Newbie with a Capri 2.8
Discussion
Hi all
Thought I'd sign up here because I've been a member on a couple of other forums for a while, and PistonHeads has always had a reputation as a great place for real car enthusiasts, so I thought I'd sign up.
My car isn't as fast or as accomplished as some of the more spectacular motors I've seen hanging around here, but she is my pride and joy, and over the next few years will be receiving some high-quality modification under the skin in order to make her go faster, stop better, and go round corners quicker (can anyone say 'Turbo'?
). For now, though, I'm a student, and so money is tight - I can barely afford to keep her on the road! However, last year I managed to get a full engine rebuild done with Specialised Engines, which was done to Stage 2 level (i.e. big valve ported heads, fast road cam, and a host of other detail mods to the original engine spec). Don't know the current BHP but I estimate it's around the 170-180 mark. She's also had full Janspeed exhausts and manifolds, as well as poly bushes on the front end. I always wanted a Capri since I was a kid and first saw one, and as soon as I was old enough to know what one was, the 2.8 was my model of choice. I've had her for two and a half years now, and I still say I'll never sell her
Anyway, here's a few pics:
^^These two are the most recent, taken when I was able to get her back on the road after an 8-month hiatus during my second year of uni
^^This one was taken together with the 2.0 Laser I owned for a few months as my runaround car up at Uni
^^This one was taken when I took her down to the South of France in 2004. It was an awesome trip, and the Capri turned out to be a true GT - fast, powerful, and more comfortable and refined than you'd imagine.
Anyway, hope you like. I hope to stick around here, and maybe come to one or two of your meets in the future!
Cheers all
Alex
Thought I'd sign up here because I've been a member on a couple of other forums for a while, and PistonHeads has always had a reputation as a great place for real car enthusiasts, so I thought I'd sign up.
My car isn't as fast or as accomplished as some of the more spectacular motors I've seen hanging around here, but she is my pride and joy, and over the next few years will be receiving some high-quality modification under the skin in order to make her go faster, stop better, and go round corners quicker (can anyone say 'Turbo'?
). For now, though, I'm a student, and so money is tight - I can barely afford to keep her on the road! However, last year I managed to get a full engine rebuild done with Specialised Engines, which was done to Stage 2 level (i.e. big valve ported heads, fast road cam, and a host of other detail mods to the original engine spec). Don't know the current BHP but I estimate it's around the 170-180 mark. She's also had full Janspeed exhausts and manifolds, as well as poly bushes on the front end. I always wanted a Capri since I was a kid and first saw one, and as soon as I was old enough to know what one was, the 2.8 was my model of choice. I've had her for two and a half years now, and I still say I'll never sell her Anyway, here's a few pics:
^^These two are the most recent, taken when I was able to get her back on the road after an 8-month hiatus during my second year of uni
^^This one was taken together with the 2.0 Laser I owned for a few months as my runaround car up at Uni
^^This one was taken when I took her down to the South of France in 2004. It was an awesome trip, and the Capri turned out to be a true GT - fast, powerful, and more comfortable and refined than you'd imagine.
Anyway, hope you like. I hope to stick around here, and maybe come to one or two of your meets in the future!
Cheers all
Alex
Fantastic car 
I'm now on my 3rd 2.8 although, sadly, she'll be up for sale soon in the classified section (redundancy and two 2plus2 coupes don't mix - my other car's a Nissan 300zx).
Yours looks in fantastic condition.
Capri's - you just can't get them outta your system, well, I can't anyway 
I'm now on my 3rd 2.8 although, sadly, she'll be up for sale soon in the classified section (redundancy and two 2plus2 coupes don't mix - my other car's a Nissan 300zx).
Yours looks in fantastic condition.
Capri's - you just can't get them outta your system, well, I can't anyway
Bored - Indeed it does mate! Although the 2.8 was blessed with single leaves, instead of the multi leaves of the older 3.0 models, so there was something of an improvement there 
Doesn't make for the best handling car in the world but boy, is it good fun, and a great way to learn how to control a RWD car!
Twin Turbo - Damn right, I agree with you entirely. I love her to bits and I'll never sell, because I know just too many people who've sold their 2.8s and then longed to have them back!
Doesn't make for the best handling car in the world but boy, is it good fun, and a great way to learn how to control a RWD car! Twin Turbo - Damn right, I agree with you entirely. I love her to bits and I'll never sell, because I know just too many people who've sold their 2.8s and then longed to have them back!
