Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: aaronjb on 27 July 2017, 10:38:03

Title: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: aaronjb on 27 July 2017, 10:38:03
I am fairly sure I remember that Nick has had more than his fair share of Capri's, so he'll probably appreciate how ridiculous this is (from Classics on the Common, Harpenden, yesterday):

(https://preview.ibb.co/kn2gqQ/IMG_20170726_163313.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mLcEAQ)

Yup, that's a GM LS V8 sitting in a Capri engine bay. What I couldn't get over was how much space there is - servicing would be a breeze! You could practically climb in there with it..

(https://preview.ibb.co/bXeSVQ/IMG_20170726_180510.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fjYXx5)

I desperately wanted this. Desperately.

(https://preview.ibb.co/ntozc5/IMG_20170726_181042.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bxw7VQ)

This was beautiful (an LR recreation, obviously, not an original)

(https://preview.ibb.co/cdqqjk/IMG_20170726_181848.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kNWKc5)

I love this Beetle, although it sounded like it was significantly unhealthy as it left (clear misfire on one cylinder)

(https://preview.ibb.co/diiMqQ/IMG_20170726_192822.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cCrVjk)

And this is .. presumably for anyone who has a death wish? V8 LS engine with Nitrous... in a bike. Loud, very loud.
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 27 July 2017, 12:05:13
Love the bike......the 'must have choice' for the terminally unhinged. :y

I imagine it handles with all the precision of a greased camel.
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 27 July 2017, 12:44:33
Those wanky Hitler air cooled engines never run well, the horrific ignition system and tendency for people to over carb them always create crap running unless on full throttle.

I did a Megajolt conversion on a type 4 a few years ago which helped enormously but, even then it was not perfect (but did not bog down and ran cooler than the standard so would clearly be pushing more ponies). The other issue is the VW community seem incapable of recognising and addressing the basic issues, the ridicule we got for going to a modern system over the dizzy was amazing and don't even mention the horrors of the Type 1!

But that LS is wasted in the horrors of the Capri chassis!  :'(
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: BazaJT on 27 July 2017, 18:54:05
From what I remember of them the Capri was always a tail happy motor,what it'll be like with the LS up front I don't know!! Love the bike it's insane :D
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 27 July 2017, 20:25:14
I found their natural tendency was towards terminal understeer. Maybe I was driving them wrong.  ???
The bike would be fun...................................at Santa Pod. Useless anywhere else.
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Nick W on 27 July 2017, 20:55:52
I found their natural tendency was towards terminal understeer. Maybe I was driving them wrong.  ???
The bike would be fun...................................at Santa Pod. Useless anywhere else.


The key to a Capri is to get it settled into the bend EARLY, and then drive it hard through the rest resisting all temptations to lift off or tighten the turn. Remember that and they'll surprise a lot of 'better' cars.


The fault is that the rear springs twist and allow the body to move over them.
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Andy B on 27 July 2017, 21:19:37
I saw a yellow MKII Capri the other morning  :y
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: henryd on 27 July 2017, 21:21:52
I found their natural tendency was towards terminal understeer. Maybe I was driving them wrong.  ???
The bike would be fun...................................at Santa Pod. Useless anywhere else.


The key to a Capri is to get it settled into the bend EARLY, and then drive it hard through the rest resisting all temptations to lift off or tighten the turn. Remember that and they'll surprise a lot of 'better' cars.


The fault is that the rear springs twist and allow the body to move over them.

I've driven a 3.0 tickford Capri which had a jag type rear end with driveshafts,it  handled very well especially as it was turbo'ed
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 27 July 2017, 22:28:13
I found their natural tendency was towards terminal understeer. Maybe I was driving them wrong.  ???
The bike would be fun...................................at Santa Pod. Useless anywhere else.


The key to a Capri is to get it settled into the bend EARLY, and then drive it hard through the rest resisting all temptations to lift off or tighten the turn. Remember that and they'll surprise a lot of 'better' cars.

I had one for 3 years and thought it was shite in every possible way. Its predecessor  was a Chevette HS though, so it had a lot to live up to.  :D

The fault is that the rear springs twist and allow the body to move over them.
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Nick W on 27 July 2017, 23:57:42

I've driven a 3.0 tickford Capri which had a jag type rear end with driveshafts,it  handled very well especially as it was turbo'ed


Errrr, Tickfords were 2.8Injections with a turbo. They still had stock Capri live axles fitted with crude but effective  extra axle location. That is a bar clamped to the axle near the diff, and to the leaf spring between the axle and the front spring bolt. It looks terrible, but makes the rear end a lot more predictable without drastically increasing the spring rates, which a Capri categorically does not need. They're dirt cheap to make too.
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 28 July 2017, 00:46:19
Bloke across the road has an RS 3.1 Capri, as well as a Mk1 Lotus Cortina and a Reliant Scimitar. He obviously likes Ford engines.
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: henryd on 28 July 2017, 09:03:26

I've driven a 3.0 tickford Capri which had a jag type rear end with driveshafts,it  handled very well especially as it was turbo'ed


Errrr, Tickfords were 2.8Injections with a turbo. They still had stock Capri live axles fitted with crude but effective  extra axle location. That is a bar clamped to the axle near the diff, and to the leaf spring between the axle and the front spring bolt. It looks terrible, but makes the rear end a lot more predictable without drastically increasing the spring rates, which a Capri categorically does not need. They're dirt cheap to make too.

Nope.the one I drove was a 3.0 with single turbo

Edit I just checked and they were all 2.8's,dunno what this was then but it was deffo 3.o turbo
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 28 July 2017, 09:31:44
What did the Zakspeed cars use?
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: henryd on 28 July 2017, 09:32:32
Done a bit of digging and the Capri I drove was a Rockford and was automatic,it was a one off and made for a disabled client originally fitted with hand controls which have since been removed.now resides with a Cheshire ford owners group from what I can gather
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: henryd on 28 July 2017, 15:47:27
Done a bit of digging and the Capri I drove was a Rockford and was automatic,it was a one off and made for a disabled client originally fitted with hand controls which have since been removed.now resides with a Cheshire ford owners group from what I can gather

Tickford not bloody rockford :-[
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: TD on 28 July 2017, 18:38:06
Done a bit of digging and the Capri I drove was a Rockford and was automatic,it was a one off and made for a disabled client originally fitted with hand controls which have since been removed.now resides with a Cheshire ford owners group from what I can gather

Tickford not bloody rockford :-[

Wasn't he an American PI in the seventies...iirc...enjoyed watching that  :y
Title: Re: One for NickW (or any Capri lover ;)) - pics from Classics on the Common
Post by: EMD on 30 July 2017, 08:57:18
Quote
I desperately wanted this. Desperately.

I guess that pickup was on air ride  :) Very nice indeed . There is a a rat look pickup like that around here but what surprised me was the couple that use it for shopping trips , they are in their 80's  :o