Serious rookie error!
Discussion
Well it certainly has been a cold winter and I have made a very stupid mistake.
While the AC is in the garage being preped for rallying in Italy this year, the S was moved outside to the communal carpark in November. Having blown a pipe a few weeks back, I knew that I needed to put some anti-freeze in, which I did. Except, stupid me, the engine was cold and the carpark is 100 metres away. So obviously the thermostat didn't open and circulate the water properly.
(You can see where this is going...)
Cue, 2 months of stupidly cold weather and large amounts of snow. I went to start her up yesterday and, as usual, she starts first time. Quick pre-flight check and I notice a lack of water, odd, I think. So as I topping her up, water is running out straight out from somewhere.
A quick look......I've lost an engine core plug!
So, 2.9 V6, what's involved in replacing these? Can I leave the engine in? Does anybody have any experience with this? How much of an idiot do I look?
Thanks
While the AC is in the garage being preped for rallying in Italy this year, the S was moved outside to the communal carpark in November. Having blown a pipe a few weeks back, I knew that I needed to put some anti-freeze in, which I did. Except, stupid me, the engine was cold and the carpark is 100 metres away. So obviously the thermostat didn't open and circulate the water properly.
(You can see where this is going...)
Cue, 2 months of stupidly cold weather and large amounts of snow. I went to start her up yesterday and, as usual, she starts first time. Quick pre-flight check and I notice a lack of water, odd, I think. So as I topping her up, water is running out straight out from somewhere.
A quick look......I've lost an engine core plug!
So, 2.9 V6, what's involved in replacing these? Can I leave the engine in? Does anybody have any experience with this? How much of an idiot do I look?
Thanks
I've not done it on my engine, but no doubt someone will be along in a minute...
this site gives details of the Scorpio engine for general reference but it might be worth asking the same question on their forum to see what advice you get from them
http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/CologneV6manual.htm
good luck
K
this site gives details of the Scorpio engine for general reference but it might be worth asking the same question on their forum to see what advice you get from them
http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/CologneV6manual.htm
good luck
K
Edited by ketvrin on Monday 10th January 12:41
Well, got the bonnet off on Saturday and planned to get the car set up for installing the new core plug Sunday. It didn't actually work out like that and instead ended up carry on and fitting the new core plug. I can't believe quite how easy it was. It was the one under the driver side centre cylinder, it required the removal of the manifold and alternator but was pretty straight forward.
I've allocated myself 6 weeks to get her back to a seasonal state of readiness, but the more I poke about, the more I find to do. So far my list runs as below:
- Fix core plug (done)
- Replace rear hood window (Quoted £60)
- Check, replace and clean front suspension (started)
- Black exhaust wrap on mainfolds
- New stainless steel exhaust with cheerybomb silencers
- Have paintwork detailed
- Alloys refurbished and balanced (£20 each)
- Replace air intake house with steel pipe and silicon bends
- New exhaust mounts
- New wipers
Should keep me busy for 6 weeks
TurboTony said:
Could you tell me who has provided the quote to replace the rear window - I am looking at getting mine done.
Cheers
Tony
Sorry Tony, only just seen your reply.Cheers
Tony
I can't remember the name of the company, I'm due to pop in next week to drop it off though so i'll find out. I know they are based at Weights Business Park, Redditch. The guy who runs it said he'll fit me a new one for £60 as long as I remove it from the car and strip it off the hoop, otherwise it's £180 or so.
Some additional photo's:
Edited by The Beaver King on Monday 11th April 12:08
phillpot said:
The Beaver King said:
they are based at Weights Business Park, Redditch. 11th April 12:08
Would be interested also (I live in Redditch) and let us know how you get on with removing it from the hoop and refitting 
Yeah I know, not going to be fun
The Beaver King said:
Some additional photo's:
Looks great. (That isn't a plastic cable tie is it?)If you haven't used this stuff before, I would recommend that you secure it with a twist of lockwire every few inches so that in a few years time when it eventually starts to unravel you don't lose the whole lot in one go.
GreenV8S said:
Looks great. (That isn't a plastic cable tie is it?)
If you haven't used this stuff before, I would recommend that you secure it with a twist of lockwire every few inches so that in a few years time when it eventually starts to unravel you don't lose the whole lot in one go.
Oh yeah, the cable tie If you haven't used this stuff before, I would recommend that you secure it with a twist of lockwire every few inches so that in a few years time when it eventually starts to unravel you don't lose the whole lot in one go.
They were just a short term measure to pin the wrap in place, they are a lot more secure than the stainless steel cable tie.
Yeah, I've bought some extra's to pin every six inches or so, I really wouldn't want to have to do it again in a few years...
phillpot said:
The Beaver King said:
Yeah, I've bought some extra's to pin every six inches or so, I really wouldn't want to have to do it again in a few years...
That wrap looks good,can I ask how many metres it took to do them (roughly) ? 
I ordered 1 roll of 50mm wide by 30 metres long and I've still got some left over. I bought it off Fleabay for about £25 with 12 metal cable ties included.
You'll need to order extra cable ties, but they're cheap enough. It took about 2 hours to wrap each manifold as it's quite a long, fiddly process (I had to start from scratch once or twice). The branches are quite close together in places so I used a big screwdriver to prise them apart enough to tuck some wrap between.
As long as your bear in mind a few simple things with the wrap it's fairly easy:
1. Make it wet. I soaked mine before each wrap, it's easier to manipulate and it shrinks a little when it dries, giving a tight fit.
2. Never have any gaps. I overlapped mine by 50% for each wrap and where I couldn't wrap the individual branch, I wrapped them all together.
3. Tie wrap or lock wire it often. It stops it coming loose as your going along and helps pull it tight.
That's pretty much it, apart from giving it a coating of Silicon HT spray when your done to keep the moisture out.
HTH
Gerald-TVR said:
Who did the wheels please?
Sorry, only just seen the question.I've a mate who works a Gaydon Motor Museum. He's been refurbing them for me in his spare time. I had seen the exchange service on eBay but decided I'd prefer to stick to the original polished and black detail on the alloys, while the eBay ones just seem to be powder coated silver.
For those that wanted to know, the guys I am using to replace my rear window are called TR Trimming and are based at Weights Business Park, Redditch.
I am not looking forward to re-attaching the hood.
Also, I've had a quote of £250 to have my paintwork detailed. I reckon this is a bargain considering the state my paint is in when I bought it. That price is for 2 guys for 6 hours removing paint fade, holograms, chips, scratches and swirl marks.
I'll get some before and after pictures up, but the works not being done until June 3rd.
Barkychoc said:
Looking good - it might be worth making up a simple deflector plate so your air filters are sucking in cooler air thats coming over the top of the rad rather than warm air coming through the radiator.
Yeah, I've been looking at that. I'm fibre glassing the bonnet supports at the moment, but once I've got it back on I'm going to look at some kind of heat shielding and maybe cold air ducting.The alternative is to force the radiator air downwards by cowling over the fan and forcing the air towards the bottom of the engine block. Suppose I'll have to play about a bit.
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