1988 Ford Fiesta L (Red one)

[foldy]

So last night I got a new old car!



I swapped my Escort for it.

She's a 1988 Fiesta L, a little rough looking at the front, but it's just cosmetic.

She's solid, and that's all I wanted in a mk2.

I got more than I was looking for though, as she's basically a reshelled xr2, lowered 50mm, polybushed all round and sitting on pots.

She's lovely to drive, quick acceleration, but what really struck me was how light the steering is! In comparison to the Escort it feels like she's got PAS!

So there I was enjoying my drive back to SE London from just outside Basingstoke, when I hit abit of traffic.
A while later it starts picking up again, everyone in my lane is on a go slow, but the outside lane is clear (was previously shut), so off I go into the fast lane and I see a cloud of smoke from the rear view, initially I thought it was someone else, then I get a whiff of hot oil and notice the temp's going up fast (I forgot how dim the dash bulbs are on these!)

Anyway, realising something catastrophic has occured, I pull onto the hard shoulder, pop the bonnet and have a gander.

A coolant pipe has popped/split and the oil cap has popped off too. Doh!




After a short wait (around an hour after breakdown) I got picked up by a friendly recovery driver who helped me complete the final leg of my journey (about 15mins!)

[craig1010cc]

I've got a big soft spot for Mk2's

Whats your plans for this one?

[79cord]

Awkward start to the new adventure, but still exciting prospects ahead.

[foldy]

Nov 25, 2015 11:07:23 GMT craig1010cc said:

I've got a big soft spot for Mk2's

Whats your plans for this one?

At the moment Craig, the plans are to get it working again! Lol, next will be get the bumper on it.

There's loads of spares in the back I need to go through.

I've got a late BC gearbox off an 1800 zetec, I think if that goes on there it'll be quicker.

At some point it'll have the front end resprayed, though it should come up okayish with good machine polish and some tcut hopefully.

[foldy]

Nov 25, 2015 11:18:25 GMT 79cord said:

Awkward start to the new adventure, but still exciting prospects ahead.

Indeed! I've a got feeling about this little car. Sooo nice to drive.

[Firehawk]

Good to see you got the fiesta in the end. Was seriously considering your offer but I've only had mine a couple of weeks! Looks in good nick from what I can see, and a good deal with those pepper pots. !

[foldy]

Nov 25, 2015 15:36:21 GMT Firehawk said:

Good to see you got the fiesta in the end. Was seriously considering your offer but I've only had mine a couple of weeks! Looks in good nick from what I can see, and a good deal with those pepper pots. !

I hope you didn't mind the cheekyness

[foldy]

I took some photo's of her in the daylight today, no rusty holes where Fiesta's usually get them which is fortunate!

[foldy]

Oh yeah, and the offending hose!
It's the hose that runs from the thermostat to the heater matrix, it's split just under the distributor and is very oily.

[Mercdan68]

Nice one,,,get those pepper pots polished will look great

[philsford]

Did you give up on the XR2 you had?

[foldy]

Nov 26, 2015 20:03:29 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Nice one,,,get those pepper pots polished will look great

Not sure if polished pots really suit the look of this at the moment! I might stick a polished set of 14" RS7's on it when the bodywork's better though

[foldy]

Nov 26, 2015 20:56:51 GMT philsford said:

Did you give up on the XR2 you had?

Nah, I've still got that, it's going to be a while before I've got the sort of time that needs, so she's sitting in a dry garage, I've got most of the bits it needs now apart from the panels. Need to either repair my mig or buy a new one aswell!

[retrorob86]

Love it always preferred the look of standard mk2 fiestas over the xr2

[foldy]

Not much of an update, but an update nontheless.

I took a trip to the XR2 today to rob the waterpipe that split on this one. Was abit of bastid to get off actually, theres barely enough room to get your hand down the back to the matrix pipes, exacerbated by the fact I was crouched up in a bundle on top of the engine/battery because the cars parked tight to the side of the lockup. Glad I was hidden by the bonnet!!!

Only thing is this one won't last too long either as that's had oil dripped all over it too! It'll do as a temporary fix though.
I'll probably do this at the weekend, as the lads been asking to start help fixing cars with me, one of the reasons I got this car as it goes.

Anyway while I was there robbing parts off the old girl, thought I'd knick a bit that was bugging me to tidy up inside.


Looks better now.


Now that hole in the dash has been noticed, that'll bug me!

I'll fit one of my spare dash's at some point!

[philsford]

Is that a mondeo servo you have on it? I am still running the 1.1 item and it rubs on the dizzy cap. I might need to change it before the zetec goes in.

[foldy]

Nov 27, 2015 21:46:21 GMT philsford said:

Is that a mondeo servo you have on it? I am still running the 1.1 item and it rubs on the dizzy cap. I might need to change it before the zetec goes in.

No idea as it goes. I'll try to find out, thats usually the one to go for though.

[foldy]

Right Phil, I spoke to the man who knows these things (Rodney) and it's a mk3 fiesta servo and master cylinder

[foldy]

Got my mechanic to replace the split hose today.



I patiently waited till he could do it with me. He's een pretty keen to help me with the fixing lately

So it's back and driving. Brakes need a good bleed though.

[retrorob86]

^^This is brilliant. Reminds me of helping my dad on the drive when I was a kid. I cant wait till my boys are old enough to help out