Mercury Capri Project Car

bigaudiofanatic

The oil is drained but for the life of me I can not find the oil filter location.

bigaudiofanatic

Well finally got the oil changed, and that radiator fluid is actually after being drained and putting in flush. After draining that I ran water through and than put fresh radiator fluid in. I also recharged the A/C today, I think I got it charged pretty well for the first time doing it.


Also cleaned up the engine bay a bit.

audiobliss

definitely looks pretty clean!

concealer404

audiobliss wrote: »

Wow, 298k miles of premium gas. I hate to think of how much wasted money that represents!

What're your next plans for the Capri? This is really making me want some kind of a project!

It's not necessarily wasted... depends on the car.

I get 3mpg more running 93 in the Celica vs. 87. And as a bonus, i can advance the timing a bit as well. Slighty more power, slightly more MPG, all for like... $1.00 more a tank of gas. Fine by me.

concealer404

kawizx9r wrote: »

^+1

Had a Miata MX-5 myself, and if John is right about the power/handling/comfort/quality then IDK what to say about the Capri.

However, there's nothing like the satisfaction of doing something yourself...ain't that right bigaudio?

They share almost nothing other than basic motor similarities.

The Capri is FWD, it's pretty much a gussied up drop-top 323.

concealer404

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

Than while it is getting that done I am going to be in search for a new engine like a mazda 323 or even a mita engine.

323 engine won't do anything for you.

Don't make it hard on yourself with the Miata motor, either get an Escort GT, 1st gen Protege LX, or Tracer LTS motor. Already set up for FWD, should be drop in and go affair.

If you want MORE power than that, either boost the 1.8 after you swap, or skip right to the 2.5 V6 out of the Probe GT/MX6 LS, or get a JDM KLZE. Easy swap if you get an MX3 GS donor car.

audiobliss

concealer404 wrote: »

It's not necessarily wasted... depends on the car.

I get 3mpg more running 93 in the Celica vs. 87. And as a bonus, i can advance the timing a bit as well. Slighty more power, slightly more MPG, all for like... $1.00 more a tank of gas. Fine by me.

Sounds like a good deal to me, too! I just doubt much was done to really take advantage of the 93 octane in the aforementioned Honduh.

bigaudiofanatic

concealer404 wrote: »

323 engine won't do anything for you.

Don't make it hard on yourself with the Miata motor, either get an Escort GT, 1st gen Protege LX, or Tracer LTS motor. Already set up for FWD, should be drop in and go affair.

If you want MORE power than that, either boost the 1.8 after you swap, or skip right to the 2.5 V6 out of the Probe GT/MX6 LS, or get a JDM KLZE. Easy swap if you get an MX3 GS donor car.

Thank you very much for that, I have been all over trying to figure out what engines to look at. Now I know thank you!

inspiredsports

Looking Good!

I may be remembering wrong, but I thought "xcapri79" was a Capri owner/fan and I'm surprised he hasn't weighed in.

concealer404

inspiredsports wrote: »

Looking Good!

I may be remembering wrong, but I thought "xcapri79" was a Capri owner/fan and I'm surprised he hasn't weighed in.

He likes the "real" Capris back when they were 'murican.

concealer404

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

Thank you very much for that, I have been all over trying to figure out what engines to look at. Now I know thank you!

Engine code "BP05" for the Escort/Protege/Tracer motor. 127hp stock.

"KLDE" for the MX6/Probe motor. 164hp stock. 2.5 litre V6

"KLZE" for the jdm high compression version of the KLDE. ~200hp stock. 2.5 litre V6.

With the KL motors, you'll need to swap transmission, engine mounts, engine wiring harness, ECU, will need to figure out something to convert your tach with, (dakota digital makes a nice unit for about $80.), and will either need MX3 GS control arms and hubs, or keep the stock stuff and use FC RX7 balljoints to give you the room you need. I HIGHLY suggest an MX3 GS donor car for this swap. Will have everything you need, including transmission. You'll just need motor. (KLZE will require a chipped ECU and a different VAF. If you're going KLDE, just use USDM MX6 ECU and VAF.) The MX3 transmission is tighter than the MX6 LS transmission, and the same as the Probe GT trans. Tighter gearing = faster. (with exceptions, but not here)

Depending on when you're looking to do this, i'll have a spare BP05 block/head with a spare known good head to go with it, as well as probably a transmission as well.

I'll also have a spare "K8" which is a pretty cool motor. It's got about 70k miles on it, 1.8 litre V6. Makes about the same power as the BP05, but sounds amazing. Same work to swap in a K8 as KLZE/KLDE, but if you get a running MX3 GS, you'll already have the motor.

bigaudiofanatic

Hmm how much would you like for that engine?

bigaudiofanatic

Tomorrow envolves two things.

Sanding and painting parts.

concealer404

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

Hmm how much would you like for that engine?

