Ford Granada - Attainable 90s Interesting Ford
Discussion
Hi All,
After posting a snippet about the car on "Joy of Running an Old Shed" I thought i'd create a thread on here
Firstly why a Granada of all things? Well I saw a recent Harry's Garage where he briefly showed a Granada Scorpio Cosworth, I thought "damn that looks cool" it had the Cosworth kudos, it looked like something in the vein of a Lotus Carlton, no obviously not as fast or trick. Plus I'd been itching for some sort of 90s saloon car to itch that BTCC type car I've been mulling about.
Anyway a quick look on eBay I found this 12V (not 24V Cosworth) brown/bronze car for sale. It was a saloon which I preferred and seemed to look in some what of a good condition, with rotted sills being an issue along with a rough running engine. It quickly became something I needed, and the deal was done.
The car arrived and really struggled to idle when cold, cue plenty of google research, I figured out that the TPS sensor wasn't working right so disconnected it to test if the cars idle improved, it did. I wanted to ensure a few other bits were changed in the process, so I ordered new plugs, leads, distributor (what a saga), rotor arm and new idle control valve.
The car was delivered just around the corner from an MOT centre, so I thought I'll send it for an MOT then let’s see what else needs work. The sills although rusty in appearance actually were solid, no screwdriver could get through, however to give myself the best shot of a pass I left the TPS unplugged as the replacement hadn't arrived. Cue a fail on emissions.
Another start up revealed a missing cylinder, believed to be a faulty injector, throttle body and plenum off and injector rail off and then directly wiring up the injector 12V and blowing compressed air through it. all back together using old seals and test, nothing, quick clean up of the old spark plugs, and back to 6 cylinders, what a relief
Fast forward a few days, all the service items have arrived. I spent a hour or 2 changing plugs, distributor etc with my dad, and it was a really nice moment, just us two working on a car. Start up, strong smell of fuel, the injector rail was pouring fuel onto the left bank, the one of the old seals when refitted had split.
A quick call around a few places found 10 suitable O rings for the next day, all fitted, and then sent for re-test, the emissions were spot on, dare I say good.
First test run of the car after the MOT and it felt great, cruise control works and its a really nice place to be, its actually not too bad when you bury the accelerator pedal, its not quick but I wouldn't say its slow either.
Plan is to clean up the sills and treat and paint to get it through this upcoming winter. Car will be daily driver (though I don't actually daily drive as I WFH or walk to the office)
I bought some cheap wheels with tyres from the Cosworth model to replace the old cracking tyres and also give it a nice visual upgrade.
After posting a snippet about the car on "Joy of Running an Old Shed" I thought i'd create a thread on here
Firstly why a Granada of all things? Well I saw a recent Harry's Garage where he briefly showed a Granada Scorpio Cosworth, I thought "damn that looks cool" it had the Cosworth kudos, it looked like something in the vein of a Lotus Carlton, no obviously not as fast or trick. Plus I'd been itching for some sort of 90s saloon car to itch that BTCC type car I've been mulling about.
Anyway a quick look on eBay I found this 12V (not 24V Cosworth) brown/bronze car for sale. It was a saloon which I preferred and seemed to look in some what of a good condition, with rotted sills being an issue along with a rough running engine. It quickly became something I needed, and the deal was done.
The car arrived and really struggled to idle when cold, cue plenty of google research, I figured out that the TPS sensor wasn't working right so disconnected it to test if the cars idle improved, it did. I wanted to ensure a few other bits were changed in the process, so I ordered new plugs, leads, distributor (what a saga), rotor arm and new idle control valve.
The car was delivered just around the corner from an MOT centre, so I thought I'll send it for an MOT then let’s see what else needs work. The sills although rusty in appearance actually were solid, no screwdriver could get through, however to give myself the best shot of a pass I left the TPS unplugged as the replacement hadn't arrived. Cue a fail on emissions.
Another start up revealed a missing cylinder, believed to be a faulty injector, throttle body and plenum off and injector rail off and then directly wiring up the injector 12V and blowing compressed air through it. all back together using old seals and test, nothing, quick clean up of the old spark plugs, and back to 6 cylinders, what a relief
Fast forward a few days, all the service items have arrived. I spent a hour or 2 changing plugs, distributor etc with my dad, and it was a really nice moment, just us two working on a car. Start up, strong smell of fuel, the injector rail was pouring fuel onto the left bank, the one of the old seals when refitted had split.
A quick call around a few places found 10 suitable O rings for the next day, all fitted, and then sent for re-test, the emissions were spot on, dare I say good.
