Returning to the fold!
Moderators: scimjim, Lukeyboy46, erikscimitardemon, Roger Pennington, philhoward
Returning to the fold!
Hi there,
Just re-joined the RSSOC after a few years away - long story, don't go there.
Had a few technical issues, joined the Forum, which kick-started me to re-join.
Running a 1981 GTC, which I love
Had a (very) tatty SE5a back in the day, then moved up to a SE6 just as my oldest daughter arrived on the scene.
Then real life took over, and it was a series of 'Euro boxes' for many years.
Decided to look for a GTC about 13 years ago, so joined the RSSOC to get access to 'for sale / wanted' etc., and thoroughly enjoyed my time with the club.
Events conspired that made having the car on the road impossible (the afore mentioned long story!), but all back up and running from about 4 years ago.
Loving the car again, and starting to wield the odd spanner about for simple things - and loving that too!
Anyway, glad to be back
John Blackburn
3006
Just re-joined the RSSOC after a few years away - long story, don't go there.
Had a few technical issues, joined the Forum, which kick-started me to re-join.
Running a 1981 GTC, which I love
Had a (very) tatty SE5a back in the day, then moved up to a SE6 just as my oldest daughter arrived on the scene.
Then real life took over, and it was a series of 'Euro boxes' for many years.
Decided to look for a GTC about 13 years ago, so joined the RSSOC to get access to 'for sale / wanted' etc., and thoroughly enjoyed my time with the club.
Events conspired that made having the car on the road impossible (the afore mentioned long story!), but all back up and running from about 4 years ago.
Loving the car again, and starting to wield the odd spanner about for simple things - and loving that too!
Anyway, glad to be back
John Blackburn
3006
John B
1981 GTC (188)
Previous 1971 Se5, 1978 Se6
1981 GTC (188)
Previous 1971 Se5, 1978 Se6
- scimjim
- RSSOC Member
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- Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:08 pm
- Location: Gloucester
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Returning to the fold!
Welcome back 

Jim King
Current: SE5 (8Ball), TI SS1 (snotty), 1600 SS1 (G97), 1600 SS1 (C686CCR), 2.5TD SE5a (diesel 5a), 6 x random other SS1s.
Previous: SE5, 3 x SE5a, 2 x SE6a, 3 x SE6b, GTC, 2.9i GTC, 3 x 1600 SS1, 1300 SS1, Mk1 Ti Sabre, Mk1.5 CVH Sabre
Chief mechanic for: 1400 K series SS1 (Megan3), 1400 CVH EFi SS1 (Grawpy), Sabre/MX5 auto (The Flying Broomstick),
1300 SS1 (Number One) & Sarah's coupe.
CURE THE FAULT - NOT THE SYMPTOMS
Current: SE5 (8Ball), TI SS1 (snotty), 1600 SS1 (G97), 1600 SS1 (C686CCR), 2.5TD SE5a (diesel 5a), 6 x random other SS1s.
Previous: SE5, 3 x SE5a, 2 x SE6a, 3 x SE6b, GTC, 2.9i GTC, 3 x 1600 SS1, 1300 SS1, Mk1 Ti Sabre, Mk1.5 CVH Sabre
Chief mechanic for: 1400 K series SS1 (Megan3), 1400 CVH EFi SS1 (Grawpy), Sabre/MX5 auto (The Flying Broomstick),
1300 SS1 (Number One) & Sarah's coupe.
CURE THE FAULT - NOT THE SYMPTOMS
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- philhoward
- RSSOC Member
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- Location: Staffs, UK
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Returning to the fold!
Welcome back!
Phil Howard
Scimitarweb Forum Admin
SS1 1600 Rooster Turbo; Sabre Mk1.5, Sabre Mk2
Previous: SE5/5a/SS1 No.1/SS1 Rooster/SS1 1800Ti/SE5a 24 Valve
http://www.ss1turbo.com
Never try and argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you based on experience.
Scimitarweb Forum Admin
SS1 1600 Rooster Turbo; Sabre Mk1.5, Sabre Mk2
Previous: SE5/5a/SS1 No.1/SS1 Rooster/SS1 1800Ti/SE5a 24 Valve
http://www.ss1turbo.com
Never try and argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you based on experience.
- guybetts
- RSSOC Member
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Returning to the fold!
Thanks for your e-mails John, and welcome to the Forum too.
Enjoy your GTC
Guy
Enjoy your GTC
Guy
GTC Registrar
1966 Straight Six Coupe, 1981 GTC
Previous: SS1 1300 (C230 EPP) & 18ti (D993 WRX)
1966 Straight Six Coupe, 1981 GTC
Previous: SS1 1300 (C230 EPP) & 18ti (D993 WRX)
Returning to the fold!
I must say, I'm enjoying reading some of the posts in the forum - very entertaining and informative!
I think I mentioned that for any 'big' stuff, I get a local garage to do things for me.
I'm now semi-retired - yeah, I know, I don't look old enough! - so having a go at a few of the smaller jobs.
Just replaced the upper wishbone bushes with poly ones - oh my, did that bring back memories from my youth and working on my SE5!
I ordered new lower wishbone bushes too, along with a trunnion repair kit.
My car is quite a low mileage example, but I think the trunnion kit is a good thing to do.
Both my previous GTE's have had cooling issues, so I get really paranoid when the GTC gets hot (I know it's a completely different engine, but I still worry!). The fan cuts in fine, but I do tend to watch the temperature gauge a lot!
