Great video. I'm a retired police officer and was on the Humberside Police Road Policing Unit from 1977 to 1985, patrolling the 'Motorway Unit' comprising the M62, M18, M180 and M181. In 1977 we were still using the good old Ford Consul (1st stage 'Broadspeed' conversion with a top end of 135 MPH). Later, the Mk I Granada was born, very much on the same style and with the same specifications, the old and worn out 3.0 litre V6 Dagenham engine. Pretty soon, we were treated to a German made car fitted with the newer 2.8 V6 Cologne engine... much more power than the old Dagenham 3.0 litre. As as police service, we had to have the ability of catching speeders and even moreso, speeding criminals, so one of our Granadas was fitted with a 'Janspeed' Turbo'. This turbo was so powerful and responsive, that whilst it was working in service, Ford's new 5-speed gear box was the weakest point, in that the torque created by the engine had a tendency to strip the teeth from the 5th gear and as a result, the 'Janspeed Turbo' continued to operate with an earlier 4-speed standard box, salvaged from another Mk I with a 4-speed box with a blown engine. This engine-gearbox matching was done not at the police garage in Beverley, but at Rainbow Motors in Goole, then the Ford dealers and specialists. Even with only 4 gears, It had a top speed of 142 MPH. Not many people are able to claim to have driven a car attaining this sort of speed. I am one of them.
The Essex 3 litre went through some subtle cylinder head changes over the years, notably the shape of the exhaust ports. Some of the cars I drove with these engines seemed to have totally different characteristics. Back in my youth a friend had a 3.1V6 with a Piper cam, RS heads and an inlet manifold that he cast himself to take a Holley carb. This drove through a Zodiac Executive O/D gearbox to a 3 litre Capri rear axle. The suspension and brakes were suitably modified and the car was correctly insured. All big fun in a Mk1 Cortina, the car still exists to this day.
Actualy, on most manual 5-speed tranmissions the 4-gear is the gear you reach the top speed in. With 1:1 gear ratio, equal to the 4th gear on a 4-speed manual, so it would not be lacking in performance. The fifth gear might be 0.8:1, with the driveshaft spinning at a higher speed than then engine. This will make it more economical, as you can travel at the same speed with less rpm, but it will not reach top speed.
There's something unmatchably satisfying at watching something so big be repaired by just replacing the broken parts, instead of entire chunks of framework.
The restoration on the Granada is progressing very well, I look forward to the next video. Over the production run of the V6,Essex 3 litre engine, Ford introduced subtle but signifiant changes to the lump, including modified head gaskets and head bolts. Burton engineering and Broad-speed were at the cutting edge until the 3 litre was superseded by the 2.8 fuel injection. I was fortunate to experience both these cars until lead free petrol and catalytic converters were introduced. New fuel efficient engines were developed using a four cylinder engines with an output of 200 bhp.
Great work Richard - Watching this reminds me of the 1973 Cortina 2000E Estate I had from new, and then had it fitted with a 3-litre V6 and a 5-speed box, uprated brakes and gas shockers - those 70's/80s Fords certainly had character. Barry
Stunning work there Richard, unbelievable to see how you chopped out that rotten metal bit by bit and made new. I think you deserve a rest now!! .............Graham
I am so happy to have found this video. I've just started on my mk1 and it's difficult to see how the panels are interconnected. It's also been done before so difficult to see how they should be. This video will be very useful, thanks.
Hy, Richard, great work you do show!!! From a German foundry man a metallic advise in welding for the car: Instead you do set a row of welding dots side by side you can set a line looking like and so called "caterpillar". Due to this less humidity water can collect in there to start new rost dots. Hth, Chris
Glad to see your not doing this "little project" up in your loft Richard. At least the world will get to see this work of art in the flesh, hopefully at a show somewhere next year. Something tells me that, just like with the railway, it's going to be your meticulous attention to detail again that will set this apart from other restorations. Nice work sir, very nice.
Amazing to see a car made entirely of welding rod, ground/linished to shape. I nominate you for the 2016 MacGyver award ;) Keep up the great work, fascinating to watch.
The car is coming along nicely. There was/is a body shop were I used to live. The owner would buy old british cars(escorts, cortina ect) and he got the lads to fix them up when they had a bit of time in between customer cars. Turned out some imaculate old cars.
well that brings back memories working in a fabrication workshop. the Granada was well rotten. its almost a rebuild mate. thanks for sharing................regards Tony
Fair play and respect to you, that's a labour of love, looking at your fabrication skills I don't think it will take you that long to sort out. Good luck with the re-build , that frame for holding makes a massive difference for access......cheers...steve
First rate restoration, attention to detail is second to none. I hope you will consider showing your Granda off at classic car show when it is finished Have you decided on the engine ? As you know Ford offered several. The initial range using the Ford Essex V4 unit in 2.0 L displacement, and the "Essex" V6 engine in 2.5 and 3.0 L capacities. German models employed a Ford Taunus V4 engine in 1.7 L displacement, or the 3.0L Essex V6, or, more commonly the "Cologne" V6 in 2.0, 2.3 or 2.6 L capacities. The V4 was later replaced by the Pinto in line unit.
