1979 Capri 2.0 "Ghia"

[CapriFreak]

You've been busy . Always good to read about how someones car is improving. Nice work on the interior & glad you got the temperature gauge working. Remember rebuilding with a carb kit years ago, brought back memories of a kitchen smelling of petrol before I was blessed with a garage.
I like the ghia look with the vinyl top, a set of ghia alloys to match would finish it off. As for the bumpers, for me I'd have the correct mk3 ones, trouble is they cost a bit if you havn't already got them. Each to their own though and I know some prefer the mk2 ones. Keep up the good work

Thanks mate i'm supper chuffed with it. Its hard to know what to do with the front. I'm not sure if a mk3 bumper would fit as someone has filled in the front valence Didnt think that would be a problem when I bought it. I'd put a mk2 bumper on it but they are mad expensive and then where would the indicators go? I did think if I could land some mk2 lights I could turn the front mk2 completely and make it looks like the Minder car haha
If it didnt have bumpers I would just put mk3 ones on there. I already have a rough/presentable front one I won on ebay for £4 (minus indicators). Just need the back and 4 end caps.

I'm a bit gutted that after replacing the Callipers and hoses I havent noticed any change in the brakes. I tested the servo by pumping it 10 times and turning the engine. Probably need a hydraulic bleeder on it. I guess normal 2.0 front legs (to upgrade to vented disks) would be costly? I already have my springs and the dampers/top mounts are new.

Heres a list of everything I can think I've done so far. Being my first proper project and having to scrape the pennies/work a lot to do it, I probably haven't done too bad. Off the top of my head so far I've fix or replaced:

Remove and Refit rear Axle
New Leaf Springs
Rear Gearbox seal
Steering rack/tie rods
Brake Callipers
Brake Hoses/New Fluid
Fix Fuel Gauge (wires the wrong way round)
Replace Temp Sender (x3)
Fit a missing Thermostat
Add an Oil Pressure Pipe/Union
Coolant Flush and Change
Heater Matrix/Blower Motor & Wiring
Clean up Fuse Box
Redo the stereo Wiring (I think it was that that went up in smoke)
LED Dash Lights
Various interior bulbs
Rocker Cover Respray
Full Interior Swap (grey to Choc Brown Ghia)
(garage fitted front springs and dampers for me)

I have to say I wouldnt have been able to do this without these forums and Martin at Capri Gear. Its not a hard Car to work on but things some of the interior parts were tricky to find and the advice thats on hand here shouldnt go un noticed. The gear box seal was a nightmare!

[CapriFreak]

Wow, I'm terrible at updating forums. So its been two years of owner ship and a lot has changed (even if it still looks the same). I also started a Youtube Chanel called Retro & Rusty to document the Capri and my old Escort mk3 too. If you head there you can see videos of my frustration haha

So since my last update in June heres my essay on whats going on (theres more detail on Retro Rides if your interested)

Since the last post I had to change jobs due to the ole covid which was good and means I could keep the Capri and not sell it to live off. With that in mind I went about having someone look at the few jobs I couldn't do.
It still wouldn't start properly, loved cutting out randomly, I couldn't stop that bloody rocker cover from leaking and it seemed like the fuel would drain off at the drop of a hat. I got fed up and it went away for a little bit and had a few extras fitted such as electric fuel pump so I wouldnt have the fuelling problem, oil leak sorted, timing sorted, wiring tidied up. It ran lovely after this but still... leave it on the drive for a few days and It wouldnt start. A bit of spray down the Carb and she fired (this should have been the massive clue I needed ) . I was advised as the battery was more than on its last legs to go for a new decent one, which I did. I also replaced the Earth and Positive leads and cleaned everything up as it seemed like a bad spark too. It kept flooding and I was forever pulling out the plugs, cleaning them and testing the spark... which seemed alright when cleaned up so, I guess it wasnt that. Another forum member suggested looking at the carb Accelerator pump. I dont really understand how Carbs work 100% and I did "rebuild" it last summer using a service kit and basically taking stuff off, cleaning it and putting new stuff back. Turns out the Accelerator pump wasnt working!!! I whipped the carb off, took it apart and the diaphragm and spring were the wrong way around. I could go ballistic but at the same time I was jumping for joy!!! I put it back together and a few days later tried it (it was raining like **** all week). After a few turns she fired up just fine.
Since then I topped up the gearbox oil and fitted a new accelerator cable (which im still having problems with). Its adjusted fully out but doesnt seem to be long enough ? the Accelerator becomes held down a little and you have to hook your foot under it the bring it back? If i put the plastic bush on the linkage its even worse. But thats about it!! its been a long hard road to get here for me as although I've longed to own a Car I can "do up" I havent had much experience at some of these thing. A big thank you to everyone here on the forums and the specialists like Martin who will give up their time to help someone like myself

Here is a photo of the new throttle cable... maybe im just missing something here but sometimes It sticks and like I say, with the plastic bush in it kicks the revs right up from the turn of the key. I thought I could bend the linkage or adjust the Carb part so its always flat but, I dont want to mess with that if I can help it.
I'll also add some videos here if you want to check it out.

You can see this is pulling the linkage towards the rocker cover and the adjustment is fully in. Its a firstline part by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk4GC2x ... ro%26Rusty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWPwL5H ... ro%26Rusty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfvHsZt ... ro%26Rusty

[CapriFreak]

Hey folks been a while since i've updated here. The Capri is doing ok and i've been offered some 2.0 struts to swap out my 3.0 struts that are badly in need of new discs.

What I have been offered is 2.0gl struts ready to go straight on. What I have is 3.0 struts with Burton top mounts (which I remember changed the ride hight somehow) and Burton Springs (which I think helped with this change of hight?). The garage ordered new dampers and being a 2.0 I guess they ordered dampers for a 2.0 , I dont know if there is a difference? The rear of the Car has single leaf springs on and the car sits nicely.

My question is , obviously I could just bolt in the new struts and add some new Discs etc but I really like the Cars ride hight at the moment and dont want to loose it. I'm guessin I could take apart what I have and swap it over to the new 2.0 struts? or should I just bolt the 2.0 GL stuff on there and maybe live with higher ride hight/ stiffer steering?

thinking I could use spacers and 2.8 discs rather than 3.0 discs with this new set up.... or should I just buy 3.0 discs and live with what i've got?