1983 Ford Sierra BASE (Poverty/UN Spec)
Discussion
Never ever take a car off the road. Ever. Whilst, admittedly, we live in turbulent times - I’ve lost three jobs and we’ve changed prime minister since the bASe last turned a wheel in dismal anger. I know better than most that life can get in the way. Please learn from my error - take out an overdraft, borrow money, sell your body or the parts within it - But do not ever, ever, take a car off the road.
My biggest concern over the weekend wasn’t whether the head had been rebuilt to a satisfactory standard, or whether my long suffering friend would have the skills to put it together. The weather was irritating but not a chief concern, and nor was I particularly bothered about how bored my children would get whilst their oaf of a father stood and stared at two halves of an engine. Nope. The sole item on the worry list was my complete inability to remember where I’ve put stuff. It’s beyond the usual “stupid bloke” stuff; my mind simply can not map where I put things down. I suspect, if I was a child today, I’d be diagnosed with ADHD. As it is, I’m just an overgrown child with no diagnosis and an awful lot of bits to find for a Pinto. Bits I definitely DID have, but was concerned would halt proceedings at the most inconvenient of times.
The head was removed in the 13th October 2018. On the 14th October 2019, 3 months after I dropped it in at the local garage, they telephoned to say that the head was ready. The original plan was to let them fit it for me but, seeing as it took them 12 weeks to do a day's work, I thought it best to "take back control™"
A quick reminder: The car failed it's MOT in 2018 on an oil leak (incorrectly, it didn't actually drop any oil throughout the entire test) and emissions. The old VV carb, which I was quite keen to retain, finally bit the dust and the cylinder head was completely rebuilt - including, quite excitingly, a completely genuine FoMoCo Camshaft which came all the way from Lithuania.
On the basis that refitting is the reverse of removal, have some photos.
How deliciously retro is that Weber box? A guy bought it 30 years ago but never fitted it. It's a 32.
Prelube yo.
Supplementary electrictricity.
Does it go?
Yes. Extremely well. I only wish it stopped as willingly! The brakes have certainly not benefitted from 15 months of unemployment, but they’re good enough which is - in fairness - a metaphor for the entire car. The manual choke cable needs running into the cockpit and affixing discretely, which is a job for another time. Meantime, I can just hold it open and get the wife to start it for me (!)
My friend is concerned that it’s a bit Cammy. I have to say that, at full throttle, it sounds wonderful; a real parp erupts! It is now wonderfully responsive and, best of all, dry as a bone.
As always, my thanks to my old mucker (Alf892 on Autos
te). I’m not sure why he suffers a fool such as me so gladly - but I’m forever grateful that he does.
https://youtu.be/Og06G-vuYAo
My biggest concern over the weekend wasn’t whether the head had been rebuilt to a satisfactory standard, or whether my long suffering friend would have the skills to put it together. The weather was irritating but not a chief concern, and nor was I particularly bothered about how bored my children would get whilst their oaf of a father stood and stared at two halves of an engine. Nope. The sole item on the worry list was my complete inability to remember where I’ve put stuff. It’s beyond the usual “stupid bloke” stuff; my mind simply can not map where I put things down. I suspect, if I was a child today, I’d be diagnosed with ADHD. As it is, I’m just an overgrown child with no diagnosis and an awful lot of bits to find for a Pinto. Bits I definitely DID have, but was concerned would halt proceedings at the most inconvenient of times.
The head was removed in the 13th October 2018. On the 14th October 2019, 3 months after I dropped it in at the local garage, they telephoned to say that the head was ready. The original plan was to let them fit it for me but, seeing as it took them 12 weeks to do a day's work, I thought it best to "take back control™"
A quick reminder: The car failed it's MOT in 2018 on an oil leak (incorrectly, it didn't actually drop any oil throughout the entire test) and emissions. The old VV carb, which I was quite keen to retain, finally bit the dust and the cylinder head was completely rebuilt - including, quite excitingly, a completely genuine FoMoCo Camshaft which came all the way from Lithuania.
On the basis that refitting is the reverse of removal, have some photos.
How deliciously retro is that Weber box? A guy bought it 30 years ago but never fitted it. It's a 32.
Prelube yo.
Supplementary electrictricity.
Does it go?
