|
|
|
|
|
|
Those rims look a fair bit better than mine. I'll need to do a fair bit of work before I paint them.
My Mondeo is off the road ATM because of another power steering leak. This time it's the solid pipe that runs behind the grill above the intercooler.
What's happened is the intake for the airbox has come away from the bulkhead and has been rubbing on the pipe, clearly for quite some time, eventually wearing it through.
Second hand pipe ordered, should arrive by Wednesday.
It's booked in for a wheel bearing next Friday, so I'll get them to fit it to save me getting dirty.
😁
|
| |
|
|
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
Apr 10, 2021 13:30:22 GMT
|
The wheels I got tonycocacola probably weren't much better! The chap who refurbished mine said they were quite corroded and this would limit my finish choices, as would not be able to deal with the finish without grinding too find. But many of these wheels were binned back in the day, as the restoration game wasn't what it was then to what it is now. A decent set of wheels then was £300 with tyres. Now, it seems more folks want the original ST220 wheels but many got binned. Mine had two needing to be straightened prior to powdercoating. But they do look good now. |
| |
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
Apr 11, 2021 11:28:03 GMT
|
While work has progressed on the M3, things have got a little more serious with the ST! Why? -The garage is filling up with stuff, and as some will know from my garage thread, I do plan to sort out the floor a little once things warm up. -Removing curse word I don't need will help the above. I decided to take this another way. I knew the bumper and wing on my ST were not great, with the latter potentially being scrap. As a result, I decided to try fitting on the new panels. I also decided that I'd remove the wheels too, and fit the new items. As always this is easier said than done. But let's look at the last of the bits I got from the ex-police ST eh?   The hoses on this are in a much better state than mine, which many having been replaced. The trickier items especially are good. For the other hoses, I think for now I can get away with using them (famous last words!), since they are not cracked in any way, and are still fairly supple. However, I'm not really getting to the main point. This would be the last time for this week I'd see the car as a whole:  Almost doesn't look too bad, but it does have an element of the ruffian about it! Well, I'd change that  :  Whoops! That's a rusty wing gone! Well, rusty only at the arch, and bent strangely by the light. Getting these off an old Ford was as fun as you can imagine. Lots of dirt and plenty of seized fixings. This was solved with some ingenious removal, including removing the wing with the left hand side of the bumper for better access. With the wing off the car, I was able to grind off the fixings with a Dremel and then use mole grips and a wrench to remove the remains. It was then time to look at the old tyres; I knew a few of them were losing air so I was keen to fit the new ones. The news was not good! While most of them are in age, the sidewalls have failed badly on the Chinese Three A! Yup, that inner part is just bulging around the entire rim! Yikes! I don't know if this is a sudden issue or not. Either way, it's not the first time I've seen this about Chinese tyres. Given the tyres themselves may not have had the easiest life I'm glad that I took the chance to replace the tyres on the new rims. Slowly, but surely, I can now see why bstardchild always changes tyres on his new cars for new items without fail. You just don't know how they've been treated! The strange thing is the suspension etc. on this car is surprisingly tight too! That's good news for me, as it will mean ultimately, I can keep the spend down.    It was a case of going off with the old, and on with the new, so as to keep the car mobile. In this shot, you can see a little as to how poor the front bumper is.  However, from the rear, what a change in looks eh? While there may not be a light at the end of the tunnel just yet, things are changing.  Unfortunately, things took a slight sour turn here. I was looking forward to putting on the new wing. Yes, it's Machine Silver and not Stardust, but it would be fine for trial fitting. It's just as well that I did, since the new wing does not fit right! Where is it wrong? -The bottom of the wing where it goes onto the sill has an outward twist. This is not an issue, as the bolt and fixings will straighten this out -The top of the wing were it meets the A pillar is bent out of shape. This is quite annoying! I guess this can happen with parts being delivered, especially secondhand ones. Was the last guy too heavy handed removing it, or was it bent in storage/shipment? Who knows? Either way, I'll have to figure something out. Getting one new from Ford isn't really an option for the budget of the car, if I can even get them. Pattern ones don't exist for the ST models, meaning secondhand is my only choice. I may however try and salvage the wing, and see if I can sort it out. As said, it's the upper part which is presenting an issue. I'll have to grab some photos to show the extent of the problem, albeit this will require the bumper to be fully removed, which is awaiting a tool holdup now. Hopefully, that can be done this week. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2021 14:54:29 GMT
|
Tyres are high on my list of things to do. They're not as bad as yours, but I'm still wary about them, and because of this I've never really given it any beans yet. I also plan on upgrading the brakes, and have been recommended these guys by a work mate with a Fiesta ST. www.mtecbrakes.com/Prices seem reasonable. Have you had anything off them for any of your cars? Or is there somewhere else I should look. 😀 |
| |
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
Apr 11, 2021 22:26:31 GMT
|
|
These tyres, at least from the outer sidewalls looked fine, save for a few cracks. The inside of that Three A really surprised me! The sidewall was as soft as butter!
