Dave.Wilson

Cheers mate.

Cheers Ollie, I'll PM you my number so that we can sort it out. Thanks Dave

Well I'm about 40 mins from Bromley, so not too far... Currently working on a MK3 blue cabby... Only just got it working, the hassle & woes is all on here somewhere.... Well, I didn't get it working, my mechanic mate did... I'm no good with the oily bits, just the vision & the driving :-)

Thanks Stu.

Really? Good to know... It might well need a few parts... I've got to write the list once I clean it and find the bits that I can't repair. Thanks mate. :-)

Thanks Ollie... I think all the wires & stuff are all there, just missing the head unit itself... the previous owner had a modern CD unit that they kept, which is fine by me as I really want to get this as close to original as I can. Thanks mate.

I'm after an original MK3/MK4 stereo for my Cabby... trying to take it back to it's original look... If everyone can check their garages/sheds and see if they have a working one hidden somewhere they don't need and let me know that would be great. Thanks

Thank you... She needs a real good clean, the photo doesn't show all the dust and dirt... but a day-long cleaning and clay baring session has been planned just before the Ford event to get her looking respectable enough before I can get the bodywork etc all sorted out.

After all the agro, hassle and woes of getting my MK3 cabby up and running she finally burst into life Sunday afternoon... turns out it was a loose injector union which was the problem... so stripping the engine down was sort of pointless... but it was good to take her apart and give her a bit of a clean and fit some new parts. She now drives like a dream, a peach, and I loved a bit of 'top down' action before the sun set Sunday evening... even has a nice throaty exhaust note, which made me just rev it... So now that is done, it's time to start the wish list on everything else that is wrong with her, like re-fitting the back seats (looks like someone has nabbed the screws) re-fit the bar for the drivers seat belt (should hopefully be a simple case of screwing back in place) fitting a radio (if I can find an original one) and changing the cambelt... then it's onto the bodywork, scratches, roof, rubbers, paintwork and generally cleaning the old girl up ready for the Ford event in Holland in September... got lots to do and hardly any time to do it. But at least she's running, and running well... so I can enjoy this sunshine before 'ole Bluey' gets tucked up in the garage for winter.

I remember seeing this car on eBay... looks like you're really going to town on it... can't wait to see the finished product at shows and meets in the new year.

Crystal Palace isn't far from Bromley/Beckenham right???

Reading all these makes me so jealous that I can't tag along... but fingers crossed my Mk3 cabby will actually be running by the weekend (so my mechanic mate tells me) and then if I have enough time to tidy it slightly ready for Holland then I will be happy... Got a loooong list of things I want to do over the winter, so hopefully I'll be ready to join you guys at all the shows next year. Look forward to seeing all the photos from the Fair... and might help me get some inspiration

Thanks Chaz, Put the engine back together last night with some shiny new parts.... but the bloody thing wouldn't start... it came close, but just wouldn't fire... so it's now onto checking other bits and bobs to try and get the thing to actually start.... doubt it will be ready for the Ford Event in Holland now Once I get it running then I'll be happy and can start writing the shopping list for stuff to do over the winter to get it looking sweet.... fingers crossed for loads of overtime, as I think I'm going to need it!!

Update on the Cabby: At first we (me & my mechanic friend) thought it might be something simple to fix that had been overlooked... but on further investigation it was only running on 3 cylinders... the worst was feared, a cracked piston... the engine was stripped down, but luckily they were fine... it's now just a process of elimination as to exactly what is wrong... I was told it possibly be a sticky valve (as the car didn't move for 8 years) but if not then it could possibly be terminal The top end has now been taken away to be looked at more closely and my cabby now currently sits in my garage with no bonnet and half the engine missing. I was really hoping to get it all up and running ready for a trip to the Ford Fair, then have it tidied up for the Ford Event in Holland... but that's looking less and less likely now. If I could work out how to attach a photo to this I would let you see my sorry car sitting there without an engine... but have no idea how to do this. Will keep updating this when the top end returns to me Tuesday... keep your fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!!

Thanks for all the feedback people... I called all your recommendations, all were cheaper than my original quote... but the best by far was from R&H, £109 including breakdown cover, which, considering the fact that my engine is currently in bits is probably a good thing to have... So a special shout out and thank you to Corkie80 for the contact details!! Stu, mine is unmodified, completely original with only 49k on the clock and full service history... although it's currently in parts in my garage as the top of the engine has been removed to try and fix a sticking valve... hopefully it's just that and not terminal.

Thanks one and all... I'm going to be busy tomorrow lunch time making all these calls.... but if it saves me money that's more money to spend on the Escort. Will keep you all updated on the cheapest & best deal I get. Thanks

Asking the AA guy was a good idea, they don't work on any commission or get anything for telling you what needs replacing. Hope the simple fixes work... don't give up!

I need 3k miles... but will add them to the list to call tomorrow. Cheers mate.

Long list.... I don't mean to be rude about your mechanic, but is he a friend who knows engines or a standard mechanic at a local garage? I had a similar thing (as I know nothing about engines) and the mechanic listed all these expensive parts that needed replacing before the engine went bang... got a second opinion and it didn't need any of the parts listed, just a simple fuel accumulater or something... Might be worth getting a second opinion, or asking about to see if anyone you know could do it a bit cheaper... But good luck, hope it all works out and you get to keep it and keep it running.

Thanks... I'll try them too!

Thanks for that... I'll give them a call.

What model is it?? And what is wrong with it?? I might know someone who may buy it as is (depending on the problem) to rescue it before it gets scrapped.

Hi fellow Cabby fans, I'm currently getting quotes for my MK3 Escort cabby, and the cheapest I've got so far is £222, which includes 30 days european cover. Does anyone else have other insurance companies that they could recommend I give a call? I want to obviously get the best price... I don't mind name-dropping if it gets you a voucher or a discount next year if the price is right. Thanks Dave

The Cabby (nicknamed 'Bluey') arrives tonight... on the back of a lorry.... I will upload some pictures of it when I get the chance.

Thanks mate. Would be great if I can get it working... Driving it will feel a lot more special after getting my hands dirty, rather than just buying it and not knowing anything. I know where to come if I need advice/help.