Laser 1600

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:41 pm

Always wanted a Capri, nearest I got back in the day was a 3 door Sierra. Passed the chance on a 3ltr Mk 1 some 12 years ago, wish I'd bought it and stuck it in the garage!
Anyway, picked up 1600 Laser last week, and started to fiddle. It's a runner, with an MOT. Spent the day in the sunshine yesterday stripping the interior as it was all rather damp, it's been stored outside and the sunroof doesn't seal well....
It's quite a smokey beast at present so a bit of work to do there, and a few bits of welding to refresh my MIG memories from 20 years ago.
I'd like to give it a quick service and belts, so where's best to buy? Looking for the usual filter/oil, plus cam belt, alternator and PAS belts too.
Will post a pic or 2 later

pbar · Post by **pbar** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 1:08 pm

Welcome

For service parts and the like, places like CarParts4Less are pretty good, just look at the prices of oil filters for example, and free delivery too -

For more in depth stuff then certainly look at -

CapriGear (posts on here) 01507 343148
The Capri Club http://www.capriclub.co.uk/
Tickover https://www.tickover.co.uk/shop/contents/en-uk/d1.html

You can also get many things through your local car shop, condenser, points, dissy cap, rotor arm, springs, senders, etc. will all be no problem at all for them.

Paul G · Post by **Paul G** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 2:02 pm

If it's got a smokey engine try renewing the valve stem oil seals first. These are a usual cause of smoke on pinto engines and a set of these is one hell of a lot less than an engine rebuild!

Many people use the "top hat" type which were actually fitted to the Escort Mk3/4 CVH engine.

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 4:19 pm

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I kind of figured valve stem seals, interestingly the history that came with the car details a head rebuild in the last 3 years, and suggestions of a Kent cam in there also, but no specifics. I wonder if the cam will make a difference to which cambelt I need? I guess rocker cover off and a mirror on a stick to see if the end of the cam is stamped, then head off to see if the valve seats have been done. Car is SORN anyway so no great shakes, just means pushing in and out of the garage all the time which is a PITA, but saves smoking the neighbours out!

Post by **Brooksy** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:15 pm

Hi, congrats on your laser purchase and I hope you enjoy Capri ownership.

Look forward to seeing any photos that you're able to upload.

Cheers.

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:31 pm

Hopefully this works..

Post by **Brooksy** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:43 pm

Nice colour and a late one too, judging by the side repeaters.

Cosmicbike wrote:Hopefully this works..

Post by **Andrew 2.8i** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 8:22 am

Hi,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the purchase of a fine car!

It's good to hear that it runs and has a current MOT, that is a great starting point. What are your plans for this car? Is it to get it running properly and to use as is, or are you planning a full restoration? Either way, I look forward to reading more as the work progresses. Hopefully there will be some more photos too!

Is the Lexus in the photo yours as well?

All the best,
Andrew.

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:07 pm

Brooksy wrote:

Nice colour and a late one too, judging by the side repeaters.

It is indeed, registered on 2nd December 1986. It came with a reasonable history folder including the original bill of sale. The vehicle part-ex'd against it being a 1977 Capri.

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:10 pm

Andrew 2.8i wrote:Hi,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the purchase of a fine car!
It's good to hear that it runs and has a current MOT, that is a great starting point. What are your plans for this car? Is it to get it running properly and to use as is, or are you planning a full restoration? Either way, I look forward to reading more as the work progresses. Hopefully there will be some more photos too!

Is the Lexus in the photo yours as well?

All the best,
Andrew.

The plan (and it's flexible..), get the running sorted (so standby for many questions), maybe tax it for 6 months and drive, then restore. Or maybe make the most of the Summer and get some of the welding sorted, who knows!

Post by **Brooksy** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:19 pm

Cosmicbike wrote:
Brooksy wrote:

Nice colour and a late one too, judging by the side repeaters.

It is indeed, registered on 2nd December 1986. It came with a reasonable history folder including the original bill of sale. The vehicle part-ex'd against it being a 1977 Capri.

Post by **Jasonmarie** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:52 pm

You can’t beat a laser .....

Post by **Brooksy** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 10:57 pm

Jasonmarie wrote:You can’t beat a laser .....

Paul G · Post by **Paul G** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 9:34 am

Cosmicbike wrote:
Brooksy wrote:

Nice colour and a late one too, judging by the side repeaters.

It is indeed, registered on 2nd December 1986. It came with a reasonable history folder including the original bill of sale. The vehicle part-ex'd against it being a 1977 Capri.