Yes. Extremely well. I only wish it stopped as willingly! The brakes have certainly not benefitted from 15 months of unemployment, but they’re good enough which is - in fairness - a metaphor for the entire car. The manual choke cable needs running into the cockpit and affixing discretely, which is a job for another time. Meantime, I can just hold it open and get the wife to start it for me (!)
My friend is concerned that it’s a bit Cammy. I have to say that, at full throttle, it sounds wonderful; a real parp erupts! It is now wonderfully responsive and, best of all, dry as a bone.
As always, my thanks to my old mucker (Alf892 on Autos
te). I’m not sure why he suffers a fool such as me so gladly - but I’m forever grateful that he does. https://youtu.be/Og06G-vuYAo
ruggedscotty said:
Ill admit when I saw the topic up my heart missed a beat, I thought naw please don't let it be terminal...…
Holy thread resurrection indeed.... But my heart returned to a normal beat as I read that it still lives, God that is some piece of history right here, something unique and means so much as its the boggo version.
Ha. Bless you. Holy thread resurrection indeed.... But my heart returned to a normal beat as I read that it still lives, God that is some piece of history right here, something unique and means so much as its the boggo version.
I imagine that I will own it forever. Since a few of us it bought it back in April 2016, interest has dwindled leaving me the only involved. To be honest, that’s fine - and much easier to run. There’s nothing worse than sinking money into something that’s not yours - it’s like PCP!
Once the car has MOT, I need to finish the choke cable fitting and probably get the clutch changed too. I think it was dripping so much oil that the plates have contamination. After that I need a decent pair of rear lenses and some silicone.
Next year I’ll set about getting the replacement doors on the offside.
I'm not sure how much appetite there is for this old heap out there in the real world - and it's probably even less popular here on PH.
But I'm using it weekly now as a car (as nature intended). Last week it took me to work and back which revealed a number of things.
1. A small amount of water is getting in as my arse was wet after the 5 mile journey
2. I really need to flush the heater matrix so we can have some heat
3. The lights are terrible.
Still. What price sexual magnetism?
But I'm using it weekly now as a car (as nature intended). Last week it took me to work and back which revealed a number of things.
1. A small amount of water is getting in as my arse was wet after the 5 mile journey
2. I really need to flush the heater matrix so we can have some heat
3. The lights are terrible.
Still. What price sexual magnetism?
A500leroy said:
These are the classics everyone wants but the prices have gone nuts.
Only the halo models have really leapt in price. You can still get in a running 5dr for circa £1,500. Unusual colours, good provenance and interesting specs will demand a bit more money - but you can definitely secure a decent one for a couple of week’s pay. This car’s a great example of why you can’t always afford the cheapest one. Initial outlay was £750, on top of that I’ve probably spent about £1500 on panels, paint and the cylinder head rebuild. It’s still likely worth £SFA. Whatever. That isn’t what it was about. When I took it on in 2016 I was confident it was the only grey grille RHD example remaining - now I’m absolutely certain. I don’t trust anyone (save for about two friends) not to try and improve* it, so remain it must.
Next year the clutch needs replacing (damaged by oil contamination) the rear bumper needs changing and I’ve got to flush that matrix.
Oh. And drive.
Edited by BorniteIdentity on Tuesday 10th December 17:31
Well it's been here four years now!
There was a blunder earlier in the year. The tiniest bit of pea shingle found it's way onto my conservatory floor. As I walked in I picked it up and hurled it over the hedge behind me. Only it hit a tree, and landed on the Sierra.
So it's now in my terrible garage awaiting new glass. It was all looking so simple; a call to the windscreen company used by my insurer reassured me that they had glass AND they could fit it next day. I ripped their arm off as this was March 23rd (LOCKDOWN DAY) but - despite many many promises to the contrary - he turned up with bronzed glass. No good for a proud base model.
So I politely asked him to leave, and spent a month trying to find a proper glass. A friend of a friend knows a guy who has one, and HOPEFULLY it will arrive this week. It's an OEM one in the original packaging and is definitely clear.
Fingers crossed we're back on the road soon.
There was a blunder earlier in the year. The tiniest bit of pea shingle found it's way onto my conservatory floor. As I walked in I picked it up and hurled it over the hedge behind me. Only it hit a tree, and landed on the Sierra.
