What Have You Done to Your Cougar Today?

Having said that Tiger didn't need waxing, I have just spent 3 hours dropping a coat of Dodo Juice Blue Velvet on her. It's a hard wax and takes a lot of work, but it's worth it because it'll last right up to the autumn season.

It contains fillers, surfactants and dye, so it drags up anything that washing missed (in case you didn't clay the car) and hides mild swirl marks and imperfections. Not sure I would want to use it on a Frosty, but it works really well on an Ebony or a Melina (as Shirtyzeus will happily tell you, I hope!).

Applied using fingers and palm, which is far better than unclogging a waffle applicator every five minutes, and lets you feel any imperfections. Turns out my nearside wheel-arch is going to need attention soon.

Disclosure: I am not a paid shill, but Dodo Juice have been very supportive of the Rover Coupe Owner's Club in the past, with plenty of free product to be used as competition prizes.
 
Today I finally got my brakes sorted, new pads & discs front & rear plus a good bleed. Not a moment too soon either, the old pads were in a truly shocking state (a couple of them had barely 1mm of friction material left). The really amazing thing was the job went flawlessly, even those crap torx head bolts on the rear carriers didn't put up a fight. I still made sure to replace them with new Mondeo mk3 ones though.

(To be absolutely honest, a knowledgeable friend that I managed to rope in did the majority of the work. I did get my hands dirty though and learnt a lot, so I'm counting it :))
 
martw80888 said:
(To be absolutely honest, a knowledgeable friend that I managed to rope in did the majority of the work. I did get my hands dirty though and learnt a lot, so I'm counting it :))
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That's how I learned, and nothing is better than practical experience. Know where you're ignorant and work to gain experience. For example, I really want to do a big-end rebuild because I've never been part of one.

As a side-note, I mourn the death of the apprenticeship. We really need to bring that idea back.
 
charliecd001 said:
Proper apprenticeships too 4years day release and block release twice per annum .
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I get what you're angling at, but the old-style apprenticeships were just an excuse to abuse youngsters. Four years? That's indentured servitude.

I'd like to see a 9-month rolling programme of training. That should be long enough. And I want to see the trainee service their own car before they're allowed to work alone.
 
Mako said:
I get what you're angling at, but the old-style apprenticeships were just an excuse to abuse youngsters. Four years? That's indentured servitude.

I'd like to see a 9-month rolling programme of training. That should be long enough. And I want to see the trainee service their own car before they're allowed to work alone.
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After that initial 4 years you where on top money no worse than the under 21 today !.
 
backseateducation said:
I should have done an apprenticeship, I got caught up in the Blairite push to get everyone into university and it was an utter waste of time.
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Blair may well have been the most effective viral vector that ever existed. Chlamydia infections are higher now than they have ever been, beause 19-year-olds have no discretion and bugs love that moist, throbbing environment.
 
Sat down to look at what I've actually ordered - droplinks, front shocks, plugs, leads (thanks Mike) and coil.
Mark's face when he tried the bounce test on the shocks said it all:eek::)
 
backseateducation said:
Sat down to look at what I've actually ordered - droplinks, front shocks, plugs, leads (thanks Mike) and coil.
Mark's face when he tried the bounce test on the shocks said it all:eek::)
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I told you, didn't I? I hope his reaction was the same as mine.

The problem with the front shocks is:

a) They go bad over time so you don't really notice, and
b) The shape of the shocks and boot tend to hide any oil misting.

I've driven your car ("Wh...why won't this thing corner? Did someone slap a Ford badge on a cruise ship?") and I'll tell you now - you get those shocks and links done, you're going to fall in love all over again.
 
I hope so mate. With any luck that steering shimmy and vibration will go away too.
I'll be getting the garage to do it, so they can reposition the subframe and re-track the car again, as the front tyres are wearing at dramatically different rates.
 
backseateducation said:
I hope so mate. With any luck that steering shimmy and vibration will go away too.
I'll be getting the garage to do it, so they can reposition the subframe and re-track the car again, as the front tyres are wearing at dramatically different rates.
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Can't speak from much experience on the Cougar - I've only had mild wear-related handling problems on both of mine - but T's Mk2 Mondy was a prime example of just how much a component replacement and some small adjustments transform the car.

For what it's worth, replacing that thrown ARB bush on Tiger has absolutely sorted her handling. I had no idea just how much work that bar does. I appreciate it a lot more now.
 
Saw a friend of mine today. He's spent the last few years learning all sorts about washing and detailing cars, and he's been itching to get his mitts on mine ever since I bought it. Today it happened:

Cougar16_zpswi6tlvv4.jpg
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Cougar13_zpslydox1tl.jpg
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Cougar14_zpsbsvb06qy.jpg
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Cougar17_zpss2aatmut.jpg
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This was the result after snowfoam, rinse, sponge n bucket wash, rinse, clay (something I hadn't done before, a strangely satisfying process, I found :)), compound (2 different Meguiar's ones, I forget the names), then some Poor Boy's Black Hole followed by Natty Paste Wax.

I'm well pleased with the result, lovely deep shine now. And it only took us just over 7 hours...

Also, finally got these stuck in:
Cougar15.jpg

so I'm no longer directing people to an old website :)

Aside from giving the interior a once-over, I think I'm ready for Ford Fair.
 
martw80888 said:
Saw a friend of mine today. He's spent the last few years learning all sorts about washing and detailing cars, and he's been itching to get his mitts on mine ever since I bought it. Today it happened:

Cougar16_zpswi6tlvv4.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
Cougar13_zpslydox1tl.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
Cougar14_zpsbsvb06qy.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
Cougar17_zpss2aatmut.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

This was the result after snowfoam, rinse, sponge n bucket wash, rinse, clay (something I hadn't done before, a strangely satisfying process, I found :)), compound (2 different Meguiar's ones, I forget the names), then some Poor Boy's Black Hole followed by Natty Paste Wax.

I'm well pleased with the result, lovely deep shine now. And it only took us just over 7 hours...

Also, finally got these stuck in:
View attachment 6739

so I'm no longer directing people to an old website :)

Aside from giving the interior a once-over, I think I'm ready for Ford Fair.
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That's how you clean an Ebony.
 
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