Thinking Paint

Fiesta Colors

While there is still loads to do on the car, I am at a point where I have to think about the body and paint. I am thinking of stripping the car entirely of parts, engine, interior and glass and readying it for rust repair and paint. I've sourced body panel patches out of Germany, and they are not too expensive. That will need to be handed over to a proper body shop for the work. I really like the color of Betty, and wouldn't dream of changing it. My search revealed the following paint codes from a paint website. 

Parts Order from the UK

 Since some basic parts for the Fiesta are no longer available in the US, I've been searching the interwebs looking for parts.  One of those is a stock throttle cable.  I found this in the UK at BurtonPower.com.  I am hoping that there is no difference between the L/R hand drive cables lengths...We shall see. The price is reasonable at  L11.78, So I took a chance.  Should only take a couple days to get the order.

Fiesta Suspension Bits

There is a guy up in the Minneapolis who owns a race prepped Fiesta.   He is also making some REALLY nice looking suspension parts for the Mk1 Fiesta.  Check him out if you need parts.  His website is out of date, so contact him directly to get the latest list of goodies.  Contact info below.

Here is a list of parts and links to picks on his website.  There is a rear anti roll bar in my future.

UPDATE: Site is down.  These links no longer work, there will be an update as soon as I find out where to see/get them, I managed to have some of the pics on my computer, so am posting them here until we get the live link up again.

-Front Control arm kit with 2 chassis braces, fits 4 or 5 speed gearbox $450

(The design has changed slightly since these pictures were taken)

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-Rear Link Kit $225

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-Duratec engine mount kit $600

-RH Axle intermediate shaft bracket for Duratec conversion $175

-Remote oil filter adapter for Duratec conversion $100

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/attachments/f106/9544d1263715798-remote-oil-filter-adapter-plate-sspx0162.jpg

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/attachments/f106/9545d1263715798-remote-oil-filter-adapter-plate-sspx0165.jpg

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/attachments/f106/9546d1263715798-remote-oil-filter-adapter-plate-sspx0166.jpg

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/attachments/f106/9547d1263715798-remote-oil-filter-adapter-plate-sspx0167.jpg

-Front brake kit (requires 15" or larger wheel) $650

-Rear Brake kit (requires 15" or larger wheel) $750

-Rear Shocks Single adjustable $500
-Rear Shocks Double Adjustable $800
-Caster/Camber plates $225

-Front Struts Single Adjustable $TBD (In development now)
-Front Struts Double Adjustable $TBD (In development now)
-Rear Swaybar $250 (see attached pics)

New Wheels and Shoes

I found a great deal on wheels.  A friend from work sent me a post to some BBS look-a-likes on the local VW Board.  They are combo 4x100/108 14x6 with a 30mm offset.  The seem to fit just fine, although the advice I had been getting was to use at least a 36mm - 40mm offset.  I do get a light rub in the wheel well  on full lock.  I also had to purchase some new lug bolts and some centering rings since the mounts are hub centric.

I then ordered a new set of Federal Tires 185/55R14s.  They are pretty big compared to the stock tires 155/80R12s, but the overall diameter was still around 22", so it doesn't look too out of proportion to the car.  The lower offset also keeps the wheels from poking out from under the car.

Look for yourselves, I think the car looks like it's in character.  Must have more horse power now.

Cooling System Complete

It has been a busy summer.  I've completed a couple things on the car and it's running pretty well.  The Struts I mounted last fall are already shot, so I'll need to look for a different solution.  I got them from Rock Auto, and they only have a 30 day warranty, so money wasted.  I imagine the seals on NOS just don't last.  I've got a line on some out of Europe, and since the fiesta is very popular over there, I imagine they are newer and will likely operate as it should.

I completed the cooling system, although that turned out to be a very expensive project.  Seems the days of $100 radiators are gone.  So instead I had my brass radiator re-cored.  It's like new now, and even though the cost was more than I expected, the guys at Orr Radiator in KC did a great job on it. 

After a whole lot of grinding and painting on the shroud.  I had every dog in the neighborhood barking as I was grinding away at the rust. 

I lucked out and the warning sticker peeled off after 30 years, and I was able to stick it right back on.

Ready for Reassembly

Rear Brakes

Only problem was I couldn't get the new bearings to seat into the new hubs. I'm going to try a machine shop that can press them in for me.

I didn't de-rust and paint the break cover, but will when I mount the new drums.  The emergency brake lever was rusted solid.  which explains why the break lever in the cabin was torn out of the cab.  The sheet metal was torn away.  I'll need to have a patch welded in and remount the handle later.

Spring Projects - Cooling System

I've ordered a few more parts so I can complete the the cooling system project, But the radiator seem to be a rare beast.  After calling a number of junk yards, radiator shops and ebay listers that all have parts listed on their site, but no actual parts, I was starting to think it was a lost cause.  I should have checked on the fiesta blog to begin with, since it was no problem finding one there.

Betty will be receiving a new water pump, new hoses, a new radiator cap, new radiator, new 160 deg thermostat and of course new gaskets.  That should keep her cool in the hot summer months.  Picture to follow when we rip it all apart.