I just dunno.....

[Muzzman]

Put the car away after Ford Fair, haven`t even opened the garage door until today and that was only because the missus said hadn't you better go and start the car........ I think maybe you need mechanical and bodywork skills to really like these cars, I kinda find it frustrating as I have none. Think I maybe should have bought a Series 1 Elise, classic shape, track days, appreciating classic. Don't really want to sell it but not sure how to make me and the Mex work. Even been looking for a basic mechanic weekend college course but none around

[Vista]

Was something wrong with it then?

[Muzzman]

No nothing at all....yet. But it needs bodywork and you see everyone on here with their amazing skills and i`d love to make the car into something special but paying someone just isn't an option at the moment, i`m thinking it might be better to let it go so someone can take it back to its former glory.

[Mk2Jo]

Have you thought about asking on here for some help? The un-skilled folk on here outweigh the skilled ones so you're not alone!

[walsh253]

not everyone can own a mint car straight away unless you have the skills or money,i say keep it and get  bits done when you have the spare cash its better to have a rusty one than nothing.Theres evening courses to learn the basics.

But if your really fed up ive got £200 here to make your pain and worries go away

[mk2 v6]

What are your skills/trade you may be able to trade work with others IE if you're a plumber electrician plasterer.?

[Rally Pack 2000]

It does seem daunting at first and its not something that you learn in a few weeks or months. When I got my first Escort thats in my avatar over 25 years ago I new absolutely nothing about mechanics or bodywork. I hadnt had the car long and took it to garage to have the brake pads replaced and fluid bled. On the way home pedal hit the floor and the brakes failed. They didnt bleed the fluid properly and had left a big air pocket in the lines. I thought I would never trust anyone with something as important as brakes so taught myself how to do it. Things just went from there. It became apparent I needed to keep the 13mm spanner at the top of the tool box. I dont do everything myself mechanically. Im a skinny guy so if its big and heavy like gearboxs or diffs I would get a friend to help although nowadays I have to get a mechanic but those things need attending rarely. I still need to consult the factory manual but after a while general mechanics and the way things work just click into place. That brake failure was a blessing in disguise because I apply the simply mechanical skills I taught myself tinkering on my Escort to other things like the mower and the generator and just fixing things in general around those house. I think back then how I was scared to attempt to fix anything on the car envious of my mates but now I take apart anything thats broken and have a look, if its within my means to fix it  then I fix it and if I cant I know enough to figure out if that professional guy is ripping me off. I have to thank my OSF for that. If I been born in the age of modern cars with computer chips and cramped engine bays full off all manner of crap I would never have started. All I hear from the young guys talking about the mods to their stereo and body kits these days not about the mechanics of their cars apart from "its been chipped" because they simply are too complex for the average joe to work on.

 

I just went back to university to do my masters and I came out of if with total brain fade. I wanted to do something completely opposite. The Mk2 was looking pretty shabby so I decided to teach myself to paint. Im just using the acrylic paint it was painted with in the factory not this modern hard stuff that skilled people get mega results with. (Secretly I tell people I wanted the Du Pont Acrylic Paint for originality but the real reason is because Im scared of the 2 pak stuff as its easier to sand out my mistakes! lol) I havent pained the car in one hit either much to the onlookers and nay sayers who think im ridiculous but if I did the whole car rather than a panel at a time the whole thing would be as crap as the first panel I attempted. As Im getting better I go back again and redo the previous bits so i have practically painted the thing three times already! The paint shop guy makes me keep the mixing formula for my colour in my wallet so he doesnt have to keep looking it up! LOL Im still not proficient but the car is looking in good condition now. It doesnt look like a show car but then its meant to be my driver anyways. Its got a nice shine you can see a reflection it. Cant get the bloody passenger door skin without ripples which is annoying me to no end, I have even started a thread to find a new door skin but its all part of the fun. Its been immensely rewarding to see it change back from the faded and cracked old banger it was too how it was back when I first got it. Now im not scared of that stone chip or to take it anywhere for fear of damaging it paint.

