Hi folks,

I met a guy who claims to be a machinery trader yesterday while I was 
looking for some JCB parts. I don't believe him, though. I think he's 
effectively a scrap dealer. He showed me a Mark I JCB 3C which he bought 
last week for £800. A nice machine which has clearly been looked after. 
The cab was a bit tatty, but that was the only major problem it had. Ran 
really well. He says he's going to scrap it so that he can get just over 
£1000. I feel this is obscenely wasteful.

If I was a bit richer, I'd buy the machine to save it, but I already 
have a rarer Fordson-based 3C, and I can only cope with one battle at a 
time. He also told me that he'd recently scrapped a JCB 4D. That is 
tragic, as the 4D is probably the rarest and most impressive JCB ever 
made. If I had visited when the 4D was in his yard, I don't think I'd 
have been able to resist buying it.

I guess you can blame China to some extent for driving up scrap metal 
prices (for some light-hearted mockery of China, take a look at this: 
http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=China). But the brunt of the 
blame lies with scrap dealers who take advantage of generous sellers and 
feel no guilt about scrapping good machines just to make a modest 
profit. I'm not saying I'm against people making money. I'm just against 
people making money through unacceptably wasteful and destructive means. 
It's not just one guy either. There are plenty of these guys out there 
destroying our industrial heritage. In my view, their behaviour is 
wholly unacceptable, on a level with that of pimps and loan sharks. It's 
a pity that there isn't a law which prevents this kind of thing.

If anyone in the Shropshire/Cheshire/North Wales area wants a Mark I JCB 
3C (or the Nuffield engine, which is a great runner), drop me an e-mail 
(cdt22 AT cantabgold DOT net) and I'll give you the guy's number. You'll 
need to be quick, though, as he says he's scrapping it on Monday morning.

If there's one lesson we can learn from this, it's that if you can't 
keep a machine and yet you want to safeguard its future, you should know 
the scrap value of the machine and make sure that you set your price 
above it.

Best wishes,

Chris

Any suggestions for good sources of Capri spares? Particularly body
panels. We've finally got round to starting the restoration of ours!
-- 
Regards,  Chris    (Please take out my car to reply by plain text email)     
------1967 Riley Elf------1978 Mini 1000------1971 Mini Clubman------
--1972 Mini Clubman estate--1979 Ford Capri--1984 VW Type 25 camper--

In article , Chris Bolus 
says...
> Any suggestions for good sources of Capri spares? Particularly body
> panels. We've finally got round to starting the restoration of ours!
> 
www.mwrcapri.co.uk (ignore the cheesy music - we've told him countless 
times)
www.caprigear.co.uk (Martin is a bit pricey but has good customer 
service)
www.steelpanels.co.uk (everything you could want although not cheap)
www.capriclub.co.uk (Capri Club International)
http://www.frost.co.uk/ (Suppliers of restoration equipment and 
materials)

For an engine..can't recommend them enough

http://www.specialisedengines.co.uk/index.html

Ultimate in mechanical spares and performance upgrades for old Fords is 
Burtons.

http://www.burtonpower.com/Default.aspx

There's also still some pattern parts available from usual body shop 
suppliers and your local motor factors should be able to get most 
mechanical bits. 

Also get yourself registered on the following forums:

www.capripower.co.uk (1000+ members - solely Capri)
www.oldskoolford.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php (9000+ members - all classic 
Fords pre-Sierra)


-- 
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 12:24:57 +0100, Conor 
wrote:

>In article , Chris Bolus 
>says...
>> Any suggestions for good sources of Capri spares? Particularly body
>> panels. We've finally got round to starting the restoration of ours!
>> 
>www.mwrcapri.co.uk (ignore the cheesy music - we've told him countless 
>times)
>www.caprigear.co.uk (Martin is a bit pricey but has good customer 
>service)
>www.steelpanels.co.uk (everything you could want although not cheap)
>www.capriclub.co.uk (Capri Club International)
>http://www.frost.co.uk/ (Suppliers of restoration equipment and 
>materials)
>
>For an engine..can't recommend them enough
>
>http://www.specialisedengines.co.uk/index.html
>
>Ultimate in mechanical spares and performance upgrades for old Fords is 
>Burtons.
>
>http://www.burtonpower.com/Default.aspx
>
>There's also still some pattern parts available from usual body shop 
>suppliers and your local motor factors should be able to get most 
>mechanical bits. 
>
>Also get yourself registered on the following forums:
>
>www.capripower.co.uk (1000+ members - solely Capri)
>www.oldskoolford.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php (9000+ members - all classic 
>Fords pre-Sierra)

Cheers for that. Performance upgrades is the last thing we need yet -
this is a MkIII 1300 (a rare beast, not even listed in most places),
which was a deliberate choice as my son, who will be 17 next year,
stands a chance of getting insurance for it!

So what areas are likely to need watching fo the MOT?