So it's now in my terrible garage awaiting new glass. It was all looking so simple; a call to the windscreen company used by my insurer reassured me that they had glass AND they could fit it next day. I ripped their arm off as this was March 23rd (LOCKDOWN DAY) but - despite many many promises to the contrary - he turned up with bronzed glass. No good for a proud base model.
So I politely asked him to leave, and spent a month trying to find a proper glass. A friend of a friend knows a guy who has one, and HOPEFULLY it will arrive this week. It's an OEM one in the original packaging and is definitely clear.
Fingers crossed we're back on the road soon.
I suppose I ought to update this thread, what with it being a year! I'm not sure any updates on this car really belong on PH, but here we go nonetheless.
The glass was replaced quite swiftly by my mate between lockdowns.
I tarted the back up a bit.
Went viral a tiny bit.
Forced my wife to drive it, much to her eternal chagrin.
Participated in the village "lockdown motorshow"
Took it on a short jolly to visit Kings, Cambridge.
|https://thumbsnap.com/YtJo2mjW[/url]
And FINALLY made it look like a Sierra from the back as well as the front.
[url]
The glass was replaced quite swiftly by my mate between lockdowns.
I tarted the back up a bit.
Went viral a tiny bit.
Forced my wife to drive it, much to her eternal chagrin.
Participated in the village "lockdown motorshow"
Took it on a short jolly to visit Kings, Cambridge.
|https://thumbsnap.com/YtJo2mjW[/url]And FINALLY made it look like a Sierra from the back as well as the front.
[url]politeperson said:
When I was doing my City and Guilds, my mechanical tutor at the Colchester Institure in 1990 (Keith Essam) used to work for Ford in the 70s and 80s (or Fords as everyone used to say).
He told me the story of a couple of hundred brand new early Sierras parked on the key side at the docks (Harwich?) for 6 years until they rotted away.
Their was some problem with water ingress and rust proofing on the very early cars from the factory leading to seam corrosion and rejection of large numbers of vehicles which were supposed to be scrapped.
In fact in the mid nineties I remember attending closed Ford Auctions at BCA (Measham) where hundreds of 2/3 year old Fords that had been bought back by the company under warranty were sold back into the trade with "water seam ingress". They hadn't learnt their lesson!
It is amazing this beauty has survived.
I can well believe it, although my experience has been the opposite.He told me the story of a couple of hundred brand new early Sierras parked on the key side at the docks (Harwich?) for 6 years until they rotted away.
Their was some problem with water ingress and rust proofing on the very early cars from the factory leading to seam corrosion and rejection of large numbers of vehicles which were supposed to be scrapped.
In fact in the mid nineties I remember attending closed Ford Auctions at BCA (Measham) where hundreds of 2/3 year old Fords that had been bought back by the company under warranty were sold back into the trade with "water seam ingress". They hadn't learnt their lesson!
It is amazing this beauty has survived.
In 2016, three weeks after I bought this car, I also had another Sierra. That is still on the road and believed to be the oldest one still in existence in the UK (Oct 1982 reg). That was absolutely rock solid underneath too. So much so we checked both the VINS and, amazingly, they were Dagenham built.
LanceRS said:
I bought this in 1996. 
I sold it to buy this.
I bought the Xr4x4 back and still own the Cosworth. My Sierras have given me many fond memories over the years. The subject of this thread is now rarer than mine a very cool car in it's own right. I'm really pleased that it's being cared for properly and enjoyed.
BTW, my Mrs looks much the same way if she has to go anywhere near mine too. ??
Fabulous. Absolutely fab. I sold it to buy this.
I bought the Xr4x4 back and still own the Cosworth. My Sierras have given me many fond memories over the years. The subject of this thread is now rarer than mine a very cool car in it's own right. I'm really pleased that it's being cared for properly and enjoyed.
BTW, my Mrs looks much the same way if she has to go anywhere near mine too. ??
I do toy with the idea, from time to time, of buying a Saph Cosworth. Unfortunately, all you seem to find under £20k are cars with 15+ owners who have systematically bottled it the second something needs fixing. So you end up paying hand over fist for something that's never really been loved. The ones you'd want to own are now the price of a house in the North of England which, actually, I'd rather buy.
Lovely cars.
Small update. After an aborted attempt in late February, a small amount of titivating and prep saw me taking it for an MOT test on Thursday just gone; the fifth anniversary of me collecting it.
