1972 Granada Mk1 coupe build - Still going... 14-10-2024

[peteh1969]

Alex

This may have been mentioned in a previous section of your thread but do you have a solid steering column or does you column have rubber/fabric donut on the column as I have seen those tear/rip and that can cause a wobbling during breaking as you have described as the it will then allow movement at a different frequencies during braking?

It unusual but I have changes everything else before on a car and still had the problem and I was going to check the lower column bearing and as I was dismantling the column and found the donut had a big crack on it that you could not see when fitted so I fitted a new one and the wobble was gone.

[blackpopracing]

Ah, yes the rag joint. Definitely worth checking out.

Also the rack end caps - they are incredibly tight as they are normally pinned - you need to drill the pin out to be able to undo them. They are not very tight once unpinned.

[eurogranada]

Oct 29, 2019 19:46:53 GMT blackpopracing said:

Ah, yes the rag joint. Definitely worth checking out.

Also the rack end caps - they are incredibly tight as they are normally pinned - you need to drill the pin out to be able to undo them. They are not very tight once unpinned.

The rag joint I inspected when I had to change over the connecting rod between rack and column. It looked fine. No dry cracks or tears or anything. It's old, but seemed fine.

Regarding the end caps, on my original rack they were indeed pinned. On this one I didn't see any pins to my surprise. Going through my pics I still don't see them but I don't have a full 360 view documented. I'll have to look again to be sure.

[blackpopracing]

They will definitely have a mechanical fixing somewhere, staked, pinned or possible a little spot weld.

[eurogranada]

Hmmm, nothing much to report really. There's currently a lack of funding for the project. Thankfully it is mobile and can be ran/driven. Although the weather has meant it hasn't seen much movement lately. Mostly when I need stuff in the garage or the ladder for the x-mass lights it gets to roll around a bit.

It always starts first time that I'm still amazed by. Also I'm still unsure what to do with the rack. Replace again as a whole for a new one (this type at 400 ish is a lot cheaper than the old type was) or just fix the steering rod play by putting on new rods. Which will be a curse word of a job with the rack in the car presumably (depending on where the locking pins have been inserted and how access to them will be).

I still really want to finish the car so it is ready for the new season. Gauges and cubbies spring to mind as well as that damned wobble. So hopefully in January I'll have a plan in action and the funds to get on with it.

I really just want to enjoy it in 2020. Hopefully without issue. I'd like to start the rebuild of my spare engine as a learning experience but also to have a non leaky well sorted example under the bonnet. I'm still amazed that I have not grenaded the current block with it's 280K plus experience as I tend not to be too gentle with it...

It's great to see the car home every day, it's a little less great that I don't seem to progress with it really.

Looking to 2020 I hope to be able to share my final steps in getting it tip top and then the enjoyment it gives me. And I hope you'll all folow along as you have with tips, advice and most of all, support.

I'm personally in a pretty good place, albeit tired, and I hope to get into an even better place next year.




And maybe a little early but....


Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all of my RR friends!

[gess]

have you considered installing a Scorpio steering rack? They might be easier to source. You need ta alter the front subframe a bit, weld in two tabs to bolt through. A guy in Norway did this several years ago, I think the number of rotations from lock to lock is fewer so it is kind of a quick rack.
Really hope you get to spend some quality time in your car next year!

[westbay]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !!!

[georgeb]

And a happy Christmas to you and yours, Alex. It's been a journey, and hopefully 2020 will see you enjoying the car properly.

I have a P38 list for the new year and hope to crack on with it in a few months.

[eurogranada]

Dec 17, 2019 11:34:25 GMT gess said:

have you considered installing a Scorpio steering rack? They might be easier to source. You need ta alter the front subframe a bit, weld in two tabs to bolt through. A guy in Norway did this several years ago, I think the number of rotations from lock to lock is fewer so it is kind of a quick rack.
Really hope you get to spend some quality time in your car next year!

If the stuff that is on there now works right it is fine. Scorpio racks also have a reputation of leaking and are expensive all the same. So there's no real gain I think. Lock to lock on this cruiser is no real reason also. And the mods, well, Id have to modify and re powder coat the frame etc. and it's a pretty serious job to do if done right. In that case I'd rather just spend the 400 on a new rack of this type.

