Conference terri::cars_uk

    Hi Derek,
        
    >I'm a member of the Capri Club International which is based in the
    >U.K.
    
    I've spent quite a while now not getting round to joining that ...
    :-).
    
    How do you find it?  Useful?

    I have the late 2.8i, with Janspeed exhaust, btw.
    
    Do Janspeed exhausts *really* make a difference to performance?
    I no nothing about car mechanics, I should say ...
    
    Cheers
    Marc

    Anyone tell what the difference is between the last 2.8i special,
    and the 280?  Am I right in thinking it was cosmetic only?  Eg
    power-windows, and that sort of stuff?
    
    Why power-windows in a Capri?
    
    So you can leap out quickly?  <grin>.
    
    Cheers
    Marc

Marc,
	and anyone else with a Pinto.  Janspeed manifolds make an enormous
difference to the standard cast iron lump supplied by Ford.  Mine (in the
Marlin) had better low end torque, revved more freely, had more power and used
less petrol.  Oh yes, and it sounded better...

Dave

>and anyone else with a Pinto. 
    
    Eh?  I read a few weeks ago on a BBS about someone modifying a pinto
    - I didn't take much notice as I couldn't understand what he was
    saying ... I'm lost with anything more technical than putting petrol
    in .... :-).
    
    I didn't know I *had* a pinto!  What does it mean?
    
    Re: petrol - I only get about 21.  Which doesn't seem *too* bad
    though.
    
    How much faster is a car with a Janspeed than one without %agewise?
    
>Oh yes, and it sounded better...

    True, <smile>, though I'm in two minds about that as it's verdamnt
    noisy and turns heads.  Including heads with caps on ...
    
    What about my CCI Q. too Dave?
    
    Cheers
    Marc

    Janspeeds are really just a pain. Ok, they do seem to output more
    bhp but if you want a faster car get a turbo ;-) . I've got a 
    janspeed on my Fiesta XR2 and used to be constantly stopped with
    the following scenario :
    
    PLOD : Hello Sonny, taking that bit fast, wasn't we ?
    ME   : No officer, it's just that my exhaust is loud.
    PLOD : Oh well, we'd better check your MOT and details then.
    ME   : I haven't got them on me.
    
    Ending: Me walking away with a lovely piece of paper telling me
            to WASTE my time standing in a police station waiting for
            them to open the door so i can show my papers.
    
    Fun eh ;-)
    
    Lewis.

Pinto is an engine type, Ford used the same engine in the Cortina, Capri and
early Sierras.  It's an inline 4 cylinder engine with 2 valves per cylinder and
a single overhead cam.  Nothing very technological, but it does last well and
performs pretty good (given a few modifications).  So, given my Marlin has
a 1600 GT Pinto in it (albeit with Janspeed manifold, s/s exhaust, Webers, 
Kenlowe fan and electronic ignition), then looking under your bonnet should
be a familiar sight.

The Janspeed exhaust manifold (and I guess the rest of the system) is a tuned
system to allow the gases to be extracted more efficiently from the engine.  A
good exhaust will create a back pressure and suck the gases out.  When I added
mine, the car revved more freely and had more grunt, particularly in the low
end.  Top speed was unaffected, however, the Marlin has all the aerodynamic
properties of a brick, so maybe other cars would notice.  It made no more noise,
but, the then exhaust had a single (front Cortina) box and was pretty noisy.
It made that noise more purposeful.  The s/s system with one huge box made
everything quiet and added a little more performance, but that's another story.
The Janspeed also gave me a few more mpg.

Happily, I've never been stopped by the Police, and you can't say that the 
Marlin is inconspicuous.

Dave

>>	
derek who's just had to fork out 200 quid on Anti-plod kit
>>

>Janspeeds are really just a pain. Ok, they do seem to output more
>bhp but if you want a faster car get a turbo ;-) . I've got a 

    Turbo a 2.8 Capri?  No I don't think so.  It's a stoopid enough
    car anyway, without making it *silly* :->.
    
