West of Scotland RSOC

Hi folks , thought I would start a build thread on here for my new cossie . Been after a 3 dr for many years. I looked for one id be happy with for about a year and explored all avenues. Price was the major factor as I didn't have a large amount of cash to just go out and buy a minter. So I searched the web for about a year every day until a car came up locally I had my eye on . Managed to strike a deal with the owner we were both happy with (from a forum member).

The sierras In need of some tlc due to being off the road dry stored for the past 7 years but it's a solid honest example .









joined two mates in a unit they rent out in Glasgow both are mechanics so its ideal having just about any tool to hand. Im hoping to learn a bit about these cars and carry out most work myself so its going to be my first big project with some help along the way . here are some pics of it in the unit.








Had a day off work so started messing about on the sierra yesterday . Brakes and suspension have seen better days so stripped them off.. Callipers will be rebuild/painted and I'll order some new bilstein shocks and springs at standard ride height .

Polybush kit ordered and subframe and all components will be going to get powder coated and generally cleaned up .. Plan for winter is get it driving properly and sort the small jobs out . Not too concerned about paint for time being.

Stripped the kit off it and luckily not a great deal of rust to tackle so far , this was a big worry before buying the car . It's had some welding in the past on the sills but to be expected so overall happy with how its looking . The car was built 3 years before I was even born so its unlike most cars i`ve previously owned and its my first ford. Only had the pleasure of driving it for a few days before it went into the garage but in that time its proved to be all I expected.











cheers to ali McMillan and john on here for sorting me out with info and allowing me to view their cars .

any comments welcome.

Good to see you got a car mark and local to which is a bonus

thanks gibby appreciated.

Good luck with the car mark , hope all goes well

John

Looks like you've got a good project for winter

looks like a good car and the best colour

Good luck with the car Mark, glad to hear you got sorted in the end.

Looks lovely! Always loved the 3drs actually spotted one today hiding up the back of a unit in paisley, a rare sight!

Been down the unit a few times recently for a couple hours at a time .. Subframe has been dropped and all rear suspension now off the car . Will take it over to powder tech next week when I get paid . I've started under sealing the arches and rubbed them back to near enough bare metal , fronts came out pretty well .. removed the old bushes which wasn't fun but its done now.

Gave the prop shaft a paint as it was pretty rough looking , cracked the diff open to add the new seal kit so oil looked like it's never been changed.










Removed the rest of the kit and discovered an area of rot that'll need attention .. This was a worry when buying a Cossie as so many suffer .. Luckily it'll just need a sill on the n/s and it only cost me £25 .





bits and bobs



Standard Cam belt cover and airbox . Also got a set of roose performance boost pipes as originals are gubbed . Just buying things when I can really .

Loving it mate best of luck with the winter freshen up

I would love a 3 Door without a doubt my favorite RS model but I've came to the realization that I will probably never own one now due to the way the prices are going

cheers mate appreciated , I know what you mean about owning one really the only reason I have is I still live in my mums house and decided to get my hands on one needing work as the prices are going through the roof. No doubt at some point soon they will dip . Just keep your eyes out as you never know where they are hiding.

Looks like you've been kept busy, all sounds like it's progressing well

Bought some bits, dropped the fuel tank and decided just to get a fresh one ordered . Also bought some new suspension. Decided to try out avo shocks and springs. Started rebuilding the driveshafts, got them broken down and cleaner all components in petrol. Gave the shafts a sand then painted matt black . New boots and greased them up. Waiting on new set of bolts to come but they're looking fresh.










Parts off to get powder coated .



Cleaning up the diff now as it's got 30 years worth of grime .. Needs minimal welding and should be ready to under seal start building up suspension , brakes lines by mid jan ..

Cheers

I was lucky enough to have some areas of welding sorted out over the weekend by a pal who works in a fabrication shop, he's done a cracking job sorting out the rotten arch and a couple other small areas .








While he was cutting and welding I set about cleaning up the diff and diving it a lock of fresh paint . About 30 years of grime clinging to it ..





Wee keyring I got for Christmas

Looking good mark , tidy job the guy has done there

Btw don't bin any standard bits that come off as I know somebody looking for stuff like boost hoses etc

John

Cheers john , no sweat let me know what he needs and I'll give him the stuff if I have it spare .

Collected some stuff from powder coaters



Heatwrapped and cleaned up the exhaust





Welding finished off and just to strip the old sealer and hit it with por15

Good work there

How the axle looks just now after powder coating , new bearings , pads , discs , calipers lines , hoses polybushes




New rad and hoses still to be fitted


New belts , water pump . Oil pump temp sensir fitted



Have the cooling plate a new skin of aluminium as old was tatty

Steering column removed in prep for new bushes


Steering rack was leaking so had it reconditioned . Cheers to john for getting me in touch with the garage who sorted me out ,
great service .

Photo bucket acting up so more pics to be added . Car should be back together later this month then upto automek for a geo wheel alignment . A mates moving house and has offered me his garage so can will be in a secure garage not far from my house .