mk1 30th anniversary restore project

That's right, ANOTHER MK1 project is beginning...

this one, by me, Rowan Streeter.

I was fortunate enough to be united with my MK1 Coupe 3 years ago on my 17th Birthday. I promptly fell in love with it, and recently, after purchasing a slightly more reliable 1998 VT Commodore, I decided to put into play my plan of restoring ole Nelly. (Called her that because I would be frequently saying woah Nelly!)

Anyway. It currently has a TD Cortina 2Litre 4Cyl and 3spd automatic in it. This makes it.. a little unreliable. the tranny is dying, the starter motor hates me, and the dizzy cr@7s itself every other day.

It will, by the end of the project, have an original 1300 and 4spd manual, just like it was when the Silver Chain bought H1850 in 1974.

There is a lot of history with this car. It has been with at LEAST 5 owners, and not once out of registration until I got her. I DID however have the ORIGINAL licence plates set aside for when I finish restoring her former glory.

In under 1 week from now, the 29th of June 2004, I will finally get some time off work. The Project Begins at that time.

Firstly I plan to find the engine and tranny from Escort Road and Race in Armadale, Western Australia. I hear they're pretty good, I even hear they do Cosworth engines for $8000. I currently have a little over $1000 saved for the mechanics of the car, and hope I can get them from ERR.

Next it would be stripping the engine bay and cleaning the 'undercarraige' of the car. That way I can refinish those parts, fit the engine and transmission, wire in there if I need to and be able to move the car around ready for the body work.

There is rust in the lhf qtr panel, and in the front passenger foot well. The qtr panel doesn't really worry me that much,I know of a few wreckers with good lhf qtr panels. The floor kinda makes me panic.


HOW DO I GET RID OF THE RUST AND FIX THE HOLE SO THAT IT PASSES INSPECTION?!!?!!!?? [x2x]


anyway... I will take photos and post them... must keep people updated... and when they don't read, they can at least see ;)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paul Dunstan
[br]Easiest way to fix the hole is find a donar shell with the areas you need to replace and cut and shut from there.
Thats the way I intend to do mine. If you do a good enough job no-one will know

---

We will now [;^)]

woohoo!!! I just got a Gmail account.. whip it!!! lol


anywho...

looking forward to changing the engine etc in Nelly the MK1... really glad I found this place.


only 5... no... 6 days until I visit Escort Road and Race....

Blasted stock take at work though. It is like the final dash to the finish line, the hardest part you will ever face. [:-(] But it makes the holidays all that sweeter. [88]

well... I got started on the project early today. I GOT MY ENGINE!!!! yeehaw!

Escort Road & Race didn't have one, nobody had one actually, then I went to one of my local holdn wreckers and sure enough, on the shelf a great condition 1300 for $450. It is now in my shed! [:x)] The wrecker also threw in a set of extractors he had sitting there. Oh and he had an old grille, I took it simply to be nice (mines in better nick)
ERR did have the tranny though, picking that up tomorrow cause they didn't have the shifter, but they will tomorrow.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mark
[br]Perturbed[:0]

---

how so?

alrighty then. started stripping my engine today. good news, all water housings (meaning both) have not corroded all the way through and are in fact still pretty thick. the temp sensor and oil pressure switch both came out easily and without damage.

unfortunately I am unable to remove the flywheel because I lack a socket that fits over the bolts. I need to replace the metal gasket/plate that goes between the bell hsng and the block. it's a funky shape and I doubt I will be able to find one, so will probably have to make one out of metal gasket sheet...either way that will probably be expensive to replace.

everything else appears to be in good condition, I only hope the transmission is just as good... [:x)]

the restoration has taken a few days break while I fit a subwoofer and amplifier to my VT Commodore.... *giggles*

never fear, the restoration will begin again on Tuesday..... [(#)]

thanks Kris....

The advice you've given me will definately come in handy.

cheers :)
oh yeah,how do I tell the difference between the manifolds?
I think it is a single one actually....
I'll take a photo and post it soon