Dansta's 2.8 special
Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 11:47 am
I have just embarked on a rolling restoration. The car itself was bare metal restored a few years ago but the paintwork is looking a bit tired and bubbly in places so I will probably get it resprayed in the future back to the Diamond white that it left the factory.
In the meantime there are a few jobs to do. Last year I sorted out the rear brakes as they were impregnated in diff oil courtesy of the wheel bearings being fitted the wrong way round. The front brakes needed some work so I have opted for the GTR280 kit. One of the capris I test drove had this fitted and seemed to work well.
This weekend I fitted the RHS kit. Much of the day was spent "tapping out" the front wheel bearing races, since I had bought modified hubs. I love how haynes described this process as tapping. Beating seven shades of shit on a screw driver to bang the bugger out better describes it. New races went in much easier. I did have a dime bar moment. I normally use the old race to help tap in the new race. Managed to get one of them stuck so had to tap back out slightly.........
Fitting the longer wheel studs was much simpler. I pulled them in with an old wheel nut spaced out by an old hub nut. Mounting the adapter plate was quite straightforward. I got through 2 drill bits drilling out the old caliper mounting threads on the struts so the adapter plate mounting stud could pass through. Using the spacers I was able to get the mondeo floating calliper bracket to sit squarely and evenly on the disk. Although the caliper fitted ok, the new pads seem to be a bit tight on the disk. Remains to be seen once the system is bled whether that remains an issue. Next weekend I'll do the other side and bleed the system. Not sure whether the brake pedal travel will be too much but I did notice the post about a Granny master cylinder fitting the 2.8 servo.
Once the brakes are sorted, it will be suspension next. Bushes look original and a bit cracked so I will polybush. I have a "this is your garage" near me in Culham that has a press suitable for pressing in/out bushes. So I will make use of their facilities. Also rear springs are sagging to off side so I will replace front and rear springs. Dampers, eye watering cost for the 2.8 but I am looking at the bilstein rebuild service as well as new.
After suspension is some engine work. My valve gaps keep,closing and i am pretty sure the heads aren't modified. So it'll likely be worn through tappet case hardening as it is all valves, rather than recession which would affect exhaust only I think..... I am hatching an engine swap plan at the moment rather than rebuild the 2.8. I am looking to home brew supercharge a 2.9. Sorry to all you keep it original types, but I prefer EFI to MFI, hence using the 2.9. If I can get the photo bucket to work I'll put some photos up.
Since I have had the car 2 years now, I am probably getting close to being the longest owner since there are 15 previous keepers on the V5 and it is a 1985 model. Ta.
In the meantime there are a few jobs to do. Last year I sorted out the rear brakes as they were impregnated in diff oil courtesy of the wheel bearings being fitted the wrong way round. The front brakes needed some work so I have opted for the GTR280 kit. One of the capris I test drove had this fitted and seemed to work well.
This weekend I fitted the RHS kit. Much of the day was spent "tapping out" the front wheel bearing races, since I had bought modified hubs. I love how haynes described this process as tapping. Beating seven shades of shit on a screw driver to bang the bugger out better describes it. New races went in much easier. I did have a dime bar moment. I normally use the old race to help tap in the new race. Managed to get one of them stuck so had to tap back out slightly.........
Fitting the longer wheel studs was much simpler. I pulled them in with an old wheel nut spaced out by an old hub nut. Mounting the adapter plate was quite straightforward. I got through 2 drill bits drilling out the old caliper mounting threads on the struts so the adapter plate mounting stud could pass through. Using the spacers I was able to get the mondeo floating calliper bracket to sit squarely and evenly on the disk. Although the caliper fitted ok, the new pads seem to be a bit tight on the disk. Remains to be seen once the system is bled whether that remains an issue. Next weekend I'll do the other side and bleed the system. Not sure whether the brake pedal travel will be too much but I did notice the post about a Granny master cylinder fitting the 2.8 servo.
Once the brakes are sorted, it will be suspension next. Bushes look original and a bit cracked so I will polybush. I have a "this is your garage" near me in Culham that has a press suitable for pressing in/out bushes. So I will make use of their facilities. Also rear springs are sagging to off side so I will replace front and rear springs. Dampers, eye watering cost for the 2.8 but I am looking at the bilstein rebuild service as well as new.
After suspension is some engine work. My valve gaps keep,closing and i am pretty sure the heads aren't modified. So it'll likely be worn through tappet case hardening as it is all valves, rather than recession which would affect exhaust only I think..... I am hatching an engine swap plan at the moment rather than rebuild the 2.8. I am looking to home brew supercharge a 2.9. Sorry to all you keep it original types, but I prefer EFI to MFI, hence using the 2.9. If I can get the photo bucket to work I'll put some photos up.
Since I have had the car 2 years now, I am probably getting close to being the longest owner since there are 15 previous keepers on the V5 and it is a 1985 model. Ta.