Well I took the Capri for it's MOT after doing most of the work I thought it needed...
I'm certainly out of touch with these old cars as the failure sheet through up a few surprises.
About a year ago, I'd stripped down the brakes and cleaned them all and thought they were all fine but they failed in almost every way possible!
So I decided to bite the bullet and just replace the lot. I got some new brake calipers for a mkII Excort and fitted them to the front with some new pads. I also got some new rear wheel cylinders and fitted those making the best braking system this car has ever had!
A few other bits and bobs like indicator bulb, idler arm bush, washers and the list was done.
Best of all, I took the Hooper Consul Capri back for it's retest and it passed! I couldn't believe it when the garage phoned me and handed over the MOT certificate, I thought this day would never come...
All I need now is some sunshine to take the car out for a drive after all this time.
I'm certainly out of touch with these old cars as the failure sheet through up a few surprises.
About a year ago, I'd stripped down the brakes and cleaned them all and thought they were all fine but they failed in almost every way possible!
So I decided to bite the bullet and just replace the lot. I got some new brake calipers for a mkII Excort and fitted them to the front with some new pads. I also got some new rear wheel cylinders and fitted those making the best braking system this car has ever had!
A few other bits and bobs like indicator bulb, idler arm bush, washers and the list was done.
Best of all, I took the Hooper Consul Capri back for it's retest and it passed! I couldn't believe it when the garage phoned me and handed over the MOT certificate, I thought this day would never come...
All I need now is some sunshine to take the car out for a drive after all this time.
26/05: MOT day getting closer...
Well I finally got round to doing a bit more work on the Consul Capri today.
Initially I was going to fit the last remaining bumper bolt that I picked up from the nut and bolts store a few weeks ago. After reversing the car out of the garage and getting all the tools ready, I discovered that the bracket that the bolt actually attaches to isn't there any more!
I must have removed it when cleaning up the underside and never refitted it. I spend a while searching through the boot for it but to no avail. I did however come across a few other parts that I'd forgotten I ever had. To mention just a few...
Another job on my list was to add some sealant to the manifold gasket as although the gasket was fitted new a few months ago and done up tight enough, it was still bubbling when the engine got hot.
So I added the sealant but never got time to take it for a spin to see if it fixed the problem as baby Jessica was waking from her afternoon sleep and I needed to get her up and play on the slide, etc.
Initially I was going to fit the last remaining bumper bolt that I picked up from the nut and bolts store a few weeks ago. After reversing the car out of the garage and getting all the tools ready, I discovered that the bracket that the bolt actually attaches to isn't there any more!
I must have removed it when cleaning up the underside and never refitted it. I spend a while searching through the boot for it but to no avail. I did however come across a few other parts that I'd forgotten I ever had. To mention just a few...
- A Geoff Howe hot road camshaft. - I bought this about 18 years ago to fit into my old Ford Anglia but never got round to fitting it. - It'll be one for ebay when I get round to it.
- A brand new and never used chrome trim that fits onto the number petrol plate flap.
- A bunch of randon Ford five star badges.
Another job on my list was to add some sealant to the manifold gasket as although the gasket was fitted new a few months ago and done up tight enough, it was still bubbling when the engine got hot.
So I added the sealant but never got time to take it for a spin to see if it fixed the problem as baby Jessica was waking from her afternoon sleep and I needed to get her up and play on the slide, etc.
27/02: Pictures coming soon
I'll get round to adding some pictures soon. They'll be following the story of the car so the first pictures will be when I first took delivery of the Capri with further pictures being added as the story unfolds.
12/01: Fitted the new brake pads
Well I can cross one of the jobs off the list. I got hold of some new brake pads last week. This was a little easier for my Capri as years ago, I fitted some Brake calipers from a MkII Escort as the original Consul Capri ones had seized up solid. The fit was absolutely perfect, they just bolted on. All I had to do was grind off the inner lip from the outer brake pad. I needed to do this as the pad went in too far and caught on the hub. Just grinding off about 2mm from the inner lip of the pad backing plate only did the job.
Luckily, many years down the line I remembered this point and spent about ten minutes grinding down the new pads and they fitted perfectly.
Luckily, many years down the line I remembered this point and spent about ten minutes grinding down the new pads and they fitted perfectly.
10/01: Jobs required to get an MOT
As part of the drive to get my Hooper Capri back on the road for Summer 2007, I compiled a list of the jobs I need to complete over the next few months. The list contains all the jobs necessary to get the Consul Capri through the MOT. These jobs include:
1. Getting some front bumper bolts to fix the bumber returns into the side panels.
2. Getting and fitting some new front pads.
3. Fitting a new door catch as the current one doesn't seem to hold the door shut properly?!
4. Fixing the exhaust up properly with new mountings.
5. Fixing the washers so they actually squirt water.
6. Get and fit a new steering idler bush.
7. Fit some door straps to stop the doors from swinging right open.
8. Get and fit an accelerator pedal - I never actually got round to fitting one the first time round!
9. Drain out the old petrol and put some new unleaded in with some lead additive stuff.
10. Get and fit some new front brake pads, the old ones are practically worn to the metal!
I think that's about it for the things I can do.
I know that it needs some welding here and there but I'll be leaving that for the garage.
1. Getting some front bumper bolts to fix the bumber returns into the side panels.
2. Getting and fitting some new front pads.
3. Fitting a new door catch as the current one doesn't seem to hold the door shut properly?!
4. Fixing the exhaust up properly with new mountings.
5. Fixing the washers so they actually squirt water.
6. Get and fit a new steering idler bush.
7. Fit some door straps to stop the doors from swinging right open.
8. Get and fit an accelerator pedal - I never actually got round to fitting one the first time round!
9. Drain out the old petrol and put some new unleaded in with some lead additive stuff.
10. Get and fit some new front brake pads, the old ones are practically worn to the metal!
I think that's about it for the things I can do.
I know that it needs some welding here and there but I'll be leaving that for the garage.
This is just an intro to get things started.
In due course I'll be posting everything about my Consul Capri from the day I first saw it in a derelict garage in Speen, Buckinghamshire, UK to buying the car, restoring it, mistreating it, storing it and then trying to restore it again!
In due course I'll be posting everything about my Consul Capri from the day I first saw it in a derelict garage in Speen, Buckinghamshire, UK to buying the car, restoring it, mistreating it, storing it and then trying to restore it again!
