1966 Mk1 cortina GT Exhaust collectors

Sorry for the hi-jack, but that van looks like a lovely example as well!

Great Minds think a like Jim.

I have a set of D1's for the Corsair they are a very nice period rim.

Email sent you with ref to the GT badge.

Good news! The loom is in and working... mostly!

Full beam needs a tweak but I'll have a proper look once I've got a few jobs done - I need a break from electric snakes!













I'm currently waiting on some gearbox parts so I moved my focus onto easy wins starting with the dash top.













I've got some more interior bits out of storage so I can start making the cortina look more like a cortina!

It's taken longer than I expected but it's not as though I'm going anywhere! I had been struggling to find a few parts for the gearbox such as detent springs and a new cup for the selector (I'll come onto that). The gearbox went together much quicker and easier than it had the 1st time I did one of these - that layshaft fitting is truly stressful and designed by a sadist!

Fortunately the Record made for a good casing stand - I love that vice...







Within a couple of hours - tea breaks and helping Mrs. Jim in the garden the box was completed and tested using the floppy old shifter




A couple of days later the missing parts were delivered and I could motor on and get the shifter stripped and rebuilt.







You can see how shot these bushes were and the spring cup damaged added to the throw! I found out these parts are the same on the Elan so made it much easier to source - the aluminium cup was chosen over plastic for longevity for the little extra in cost, it needs a little bit of adjustment still but the feel is vastly improved and feels more like how I remember it being when the Cortina was on the road.





Of course this was all being filmed and for anyone who is undertaking this work there are some useful tips.



now that the gearbox was finished I figured I'd do a few little jobs as I couldn't go to my parents to get the engine stand, I'd scotchbrited the cill kick plates and used this meguiars polish which gives a great shine and smells rather fruity (not a sponsor).




I have been having a visitor recently as I leave the door open - she is ours and loves to climb things! If only she would decide if she's black or ginger!





The week before we went into lockdown I took Mrs. Jim to the Emma Bridgewater factory for her birthday where we toured the pottery factory, had a fancy lunch and then had the opportunity to decorate out own piece of pottery so naturally I chose a mug because I love tea! My artistic side is clearly something that needs working on but we had a great day out and is something you all need to consider if you want to score some brownie points at home!

I got my inspiration from the Cortina - the GT badge and Lotus stripe for the handle!



This is meant to be an empty sign and not a 1 armed robot with a knife!



EDIT

With us now being able to visit people but not go inside I managed to get the engine side by proxy from my parents garage, this week I have put it on the stand to get a few jobs done before it goes into the bay.

Cute cat

Thanks Pete.



Thank you black pop, weve had her since she was a kitten but she's never grown much bigger!



Thanks Jonsey, fingers crossed it's OK but I have the same concerns!

I've been playing with homebred nickel plating which I've mentioned before - I managed to tidy up the bonnet release parts.







It looks pretty good





Its easy to do, I'm finding me feet with it but for a fun side project its turned out well.


I'm working on the engine, the sump came off because I did a terrible job of fitting it and its had a dent in it so I figured id have a go at knocking it out!










A bit of heat and some strategic bashing! It's gone much better than my previous attempts so I'm pleasantly surprised.

I have an issue with the clutch- I bought this from Burton Power years ago when the engine was being reconditioned mainly for balancing the flywheel and pressure plate.

The pressure plate fits the flywheel and is flush without the friction plate, the friction plate fits the input shaft and is the correct diameter for the pressure plate.

Put this lot together and you get this









Have I missed something? I don't remember needing spacers?

Answers on a postcard!

Hope you're all staying safe out there.

Thanks Jonsey, I laid it up and had a panic as I'm dangerously close to having the engine back in the car!

Glad you got it sorted. We all get those days. I’m sure you’d have noticed once you started to work on it.

Engine looks good. Great progress!

Peter