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]

@James - Gearbox is ropey, very hard to get into gear and making funny noises, I think some of the synchro rings are shot. Everything is undone apart from the battery cables on the starter. It's easier to yank the whole unit and separate it on the deck than it is to drop the box from underneath. If I had a spare box to drop straight in then I could take it to my mates at ATS round the corner.

[Dave Adams]

i have a gearbox to replace in my Legerra sometime this week the escort box is very noisy and vibrates in 3rd....so i have a Cortina 4 speed to go in, hopefully a direct swap.

 I also have a MT75 sierra  5 speed.....not such a straight forward swap, so it might as well be with the engine at the same time......but that is a Mondeo 1.8 zetec, so a bit of hassle all round really.

[James Doulton]

Why has the engine got to come out, Adrian? I thought it hadn't been in long.