The Cortina restoration.

Saga Lout · 21st June 2021, 07:21

As some of you know, I'm on with a Ford Cortina MK3 2000E restoration. As my eyesight has been holding me back, the work is slow but over recent days I've been back at it. In the past few weeks I built a vapour blaster to help with all of my car projects, money well spent I can tell you. I had an uphill task with the gearbox until recently, either it will cost a fortune and be full of pattern parts or I'll get the right bits. In the end I have now got everything for it and all genuine Ford items and so, the gearbox build is go, it's a C3 autobox and I've never built one before now. I hand polished the bell housing to remove the chips and scratches from 45 years of use, it'll tone down and then I'll coat it in etch lacquer to protect it from oxidising again. I'm sure that many of us have had to clean alloy at some point and found it tedious, that's where the vapour blaster comes in, you soda blast it first to a dull but clean finish and the vapour hone it.

Ian G · 21st June 2021, 07:31

Wow that looks amazing..What a finish

FLYING BANANA · 21st June 2021, 07:46

Stunning. That is certainly a good job well done.

Teflon · 21st June 2021, 07:59

Amazing work

. Love MK3 Cortinas, terrific looking cars

Cliff

trikey · 21st June 2021, 08:55

Having had the same engine and box in a trike years ago, I could only dream of having a finish like that on them.

I never achieved that level of cleanliness, a superb job Mike, hats off to you.

SCP440 · 21st June 2021, 22:06

A few years ago a mate had a lovely 2000E Estate with only 40k on the clock he picked up from Ebay, we fitted a 5 speed box from a Sierra, power steering from a MK4 2.3 and some slightly stiffer shocks. It truly transformed it, he drove it a lot and at a show he was offered a crazy amount for it by a Ford fanatic. The guy who bought it was even willing to transfer the money on the spot and drive him home.

He has regretted selling it ever since and has been trying to find a replacement. He was looking at a MK4 2.3 Ghia recently but there was a lot of rust in places that would cost a lot to repair.

torque2me · 23rd June 2021, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saga Lout

In the past few weeks I built a vapour blaster to help with all of my car projects, money well spent I can tell you.

Can you provide a "how to build a vapour blaster" and the chemicals needed etc.

Thanks,

Kev

Saga Lout · 23rd June 2021, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by torque2me

Can you provide a "how to build a vapour blaster" and the chemicals needed etc.

Thanks,

Kev

I can do that, the best part is that there aren't any chemicals used in the process. It cost me around £170 to build it and then there's the grit media on top which was £32 delivered. If anyone is a bit practical they can build one, the only point is that a decent compressor is needed to power one, mine is a 200 litre one and just manages to cope. I'll put some pictures together and post it up.

torque2me · 23rd June 2021, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saga Lout

I can do that, the best part is that there aren't any chemicals used in the process. It cost me around £170 to build it and then there's the grit media on top which was £32 delivered. If anyone is a bit practical they can build one, the only point is that a decent compressor is needed to power one, mine is a 200 litre one and just manages to cope. I'll put some pictures together and post it up.

Thanks Saga. I take it that the medium used is soda?

kev

Saga Lout · 15th July 2021, 13:05

I've almost completed the C3 gearbox rebuild for the Cortina, it was much easier than I thought it would be but I hit a small snag, the selector shaft is pitted where it comes through the oil seal and so, I'm going to turn down a new shaft on a lathe or it will seep oil past the seal. I'm happy with it so far and can't wait to finish the car.

21st June 2021, 07:46	#3
FLYING BANANA Moderator/Club Shop MG ZT 1.8t+. No.3 of 4 in Sunspot Yellow & Ford Fiesta in Black. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Rattler Farm Posts: 22,554 Thanks: 9,270 Thanked 15,645 Times in 6,806 Posts	Stunning. That is certainly a good job well done. __________________ 233,250. onen hag oll

21st June 2021, 07:59	#4
Teflon This is my second home Lagoon 2.0 V6 75 Conn SE Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chertsey Posts: 5,201 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 2,920 Times in 1,570 Posts	Amazing work . Love MK3 Cortinas, terrific looking cars Cliff __________________ No. 4 of 6

21st June 2021, 08:55	#5
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,762 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Having had the same engine and box in a trike years ago, I could only dream of having a finish like that on them. I never achieved that level of cleanliness, a superb job Mike, hats off to you. __________________ Lest we forget..

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21st June 2021, 07:31	#2
Ian G This is my second home Small Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Land of the Eel Posts: 6,315 Thanks: 2,328 Thanked 2,991 Times in 1,431 Posts	Wow that looks amazing..What a finish

21st June 2021, 22:06	#6
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	A few years ago a mate had a lovely 2000E Estate with only 40k on the clock he picked up from Ebay, we fitted a 5 speed box from a Sierra, power steering from a MK4 2.3 and some slightly stiffer shocks. It truly transformed it, he drove it a lot and at a show he was offered a crazy amount for it by a Ford fanatic. The guy who bought it was even willing to transfer the money on the spot and drive him home. He has regretted selling it ever since and has been trying to find a replacement. He was looking at a MK4 2.3 Ghia recently but there was a lot of rust in places that would cost a lot to repair.