1966 Mk1 cortina GT She Drives!

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I meant to post an update sooner bit I've been distracted by the possibility of being able to get on with the Cortina after struggling with the old loom and the engine issues.

Last Saturday broady came over to help, I stepped back and let him go over the basics of fuel, spark and timing with a fresh set of eyes. After a few hours it was running and much smoother than it had ever run - so what was it?

The timing was 20 degrees out and the clamp wasn't doing its job - because it had cracked the distributor! Looking at the clamp it turned in on itself at the pinch bolt

I'd also woubd the mixture screw out way too far - because I was worried it wasn't getting enough fuel!

Instead of it being 2 turns, it was 7.5!

The cortina starts easily and runs smoothly all down to what broady has done and I'm thankful for his help - I owe him a few beverages when we can go out and play properly!

Now I can carry on with testing the water tightness of the Cortina and getting the interior sorted!

4-15-2021

With the engine running and actual progress on the cards I went out (metaphorically) and purchased a pair of 6J front wheels to match the 7's for the rear.

I wanted a staggered set firstly to fill the rear tubs as the 4.5's and 5.5s can look a bit lost and I didn't want to run spacers and secondly 7's are too wide for the front.

As the MOT is looming ever closer and looking at the scabby old stunt wheels I've been using for 1 metric lifetime I thought it was time I made the Cortina look like it could function as a road legal car.

For the front I have 175x60 r13's and 205x60 r13 for the rear. There is a slight height difference but they look proportioned, I was careful to not make them look at tyre at either end. Needless to say I'm happy with the result and once I get some time I'll revisit the Dunlops as a 2nd set of wheels.

A quick comparison with the original 4.5 steel wheel had me concerned I'd gone too big!

a test fit looked good, a little close to the arch lip but that can be tweaked.

I have tried to keep the body level when lowering and I don't necessarily want to go lower at the rear, the front could but would need helper springs but I have a feeling that would make it awful to drive!