    Slight exhaust/turbo cost difference too.
    
>Ending: Me walking away with a lovely piece of paper telling me
>            to WASTE my time standing in a police station waiting for
>            them to open the door so i can show my papers.
    

    I don't suppose they take xeroxed mailed copies?
    
    Cheers
    Marc
        

    < Note 418.10 by MARVIN::RUSLING "MicroServer Phase V Session Control" >
                     -< Pinto, a type of bean, isn't it? >-

>Pinto is an engine type, Ford used the same engine in the Cortina, Capri and
>early Sierras.  It's an inline 4 cylinder engine with 2 valves per cylinder and
>a single overhead cam.  
    
    But mine has *six* cylinders ???
    
>Nothing very technological, but it does last well and

    Yee-up, sort of gathered that.
    
    Cheers
    Marc
   

Not 3 on each side in a V shape?  If so, its an Essex, different engine 
altogether.

Dave

    
    Thought the 2.8 was a Cologne, not the old Essex?

    the old engine in capris and grannies of 2998cc capaicity was the
    Essex engine. The later capris, Mk II Granadas and Mk III Granadas
    use the German (Cologne) designed engine. Smoother, more bhp amd
    more torque. From Ford's perspective it was a later generation engine
    and cheaper to build. I think that I have the Ford Engine manual
    that covers the Essex motor somewhere in the loft.

    
    The old engine of the BRITISH capris etc was the Essex.
    
    I think you'll also find that even when the BRITISH capri engine was
    the Essex, the BRITISH racing cars were actually using the Cologne.
    
    Brian Muir and the Wiggins Teape Capri spring to mind winning at Oulton
    in the wet.

    As I recall the 2.6 was quite a hairy beast....
    
    The current 2.9 is the cologne motor enlarged (did they increase
    bore stroke or both?

    continuing on this saga weren't some tuning establishments offering
    the US 2.3L pinto engine parts as "Tuning" components sometime back?

    At one time Piper offered a twin-cam head for the pinto block. Looking
    at the engine i think you needed every inch of the 'power bulge'
    on the bonnet of the 'face-lift' Capri to shoe-horn it in.
    
    Went like the unmentionable off the highly polished digging implement,
    but didn't get the impression it had day-to-day reliability, more
    your race it, rebuild it, syndrome.     Perfect for Derek  :-)
    
    T. 

    
    Re: .22
    
    Interesting one that....
    
    
    SMITH_A signs his/herself T.
    
    should this be in the silly questions topic....

...and signs him/herself Tony/Toni.

Do I win �5?

Scott

    re. last two...
    
    Capris don't do this to you, parents do.
    
    Christened Antony, but have always been called Tony.
    
    Crisp fiver winging it's way to you Scott. Oi!
    
    T. 
    who should be A, 
    and henceforth will be AMS

    
    Capris make a nice bonfire as well.....
    
    :-)
    
    
    
    on A34 opposite BP garage, Whitchurch

    this used to be a common occurance with 3.0 litre Essex V6's.
    
    Something to do with the heat on the carb' in the V of the block.
    
    
    AMS

    
    I don't know what it was...too many orange flamey bits around :-)
    
    You could tell that it was once a capri, but not much else !

    Well, its a few years since the base note was posted.
    I've been away for a while and wanted to let everyone know
    I'm back & ready to talk about capris (if anyone wants to listen)
    
    		--Mike Sharp
    (who, btw, now has a '73 2.6L, a '76 2.3L AND a '76 2.8L all of
     which are residing in Acton, Mass. U.S.A.)

    
    Welcome back Mike.
    
    Your arrival on the scene prompted me to read back through the note and 
    someone said the Cologne 2.8 had more torque than the 3.0 Essex.
    
    RUBBISH! :^) Torque the Essex has in bucket loads, ok it lacks grunt
    (BHP) in standard form, but it runs rings around even the 2.9 Cologne 
    V6 (enlarged to improve the torque after much criticism of the 2.8).
    