It's remarkably solid for its age, and seems unmolested too, always a
plus when restoring - it takes longer to sort out other people's bodges!
So far I know it needs a new wing (in my shed already), n/s sill, and
small repairs to the inner wings. Otherwise I can't see much between it
and an MOT. It will however need a complete respray to make it look
good!
-- 
Regards,  Chris    (Please take out my car to reply by plain text email)     
------1967 Riley Elf------1978 Mini 1000------1971 Mini Clubman------
--1972 Mini Clubman estate--1979 Ford Capri--1984 VW Type 25 camper--

In article , Chris Bolus 
says...
> On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 12:24:57 +0100, Conor 
> wrote:
> 
> >In article , Chris Bolus 
> >says...
> >> Any suggestions for good sources of Capri spares? Particularly body
> >> panels. We've finally got round to starting the restoration of ours!
> >> 
> >www.mwrcapri.co.uk (ignore the cheesy music - we've told him countless 
> >times)
> >www.caprigear.co.uk (Martin is a bit pricey but has good customer 
> >service)
> >www.steelpanels.co.uk (everything you could want although not cheap)
> >www.capriclub.co.uk (Capri Club International)
> >http://www.frost.co.uk/ (Suppliers of restoration equipment and 
> >materials)
> >
> >For an engine..can't recommend them enough
> >
> >http://www.specialisedengines.co.uk/index.html
> >
> >Ultimate in mechanical spares and performance upgrades for old Fords is 
> >Burtons.
> >
> >http://www.burtonpower.com/Default.aspx
> >
> >There's also still some pattern parts available from usual body shop 
> >suppliers and your local motor factors should be able to get most 
> >mechanical bits. 
> >
> >Also get yourself registered on the following forums:
> >
> >www.capripower.co.uk (1000+ members - solely Capri)
> >www.oldskoolford.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php (9000+ members - all classic 
> >Fords pre-Sierra)
> 
> Cheers for that. Performance upgrades is the last thing we need yet -
> this is a MkIII 1300 (a rare beast, not even listed in most places),
> which was a deliberate choice as my son, who will be 17 next year,
> stands a chance of getting insurance for it!
> 
> So what areas are likely to need watching fo the MOT?
> 
Strut tops.
Seat runner rear outer mounting points.
A posts.
Handbrake operation.
Track Control Arm bushes.

As for the wing..they have a nasty habit of turning into a big job when 
you find the drip rail and front valance aren't as clever as you 
thought.


-- 
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 00:27:25 +0100, Conor 
wrote:

>In article , Chris Bolus 
>says...

>> 
>> So what areas are likely to need watching fo the MOT?
>> 
>Strut tops.
They're solid.
>Seat runner rear outer mounting points.
OK, can't recall any problem there but I'll check.
>A posts.
Solid.
>Handbrake operation.
Brakes will get an all-round check as it's been stood for a while, but
it seemed to work.
>Track Control Arm bushes.
I'll check that too.
>
>As for the wing..they have a nasty habit of turning into a big job when 
>you find the drip rail and front valance aren't as clever as you 
>thought.
I already know the front valance isn't too hot, but I can weld that -
they're expensive!

-- 
Regards,  Chris    (Please take out my car to reply by plain text email)     
------1967 Riley Elf------1978 Mini 1000------1971 Mini Clubman------
--1972 Mini Clubman estate--1979 Ford Capri--1984 VW Type 25 camper--

In article , Chris Bolus 
says...

> >Seat runner rear outer mounting points.
> OK, can't recall any problem there but I'll check.

Theres' a square plate with raised edges with a captive nut in the 
middle. They tend to rot where the plate meets the floor.


-- 
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 20:54:10 +0100, Conor 
wrote:

>In article , Chris Bolus 
>says...
>
>> >Seat runner rear outer mounting points.
>> OK, can't recall any problem there but I'll check.
>
>Theres' a square plate with raised edges with a captive nut in the 
>middle. They tend to rot where the plate meets the floor.

That bit's fine it turns out. However the entire edge of the floor has
separated from the sill! Strange as it's generally in really good
condition, evidently due to the use of cavity wax. 

We cut the sill off to replace while the wing was off, and because there
was a small hole in it. Behind that we found the cavity they had missed
with the wax - the one in front of the spring hanger - and it's all
rusted away, as has the bottom 1/2" of the inner sill. I reckon there's
two days work before we even fit the sill.

I'm used to Minis; they can rust but I know exactly how to replace each
bit. This one is new to me and I'm having to think carefully about how
to repair each section!
-- 
Regards,  Chris    (Please take out my car to reply by plain text email)     
------1967 Riley Elf------1978 Mini 1000------1971 Mini Clubman------
--1972 Mini Clubman estate--1979 Ford Capri--1984 VW Type 25 camper--

In article , Chris Bolus 
says...

> I'm used to Minis; they can rust but I know exactly how to replace each
> bit. This one is new to me and I'm having to think carefully about how
> to repair each section!
> 
Sign up to the forums at www.capripower.co.uk - there's a wealth of 
info there as many of us have been there and done it. Expressed Steel 
do repair sections but they aren't cheap.


-- 
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:00:49 +0100, Conor 
wrote:

>In article , Chris Bolus 
>says...
>
>> I'm used to Minis; they can rust but I know exactly how to replace each
>> bit. This one is new to me and I'm having to think carefully about how
>> to repair each section!
>> 
>Sign up to the forums at www.capripower.co.uk - there's a wealth of 
>info there as many of us have been there and done it. Expressed Steel 
>do repair sections but they aren't cheap.

That's an understatement! Fortunately my fabrication skills are pretty
good.

Have signed up to Capripower and started a project thread in Members
Cars. Some of the pics in there have been very helpful.
-- 
Regards,  Chris    (Please take out my car to reply by plain text email)     
------1967 Riley Elf------1978 Mini 1000------1971 Mini Clubman------
--1972 Mini Clubman estate--1979 Ford Capri--1984 VW Type 25 camper--