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9/9/2000
Went to a Ford garage to get new fuel pump and gearbox top
plate gaskets. They don't keep the gearbox gasket in stock any
more so that is on order, and it turns out the fuel pump gasket
is what I thought was actually a spacer. There is no way this
will fit between the pump and the engine as the space between
the end of the pump and a diagonal chassis rail is around 1/2
the size of the gasket, so it looks like I will have to use an
electric fuel pump. Probably the best thing to do anyway...
At the open day I had noticed that someone had got rid of the bar on the handbrake that the end of the cable normally clamps to. This had caused me a problem, as the end of the cable outer was fouling the loop on the end of the cable, so I drilled out the rivet thing holding this bar on and attached the cable directly to the handbrake - much better.
Made a start on the gear remote. Cut three bolts to length for the modified gear lever, and then drilled a hole in the plate that is welded onto it.
10/9/2000
Drilled a hole in the remote lever, measured up the distance
between the holes in the 2 levers when fully forward and fully
back to make sure I get it the right length, then chopped the
remote bars to length and drilled holes through them. Bolted it
all together and it seems to work fairly well, without too much
extra sloppiness added. The reverse stop seems a bit dodgy, as
when its adjusted so that I can just get it into first and
second gears, the end of the remote lever is just on the edge
of the stop and could slip off. Will have to have a better look
at it later on.
16/9/2000
Finished cleaning the replacement rocker box, and then painted
it, the cam belt cover and the two roll hoops.
17/9/2000
Managed to find some petrol in the area, so was able to make it
to Donington. The same as last year, I only saw one kit on the
way to the show - a V8 Ultima, much nicer than the Dax Kamala I
saw last year.
Picked up a couple of things that I'll need later on - radiator fan (brand new from Rover 600), some rear lights, and a set of ignition leads.
Unfortunately the show wasn't anywhere near as busy as it was last year, probably due to the petrol shortage. Saw Ian Cassapi's recently converted Toyota powered Cat, which has a lot more clearance in the engine bay than a Pinto. If they go as well as people say they do, then it might be a good alternative to a Zetec, though it would have been nice if it had the exhaust on the same side as the Pinto...
25/9/2000
Bought various bits over the last few days that will eventually be
fitted. Luckily, the local Ford and VW main dealers are right next
door to each other, which made getting the bits that only they sell
easier.
Fitted springs and new rubber bush to steering column - now there is no play in it any more.
Trial fit of new clutch cable, after enlarging the hole in the bellhousing cover plate. Unfortunately the pedal box bracket that holds the clutch cable is very flimsy, and just bends up when the clutch pedal is pressed. Will have to have a think about it and make some sort of extra bracket to stop it moving...
26/9/2000
Fitted the modified sump.
30/9/2000
Fitted the starter motor, tried to remove the old
propshaft/gearbox oil seal (which doesn't want to move at all,
so I'll have to try and make something to yank it out), and
made a start on constructing some sort of bracket for the
clutch pedal.
Total hours this month -
16.5
Total build hours -
244.5
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