    BTW, was the RS2600 and RS3100 a Cologne engine? I don't think it was
    an Essex (maybe the 3.1 was?), but I thought the Cologne was a fairly
    recent design (late 70s/early 80s).
    
    Mark (Who has an Essex sitting in a real sportscar! :^))

�    Mark (Who has an Essex sitting in a real sportscar! :^))
    
    To save me reading through the Kit Cars topic(s), does
    your sportscar have a roof ?  And what colour is it ?
    
    J.R.

    
    John,
    
    Just flick to note 480! :^)
    
    Mark

    The Tank has just developed a rattle - well, not so much a rattle as a
    tap-tap-tap from one of the cylinder heads.
    As this just happened within 100 miles of having a major service done
    at a local emporium, I put it down to a valve clearance going out of
    adjustment due to something not having been properly tightened, and
    took it back in.
    They now tell me that there is not a lot of oil getting to the top-end
    and they suspect that the camshaft bearings have turned, blocking off
    the oil flow (apparently a common problem in the Colgne unit).
    They readjusted the clearances, and it was quiet enough when I
    collected it. 20 miles further on, and it is definitely rattling again.
    The Ford garage quoted �800 to have the engine removed, stripped down
    and have the cam bearings replaced.
    Unfortunately at the moment I don't have the time to get to grips
    (well, spanners) with it myself, so I am considering an exchange
    reconditioned unit.
    I have seen a couple of ads in X&M offering Cologne units for �580,
    with 6 year, 60,000 mile guarantees.
    * Does anyone have experience of the quality of such recon engines ?
    * Does anyone have experience of the worth of such guarantees ?
    
    I then started pondering the fact that the 2.9 is basically a Cologne
    unit, so does anyone know is it a straight swap ?
    
    And if I am going to spend all that money anyway -
    I noticed an Ad in the X&M for performance tuned 3.1 litre exchange
    motors - any experiences with such like ?
    
    Oh, and by the way, while I am in this note - 1994 is the Capri's 25th
    birthday.
    
    Rob 

    
    Rob,
    
    	Where are you ?
    
    	I have a 2.8i which I'm stripping, I need to sell the bits to pay
    	for the rebuild of my other 2.8.
    
    	The one I'm stripping has a good/fast 2.8, with various new bits
    	and lots of bills etc to prove the work thats been done.....
    
    Graham
    
    BTW, I'm based in North Staffordshire......
    
    
    
    

    Graham,
    	I am in Fareham.  
    
    What condition is the motor in ? How many miles ? How much ? It may
    well be worth my while popping up there.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Rob

    
    Rob,
    
    	Officially it's done 126K approx., but it's had various bits of
    work done. Off the top of my head :- skimmed heads/head gaskets/couple
    of valves, Waterpump, injectors ....
    
    I'll check out the paperwork this w/e if you like, and let you know on
    Tuesday (not in Monday)...
    
     The engine is still in the shell at my Fathers house, along with the
    'box, rear axle and fuel tank.
    
    I've also got a full interior from the same car (X reg 2.8i) and many
    other bit's if you're interested.... as long as you don't want body
    panels %^(
    
    Graham
    
    BTW. what type/vintage is yours ??

    Hi,
    	I shall have to look into the pros & cons. My main problem is time
    do do anything (I don't have a free weekend until the end of January!).
    So I would have to work out how to get it, and how to install it. FWIW,
    mine has only done 92K...
    
    Mine is a 'B' reg. So far I have had the rear chassis members replaced,
    and had new shocks and stiffer springs fitted at the rear. I have
    replaced the old exhaust (which was getting noisy) with the CCI club
    (2" bore) exhaust, complete system including manifolds. That is even
    louder than the original, which wasn't really my intention...
    
    Inside I have treated the leather on the seats, which have come up like
    new, and I am generally tidying things up. There is just a tiny bit of
    rust starting inside the wheel arches, which I plan to sort out next
    year. Having the engine go was an unexpected blow, as it had been going
    so well up to now (including a recent trip to/from Munich).
    
