Sunday 13th October - The Green Cortina finally leaves the garage.

 With yesterdays work being very successful, it was now time to evict the Green Cortina from the garage so that I could get the Triumph in there. 

Although the Triumph completed the recent 10CR successfully, a couple of little niggles became apparent on the run that need to be addressed. (Especially if I'm going to sell it) I've had a great time with Triumphs over the past fifteen years, but I've got to say, it's got to the stage where I feel I've done all I can events wise and I'm now looking for a new direction. 

Up to now, I've taken part in 7 RBRR's, 5 10cr's, 10 HCR's, 3 C2C's and countless other events, including numerous rallies in Scotland, Wales and Holland. I've also won the Club Triumph national points championship twice as well, so I've done my fair share of supporting the club. (Which is also why I don't expect to be spoken to like a piece of shit by the main 10CR organiser at the end of the last 10CR)

My exit from Triumphs isn't set in stone though and I'm currently looking for somewhere to store the car for six months or so in case I change my mind, but for now, my interest in the car or the events just isn't there and I'm having more fun with the two Cortina's. (They're certainly a lot easier to work on!)

So, this morning's task was just to move all the cars around so that they were all where I wanted them. I also took the Green Cortina for a test drive round the block and it ran perfect, so that's a relief. 

The Zetec Cortina needs a run out next as I can't remember the last time I went anywhere in it. I think there's a show on Canvey Island in a  few weeks time, so I may well take it to that. 

Saturday 12th October - Success!

 Gavin came round this morning to help with getting this bloody Cortina running properly again. Some (very expensive) Magnecor spark plug leads had arrived during the week and also a (very expensive) 'Flame thrower' ignition coil. 

With all this top quality equipment fitted, we were severely disappointed to find that we had the same problems as the Saturday before. For some reason, no matter what we did, we just couldn't get a spark at number one spark plug. This was even after changing the distributor cap, rotor arm, plug lead, spark plug and adjusting the timing. 

I then decided to remove the distributor completely (Which had been fitted 180 degrees out) and set the engine up again from scratch. So with the engine set to the compression stroke on number one cylinder, another distributor was fitted and this time set in the correct position. We also swapped the Pertronix electronic ignition module out of the old distributor onto the replacement distributor. (These cost about £180, so I wasn't going to discard it.)

With everything in place and set up as per workshop manual, we also replaced the spade terminals on the electrical connections just to be doubly sure. 

We then started the car up to find it running a lot better and almost as it should. The next move was to fine tune the ignition timing with a strobe timing light which then had it running perfect. 

This car has been a pain in the arse for the past couple of weeks, but it now seems to be running as it should again. All in all, a very good mornings work. 

Saturday 5th October - Rough running

 After putting the engine back in the Cortina I was subjected to it not wanting to run right for some reason. While it was out of the car and sitting on the garage floor, It had fallen over and smashed the distributor cap and bent the oil pressure switch as well. 

I bought a replacement distributor cap, but fitting this made little difference. Good friends Gavin and Peter were both visiting this morning, so they both chipped in with ideas as to why this damn car wouldn't run right. 

Whilst investigating we quickly decided that ignition problems were the cause here, which was strange as this engine was running fine when it was removed and I hadn't disturbed any of the ignition system while it was out. 

What we did discover was that whoever had fitted the distributor before I owned the car, had fitted it wrongly and had set the timing 180 degrees out. After a couple of hours messing about and trying different things, I decided to call it a day and order some new spark plug leads and a new ignition coil as well. For some reason it didn't want to spark properly and just didn't want to run properly either. 

While I had some help present I decided to refit the bonnet as its a lot easier with two people doing it than my trying to do it alone. So at least the car was looking complete again. Investigation continues!

Saturday 28th September - Cortina engine back in.

 With the new sump gasket in place, I decided to put the engine back into the Green Cortina. Whilst it was out I decided to replace the clutch as well as this didn't look in the best of health. 

I also replaced the inlet manifold gasket and the exhaust gaskets as well. I had no help today, so I cracked on as best as possible and by late afternoon all I had left to do was re-fit the radiator and the starter motor. (I refitted these on Sunday morning)

It's now more or less the end of the car show season and there will be plenty of free weekends coming up with not much to do, so I decided not to rush it and take my time.