Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2022 i Classic Ford

I t’s somewhat ironic that the Sierra is still considered one of the young upstarts of the classic Ford scene, yet the earliest versions are now knocking on the door of 40! If ever there was a 1980s Ford that has yet to reach its full potential as a bona fide classic then the Sierra is definitely it. There are so many variations and so much you can do to them, that the possibilities for both camps are almost endless. Hopefully this anniversary year will finally see the Sierra gain the momentum and status it richly deserves, both as part of our scene and the incredibly-important part it played in Ford-of-Europe’s direction and success in the decades that followed even if, much to the chagrin of many, it did help…

I tdidn’t start out that way; the Sierra wasn’t intended to change the world of car design. In 1976, when Ford’s planners set out to create the brief for the fourth generation all-new 1980 Cortina the design team knew what to do. The Mk3 Escort was in the design studio and all they had to do was scale things up a bit to create its new big brother, codenamed Project Linda, to create the style of the next-gen midsized family car. But Linda never saw the light of day. Attractive, but conservative, it would have appealed to sales reps up and down the UK. But that wasn’t enough for Ford of Europe’s new boss, Bob Lutz – he wanted something more cutting edge to challenge the freshlooking machines being served…

Contents 72 Know this: dampers Twin-tube, monotube and more explained 80 Our Projects: Mk1 Sierra Ade’s three-door get abused — and a wash 82 Expert Clinic Problem with your Ford? We can help 84 End tech: port-matching What it is and why you need to do it The A BCof tuning SAFE TECH When working on cars and using tools of any kind — especially power tools — always use protective gear: goggles, gloves, ear defenders, masks and a decent set of overalls are essential. A fire extinguisher is also advisable. Never work under a car without supporting it with axle stands and if you’re not completely confident of your ability to complete any task safely, leave it to the experts. F is for... Flywheel A flywheel has three functions…

QUERY OF THE MONTH Q Can you confirm the offset and PCD of the Mk1 and Mk2 Granada wheel? I have seenTorqueThrust five-spokes, or similar on a Mk1 Granada, but it seems the British wheel suppliers have nothing close to the American fivespokes. I would like to go with something different other than the Mercedes five-spoke or the ultra-modern look. Do you have any suggestions? Dean Gordon UK A The PCD is 5x112 and the standard offset is ET38. It’s difficult but not impossible to get American wheels — you can use hub adaptors which will allow them to fit straight up, or if you can source wobble nuts there are loads of wheels in the more popular 5x114.3 fitment. The other option is modern big-body VAG wheels, which are…

You can credit Walter Hayes for the idea. He thought that a fast Ford could drive overland, through Equatorial Africa, and across the Sahara desert, and beat one of the elegant Union Castle liners. These days it takes only 12 hours to fly non-stop from Cape Town to London and there isn’t an alternative. However, in the 1960s it could also take 12 days, if, that is, you travelled aboard the Union Castle’s best. Hayes’ call to Ford long-distance expert Eric Jackson was short and sweet: “Eric, it’s time for another marathon drive. Call Ken Chambers, reserve two weeks in May — you’re going to race the Windsor Castle back from Cape Town.” Jackson, a long-time member of the Ford rally team, didn’t even blink. He and fellow-Yorkshireman Ken Chambers…

I nspired by the all-conquering Sierra Cosworth Touring Cars of the 1980s, Bulbinder Lali was keen to have a slice of the action in road car form. He’s now owned this stunning black three-door for some 28 years and a recent sympathetic restoration with the help of his talented son, Gary has brought it back up to a show winning standard once again. Regular readers may be familiar with the name Gary Lali as we’ve featured a couple of his track focused Fiestas in previous issues. His dad, Bulbinder, or Bill as he’s more commonly known has been mentioned a few times and it would seem Gary’s fascination with old Fords stems directly from his dad’s equal enthusiasm for these iconic cars. Now, Gary is probably best known for his…

Impressively, Chris has owned this carbon-clad XR2i for 17 years, and to say it’s evolved in that time would be an understatement — going from a daily driver to an all-out track car. “I had it on the road for a year before I stripped it out and fitted a roll cage,” Chris reveals. “It’s had a few engines over the years and the current is an ST170 turbo. I’ve done everything myself apart from the inlet and exhaust manifolds, and it does get some use — I reckon it’s done over 7000 track miles, and it’s been good as gold – I’ve done five sessions today with no bother.”…

RichardBleach has always loved Ford Sierras, “It started out with a P100 Sierra pick-up,” explains Richard, “when I was 18 the company I was working for had a fleet of P100s and I felt the pick-ups somehow had a timeless feel. Like something you might see in a movie. I bought my first Sierra — a1989 P100 2-litre petrol version — in 1996 for just a few hundred pounds. Then I purchased a 1992 Sierra Sapphire GLS and kept that for four years. At the time of course they weren’t classics, just cars I enjoyed owning and driving. “I later had a 1990 Cosworth Sapphire 4x4. I’ve owned at least 20 Sierras over the years including one of the first Sapphires built that’s registered on a D-reg plate, a Ghia…

Suspension tuning has always been seen as a bit of a black art.To make their car handle better most people will simply buy a handling kit, bolt it on, and have done.Those with a bit more pocket money will often opt for a set of coil-overs, twiddle a few knobs, adjust the ride height, and think they then have the perfect handling motor. But that’s not always true, is it? Some will find the setup too hard or too soft and will also find that the car will handle better on some roads than on others. The reason is all to do with how the dampers are built and their characteristics. Dampers are much, much, more involved than people think, and there is an awful lot of brain power that…

There is a certain degree of inaccuracy in all massproduced engines and components, which can only be ironed out with a bit of care, attention and hard graft. Inlet and exhaust manifolds are no different, but a few hours spent in the right areas with the right skills can pay dividends for not a lot of cash. The principles are pretty simple really and, as with all levels of tuning, it’s about maximising your Ford engine’s efficiency. You could have the best head in the world, but if the inlet and exhaust ports aren’t perfectly matched at the point in which they come in contact with the head, then you’re never going to get the best from it. Gasses are funny things, and even the smallest inaccuracy — and therefore…

CONTACT Spa Classic www.peterauto.fr/en/events/spa-classic The 10th edition of the Spa Classic was held at the now-updated Francorchamps circuit. The old grandstand along the ancient pitlane will be replaced by a new bigger grandstand and of course outside the infamous Eau Rouge corner they’ve already built a new grandstand with a fantastic view of that famous flatout corner. The track was also modified on several corners along the circuit. More than 380 cars challenged their race in different categories as Classic Endurance, Sixties’ Endurance, The Greatest Trophy, Fifties Legends and Group C racing. But for us the most interesting race was the Heritage Touring Cup in which more than 20 racing cars with the blue oval on it brought a big show to the hundreds of visitors during practice and the…

1. Don’t just renew It’s all too easy to let the direct debit continue and sign up for another year with your existing insurer. Before you do though, have a look at quotes from other insurers. If they come in cheaper and you don’t want to switch, call your existing insurer, quote the cheaper prices and quite often they will be able to bring your renewal quote down to a similar level. 2. Look at classic insurance They’re often tied into AgreedValue, limited-mileage polices but classic insurance specialists can offer some great-value policies. Most class a vehicle eligible for classic insurance as being over 20 or 25 years old, but some allow exceptions for modern classics, so do your research before you dismiss a classic insurance policy out of hand…

I f you thought tackling one major project proved to be a mammoth task, Anthony Herbert has gone one step further by deciding to simultaneously build two! “I was brought up on Fords, they’ve always been in the family,” Anthony tells us, “my brother had an old Mk1 Escort and Capris and I have fond memories of travelling in the back of Transits.” It’s easy to see where Anthony’s soft spot for old Fords stemmed from and three years ago, he decided to turn his passion into a business. “I started The Classic Panel Company initially as a hobby, but it soon grew to the stage where it keeps me occupied full time,” Anthony tells us. “In addition to stocking Magnum panels, we now sell GAZ Shocks stuff, Revolution wheels…

Thirty years ago, if you were sat in an airplane about to take off from a UK airport, and looked down at the runway, it’s likely you would have seen a Fiesta like Jacques’ whizzing around.This 1.1-litre ex-British Airways dispatchers van is a true timewarp and was clocked by Jacques while at Brooklands Motor Museum. “It was for sale and I wanted it straight away. It went out of service at Heathrow in the early 2000s and hasn’t had much use since, so we had to replace a few bits including the radiator.There’s a few unique bits on it like extra door check straps, needed to stop the doors folding back on themselves if caught in a jet blast. Technically it could be put back into service if BA were…

When it comes to buying cars, we all know there are certain rules you need to follow in order to avoid being left with a lemon. Straight in at number one on that list of car buying commandments is to inspect the vehicle in person. It sounds pretty obvious when you say it, doesn’t it? After all, when you’re dealing with a purchase that could easily run into thousands of pounds, you’d think you’d want to see what you were getting, right? Well, yes, that’s the theory, but with modern technology what it is, surely a few high-res photographs or a walkaround video should be enough to give you the peace of mind to part with your hard-earned readies? And that was the trap that John Powell fell into when…

Mark Fowler From: UK Car: Mk1 Mondeo “My wife and I recently acquired a Mk1 Mondeo Ghia X Estate — the V6 version, which I believe it to be getting quite rare,” reckons Mark. “Though I’m not a fan of the word rare as I think it’s thrown around along with barn find!” “We bought it as we like the idea of a usable classic car that can fit all the family in and go to shows!” Looks like a great find, Mark! Sam Thwaites From: UK Car: Mk2 Escort “My my dad bought this Ghia some 12 years ago from a local guy who used it daily — for £600 — and we’ve turned it into a family project,” says Sam. “It was in a right state, taken back…

What’s been done this month: Sorted the rear coil-over set-up — properly — and got the wheels refurbished (again) Next on the to-do list: Sort the new engine Thanks to: Grant Butler, MJ Racing, Webcon, The Wheel Repair Shop The Sierra has been great going up and down the country, but my idea of using budget Fiesta ST coil-overs didn’t work so well.The fronts are fine, but the rears left me kangarooing about as the dampers blew very quickly! A super-cheap set of dampers were then fitted and all seemed well initially, but after a week or so things were going the same way.This is meant to be a budget project, but the bargain options aren’t really working out. A last attempt at being frugal next saw serial Ford addict,…

At the age of 16, Ashley Slights decided to follow in his father’s rallying footsteps, quickly finding success in the Junior Championship with a 1-litre Toyota Yaris. Things have come a long way since then as his latest steed, this 1400cc, 190 bhp Mk2 Escort complete with some tasty trick mods has created quite a stir so far in 2022. “My dad, Pete Slights began rallying in the late 1970s, driving many different cars,” Ash recalls, “and he was best known for his green and white Mk2 Escort and a Metro 6R4.” It was only a matter of time before Ash would become involved himself and from a very early age, he’d often be found in the family-owned garage, learning the trade and helping his dad work on various rally…

Y our initial tests on a worn engine might have indicated where some potential problems might lie, but all will only be truly revealed when you have got it apart and spread across the work bench. Having gone that far, many people will want to renew just about anything that can be renewed, but this can get very expensive very quickly and not all of us will have the luxury of being able to afford to do it that way. This is the stage where you should compare your costings for parts and machining to that of a professionally rebuilt unit that comes with a guarantee. You may well be surprised and find the oven-ready route is actually cheaper. Sometimes there is no definite ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer when deciding…

Keen to loosen the ageing Citroën Saxo VTR’s hold on the warm hatch market, Ford launched the SportKa in Spring 2003. However, while it looked a bona fide contender in the popular segment, it was actually little more than a by-product of the much-hyped StreetKa, Ford cannily offsetting the roadster’s production costs by sharing its mechanicals with the SportKa. Whether it was the manufacturer’s favourite child was immaterial though, as fast Ford fans were quick to give the SportKa some love on account of it having enough performance to finally exploit the potential of the Ka’s fine chassis. To give the SportKa enough power to justify its name, Ford reverted to the old adage of “there’s no substitute for cubes”, shoehorning the sizeable yet simple, eight-valve 1.6-litre Zetec engine under…