Back in September I was talked into buying this gem retrorides.proboards.com/thread/160702/mk3-ghia-130bhp-zetec-sale. I didn't need a lot of convincing to be honest, I'd been following choakys thread and I'd also seen her at rrg just a week before. My reasoning for buying it was this, the fiesta is years away from being on the road, my acclaim was never bought as a long term car, which I was planning on selling soon. So I'd be without a road going retro.
So a small road trip down to devon with my ford mad mate phil was called for.
Choakys a top bloke and we spent a while talking cars and drooling over his girlfriends capri.
First day home
There were a few jobs to ...
passenger window didnt roll down properly. This was an easy fix just put the glass back on the runner and whilst I was there I gave everthing a good grease .
After driving a few times I'd noticed that it didnt feel right. The steering was really vague so I checked all the bushes and joints and couldnt see a problem so I deduced that the steering rack was at fault.
Well the tax was running out and it was pretty close to winter so I decided to put her down the unit . She laid up untouched for a few months bit the last month or so ive been getting stuck in!!!
The to do list is as follows,
gearbox selection was vague at best and the speedo drive didnt work so a replacement box was needed.
Engine cuts out on idle, probably idle speed control valve.
Brakes shuddering, probably warped discs.
Steering rack.
Slight weeping from thermostat housing.
Drivers side front wing loose and a bit crusty, so replacement needed.
I managed to source a gearbox locally from the same people that choaky bought the car from and who also did the zetec conversion.
Now I should point out that I've never changed a gearbox before and I don't plan on doing one again anytime soon.
Rounded off bolts lead to plenty of tantrums!!!
I eventually got it in and it works , so I'm well happy.
Also got a replacement steering rack. When turned by hand the old one feels really rough , feels like its gratibg ob something so I'm hapoy I changed it.
Next job was the front wing
New piece welded in
Wing on and ready for acid etch on the bare metal bits then primer.
i went to my local panel shop and they mixed me a few colour matched cans, whilst I'm doing the wing I'll be doing the front valance as its painted in stonechip.
turns out the colour is miles off!! Wasnt expecting an amqzing match but it looks like a completely different shade.
So a small road trip down to devon with my ford mad mate phil was called for.
Choakys a top bloke and we spent a while talking cars and drooling over his girlfriends capri.
First day home
There were a few jobs to ...
passenger window didnt roll down properly. This was an easy fix just put the glass back on the runner and whilst I was there I gave everthing a good grease .
After driving a few times I'd noticed that it didnt feel right. The steering was really vague so I checked all the bushes and joints and couldnt see a problem so I deduced that the steering rack was at fault.
Well the tax was running out and it was pretty close to winter so I decided to put her down the unit . She laid up untouched for a few months bit the last month or so ive been getting stuck in!!!
The to do list is as follows,
gearbox selection was vague at best and the speedo drive didnt work so a replacement box was needed.
Engine cuts out on idle, probably idle speed control valve.
Brakes shuddering, probably warped discs.
Steering rack.
Slight weeping from thermostat housing.
Drivers side front wing loose and a bit crusty, so replacement needed.
I managed to source a gearbox locally from the same people that choaky bought the car from and who also did the zetec conversion.
Now I should point out that I've never changed a gearbox before and I don't plan on doing one again anytime soon.
Rounded off bolts lead to plenty of tantrums!!!
I eventually got it in and it works , so I'm well happy.
Also got a replacement steering rack. When turned by hand the old one feels really rough , feels like its gratibg ob something so I'm hapoy I changed it.
Next job was the front wing
New piece welded in
Wing on and ready for acid etch on the bare metal bits then primer.
i went to my local panel shop and they mixed me a few colour matched cans, whilst I'm doing the wing I'll be doing the front valance as its painted in stonechip.
turns out the colour is miles off!! Wasnt expecting an amqzing match but it looks like a completely different shade.
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[/URL]URL=http://s1197.photobucket.com/user/dallow2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-06/FB_IMG_1435181108129.jpg.html]
[/URL]ell the old girl is now moted , and I've been enjoying driving her around.