Classic Car Behind
The Wheel (Part 1)
Richard Coney ,contributor, Middlesex
I’ve been a little wary of taking the Forty too far, pending a
complete overhaul of the steering. I knew work was required when I bought the
car and to be fair, while there is far too much play in the steering, it
actually drives quite nicely, notwithstanding the bias belt tyres. My old mate
Doug Forrest, who I’ve known since the mid-Seventies when we were both in the
short-lived Middlesex Cruisers, now operates Classic Car Craft in Ramsgate,
Kent (01843 587376). He’s due to collect the Ford soon and will rectify any
outstanding problems. Sorting the steering I leave to the professionals! In the
meantime, I did take the car to the Watford Rods show, organised in conjunction
with Beaconsfield Football Club. The weather was warm; the organisers sensibly
used the field next to the club grounds for the show cars, thereby avoiding the
over-crowding that occurred last year, and the turnout was excellent.
My old mate Doug Forrest,
who I’ve known since the mid-Seventies when we were both in the short-lived
Middlesex Cruisers, now operates Classic Car Craft in Ramsgate
I mention it because quite by chance I came across one of the cars
that has influenced me most over the last 20 years. Richard Manzanero has owned
this 1940 Deluxe coupe since the early Nineties. I well remember being given a
drive in the car, probably my first time in an American coupe. I must say that
the car was uninspiring, being well-used, relatively stock and with a Pontiac
V8, a four-speed manual gearbox and a bone-shaking ride. Nevertheless, the Ford
was a genuine American hot rod and exceptionally rare in the UK at that time. Richard
commenced a radical rebuild of the coupe in a tiny suburban garage, starting
with a TCI chassis, incorporating independent front suspension, disc brakes and
a rare Halibrand Champ rear axle. The engine is a stroked and bored 383cu in
Chevy V8 with a TH400 auto behind. Now resplendent in metallic burgundy paint,
with Halibrand ‘Sweet Swirl’ directional alloy wheels, it’s still not quite
finished, requiring a new interior. After 20 years the Forty is definitely a
‘keeper’. It was great to catch up, especially knowing that my own Forty Tudor
was across the field. It took me two decades to catch up, but it’s worth it.
Huw Evans, contributor ,Barrie, Ontario, Canada
It’s been a while since the ongoing sagas of the Evans fleet have
graced these pages so I thought I’d perhaps provide an update. The daily driven
2006 Ford Focus and 2008 Ford Ranger continue to do sterling service, though
the Focus is in need of some new all-season tyres — the ones on it are getting
a bit long in the tooth, plus I’ve noticed that paint is starting to peel on
the rocker panels – ugh. Other than that, it’s essentially been the usual
regular maintenance items such as brakes and fluid flushes, for both daily hacks.
As for the Mustang, it hasn’t been driven a whole lot this year, due to a) an
exceptionally long winter and b) a very busy work schedule and dad duties with
my three-year-old son, which has left precious little time to actually trek to my
in-laws, fire the poor thing up and pull it out the garage. The last time I saw
it, I found it had a dead battery and the right front tyre was low. So on went
the trickle charger, and said tyre was refilled to the recommended cold pressure
(30psi). Once the battery was topped up with juice I got in, turned the key and
she started on the button. Even to this day I still get a real kick every time
I fire up the old 5.0 litre V8, there really is nothing like it – the sound
resonating through stainless dual exhaust is truly unlike any other. Backing
out of the garage, I took it for a run around the block and everything seemed
fine, so it was off to the filling station to pour in fresh petrol (even though I
backed the timing off a couple of years ago – a sign of getting older perhaps)
I still like to give her the good stuff, or what passes for it in most parts of
North America (91 octane unleaded).
The daily driven 2006 Ford
Focus and 2008 Ford Ranger continue to do sterling service
Having taken my son Iestyn for a drive, in which he was grinning
from ear to ear, the dew wipe on the passenger side door decided to bind
against the window and bend, creating a right old mess. So I drove the car back
to my in-laws, put it in the garage and examined in more detail. Somehow, part
of the rubber insert that goes inside the door had been mangled, so every time
the window was raised or lowered it would jam. I managed to pull the dew wipe
moulding off but it was beyond repair and only fit for the bin. I placed a call
to the folks at Fox Mustang Restoration who sent me a pair of new old-stock
replacements and also a replacement petrol cap since the old one was well past
its sell by date. I’ve since managed to install one of the new dew wipes on the
passenger door but haven’t had a chance to see if it truly fixes the problem.
I’ll let you know in due course.
Having taken my son Iestyn
for a drive, in which he was grinning from ear to ear, the dew wipe on the
passenger side door decided to bind against the window and bend, creating a
right old mess
As for the ’85 Trans Am it has been running great the last few
times I’ve driven it. I decided to bleed the car’s brake system and also change
the rear differential lube as I have had no idea when it was last done. Just as
well I did, as what came out of the pumpkin was almost indescribable. Once the
diff cover was off, scraped clean and installed with a new gasket, I elected to
pump in some high quality Amsoil gear oil. This stuff is used in heavy duty,
high performance applications and should be more than up to the job. Also
having bled the brakes I noticed quite a bit more resistance when pushing the
brake pedal – evidently there was a bit of air in the system. Now it’s back on
the road again, the TA continues to have a minor stumbling/stalling issue – but
it is so infrequent that it is very hard to pinpoint. Since I bought it, the
Trans Am has received a new computer, wiring harness, injectors, MAF meter,
catalytic converter, O2 sensor, distributor, wires and plugs so I’m not really
sure where the problem lies. I’ll likely just have to wait and see if it
worsens, hook the car up to the scan tool and maybe get my friend Nino to work
his magic. So, until next time, happy motoring.
