Hi Just bought myself a MK III Cortina that's been garaged since 1983. It's rock solid but unfortunately the previous owner has lost the keys. I chiselled of the screws on the steering lock and got it running with a screwdriver. Does anyone know if it's possible to have a set cut ?
many thanks
Edited by Pugugly on 16/03/2008 at 23:10
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hector
That will have a TC-series key. Try your local Ford dealer [or several] and see if they can still give you the original key number, from the central records, using the VIN number for ID. If you know the supplying dealer; try them too.
I've no idea how long they keep computer records of vehicle data - that one would have started out on a 5" floppy.....
Some very early ones had the key number on the door lock barrel. If push comes to shove; it must be possible to get a lock set off e-bay.
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I've no idea how long they keep computer records of vehicle data - that one would have started out on a 5" floppy.....
More likely bigger than 5.25" floppies - they came in late late 70's early 80's IIRC
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Whats a Cortina? ; ).
Edited by bhoy wonder on 17/03/2008 at 11:59
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How did you get into it with no Keys? Here is a link to some people who can probably help (at a price!)
www.autolocksmiths.net/
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Having owned a 72 Cortina 2.0 GXL that had rusted through its wing tops before it was 3 yrs old, I'm amazed any still exist.
I suppose the one thing you could say is that they're a good DIY proposition - there's plenty of room to work on everything.
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Thanks for those suggestions. The salvage yard that recovered it just put a hammer through the nsf window..bit silly really when he could have pulled up the door lock with some bent wire in about 2 minutes.
I will certainly try my local Ford dealer or maybe the supplying dealer Gales Garage Ltd of Beccles Suffolk if they still exist ? or failing that the auto locksmith.
Was expecting to find a pile of rust but the arches, sills ,valences ,chassis rails , door bottoms etc. are all rot free, a real credit to henry ford and ziebart!. Bit of bubbling at the tops of the front wings but inner wings are rot free.
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and a nice bit of rear wheel drive, superb gear change even by today's standard. You could take a RWD Ford through the box without using the clutch.
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How did you get into it with no Keys?
well it is a 1970's ford...who needs keys?
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Whats a Cortina? ; ). A nice old ford bit on the square side used to work on these every day once when i was a lad,
But much prefered the capri 2.0s-3.0s, 2.8i these made me v happy to work on and test drive i could go on but i'll shut up!!!
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From what I remember about Cortinas you don't need any special keys to open them. Almost any flat car key will do or, failing that, a flat-blade screwdriver!
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Success! I got the glovebox open and found the service book with key code ... TC132 so it is a TC series like Screwloose said. Would any Ford garage or high street lock smith be able to cut me a key from this ?
i26.tinypic.com/2im2o0k.jpg
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 17/03/2008 at 21:14
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hector
Oh ye of little faith...... Of course it's a TC......
That should be no problem to get cut; they were used right up to the eighties on Fiestas. The dealers will have a box of dusty blanks somewhere; or they can get you one cut to number. [Should have a fob-shaped black plastic head.]
I'm surprised that it's a MK III; a '76 should have been a MkIV, so it's a very rare bird indeed. [And so much prettier for it.]
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Hi screwloose
I must be older and sadder than you as I remember that the Mk IV came out in late 76 early 77. The last MkIII that I had was a 2000E auto and that was a late 76 on a R suffix - fantastic car purred along at 80 no probs.
Must go and get those rose tinted glasses out.....
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Mines a 76 on a P reg, I had a 76 1600 L mk III on a n R plate some years ago..must have been a few mk III's on sale after the MKIV took over.
Tried the local Ford Garage and and they can't help and they think a key cutter would need a key to copy from . Have you any other ideas Screwloose ?
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Well first try another few dealers; if you got some spotty youngster in Parts; then he wouldn't know what you wanted. I'll bet that Ford will supply these keys - it's just knowing how to order them.
Locksmiths wouldn't have thrown away their TC numeric cutters - have a ring round.
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>> Whats a Cortina? ; ). >> A nice old ford bit on the square side
The Mk III wasn't square it was the Coke bottle shaped one.
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"I got it running with a screwdriver"
Out of interest (as I'm about to undertake a similar task with a long garaged car) did you have to flush the petrol tank, or rig up a separate fuel supply, or did you just slop in some fresh juice? Did you bother with a little oil down the plug holes first or just chance it and spin the engine over?
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Didn't need keys for my cortina I used a penknife for long enough when I broke the key.
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About 10 years ago i replace the locks on my mates 1990 Sierra, i got a set of locks(without keys) from a scrapyard and took them to a locksmith who cut the keys for the locks. I know the sierra keys are different to the cortinas but it's worth asking a locksmith.
