.

6.       Parts are still pretty easy to obtain, if you know where to go. My local Autobarn are very helpful & usually can have the parts ready the following morning which is a pretty good service. They also give me a little discount which is also helpful. The most difficult part to obtain was the alloy Y hose junction piece that connects the automatic choke to the inlet manifold. I could not obtain the original type connection but substituted it with a brass T section plus a brass reducer. Not the prettiest but it does what is required. I used several non-genuine parts, some of which were very good but a couple are not quite the same & I will discuss them later.

7.       When you are working with heavy items eg engine blocks make sure you use safe practices – not like me! Some may have read of my accident! MOVE ENGINE BLOCKS CAREFULLY & keep your legs & feet away when they fall over! I was very lucky that the only broken thing was the distributor – not my foot!

8.       The Accuspark electronic distributor seems to be very successful but was not as easy to slot in as I first thought. A few more details on the instruction sheet would be helpful as getting the optical marks in the correct area needed a bit of accuracy. After the initial installation worries, it seems to be working very well.

9.       Have plenty of RP7 or WD40 handy as you use heaps on old nuts & bolts.

10.   Repainting of the engine bay wasn’t as successful as I had hoped. It is certainly much better & looks a lot cleaner than it was but it is not the same as those who paint it at the same time as doing the complete body.

11.   Some days are what I call AXE DAYS! I really feel like getting the axe out & chopping up the Capri. Thankfully, these only last a short time and the axe never really comes out. I had a few this time & they usually occur when something breaks. Anyway, the sky won’t fall in if it all takes another day!

12.   So far I am pretty happy with the end result & the fact that I have done it, gives me a bit of a good feeling!

Restoration (2) White 1972 1600 XL [27]

I have taken the car for a number of short runs & it is performing fairly well but I think the timing is still out a fraction & that needs a bit of fiddling. It is running warm in the middle of the temp gauge but that is not bad but perhaps I would prefer it running a bit cooler. The best thing is that there are no leaks – well so far that I can see. I have done a costing for this little project & as usual, I am a bit surprised as to how much it all costs. While there is nothing major all the little bits add up. Here is a summary of costs. These are retail prices but I usually get some form of discount from Autobarn. Note that the two most expensive items (electronic distributor & fuel pump) were a result of my little accident but I am pleased that both were replaced.   

Ultra black gasket maker		$     17.95		Supercheap
Hose clamp		$      2.99		Supercheap
Fuel hose		$     12.95		Supercheap
Heater hose		$     10.48		Supercheap
Cable ties		$      4.99		Supercheap
Threadlocker -Red	Permatex	$     12.99		Autobarn
		Sub Total	$   62.35
Transmission fluid		$     10.79		Supercheap
Transmission fluid	Valvoline Type F	$     25.56		Supercheap
Engine oil	Castrol	$     22.99		Autobarn
		Sub Total	$   59.34
Spray paint enamel		$     29.23		Bunnings
Spray paint		$     22.00		Supercheap
Spray paint & fish oil		$     26.99		Supercheap
Degreaser, Primer & Inhibitor		$     26.41		Supercheap
Engine enamel	VHT	$     15.99		Autobarn
Engine enamel	VHT	$     15.99		Autobarn
		Sub Total	$ 136.61
PCV valve	Dufor SS502	$     15.45		JDM Industries
Thermostat	Tridon TT1-192	$     12.50		Supercheap
H4 headlights		$     74.00		Classic Sports Car
Transmission filter kit	Ryco RTK24	$     14.99		Autobarn
Electronic Distributor	Ford 45D	$   144.00		Accuspark UK
Water temperature sender	Tridon TTS023	$     19.00		EBay
Brass T sections		$     18.00		Repco
Spark Plugs	BP6ES	$     17.96		Autobarn
Welch plugs	RBC20	$     17.50		Autobarn
Fuel pump	Goss G448	$   117.50		Autobarn
Piston rings	SP65462	$     46.50		Autobarn
Con rod bearings	Ford 1100	$     45.00		Autobarn
Welch plugs	RBC1058	$      4.39		Repco
Starter motor repair		$     50.00		ERG
1600GT signs		$     33.00		Coloursplash
Gasket kit		$     54.42		Shirleys UK
		Sub Total	$ 684.21
	TOTAL	$   942.51