 

There will always be limitations and things that you simply never can do or simply just not want to do. I admire the guys on here that can do it all. I have a soldering disability. Its so bad even my mother shakes her head at the globby mess I make. So with this came a complete and total acceptance that if Im shocking at something as simple as that, to attempt to weld would be an abomination against nature. When you figure out your weakness you build a re pour with those that do. And you wont find that person first try either. The guy that I asked to weld a small patch on my floor set fire to my passenger seatbelts to which the car still stinks years later. So there will be hurdles and you will swear at the car and proclaim its impossible to fix that frustrating b****** F***** piece of ******** but come back to the job a few days later calm and collected only to find out you can and the solution was fairly obvious.

 

I think a Kent engined Mk1 like yours would be the most open spaced and less complicated of all the OSF. It will be a joy and dream and one of the most stunning of motors. And if you have any doubts pop the bonnet on your neighbours Subaru WRX or 5 Series BMW look for a small gap to put your hand and a spanner in and remind yourself how lucky the simplicity you have.

 

The biggest tip and the really most important for someones first time out is if you doubt your motivation or the scope of the task is NEVER EVER take the car off the road for a complete restoration. Just do it in small steps and always keep its non drivable periods to a minimum. I say this because almost everyone I know that ever decided to strip their car bare lost enthusiasm part way and were all sold off as "unfinished projects" You need to drive the car to meets and shows and to friends to show them your progress to keep the enthusiasm going. For me part of the fun is finding the special bit every so often and popping it on and seeing the progress its an ongoing hobby like any other. The guys here that do the complete restorations often have another OSF to keep their interest going while working on their projects or they have done one or more before and have an uncanny speed and methodical way to get through the jobs in a matter of months. I have seen some guys tart up their winter bangers to look magic only to sell it when the season is up! The first attempt always takes years though.  Trying to envisage the end product of a complete resto is near impossible but bit by bit you see an improvement that perks you up and think to yourself I really should do that next its looking a bit shabby now compared to that you just renewed and the domino effect kicks in and your on your way.

 

woops an epic novel again Soz

[bigbadsquare]

It does seem daunting at first and its not something that you learn in a few weeks or months. When I got my first Escort thats in my avatar over 25 years ago I new absolutely nothing about mechanics or bodywork. I hadnt had the car long and took it to garage to have the brake pads replaced and fluid bled. On the way home pedal hit the floor and the brakes failed. They didnt bleed the fluid properly and had left a big air pocket in the lines. I thought I would never trust anyone with something as important as brakes so taught myself how to do it. Things just went from there. It became apparent I needed to keep the 13mm spanner at the top of the tool box. I dont do everything myself mechanically. Im a skinny guy so if its big and heavy like gearboxs or diffs I would get a friend to help although nowadays I have to get a mechanic but those things need attending rarely. I still need to consult the factory manual but after a while general mechanics and the way things work just click into place. That brake failure was a blessing in disguise because I apply the simply mechanical skills I taught myself tinkering on my Escort to other things like the mower and the generator and just fixing things in general around those house. I think back then how I was scared to attempt to fix anything on the car envious of my mates but now I take apart anything thats broken and have a look, if its within my means to fix it  then I fix it and if I cant I know enough to figure out if that professional guy is ripping me off. I have to thank my OSF for that. If I been born in the age of modern cars with computer chips and cramped engine bays full off all manner of crap I would never have started. All I hear from the young guys talking about the mods to their stereo and body kits these days not about the mechanics of their cars apart from "its been chipped" because they simply are too complex for the average joe to work on.

 

I just went back to university to do my masters and I came out of if with total brain fade. I wanted to do something completely opposite. The Mk2 was looking pretty shabby so I decided to teach myself to paint. Im just using the acrylic paint it was painted with in the factory not this modern hard stuff that skilled people get mega results with. (Secretly I tell people I wanted the Du Pont Acrylic Paint for originality but the real reason is because Im scared of the 2 pak stuff as its easier to sand out my mistakes! lol) I havent pained the car in one hit either much to the onlookers and nay sayers who think im ridiculous but if I did the whole car rather than a panel at a time the whole thing would be as crap as the first panel I attempted. As Im getting better I go back again and redo the previous bits so i have practically painted the thing three times already! The paint shop guy makes me keep the mixing formula for my colour in my wallet so he doesnt have to keep looking it up! LOL Im still not proficient but the car is looking in good condition now. It doesnt look like a show car but then its meant to be my driver anyways. Its got a nice shine you can see a reflection it. Cant get the bloody passenger door skin without ripples which is annoying me to no end, I have even started a thread to find a new door skin but its all part of the fun. Its been immensely rewarding to see it change back from the faded and cracked old banger it was too how it was back when I first got it. Now im not scared of that stone chip or to take it anywhere for fear of damaging it paint.

