Newbie question

[vonhazelwood]

Hi all,
I got my wedge last year in Florida and shipped it home to Canada. It is safely tucked away in the garage right now as we still have 2 feet of snow on the ground. Parts are hard to find here but we do have a supplier in the States and TVR Canada still has some parts in Toronto.I am looking for the reverse switch in the back of the Ford 4 speed gearbox, anyone got a lead on where I can get one?
The US spec front bumper is now gone. I got a UK spec one from TET.
Thanks,
Steve

Edited by vonhazelwood on Sunday 27th February 03:01

Edited by vonhazelwood on Sunday 27th February 03:02

[grahamw48]

Hi Steve, and welcome to 'Wedgedom'.

Your car looks very smart, and no doubt it's lost a lot of weight junking the American bumper (next step bring up to UK spec' power ?).

All the engine/gearbox parts are basically Ford Capri 2.8i, and the gearbox in particular was shared by a whole range of 80s Fords (Sierra, Granada and smaller engined Capris...assuming it's a 5 speed or auto.

Hopefully there will be suppliers of older Ford parts in Canada.
I would recommend you buy the Capri 2.8i workshop manual ( Haynes ISBN 1 8501 309 7 is the one that I have), plus Steve Heath's 'Wedge Bible'. He has a website.

Anyway, I hope you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of your car, and you will always find lots of help on this, THE forum for the TVR 'Wedge' range.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Steve...
Nice 280i..I had no reverse lights and thought my switch had gone but it was the wire going to it that needed attention..I did struggle to find a replacement and the ford specialist i took it to said they dont make them anymore..There are some on ebay right now but checked to see if they are the right ones..Cheers..Ziga
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...

Edited by mrzigazaga on Sunday 27th February 10:15

[vonhazelwood]

I have Steve Heaths "bible" and it is very helpful. North American wedges only got a Ford 4 speed gearbox. I have bought a few switches on ebay and they do not fit. I am guessing they are for a 5 speed.
As to boosting power is there a way to get more power out of the 2.8? I changed the exhaust to the Langford european one which boosted power quite a bit.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..
All i could find out was that the air trumpet under the air plenum next to the distributor can be alli welded and then bored out as the slice ford took out of it was way too much..Then add a janspeed turbo..(if you can find one)..Apparently pushes it to 200bhp..Without any other engine mods..If you push it anymore you will need low compression pistons and then you might as well have the cam profiled and big bore valves fitted..Some gas flowing also..But you are going into the regions of loads of bucks..There was a guy on here from the states who fitted a Ford 302 in his 280i..Apparently there was a guy on the ford forum who managed to get 500BHP+ out of a colonge but had some serious head work done, Which isnt cheap and a lot of people say its not worth it...Im sure someone on here will either shoot me down or add to what ive just said..Ziga

[jeff m]

Are you sure the switch is faulty, it could just need screwing in a bit further.
(too far in is when you can't get reverse)

[grahamw48]

vonhazelwood said:

I have Steve Heaths "bible" and it is very helpful. North American wedges only got a Ford 4 speed gearbox. I have bought a few switches on ebay and they do not fit. I am guessing they are for a 5 speed.
As to boosting power is there a way to get more power out of the 2.8? I changed the exhaust to the Langford european one which boosted power quite a bit.

The 2.8 out of an old Mustang will fit, and and has the better head design (no siamesed ports)...maybe just the head can be swapped ?

Not sure what emissions regulations you've got there, but I believe the extra emissions stuff was what strangled the US spec engines, so just needs throwing away and the engine set up to compensate.

I believe the 4 speed gearbox is the same as that used on the 3 litre (Essex) Capri, but you'd need to double-check on that on one of the Capri forums.

302 Ford will go in.

[Grady]

Try Norm at Team Blitz. He as a Capri specialist but very knowledgeable, helpful and has parts. Grady

[Grady]

There is an out-of-print book on helping a Cologne 2.8. IIRC it took a lots of machining but not much reward. One turns up on ebay sometimes.

Getting rid of the cat helped a little but not dramatically. What is a Langford?

BTW - A 351 will fit - not sure if it was a C or W.

Grady

Edited by Grady on Sunday 27th February 15:31

[benebob]

I ordered a Ford Capri reverse switch for mine from england. It no workie nor did it look even close. Picked on up off a parts Wedge in D.C. Was exactly the same as mine. Go figure, Sorry no help but can Marshall get ya one? Save that front bumper if it is in good shape! I plan on being the only one stateside to stick with the stock us spec look.

[vonhazelwood]

Marshall was waiting for a new supply. He seems to have fallen off the grid lately. I will keep the federal front bumper but if anyone needs one let me know.

[jeff m]

Grady said:

Try Norm at Team Blitz. He as a Capri specialist but very knowledgeable, helpful and has parts. Grady

Here we go
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Capri-Back-Up-...

$16, he may even take Loonies

This should be correct as the Capri LS had the Type E box.

BTW the limitations on tuning a 2.8 are not the O2 sensor, it is because it is CIS and constant flow cannot cope with valve overlap of high profile cams.
Holley 350 and manifolds would be the direction to go.

[vonhazelwood]

Thanks for this, I will order today.