[retrotoe]

inspired me crack on with mine love yours think cokebottle sides look much better,

[mk2cossie]

Dec 17, 2019 16:01:09 GMT eurogranada said:

Dec 17, 2019 11:34:25 GMT gess said:

have you considered installing a Scorpio steering rack? They might be easier to source. You need ta alter the front subframe a bit, weld in two tabs to bolt through. A guy in Norway did this several years ago, I think the number of rotations from lock to lock is fewer so it is kind of a quick rack.
Really hope you get to spend some quality time in your car next year!

If the stuff that is on there now works right it is fine. Scorpio racks also have a reputation of leaking and are expensive all the same. So there's no real gain I think. Lock to lock on this cruiser is no real reason also. And the mods, well, Id have to modify and re powder coat the frame etc. and it's a pretty serious job to do if done right. In that case I'd rather just spend the 400 on a new rack of this type.

One of the reasons the rack in mine is still the original mk2 type instead of from any Scorpio or Sierra is so I can claim a safe amount of points for not being altered

Also would mean faffing about with the hose/pipework to the rack as well.

Glad to see that you are using the coupe tho eurogranada

I really should get my new radiator fitted over the Christmas season!

[eurogranada]

Dec 17, 2019 20:50:49 GMT retrotoe said:

inspired me crack on with mine love yours think cokebottle sides look much better,

To me both styles have their own merrits. But to me, both styles need a slightly different rake or stance to look its best...

Cars are personal and yours seems to be a very good looking example. Looks like it doesn't need much?!

Thanks for your compliments!

[eurogranada]

Well it's January now, so....

Best wishes for 2020 to all who follow my antics!!




I'm slowly making a start on the Granada prep for the season. Bit by bit I'm gathering stuff to do some jobs on the car. In need it in tip top condition by March. So I have some time to test it all before the trip to the RR weekender (anyone actually received their tickets yet by the way?).

So although the car hasn't seen to much use this year it was a bit dirty. It got caught in the rain driving to the alignment and after that it just never was really clean. So I gave it a wash...

Looks nice again.





Still drives nice as well... Took it for a little spin with my 13 year old. Trying to spark a little flame while also bonding over doing something together. He likes the car a lot and would like to help work on it, but the work it needed lately was a bit too heavy for him. So I'm trying to include him more. You never know he might be handy as well, at least he'll never be dumber for it, lol. He's a smart kid anyway.






Now to get on with making a short list of things to tackle and then just prep and get on with it. Steering rack and the wheel wobble are the main concerns now and also the things I've not fully decided on how to deal with. But there's been plenty of thoughts expressed in this thread so I'll soon see how to proceed.

Off to make a list... lol

[georgeb]

Bloody hell, thought you'd moved Down Under for a minute.

Let's hope you (and your boy) can use it properly this year.

[eurogranada]

Jan 6, 2020 11:05:41 GMT georgeb said:

Bloody hell, thought you'd moved Down Under for a minute.

Let's hope you (and your boy) can use it properly this year.

Those damned photo's again.... I'll see if I can get it corrected. But as I understand it then the mobile crowd will see them upside down...

[The Doctor]

I was thinking the same as georgeb and I'm on mobile!

[marinanut]

Nope, everyone sees them upside down!

[eurogranada]

Can't seem to get these pics upright... I uploaded them to my server in a different orientation but they still look wrong. Open them in a new window from the right click menu and then they are upright in the new window...

I cleared my cache to see if that was it but after clearing same issue still. Stupid systems that decide for me how a picture is oriented...

[spot]

Hello Alex,
Nice new advitar. Lovely to see the car looking stunning and thanks for taking the time to set up a photo-shoot with Rustin Beiber in OZ!
Only slightly jealous, but thankful that you are holding off finishing your car to enable me to catch up with mine - you're a true gent...




retrotoe Very nice example - Does it have a sunroof?

[retrotoe]

no sunroof i think thats what saved it