With that in mind, my next job I'm going to have a go at is replacing the water pump and thermostat. The water pump has quite a bit of corrosion on it, so I'm replacing it and taking the opportunity to spruce up the front of the engine at the same time - rusty alternator and P/S brackets and idler wheel assembly.
Nothing ground breaking, but I'm short on garage space, so need to work outside - with the British weather, I'll be able to push it back in fairly easily.
Reading some of the other posts, I'm amazed at some of the work other members get up to. I used to do that sort of stuff 'in my youth', put I'm all for the easy life now!
Keep spanner wielding guys!
John B
I think I mentioned that for any 'big' stuff, I get a local garage to do things for me.
I'm now semi-retired - yeah, I know, I don't look old enough! - so having a go at a few of the smaller jobs.
Just replaced the upper wishbone bushes with poly ones - oh my, did that bring back memories from my youth and working on my SE5!
I ordered new lower wishbone bushes too, along with a trunnion repair kit.
My car is quite a low mileage example, but I think the trunnion kit is a good thing to do.
Both my previous GTE's have had cooling issues, so I get really paranoid when the GTC gets hot (I know it's a completely different engine, but I still worry!). The fan cuts in fine, but I do tend to watch the temperature gauge a lot!
With that in mind, my next job I'm going to have a go at is replacing the water pump and thermostat. The water pump has quite a bit of corrosion on it, so I'm replacing it and taking the opportunity to spruce up the front of the engine at the same time - rusty alternator and P/S brackets and idler wheel assembly.
Nothing ground breaking, but I'm short on garage space, so need to work outside - with the British weather, I'll be able to push it back in fairly easily.
Reading some of the other posts, I'm amazed at some of the work other members get up to. I used to do that sort of stuff 'in my youth', put I'm all for the easy life now!
Keep spanner wielding guys!
John B
John B
1981 GTC (188)
Previous 1971 Se5, 1978 Se6
1981 GTC (188)
Previous 1971 Se5, 1978 Se6
- philhoward
- RSSOC Member
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Returning to the fold!
Pulling the trunnion bolt is a worthwhile exercise as an annual "service" item (remove, check, grease, refit) anyway. Probably prolongs the life exponentially!
I'm not a Cologne expert at all, but I gather you need to make sure it's the correct thermostat (and they're not all created equally - as is the case with aftermarket parts sometimes) - needs to be the correct double acting one IIRC. If in doubt, then either ask here and/or just go straight to GW/QRG as whilst eBay parts are easy to get, they might not always be what they seem - sometimes just "what it says in the book, guv". I'm sure you know that already from your time previously!
I'm not a Cologne expert at all, but I gather you need to make sure it's the correct thermostat (and they're not all created equally - as is the case with aftermarket parts sometimes) - needs to be the correct double acting one IIRC. If in doubt, then either ask here and/or just go straight to GW/QRG as whilst eBay parts are easy to get, they might not always be what they seem - sometimes just "what it says in the book, guv". I'm sure you know that already from your time previously!
Phil Howard
Scimitarweb Forum Admin
SS1 1600 Rooster Turbo; Sabre Mk1.5, Sabre Mk2
Previous: SE5/5a/SS1 No.1/SS1 Rooster/SS1 1800Ti/SE5a 24 Valve
http://www.ss1turbo.com
Never try and argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you based on experience.
Scimitarweb Forum Admin
SS1 1600 Rooster Turbo; Sabre Mk1.5, Sabre Mk2
Previous: SE5/5a/SS1 No.1/SS1 Rooster/SS1 1800Ti/SE5a 24 Valve
http://www.ss1turbo.com
Never try and argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you based on experience.
- peter freeman
- RSSOC Member
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Returning to the fold!
Not the John Blackburn who used to vome to the Ncle noggins by any chance ? Glynis and I currently in Belgium next stop Holland and the ferry home.
Returning to the fold!
Hi there,
Don't think so.
Back in the early days (used to live in North Yorkshire), went to the Noggins in Garforth (?).
Whilst down here in deepest, darkest Zumerset, popped in to a couple down here.
John B
Don't think so.
Back in the early days (used to live in North Yorkshire), went to the Noggins in Garforth (?).
Whilst down here in deepest, darkest Zumerset, popped in to a couple down here.
John B
John B
1981 GTC (188)
Previous 1971 Se5, 1978 Se6
1981 GTC (188)
Previous 1971 Se5, 1978 Se6
Returning to the fold!
Phil,
The new thermostat is from GW, so I'm fairly confident it should be the right one - 88 deg I think it's marked.
John Bl.
The new thermostat is from GW, so I'm fairly confident it should be the right one - 88 deg I think it's marked.
John Bl.
John B
1981 GTC (188)
Previous 1971 Se5, 1978 Se6
1981 GTC (188)
Previous 1971 Se5, 1978 Se6
- Gillsfan
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Returning to the fold!
Ere it appears you,re not to far from where I'm too in zummerset
I'm about 40 mins South of you not far from the air station.

Steve
What if the Hokey Cokey is what its all about
1969 SE 5 Manual O/D Rat Rod
RSSOC Jaffa cakes in a minute champion
What if the Hokey Cokey is what its all about
1969 SE 5 Manual O/D Rat Rod
RSSOC Jaffa cakes in a minute champion