FIRST CAR! And it's a good one!

[TomCat]

Originally Posted by lip

• 1. It's your first car, so drive it like it is until it dies and save your cash for the next automotive step during that time.

Except that this car is actually something special. So long as it's not covered in rust underneath, he should at least make an attempt to keep it on the road, and not slowly destroy the car until it's only good for the scrapers.

[Posmo]

Originally Posted by TomCat

Except that this car is actually something special. So long as it's not covered in rust underneath, he should at least make an attempt to keep it on the road, and not slowly destroy the car until it's only good for the scrapers.

Yeah, 7 more years and it'll be eglible for a classic car registration

Brought the car home today. And spent about 5 hours driving it. It all feels pretty solid, and even though the LSD doesn't hold on tarmac (It does hold brilliantly on gravel though ), it's a load of fun. The engine is very perky and the gearbox feels good, if a bit "inaccurate" at times.

Going to wash it and give it a small service tomorrow, also might buy some new front speakers, since the current ones are shot.

I took some better pictures, but I can't get them off the camera since I don't have the lead which connects it to the pc.

EDIT: Oh yeah, the end-part of the exhaust is rusted through and full of holes, will need to replace it

[Dr_Grip]

Originally Posted by Posmo

Oh yeah, the end-part of the exhaust is rusted through and full of holes, will need to replace it

Poor man's sports exhaust, just don't let the pigs get you!

[Posmo]

Originally Posted by Dr_Grip

Poor man's sports exhaust, just don't let the pigs get you!

True. It's got a really nice remus end muffler, It seemed ok, and I hope it is, because a stock rear muffler is 40€, which I wouldn't want to spend

Also swapped the stereo today for a Denver unit I've had laying around. THe old one was held in place by a very intricate setup of double sided tape. Took me like 1/2 hour to take it off without damaging anything.

So far, so good.

[adaptech]

Originally Posted by Posmo

The grille is cracked a bit under the right headlight, so maybe a I will, but for now, I need to fix the front wing&headlight. If you have a Sierra of your own, post pics!

I will post pics. I just need to take some proper ones first.

[Posmo]

Hammered&and rust treated the front right wing today. I have to say that that Ford used some quality steel on the car, it just wouldn't bend back, really strong stuff.

pics:





The close up shot of the front wing makes it look very bumpy and uneven, but it's the lighting and rust treatment stuff messing with the camera(phone). It's not silky smooth, but good enough for some filler & paint. Also bought a full exhaust from a friend for a grand price of 1.20€ It's rusted in two, but luckily the parts that are blown in my car are in really nice condition

I'll most likely proceed with the filler/primer tomorrow, will post pics.

[starfox07]

You need some BBS wheels!



Car looks great though. The Euro body looks so much better than the US market version..

[shad_68]

Originally Posted by Posmo

I have to say that that Ford used some quality steel on the car, it just wouldn't bend back, really strong stuff.

You mean when you tried to buff out dents etc?
Because that doesn't really say much about the quality/strength of the steel, metal generally becomes stiffer after deformation.

[Posmo]

Originally Posted by shad_68

You mean when you tried to buff out dents etc?
Because that doesn't really say much about the quality/strength of the steel, metal generally becomes stiffer after deformation.

Yeah, I was pushing out the dent visible in the first page pictures from behind. (Spectre: The fender is indeed spot welded into place, but if you remove the bumper, you can luckily get at some parts of it from behind, I was able to bend the dent out enough ) And I'm pretty sure the steel is high quality, only slight bits of surface rust after a winter with no paint on the tip of the fender , and it really is quite thick. Comparing it to a mate's old Fiat Brava makes me laugh

[Posmo]

In the past few days, the gearbox has developed a rattle at 5.5k rpm+.

It's only apparent under heavy acceleration/ powersliding, but the noise is quite sudden and VERY annoying. It sounded like somethingwas loose around the gearstick under all the rubber gaskets/covers, etc. Well, I took it off and found that one of the previous owners had made a short shift kit alá angle grinder Then, after finishing and realizing the mistake he made, he made an extension to bring it back to stock.
I removed the extension, thinking it might be the cause of the rattle, but no cigar. Still, I'm going to leave it as a "short shifter" for a while to see how it feels. I'm going to remove the gearlever altogether tomorrow and see if there is something loose inside the final rubber gasket. I'm just hoping it's not a broken bearing/seal/etc. inside the gearbox, since I have no tools/place to work on it.

EDIT: I think I know where the problem is. I think there is something wrong with the vibration dampener/etc. where the gear stick meets the casing. Easy fix, eh? Just bolt out the gear stick and see what's wrong?

No. The previous owner also most likely had a little rattling, since one of the Torx headed bolts which holds the gear stick assembly to the gearbox casing was shot. I mean how the HELL do you wear out a torx bolt?!?! I'm going to have to very carefully drill the old bolt out and find a new one from the breakers/hardware store..

[Posmo]

Double post

[sifu]

seems like a good deal

and please try to detect the sarcasm

[Posmo]

Originally Posted by sifu

seems like a good deal

and please try to detect the sarcasm

It was a good deal, no need for sarcasm.

[zaybxcwd12]

Nice car. I have a fondness for Sierras had a few most notable was XR4x4. Great fun to drive didn't give good MPG though..

[Posmo]

Originally Posted by zaybxcwd12

Nice car. I have a fondness for Sierras had a few most notable was XR4x4. Great fun to drive didn't give good MPG though..

I agree on the MPG bit. The current Diff I have in the car is (I think) a 3.9X, and at 120kph, I'm doing about 4100 rpm. I might swap it out for a 3.62 diff for better economy..

Atm 120kph is deafening, and I can just FEEL the petrol flowing out of the tank

Took the spare wheel out today, and cleaned the spare wheel well. The previous owner had FILLED it with that rust proofing coating (underseal), and it hadn't hardened/stuck properly, since it was all moist and gooey. Good news is that the whole trunk area is pristine with no rust whatsoever.

Going to pick up new headlights, bumpers and a Cosworth grille tomorrow, will update with pics.

[sifu]

where are the pics...

[adaptech]

Originally Posted by Posmo

I agree on the MPG bit. The current Diff I have in the car is (I think) a 3.9X, and at 120kph, I'm doing about 4100 rpm. I might swap it out for a 3.62 diff for better economy..

So you have 4x4 diff then. That explains why you have a LSD then.

[Posmo]

Originally Posted by sifu

where are the pics...

I couldn't go and fetch the bits because the exhaust fell off, and I daren't drive it 150km (300km back and forth) to get the parts, incase of police "intervention" (it's loud as hell atm) I need to sort out the exhaust before I get the new bumpers /etc. anyway, since the inspection is due on the 30th. I'm not OVERLY confident it'll pass first time round

I'll probably have the bits in a couple of weeks time, besides, I still need to sand the front wing a bit more, and buff the whole car up. I found a paint that matches pretty much perfectly with the Ford Diamond white

[Posmo]

ck.us/i/kuva025.jpg/][/URL]



Test fitment in a couple of days, better pics after the MOT.

[public]

I don't know what's worse, the pedobear pillow or the Coolers

Nice panel, though.