HotRodMatt Posted February 8, 2015 Report Posted February 8, 2015 Cars have been modified since they were invented. Henry Ford himself modified cars before deciding he could do better at making them. Funny how over 100 years later, it still causes controversy. Fords have always been popular for improving, from the lightweight and cheap Model Ts, As and Bs through to brand new Focuses and Fiestas, back yard mechanics and Ol' Henry's finest have gone had in hand. Personally I love modified/custom stuff but also really enjoy looking over a mint old stocker. Just a case of respecting a vehicle for what it is.
katana Posted February 8, 2015 Report Posted February 8, 2015 Wow this has gone off at a tangent......it was only a suggestion to get the hacksaw out! LOL. I myself appreciate 'original' cars but not to the exclusion of using reproduction parts due to their availability. For my own car, it was bought with the sole intention of fitting a Zetec and various other upgrades to suspension, brakes, electrics and fuel systems to make it every day useful and what Ford might have done had the equipment been available 35 years ago. I have the luxury of doing this as a hobby and hopefully making the vehicle safer and with better performance for TODAYS roads, that I can go out to the garage after a month and go for a drive without worrying that the fuel lines might have rotted out or that it will cost 1/2 a weeks wages in petrol for a couple of hundred miles.......if it didn't break down first. I bought the most solid car for the money, not the most original because that didn't matter to me - i'm its 23rd owner so how original and unblemished do you think it is? At the end of a day, its a 'thing' that may or may not get damaged through use - it happens! The thing is that it will be out there, on the road and reminding people of a certain age that they once had, or wanted one and when i'm done, i'll sell it on to the 24th owner in its life to maybe change it again! Heritage, classic, iconic are terms bandied around for everything from buildings to ball point pens - doesn't mean they should be wrapped in cotton wool - should they be retained as was or rebuilt to retain status as a functional object? Bit like Triggers Broom - 4 heads and 3 handles .......totally original as it still functions as originally intended! 1
Jiffer Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 I've just fitted single leafs to my mk1 Cortina, I had fitted a 2" lowering kit last year but doing away with the blocks now, there was plenty of thread left and from memory I think it says in the instructions on installation to cut off the excess. as for the second point made my Cortina is for thrashing down the strip as fast as humanly possible and was a shell when I got it, its my release for what is a very stressful life, and my 1300e was my deceased best mates and was in a proper mess when I got it, and will be a toy for the road and has had a few upgrades and will have more, both mine and both the way I want them and unsure how I would react if someone told me I shouldn't do it. 1
Ray Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 quote: both mine and both the way I want them and unsure how I would react if someone told me I shouldn't do it. you should google along the lines of "car modification and the mot" whilst its all in delay, and has been since 2012, if the EU have their way, then that is exactly what will happen, not only shouldnt but cant i think its a few years away yet, due to the implications
Danish Posted February 9, 2015 Report Posted February 9, 2015 That's only in discussion at the moment, no guarantee it will come into effect. Even if it comes in, the UK already has a formal scheme for what can be modified without an SVA, they're unlikely to revoke that and apply new rules retrospectively.
Ray Posted February 12, 2015 Report Posted February 12, 2015 Whilst your being precious and wanting every nut and bolt to be correct.........and keeping the car in the garage up on blocks - i'll be out driving! And for info they are 3/8 MS shackles that aren't HIGHLY tensioned else the bolt plates would bend - they clamp a plate to another plate with a locating pin between. Good luck finding the Holy Grail! hopefully, fingers crossed, i found that Holy Grail yesterday on flea bay, pics look corect, just waiting for them to arrive, they are used, but in A1 condition, and defo the correct shape around the bend and at the ends of the threads and came with the plates
HotRodMatt Posted February 12, 2015 Report Posted February 12, 2015 Nice one, it's always a great feeling when you find that elusive part.
Jiffer Posted February 14, 2015 Report Posted February 14, 2015 Sorry but I don't understand the shouldn't? I asume making yours the best you can and the way you want it gives you a lot of pleasure in your old Ford. Making mine fast in a straight line in respect of my mk1 cortina and a toy to take out on the roads in respect of my mk1 escort is where I get my pleasure.
PeteRS8084 Posted February 21, 2015 Author Report Posted February 21, 2015 Right been down my garage again this morning, yes she is fitted with 2" lowering blocks, and yes the rear arches have already been rolled. So its all a bonus. Just ordered a 1" lowering block kit to change the ride height, this will now give me ability to fit 7x13 wheels with my 175/50/13 yokohams. JUST GOT TO GET A SET OF 7x13s NOW!
chugg-a-boom Posted February 25, 2015 Report Posted February 25, 2015 For me it's great to see an original classic as much as a modded classic as much as a crazy custom V8! Life without all of those would be a narrow minded dreary place! You could say that all the RS and sporting models are just base models modified by Ford. One of the marketing benefits was that they are easy modded and reversed back if desired. Thats the beauty of old Fords, you can have whichever tickles your testis (if you have the cash!).I'm with matt, respect a car for what it is individually. Nice 1300e btw Ray, even if it is a replica of an original car, modded with unoriginal paint (only kiddin!) 1
DT36 Posted February 26, 2015 Report Posted February 26, 2015 I am a little bit concerned here now. My car was modified when I first bought it and is far from original. I have probably added to this since, by fitting poly bushes, bike carbs and recently electronic ignition. So, to get to the point... I have to be advance CRB checked for my job and also sometimes need to be security vetted. Therefore, do I need to declare these mods on the CRB check and if I do, what am I looking at from the Beak? Just a bit of fun, Ray and only meant light heartedly 1
mk2 mike Posted February 26, 2015 Report Posted February 26, 2015 I am a little bit concerned here now. My car was modified when I first bought it and is far from original. I have probably added to this since, by fitting poly bushes, bike carbs and recently electronic ignition. So, to get to the point... I have to be advance CRB checked for my job and also sometimes need to be security vetted. Therefore, do I need to declare these mods on the CRB check and if I do, what am I looking at from the beak? D Youre fecked mate. You're going down the steps. Can I have your car? 3
DT36 Posted February 26, 2015 Report Posted February 26, 2015 Youre fecked mate. You're going down the steps. Can I have your car? You can be the custodian. However, you might b aiding and abetting the mods by association... 2
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