Andy Spencer

I'm starting to plan the winter engine & gearbox exchange on my Mk1 Sierra S7 monocoque. Whilst I've got the engine and box out, I'm going to tidy up the underbonnet wiring etc, but am also thinking about possible strengthening to stop the cracking that some people seem to suffer from. I can only find threads relating to S3a's or Exmo's. Mine was on the road in 1996 and has done 6000 miles since, reasonably gently as its only a 1.6. I cannot see any evidence of cracks in the usual places (where Jim suffered with his) or indeed anywhere else but one of the Midlands members suggested I welded in some strengthening in the back of the engine bay from the floor upwards. Apparently it also improves handling, but I want to do something before I fit the 2 litre with DGAS, ported head and decent cam! Have any other Mk1 Sierra S7 members (Alan Rowe / Peter Bell?) suffered from cracks or done any preventative work? Would a mobile welding company be able to come out and do something with it up on axle stands in the garage? Any suggestions welcome. Andy

I am sure they are from early Transits, 70's / early 80's? If you are stuck, get them from Robin Hood, not much money. Andy

Me too. Mine died after 800 miles. Buy a clear filter and put one just after the tank, then one just before the carb. Then check the one before the carb has plenty of fuel in it. You may find (as i did) that it will run quite well for a while, then if you floor it it will eventually die, it's just the filter gradually restricting fuel flow. Andy

If you live in Belper, you have a choice of several monthly meets close to you where us owners and various cars turn up. If you look in events or calendar, you will see the details. By the way, the Leicestershire group meet on the last Wednesday of the month at the Waterside in Mountsorrel - about 40 minutes drive from Belper. Andy

Bad luck. RHE want £120 for a new prop shaft. I replaced mine from a doughnut type. They sell two types; one for the early Sierra 4 speed box, other for the 2 litre cars or 5 speeders. The 2 litre one will also fit any Sierra / Cortina 2 litre, 4 or 5 speed, or so I was led to believe. On your diff, when you get the propshaft off, see if there is any play in it. Are your engine mounts OK? Good luck in sorting this one out. Andy

I posted a thread on this yesterday - many of us seem to suffer this problem. Mine actually cuts out through fuel vapourisation. Louvres will help but ultimately you really need to wrap the manifold with exhaust wrap and also fit an electric fan - they shift far more air than the conventional viscous fan. The fan might not help the cabin temp though! Andy

It does sound like fuel vapourisation. My carb model suffers from this in hot weather and standing traffic, particularly after filling up with fuel. Sometimes cuts out altogether for a few minutes. I can see the fuel 'boiling' in the filter just before the carb. Your EFI may suffer less because of the higher rate of fuel delivery. Best way to resolve it is a combination of bonnet louvres, electric fan, and exhaust manifold wrap. I'd start with manifold wrap and electric fan, then do louvres if you have to. Andy

Leicestershire Area Meetings will take place at The Waterside Inn, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. 7.30pm onwards on the last Wednesday of the month - next meeting is on the 27th July. For directions and details go to www.thewatersideinn.co.uk Andy

This is great! My lot: Vauxhall Chevette (1256cc, gutless) Mk 1 Ford Fiesta Pop Plus 1.1 (nippy but very spartan) Hyundai Pony (less said the better!!) Vauxhall Astra 1.4 Merit (60bhp engine, gutless, horrible car) Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 SRi (great fun, lots of rattles, poor build) Citroen Xantia 1.9TD (company car, nice floaty ride, very torquey) Eunos Roadster (MX5 imported) - great motor, wife's VW Golf Mk3 GTi 8v (lovely torquey petrol engine, not that quick though) Toyota RAV4 (wife's, excellent motor) Ford Focus 1.8 TDi Hatch (130k miles over 3 years, hated it, company car) BMW320 diesel touring auto (company funded, not a bad motor) Vauxhall Vectra SRi 2.2 (wife's, not bad at all) Mk 1 Sierra S7 Robin Hood 1600 Pinto (bought completed and on the road, love it!!) BMW 330 diesel touring manual (absolutley awesome and 45mpg, company funded, so fast it scares me, constantly.) I realise how lucky I am with the current car but it is so interesting to review all the things you have had over the years! Andy

Hi Mike I wish I could hear the noise but here are a few suggestions: 1) What prop have you got and are all the joints OK? 2) I had a strange noise in my 1600 pinto (Mk 1 S7) not long after I fitted spring assistors (the rubbers in the springs). I found that the driveshafts were rubbing them and above about 35mph, they were best described as 'groaning' with a bit of vibration. I moved them and secured them to the top of the springs, problem gone. 3) Diff running low on oil or on its way out. 4) Driveshaft CV joint ****ered! 5) Is there a drive mechanism in the gearbox for the speedo cable and could that have started to fail? Can't remember. Finally, if it definitely sounds like the gearbox, don't rule it out. Many of us have had problems with recon boxes, that's why we all now buy them off ebay for a tenner or so and take the risk! Best of luck Andy

