Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Gary Stacey
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri 17 Jul 2015, 13:35

Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by Gary Stacey » Tue 04 Aug 2015, 07:54

Hi,

Does anyone have pictures of the Sapphire 3.0 IRS front bumper and spoiler in standard showroom form, as well as any other related stories to this car please.

Ford SA is unable to help me.

Regards,
Gary

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Shauns
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed 20 Oct 2010, 09:45
Location: Debbin

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by Shauns » Tue 04 Aug 2015, 10:57

Hope this helps,
Body wise , these are basically the Ghia Trim , ie bumpers and interior, with the exclusive tag plates and IRS striping.
Sad thing is this was found on a UK website ??!!
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3) there were only ever 160 built by ford south africa (150 was the initial allocation - most who wanted one did not have a chance to order as by the time the press release was out most were gone - after such huge local interest and i think annoyance they extended the run by 10 units - hence 160)
4) it was the 3.0 essex v6 fitted with an EFI system, with an upgraded cam, and HC pistons.
5) it is a rear wheel drive, with a five spd manual box.
6) they only came in two colours-Tugela Red, and cathkin white.
7) they did have semi leather interior, with the valor being imported from Italy
8) some had the multispoke cosworth wheels.
2014 Toyota Fortuner D4D (current)
2005 Toyota Tazz 130 (current)
1989 Ford Sapphire 2.0i GLE - FSH - Grosvenor Pinetown - In Storage for now.
1977 Ford Mk 2 Escort 4 door - Kent Screamer - In progress

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Can-Am ZN
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Joined: Mon 23 Jun 2014, 15:27
Location: Valley of 1000 Hills, KwaZulu-Natal

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by Can-Am ZN » Tue 04 Aug 2015, 11:58

Here you go, Gary...hope these help :D
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Gavin

1974 Chev Can-Am 302
1991 BMW 325iS Evolution (SOLD)


"The sad reality about the uneducated is that they don't know that they don't know." - Me

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KSF
Posts: 325
Joined: Fri 07 Feb 2014, 15:07
Location: Western Cape

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by KSF » Tue 04 Aug 2015, 12:36

I had one of these back in the 1990's, also white. I seem to remember no 105, but memory a bit foggy on that.

As mentioned above, they are not much more than a manual Ghia in drag, but also at the time they were great cars, albeit not without some flaws. The biggest was the too high and soft suspension settings and too long gearing. Also, lots of them had problems with the Lucas injection. Fuel pump failures, TB failures, fuel pressure regulators and so on. On mine the sealed unit regulator was regulating at 2.3b instead of 3b. I replaced it with an aftermarket adjustable, made a big difference.

The airfilter is far too restrictive (did on purpose for intake noise damping). I opened up that neck from the lid to be much bigger and installed the K&N filter from an Opel Superboss (fits straight in). Also added another intake pipe to the airbox. It responded very well to that, just noisy. To counter that I added a SS plate underneath the filter (30-40 mm gap) and experimented with the length to get an optimum balance between too much noise and robbing power (just short of halfway 'covered').

It also responded very well to a decent tuned exhaust system and later increased CR and a 290 hydraulic* cam with flowed heads bumped power to about 140kW. This coupled with smaller diameter wheels resulted in a much livelier car overall, decent performance and still very economical (11.5km/l open road @ 140-ish).

*This was a problem area, the engine was never designed for hydraulic. Some mods kept the lifters quiet and working for longer and is essential for hotter cams: Cut the oil groove in the cam all the way around (usually they are only about 1/3 to 1/2 way round) and then fit restrictors in the oil gallery under the rocker shaft centre post. The gallery is about 6mm and I used Weber DGAS 180 air correction jets as restrictors. Make sure the oil to water cooler is in place and working, or replace with normal oil to air cooler elsewhere. Also, you probably wont find OEM lifters anymore, so replace with 302W anti-pumps. They are longer, but still works. In general I dont think one should go over 280 for hydraulic cams. You can fit solid lifter, but then will have to remove part of the intake system to set the tappits (the real reason they went to hydraulic).

The suspension I replaced with Bilstein shocks and H&R springs, chalk and cheese difference. It also responds well to some increased camber front and back (I ran at 2deg). Bushing were a bit soft, aimed at Ghia rather than RS. Replace with those blue poly bushes if needed.

The ABS brake system with hydraulic assistance is one of the best for pedal feel and biase control, but the front brakes were prone to overheat and buckle. I preplaced with aftermarket Alpha discs and Ferodo Ceramics and was fine for road use. Upgrade here probably a good idea, also teh rears tended to wear out pads rapidly.

Gears, they are very long, but from 2nd to 5th they are well spaced. Rather fit smaller wheels (580mm dia) or if you want bigger wheels, drop the axle ratio from 3.36 to 3.7 or such.

Overall I really enjoyed the car, did many JHB-CT-JHB trips with it and never any hassles. Very comfy, quiet and enough power. Towed cars on A-frames over than trip, couple big trailors etc.

Oh and PS: Somewhere in my stacks of papers I have a Ford training bulletin/manual for the injection system. Not sure how usefull it is, but it has the basics.

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IndianaJones
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Location: Citrusdal, RSA

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by IndianaJones » Tue 04 Aug 2015, 12:55

KSF wrote:Oh and PS: Somewhere in my stacks of papers I have a Ford training bulletin/manual for the injection system. Not sure how usefull it is, but it has the basics.
Awesome info KSF, thank you. But please, oh please, post that training bulletin/manual on the forum, if you can, it is very much in demand by the guys still running the fuel injection system.

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Shauns
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed 20 Oct 2010, 09:45
Location: Debbin

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by Shauns » Tue 04 Aug 2015, 13:23

Wow,
Thanks KSF,
Numbered cars like these are definite future classics !!
2014 Toyota Fortuner D4D (current)
2005 Toyota Tazz 130 (current)
1989 Ford Sapphire 2.0i GLE - FSH - Grosvenor Pinetown - In Storage for now.
1977 Ford Mk 2 Escort 4 door - Kent Screamer - In progress

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Shaunp
Posts: 378
Joined: Sun 30 Mar 2014, 15:32
Location: Secunda, Mpumalanga

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by Shaunp » Tue 04 Aug 2015, 20:04

Awesome info. Pls from me as well post the manual
Magic happens.

Gary Stacey
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri 17 Jul 2015, 13:35

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by Gary Stacey » Wed 05 Aug 2015, 09:22

Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for all the feedback. It appears from the road test as if the front spoiler on my car is a after market part. (see attached)

Thanks for the feedback KSF on the technical side, something to consider on the way forward.

Regards
Gary
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Shaunp
Posts: 378
Joined: Sun 30 Mar 2014, 15:32
Location: Secunda, Mpumalanga

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by Shaunp » Wed 05 Aug 2015, 11:02

Looking good
Magic happens.

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Shauns
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed 20 Oct 2010, 09:45
Location: Debbin

Re: Sapphire 3.0 IRS info required please.

Post by Shauns » Wed 05 Aug 2015, 13:36

Sorry Gary, Thats a fibreglass jobbie from Autosomething.
Search for a decent 2nd hand Ghia bumper,
The standard Saff bumper does not have the fog light holes , but then at least its still the original Ford item.

My stock std bumper, after a few treatments with Wyns black back.
Image
2014 Toyota Fortuner D4D (current)
2005 Toyota Tazz 130 (current)
1989 Ford Sapphire 2.0i GLE - FSH - Grosvenor Pinetown - In Storage for now.
1977 Ford Mk 2 Escort 4 door - Kent Screamer - In progress

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