1972 Granada Mk1 coupe build - Still going... 14-10-2024

Lovely story Alex and good on your daughter for proving 'em wrong!

As said, it's nice the school did something to recognise the kid's work. My girl worked her butt off this year and made Honour Grade, but only got a photo of what she could have won on Facebook. Not quite the same!

Short update today.

After the lovely diploma run with my wife and daughter, the car disappeared to the Garage for a few days. Time and weather I suppose...Yet last weekend the car saw some substantial use. Well compared to standing still that is. In car standards it wasn't that big a deal.

So what did I do? Well, remember a few years back? Yes, time has moved on so quickly... I was supposed to finish my car in a month or two and I needed space? Well I was rescued by a very kind bunch of tinkerers working from a barn pretty local to me. In the end I spent 9 months there before vacating my spot.

So this weekend and the one before they were having a clearout. Unfortunately DIY jobs had kept me from attending the week before so this weekend I made the effort to visit. Hoping to see most of the folks there. A one post mobile car lift was also expected to arrive and I thought I'd lend a hand. That plan suffered an on route planning change so I couldn't justify staying so much longer than planned... Also when I arrived the group was a bit smaller than all had seemed to have expected. Still nice to catch up.

Anyway, I made the drive over to the barn. It was about a half hour run at mostly motorway speeds (which means 60 max these days in the Netherlands). The Granada just felt fine, effortlessly keeping the pace and if anything wanting to go even faster. I didn't hear any strange or excessive noises, felt no disturbing vibrations etc. I feel I'm starting to worry less, enjoy more and that trust is growing between me and the Granny or Cossymonster as I refer to it in my mind most of the time.

Ex-home base:


On the way back home I was hit by the most severe rain I have ever encountered in the Granada. It was pretty high up there in general! The rain-x of 21 years still works great, I didn't even need my wipers! The Granada seemed to handle this immense showering very well so that also was good to know.

I do feel that changing the inner tie rods has had an effect on alignment, so I think I'd better get the front rechecked. The car feels a little light at speed where it didn't usually feel that way. But that was to be expected. The new rods weren't an exact match so setting the alignment was never going to be precise.

Another little scare I've had twice now was fearing that my car would catch fire or something. Let me explain. I'm not really scared of the car catching fire, for one. What happened was that after a bit of a romp on the go fast pedal, driving with the windows and sunroof open, I smelled a burning smell. It could have been anything, a farmer or company nearby burning something, another car frying a clutch or having a smelly exhaust or anything really. It was gone as quick as it came, but I've had two of those moments in the last few drives. I'll keep my eye on that but it may have just been in the air regardless. Worst case, it's rocker cover seal leaking oil onto the exhaust. This engine is working fine but leaking like a sieve. A final pet pieve really. But so much work to put right. Engine out, re-gastket and engine back in. Quite the operation... I still have hopes of building a "new" BOB to swap this one out. But that will be at least a year from now.



Anyway that was saturday. Sunday the weather was nicer and I planned to visit my parents once more to see how my dad was doing after his short stint in hospital not so long ago and also to drop of a little extension cord I made for their fixed telephone. With the weather what it was, no doubt in my mind to take the granada. Again, half hour runs each way.This time no motorway speeds though, but trafic, sitting at lights etc. Again the drive was fine and again I had one of those smell moments. Although this time I wasn't sure if it followed a little playing with the pedal like the other day. Anyway the car did great. It's a fun driver that you can sort of throw around the corner. It's still very comfortable even though all suspension is on PU bushes. Still Granada like I'd like to say. Only thing with the added weight in the front is pothole like road damage feels very uncomfortable.

In short, I really enjoyed the Granada this weekend. I'll keep an eye on the smell thing and try and get the fron realigned during my upcoming vacation. With a bit of luck my vacation will also see me making my workbench, but I'm not going to get ahead of myself there, lol. The long drive is planned though! Off to the coast for a nice day is the plan.

Hey!

Well you can!!














In the passenger seat that is! Sorry evil mode off now...

At least you are making progress. And you can do the hard work yourself! And what you do looks good so just keep going!




PS. Check your mail. Had been composing a mail for you for a while and just sent it.

Thank you Gustav!Very kind and nice message.

