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

Hi Alex,

Is this the starting issue? Can't be long until you want to move it to your new house I think, is it easier just to start the car using a short across the starter terminals, get it moved, and then worry about it when you are more settled? Or even just use a trailer / transporter to move it.

Best of luck with the house move, one of the most stressful things you can ever do!

All that said... My offer always stands if you want some extra hands. Nice light evenings mean I can easily come after work as well.

Hey Sam, and the rest of you lot!

Thanks for asking. In short, it's been an experience where blood, sweat and even tears have flowed...

We knew we had bought a house from neglecting owners. We were prepared for most of what we encountered. Thing is though, I wasn't fully prepared as to the sheer amount of work I had before me. I've been doing it mostly by myself. Having had help only 12 hours in total on a 12 day full on DIY spree. Unfortunately my lovely wife's health means her contributions are limited to keeping me fed and watered, lol. To sum up: there is not a wall or ceiling in this place that does not require at least paint...


So as with the Granada build, I've had ups and downs. The biggest down was transferring a large amount of euro's to the wrong account, which caused a lot of added stress, but in the end I was not an idiot. The company in question had different account numbers on their order confirmation versus their invoice. So it got solved. Other downers were the central heater leaking out of a pressure relief valve and a gas main that does not want to get soldered. Oh and the flat roof on the dormer needing replacement was also a bit of a bummer due to cost. We'll see when that can get done.



We love the house itself though and it's quickly become more and more our house as I've painted 90% of all walls and ceilings to freshen up the place. I love seeing the car on the drive and the house baking in the sun. This house gets so much more sun! The granada has not yet been to the new place to test fit as the garage is filled for the moment. We also feel the neighbourhood has a very different feel to it and we even have nice neighbours. Although much of our street is occupied by retirerees. So so far it feels like a good move was made.

Have a before video of the house. (see others in the same account)


Work started with removal of all flooring in all bedrooms and the attic. The attic being a curse word of a job because there were two carpets, the bottom one being glued down. How one family can get their carpets sooooo dirty is waaaay beyond me, but to say it was filthy is an understatement.

After that the whole attick was removed of all their handywork. I removed all wood and any other structures they put up. It just was not up to my standards. Or any standard for that matter.

As the new kitchen would be delivered soon, I had to start ripping that out as well. This presented some surprises. And represented a lot of work. Getting tiles of walls and rerouting electrical etc. Not to mention plastering it all back to a decent finish (ok, I had all plater work done for me so that helped).

Next up was some photographic wallpaper in two rooms and the first two floors.

Then the attic reconstruction was started by applying paint to ceiling and wall.

And though it doesn't really sound like much when put into this short list, it's been a massive amount of effort.

I'll try and capture a "where we're at" video later today as I'm back on the boss's time so I only have my break to type this. I've got plenty of pics, but not had time to upload... Plenty more to do still. Of which one of the most dreaded jobs is emptying out the garage of all the tear donw stuff (rubble, carpetting, wood, boxes etc.)

Alex - Like everything else you will get there - it's just never in the timeframe that we estimate or would like and don't worry I'm has guilty has yourself in underestimating how long things take to sort / complete or even get around to doing in the first place - Chris

And a video (cut short due to lack of storage on the phone) of some of the work done so far.



And as a precurser to mk2cossie's request for Granada content, I can state that we spent last night clearing out most of all the curse word that we removed from the house from the garage so I can trial fit the granada in there in the next few days!

Also it helps to have a place to put stuff that is in transit from the old home to a destination in the new home taht may or may not be ready for it.

So watch this space....


Edit: Hm, guess the video needs to be turned... Also fixed the video link in yesterdays post.

Alex - I and a lot more on here will know the feeling / experience of moving house - we are still unpacking boxes here from our move 4.5 years ago ! - hope it all continues to go well - Chris

Haha Darren,

Yep I've got that room too.... it's called the garage! Which is also why I need to shift that stuff asap as I want to bring the Granada home.

I've (sometimes regrettably) sold off (or even just disposed of) some stuff that we just will never have room for in this house among which the tell-sell style crosstrainer etc. But also my much loved H0 trainset. And "set" in this context is actually a reasonably extensive collection of over 120 meters of track and a bunch of loc's, carriages of all sorts and even scenery in the shape of cars and buildings. I've got an antique marble topped cabinet still waiting to find a new owner. We also created boxes for stuff the kids once made or accomplished that we want to keep so these can be stowed away in hard to reach storage spaces.

That was the one drawback of the new house that kept me in doubt about making the move, this house just has one less room and therfore less space to store stuff. But that is compensated for by generally larger rooms and a really nice living area.

