Lowering pictures....

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Fordoholic Nick
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Lowering pictures....

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

Hi chaps,

Well a long day was had down in Dartford today over at Tickover but deffo worth it as I finally got the suspension sorted and its now sitting so much better than before. Hope you can see by the "before" "after" pics below its been done just right without slamming it to the floor :lol:

All I ever really wanted was a nice drop over both wheels which Clive and Gus have achieved so I am very happy indeed.

But I had some very 'interesting' info from Clive to say the least when I went back to pick up B112 which deserves a new paragraph of its own !!! The old multi leaf springs were not great quality aftermarket ones but...get this....they were not only both different brands (!!!) but more worrying they were bleedin different sizes !!!!!!!!!!!! Yep, no joke, Clive had them laid out on the floor and one deffo had a bigger arch by a good inch easy !!!! They were two completely different springs ffs !!!! I always thought B112 had an uneven stance from the back but I just kept on putting it down to possible road camber so my gut feeling all this time was right...but two different springs !!! I was gonna keep them to give them away to someone who might need a decent secondhand pair but due to the poor quality and different sizes they will be scrapped !!!

Now the front suspension I bought some new front struts/legs from CCI and as the old ones had the shocks bonded inside Clive fitted nice new oil filled ones in the new strut/legs.I misunderstood him as I thought he had fitted gaz ones :lol: :lol: Also the dust screens fitted to the bottom of the old struts/legs had corroded a fair bit so Clive did not really want to fit these old rusted ones to my nice new set up so new ones were fitted. Now the front springs is a bit of a story too as Clive had not seen these for a long time. They were not the right ones for a Laser and were very very hard and the wrong size too so he fitted shorter 145lb springs just to tweak the front down a tad to get it as level with the back as he could. The pics don't show this as much as on a slope but yep he did a great job considering all the old stuff was quite poor and wrong sizes etc. He pretty much had to start afresh with it all.

Anyway, just took a couple of pics when I got home hope you can see the comparison even though my garage road is a bit of a hill !!!!

BEFORE - Back end sitting very high, front a tad
Image20180426_151427 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

AFTER - Back end deffo sitting so much better over the wheel without being slammed, and front tweaked down nicely too
Image20180621_172604 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

Image20180621_161401 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

The back is sitting soooo much better now. Looks like my bumper is all mashed in but its the reflection of light :lol:
Image20180621_161418 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

Image20180621_172616 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

You can really see the difference with this pic compared to the 'before' pic at the top
Image20180621_172611 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

So all in all I am very happy with it all. When I get a chance I will whip a front wheel off to show the new set up

Had a great drive home. Yep its a firmer ride which I actually like and the capri deffo has a real 'planted' feel about it especially cornering at any sort of speed. So am very happy indeed with the drive now...very happy indeed !! Thing is now the Capri is covered in dirty dust from the tickover workshop so a decent wet wash now be required then the whole pic will look even better as I can only see a filthy car at the moment which is doing my nut in :lol: :lol: :lol:

Anyhow that was my day, Very worthwhile and a long time coming. Not only is it great to have new parts fitted but a big relief that I have got rid of what was there !!! I am still finding these secrets of B112 and as I want to drop out the axle, prop and gearbox to refurbish God knows what secrets I will find with these too :lol:

Oh....one last picture...Jason's stunner of a Laser sitting in Tickover as I was leaving, waiting to be seen by the chaps. I was lucky enough to get a ride in it with Jason earlier on. Lovely lovely Capri :)
Image20180621_160223 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

All the best

Nick
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by andyd »

Great job that Nick, the car sits just right now all round :cheers:

Amazing some bodges that are done and so often go unnoticed until a professional looks at it :?
Tickover certainly know their stuff :D

Jasons car looking good too!
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Caprifan Rob »

Fantastic Nick, what a result. Transforms the look of the car (& the handling by the sounds of it). A great job done by a professional team. Enjoy mate :cheers:
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Jasonmarie »

Really looks good now Nick and sits right yes they really know there stuff there also they have the small extra bits that you needed , i can’t belive you had odd springs on and that was not picked up in the MOT but perhaps they don’t check things like that . Also great to meet up with you today . So yes I think I am having a steering rack and new coil fitted so hope to pick up tommorow as the weather looks good this weekend .

