Smurf - 1256 to 305

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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby viva les vegas » Sun Apr 01, 2012 9:20 pm

I've stripped out the rest of the carpet today, and bagged it up and hidden it in the boot of the Escort (shameful to have a blue oval, I know, but was cheap) so I did a little more hunting for bad rust. Today was mostly a cleaning session, and testing some parts, the starter motor and "new" electric water pump. Anyway, the rusty bits:
driver's side rear footwell:
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passenger side rear footwell:
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water pump pic nicked from google as I haven't taken one yet (eejit):
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and what it should look like when I fit it (longer bolts needed now):
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Tried the starter motor a couple months ago, while it was on the block, but it didn't work. So today I took it off and had a play, thinking that there might have been a wiring issue. Turned out it was an operator issue, didn't energize the solenoid last time :oops: spins over lovely :D

That's all I've really done today, apart from going surfing as the snow melted on Dartmoor as some of you may have seen on facebook today lol, and chatting to several people who were walking past my garage with the usual "I/my dad/ grandad had one of, oh wait, there's something different, it doesn't say Vauxhall *head scratch*..."

Did go to look at a bigger garage during the week, bit closer to home, 5 minute walk instead of 10. Just need to hear back from the people renting it now, as they may not want me grinding and welding in there. Fingers crossed.
Remember, some days you're the statue, and others, you're the pigeon ;)
Life is a journey, not a destination.

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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby viva les vegas » Sun May 06, 2012 10:13 pm

I've been able to go and have a play today, nothing major, just more cleaning of the garage, more loose stuff removal, and some protective painting. Took a short video of the areas I've managed to do so far, but apologies for the size, didn't know that iPhones did silly dimension videos. Any future ones will be in wide screen rather than tall screen lol. Should be able too see the few holes that the tin worms have left behind a little more clearly now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_oY4taCacU



Still not heard back from the garage people, but have been told about one that's nearly across the street, less than 2 minutes' walk from here, and it has apparently running water and electricity! Need more details. Would be brilliant to be able to walk around the car and just close the garage door without having to push the car in and shove everything else in behind it.

Oh, random question: Would anyone know off hand what the "0898" written in yellow on the tunnel would have been for? Pics were taken from the video, so may not be overly clear.
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Remember, some days you're the statue, and others, you're the pigeon ;)
Life is a journey, not a destination.

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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby viva les vegas » Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:45 pm

A few pics later, but while I've been hiding from everyone (sorry) I've been working lots to pay for some parts. I bought a radiator for a Chevy S10 Blazer, but it's 2" too wide (just in case anyone else is as daft as me), so I took it to Plymouth Radiators to see if they could narrow it a tad for me. Being aluminum, they said they couldn't, but they built a bespoke one for me instead. 3 core, instead of single, and they (guy called Paul) put some mounting points on it. Really is a top job.
I've also, two days ago, bought an almost new looking 500cfm Edelbrock carburettor, and my oil pickup pipe has arrived. On Monday, as I actually have a day off, if I don't sleep too long, I'll be ringing up Pop Brown's and ordering new front hubs and bearings. Then I'll be out of money again :-P Also waiting for a new plug and lead for the coil/distributor. I'm on the hunt for a workshop style garage as my little council lock-up is a little too small. When I do actually get the chance to go and play, I feel I'm spending more time dragging things out of the way. So. I'll put up some pics later on :-)
Remember, some days you're the statue, and others, you're the pigeon ;)
Life is a journey, not a destination.

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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby Jon-HPF » Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:02 pm

Nice to see you finally getting the project underway . Your car looks very solid - hardly any rust - you lucky bugger :D

Hope you get the garage you want - i know how hard it is to all the mods etc in a standard size garage :evil:

That engine will look great in the Viva bay - Ade has something similar in his black wide arched Firenza i believe ?

Jon
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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby viva les vegas » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:14 pm

Thanks Jon :D I ended up not having my planned day off as one of my crewmates called in sick (chest pains) so I might get Sunday off to play and take pics :wink:
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Life is a journey, not a destination.

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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby viva les vegas » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:51 am

Right, I did actually get a day off today, so went to have a play, after retrieving my engine crane from a workshop. They'd borrowed it to put a 2.0 Zetec into a S1 Escort RS Turbo, mad fools.
Here are a few pics:
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The new Edelbrock 1403 500CFM carburetor fitted, and no wiggling to get it to fit either.

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New single wire and plug for the HEI. Should help it start

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The Weiand electric water pump sitting on to of the original water pump, which I think is a long version. It's not a lot shorter

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The single core aluminum radiator meant for a Chevy S10 and has a trans cooler built in, which is the main reason I bought it. It's too wide and doesn't fit between the rails :(

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Showing how "thick" the core is

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The triple core brass radiator I had built up locally. Also has the trans cooler built in. This was built from scratch for me.

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See the difference in thickness? They put some mounting points in the custom built one, just for me :)

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Literally just sitting there, but fits perfectly between the rails.

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Decent gap on this side...

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My bro put it a little too close to this side, but still has room :)

I didn't take any pics of it, but I've had to modify my modified sump in order to get my oil pickup pipe to fit. Had to get an upright baffle to bend out of the way, and found the only way was to persuade it with a big lump of wood :lol:
Still no word on this garage/workshop. If I could get a name for the owner, I could pester him, or her.
Remember, some days you're the statue, and others, you're the pigeon ;)
Life is a journey, not a destination.

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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby Spence » Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:09 pm

Looking good, more progress than iam making! Just been quoted 1500 to copy the old nail rear quarter panels from steel :imsmiling:
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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby viva les vegas » Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:36 pm

£1500? That's nice and cheap :shock: What stage is yours at now?
Remember, some days you're the statue, and others, you're the pigeon ;)
Life is a journey, not a destination.

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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby Spence » Sat Jul 28, 2012 4:59 pm

Tell me about it!! No progress yet but iam off to my barn tomorrow to have a look at making them myself. Comfort zone earth, I'll be on Pluto!!!!
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Re: Smurf - 1256 to 305

Postby dann01 » Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:04 pm

Like me holding a welder then :D

Good luck, and just tell yourself, it can't look any worse than it does right now. That's how I end up justifying most of the mistakes I make.

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