1979 3.0S EOD 825T

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Skoze
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1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

Hey guys,

Thought it was about time I finally introduced myself, having lurked for 6 years according to this profile!

I'm Matt, some of you might recognise the car as being 'that' Pistonheads one. Been an active member of Capri Power for a good while too, so I recognise a few names. Not sure if this should be in members cars or rebuilds, feel free to move it if necessary.

Anyway, here's some photos of my car;

Bought it in 2013, originally with a view to an x-pack build as a tribute to my dad's, built in the late 80s, before realising what a mistake that would be...

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Was happy with it as a base, it's solid enough, the interior's a little tatty and it's got a 10-foot paint job (whether it looks good from 10 feet or the previous owner painted it from 10 feet is your call), but that's fine by me and it'll be rectified at some point in its future.The car's main job with me is to be driven and enjoyed, I used it as my daily from buying it to the moment it had to come off the road.

The one thing I wasn't happy with, however, was the way it drove. Wallowed around something rotten with one knackered strut, didn't stop very well and understeered to snap oversteer if there was so much as a spot of rain in the next county.

I did my best to combat this with some coilover converted Bilsteins, initially running 275lb springs which were later swapped to 225lb, and fitting 2.8 M16 calipers with drilled vented and grooved discs, Mintex M1144 pads and a Land Rover master cylinder conversion.

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And that's how it stayed for a while, until one particularly scary moment cemented the fact the West German 'Securon' Ditchfinders had to go.
These were replaced with a set of 185/60/13 Toyos as reliably good 205s were tricky to find at the time. While it doesn't look quite so macho, I personally quite like the Harris-esque Saaaarf Landan look, being an Essex boy myself, and the levels of grip they've offered is more than enough to have me sold on them.

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Oh yeah, then the engine blew up.

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So, out it came...

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Found the problem - as suspected, it'd done that classic 3 litre thing of blowing its timing gear to pieces. Always change to steel, kids...

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And that's how it stayed for about a year or so, until a couple of weeks back when I realised how time was getting on and that I really missed it...

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So, what could've been pre-empted and avoided with a cam gear change has resulted in quite a rebuild... It's been treated to rings, new cam bearings, new gaskets and core plugs throughout, clean and paint, Burman high pressure/ high flow oil pump, Kent V63 camshaft, steel camshaft gear, recon distributor, new Sachs clutch, NGK plugs, TVR gas flowed inlet manifold and some rebuilt, seriously worked Swaymar heads, featuring 45mm inlets, 41mm exhausts and an insane amount of porting and polishing. Would be very happy if it saw anything near 170bhp through the 38dgms when done, until I do the 4-barrel conversion for a few more horses anyway 8-)

While the car is looking very sorry for itself having been sat in a lean-to for over a year, i'm on the final push to get the engine back together and in the hole, so hopefully it might see the road before winter comes and it's time to take it off of it again...

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Cheers!
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Peter-S
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Peter-S »

Hmm, six years between joining and posting. Could be a record :lol:
A very belated welcome aboard.
Nice looking car, hope you get her up and running before we lose the decent weather. Hang on though, I think that might mean you need to finish it this week!
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Andrew 2.8i
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Hi,
That's a lovely looking 3.0S you have there, a real cracker.
Hopefully, I'll see you and your car around at a show next year to get a closer look! :D

All the best,
Andrew.
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3 Litre Power
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by 3 Litre Power »

i've seen your Capri on Capri pwoer too, makes me paranoid about the cam gear in my 3.0 Ghia now as i'm almost sure it's original :o , but anyway keep us posted on the progress :wave: :applaud:
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Skoze
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

If you've any doubt, i'd get it changed over! It's possible to swap it over in situ with a bit of fiddling, so there's no reason not to!
Mine went bang literally just nipping out of a junction in traffic, and here we are a year later, still broken and £1000 into a rebuild :lol:

Andrew - will certainly be trying to hit as many shows as possible next year so i've no doubt you'll catch me around. And too right about the weather, next week is the week provided my woodruff key is ready and the rings arrive.
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3 Litre Power
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by 3 Litre Power »

i probably will change it over eventually although the damn thing has 300k miles and it keeps on going
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Caprifan Rob »

S Capri's really look good. The stance on yours is perfect & the black wheels with polished rims suit it. Glad you're enjoying it again, looks a joy to drive around, love those seats too.
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by 3 Litre Power »

Any news???? :lol:
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Skoze
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

Been stuck working unfortunately!
Most annoying, however it does mean i've been able to cover rings and shells now as well (despite what's in there being more than acceptable), so when it doers hit the road it'll be fresh as a daisy...

Real sticking point is the offset woodruff key, can't get one from anywhere, nor get one made - driving me up the wall :|
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3 Litre Power
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Car(s): 1975 Capri II 3000 Ghia factory manual, 505k kms, Sunset Red, BVR, B.I
1988 Ford Escort XR3i Cabrio, 177k kms, Red, Black Top ( Daily )
Location: In the garage...

Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by 3 Litre Power »

Sorry to hear that , hope you get hr sorted
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Skoze
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

I've found a guy who'll make them, so i'm considering getting a few full sets made should anyone else need them, but I guess it's just a matter of whether or not they'd actually be in demand these days...?
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

Update here; http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph- ... date/33097

Also made progress on the woodruff key; John Wade is the man. As soon as my shells arrive, it's show time...
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1988 Ford Escort XR3i Cabrio, 177k kms, Red, Black Top ( Daily )
Location: In the garage...

Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by 3 Litre Power »

Good progress , if you are planning about 170 Hp a Holley 500cfm 2bbl or Weber 40 DFI5 Should do as that's the carb the Stage 1 170 Hp X Pack Capri used , the Stage 2 185 Hp engine was the one with x3 42 DCNF Webers
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Skoze
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

Well, my engine needed more attention than I hoped, but another engine's turned up in the garage... Hopefully this will be the last and the car might see the road within a few weeks.

Freshly built +040, just needs some cam bearing love (an issue i'm getting so fed up with... :deadhorse: ) then it's going straight in the hole.

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3 Litre Power
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Location: In the garage...

Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by 3 Litre Power »

What's wrong with the cam bearings?
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Skoze
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

Thought they were worn/ flaky, turns out someone hadn't masked them up while priming the block so it was grey paint :doh:

Still, they'll clean up... Think they're originals but have very little wear, will test fit the cam tomorrow then dial in timing.
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Location: In the garage...

Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by 3 Litre Power »

If they're ok use them but new ones are cheap
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Skoze
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

Seem spot on really, nice and snug.

Just been out and checked the timing, i'm going to triple check in the morning when the weather's better but it's coming in about 7 degrees retarded. I seem to remember calculating one tooth's around 5.5 degrees on an Essex? Will have a play in the morning.

Couple of pics - Capri back where it belongs (almost) and still looking a bit sorry for itself. Poor bumper!

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And since my Land Rover sheared an engine mount i've been a bit limited for transport, so had to go pick up this head from the machine shop on my bike. I really, really cannot recommend it.

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We're getting there...
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3 Litre Power
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Car(s): 1975 Capri II 3000 Ghia factory manual, 505k kms, Sunset Red, BVR, B.I
1988 Ford Escort XR3i Cabrio, 177k kms, Red, Black Top ( Daily )
Location: In the garage...

Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by 3 Litre Power »

Carrying an Essex head on your back?? they weigh like 18kgs each i wouldn't be able to do it
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Skoze
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Re: 1979 3.0S EOD 825T

Post by Skoze »

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Beware flying pigs...
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