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Thanks for the kind words guys :-) I only need to sit in it, and loads of memories come flooding back. Even though by any objective judgement it was never a great car, it's special to me. Here's to the next 20 years! I took it to the show at Bodelwyddan a couple of weeks ago; was anyone from here there too?  Unfortunately this picture just highlights the fact I am missing the black plastic trim below the doors. I have one side, but the other disappeared from my place of storage. |
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Sometimes, others may not understand why you like a car so much. Sometimes, you may not even understand why you like a car so much. But none of that matters; all that matters is that you like the car, and having it makes you happy.
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I don't think I've ever seen one of these unless it was so long ago I don't remember.
I love how you just stumbled across attempting the engine change yourself and that you've owned the car for so long.
Above all I love how everything apart from the mechanicals is factory-spec.
Even the most committed owner of a sleeper build can't resist a slight drop and wheel change but in this you could easily trundle slowly along and suddenly open her up leaving jaws on floors.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,975
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Didn't expect any of this when I had a quick look at the first page - excellent work
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I'd replace the badges and decals on the bootlid with some Maserati ones.
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I don't think I've ever seen one of these unless it was so long ago I don't remember. I love how you just stumbled across attempting the engine change yourself and that you've owned the car for so long. Above all I love how everything apart from the mechanicals is factory-spec. Even the most committed owner of a sleeper build can't resist a slight drop and wheel change but in this you could easily trundle slowly along and suddenly open her up leaving jaws on floors. Thanks :-) There were times when I really thought I would never drive it again, and that it would be like so many abandoned projects you see for sale. Lowest point was probably when I couldn't get the engine started (HT leads wrong position), so I turned my attention to the bodywork, only to see more rust than I expected:  Then I injured my back, and couldn't do anything for a while (especially not fit a gearbox!), so it gradually got piled higher and higher with junk in the shared workshop I was storing it in. The threat of loosing the storage, coupled with an upcoming stag do was the push I needed to get back to it! I wouldn't say the performance is enough to leave jaws on floors, but people do tend to look round as I pass. This weekend we went to a pub Saturday afternoon for a leaving do at my wife's work, and the conversation drifted to cars. One of the guys asked me which was mine, so I just said "It's the oldest one in the car park". His response was "Oh, that thing", to which I said nothing but I enjoyed seeing the reaction on his face later when we came to leave... Didn't expect any of this when I had a quick look at the first page - excellent work Cheers, maybe I'd better update the title! |
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Sometimes, others may not understand why you like a car so much. Sometimes, you may not even understand why you like a car so much. But none of that matters; all that matters is that you like the car, and having it makes you happy.
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I really must apologise for missing this before. Sorry  What a fantastic bit of kit. How many folk would take a humble Hyundai and think, "I know, I'll stick a V8 in that there hole"? Proper engine, nice history, good colour...Top thread! Oh, and a nice part of the world as well. |
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düdo
Part of things
wide as house
Posts: 770
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I hope your flat cap was fastened firmly on your head. Was that some sort of 80s car show? I'm thinking this needs some more gravity - lower,lower, lower. Enough of those farm track excuses. And one of those gold plastic tissue boxes on the rear parcel shelf for period verity.  |
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conair
Part of things
Posts: 268 
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Awesome, just love that  |
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Aug 10, 2015 22:13:10 GMT
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I hope your flat cap was fastened firmly on your head. Was that some sort of 80s car show? I'm thinking this needs some more gravity - lower,lower, lower. Enough of those farm track excuses. And one of those gold plastic tissue boxes on the rear parcel shelf for period verity. It was a show covering all sorts up to the 90s, but I was in the 80s section - it attracted more interest than I thought! Including one guy I overheard saying that he used to own one, and it was awful! No plans for lowering, or tissue boxes I'm afraid, although may consider some adjustable dampers to get it handling better. The front seems a touch under-damped to my layman's view. In other news I'm missing all but one of the wheel centre caps :-(  Little chance of finding replacements now, but I do happen to be married to a CAD designer. So I asked her if she could model one up for me...   The plan is now to get a set 3D printed...watch this space to see how well they come out! |
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Sometimes, others may not understand why you like a car so much. Sometimes, you may not even understand why you like a car so much. But none of that matters; all that matters is that you like the car, and having it makes you happy.