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I read somewhere that the mark four is now actually the rarest Cortina variant. Can anyone confirm this?
Edited by craneboy on 19/03/2008 at 21:19
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Wasn't the MkIV "Built to Last"
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Officially,there was never a Mk.V;it was a Mk.IV facelift.
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I read somewhere that the mark four is now actually the rarest Cortina variant. Can anyone confirm this?
Well I haven't seen one for ages!
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Gven that most 'Mk 4 ' cortinas either fell apart or rusted to death by 40k or so I'd agree with it bieng the rarest. I suspect that Ford got the design life seriously wrong at that time. I know many 'ford men' who gave up on the brand at that time, my father amongst them.
Swear filter rubbed something out I assume you meant to write Ford
Edited by Pugugly on 20/03/2008 at 20:08
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Yes>> I read somewhere that the mark four is now actually the rarest Cortina variant. Cananyone confirm this?
Yes, the is a source for it on wikipedia. It is do with the MK4 having poor rust protection compared to other versions of the Cortina. The MK4 was the second most scrapped car in the UK, after the Marina.
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My own no keys story about a Cortina nearly ended in tears !
I think it would have been about 1979. I was on business in Scotland. My employers had issued me with a MkIV Cortina 2.0 GL in "Roman Bronze" ( aka mucky brown )
I had been to a meeting in Kirkcaldy having parked outside my destination (as you could in those days.) I got back in the car and drove to Dunfermline. A distance of about 12 miles. Got to my destination and went to the boot to get something and to my horror found someone else's stuff in there. Having gone through a process of elimination as to why anyone would do that I sheepishly checked the reg. number and yes you've guessed it .......wrong, but otherwise identical, car. Faced with few options I continued with my appointed meeting and then drove back to where I had left my own car. It was still there and as there was no one looking too anxious, I parked the "borrowed" one as near as I could remember to where it had been. Got back in mine and headed for the horizon. I used to wonder if the driver of the other car ever suspected that anything was amiss.
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Update..I had a ring round and my local cobbler was able to supply 2 keys from the number that fit door + ignition for £15.00...very impressed!. Thanks to all especially screwloose.
Shoespy that is a remarkable story.I wonder if Ford were a little economical in the number of key combinations they used in the 70's!
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I wonder if Ford were a little economical in the number of key combinations they used in the 70's!
I don't think lock combinations came into it - I hace a friend who could lock/unlock his Escort with a 2p peice !
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Victorbox I fitted a new battery, put a gallon of petrol in the tank, cleaned the plugs and rub some emery cloth between the points and she fired up. I was more than a little surprised as it's been stood since 1983. No cam rattle or smoke either!.
I should have put some oil down the bores really but I have an unleaded transit 1600 pinto and Sierra 5 speed box to go in...
Only problem was seized brakes and clutch. I would advise taking a trolley jack and wheel chocks as I had to knock out the front brake pads. Also needed the jack to lift the back wheel to free the clutch...30 mph on speedo, clutch down ,and pull hard as I could on the handbrake. Dont think health and safety would approve!
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You're ok H&S wise - it wasn't invented then.
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Be aware that a Transit engine is low-compression. Just use a bit of lead additive with your existing one.
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I would like to keep the origonal engine but I had chance of a fully reconditioned unleaded transit engine still in it's plastic bag for a very low price. My plan is to put in a set of high compression pistons (if i can still get hold of these ) and maybe change the cam if it's different for commercial vehicles.
Would the old flywheel and clutch work with the transit engine and sierra 5sp box ?..it's a type 9 box from a 1.8 cvh engine model
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Hector
Presumably your existing engine is a Pinto 1600? [They did use the Kent 1600 as well.]
So - even if it's possible; you're planning to spend a fortune making the Tranny unit into what you've already got?? As lead sub is around a halfpenny a litre; how many hundred bottles can you buy for the cost of doing that......?
A well-oiled Pinto bottom end is good for 350,000 miles and it'll need a new head every 100K or so - which would be a good time to have unleaded valve seats put in.
Wait until you get aquainted with Ford's brilliant single-rail box again - you may well not want to change it. There is also the question of originality and value - turn it into a bitza and the appeal will fade for many potential buyers.
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If you're going to put another engine in get a two-litre.You'll need to change the camshaft whatever you do;all LC and Transit cams had less lift than the car ones.
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There were 5 speed Cortina boxes as well.
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I've no idea how long they keep computer records of vehicle data - that one would have started out on a 5" floppy.....