I have one more week to go before vacation mode is entered. But I don't know what it wil bring (there are at least three/four jobs in and around the house waiting for me that I failed to finish in time). We are planning on using my Blue thing on a longer journey though, exciting haha.

I hope my kids in 20 years still agree with me when I say that we indeed have a special bond. My girl was obviously kid number one which is precious in and of itself especially given my wife's health issues. But she was born prematurely in an emergency c-section at just over 31 weeks and weiged in at 1180 grams. She fit on my hand that is how small she was. Her first weeks were spent in NICU, a very surreal time for us. Then her diagnosis with cancer at the age of only 3 and the subsequent treatment had its effects on our relationship. Being helpless as a parent when your kid is hurting bad is one thing, having to hurt your own kid in your role of nurse with prodding needles and stuff is another. Still, we all came out as winners I think. We have a great and open bond with each other. And so far we can talk about anything.
When my son came along our family was complete. And although he was just one year old when we had to deal with his siter you could see he too was influenced by his sister in hospital. His caring nature reveiled already. And afterwards they too have a special bond. As it should there are irritations and arguments between them, but at the same time they need each other. It's beautiful to watch from a distance and those moments are my happiest really. No car can ever come close.

I wish this same bond for every child and parent. Unfortunately at this age I know that it is not a given and that both parents are suffering because of their kids behaviour and the other way round, kids are suffering from their parents behaviour. When I realise that I feel blessed. And most of all I hope my kids will stay on this path.

On the subject of the Granada and this special moment. I KNOW it has added meaning. It did so for me, my wife and for her as well. I know my daughter did not want to take that car at first, but now afterwards I can tell she enjoyed it too. And I guess the coments made by fellow students probably helped in that respect as well.

Funny, that connection you mention. You have a beautiful girl as well and the car looks great to me too (why mine would be a noth up I don't know ;-) ). You'll no doubt know that 16 year olds can be a handful at times though! But I hope, and think I see, you have the same type of connection as we have. It's cliche, but my kids are the world to me and they are the reason I do what I do from day to day. I love how your girl is into her project from seeing her dad doing so. Must be special to share in that! My kids see me tinker but they don't share/see the fun in it. My son would love to have the car. I think when I built it he was just a little young to really assist. He did mount a bumper and a foglight with me though. But the car needed so much heavy stuff done to it and being freshly painted was maybe not the most suitable first project to share with a 5-9 year old. But maybe I can get him interested still. He does like cars, he just likes his computer better...

Anyway, thanks for your post and enjoy your vacation and your family!

I kinda know what you mean with cars and daughters, Brought back a good memory.

Tania's always liked the '38 and a while back, we were struggling hard, no work about, about to have to move out of the house as the lease was due and we didn't have the cash for new deposits etc.

It was her first prom and she told me she wanted me to drive her in the '38.

Problem was, it was parked up, covered in curse word, no fuel, a dead battery and any spare cash had gone on her dress (no, I didn't choose it!).

Anyway, Madam managed to borrow enough to sort those two things out and I even treated it to a wash.

She looked lovely.



Good job I kept the steps




Happy with her chariot? Yeah, I think so.



It gave me a real kick as we sat in the queue of Japanese blobs outside the Manila Hotel, when she turned to me and said, "Look, I'm the only girl tonight in a Range Rover, thank you, Daddy George."  

Cheers for the memory.

You'd think I like the colour blue...





Photo taken to prove I'm using the Granada more and, given my red head, also that these days I visit the gym 3 times a week for an hour.


No piccie, but today I also took the Granada to work...

It will be fine, enjoy your trip.

I really hope you get to enjoy the car together with the family you all deserve it. Really looking forward to the pictures, you have a talent for getting nice pictures of your car.
Last Weekend there was a Granada meeting in Norway. I didn't attend, but i read that some of the attendees drove 1350Km without any hickups. Of course there were the lesser fortunate, anad some barely made it home. But the main thing to remember is that the cars can handle the milage, you just have to try.
I have a 2011 Hyundai I40, and it let me down this summer, ruptured brake pipe. No harm done but it was quite inconvenient having the car in a workshop and catching a bus to get on summer vacation. Having a newish car is no guarantee to avoid problems.