Very nice, a truly stunning capri & in beautiful condition.
I've been in a turbo'd 3.2 capri before. Being deadly honest... the turbo conversion did not rock my world. From memory, that particulal turbo'd capri was converted by turbo technics.
If it where me, I would lift the cologne out, sell it on ebay or fast ford, then combine the cash meant for the turbo conversion & pick up a cosworth YB.
The cosworth YB would offer more bhp & and could make your pound travel further. A YB is vastly more tunable as well.
Most of the serious pinto pilots that i've known, often blow £2k or more on a fast road stg 3 pinto. They are happy with say 170bhp, but 2k gets you a cosworth YB (220bhp) that can be tuned for very good power & relatively cheaply.
my .2
Btw nice swirl free paint. Severe bufty skills!
I've been in a turbo'd 3.2 capri before. Being deadly honest... the turbo conversion did not rock my world. From memory, that particulal turbo'd capri was converted by turbo technics.
If it where me, I would lift the cologne out, sell it on ebay or fast ford, then combine the cash meant for the turbo conversion & pick up a cosworth YB.
The cosworth YB would offer more bhp & and could make your pound travel further. A YB is vastly more tunable as well.
Most of the serious pinto pilots that i've known, often blow £2k or more on a fast road stg 3 pinto. They are happy with say 170bhp, but 2k gets you a cosworth YB (220bhp) that can be tuned for very good power & relatively cheaply.
my .2
Btw nice swirl free paint. Severe bufty skills!
Edited by benzo on Friday 22 September 21:41
Cheers for your comments mate!
I've actually had a lot of time to think about where to go with the engine. My gut feeling is that it's a 2.8, which is a special car to me. I always wanted a 2.8, so I feel it'd be a shame now that I have one to dump the 2.8 'bit' of it. Logic dictates that the much freer-breathing Cosworth 24v, a V8, or even as you suggest a Cosworth YB, would be a much easier and cheaper way of getting more power, but to be honest, I want to keep the heart of the car as Mr Ford intended, even if it does end up radically altered (yes, I'm aware how perverse that sounds, but it's the best I can explain it!) Even though I'm not keeping it original, I want the original engine to be the basis for the car, if you see what I mean.
To that end, the turbo kit I'm thinking of will probably be custom-made. I've considered a Turbo Technics kit, but they go for a lot of money on eBay, and even then you aren't guaranteed a good turbo and good reliability then. I'm intending to take her to a very good friend of mine who runs a company called Performance Vehicle Engineering, and have a chat with him about converting the engine to run low compression and a custom turbo setup, or maybe even a turbo on each bank. The ideas are flying around like wildfire, so I'm not sure what will happen yet, but it won't be happening for a good few years yet, because I have to get out of being a student, save up enough cash, and then get the rest of the car uprated (money to be spent on suspension, brake and wheel upgrades plus an interior retrim and possibly a carputer system) before I can think about doing what I want to the engine. However, I'm currently thinking in terms of: low comp pistons, custom-mapped EFI, and possibly a twin turbo setup (i.e. one turbo per bank). I know it's a lot of work for not as much gain as is possible, but it's the direction I want to take with the car. Of course that could all well change in the future, but it's what I'd like at the moment.
I've actually had a lot of time to think about where to go with the engine. My gut feeling is that it's a 2.8, which is a special car to me. I always wanted a 2.8, so I feel it'd be a shame now that I have one to dump the 2.8 'bit' of it. Logic dictates that the much freer-breathing Cosworth 24v, a V8, or even as you suggest a Cosworth YB, would be a much easier and cheaper way of getting more power, but to be honest, I want to keep the heart of the car as Mr Ford intended, even if it does end up radically altered (yes, I'm aware how perverse that sounds, but it's the best I can explain it!) Even though I'm not keeping it original, I want the original engine to be the basis for the car, if you see what I mean.