The Skoda is awesome I have to admit. But just to be different, I'll vote for the Vectra - purely because I drove a colleague's CDTI 150 the other day and could not believe the grunt - and 45mpg! Quiet as well. It was comparable in performance to my 330d beemer. If you can put up with the 'commonality' and the slightly strange dash, it'll be a good motor. Might depreciate a bit rapidly though - but won't they all! Good luck and let us know your choice! Andy

I've got the same dilemma. I bought a type 9 5 speeder off ebay last year. It 'feels' fine. ie all gears select OK, no awful play anywhere, but the effort required to get it into a Mk1 S7 (i.e. engine out) is such that it MUST work!! Can you get them health checked anywhere that will not rip you off? Andy

Just a reminder that we will have our first meet this Sunday at 7.30pm onwards at the Belper Arms, Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire. I am aware there are quite a few meets already happening within a 30 mile radius, so if you are going to attend could you drop me a PM please so I can give them an idea of numbers! If no-one PM's me then maybe we will try and tag on with other groups in the future. Look forward to (hopefully) meeting some of you this Sunday! Andy

I'm glad I took my car cover though, check out the dust on the T2000!

Our attempt was a bit pathetic Chris! Damn stuff got so hot we had to prop the bars! (shame) They were 2 litre bottles though, honest!!!!!!

Yeah, fit a manual choke. That carb ran brilliantly on mine - only reason I changed it was that I got a brand new one off ebay for a fiver! When it is running intermittently, have a look at the choke flap (on the barrel furthest away from the engine) - if it is closed or partially closed, then the choke is sticking on. You could try, during the summer, to remove the electric choke bit altogether, you should not need it if you pump the throttle a few times. You will have to 'fix' it off by stopping the small choke lever from moving. Andy

I bought some from Peter Bell a while ago. Fitted brilliantly. Andy

Got back last night after 976 miles over 5 days in the Hood! Loved every minute of it! What an excellent experience! Although we didn't camp on the club stand it was nice to go over and see everyone. Cannot believe Mick towed a trailer all the way there with his Hood!! Weather exceptionally hot, racing was good (and loud), plenty of beer. Will post some pics later when I find the cable to my camera. Car did brilliantly - only issue was it getting too hot in standing traffic - viscous fan not man enough - time for an electric one I think, and some vents in the bonnet to help with air flow (mine's an S7 with a 'solid' bonnet). Got used to it spewing some coolant out at petrol stations, then playing up for a few minutes with fuel vapourisation. Also need some new seats - the old 'bum crunchers' (RH originals) were tiring after a while. Averaged nearly 39mpg as well!!!!! Oh and Jim - I think I'll ditch the pancake filter so I can get some airflow through the engine above 65mph!! Many thanks to Mick and everyone who organised the event, much appreciated. Hope everyone got home safely and glad you all enjoyed Newark. Andy

Its here on the NW website http://nw.rhocar.org/fordenginenumbers.htm

....and I bet he had a pancake filter too!!!!!

Joni You need to be careful here. What was wrong with the Weber 28/30 DFTH I sent you? Although it has an electric choke, that is easily overcome, or fit a manual one. From our discussions before, I think your engine may be an Emax, in which case the inlet manifold is different, so a standard one will not fit. Be careful not to waste your money! To get through SVA it may be easier to just get a refurb kit for your current carb, if you buy another you will need all sorts of linkages as well, if you can find one to fit. BTW if you don't need the Weber, Mike G is having trouble with his I think? I'd get it on the road and worry about upgrading later. Good luck! Andy

I've got a 1600 on a 28/30 carb. Mine's pretty breathless above 60 as well (although mine is a 4 speeder). Remember you only have 75 odd horsepower to play with and they are not going to 'light many fires' at that speed with the aerodynamics we live with on the Hoods. Many members with 2 litre cars with a bit of tuning will have double the power! If you trace the problem to the carb, let me know as I have got a spare Weber twin choke 28/30 DFTH - nearly new as well! Andy

Jim is absolutely right on that measurement, but I think there may be issues on the width on the Cortina based cars. I have a Mk1 Sierra mono S7 and it fitted fine but RHE did state that the current hood supplied will only fit Sierra based cars. Good luck in finding something. You could try a Surrey like other members (see recent threads), and I'm sure that some sort of sidescreen could be made easily enough. Andy

I carry a scissor jack from a Mini. Fits behind my seat. Andy