Hope you did not get to burnt out in that sun today . :beer:
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Hi Nick,
Your car looks superb, the team at Tickover did a really good job there. 8-)
Jason's car also looks fantastic. I nearly didn't recognise it without mud splashed up the side... :)
I see that he's reverted back to the white plates.

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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Bertie »

Well that has made a real positive difference Nick, in other words it looks fantastic and no doubt will improve again once everything has settled in. Sounds like you were really pleased with the ride home and bet you couldn't get the smile off your face knowing you... Well done tickover :cool:
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by fordperv »

That looks a hell of a lot better I bet your glad you had it done now, bet it goes around corners better now as well, when are the engine mods coming to make the most of the new found handling :whistle:
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Paul G »

Looks great Nick. Glad you're happy with it. Bet it drives really well now.

Looking forward to seeing it at the Ace.
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Taff50ish »

Hi Nick,

Wow, what with your new wheels n tyres and those freshly painted drums, that is one transformed ride you have there fella. Brilliant result!!! I will miss that 1970’s look at the back end though!!! :xd: :xd: :xd: I bet your happy you got that exhaust up a bit too earlier this year now.... We’ll chuffed for you Nick. Looking forward to the next Convoy already. Cheers, all the best,

John....

Hey Jason,

Must say your Cappa looks great too parked up there, very photogenic in the shade, nice one, hope you get it back all sorted to your liking as Nick has his, cheers for now....

John...
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

Hi chaps,

Thank you all very much for your very kind comments. Very much appreciated. Apologies for the poor quality pics. It really does sit lovely now.

Andy, thanks mate. Yep I am still finding botches on B112 so great to know the bad bits have been replaced with quality new parts by the experts of Tickover.

Rob, cheers fella. Yep the stance is what I was hoping to acheive without going slammed to the floor :lol: Abd the handling is deffo better albeit a bit firmer. I can hear Mrs Fordiholuc Nick now..... :swear: :spank: :lol:

Jason, It was an absolute pleasure to finally meet you today fella and your stunning Capri too. It really is a beautiful Capri and its a credit to you !! Lovely to meet Marie too. Thanks too for your kind words on mine. Jason the Tickover chaps were just as you said they were...brilliant !! Looking forward to chatting Arsenal with your Dad :D

Andrew, Thanks mate. I am a happy bunny !!! Took a while to save the money to get it done but well worth it. Finally not getting niggled by my high rear !!! And great peace of mind a great job done by Capri loving experts !!

Des, Cheers ! Yep had a great and different drive home. Really handles very well so very pleased i decided to get the single leafs fitted. If they do 'settle' a tad then even better but really glad how it is. Hope you had a great day today Des :cheers:

Mr foodperv, Thanks fella. Both looks and perf deffo improved. Was well worth it. You sound just like Dave 'SmokeEm' re the engine mods :o :lol: :lol:

Paul, thats very kind mate. Did not really have plans to go for single leafs+lowering blocks but glad I did and that the handling is great ! Yep be great to see you too at The Ace. Hope all is well with you Paul. Be great if one of your Capri's can make it too :)

Hey John, Cheers fella. Nice one !! Hope you had a good eve :beer:
You of all people know how much my 70's high rear end was frustrating me all this time !!! Still cant keep up with your highly tuned 2.8i special tho :lol: Yep looking forward to our next convoy. Only seemed like yest i was thinking of 15" wheels and new suspension....now a few months and €£££ later here I am chuffed to bits. Thanks for the initial encouragenent fella :)

Chaps I will remove a front wheel over the weekend and take a pic of the quality work done by Clive and Gus at Tickover....but not to be confused with another Gus we all know :lol: :lol:

Cheers :wave:
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by SmokeEm »

Looks great Nick - 145lb are just right for fast road. 190's are a little too stiff for my liking on a road car.
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

SmokeEm wrote:Looks great Nick - 145lb are just right for fast road. 190's are a little too stiff for my liking on a road car.
Thanks Dave.

In all my excitement when dropping B112 into them I completely forgot to ask them about the spring ratings as you and Neil both strongly advised the 145lb would be spot on so when i went to pick it up and Clive told me he had fitted 145lb springs I was well chuffed. He had the old springs to show me how hard they were. Totally wrong is what he said. Clive did say though that nothing surprises him after seeing my leaf springs that were both different brands/sizes. This happened alot during the 90's when everything about the Capri was cheap and readily available including cars themselves. Parts were fitted just to keep them going without a worry on whether they were the most suitable option. Now Clive said they spend alot of time "un-doing" the 90's :lol:

Next jod is drop out rear axle and prop and get them refurbished but need to start saving for this now....

Cheers Dave :)
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Jasonmarie »

Just looking at your pictures again nick and yes it was sitting really high , but now looks spot on and is sitting in a straight line with the body ( if that makes sense ) also with the 15” wheels it really Makes the car look fast when not moving .

So roll on ace cafe as I noticed steve has had his car all detailed up again and the paint work looks like glass , I would have put up the link as it’s on Facebook but don’t have a clue how I do that . So with all the shinning capris I better hope my autoglym wax works . Also hoping number one John has fitted the amp as I can’t wait to here the sound . Yes I will buy your lunch John . And we can put you next to my dad nick as he is a gunner .

So have a great drive out this week end and enjoy that super Capri of yours .


Andrew I kept out the mud this time just hope I don’t do the same thing at the ace cafe as I might get a name for my self as one of them young wheel spinners . :cheers:
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

Jasonmarie wrote:Just looking at your pictures again nick and yes it was sitting really high , but now looks spot on and is sitting in a straight line with the body ( if that makes sense ) also with the 15” wheels it really Makes the car look fast when not moving .
Thanks very much Jason. I have to look at it again myself as I got so used to it sitting up at the back, now know to be because of 'those' bleedin odd multileafs, so to see it sitting like all of your Capris is great !!!

Hmmm to quote you if I may mate... "makes the car look fast when not moving"...this just about sums up my driving :lol: :lol: :lol:
Jasonmarie wrote: I noticed steve has had his car all detailed up again and the paint work looks like glass
Yep was talking to Steve today on fb and just seen the video. Wow !! His Special looks amazing with the ceramic coating maintenance update. Mario has worked miracles with his paintwork as I seen at Deal myself. I am so happy for Steve how its all worked out for him and credit to him for sticking with it. His Special is in grand hands with him owning it, that's for sure !! Its absolutely stunning aint it !!!!! Cant post up fb videos here mate as you need to be on fb to see it.

Yep cant wait to meet your dad Jason, especially as you told me yesterday hes a goner too :D

Good luck with yours at Tickover today fella. Let us know how you get on as I know it was a steering issue, but now I know myself first hand that the Tickover chaps are brilliant. Absolutely no job too big or small !!! I want to leave mine back in with them when I save up more money again as I reckon my prop/axle need refurbishing as of that noise I get from it. Am planning when to leave it back with them already :D

Have a great day Jason,

All the best

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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Fordoholic Nick wrote:Yep cant wait to meet your dad Jason, especially as you told me yesterday hes a goner
:?
I hope you mean a Gooner.....
I met Jason and his Dad at the CCI Nationals and they are cut from the same cloth. A pair of right characters! :)

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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

Andrew 2.8i wrote:
Fordoholic Nick wrote:Yep cant wait to meet your dad Jason, especially as you told me yesterday hes a goner
:?
I hope you mean a Gooner.
:shock: :oops: :lol: Well spotted Andrew !

Jason.... :sorry: fella. I did of course mean Gooner and not 'Goner" :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Jasonmarie »

Gooner or gunner or football I have not got a clue . So mine is back all sorted I had a new steering rack with a new coil with the tracking done . Had a quick blast down the motorway and she drives even better so yes another happy customer from Tickover .
So not as good as nicks pictures but here’s my new coil .

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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Jasonmarie wrote:Image
Looks great under your bonnet, Jason! 8-)
You lads are lucky to have Tickover on your doorstep. I'd have to travel a long way to find a Capri specialist....

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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by D366Y »

Andrew 2.8i wrote: You lads are lucky to have Tickover on your doorstep. I'd have to travel a long way to find a Capri specialist....

Andrew.
That's why I'm lucky enough and glad Paul G lives close by!!
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Re: Lowering pictures....

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

D366Y wrote:That's why I'm lucky enough and glad Paul G lives close by!!
Yep Paul really does know his stuff dont he Danny :)
I was really impressed with Tickover as they replaced all my below par okd suspension and replaced all new suspension and set up in a few hours. Only 45mins drive from me too. I have plans next to get axle and prop dropped and refurbed so will deffo use Tickover for this. Having a Capri specialist this near is great....apart from The Dartford Crossing and Tunnel :shock: :lol:
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