First test run of the car after the MOT and it felt great, cruise control works and its a really nice place to be, its actually not too bad when you bury the accelerator pedal, its not quick but I wouldn't say its slow either.
Plan is to clean up the sills and treat and paint to get it through this upcoming winter. Car will be daily driver (though I don't actually daily drive as I WFH or walk to the office)
I bought some cheap wheels with tyres from the Cosworth model to replace the old cracking tyres and also give it a nice visual upgrade.
Edited by mintmansam on Wednesday 8th November 23:28
stevemcs said:
That’s a lovely old thing, it wasn’t badly priced either. I keep looking for an estate with a towbar.
It’s immaculate inside, the previous owner (not the seller) had owned it since 1991! I’m the 3rd owner. Only major downside are the sills which I hear is common.The car has been in some sort of accident at rear offside as the rear door has started to rust, however I found a new door which I will get painted up and fit
I’m looking for a tow bar too, thinking it would be a reasonable tow car
I had two of these in the mid 90's;
First one was a 1989 2.0 saloon, with the twin cam 8v lump.
Second was a 1989 2.9 V6 Scorpio hatch (not the bog eyed later replacement to the Granada, but the top spec Granny).
Loved them both.
I do remember having a TPS problem on the V6 and the three wires on the replacement, although coloured the same, connected differently. It took a while to suss that out. I cannot recall how, but I jerry-rigged a fault code reader out of a simple light bulb on some leads. You count the flashes of the bulb!
Had a little look online and....
https://www.fordtruckzone.com/threads/how-to-retri...
The link is from an American pickup forum, but the Granny also uses the EEC IV ECU so the same apllies.
Hope that helps.
First one was a 1989 2.0 saloon, with the twin cam 8v lump.
Second was a 1989 2.9 V6 Scorpio hatch (not the bog eyed later replacement to the Granada, but the top spec Granny).
Loved them both.
I do remember having a TPS problem on the V6 and the three wires on the replacement, although coloured the same, connected differently. It took a while to suss that out. I cannot recall how, but I jerry-rigged a fault code reader out of a simple light bulb on some leads. You count the flashes of the bulb!
Had a little look online and....
https://www.fordtruckzone.com/threads/how-to-retri...
The link is from an American pickup forum, but the Granny also uses the EEC IV ECU so the same apllies.
Hope that helps.
I'm so glad you started this thread!
Back in 1990 I decided I needed to buy a Cat D 1985 2.8i Scorpio in Raven Black from a motor trader mate that had been vandalised - it looked and smelled like the interior had been subjected to a curry explosion!
Still he manged to find me a set of black leather seats and door cards so I swapped all that out, found some carpets, a head-liner and countless other bits and got it all sorted.
I still haven't had a car with so many gadgets - it even had electric reclining rear seats!
And in the 90s it still felt pretty quick, although like most of them it was an Auto. I looked at 4 x 4 models a few times as they were all manuals, and at 24V Cosworths but by then house costs had gone to the top of the list.
But I still have fond memories of mine.
Back in 1990 I decided I needed to buy a Cat D 1985 2.8i Scorpio in Raven Black from a motor trader mate that had been vandalised - it looked and smelled like the interior had been subjected to a curry explosion!
Still he manged to find me a set of black leather seats and door cards so I swapped all that out, found some carpets, a head-liner and countless other bits and got it all sorted.
I still haven't had a car with so many gadgets - it even had electric reclining rear seats!
And in the 90s it still felt pretty quick, although like most of them it was an Auto. I looked at 4 x 4 models a few times as they were all manuals, and at 24V Cosworths but by then house costs had gone to the top of the list.
But I still have fond memories of mine.
Gadgets in the Scorp model a plenty.
I also fondly remember the air adjustable lumbar support, like taking your blood pressure. As well as a trip / fuel computer at dash level (rare in those days), I loved the bank of warning lights up by the sunroof switch. The clock, with a stopwatch also lived up there.
There were also very well engineered and I think the first production car to have ABS as standard (It was optional on Mercs before hand if I recall).
A good example of the over engineering;
Modern cars have a brake pad sensor on one pad on one wheel, or if you are lucky one pad on each front wheel. That out of eight pads.
Those old Granny's has sensors on all eight pads! Never seen it since.
And by far the most amazing thing was the aircon, it used the bad for environment but bloody excellent for A/C gas. You really couldn't have it on low for too long.
