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

do you need the middle switch? if you replace the other two single pole switches with double pole ones it will be easy I think.

Something to consider. I'll try and work out a little better what the actual sizes of any pocket could be and go from there. I do like the suggestion.

If you look at the sketch I did above, using 2 SPDT switches should mean that the two lights can be switched on independently, and with both switches in the 'off' position, the lights should switch on with the door open. There is no need for a 3rd switch (and if anything it makes it a lot more complex)

So just a short update this week. I have to say after all that has been going on in my life lately that culminated in part in a great party for my parents 50th wedding anniversary in the middle of last week, I was basically just tired. Very very tired. So not a lot got done as I took some time for myself.

So I've started thinking about the cubbies I want to make besides the rear seat. I'd like to do a canoe sort of shape for lack of a better description. I mean like a pocket that has smooth curves all around. So not a box shape, but a box shape with the inside corners rounded as well as the transitions to the bottom. But I'm not quite sure how to approach this. At the moment I'm looking at finding a ready made plastic thing to cut up and mate to the wooden covers. Possibly something like those inserts you can put cutlery in. Making something myself out of glass fibre or wood seems not so simple. But I may yet decide to go that route.

Fitting my third brakelight and custom interior lights in the rear was delayed by not having a light bulb of the right type. One of the bulbs of the brake light had apparently blown and I didn't have a spare. Nor did the shops I had to be in for other items anyway.

I did however test the theory above about me not hooking up the original front light correctly. And I can confirm I indeed hadn't!! But I have an excuse, lol. The reason I hooked it up wrong was that I had used a LED replacement bulb. These only accept power in one direction. And the original correct way of hooking the light up puts power to the wrong side of the bulb. So when it didn't come on I changed the wires over so it did come on, creating my error. So now I know this, I have to modify the fitting to get the right inputs to the right contacts. A nice little job for tonight!

I'll also start work on the cubby covers and hopefully friday I will have the will and the weather to open up the dash binnacle once more to see if my hunch regarding the gauges is correct or not.

Why thank you tristanh!

Wow, you must have spent quite some time reading all of 60 pages with me being never shy of words. That shows serious commitment! And it pleases me to find that even after having this thread go for 5+ years people are still discovering it and even bother to read the full story. And what a story it has been!

Yes, throughout the build I've struggled with ups and downs. And as fits my persona, ups are usually high ups and downs are always deep downs. Although I often quite quickly know with the head that it can all be overcome, the heart doesn't always agree and needs a bit more time. This forum and friends have always been instrumental in getting back on the proverbial horse and not giving up. Although that is another of my personal traits as well.

I love how my car turned out and I'm proud to have been the one to have had the vision, the courage to start the restoration and see it through. I'm proud of what I've achived personally and what I've learned in the process. I'm also proud and appreciative of the people who helped me get here. People like the welder, body worker, painter and the upholsterer who helped me with the final details on some tougher parts for sure, but also people like SamJ who's been there to offer a helping hand in the flesh more than once and the barn members who took me in when I needed a place to work. Even the RR forum members who supported the build by reading and commenting.

As for the car, I love its factory 1972 styling, its colour, its engine and its interior. No single thing makes me love the car, it really is a combination of all. But the general body style is very appealing to me being low and wide and relatively long. The engine is soo much fun in this car although I sometimes worry it might blow as they are not the most reliable. But the interior as I've said before really completes the package I envisioned. I so love how this turned out. The panels, headliner, alcantara inserts here and there and of course those sporty, yet in design of the stich patterns also hinting period correctness, seats. The interior is really a lovely place to be. It feels practical and comfortable. Practicality has only suffered in access to the rear seats as these seats have to be slid forward electrically. That takes a little while longer than flip backed seats, but is something I can live with. Most of the time I'm in the thing by myself anyway.

So yes I'm proud an boy do I love my car! I hate though, that I already know that the future will have work to the doors in store for me, but I've been able to let that go a little and cross that bridge when I get to it.

I also loved sharing this story and it feels good that it is inspiring to others.

Before answering your question, I'll just ask: as you're not a fanboy but you do mention a Mk1 long term project are we talking Granada Mk1 project or another type of car? Is there a build somewhere?

Now to (finally) answer your question: it's not actually the lights that are glued. It's the plastic covers that came with them that I glued to the housing. This means those covers can take the heat of the light (as they belong on them) so there should be no worries of stuff melting. It also enables me to exchange the lights if needed. Although soldering the wires to the bulbs means it's a unit out kind of job. The actual lights I used are LED's. It's a replacement for the original bulbs only using 4 LED's. It seemed clever at the time to go LED as they are not hugely expensive and last long and use little power and develop less heat. The only thing is, I had wanted them in blue. To add a blue hue to the interior in the dark. But they were not available back then (had them for a while, lol). The good thing about that is that blue lights would not have been so suitable as reading lights so the white works out in the end. I hope to be able to see how it looks later this week.

Oh and how are the brakes after some hundred kms of driving?

I asked as I'm a mechanic by trade, and it's amazing how curse word brakes feel til they're bedded in.
And in my experience, so called self adjusting brakes barely ever adjust! I've had vans in work that I've put 20-30 clicks on the adjusters.

I use led festoon bulbs for that reason. Or a short piece of led strip.

High level brake lights are a brilliant thing, they make a surprising difference to how other road users treat you. As frustrating as that install was, it looks like you've done a really good job and it's another item that doesn't look out of place inside the car even though it's from something much newer.