Despite the wheels being 8J, the Goodyears actually sit very well on the new wheels.
However, I've just checked the expenditure. It's a little more than I thought! But then again, I am sorting it to a standard where I'll be happy to use it. This car won't be showroom fresh, that was never the intention.
The idea was to decide where to spend the cash, prioritising key components and issues with these, in addition still having the car restored to some form of its former glory. Is that a bit of a moon on a stick or something too easily viable? We'll see!
|
| |
|
|
philsford
Part of things
Posts: 733
Club RR Member Number: 100
|
|
Apr 13, 2021 21:31:48 GMT
|
 I had a 5 speed version ST220, this was about 12 years ago now. Was a good car and drove well. I remember the alternator going and it was a higher output compared to lesser models and was £500 for a replacement. It did not stay long as my Mrs discovered she was pregnant and her car was to small and she refused to drive the St as it was to big so they both went. I was disappointed that it didn't have cruise control at the time and all the face lift ones did that I came across. |
| |
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
Apr 17, 2021 22:03:05 GMT
|
I had a 5 speed version ST220, this was about 12 years ago now. Was a good car and drove well. I remember the alternator going and it was a higher output compared to lesser models and was £500 for a replacement. It did not stay long as my Mrs discovered she was pregnant and her car was to small and she refused to drive the St as it was to big so they both went. I was disappointed that it didn't have cruise control at the time and all the face lift ones did that I came across. I do look forward to driving mine on the open road. Yes, I know a Mk3 Mondeo doesn't win competitions in dick length or prestige contest, but as a package, they win on so many many levels! The cruise control issue is annoying! Mine also dosn't have it and neithar did the the 'donor' car! However, it looks like an easy retrofit and it's not an option I have ruled out. As for progress, none has been made I'm afraid! After a hectic week, it's surprising I made progress on any of my cars! However, I did make progress on the M3, so not all is lost  . |
| |
|
|
ZXRob
Europe
Posts: 1,200 
|
|
|
|
|
There is just something cool about an ST220 estate!
Infact I do think mid 00's performance models are the way forward. Manufacturers built all manner of strange performance models.
|
| |
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coming along nicely mate.
Side by side Stardust and Machine don't look that far apart. I couldn't believe the difference between the car and the wing.