To that end, the turbo kit I'm thinking of will probably be custom-made. I've considered a Turbo Technics kit, but they go for a lot of money on eBay, and even then you aren't guaranteed a good turbo and good reliability then. I'm intending to take her to a very good friend of mine who runs a company called Performance Vehicle Engineering, and have a chat with him about converting the engine to run low compression and a custom turbo setup, or maybe even a turbo on each bank. The ideas are flying around like wildfire, so I'm not sure what will happen yet, but it won't be happening for a good few years yet, because I have to get out of being a student, save up enough cash, and then get the rest of the car uprated (money to be spent on suspension, brake and wheel upgrades plus an interior retrim and possibly a carputer system) before I can think about doing what I want to the engine. However, I'm currently thinking in terms of: low comp pistons, custom-mapped EFI, and possibly a twin turbo setup (i.e. one turbo per bank). I know it's a lot of work for not as much gain as is possible, but it's the direction I want to take with the car. Of course that could all well change in the future, but it's what I'd like at the moment.
Why have you painted "www.fordsport.org.uk" on the front spoiler thingy?
Not painted, it's a sticker which I applied when I joined the club. I've been a member for a couple of years. I quite like it because it's discreet, and I reckon it makes the lower line of the front valance stand out. I reckon this gives it a better stance when viewed from the front; however, I may be taking it off sometime soon to return the car to a more original state.
I think your Capri looks fantastic, my father had a couple culminating in a 2.8, id like one but dont have the time or space at the moment to pour my heart into one. good luck with it.
Theres a guy at a garage i used to use my V8 BGT who specialises in rebuilding Capris and sticking V8s into them, or upgrading the engines. the companys called Auto Classico, Bristol. and they are on the A4174 which is the ring road around Bristol to the east of the city, if you look in directory enquiries youl find them, and ask to speak to the guy who knows his stuff on Capris, they could be useful. regards.
Theres a guy at a garage i used to use my V8 BGT who specialises in rebuilding Capris and sticking V8s into them, or upgrading the engines. the companys called Auto Classico, Bristol. and they are on the A4174 which is the ring road around Bristol to the east of the city, if you look in directory enquiries youl find them, and ask to speak to the guy who knows his stuff on Capris, they could be useful. regards.
Hi mate, thanks for your kind words. I love it when people come up to me and remember when their dad or uncle used to have a Capri - I swear nearly everyone knows someone who's had one at some point! I'm glad that mine brings back those memories and lets people wallow in nostalgia for a little while!
Cheers for your advice on the chap who does V8 conversions - I'm not going to be putting a V8 in this one myself, but I'll certainly look him out if I need any help with uprating components to deal with the extra power she should be getting in a few year Thanks for that!
Cheers for your advice on the chap who does V8 conversions - I'm not going to be putting a V8 in this one myself, but I'll certainly look him out if I need any help with uprating components to deal with the extra power she should be getting in a few year
Thanks for that!That thing is beautiful!
Good luck with the turbo conversion
I share the early childhood memories - it's certainly one of the cars I remember from being very very young, and am told that I always said I wanted one. Haven't had one yet though, although a friend of mine owned a 2.0S for a while which he bought from my now-ex's dad for £1 !
Good luck with the turbo conversion
I share the early childhood memories - it's certainly one of the cars I remember from being very very young, and am told that I always said I wanted one. Haven't had one yet though, although a friend of mine owned a 2.0S for a while which he bought from my now-ex's dad for £1 !
Really nice ...I had 2 in my time ..a black 2.8 4 speed and a magenta red 2.8 special 5 speed...The siamese ports on the 2.8`s are not very efficient and if your thinking of blowing it...a cossie 2.9 with ECU work conversion may work out cheaper although I understand your affection for the 2.8
I liked the look of TICKOVERS chevy 5.7 conversion(300-400 BHP) ...
Look after the bodywork as they are getting rare...I would also recomend the 15i Brooky wheels..much nicer than the O.E 13`s...Best wishes..
P.S The capri club black smoked headlight protectors look sensational on black capri`s...
I liked the look of TICKOVERS chevy 5.7 conversion(300-400 BHP) ...
Look after the bodywork as they are getting rare...I would also recomend the 15i Brooky wheels..much nicer than the O.E 13`s...Best wishes..
P.S The capri club black smoked headlight protectors look sensational on black capri`s...