Good news all round! Three advisories, one which I knew about (the petrol tank being a bit rusty) and two I think may have been a bit overzealous (brake pipe and exhaust blowing). Notwithstanding, I now have a short list of jobs for 2021.
Here’s to another year of lowering the tone and ruining any view at any given moment.
Good news all round! Three advisories, one which I knew about (the petrol tank being a bit rusty) and two I think may have been a bit overzealous (brake pipe and exhaust blowing). Notwithstanding, I now have a short list of jobs for 2021.
Here’s to another year of lowering the tone and ruining any view at any given moment.
[quote=105.4
Yours is a minter. I hope it stays that way.
[/quote]
Hmmph. I constantly correct people on this one. It's really not, and that's why I love it. The drivers door has been kicked in, and a mouse could easily get through the now missing part of the door bottom. Same offside rear. There's a hole into the boot behind the reg plate and the nearside rear quarterlight isn't water tight either. The dash is cracked to buggery, there's mould on the grab handles and the parcel shelf literally decomposed.
I like it because it wears its age with pride.
Yours is a minter. I hope it stays that way.
[/quote]
Hmmph. I constantly correct people on this one. It's really not, and that's why I love it. The drivers door has been kicked in, and a mouse could easily get through the now missing part of the door bottom. Same offside rear. There's a hole into the boot behind the reg plate and the nearside rear quarterlight isn't water tight either. The dash is cracked to buggery, there's mould on the grab handles and the parcel shelf literally decomposed.
I like it because it wears its age with pride.
itcaptainslow said:
Hope this is going to Festival of the Unexceptional?
Hey man. I was planning on going but car mojo is a bit low at the moment. It's a shame because I was both gutted last year when it was cancelled and delighted this year when it was reinstated. Dunno, just feeling a bit glum at the moment.I took it out to a little local 'drive out' on Sunday. The thing I continually stress about this car, is it's not as pretty as it looks. Nor, really, would I want it to be. That isn't the point. When it comes to remedials, IF I can make it better - then I will. If I can't, it gets left alone. If it needs to be addressed but is beyond my scope, then it's done properly and well. There's no point in paying good money for s
t repairs just so it can be 'authentic'. It's an organic thing this car, and it's come simultaneously a long way and not very far in 5 years.The rear panel has been bubbling away for about 10 years now. It has now holed, but doesn't seem to let any water in. This week I finally bit the bullet, took the plate off and painted it up with some Hammerite which, in fairness, is a fairly decent match. Well, I'll let you be the judge!
Eeek. I might need to learn to spray! Still, as the old saying goes, anything's better than rust. I took the opportunity to slap a bit around in the boot on some slightly brown bits and, if nothing else, it makes me feel a bit better about things.
Edited by BorniteIdentity on Wednesday 28th July 17:26
Bumpety Bump.
I've owned this car for eight years on April 1st. Bought as part of a consortium to save it from being raced, it cost £700 which (at the time) felt a bit strong. Today, despite being a solid 6/10, it's probably worth over £3k. Fords eh?
It's now 40.5 years old (MOT exempt) and Historic status will be sought come April 1st. Today I awoke it from its slumber and went for a blast. As st as it is, it still makes me smile.
Jobs for this year include fitting a couple of new doors to the offside (caved and holed) and wobbing up the doors on the nearside. Also, a crunchy bit of metal has been discovered underneath the battery tray (on the slam panel) so that'll need a tickle.
This car acts as a reminder that not all classics need be shiny and new. Some can just be preserved; suspended in animation.
I've owned this car for eight years on April 1st. Bought as part of a consortium to save it from being raced, it cost £700 which (at the time) felt a bit strong. Today, despite being a solid 6/10, it's probably worth over £3k. Fords eh?
It's now 40.5 years old (MOT exempt) and Historic status will be sought come April 1st. Today I awoke it from its slumber and went for a blast. As s
t as it is, it still makes me smile.Jobs for this year include fitting a couple of new doors to the offside (caved and holed) and wobbing up the doors on the nearside. Also, a crunchy bit of metal has been discovered underneath the battery tray (on the slam panel) so that'll need a tickle.
This car acts as a reminder that not all classics need be shiny and new. Some can just be preserved; suspended in animation.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff