My Sapph, R.I.P 22/07/2012 :(
20-02-2011, 08:39 PM
#1
My Sapph, R.I.P 22/07/2012 :(
Right, Here goes! Lol I started a thread a couple of years ago but then I changed my photobucket account around so decided to start a new build thread (Apologies everyone!) 
I bought the Sapph in January 2004 from a mate who’d had the car for 10 years and although I knew it was a solid straight shell, I knew it needed a fair bit of TLC. The plan was to keep it stage 1 and just generally tidy it up. (we all know that just never happens!)
When I first bought it… (sorry for shite phone pics, didn’t have a digital camera then lol)
It’d just turned 100k when I bought it and was in need of an engine rebuild so before I’d even driven it, the engine came out for a refresh.
The engine was built around the original 205 block, while it was stripped I noticed that the original T3 was showing the signs of age so decided to upgrade to a T34 .48 with the rest of the engine standard.
I bought the Sapph in January 2004 from a mate who’d had the car for 10 years and although I knew it was a solid straight shell, I knew it needed a fair bit of TLC. The plan was to keep it stage 1 and just generally tidy it up. (we all know that just never happens!)
When I first bought it… (sorry for shite phone pics, didn’t have a digital camera then lol)
It’d just turned 100k when I bought it and was in need of an engine rebuild so before I’d even driven it, the engine came out for a refresh.
The engine was built around the original 205 block, while it was stripped I noticed that the original T3 was showing the signs of age so decided to upgrade to a T34 .48 with the rest of the engine standard.
Last edited by Karl 3dr; 23-07-2012 at 07:18 PM.
20-02-2011, 08:40 PM
#2
After this was fitted and run in, I soon became bored of stage 1 and a friend who used to work at castle performance persuaded me to have his old stage 3 chip and light blue injectors with the understanding that if I didn’t like it, I could take them back out, but they stayed, along with a Radtech 60mm intercooler, Bailey header tank and breather, a change of wheels to 17” OZ Super t’s and I swapped the cloth interior for leather.
I was happy for a while until one day while I was having a bit of fun, I suddenly couldn’t see where I was going due to a big cloud of steam which, when I stopped, I found out was due to a core plug firing out of the side of the block, underneath the exhaust manifold. I got the car recovered home, thought I’d got nothing to lose by trying another core plug in it. All seemed to be ok so I started making plans to sort the bodywork out.
The car went for a full respray at a friends, brothers unit in June 2005 and it was supposed to take 3 weeks……
9 months later I got it back! This was partly due to it being a bigger job than originally thought, and partly down to my own stupidity of paying the lad up front.
It was taken back to bare metal, both rear wheel arches were replaced along with 4 brand new doors, 4x4 bonnet and quite a few repairs around front and rear screens…
Morrettes that I bought while drunk on ebay lol…
My once shiny engine bay…
I was happy for a while until one day while I was having a bit of fun, I suddenly couldn’t see where I was going due to a big cloud of steam which, when I stopped, I found out was due to a core plug firing out of the side of the block, underneath the exhaust manifold. I got the car recovered home, thought I’d got nothing to lose by trying another core plug in it. All seemed to be ok so I started making plans to sort the bodywork out.
The car went for a full respray at a friends, brothers unit in June 2005 and it was supposed to take 3 weeks……
9 months later I got it back! This was partly due to it being a bigger job than originally thought, and partly down to my own stupidity of paying the lad up front.
It was taken back to bare metal, both rear wheel arches were replaced along with 4 brand new doors, 4x4 bonnet and quite a few repairs around front and rear screens…
Morrettes that I bought while drunk on ebay lol…
My once shiny engine bay…
20-02-2011, 08:43 PM
#3
I eventually got the car back in march 2006 and although I was quite pissed off it had taken so long, it was worth the wait because the car looked awesome!!
All went well for a few months, I added a set of AP 330mm 4 pots to the front
Then the core plug problem happened again, this turned out to be a crack around a headbolt hole in the block so it was back to the drawing board!!
I bought a brand new 6 long studded 200 block as a base for the next rebuild and the T34 made way for a TT T38 and slightly lower compression.
All went well for a few months, I added a set of AP 330mm 4 pots to the front
Then the core plug problem happened again, this turned out to be a crack around a headbolt hole in the block so it was back to the drawing board!!
I bought a brand new 6 long studded 200 block as a base for the next rebuild and the T34 made way for a TT T38 and slightly lower compression.
Last edited by Karl 3dr; 27-02-2011 at 12:05 PM.
20-02-2011, 08:48 PM
#4
I then decided I’d had enough of the morrettes and put the standard headlamps back in, fitted with brand new lenses and headlamp protectors….
Not long after, I changed the other lights back to ambers and had a change of wheels to Comp 5 spokes,
Not long after, I changed the other lights back to ambers and had a change of wheels to Comp 5 spokes,
Last edited by Karl 3dr; 27-02-2011 at 11:57 AM.
20-02-2011, 08:54 PM
#5
It was then off to MSD in april 2008 for a change of ecu to a L8, a live map, closed loop, wasted spark and anti lag, and the difference that made was incredible!!!
Unknown to me, my other half had sent some pics into Fast Ford magazine and they said they wanted to feature the car, some pics from the shoot….
Unknown to me, my other half had sent some pics into Fast Ford magazine and they said they wanted to feature the car, some pics from the shoot….
20-02-2011, 08:55 PM
#6
In January 2009, I decided to completely strip the underneath of the car, clean and paint in, and recondition anything that need it.
For some reason, I didn’t take many pictures of how it was when I started but I painted the underneath with black underseal when I first bought it and it was pretty shitty under there!!
You kind of get the impression with these couple…
The stripping began…
Then I found this….
Rotten metal cut out…
Double skinned repair and waxoiled from the inside….
The clean up continued….(I hate underseal!)
All the surface rust was removed and treated with zinc primer before being stonechipped and then 2 coats of white applied….
For some reason, I didn’t take many pictures of how it was when I started but I painted the underneath with black underseal when I first bought it and it was pretty shitty under there!!
You kind of get the impression with these couple…
The stripping began…
Then I found this….
Rotten metal cut out…
Double skinned repair and waxoiled from the inside….
The clean up continued….(I hate underseal!)
All the surface rust was removed and treated with zinc primer before being stonechipped and then 2 coats of white applied….
20-02-2011, 08:56 PM
#7
Once that was done, I set about cleaning/painting everything else….
Rear springs…
Rear diff and new tank…
Driveshafts before and after….
Rear antiroll bar…
New rear arch liners and side skirt clips….
I made all new metal brake pipes at work using the proper green coated steel brake pipe which was a real bitch to bend into shape but worth it, also fitted braided hoses throughout and polybushed everything.
I was then offered a pretty much brand new stage 2 adrenaline beam…
I also bought a 300mm rear disc conversion from nuts r us on here and bought new 4x4 calipers from work.
Rear springs…
Rear diff and new tank…
Driveshafts before and after….
Rear antiroll bar…
New rear arch liners and side skirt clips….
I made all new metal brake pipes at work using the proper green coated steel brake pipe which was a real bitch to bend into shape but worth it, also fitted braided hoses throughout and polybushed everything.
I was then offered a pretty much brand new stage 2 adrenaline beam…
I also bought a 300mm rear disc conversion from nuts r us on here and bought new 4x4 calipers from work.
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20-02-2011, 09:06 PM
#11
Regular Contributor
absolutly stunning mate,i hope 1 day i will get mine as clean as yours,how would you rate the wasted spark kit mate??,iv just had mine done by msd,should get it back this week coming.love the ambers,stunning all round car.good job
Last edited by bruny; 20-02-2011 at 09:08 PM.