    Tell you one thing I do need (which is small enough to post!).
    One of the plastic hinges for the rear parcels shelf.
    I got carried away and bought a new shelf from the club to replace the
    old, sagging item, only to find that you are supposed to use the hinges
    from the old one - and part of the reason it was sagging was because of
    the broken hinge!
    
    Apart from that I just have one entertaining problem to fix - the rear
    screen wash squirts in time to the bass notes on the radio. In-car
    sound-to-wet unit, or something !
    
    Rob 

    Rob,
    
    	I'll see what I can do about a hinge, I have one good parcel shelf
    and one knackered one....
    
    The rear screen wash problem sounds like some seriously dodgy wiring
    *unless* you have speakers which are earthed to nearby bodywork instead
    of being wired back to the Stereo, in which case could it somehow be
    finding a route through the washer-pump ???
    
    I've got the 'club Stainless System on mine (or rather I did have),
    they're very tough, the accident that wrote-off my latest Capri cracked
    one of the manifolds presumably because the stainless pipes didn't give
    enough.
    
    The time-scale isn't a real problem, if I know you want it; I'll sort
    out the bills this w/e and then if you're still interested you can make
    me an offer.....
    
    
    Graham
    
    

    
    Hi Rob,
    
    ....a lot of the paperwork for the car is with my accountants -
    ex-contractor you see - I should get it back in the New Year.
    
     Also, it's unlikely I'll get the engine out for a few weeks with
    Christmas and everything (and it's too cold to be wiedling spanners in
    the open air unless you have to !). The coolant is drained anyway, so
    there won't be any problems with that... 
    
     If you're still interested, perhaps you could mail me ?
    
     I'm pretty sure I've got a hinge you can have, I'll try to sort it out
    over the Christmas holiday....
    
    
    Graham.
    
    (all-in-1 address Graham Stone @OLO, phone :- 851 2714)
    

    HELLO'
    IT'S MY FIRST VENTURE INTO VTX NOTES SO A BRIEF INTRO.I'M ANDY AND I
    RESIDE IN BRISTOL, AVON, U.K. I AM THE PROUD OWNER OF:-
    
    CAPRI 2.0 L 'S'    1981
    CAPRI 3.0L GHIA    1980
    
    AT PRESENT THE V6 IS UNDERGOING AN ALMOST TOTAL BODY REBUILD (THE
    ENGINE HAVING ONLY DONE 5K SINCE REBUILD, LIGHTENED, BALANCED ETC)
    BUT THE 2.0 'S' IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND IS IN PRETTY GOOD NICK.
    I'M TAKING TO THE CCI 'SUMMER CAMP' IN AUGUST....IS ANYONE ELSE OUT
    THERE GOING, OR INTERESTED IN GOING?????.I CAN SUPPLY DETAILS IF
    NECESSARY.
    
                            ANDY.
    

    Welcome Andy to CARS_UK.
    
    Pleased to see you have found your way round the conference.
    
    Just a polite tip, perhaps you could use lower case as it's easier on
    the eyes and in the noting world using caps is considered that you
    are shouting.
    
    Royston

    
    Hi Andy, nice to see a new reply in the Capri note. I have a 2.8i which
    has been sitting in a garage for the last three or four years in need
    of some serious body repairs - due to a little accident - I'm hoping to
    have the funds available in the next 12 months to get it fixed and have
    a back-to-metal respray and re-build done, as the mechanics are sound
    and relatively low mileage (X reg, 59k miles). I'm a member of CCI, but I
    haven't been to any of the shows, a friend of mine does go to most of
    them though and shows a 3.0 S (or is it a Ghia ?)  at CCI and other
    motor show events - I'll check the reg. next time I see the car,
    perhaps you could look out for him at Summer Camp.
    
    anyway, welcome to CARS_UK, and the wonderful world of Notes...
    