😃
|
| |
|
|
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
Apr 22, 2021 19:43:36 GMT
|
There is just something cool about an ST220 estate! Infact I do think mid 00's performance models are the way forward. Manufacturers built all manner of strange performance models. There is something about the 00s isn't there. Manufacturers had money to play with, but enough freedoms to make great motors despite increasing emissions and safety regulations. ST220s are certainly a bit of a guilty pleasure in estate form. I'm still surprised at how many people want to see this car done. Coming along nicely mate. Side by side Stardust and Machine don't look that far apart. I couldn't believe the difference between the car and the wing. 😃 Cheers pal! The colours are quite different eh? So, where was I besides doing a photo dump? Giving you guys an update! I really don't know when I can give the updates with a crazy work week, but we'll see what I can manage. So, I finally got the wing on. With some tweaking, it's actually getting closer to being a fitted wing:  It was then time to tackle a tricky issue. The bumper removal. Since the fixings were 2 decades old and it's an old Ford, this was easier said than done. One fixing, amazingly came undone. The others? No such luck. The Rivnuts were just spinning. One thankfully sheared, but the other two were in very awkward locations. However, after what seemed like an eternity, which is a couple of hours really is on a job like this, many snapped discs, and purchasing a right angle attachment for my Dremel, it was finally off! Now, I had a car that did belong in the scrap heap:  Amazingly, the crash bar on the front was unscathed, and still the factory original. This may help the explain the shutlines on the car. It's quite an original car skin deep. I'm not sure that's a good thing mind you! That said, with the bumper off, it was time to see the state of it. It was pretty poor, and in all honesty, any ideas I had of selling it vanished the more I looked at the bumper. It's just been patched up along the way.    This may help explain why the front of the car has looked iffy. The bumper was in quite a bad way. However, this was no time for me to rest on my laurels. I had to pick a bumper support foam. I had 3 in my possesion -Factory one off the car (Original too! Cracked mind you) -The one from the new bumper, but not perfect -A perfect condition item from the police car, and with the securing clips. You can guess which one I fitted    It was then time to mock up the front of the car. Sure, everything is loose on the front, but it's looking promising, at least in my eyese. Fear not RR police, I've not rung the car to be a newer car to avoid speeding tickets. I need it to be assembled and taxed first to quality :   It was then time to look at the Autodoc box. Much to my surprise, this arrived in reasonable time!  Unfortunately, Autodoc switched out the radiator for a STARK item. I originally ordered an NRF item, as Modine seem to make these, who are an OEM for many rads out there, including BMW, Ford and JLR. However, it seemed I wasn't going to be so lucky. The core of this looks cheaper and potentially less effective than what the car should have come with. Cue the spare radiator.     I probably go overboeard on cooling systems, but considered the one car which bit me badly with a duff cooling system was a Mondeo V6, as well as a 944 S2 (which the specialist suspect lunched 2 engines due to a poor cooling system), you can't blame me eh? We'll see what Autodoc have to say. I'm now wishing I went for the Nissens item, which I know is fine! The things you do to save £20 here and there eh? Lesson learned. Finally, we have a wiper issue. HubNut would be having kittens if he saw what was wrong with them! I'll see if others here are as keen on wiper system as Hubnut, and can point out the issue.  Anyway, it's tidying and spannering time now . |
| |
Last Edit: Apr 22, 2021 19:44:45 GMT by ChasR
|
|
misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,495
|
|
Apr 22, 2021 20:40:39 GMT
|
|
I had that with my last Autodoc order as well, good stuff replaced with Stark. I only needed a bit of the bits, but if it was a proper piece I'd've been more curse word off...
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you order one thing why do they send another? I'd be on the blower sorting out what I wanted and sending the $hite back.
