Mike's Cabrio Build

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Great news Mike, look forward to seeing you again.
Alan

[Happy_Dave]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Top work Mike, looking forward to seeing you at the shows in a marlin! Going to drive much prior to paint?

[greyV8pete]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Excellent news Mike! Well done! Did you finally decide on a colour?

[listerjp2]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Well Done matey.

Adrian

[Tony Stott]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Got 2 o/b's both vintage, want to borrow one? Joking apart well done/nearly there! ENJOY!!

[Peterx]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Great news! Well done Mike

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build


Yabba Dabba Dooooooo!

.....nearly there!

My Cabrio is now legally registered.
(My own initials on the car I have built seems right somehow)

IMG_5853.jpg






Now all I need is:

A Tax disc (DVLA send it separately....just to stretch it out a little longer)
A set of Number plates
A Hood
and...........an Outboard Motor!


(I wish.....)

........Nearly there.....................!

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Mike, what’s the latest? You can’t still be waiting for your registration documents. I read somewhere that one owner managed to drive from VOSA to DVLA and get registered same day as his SVA. Now they are one seamless well oiled machine that ought to happen every time.
Paul

...........yes I am still waiting...........but there has been some progress.
I had a letter this morning to say my application to have my private plate transferred onto my Cabrio has been approved, and that I should be receiving my V5 Registration document soon.

Since I did not add an outboard motor to my Cabrio the delay does not really matter.........but it is a form of torture!

Hopefully by Friday (Valentines Day) I might be legally on the road.

[milliemarlin]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Mike, what’s the latest? You can’t still be waiting for your registration documents. I read somewhere that one owner managed to drive from VOSA to DVLA and get registered same day as his SVA. Now they are one seamless well oiled machine that ought to happen every time.
Paul

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

I refer you to post 294 but OH forgot about the New year party and the kids had to go back to school and they always catch a cold in the first couple of weeks. Perhaps this is another service the government can sell.

I think my "case worker" has had time off for a nervous breakdown..............!

But he is a very nice gentle soul.

[b_caswell]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

I refer you to post 294 but OH forgot about the New year party and the kids had to go back to school and they always catch a cold in the first couple of weeks. Perhaps this is another service the government can sell.

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

An other step closer................but its like pulling hen's teeth!

A bit of good news, albeit frustrating.
I have chased DVLA every day this week- I've spoken to some very nice people.........but none of them were able to help!

Anyway, today, my cheerful simple sole who's looking after my "case" (as they call it) told me that I need to send the original Certificate of Entitlement to get my private plate transferred onto my Cabrio. So, finally they have accepted my Cabrio is entitled to a Date Related Registration, and rather than force me to register it as a K plate, then transfer my private plate on to it, they are going to process my number straight on to it.

So, at least another week, (probably two given the speed of service received so far!)
- but when it comes back my Cabrio will definitely be on MAG 111D................nearly there!

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

An interesting milestone:

For anyone considering a Marlin build diary and wondering how many people might be interested - my MOC build hits have just passed 15,000, and my flickr build diary has exceeded 85,000 hits - in total over 100,000 hits!

It just shows there is a lot more interest out there than any of us might have the temerity to imagine...........

So, how about some of you clever/enterprising/resourceful, Marlin owners sharing what you are doing with fellow members?

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

On the basis I have tried to make this diary a 'warts and all' account...........

Whilst up on the ramps on IVA Test day, we could see there was clear daylight showing through the ARB D bushes around the ARB itself:



This is exactly how it appeared when it passed the IVA Test!

As posted yesterday, I ordered a pair of 'Large' ARB D polyurathane bushes from Superflex, and decided to fit them this evening: Not a long job, but it proved a little embarassing.............

Peter Licence had warned me that Ford fitted two sizes of steel cap to the ARB D bushes - known plainly as 'Large' and 'Small'.

After I had taken both old bushes out and replaced them with the new Superflex bushes, this is what I found:



I could not have got it more mixed up!
One of the bushes was a 24mm diameter bush - but 'Small' in overall size:
The other was a 'Large' bush - suited to my large steel caps, but was for a 28mm ARB! The photo at the begining shows the 'Small' 24mm bush in a 'Large' cap hence the opening up of the bush creating the space around the ARB.

This just shows what you can do when you are unaware of what you should know!!

No harm done - but a lesson learned: Ford fitted 'Large' ARB D bushes to the Cosworth, and 'Small' ones to the remaining Sierras - except, being Ford, they then fitted 'Large' ones to some very late standard Sierras! - presumably to use up the surplus in the parts bin before discontinuing the Sierra.



Then for a bit of fun..................

Cameron posted many moons ago about a company called HEKO who will make soft badges with any design you provide them with..............so I had these made, and have fitted them to the standard Ford (Cosworth 3 spoke) steering wheel, and handbrake:

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Suspension Bushes:

Although my Cabrio passed its IVA test, we did note the alarming clearance the ARB D bushes were showing whilst it was up on the ramps. I made a mental note to check them later. When back home I found I had fitted the 28mm rubber bushes, despite changing the ARB to a 24mm version: hence the clearance, and I would have to change them.

I considered 3 options, each with their own pro's and con's:

1. Fit new standard Sierra 24mm rubber D mounts
2. Fit new 24mm Superflex D mounts
3. Go the "whole hog", remove the ARB, and fit compression struts


Cost ruled out compression struts at this stage, (around £200 with VAT and delivery) and reading various threads on the Ford Sierra sites suggested the standard Ford D rubbers allow significant movement of the ARB, and therefore wheel alignment.

So I chose Superflex D bushes.

However, even that choice was not straight forward - there are two sizes of ARB chassis cap fitted to the Sierra - "Large" and "Small", and the right sized bush has to be chosen to suit. Mine turned out to be "large" (thanks to Peter Licence for helping identify the issue).
Apparently Cosworths and some of the last ordinary Sierra's were fitted with "large " caps and bushes.

I have now received my "large" Superflex bushes to suit my small 24mm ARB - an unusual combination.

It will be interesting to compare the ride to the previous rubber mounts.

Superflex 003.jpg

Note the difference in the hole diameter - it looks to be much more than 24mm to 28mm (the size can just be seen in the bottom left corner on the rubber D bush?)

Why did I choose Superflex? - colour! - I didn't like the purple ones from Polyflex!