1983 Mk1 Ford Fiesta 1.1L -Engine Chosen

I've been tinkering with this for a couple weeks now and trying to get the thing started. Not successfully, but that's not a problem..
When it first arrived I quickly put the grille, front bumper and numberplates on. It's much more of an incentive to me if I'm working on something that still looks like a car rather than a pile of bits..

It came from Morgs with a pair of Webers that form part of a Ford developed 'RS twin carb' kit. Very cool. But they need a rebuild. This has pretty much been confirmed by Remmoc, who popped over the other day to give me a hand with it. I've been working through the basics and I have spark, petrol, air and compression.. but far to much petrol and the carbs are the only unknown quantity in the whole setup because they've never been set up properly on this car. The little carb will make it nice and frugal too

Single carb now on..


It took me ages to figure out that the throttle cable is different (and about half the length) for the twin carbs. No wander nothing seemed to reach!


Steering wheel was bent for some unknown reason. Fortunately it was a Mountney style wheel so I had something lying about to put on while Becky chooses something more aesthetically pleasing.


And pictures as promised of Becky's work tonight
Alan's excellent repair. It looks like loads of filler but it's actually the thinnest of skims..


From here, Bec used wet 600 grit to take out the deeper imperfections in the filler, but I don't have any pics of that.. The masked up


And sprayed with high build primer. I'll be sanding that back tomorrow I expect. Should be about ready for her to paint the topcoat then



That's all for this evening because it was getting rather cold in the garage. We'll both be keeping this thread updated.. Me hopefully with the more techy bits and Bec with what it's like to live with and her plans for it. Good teamwork, eh? ;D

Very nice, looks a tidy little motor.

Looks like a tidy MK1, Start small and keep inproving the skills.
;D

Looks tidy!

Us two indeed

I had another look over that bit of paint at the back and I'm not 100% happy with it to be honest. Still well chuffed with Grunty's shaping skills but it needs some more super fine filling before it can be painted really. Some of the previous sanding marks are just that little bit too deep to paint out. To be honest though, it will get some grey primer (practically bodywork coloured ;D ) and the bumper put back on until Spring when it will be more pleasant to sit outside and work on it.

In other news, I've been given the go ahead to spend her money out of the joint bank account on the required bits to get it up together. So I'll pick up a set of HT leads next week, and I'm dropping in on MattMk1 on sunday evening to pillage another carb and manifold from a Fiesta with the same engine that I know was running spot on a couple months ago (before it sadly got written off). I'll see if I can take his dipstick while I'm at it. He most conveniently lives in the same town as Becky.

There won't be any progress this weekend because I'll be at Area52 welding random stuff together and drinking beer ;D

Don't leave it in primer (it's porous) add some colour or even clear lacquer to protect it if you are using it unfinished.

Picked up the V5 from Morgs this weekend. It's actually an 83, not 82.

I alsobought another carb that I know to be working and set up correctly off of a car of the same vintage. And pillaged the fiddly little clips and brackets were missing. Thanks Matt, if you're reading this

thats really clean!

I've had Becky has had this car for about a month now and I'm a bit annoyed at myself for not making it move quicker.. But, moderate success tonight. In that month, the car has had 3 (!) carb setups.. and the last one, purchased from Matt, looks to be a winner. After figuring out the wiring on the little solenoid thing needed to go to the coil from making mental notes when looking around Matt's car, I got it fired up tonight. Badly, and for only 10-15 seconds at a time with flames spitting 18 inches up in the air, but started none the less.. That's without changing the plugs, leads or fuel, and they do all need changing... I assume that the timing is also a fair bit out, but the fact that it actually runs after my dicking about is a massive relief and motivator.

No pics because there's nothing that exciting to take pictures of but thought I'd best keep the thread updated.

I had no idea that it would end up in my gran's cold dark cramped garage, but I'm pleased it's found its way there! Bec is incredibly keen to get it on the road and I'm told it's first RR outing will be the next Brean gathering