Edited by F.M on Sunday 1st October 20:27
LeoZwalf - thank you mate You really should try one - I swear everyone should own one, at least once in their lives! Sure, it's an old Ford with a slightly faded image - but that doesn't stop it being immensely good fun to drive and own
F.M. - As said above, I have considered the 2.9 conversion. You're right, it probably would be a cheaper way to go, but I want to get what I can from the 2.8 rather than dump another car's engine in there, so unless things take a major turn for the worse, I think I'll be sticking with the siamesed ports! As regards the bodywork, I'm trying my best to keep her in good shape but there's a number of car park dings and spots of rust just starting to take hold - the plan is to wait until I have some money to spare and then get her into a bodyshop which can take care of all the minor problems, and then give her a full respray
You really should try one - I swear everyone should own one, at least once in their lives! Sure, it's an old Ford with a slightly faded image - but that doesn't stop it being immensely good fun to drive and own F.M. - As said above, I have considered the 2.9 conversion. You're right, it probably would be a cheaper way to go, but I want to get what I can from the 2.8 rather than dump another car's engine in there, so unless things take a major turn for the worse, I think I'll be sticking with the siamesed ports! As regards the bodywork, I'm trying my best to keep her in good shape but there's a number of car park dings and spots of rust just starting to take hold - the plan is to wait until I have some money to spare and then get her into a bodyshop which can take care of all the minor problems, and then give her a full respray
Nice car, brings back many fond memories of my capri days, I sold my last one 5 years ago (2.8i special in Nimbus Grey). I have owned several in my youth, including some seriously modded ones. Have a chat with Niel Crane-Shephard at Caprisport before doing any mods, he doesnt do "bullsh1t", I also discovered some mods that Ford didn't make public knowledge for RS spec bits for the 2.8.
there are a lot of idiots out there who will give you "good advice" and even more who will relieve you of good money for little or no return!
PM me if you want some information
Regards
Mark
there are a lot of idiots out there who will give you "good advice" and even more who will relieve you of good money for little or no return!
PM me if you want some information
Regards
Mark
Hi Alex
Perhaps you will grace one of the next Brecon runs with the capri
Just a note, something i remembered thismrning and may be of no relevance or importance to you whatsoever, but here goes anyway...! My workmates neighbour owns and runs this website: www.brooklands280.com
Ben
Perhaps you will grace one of the next Brecon runs with the capri
Just a note, something i remembered thismrning and may be of no relevance or importance to you whatsoever, but here goes anyway...! My workmates neighbour owns and runs this website: www.brooklands280.com
Ben
Elan+2 - Thanks for your advice. I shall keep it in mind for the future. Always good to find people who owned Capris back when they were new or nearly new - being 21, I never really had that opportunity, although I'd love to have been able to walk into a Ford showroom and pick up a brand new 2.8! How awesome would that be!
Forthright - Thank you mate. I have to agree with you - indeed, mine has already managed to show a few of the newer small coupes that the old dog still has life in her yet!
Sorrento (I never did catch your real name mate!) - Thanks chap, looks like a good site. I'll have a look around. As for bringing the Capri on a Brecons run, I'd dearly love to, but it's unlikely, as she's sat at home in the garage in Southampton, in need of some TLC at the moment! Will definitely bring her up to one one day, as I'd love to have driven her on some of those roads yesterday! I doubt it'll be at least until after Christmas, though - I need to scrape together enough to get a new fuel pump, PAS rack and get the recon gearbox I have in the shed fitted up!
Forthright - Thank you mate. I have to agree with you - indeed, mine has already managed to show a few of the newer small coupes that the old dog still has life in her yet!
Sorrento (I never did catch your real name mate!) - Thanks chap, looks like a good site. I'll have a look around. As for bringing the Capri on a Brecons run, I'd dearly love to, but it's unlikely, as she's sat at home in the garage in Southampton, in need of some TLC at the moment! Will definitely bring her up to one one day, as I'd love to have driven her on some of those roads yesterday!
I doubt it'll be at least until after Christmas, though - I need to scrape together enough to get a new fuel pump, PAS rack and get the recon gearbox I have in the shed fitted up!capri said:
LeoZwalf - thank you mate You really should try one - I swear everyone should own one, at least once in their lives! Sure, it's an old Ford with a slightly faded image - but that doesn't stop it being immensely good fun to drive and own
You really should try one - I swear everyone should own one, at least once in their lives! Sure, it's an old Ford with a slightly faded image - but that doesn't stop it being immensely good fun to drive and own I would love to own one for a while at some point
As for image, I drive a Rover so clearly don't give a toss about what people think of the car I drive!Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff