1966 Mk1 Cortina GT

4 minute(s) of a 210 minute read

I was rather satisfied with having a car that actually drove but a few days later I found it hard to concentrate on what to do next, there are so many parts and jobs that need to be done I needed to figure out what I have to do - so I wrote a list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03bCOdiBYTA&t=1s

Picking the easiest stuff is a little bit slack on my part but I wanted to feel like I'm achieving something and knocking some stuff of the list.

Starting with boot wiring originally there was only 1 wire for the fuel tank level sender which I replaced when I went over the wiring loom a few months ago. I had also added the feed to the fuel pump into the original loom as I had stripped all this back anyway, up until recently the fuel pump was crudely wired so I could get it working as I wanted the fuel tank in position before cutting cables to length.

Whilst routing the cable I thought back to what the original wire was like - awful was the answer! It was just loose under the car and covered in underseal to the point it could have been stuck to the chassis and nobody would have noticed! I used a 5mm P clip to secure the wiring and even though it'll not be seen it makes me very happy!

The door handles have been cleaned and polished as best as they can be, the chrome isn't pitted but has crazing but will get chromed next year but for now I just want to focus on getting the Cortina back on the road and put some miles on it. I'm happy with the gaskets I may trim them so they aren't as visible but the have been put on temporarily so I can get the car over to the body shop for final polishing soon.

The door latches have just been cleaned, I was going to polish them but I quite like the clean factory look

I finally have a reskinned door after being let down by the previous bodyshop, this is just the initial fit. The Cortina will go to the new guys shop for final fit, paint and door seals fitting along with fixing some of the chips and paint damage I've cause putting the car together. 

As all 4 doors were in place I needed to fit some bitumen sound deadening behind the skins to reduce the resonance, I'm amazed by the difference in sound (you'll see it in the video)

I gave the boot seal fitting a go, I think I need to try a different adhesive and get the panel alignment right but I have to slam the boot to get it to shut which is something I'd like to avoid. I never had to do this before but I'll get a second opinion from the bodyshop.

I have a lot more easy stuff to get on with but I'm happy I've knocked a few things off the list!