I see from your post in another thread that you live near Brooklands. Why don't you join the Surrey Capri Club. We're a friendly little club and we meet 2nd Tuesday of the month at The Shy Horse, Malden Russet (just by Chessington).

I travel down from High Wycombe in Bucks to the meetings and really enjoy meeting up with everyone and if you need advice or tips about your restoration it will happily be given.

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Tue Mar 05, 2019 12:45 am

Paul G wrote:
Cosmicbike wrote:
Brooksy wrote:

Nice colour and a late one too, judging by the side repeaters.

It is indeed, registered on 2nd December 1986. It came with a reasonable history folder including the original bill of sale. The vehicle part-ex'd against it being a 1977 Capri.
I see from your post in another thread that you live near Brooklands. Why don't you join the Surrey Capri Club. We're a friendly little club and we meet 2nd Tuesday of the month at The Shy Horse, Malden Russet (just by Chessington).

I travel down from High Wycombe in Bucks to the meetings and really enjoy meeting up with everyone and if you need advice or tips about your restoration it will happily be given.

I'll bear that in mind Paul. Currently have the car SORN whilst I fettle and tot up the to do list, but sounds like my cup of tea

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:07 pm

And so the fun begins...

Decided to have the afternoon off decorating, and try and establish what cam was in the Laser, and to see if I could make out the condition of the valve stem seals.

Smoked the world out on starting, and swapped ends in the garage so I can start the engine strip down without having to move the car. Rather smokey even after a few minutes running...

Rocker cover off, and I find a CamTech ZC369C GC1. I have no idea whether that's good or bad, and can't find a great deal online either

Also has CamTec followers (note different spelling). Near impossible to see if the stem seals are any good, but all seemed to be in place if nothing else.

The fun continued with checking the engine numbers, a royal PITA to read, even after scrubbing the block with sandpaper. Bearing in mind the car is a September 1986 build (from the VIN), I'm guessing the engine is not original as the numbers don't match, and from what I can tell it's a September 1987 engine, though still a 1600.

So the next question, how feasible is it to get 106BHP from a 1600 pinto? The history folder came with a rolling road test sheet in which stated this figure, seems quite a lot out of a small lump..

Next step, compression test to see where it's at, as another bit of paper (from the same rolling road place) suggests No.1 cylinder is low, then I think it's head off, check/replace stem seals, measure bores etc etc. Hopefully the rings will be OK, or engine out and all the fun that comes with it.

Post by **D366Y** » Sat Mar 09, 2019 9:00 pm

106 should be doable, I have 103 from mine and didn't go too whacky!

4branch manifold, standard 2 litre cam, and a 32/36 Weber. If you went for a Kent fast road cam and/or twin 40s or 45s it should get up higher, depends how usable you want it to be around town still...?? Bigger carbs would typically mean it goes faster but are lumpier at lower speeds but can't say personally how accurate that is

Glad to hear you're getting stuck in with it though!

Danny

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Sun Mar 10, 2019 4:32 pm

An interesting afternoon fiddling, and I am maybe a bit wiser.

First off was to drain a little oil out as the level was over the MAX on the dipstick, it's now just below. Compression test was next, and after a scoot out to get a 14mm spark plug socket ( I only had a 10mm) we were off.

Plugs are carbon fouled, but dry, no signs of oil on them whatsoever, so that's a good start. With my lad on the keys, compression tests were completed with the engine just hot, the thermostat had just opened the radiator. In order

1:- 11.5 bar (167 PSI)
2:- 12 bar (174 PSI)
3:- 12 bar (174 PSI)
4:- 12 bar (174 PSI)

So all good on that front, pretty decent results which suggest the rings are healthy.

Still smoking like a smokey thing though, even when hot. Will order a set of CVH stem seals and gaskets etc to give me something to play with next time.

Post by **Peter-S** » Sun Mar 10, 2019 6:18 pm

Worth checking that the crankcase vent is clear and working properly but the stem seals are the likely culprit

Cosmicbike · Post by **Cosmicbike** » Sun Mar 10, 2019 6:51 pm

Peter-S wrote:Worth checking that the crankcase vent is clear and working properly but the stem seals are the likely culprit

Not dug that deep yet, but I've 'un-plugged' the PCV and no change noted, except of course I get smoke from the engine bay too!!

The plugs suggest over-fueling, but until I get time to set-up the valve clearances, timing and so forth it's not worth fettling. It does seem to be settling a bit each time it's run, but I guess what it really needs is a good road run, and for that I need to get it taxed, and check all the brakes etc etc which time is not permitting ATM. Maybe once the bathroom is fitted. And the decking done. And the new shed built.....

The Ford Capri Laser Page

Laser 1600

Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600

Re: Laser 1600