😀
|
| |
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
|
|
I had that with my last Autodoc order as well, good stuff replaced with Stark. I only needed a bit of the bits, but if it was a proper piece I'd've been more curse word off... If you order one thing why do they send another? I'd be on the blower sorting out what I wanted and sending the $hite back. 😀 Indeed I am a little annoyed, and have arranged the return. A few chaps felt I'd be OK, but it seems my concerns may be valid. Furthermore, the rad is not as advertised. The STARK radiator is listed as a brazed cooling fin design, and not a mechanically assembled one. According to NRF, I should replace like for like. Given V6 Fords have a bit of a reputation with head gaskets to some, I'll be returning that ASAP. www.nrf.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/NRF-article-Not-all-radiators-are-the-same-by-Adam-Gertruda.pdfIt seems it’s not just NRF either who found this difference. A test did too, albeit the result was not as bad when they used only water (but then corrosion internally can become a problem, which we did have on that V6 of doom.) it seems to be a known fact. The annoying thing is AUTODOC even list the radiator as a brazed fin item, not a mechanically assembled one. Anyway, I've not updated this thread for a while. The reason? Work and life have been very busy! Between juggling favours I've been roped into, to a certain bank provider slashing my credit limit despite paying on time (there's enough about that in the press and affected customers), and work frankly taking up alot of time, I've not really been able to get to a PC! It's funny, with the house I thought things would get quieter. It does seem however that if folks and colleagues know that you have more time, it gets filled! Anyway, I digress. It was time to do a bit of preparation on the car prior to assembly. Things were a little surface rusty in places, including the wing that I bought. Due to that, I got busy with the wire brush-on-the-drill attachment, in addition to the Dremel wire brush attachment for where the the drill couldn't go, I had the surface rust off as good as I could. After that, it was time to hit the areas with Bilt Hamber's Hydrate 80.    With that done, it was time to start learning off the masters of bodgery. RoadKill. But if you know the rules, you can break them right? The crash bar could have looked better, and needed a topcoat after the Bilt Hamber Treatment. So with a rattle can, it was painted in situ to complete, thus making it 'Freshy Rebuilt'. OK, I'm stretching that term there, but you have to these days right?  At the same time, I lashed on the Bilt Hamber Dynax UB in key areas for protection, and where I will not be able to reach so easily once the car is assembled. The UB was alot runnier than I expected, far more so than the tar like Waxoyl. But I guess at least it shouldn't crack and let water in, being butyl based.   It was then time to make the best front end out of the parts I had. Remember, I'm not after perfection with this car, just something respectable and 'right', where crucially I'll enjoy using it without it being an eyesore, albeit that last point is debatable  What did I have to allow this to happen? -Two sets of Grille sets, one in the faded grey (no, not the song), and another which belonged the car, in good condition, albeit painted black. -Two sets of foglights. One set with a yellow film flaking off, but also stuck on very well in areas. My originals in good condition, but with LEDs. -Two bumpers. One fit for scrapping, the other to go onto the car! With that in mind, I have decided to use the black grilles, and the LED lights. However, I wssn't sure how they would look in the car. Would they be too white? Well, to quote a certain Lamborghini crashing presenter, let the pudding see the proof.  With the HIDs, I'd say that's close enough. I may go for a hotter LED bulb in the future or maybe just some H7 replacements out of the other lights. I'd need to do something about the foglight trims. The ones on the original bumper were painted and not in the best of condition. The trims on both pairs of foglights was poor. There was nothing else, but to get creative and rework them via the teachings of Edd Me Ol' China. Paint!   Yup, not great. With a bit of sanding they actually came up very well. In hindsight, I wished I just lacquered them. But we'd have to wait and see.  It was then time for the high build primer!  FInally, some Chrome Spray! I know! Proper bodgery here! But look at the results!  From this point on, that's the best those surrounds would look. More will come another time. However, I finally got the wing bolted up onto the car for what should be the final time. I would also have all of the old wheels off! A bit of Tyre Reviews got into me, and so I decided to compare the tread pattern of the Eagle F1 SuperSport to the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2. On the face of it, the SS looks less sporty don't you think? Strange, but it is the tyre that everyone seems to love.   The A2 however was hiding a secret in plain sight on closer inspection.  Yup, it was a run-flat! This gents is why part-worns aren't always a great idea. To put it into perspective the car had: -A Three A with a shot sidewall -A Sagitar P306 -A Goodyear Ultragrip 4 seasons tyre -A Goodyear Eagle F1 RSC. All with the legal amount of tread and all of which passed the MOT. Going off the receipts, this will be the first time in 5 years the car would have seen two tyres of the same kind on it. Is there more to come? There certain;y is, but that will have to wait . |
