Today I have been mostly

[Adrian Southgate]

avoiding taking the engine out of the Sierra (AGAIN) This was accomplished by attacking the floor in the cab with an angle grinder and buzz saw. The end result will be a much lower tunnel which will then allow my seats to fit properly. In the process I have removed thin tin plate, polystyrene blocks, a shed load of P40 and some cardboard (soggy).

Killing P40 and P38 with a flap disc in the angle grinder REALLY makes the dust fly. I ache from leaning in through the door of the car but feel much better knowing I have removed so much rubbish from the floor under my seat frame.

If anyone wants to come and remove the engine and box while I'm at work please do so, So much to do before next weekend and two nights left to do it in... Looks like it'll be the Legerra at Donington.

[Adrian Southgate]

Due to the headlights not having a pilot bulb fitting they are currently due to be sidelights but will be dual circuit having a 12v feed in  daylight and a 7v feed at night using a ballast resistor. 

[James Doulton]

Are you fitting DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) then Ade?

[Adrian Southgate]

More progress with the Sierra tonight. The nice new silicon hoses arrived and with a little surgery have been fitted to the engine. The Rad only had to be moved forward by 1/2 inch at the top so quite a good guess on positioning.

The front panel is back on, headlights and indicators re-wired, sump guard measured up and test fitted. 

Jobs left to do before test drive... gearbox mounting and centre bolt, running light wiring, speedo cable and finally ....petrol, seems like mine has all evaporated while the car has been laid up over the summer.

[Adrian Southgate]

Last stages of sorting the floor and tunnel out tonight, radiator just awaiting nice new hoses and some new brackets and eventually will be replaced with a recored rad but I'll see if the cheapo holds water under pressure first. Front panel still has to go back on but can't do that until the rads complete in case I need to take it out again.

I'll post some pics later, maybe...

[Adrian Southgate]

Anyway... why on earth would I want to stop you rescuing cars that otherwise might end up as exports or parts donors... I think its its bl00dy awesome.

[Adrian Southgate]

Just kidding, i'll be sitting on my backside in a field drinking coffee, it's Donington this coming weekend.

[Adrian Southgate]

Simple Daryl ... give me your bank cards and your laptop.

Or did you want me to drive the landy? :-)

[Adrian Southgate]

Drivers side is now flat enough and 'sealed' enough to mount the seat, sub frame brackets welded up and the seat bolted down temporarily. Passenger side still to do but angle grinder now required so stopped for the night.

Gearbox located cheap enough to be affordable so no more trying to recon the old ones until winter sets in.

Also have an untested rad for £10 out of a 2.0 capri, same car as the gearbox.  Both less than 7 miles away so collecting tomorrow night on the way home from work.

I now have the choice of whether to yank the engine and swap boxes on the floor or put the gearbox in the back and drive round to ATS and bribe them into letting me use a ramp and gearbox jack. I reckon on a ramp the box could be replaced in 30 minuites or less if the prep was done off the ramp. I'd then have to pull an allnighter  to get the rest of the floor glassed back in on the passenger side so I could drive it round to ATS thursday morning and hope they are not too busy.

[Dave Adams]

i was hoping the Cortina 4 speed was the same length overall, its one thing i was going to check once the 'tina box got its bell housing back on....

[Dave Taylor]

It's a longer box Dave that why I op'd for the Escort Sport box again