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Diary of
“Samantha”
1963 Ford
Consul Capri GT
December 2002
Purchased
in December 2002 from Kerryn Love in Adelaide, Australia.
6
months of serious searching on the Internet and through the local club for a
1963 Capri had bought few results. I was especially keen on a GT bearing in
mind that only 2002 of them were ever made, between 1963 and 64. 1963 was the
year I was born and upon inquiring about GT’s here found only 5 or 6 in New
Zealand – all run out 1964 models.
I found Kerryn’s “for sale” notice and after about 6 weeks
and hundreds of emails checking on serial numbers, condition etc the decision
was made. This was the first car I had ever bought sight unseen, although I had
a cousin living in Adelaide who was once a mechanic to have a look. He reported
that she was in fairly good mechanical and body condition, although the
interior was “a mess”
Shipped from Adelaide to Melbourne on the 18th
of December and then shipped to New Zealand on the Mignon on the 28th.
January 2003
She arrived in Auckland on the 9th of January
2003 and then the holdups started due to MAF’s insistance on steam cleaning.
Arrived in Masterton on the 22nd of January and
due to complete absence of door locks I was allowed to bring her home till the
VIN test on Monday the 27th.
My initial thoughts on seeing her for the first time were
very positive, how good the car was mechanically and body wise, although the
over ¼ turn in the steering with nothing happening on the way home was scary!!!
Saturday 25th
January 2003
Took the mags and
tyres off my old Capri and swapped them with the horrible 1970’s mags Samantha
had come with, complete with split tyres from sitting in storage.
Cleaned and bled the brakes, checked diff oil and found
NONE, cleaned the rear underbody around the front of the diff housing (oil seal
gone).
Sunday 26th
January 2003
Major tidy day ready for VIN check:
Removed “extras” from boot and tidied boot mat, spare
wheel etc.
Put chrome exhaust extension on
Put CAPRI3 number plates on
Put front Capri badge, Ford side Badge and rear GT badge
on
Put in new door locks from a 315 and oil all locks and
window winders
Refitted LH passenger door trim that had been in the boot.
Fitment of the radio/cassette player from our old Laser,
as better than the unit already in it.
Fitment of later Capri Sports steering wheel, not original
but better than the old Escort one.
Swapped round window winders to the back so both front
windows wound up and down
Tightened steering box top as totally loose and the
steering play went away!!
Flushed and filled radiator
Drained oil and replaced filter & refilled
Topped up gearbox oil
Degreased engine
Washed and waxed exterior
Monday 27th
January 2003
VIN Day – many things to fix
RH Indicator Lens and both brakes light lenses
Fit a high stop brake light
Fix all seat belts and mounting points – needs to be done
by “expert”
Fix steering column play
Fix bottom ball joints
Top strut rubbers to be replaced
Strap up front brake hoses
Get minor rust and panel repairs checked…
During the week start to source parts and professionals.
Tuesday 4th
February 2003
Drop car off for seatbelt work to be done by Cheers Autos
– Carterton
Friday 14th
February 2003
Get car back after heaps of paperwork hassles and no have
no seatbelts in the back (instead of the one lap belt it had) and lap only in
the front instead of the inertial reel lap and shoulder ones it came with…. And
this is safer???
“Food parcel” of bits arrives from Paul van der Meys in
Christchurch.
Saturday 15th
February 2003
Fit rear RH indicator lens and both rear brakes lenses.
Someone had put the mounting plates upside down resulting in melted holes in
the bottom of the old ones.
Put backing plates up the right way and polish them
Fit new window winder handle in the back and discover that
the other ones is rounded off as well….
Fit light switch know (with symbol)
Fit door push lock knobs (proper ones)
Put proper jack handle in boot
During week 10th to 14th I found out
about top strut rubbers – they are unobtainable. Found I could get them remade
locally, also sent sample away to see about costs in noelathane.
Monday 17th
February 2003
Put car up on ramps and check speedo cable.
Replace with new one, clean instrument cluster.
Speedo now works, so finally off the 14049 miles it has
sat on for years…
Check gearbox numbers – looks like it is the original
gearbox, just the engine being incorrect – 1600cc crossflow rather than 1500cc
pre cross flow GT
Monday 24th
February 2003
Removed struts with spring compressor borrowed from Ray.
Also removed the track control arms to get bottom ball joints done.
Tuesday 25th
February 2003
Ordered new sway bar rubbers, diff oil seal and pedal
rubbers from Enford in Christchurch.
Saturday 1st
March 2003
Water pump sprung leak (corroded from years of having no
antifreeze). Bought new water pump and thermostat from Repco.
Fitted both after flushing radiator with flush stuff, but
temp still high
Monday 3rd
March 2003
Took struts to guy in Palmerston North to get
re-manufactured.
Track control arms to Brakes and Spares to get fixed.
Doesn’t want to do them so taken to Lambert Engineering.
Tuesday 4th
March 2003-03-25
Steering column dismantled as play is preventing VIN.
Found rubber bush had come loose.
Saturday 8th
March 2003
Tighten bush, reassemble – no play in steering…
Replace pedal rubbers on clutch and brake
Sunday 16th
March 2003
Fitted washer jets (had none), replaced plastic tubing and
tee connectors.
Fixed crack in washer bottle fitting
Prime, clean and adjust jet nozzles – work great
Spray painted front strut legs and springs gloss black
Fill radiator & run without thermostat – runs cool
Friday
21st March 2003
Took
dash to upholsterer for retrimming
Sunday
23rd March 2003
Fitted
genuine GT gauge holder from England
Wednesday
26th March 2003
Picked
up rubber top strut mounts, very well made.
Friday
28th March 2003
Picked
up track contorl arms, had an Aussie 10 cent piece as
a spacer!!
Friday
4th April 2003
Picked
up recovered dash.
Saturday
12th and Sunday 13th April 2003
Put
strut mounts and new sway bar rubbers into the car.
Put
track contorl arms in.
Checked
front suspension fliud levels.
Reconditioned
rear left hand brake cylinder
Fitted
new speaker in dash
Painted
dash speaker grill and fitted dash
Cleaned
spark plugs
Fitted
new front diff oil seal.
Packed
front wheel baerings with grease.
Removed
drivers quarterlight to get hinge replcaed with brass
rivets.
Friday
18th April 2003
Refitted
quarter window
Saturday
19th April 2003
Tripaway
with Jacqui to Pohrongahau Beach, went very well....
Wednesday
30th April 2003
Took
car Dittmers in Palmerston North for certifiaction and
rust removal
Tuesday
6th May 2003
Pickup
car from Dittmers in Palmerston North.
Wednesday
11th Juner 2003
Car
to Cheers Auto for certification plate to be fitted.
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