It was quite a week in the run up to FordFair, with a fair bit to do. Waiting for parts to arrive in the post, new bearings to fit and ABS sensors to play with. But in the end, after a number of very late, very hot nights I go it all done.
The first job was to sort the exhaust back box, which had completely eaten itself. So a nice new shiny one was ordered from Euro Car Parts and it was put in place, except it didn't fit and I didn't like the tailpipe. So out came the grinder and a few hours later a lovely new, well fitting, back box was in place, with custom "rally style" ( :wink: ) tailpipe in place.
Then came the suspension, a long overdue job, as the rear dampers weren't really doing any damping. So after 8 hours of toil (and no pictures, sorry) the car was finally sitting at the height it deserves. And a special thanks is awarded at this point to ethanfitz for giving me the source of the elusive coilover lock rings that I couldn't find anywhere. At this time I stuck some 20mm spacers on the front, which required a complete strip down of the hub knuckles, which without the help from the local Kwik Fit bearing press would have been simple impossible. And thanks to the invention of ABS it was made that little bit harder because I had to cut the old sensor out of one hub and stick it in the new one, thankfully it worked :thumbs:
After that it was a case of finishing touches and setting the coilovers, and a session on the laser tracker. With my new, uncrashed bonnet and fully working heater panel (courtesy of Ian G) it was looking like a proper car again. So i set to work with the polish and wax and made it look like god's very own car (maybe). And then I drove outside and this happened
Anyway, undeterred I set off the next morning (4am btw) to Silverstone, and what a day it was, glorious sunshine and glorious Puma's. After a session with the Instant Show Shine (does exactly what it says on the tin) the old boy was looking fresh again. A few compliments here an there and I felt like my work paid off, plus I think it looked damn good in the sun, the Panther Black really comes into it's own and the metallic shines through.
So anyway, the (for now) finished product
Whilst browsing everybody else's efforts and being impressed I realised the next thing I need to do is remove the spare wheel carrier and stick the wheel in the boot. And besides, then I can show off the fact it's got the original spare tire from the 90s
k:
Then I want to look at some poly bushes for the rear beam and fit my new strut brace (thanks CherryVimto). And in the more distant future it'll be time for a 1700 swap and rear disc conversion, and at the same time a look at widening the rear track, now that the fronts are on spacers it's 38mm wider again, and my OCD can't have that for too long haha.