Anyway, you hit the nail on the head. It's not the bulk of the stuff one accumulates that is a problem rehoming, it's all the curse word one saves that does not have a clear goal and a clear destination in the house but you do want to keep.

This weekend sees the kitchen delivered to be placed next monday. That will help empty out a lot of boxes hopefully and also highlight what stuff still has to go. Generally though, I've run out of steam a bit. Working my regular job again at 45-50 hours a week, then after work visiting the in-laws as we cooc there temporarily which means by the time I'm home to do stuff it's almost nine-ish. I just don't get much done anymore then. But the weekend is coming up and with it my regular friday afternoon off. So kitchen prep it is this friday and then quickly on with other stuff.

But when the oil pump comes in, come hell or high water, I WILL spend the evening draining that gearbox excess and driving the Granada over!

Alex, sounds like you are making good progress. Sorry I've been a bit quiet, been away from my computer a lot and while I can read stuff on my phone, writing much of a reply is a pain in the ass...

Can't wait to see you out cruising in the Granada, hopefully won't be long now!

So, a Granada related update at last!!

A little later than I had hoped, but things just got in the way. I missed my most eager to visit Ford Granada meeting of the year again because of this as well.

Anyway... Somewhere last week I received my 12v oil pump. So I could finally drain the box without having to mess with the rather messy way of doing this via the bottom sump tray. It all sounded sooo easy...

Yesterday evening after I had helped my daughter understand some calculus I took the chance to go and see the Granada. I took the cover off, opened the hood and pulled the dipstick for the Tranny. I put the oil pump suction side into the dipstick hole and the drain side in a gearbox oil canister... I ran the pump for a few seconds to see if it would run. Within 3 minutes I thought I was ready to go!

As I didn't want to drain the battery (expecting this pumping action to take a while) and wanting some more room to move by backing up the car a bit I Unlocked the car and quickly realised the battery was insuficiently charged to start the car. Thankfully I had the spare battery there which miraculously had enough of a decent charge to get the car started. It started on the first touch of the screwdriver to the starter! I still need to address the key not starting the car.



So with the car now running, the battery charging, I was ready to pump. I switched the pump back on, but no fluid came. The suction line did not want to go in further but with a lot of wiggling it slid down a little further. Then some fluid was sucked up. It went to the cannister and then there was no more coming. This can't be right. Should be loads of fluid coming...



What follows is me faffing about trying to get the suction line in deeper without succes. At one point my actions nearly caused the drain hose to pop from the cannister and then it all became clear. I had, for safe keeping, put the protective cover that was on the pump housing before the hoses were attached on the end of the drain line and not removed it. So the pump created a pressure in the line that it could not overcome. Took the stupid cover off and tried again. Now the oil was flowing well, aided by being hot from the engine running.

Within a few minutes I had drained 1,75 litres of oil. The level on the dipstich with running engine "seemed" to indicate it was now at max, but not overfilled anymore. Though I find the stick hard to judge. The min+max areas were wet, but the bulbous top end of the indicator and the metal stalk part were dry so I guess I'm where I need to be.



And then I took the car out for a drive. All the while I still had not had the smokescreen appear and on the spirited drive it still stayed away. So I think this is a result.

Car drove very nicely as well!!

Still some issues though:
- there is power steering fluid disappearing from the system so I either have a leak somewhere or the boots are filling up again (professionally rebuilt rack with no more than 800km's on it).
- the engine bay is filthy as is the bottom (would like advise on how best to clean)
- the car very very slightly left it's mark where I had it running after the drive, just a drop, maybe two...
- doesn't start with the key anymore
- needs hub rings to make sure the wheels are 100% centred on the hubs
- want to replace the engine temp sender
- need to fix fuel reading (low) and temp gauge (no reading)
- create te cubbies for the side fill between seat base and side panel in the rear

Not a very long list, but there are some pains on it. The gauges have been fighting me for a while, that starting with the key issue may become ugly to trace and that power steering issue could be a huge and expensive problem, although I'd first speak to the builder again. I'm not looking forward to removing that rack again...

At least I still really loved the car, its look, its feel, its interior and it's power... Can't wait to get it home and give it the love it needs and wants.

Don't fret Alex, We'll both be driving into next years show!
I'm going to keep my boot empty for all the prizes I'm bound to win. Just got to fill a few holes up and slap some paint on and I'm ready to go...

Although there doesn't seem much point washing yours in the vain hope it may look better than mine!
But if you really must try to compete -
If you have any of the 'marine clean' left over that came with the fuel tank reapir kit dilute it into hot water and brush it around before hosing off.
And, as disturbing as it may be replying to someone asking how to clean their bottom, perhaps you should consider that having an oily one could be more benefical than not, so maybe leave it 'as is'

Best wishes