20-02-2011, 09:27 PM
#17
I got the car mot’d at work and on the same day had it booked in the body shop for a 4 wheel alignment, where I had all my hard work rewarded with them scratching the osf wheel arch and wheel!!!
To say I was pissed off is a major understatement, especially when they refused to put it right!!! Wankers!!
To say I was pissed off is a major understatement, especially when they refused to put it right!!! Wankers!!
20-02-2011, 09:33 PM
#19
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
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This is one of my favorite Saphs!! At the moment I own an Ebony black 4x4 but I'm thinking about building a nice white 2wd and guess which car features rather heavilly in my photo library for reference LOL
20-02-2011, 09:44 PM
#21
I finally got the wheel alignment sorted at a place that knew what they were doing and I’ve got to say, the combination of a solid chassis, polybushes and the beam had it feeling a bit less like a boat and a lot more surefooted!! Lol
The car came off the road for the winter in october 2009 and hasn’t seen the road since lol, I decided I wanted 500bhp so the engine came out yet again lol.
While I was deciding what to do, I was offered Kev Sharps engine out of his 2wd Escort so snapped it up!!
It came with the T4 but not the RS500 plenum but the plan was to use a EECIV plenum and my 83lb Siemens injectors.
The plans changed yet again and I sold the EECIV plenum and bought an RS500 one because I wanted 8 injectors, some would say its old skool I know but I don’t care lol
Collins engine mounts…
Ready to go in…
The car came off the road for the winter in october 2009 and hasn’t seen the road since lol, I decided I wanted 500bhp so the engine came out yet again lol.
While I was deciding what to do, I was offered Kev Sharps engine out of his 2wd Escort so snapped it up!!
It came with the T4 but not the RS500 plenum but the plan was to use a EECIV plenum and my 83lb Siemens injectors.
The plans changed yet again and I sold the EECIV plenum and bought an RS500 one because I wanted 8 injectors, some would say its old skool I know but I don’t care lol
Collins engine mounts…
Ready to go in…
Last edited by Karl 3dr; 27-02-2011 at 03:31 PM.
20-02-2011, 09:58 PM
#22
Cheers Kev, just updating it now mate!!
Thanks mate, means a lot to get good feedback!!
I know, it's still like it now tbh, got to get it sorted before august though, we're using it as our wedding car lol
Thanks for the comments btw!!!
I know, it's still like it now tbh, got to get it sorted before august though, we're using it as our wedding car lol
Thanks for the comments btw!!!
20-02-2011, 10:01 PM
#25
cossie fan (unluckerly)
nice work real shame about the scratch i hope u walked out of there with out paying i once had my tyres swoped over at a tyre place and there fitter tryed undoing the center cap on my ronndells with a set of grips as he thought it was a nut! to say i was pissed off is an under statement as u carnt get them anymore
20-02-2011, 10:08 PM
#27
nice work real shame about the scratch i hope u walked out of there with out paying i once had my tyres swoped over at a tyre place and there fitter tryed undoing the center cap on my ronndells with a set of grips as he thought it was a nut! to say i was pissed off is an under statement as u carnt get them anymore
Tbh the attitude where i work was disgusting, if i didn't work there i would have been taking some sort of legal advice but because i work there, i'd rather not rock the boat if you know what i mean because they will make my life difficult. I'll wait till i leave to get my revenge lol.
20-02-2011, 10:19 PM
#31
Thanks Kev, that's quite an old pic now tbh, the air injectors are fitted now as well as the panel at the back of the bay, intercooler and rad fitted as well, just haven't got round to taking any pics lol, done a bit to it today but the weather's been crap and i keep finding excuses not to work on it lol.
20-02-2011, 10:39 PM
#34
Advanced PassionFord User
Love this car seen it around stoke on sunday nights years ago coming sidways off round abouts on a certain retail park back in the day,nice to know its getting some love and more power.