OP, please post up some more Granny porn pics
I also fondly remember the air adjustable lumbar support, like taking your blood pressure. As well as a trip / fuel computer at dash level (rare in those days), I loved the bank of warning lights up by the sunroof switch. The clock, with a stopwatch also lived up there.
There were also very well engineered and I think the first production car to have ABS as standard (It was optional on Mercs before hand if I recall).
A good example of the over engineering;
Modern cars have a brake pad sensor on one pad on one wheel, or if you are lucky one pad on each front wheel. That out of eight pads.
Those old Granny's has sensors on all eight pads! Never seen it since.
And by far the most amazing thing was the aircon, it used the bad for environment but bloody excellent for A/C gas. You really couldn't have it on low for too long.
OP, please post up some more Granny porn pics
Hi all,
Thanks for the positive response
So it’s a Ghia X, which unusually for a Ford of this time isn’t the top spec, the Scorpio is for the Granada.
The car doesn’t have the reclining rear seat but if I can find a donor I’d love to add it in.
It does have an Instant MPG, Average MPG, Range meter, Cruise control and an electric sunroof , full electric windows and heated seats all of which I find amazing for the year of car.
The car is the 150bhp 2.9 V6 not Cat model. The smoothness of the car on the move is really amazing, this being my first car to have more than 4 cylinders.
I’ll get some more pics in the upcoming days
But here is what I have now
I also picked this up from eBay for £14
Thanks for the positive response
So it’s a Ghia X, which unusually for a Ford of this time isn’t the top spec, the Scorpio is for the Granada.
The car doesn’t have the reclining rear seat but if I can find a donor I’d love to add it in.
It does have an Instant MPG, Average MPG, Range meter, Cruise control and an electric sunroof , full electric windows and heated seats all of which I find amazing for the year of car.
The car is the 150bhp 2.9 V6 not Cat model. The smoothness of the car on the move is really amazing, this being my first car to have more than 4 cylinders.
I’ll get some more pics in the upcoming days
But here is what I have now
I also picked this up from eBay for £14
Nice op! Nice to see a Granada still kicking around.
As a fan of big old barges I had a MK3 face lift Cosworth engined version back in the early mid 2000s. For a V6 it made a decent sound as standard and actually got a fair old lick on. Mine was a saloon and I got offered more than I had paid for it so sold it on. I ultimately replaced it with an Omega 3.0 Elite. A better car in a lot of ways, but it wasn't a Granada.
My brother owned 2 24v's and my dad had a 2.9 Ghia X 4x4 on an f reg iirc. Was an auto too.
Enjoy!
As a fan of big old barges I had a MK3 face lift Cosworth engined version back in the early mid 2000s. For a V6 it made a decent sound as standard and actually got a fair old lick on. Mine was a saloon and I got offered more than I had paid for it so sold it on. I ultimately replaced it with an Omega 3.0 Elite. A better car in a lot of ways, but it wasn't a Granada.
My brother owned 2 24v's and my dad had a 2.9 Ghia X 4x4 on an f reg iirc. Was an auto too.
Enjoy!
I love an old Granada!
When I'd have been 10, if that I spent the day at a school friend's house on the other side of town. Her Dad had hurt or broken his wrist so couldn't take me home in his regular, manual, car. He was a bit of a car fan so was able to borrow an automatic from a friend, and got his hands on a D reg Granny in maroon.
I thought it was great, the leather interior, the gearbox, the rear electric windows, and the big round buttons to operate them. I thought it was the height of luxury on the way home.
Michael
When I'd have been 10, if that I spent the day at a school friend's house on the other side of town. Her Dad had hurt or broken his wrist so couldn't take me home in his regular, manual, car. He was a bit of a car fan so was able to borrow an automatic from a friend, and got his hands on a D reg Granny in maroon.
I thought it was great, the leather interior, the gearbox, the rear electric windows, and the big round buttons to operate them. I thought it was the height of luxury on the way home.
Michael
So I got out and cleaned up the new wheels and tyres I bought for the car. These are off the 24v Cosworth model, I bought them because I liked them and because I needed new tyres all round these have nearly new tyres on, all for the bargain price of £150
I often fine the alloys I like I’ll buy them 2nd hand with decent tyres and it’s often cheaper than the tyres or the wheels alone
As you can maybe see 3 of the wheels are in good condition, 1 has a fair bit of paintwork damage and the spare wheel needs a complete refurb
I often fine the alloys I like I’ll buy them 2nd hand with decent tyres and it’s often cheaper than the tyres or the wheels alone
As you can maybe see 3 of the wheels are in good condition, 1 has a fair bit of paintwork damage and the spare wheel needs a complete refurb
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