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How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 8:06 am
by Oilburner
Hi all
New to the group
I am looking for a 2.8i but concerned that I will buy a modified “other” spec with a changed engine etc. Not saying there is anything wrong with the other models but if I pay for a 2.8 I want a 2.8 as it came out of the factory

How do I check I am getting a genuine 2.8i?

I have spent hours on google but struggling to find a definitive answer on the model differences (especially shell).
Also are the commission numbers different?

Any help much appreciated
Thanks

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 9:25 am
by Caprigear
The VIN plate will give you the information you require but you'll need to understand what the letters and numbers are telling you. Also, if you get close up pictures of particularly the engine bay and interior then post them up you will get advice on the particular car.

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 9:40 am
by pbar
Oilburner wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2020 8:06 am I am looking for a 2.8i but concerned that I will buy a modified “other” spec with a changed engine etc.
I think that's unlikely, certainly don't really hear of it happening.

But I'm sure someone on here will provide details of the obvious shell structure differences so you can double check them on the car.

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 9:43 am
by pbar
Here is some info which might help you out -

Yes the 3.0/2.8 shells have 7 extra plates each side around the front suspension, obvious ones under the bonnet - strut tops and corner brackets at back corners of the engine bay.

Under the wing you have a large plate bracing the strut tower to the inner wing. Then you have 4 more, the best one to tell if it is a V6 shell is the large one that ties in the roll bar mounts and the tower as this would be a pig to swap to a 4-cyl. as it goes behind the tower. This along with #4 strengthens the chassis rail along it's whole length.

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 10:10 am
by Oilburner
The reinforcement tip is excellent - thanks
How do I decipher the vin

Thanks
PS looking at the photo of the 2.8 listed on for sale I can’t see any plate on the turret tops - am I missing something?

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 10:11 am
by Oilburner
Does anyone have photos of these extra plates please

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 10:17 am
by Oilburner
Just realised the photo is not on this site (same car) so here it is
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1162572

Image

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 10:23 am
by andyd
Oilburner wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2020 10:17 am Just realised the photo is not on this site (same car) so here it is
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1162572

Image
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=53351

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 11:33 am
by pbar
You can see them on these cars. Not sure if all 2.8's would have had them, as you say they are not on the pic of the car you are looking at, may depend on year? Or even if these are repair plates. Someone else will advise.

Image

Image

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 11:42 am
by Peter-S
Oilburner wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2020 10:11 am Does anyone have photos of these extra plates please
These are the plates under the wing.
The small long one half way up the wing should not be there on the nearside for a 2.8 as it is a battery tray reinforcement. It would therefore be on the other side of a genuine 2.8 shell. This shot is a 3.0 shell which has mostly the same reinforcement plates

Image

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:23 pm
by D366Y
In your picture Peter am I right in thinking that the sections I've marked in red are the support plates, the green one is the battery tray, is the blue one part of the re-enforcement plates as well or not?
Capture.JPG
Thanks

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:26 pm
by pbar
Peter - can you see the top strut plates on the two pics I posted? Are they standard on the 2.8 then. On the car which Oilburner is looking at, they do not seem to be on the engine bay pic.

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:13 pm
by Peter-S
pbar wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:26 pm Peter - can you see the top strut plates on the two pics I posted? Are they standard on the 2.8 then. On the car which Oilburner is looking at, they do not seem to be on the engine bay pic.
Hi Paul

Yes they would be standard on 6 cylinder cars. Certainly they seem to be missing in the car Oilburner is looking at. Could be something to do with the restoration 11 years ago if they were cut out due to corrosion perhaps but you would expect them to be put back.

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:17 pm
by Peter-S
D366Y wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:23 pm In your picture Peter am I right in thinking that the sections I've marked in red are the support plates, the green one is the battery tray, is the blue one part of the re-enforcement plates as well or not?
Capture.JPG
Thanks
Yes Dan red and blue are standard strengthening plates on 6 cylinder shells. The green battery one obviously depends on which side the battery tray is so 4 pots and 3.0 litre is nearside and 2.8 and, I think, autos on the offside.
There are also a couple of small extra plates at the bottom of the tower - see the right hand edge of the bigger red circle.

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:29 pm
by pbar
Peter-S wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:13 pm
Hi Paul

Yes they would be standard on 6 cylinder cars. Certainly they seem to be missing in the car Oilburner is looking at. Could be something to do with the restoration 11 years ago if they were cut out due to corrosion perhaps but you would expect them to be put back.
Thank you Peter.

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:38 pm
by Oilburner
Thanks all
I think this give me enough to check the body
Any info on checking the numbers please
Cheers

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:56 pm
by pbar
This may help you out -

viewtopic.php?t=47845

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 4:13 pm
by Arnoldhar
I would say this car has a little history, according to the DVLA MOT site its been of the road or not MOTed between 2009 and 2019, the inner wings are 100% wrong for a 2.8, the nearside looks from the photo to rise towards the strut top so the strengthening plate may have been filled over, the drivers side looks flat, could be the photos, maybe its had new inner wing on the drivers side and they fitted a 4 cylinder one?. The strengthening plate normally rises at 45 degrees under the wing lip. Personally I would be asking a lot of questions if I really wanted the car

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 4:45 pm
by Andrew 2.8i
Hi,
This is a good site for decoding the VIN plate:
http://capri.fordever.cz/Tipy/tipy_cz.htm#v%C3%BDroba

Andrew.

Re: How do I check 2.8 is factory original

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 6:12 pm
by Bug
Obviously new wings as no aerial?