Vipir

I'm pretty good at dropping the clutch and going - my gear changes are so smooth you can't feel them. There is nothing worse than a bit of whiplash when you're going up a gear. Got the old engine home and had a look inside the bores. You wouldn't believe, but No. 2 cylinder still has all the cross-hatching from when it was born, but No. 4 cylinder has scoring worse than any of the others, and yet it was Nos. 1, 3, & 5 that were identified as badly scored. Wondering what to do with it - get it re-bored over time or sell the engine for some pocket money... who'd want a scored Barra? Still haven't got the bill, but baby boy is going in for his 1,000km oil change on Thursday. It's so nice not to see the check engine light come on every day. I'm beginning to not look for it.

Okay! Pitlane it will be. But I'll just enjoy driving baby boy as he is for the time being. So happy he's home.

an Yes, I'd probably get someone to do it for me and I'll watch and pass the spanners as requested.

Lol, yeah, you're talking about the equivalent of a baby's curl from the first haircut! Or his first tooth! Put a sheet of glass over it, forsooth! Never! Anyway, I picked Vipir up at lunchtime today. We went for a spin and I was in tears (I'm an emotional person). He's home and he's just...sublime. I was thinking about what you said regarding the headlights, Stever. I'm thinking they're decorative rather than functional? That's fine and something to aim for. Thanks for all that information. Here's something a friend suggested to me that you might be able to explain: Get a chip upgrade to convert Vipir to 340kw (umm...a chip? Expensive? And not something you'd get from Supercheap, I'm presuming?) Get a new exhaust (why for? A better sound? I know nothing about exhausts) Get a K & N air filter (is this a good air filter and why would I need one if I have one already?) I presume that this would give me a bit more power than I have already, yes? Would he sound manly and, most importantly, would I be first off the grid at the traffic lights legally but super fast? Or does power like that take time to kick in? Oh, and the rough idle is gone, too. Your advice, everyone's advice, explained patiently, is always valued. Much obliged, Vipir's happy mum.

Baby boy comes home tomorrow. Am I happy? Oh yes, yes, yes, yes!!! Keeping the engine too. What do you think about getting it re-bored and maybe rebuild an old Falcon and put it in?

How much coverage and vision do you get with those gorgeous lights of yours? I do a bit of night-time driving at times, out in the country, and I'm wondering if I would get a good view of wildlife before it leapt out in front of me.

I love the lights! I want some for Vipir. Can you explain to me exactly what they are so I can get them fitted? My baby boy deserves menacing headlights, especially when I creep up behind wanker P-Plate Late model camira drivers at the traffic lights and slide in beside them on the grid. Would appreciate your advice.

What noise was it making? My turbo (I think) still runs occasionally after the ignition has stopped. It's like it's cooling down. Still haven't got him back yet. Waiting... Thanks, Leonie.

Yes, I'm stoked. It has been a huge stress which has affected my ability to concentrate and look forward to future events. It has affected my work, my family life, and my sleep. I guess, in effect, I will have a new car so we should be starting from square one and I will easily do 100km in the first week. Unfortunately that will be pretty much town driving. But come the weekend it'll be pedal to the metal and go for a spin (metaphorically speaking! Having got new tyres, suspension, rear diff bushes and joint cover arms I don't want to be doing real spins and breaking my baby!). Thank you for all your advice and support. When he comes home I'll take a photo of him and post it.

I think we're looking at about $8,000 all up, including labour. Ford are meeting about a quarter of the cost which is more than I had hoped for and am really grateful for. It's thanks to my mechanic that I have got this help from Ford. He pushed that I am a lifelong Ford owner, that I was left a widow with young children when I bought Vipir, that I love this car more than life itself, that I wrote to the Manager Marketing and CEO to thank them for this car and just what he meant to me at the time of purchase, and that I have struggled to make a new life for my children and myself since my husband's death, and that I know every normal sound my car makes and if I hear a new one, I take it to my mechanic to investigate. I cannot begin to thank him enough and I don't think a lifetime supply of the best Jim Beam would be enough thanks. I think Ford appreciate that people care for, and love, their cars, and that a little PR goes a long way. The number of people I have told already has reinforced the faith of some who had been skeptical of Ford that they do support owners. And I will be writing to Ford Australia, again, to thank them for their contribution.

Guess what? My baby is getting a new long engine. Ford Australia are contributing towards some of the cost and I will pay the rest. Brand new, shiny, never-been-used-ever-before-by-anyone-ever, sparkly lovely new engine with all its dangly bits included. My mechanic didn't want to combine old and new parts and felt that if everything is new we know where we're starting from if something goes pear-shaped. So, my baby will come home, sometime, an invalid who needs to be nurtured and cared for, but with a lovely new engine. I will post a picture of him when he comes home. I am so relieved. Thank you for all your contributions. They gave me points of reference to discuss options and encouraged me to study more about my car and how it works. Ignorance is no excuse and if I drive it, I should know more about what the various bits do. I am still not sure about what a rear diff bush does, but I got a new one of those, and what a joint cover arm does, but I got one of them, too. The only old thing in my car will be the person driving it!

I don't know yet if Ford will or will not help. I am just assuming that from their corporate position they might not feel they have any obligation to help as it is not a manufacturing problem. I would like to hope they do help a little bit...maybe my mechanic can push the "widow with 3 young children" line and see where that gets us? At this stage I do not know what their attitude will be. Everything else is fine, mechanically (should be! New rear diff bushes, joint cover arm, front shocks, 4 x brand new tyres...) and if there is no damage to anything else I would prefer not to modify as I do not drive Vipir to his full power. The fastest I have been is 220km/h, and usually I drive along the back roads at 110km/h. I go respectfully up and down through the gears, don't ride the clutch, don't touch the brakes much, don't bag the engine...I got him because he looked good and not because of his capabilities. So, to reiterate: I don't know what Ford will say. Let's just hope they do take pity on a lady who is working to provide for her family because her husband died nearly 6 years ago. I am lifelong Ford owner, always service my cars with Ford, would encourage my kids to make their first car either a Focus or a Fiesta. My blood cells are blue ovals. What more can I say? Pray for a break to come my way. This has just turned into a nightmare...

See? Proof I am mechanically inept! I was thinking the whole kit and kaboodle had to go down together. I didn't even think about just the engine by itself! Duh! That is great advice and I will talk to my mechanic when he gets the quote. He won't be doing the rebuild, but I bet he'll be making sure everything is perfect for me.

I doubt they will sixman. I mean, look at the facts as they stand now: Buggered bores due to possibly bad fuel. What's it to Ford that this has happened? The onus would be on me to ensure good fuel goes in and isn't their responsibility. If it was a faulty part installed at manufacturing or during a service, I think I could have a good case. But fuel? Caveat emptor. They may say I should have taken more care with the petrol stations I attended and they they are not responsible for the damage that comes from putting in bad fuel. I do not think that Ford will help me on this one

Problem is: how do I get my car to Melbourne? Tow truck would charge per millimetre of tread. I can't drive it. The engine is out of the car now. How did it go from being spark plug to injector to coil pack to rings to this? How? It's like a nightmare that just keeps getting worse with each day. I WISH it was just rings now, but this...this is just beyond unbelievable. Short motor might just be the way to go. I received my RACV magazine today - Australia's best cars is the banner on the cover. I think I might just have a look. I'll keep y'all in the loop. (Goes away to contemplate life in general and cars in particular).