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neil79
Part of things
Posts: 141
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Fantastic, be very interested to see how it turns out.
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Glad to see that you have kept this looking original. Another stealth mobile. I don't get the mania for lowering cars either. Like you I need all the ground clearance I can get where I live.
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vulgalour
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 7,287
Club RR Member Number: 146
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The front may well be under-damped given how much more weight is riding there now compared to stock. I wonder what the weight difference is between the V8 and the original engine?
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Aug 13, 2015 11:43:03 GMT
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Married to a CAD designer!? Well f*ck lol! This is a cracking project dude! Only just come across this thread and loved it!
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'84 Honda Civic 1.3 AH The Daily
'86 Nissan Leopard F31 The Weekend Cruiser
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Aug 13, 2015 14:22:51 GMT
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Thanks!
Regarding the weight, the engine itself felt pretty much the same as the original iron block lump, however the car as a whole weighs 200 kg more! I did add some stiffening but not that much, so the biggest factor I can think of is the gearbox. That felt like twice as heavy to shift!
Genuine Cortina springs from Ford came in a range of ratings I believe, depending on engine. But nowadays it seems like one size fits all - I got mine from Burton Power and am sure they only had one choice.
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Last Edit: Aug 13, 2015 14:24:21 GMT by matfenwick
Sometimes, others may not understand why you like a car so much. Sometimes, you may not even understand why you like a car so much. But none of that matters; all that matters is that you like the car, and having it makes you happy.
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Aug 13, 2015 19:06:49 GMT
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I've missed this until now. An audacious plan, brought a smile to my face. Top marks.
The only reason to do it is because. Keep the ride height stock : full sleeper mode.
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Aug 13, 2015 23:48:09 GMT
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I suspect that the alloy block V8 weighs around the same as the iron block 4. A guy I knew here in New Zealand back in the '90s had an HC Viva with a Buick 215 alloy block V8 in it and my hazy memory tells me that the original front springs did the job just fine. If you think that the springs you have are not hard enough you could perhaps use the ones from the Australian assembled six cylinder Cortina (if you can find any) although they might be too hard as those iron block, iron head 4.1 litre lumps are tremendously heavy.
How many diffs have you broken so far? If none you must be a very sensible driver.
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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There was a 2.3 V6 (Cologne lump) Cortina over here as well - but it could well be there's only one option now?
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Raoul Duke
Part of things
Posts: 990
Club RR Member Number: 117
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Aug 14, 2015 11:48:20 GMT
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Considering how well you've done the rest of the car, I'd get some custom coilovers made up. You could choose from a near-infinite variety of spring rates then, and it would still look stock.
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...a redder shade of neck on a whiter shade of trash...
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Aug 14, 2015 19:58:46 GMT
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I really like this due to it being so immaculate and standard looking.
The fact it has a V8 fitted all hidden away makes this even better.
Great story and excellent work.
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I suspect that the alloy block V8 weighs around the same as the iron block 4. A guy I knew here in New Zealand back in the '90s had an HC Viva with a Buick 215 alloy block V8 in it and my hazy memory tells me that the original front springs did the job just fine. If you think that the springs you have are not hard enough you could perhaps use the ones from the Australian assembled six cylinder Cortina (if you can find any) although they might be too hard as those iron block, iron head 4.1 litre lumps are tremendously heavy. How many diffs have you broken so far? If none you must be a very sensible driver. My gut feeling is that the springs themselves are fine, as if they were too soft it would be sitting lower, surely? The problem is more that the ride feels a bit wallowy, and dives a lot under braking. All the dampers are new, or rather were 10 years ago and I think NOS even then. The fronts were 'gas assisted', but what I don't know is whether the gas actually contributes to the springing significantly, or merely keeps the oil under pressure to reduce foaming. If the former, and they've lost pressure over time I wonder whether that could be causing the issues. A set of Gaz adjustables doesn't seem bad value, so seems a sensible first step. Custom coilovers would be nice, but pricey given that the future situation with work is unknown :-( It's only been on the round for a few thousand miles, so no diffs failed yet! I suppose I am getting to be a sensible driver, as I've hardly spun the wheels at all - and when I have it's been unintentional! |
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Sometimes, others may not understand why you like a car so much. Sometimes, you may not even understand why you like a car so much. But none of that matters; all that matters is that you like the car, and having it makes you happy.
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