 

There will always be limitations and things that you simply never can do or simply just not want to do. I admire the guys on here that can do it all. I have a soldering disability. Its so bad even my mother shakes her head at the globby mess I make. So with this came a complete and total acceptance that if Im shocking at something as simple as that, to attempt to weld would be an abomination against nature. When you figure out your weakness you build a re pour with those that do. And you wont find that person first try either. The guy that I asked to weld a small patch on my floor set fire to my passenger seatbelts to which the car still stinks years later. So there will be hurdles and you will swear at the car and proclaim its impossible to fix that frustrating b****** F***** piece of ******** but come back to the job a few days later calm and collected only to find out you can and the solution was fairly obvious.

 

I think a Kent engined Mk1 like yours would be the most open spaced and less complicated of all the OSF. It will be a joy and dream and one of the most stunning of motors. And if you have any doubts pop the bonnet on your neighbours Subaru WRX or 5 Series BMW look for a small gap to put your hand and a spanner in and remind yourself how lucky the simplicity you have.

 

The biggest tip and the really most important for someones first time out is if you doubt your motivation or the scope of the task is NEVER EVER take the car off the road for a complete restoration. Just do it in small steps and always keep its non drivable periods to a minimum. I say this because almost everyone I know that ever decided to strip their car bare lost enthusiasm part way and were all sold off as "unfinished projects" You need to drive the car to meets and shows and to friends to show them your progress to keep the enthusiasm going. For me part of the fun is finding the special bit every so often and popping it on and seeing the progress its an ongoing hobby like any other. The guys here that do the complete restorations often have another OSF to keep their interest going while working on their projects or they have done one or more before and have an uncanny speed and methodical way to get through the jobs in a matter of months. I have seen some guys tart up their winter bangers to look magic only to sell it when the season is up! The first attempt always takes years though.  Trying to envisage the end product of a complete resto is near impossible but bit by bit you see an improvement that perks you up and think to yourself I really should do that next its looking a bit shabby now compared to that you just renewed and the domino effect kicks in and your on your way.

 

woops an epic novel again Soz

This should be a sticky as it is so true !!!

[Mexico Mark 2]

I would gladly give help to anyone on here if I can.

[Muzzman]

I will keep it, depending on what side of the bed i get up on i feel differently about it.

 

Rally Pack 2000, thanks for the advice about stripping it (and the rest of the post), my initial idea was to get the bodywork completely sorted but most of the body shops want it stripped and sent to them then you put it back together yourself, i was going to attempt this and then i realised i'm unsure about my current employment so i thought i'd better hang on to the cash.

 

I reckon the way forward is to make a list of what initial things i'd like done to the car and figure out if there is anything i could attempt myself, i keep on getting mixed reports on the bodywork, some people think it's pretty bad others think it's okay, i suppose it depends how anal you are.

 

A big worry is that if i don't do the jobs that need doing, give it a few years and there won't be a car left. 

 

First thing i need to sort out are the brakes, theres no servo and has a brake bias box and even if i slam on the brakes it just doesn't stop. I could probably have a go at uprating the suspension as well. A simple first job would be to just remove the front grill and spray it up to cover the stone chips.

 

I think as i said before, to be honest, i'm scared to have a go and sod it up, i reckon i just need to man the f*ck up. I am drawn to learning more about the mechanics of an engine, can you give overhauling one yourself a go or is that best left to the professionals

[rallyesport04]

buy yourself a propa for workshop manual not a haynes there not as good make a list of what you want to repair say the brakes get the manual out read the brake section understand it an go for it its only nuts an bolts if you cock it up read the book again an fix it as for body work get some metal the same thickness as the car get yourself as halfsharp mig an practice on scrap metal till your confident enough to work on the car we all started from the bottom

[Mgentry90]

I purchased a mk1 capri that needed work.. Being inexperienced at the resto stuff started cutting.. And cutting.. And more cutting.. And soon enough, its now at a state where the body isn't going to line up very easily and probably needs cutting up and scrapping. Take things slow and you'll pick it up.

 

Even Einstein had to go to school at one point!