Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

New member

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • New member

    Hi all,

    I suppose technically I'm a returning member as i had a marina kit back in 90s that didn't make it to the road.

    Now, i have recently purchased a completed car, i can recommend taking a roadster for a test drive on Birminghams ice sheets on one of coldest days of last year! That was fun! I was put off buying by the ford sierra mechanicals, I'm not a ford enthusiast, but she was available, and very pretty, so i swallowed by prejudices a bought her.

    Then the fun really started, it's a car, best drive it home, Birmingham to exeter, it's not far.... well it wasn't for those in my support car! Thoroughly enjoyed the bits i drove, panicked often about temperature, I've decided now she just runs hot. Then the alternator packed up, having an alternator putting out 11.5v gives some really odd symptoms. By the time I'd figured out the problem, there was nowhere to buy a new one. Nice RAC man dismantled old alternator but rebuild didn't cure it. So off we go on a tow truck to gordano. Which was shut. It's a strange place to be at 10,00 at night. My support car left me to the wait for next tow truck, at about 23,00 the rac confirmed there were no tow trucks, try again tomorrow! So i went to hotel for supper of a pint of stella and a kit kat, which was best on offer at gordano services at that time.

    Next day, tow truck arrived about lunch time, off i went homewards. 2days later I've managed to get an alternator, i thought ford parts came off the shelf? Not order and pray! But fixed and off we go for a jolly, chilly, jaunt around east devon countryside. A fabulous trip, its nice to be able to talk to pedestrians and horse riders.

    Next project was cam belt, wouldn't be doing that on a B series engine! That went ok (ish) not done many ford belts, but have done a lot of Citroën ones, many things were in the wrong place! But it worked, a trip out to lyme regis and back along little roads to sidmouth to break down, kind of, about 3miles from home! Hmm, no idea why it stopped, but it wouldn't start due to starter motor dying. A quick bump and off homewards. Buying a new starter motor is proving challenging! Hmm!

    Fords are not proving to be the reliable beast i was expecting. One reason i don't like fords is they're so well designed, they're boring. This ones being every bit as interesting as an allegro vanden plas i once owned! To be fair, everything thats failed i would consider a service item. She's still a very pretty car, giving enjoyment to everyone including the nice man in my local motor factors who's starting to develop a twitch when he sees me.

    I'd like to thank the nice chap i bought car off, my friends and i had a lot of fun playing with his car collection in the snow and ice. So far marlin ownership has delivered what i wanted, a pretty car, met some decent people, got my hands all mucky, and some open top motoring.

  • #2
    Re: New member

    Welcome to the club.

    I think with all cars its often the luck of the draw. I've run a Sierra based Cabrio for number of years and its been fine but there's still enough to tinker with.


    I ran a TVR Chimaera for 8 years and they are meant to be a nightmare, especially as its a bit of a 'bitza' type car but mine was fine, driving over England and even driving over to Spa Grand Prix on a very hot September in 2016. Its just a case of making sure the basics are all keep in good order.
    2000 Marlin Cabrio LWB; 2.0 L Burton Pinto in Ford Nightfire Red with Magnolia leather interior.

    http://www.marlinownersclub.com/wppg...&image_id=2349

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: New member

      Bienvenue!!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: New member

        Welcome Neal, I have sent you a PM....look at top right of screen "Notifications"
        Rgds Dave Cunnington

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: New member

          A good source of Ford starter motors etc is AAP OLDHAM. Andys auto parts Manchester on the web. Up rated starter for RS 2000 SOHC Pinto neat more powerful pre engage starter and also all alternators. Reasonably priced . Also Burton Power with good knowledge and usually next day delivery for all things FORD.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: New member

            Hi all, we're doing well, a new starter motor has been sourced and although it's upside down does seem to work well, yay. I'm sure the nice shiney solenoid peeping out under chassis will go dullish soon after being spattered by devon cow mud. I even got the heater to be effective! This was a simple case of putting roof up..

            Comment

            Working...
            X