    Graham 

    Graham,
    Thanks for taking the time out to reply to my first venture into
    notes,I was wandering whether anyone was still reading the Capri notes
    as it would appear to have been quite some time since anyone had
    replied to this section of notes.
    It seems a shame to keep a 2.8i stuffed in a garage (even though it's
    not quite a 3.0........but i'm biased) so I hope you manage to get the
    repairs done and get out and enjoy driving what is fast becoming a
    classic.
    I don't know what area of the country you are from but I have got some
    quite useful contacts for sourcing parts,advice etc,
    
    				Regards
    
    				Andy.
    

    �                       -< essex is best >-

    � It seems a shame to keep a 2.8i stuffed in a garage (even though it's
    � not quite a 3.0........but i'm biased)
    
    Yep, the Essex is a nice engine, even if the 2.8/2.9 does have more
    power.
    
    Mark

    
    >> Yep, the Essex is a nice engine, even if the 2.8/2.9 does have more
    >> power.
    
    ..not to mention that the handling is a lot better on the 2.8's -
    although it still has it's limitations %^)
    
    The damage to the Capri isn't too bad, but unfortunately it needs to be
    be put on one of those optiflex/jig things to re-align the n/s front
    chassis rail & inner wing, this in turn means the vehicle has to be
    stripped - the cost of which caused the Insurance company to write it off.
     I've stripped all but the engine & transmission, which are being left in
    'til the last moment as they take up less room in the car.
    
    I also have a complete interior and many other bits& pieces from a second
     2.8i (X reg again) in my garage if you know anyone who's looking for one.
    This is from the one bought after the first accident, unfortunately it was
    totalled in a much bigger accident.
    
    Graham

    � ..not to mention that the handling is a lot better on the 2.8's -
    � although it still has it's limitations %^)
    
    I don't know about that...my Essex experience isn't with a Capri...
    
    Mark

    Graham,
    If you can give me some idea of the sort of prices you are looking for,
    I know someone who might be interested.....me.Have you got the rear
    single leaf springs and/or front struts with discs and calipers??, 'cos
    these would also be of interest.
    
				Regards,
    
    				Andy.
    

    Are there any Capri owners/restorers out there ? I could do with some
    advice.
    I have just bought a 1985 Laser which needs some work. One of the jobs
    is to get the rear screen wiper working. In the tailgate, there are 2
    wires going to the motor. One, which arrives via the LH gas strut,
    supplies the parking power and seems to work. The other is cut or
    broken and I don't know where it should go. I cannot see anywhere for
    it to exit the tailgate. My Haynes manual is confusing, as it shows
    each wire using a tailgate strut, one being shared with the heated rear
    window ! In reality, the HRW uses the RH strut & the wiper park feed
    uses the LH strut, but where does the other wire go ?
    At the dashboard end, there should be a timer relay. I can't find it.
    Anyone know where it should be & how I can identify it from any other
    relays ?
    
    
    			Regards, Ian

    Ian,
    
    I can't remember the details off-hand, but I'll try and remember to
    check for you at the weekend - I have a 2.8i in my garage.
    
    Graham
    
    BTW, could I interest you in a complete 2.8i Shark Grey Check interior
    ? Recaros, matching rear seats, side trims, console, dash top and a
    steering wheel ??
    
    

    
    Ian,
    
    as a colleague has just pointed out the third contact is a spring
    loaded one in the bottom left of the tailgate - there's a corresponding
    contact on the body work - perhaps these need cleaning or re-soldering
    ?
    
    G.

    Graham,
    	Thanks, you are quite right. There are two rubber-clad wotsits on the
    rear panel - the RH one is the boot light switch, the LH one is the
    wiper contact, and corresponding with this on the tailgate is
    a..........hole - I guess there should be another rubber mounted
    contact. I lashed a wire from here to the wiper & it all worked. It
    should be easy to sort out now. I think the timer relay in the wiring
    diagram must be limited to certain models.
    
    
    		Many thanks, Ian