Looks much like the Ford Consul Coupe. (Saw one at a classic car show a few years back) Really interesting car, can't wait to see more of this project as it progresses
hi Richard that's a lot of work shown in just a few minutes I appreciate how long the little parts take to make and fit I am sure it will be worth it in the end look forward to next video Kind regards ralph
Very interesting video Richard. You are a master craftsman. Will enjoy seeing the finished product in the future. Best Regards. Ken May. Oxford, Georgia, U.S.A.
There is something deeply satisfying about getting rid of all that rusty metal! Looks like you're doing a great job Richard, I'm looking forward to seeing this project progress!
WOW this is truly amazing im only 16 and people my age just do not seem to have any respect for such beautiful classic cars like the granada,cortina,connsul. What i would do to have a mk1 on the road or even a mk2 !!
Thank god for MIG Welders and CAD (Cardboard Assisted Design). Excellent finish following a lot of hard work. Are you busy, I have a Mini in Canberra that could use your fine steel recovery touch. Well done Richard.
I take it you do this kind of work for a living? Incredible fabrication. I will be keeping an eye out for updates on this. Great work! Regards from Ireland.
hello! that looks like an interesting project you've got there, i do have a question, and its that you were cutting repair panels from what look like full panels, is it feasible to make the repairs to the existing bodywork, then weld a complete panel over those repairs, would this make the repairs stronger?
Glad I'm not the only crazy one who has 2 expensive hobbies. Recently restored a Mk1 Escort. Keep up the good work. Your not on the old skool ford forum??
Nice one Richard will look great when it's done I see lots of hard work going into this project still I will follow it till done I liked the rover video you did sounded sweet that car also how's everard jc doing have you done that extra long shed yet and you should check out my tinsley tmd and yard model look forward to see you soon . Dave
model trains and classic cars, you got the same interests as me and we've got the same Volkswagen calendar on the wall. sd1 update would be nice to see.
Hi Richard Great job, I would have loved a dolly to turn my old Lancia Beta Spider and Volumex upside down, spent weeks under the cars cleaning off the underseal then doing similar to yourself with the sills etc, at the time I remember thinking 'what am I doing?' Great cars long gone now though. How many hours work do you think you've put in so far and how many to finish it? Regards Paul
Great stuff, i love Granada's. Had plenty of mk2's and 3's but never a mk1. Hopefully will be getting one next year although i have to admit i do prefer the saloon :)
Well I'm a car guy, but I'm not familiar with the heritage of the Grenada. Is this car of sentimental value to you, or is it simply a popular classic in England? In typical Everard fashion, the restoration is looking detailed and thorough, can't wait to see the final product!
The Granada was very popular in the UK and Europe. They are now quite collectible and form a big part of the classic Ford scene in the UK. It got this particular one because of the coupe styling which makes it quite rare.
I did wonder that, I was googling and found very few images of the coupe. This is an awesome project. Will you be remaining true to the original motor or are you looking at giving her a few more ponies under the hood? Thanks for the response too! You're like my idol in the model making world.
Some very nice work there and a well equipped workshop too! We've just started restoring a mk1 Lotus Cortina, which is currently in the sand blasting area... what started out a 'nice' car has now revealed some extra work! feel free to check out our progress on our fb page 'Morfield Classics'.Lee
If you hold the welder on another second before slowly lifting it off the weld you won't get that weak crater you have in your spot welds, just a tip :)
The spot welder can be a bit difficult to dial in. Its automatic and cuts off on its own. You can increase the duration but that can burn holes in the metal. I haven't used it a great deal yet so will hopefully improve my technique with more practice. Cheers
Yes. The only panels I've used which are not genuine are the inner sill and strengthener. Everything else is nos or good condition donor panels from other granadas.
I don't unfortunately. They all come form the RU-vid audio library in the rock genre. Loads to listen to in there. I will try and add a track list in future videos.
I'm familiar with both. What is peculiar to me is that even though a continuous bead is definitely intended it is replaced with closely placed spots. I've never seen this in a professional setting.
I think it's so he doesn't burn through the thin metal. Sometimes it's easier to keep spotting than change the wire/settings etc...especially when you're doing it at lunch time, after work etc ;-)
Whilst welding a continuous bead would be quicker and easier you can't so it on metal 1 or 2mm thick. If you do all the panels will warp from the heat and nothing will fit properly. Instead you have to spot gradually in order to keep the heat under control.