From what I recall they used 8" floppies then. Considering that sometimes Ford used technology past the sell by date it may even have been punch cards!
I can't recall a Cortina with a 5 speed box but am sure a Sierra one could be adapted - someone in the Ownwers Club is sure to have done this by now.
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Late Mk IV(there was never a Mk.V-just Mk.IV facelifts ) certainly had 5-speed boxes.
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Ford called it Cortina "80"-not Mk.V.
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They may have, nobody else did !
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Late Mk IV(there was never a Mk.V-just Mk.IV facelifts ) certainly had 5-speed boxes.
You may well be correct jc2 and you have sowed just enough doubt in my mind,............ but if Chris Tarrant had asked me on question 12 whether Cortinas had a five speed box I would have answered "no". My last one was a 1980 2.0 GL and I would swear...........4 gears. Definately.....I think ;-)
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5-speed was an on-cost option.
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I am still puzzled about the 5 speed gearbox on a Cortina. Over tea I called two friends who used to own Cortinas. One was a 1981 100GL Estate and had a 4 speed box. The other was a ~79ish 2.3V6. This has a three speeed auto - a 4 speed manual being the alternative. He was involved in banger racing for a time and says he has never seen a 5 speeder. Has anyone owned one or got a copy for the relevant brochure? Many thanks.
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According to everything I've read on the web, there was no five speed manual Cortina.
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I didn't know lead sub worked out that cheap Screwloose ...not something i really considered before but with the mileage i will do it's worth considering. I'm planning on towing a caravan in the summer months so I wonder if the lead sub will cope with this ?
It is the pinto 1600 fitted in the car and i am very tempted to keep it ... really is a credit to Ford, it's such a smooth and quiet engine even after all these years.
2 litre power would be nice but I don't want to change the back axle or raise fuel consumption .
Hoping to get about 35 MPG with the little 1600 and 5 speed box. Might skim the head 40 - 60 thou and put in a kent 'sports torque' cam with a bit more lift as the tranny item is no good ,4 branch manifold and twin choke weber itaken from a sierra years ago to help it a bit.
If i can get hold of a set of oversize pistons for under £100 (the blocks been rebored allready) I will bolt the Tranny engine to the sierra box (keeping fingers crossed the old flywheel and clutch will do!), .. i'll be keeping the old engine and box so i can put it back to origonal spec.
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Post some pictures if you wouldn't mind. I had an offer of a yellow 2 door 1300 a couple of years ago, I was tempted for about an hour, but purely from nostalgia it would be nice to see yours.
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A 2 door Cortina must be ultra rare - I think I saw an orange 1300 go for over 3 grand on ebay not long ago.
I will try to get some pics up as work progresses - I spent the weekend taking the doors, bonnet and boot lid off and after a gallon of paint stripper and much wire brushing I have bright shiny metal and ruined overalls. A scrape of filler here and there and some etch primer and it should be ready for the diamond white top coat when the weather warms up a bit.
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Hector
Lead sub will let you tow with no problem. You idea of a bunch of mis-matched parts will need a lot of luck to ever work properly - the ports/valves will probably be smaller in the Transit head for better low-down torque.
The 1600 was always the sweetest engine in the Cortina; the 2.0 was flat and dead by comparison. [And I've never seen a 5-speed one either.]
Leave it standard for a while and just drive it - I can't see the point is spending the thick end of a grand changing everything..... just to save money?
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The Transit engine - unmolested - would probably make it a better tow car.
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Put the real stuff in...
www.leadedpetrol.co.uk/
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The only 5 speed Cortinas that I ever came across were when someone had fitted a 5 speed gearbox out of a Sierra or a Capri, which could be done.
I've never heard of a 5 speed Cortina as an off-the-shelf model.
5 Speed Capris, yes, definitely, I owned one for 14 years, but 5 speed Cortinas, no, I've never heard of one.
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I might leave it as it as and see how it goes when its back on the road. The origonal motorcraft carb will have to go though as it seems like a pretty crude device and it's developed a leak.
The specification I had in mind is standard ford 1600GT apart from the kent cam which is pretty mild and designed for low down torque.... so hopefully it should all work together nicely...
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There were 5-speed Ganadas as well!
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maybe if i won the lottery it's over £7 a gallon!
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Had a phone call late yesterday from one of the friends I had spoken to earlier. Said he had spoken to another Cortina fan about the 5 speed box. He said it was never an option. Apparently it is not to difficult to fit the Sierra box but it does require a number of minor mods, such as the gearbox mounting, and a different prop shaft on some models. It seems unlikely Ford would have bothered during the run-out phase.
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