| |
Last Edit: May 3, 2021 6:18:25 GMT by ChasR
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
|
|
So, I've been a little quiet here from my near daily updates. This is despite work getting more manageable. Part of these reasons are me trying to exercise during lockdown. Unfortunately this would result in a bit of mojo temprement. This was be especially annoying since: -Both cars are actually making progress -A friend's mum (also living alone like myself) who is not well abled, is moving out to Finland, to join said friend. Lucky for her, but I said I would assist. However, these two things would be dealt a crushing blow. My back giving way during a tennis game with a friend. From being abled to being a crip, it was just what I needed at a time when I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. While the painkillers are helping, I also don't want to become DI Steve Arnott, for those who get the reference there. Anyway, I guess since I'm falsely feeling OK, I may as well type away on the progress I have made, right? OK, let's go! Firstly, I got all of the wheels off the car! The final wheel however wouldn't come off without a fight, or rather the spigot ring wouldn't. However, it was nothing that a Dremel couldn't fix. With the amount of times I've mentioned a Dremel in this thead (more than any other car thread), you'd think I was sponsored by them. Alas, I am not. But Dremel, on an Old Ford, I'm happy to trial your products if you are listening!  But now, we can see these wheels one last time.  Yeah, those kerbed and corrded things can go away! The tyres moreso! Remember the random mix of tread I mentioned? Here you can witness them! To quote Bruce Lee, "don't think, FEEEL. Don't concentrate on the Goodyear Eagle F1, for you will miss the greater glory". OK, it wasn't quite like that, and you could argue I meant misery there. But at least that misery would not lie with me.  Instead, someone else would want these. I think I underpriced these wheels. Just like a chap on FB Marketplace who put his E39 528i up for £800, only to be inundated with 40 messages, i put these up for £60. Madness I know, but I had my reasons. -The tyres were a real hotpotch. OK, you'd pay £30 a tyre from other places, but I was not happy to sell the 4 tyres as a good tyred, given that the sidewall was now dead on the inside -I knew I could get £60 for the rims if I weighed them in. But I'd need to find someone to take the tyres off for free, which would probably cost me time and fuel anyway. -Any folks who questioned the condition, I could jsut go " They are £60, what do you expect?" I was deliberately open about the condition of them Was I a mug? Probably? But in my defence, I sold them swiftly. The same chap amazingly took a shine to my bumper. Yup, the same front bumper which to me was beyond repair. But it was £20, not £200, so it was never going to be a good bumper. At least it saved me chopping it up, and it may well go on to live another day on another car in a better state than it is. With that done, I did not hesitate to getting all of the new wheels onto the car;   Obviously, I was missing a few things. Principally, the bumper. However, I needed to retap some of the rivnuts due to corrosion and underseal being present within the threads. Where I bashed the rivnuts out, I needed nuts, bolts and washers. Oh, and grilles. Once I picked the best parts from both bumpers, I began to refit the jigsaw puzzle back together once more.   Soon enough, I had something that was beginning to look like its former self once more:  Obviously, while it looks like I am on the home straight, I'm aware I have alot more still to do. But at least the end *might* be in sight. Oh, and I had a proper radiator turn up thankfully.  However, this radiator (like almost all V6 radiators) had issues, but that issue can wait. For now, I'll let you play spot the difference:  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The new radiator doesnt have a Ford sticker? Oh, and the erroneous outlet where the sticker should be.......
|
| |
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
|
|
The new radiator doesnt have a Ford sticker? Oh, and the erroneous outlet where the sticker should be....... Indeed! The sticker is not a surprise. I can breakdown the meaning of that stick to folks here if they wish . As for the port, all aftermarket radiators have them, but the port is not required on Mk3 V6 Mondeos. I've been here before, but this time I have a different plan. It's in action, but I'm keeping it under my hat for now . |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The extra outlet is for a second header tank to keep temps low?
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Those different treads on those tyres are hitting my OCD button big time!!!
All 4 of mine are different, too, I try not to look. At the first opportunity when other stuff stops breaking I'm going to get 4 the same.
Your car is starting to look well.
😃
|
| |
|
|
mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 3,061
Club RR Member Number: 77
Member is Online
|
|
|
|
It always amazes me with how unfussy some people are with tyres on their daily driver. And how the same people usually moan that the car pulls one way, or is noisy on a certain road  |
| |
|
|
|
|
:
.
What did I have to allow this to happen?