Which one? The BP05 w/ spare head? Not much. I'd be ready to let it go sometime this winter. How's about $250 gets you the block, two heads, a transmission, and all BP-specific accessories that i'll have for it? (Starter, alternator, mounts, etc etc etc) I'll want to pull the current head off first just to make sure the block is good. I drove the Escort to work today, though, and it's still making great power and runs strong.

The K8, i'd probably want $300 for, but it won't come with accessories or transmission.

bigaudiofanatic

Which one would be easiest to install?

lightman1

Still a chick car,,........

concealer404

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

Which one would be easiest to install?

The BP05. Should use stock mounts. You'd only have to worry about wiring, and it's a common swap, so Capri forums should be able to steer you through that without issues.

bigaudiofanatic

Ya sorry but I will not let you down. This is going to turn into a nice fun car.

Today installed the head unit tomorrow going to start a sub box and saturday will install new speakers.



Everything soldered and heat shrink




Installed


Videos up soon


I have to install the subs in the trunk there probably will not be enough depth behind the rear seats.

billbillw

No offense, but I can't help but feel you are polishing a wart on a ****. Ok, maybe that wasn't the best term (it is starting to look pretty nice, for a chick car), but shouldn't you be getting the mechanical systems in order before all this? Have you gone down the road at all in this yet? I mean, what a waste of time if you can't get it smoothly running and road worthy.

bigaudiofanatic

The car is road worthy I have taken it up and down the road all major fluids have been changed and the engine will be changed in the winter. The head unit was a trade from a amp that I jsut had laying around and the speakers were a gift.

billbillw

OK, good to hear that it actually did go down the road.

bigaudiofanatic

Good news and bad news day:

Well got a package of goodies today. 2 sets of polk audio db speakers.

I installed the rear set and will work on the front at a later time. "To bummed out about the bad news. If anyone is wondering why I installed rear speakers I did it for a few reasons.
1. I have rear seats.
2. It is a convertible so a little extra sound can not hurt when the top is down.
3. The rears will be faded out when the top is up.

Bad news:
I started the car to let it run some when I noticed a faint smell from the exhaust. I reved the engine and looked back. WHITE SMOKE, so I think I have a head gasket blown or just worn out from sitting. So when I replace that I will replace the water pump as well. Hope to get this done next week in time for the meet. Not sure if I am going to be able to. I am getting the repair manual for the car and going to see what it involves to replace both. If it is to much or I feel that I may harm my engine. I will talk to my gf's grandfather for help if he does not want to help than to a reapir shop it goes. I have confidence I can do it myself but have to take my time.

bigaudiofanatic

Old and new


Had to trim the mounting holes a bit.


Solder



Installed

jephdood

I love this kind of stuff. Bringing once good things back from the dead. And the pics are great. Thanks!

bigaudiofanatic

You are welcome I have always wanted to do something like this. Of corse it is nothing like taking a rust bucket and bringing it back but still fun.

bigaudiofanatic

I did however go back out and paint the windshield wiper holders.
I do not want to start tearing apart the engine or anything until I have the repair book and the parts.




Tomorrow if I feel like it I will run the power wire and rca's.

concealer404

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

Good news and bad news day:

Well got a package of goodies today. 2 sets of polk audio db speakers.

I installed the rear set and will work on the front at a later time. "To bummed out about the bad news. If anyone is wondering why I installed rear speakers I did it for a few reasons.
1. I have rear seats.
2. It is a convertible so a little extra sound can not hurt when the top is down.
3. The rears will be faded out when the top is up.

Bad news:
I started the car to let it run some when I noticed a faint smell from the exhaust. I reved the engine and looked back. WHITE SMOKE, so I think I have a head gasket blown or just worn out from sitting. So when I replace that I will replace the water pump as well. Hope to get this done next week in time for the meet. Not sure if I am going to be able to. I am getting the repair manual for the car and going to see what it involves to replace both. If it is to much or I feel that I may harm my engine. I will talk to my gf's grandfather for help if he does not want to help than to a reapir shop it goes. I have confidence I can do it myself but have to take my time.

White smoke upon start up? I imagine it went away after a couple minutes.

Doubt it's the head gasket. Your valve seals are probably shot. How many miles are on the thing?

bigaudiofanatic

114k on it I would rather get a new engine. The smoke is only when I rev it. But that is not until I find a new engine and can do it easily. If I can get that one off concealer404 that would be great.

inspiredsports

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

114k on it I would rather get a new engine. The smoke is only when I rev it. But that is not until I find a new engine and can do it easily. If I can get that one off concealer404 that would be great.

I bought a 1999 Camry for my daughter about 3 years ago with 137K that had been sitting for several months. It would puff a bit of smoke on startup, and it had burned about a half quart of oil at the first 3,000 mile oil change.

That was 27,000 miles ago. After that first couple months of everyday use and that first oil change, it just plain quit burning oil. Somehow the valves passing through the guides revitalized them.

With luck, maybe this will be the case with yours.

bigaudiofanatic

Well I still have to change the water pump, it is leaking fluid.