My XR4i. 30yrs old today via Southways Automotive.

[T66ORA]

Finally got round to updating the thread.

The rear spoiler, front grille and door mirror covers came back the paint shop.




Then it was just a matter of sticking four new riv nuts in the tail gate, sealing and bolting on??? Er........nope, a right PIA lining up the four mounts,






Got there in the end

Treated it to a couple of posing shots at Goodwood.







Whats next? Not a lot for the rest of the year, try and get to a couple of shows, and consider whether to start on the Turbo conversion, or leave as standard?
Decisions Decisions.

[T66ORA]

HarryW said:

Very nice Tony, a rare sight now days, how many left on the road?

Less than 200, but around 500 sorn.

[T66ORA]

MoT passed today, no advisories, not surprised as the old girl has only done 500 odd miles this year.

[T66ORA]

Not sure were some of the photos have gone of the rear spoiler fitting?

Just testing to see if my photos come up.

[T66ORA]

The £10k 4i has arrived! Old Fords at crazy prices.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181524859997?_trksid=p20...

[T66ORA]

T66ORA said:

Finally got round to updating the thread.

The rear spoiler, front grille and door mirror covers came back the paint shop.

Well my lovely freshly paint rear spoiler didn`t stay lovely for too long

Pulled the car out to give it a start up and check over, having been stood for a few weeks and the spoiler has got "measles", yep the thing has loads of micro blisters all over it
I`m hoping a flat and polish might get rid of them in the spring or its another paint job

[T66ORA]

Took the old girl for its first proper run of the year today.
What a change from last year, when it took days to get running right, the car never missed a beat over the 80 mile run, ending up at Goodwood,...again

Even better news the measles have gone from the rear spoiler they must have dried out? very strange!!

The Turbo technics conversation remains on the back burner while the car is running so well, had to move over for a Merc making good progress on a DC and was impressed how quickly it hit 3 figures with a small press of the loud pedal

A problem that needs sorting is the refusal to start again when hot, the symptoms suggest a flat battery, but when its cooled down it starts on the first couple of turns of the key??? Possibly starter motor, which is new, effected by heat soak??So for the time being I just connect jump pack to get the car to start when hot

[T66ORA]

f1nn said:

Lovely old thing.

As for the the hot start problem, years ago I had similar with an XR3i, where it just wouldn't start/turn over until it had cooled down,

A recon starter motor sorted it and I recall it being quite a common problem, so I'd start there.

The starter is new, well its now done 400 miles, but I think the listing might have been wrong, it said it would be ok for the 2.8V6,but I think its a 2.3V6 starter. Still strange that it will start first time with the help of a portable jump pack
Might look for a cheap used starter to see if that cures the problem.

[T66ORA]

selym said:

s m said:

You tend to think of them as a big car if you remember them new but the surprising thing is they are lighter than a GT86

That is quite frankly amazing!

And with a Turbo Technics conversion, 200BHP so faster,(in a straight line of course)

[T66ORA]

HarryW said:

Trying to understand why, assuming your battery is good, the jump pack can start it? Tony do you put the jump pack on the battery terminals or just the pos and then the neg on the block? If not directly on the Battery terminals try it that way next time to see if it fails to start it, you might just have poor negative between starter/block and the neg terminal of the battery. If so then use a jumper lead between the neg terminal to block to give a known good path and see if that improves it......car electrics....

H,

Jump pack, pos to pos and neg to neg, turns over a treat

Had this with the Tam a few years back, the battery was only holding charge for a few days, changed the battery and all was well.
The 4i battery has been fine all winter though

[T66ORA]

s m said:

Have you tested the battery output with a multimeter when it's hot as well as cold?

No mate,do you mean with out the car running?

[T66ORA]

RESULT

Spent a bit of time cleaning up the car for Simply Ford tomorrow, also fitted a new grille rubber/surround. But the best bit, well for me anyway I stripped out the Headlight washer pump and unblocked it,there was some old slimy snotty stuff in the outlet.Put it all back together and!!





They work again after probably 10 yrs
I know, I know headlight washers are gimmicky and pretty useless, but if they are fitted I wanted them working.

[T66ORA]

Photos of the car at Simply Ford on Sunday.

Awful weather driving there, but cleared nicely up as the day progressed.









Trust me to get the tattiest car of the show to park next to me

[T66ORA]

HarryW said:

Tony have you sorted that starting issue yet?

Hello mate.

Not 100% sure, but I found a broken earth strap from the back of the block to the bulkhead which was repaired.
The battery was fully charged up for 48 hours before last weeks show, and the car started ok when hot.

The acid test will be the next time it is used, as the car has sat for a week and not on charge.So if its ok then it would have been the earth strap, if not I will change the battery and report back.

O/T after, in effect being off the road for 18 months the Tamora is at Southways for a minor recommissioning, service and MoT. It needs to be used or sold, so it give me options.
Do you know anyone who will fit a new rear screen locally? Mine is a right mess now, it had holes in it before I slipped and stuck my hand through it

[T66ORA]

ruggedscotty said:

Tip the hat to you sir - lovely car and good article. Just had an enjoyable read through your write up. Enjoy that car !

Thank you

[T66ORA]

A quick update. The hot starting issue raised its head again last week.
I fitted a heavy duty 63ah 630cca battery and touch wood, all seems well again.

[T66ORA]

Possibly cos its only been used half a dozen time since.

To many toys 2 V6 TTs and the Tam.

[T66ORA]

A quick update. MoT Passed recently, no advisories the car did a whooping 499 miles between tests.

Insurance renewed with a £3000 agreed value for £87.

Hot start problem defiantly cured with the fitting of the new battery

Missed out on a couple of shows recently due to the weather.
Soon time to stick it back into hibernation.
Turbo Technics Conversation still on the back burner.

Edited by T66ORA on Tuesday 8th September 16:56

[T66ORA]

Thanks for the positive comments.

The car is far from concourse, in fact there are areas of body work that are showing its 32yrs. The original idea was to basically re commission and MoT the car,and start driving it again.However having sat in, a now obviously damp garage for 6/7yrs the car was structurally worse than first thought.
The car required a lot of welding, and the project ended up being a minor restoration!

For those of you who haven't seen the blog refresh your self. (Pic heavy)

https://www.facebook.com/SouthwaysAutomotive/photo...

The spec of the car was rare 32yrs ago, every factory option from the 1984 catalogue was fitted plus some dealer fit accessories, the rear headrests, 15" RS alloys, first aid kit to name a few.
So the value is difficult to estimate, is it worth more than £3k? probably,
I`m reasonably happy to have a first option to buy back from the insurance co should any thing happen, although the most likely thing would be theft, I don't use it enough to increase the genuine 87000 mile significantly.

Long term plan will be to fully restore the car, eventually, probably when the TVR is sold, for the time being I will live with the minor 32yr old dings, marks and rust bubbles.

Edited by T66ORA on Friday 11th September 11:54

[T66ORA]

A couple of shots from the Southern classics end of season show at Chichester today.We were in the modern classic section.
A great turn out, and lovely weather.