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07-08-2006, 20:09
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#1 | | Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Fareham, Hants. Drives: 1.3L GTE 16V SXi Est
Posts: 14,511
| My GTE 16V Restoration Thread.
At last, the major bodywork is complete. Both arches replaced and a patch on the rear driver's sill and passenger spring mount. Fresh MOT on Saturday, ready for the next year in my ownership. 
The pics:
As it arrived: 
Very good interior, despite 140k miles:  
Un-molested engine: 
Faded, very rusty, but drove OK. Except that the ABS cut in at low speed braking.
Arch details:  
Sills:  
Slightly grotty, but solid. So off it went to Station Bodyshop for about 8 years. Well OK, it was 3 weeks but it felt like a century. Restoration begins: 
Inner arches not too bad (i.e. still exist).
Ready for primer etc:  
Painted:  
As it left the bodyshop (I'd painted the wheels myself by this point): 
Quick mince over to John's (Dave (whitevan)'s dad) for Benn to mop the faded bits and time to pose with John's new Champion beaut, Dave's 52k mile minter and John's old 8V: 
Back home, the rebuilding commences, starting with a the skirts. These rear bits with the proper Vaux clips was surprisingly satisfying:  
Whilst Benn gets the body work looking like this:   
Using this stuff: 
Enough for the day, we went for some mince pics. These are the pics that will make Rusty (previous onwer) cry. Unless he's cold and dead inside:   
One of the best bottoms in the business:  
I'm dead chuffed. the car drives very well, although I've not been for a proper drive yet. IT still has original suspension components at the moment. I don't plan to lower it, but some Bilstein blacks are on the cards, along with new arms, joints, etc. It still has the standard exhaust, including the cat! I don't mind loosing the cat, but I like the standard rear box and tail pipes, but as these are £110+VAT from Vauxhall Trade Club, I'm gonna try and remove this one and clean/ paint it.
Cost breakdown:
Initial purchase: £175 (Crazy, crazy man!)
Cambelt, rollers, water pump: £110
Arches, re-spray etc: £400
Two Firestone tyres: £60
Remote locking kit: £20
Total: £765.
Not too bad I think. As said, the car has 140k dead on. It came with an obscene amount of bills from Vauxall, with the service book all stamped up. It even had the manufacturer's specified 100k service at about £400! I've always wanted one, and now I have.
Just need a new bumper trim with towing eye cover and a wheel centre. | 
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07-08-2006, 20:13
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#2 | | MIGClub Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 982
| put yur bott away benn..
lovely result mincers.
cant wait to thrash its ass at RWYB
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07-08-2006, 20:17
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#3 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: glasgow/oban Drives: like its a hire car
Posts: 4,860
| that looks awesome my man! just need ablack one in south central to finsh it off!
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip!" | |
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07-08-2006, 20:17
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#4 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Portsmouth Drives: black jap thing
Posts: 13,437
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07-08-2006, 20:18
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#5 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Birmingham Drives: Mk4 Astra SRi 2.2
Posts: 5,881
| Fack me - thats looking well now!
Lot of car for the money
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Mk3 Astra Merit XE
One of the semi-old-school - now living at the only place for Vauxhall Technical Advice & Chat - Vauxsport.com | |
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07-08-2006, 20:19
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#6 | | Admin
Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hampshire, UK Drives: Vectra Derv Wagon
Posts: 27,319
| hubba hubba
that is looking superb Dan (and benn for polishing)
Well worth the wait i think Dan!!
cannot wait to see it at the meet in a couple of weeks time!!
cannot beleive benn did that, child!!
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07-08-2006, 20:28
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#7 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Norwich Drives: Nova Coupe
Posts: 7,192
| I cannot believe Benn hasn't got a hairy bum! 
looking forward to giving this a mintiness inspection at the weekend Dan!
Simps.
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chrisastleymotorsport.com - Vauxhall Parts Specialist & Projects Forum | |
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07-08-2006, 20:42
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#8 | | Regional Co-ordinator
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fareham,Hants Drives: A shineeeey Nova
Posts: 40,060
| nah its hairy,
she had come up well,
will geta 2/3rd coat of wax(megs stage 3) tomoz,
and all the trims and rubbers will be treathed aswell, Quote: |
Originally Posted by Tom Williams
cannot believe benn did that, child!!
| did what?
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My life so pitafull, the futures so bright.. Well i'd look a head but it burns my retinas
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07-08-2006, 20:55
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#9 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Drives: Astra Mk4/Mitso FTO
Posts: 2,508
| Car is looking rather snazzy 
You want to buy the GTE rear box i have on my GSI ?
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07-08-2006, 21:02
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#10 | | Admin
Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hampshire, UK Drives: Vectra Derv Wagon
Posts: 27,319
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Benn did what? | pulled your trousers down when dan was taking a proper photo | |
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07-08-2006, 21:03
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#11 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: cambs Drives: 306xld&Pulsar gtiR
Posts: 727
| looks good mate.now look after it.
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Originally Posted by sabo your so TIGHT, you squeek when you walk | | |
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07-08-2006, 21:04
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#12 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hampshire Drives: '58 BMW X6
Posts: 2,237
| ****in beauty.
Rusty gave it away at that price! Its looking like a different car now. Just get them tyres blacked up!
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07-08-2006, 21:04
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#13 | | Admin
Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hampshire, UK Drives: Vectra Derv Wagon
Posts: 27,319
|
love the jaguar!! | |
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07-08-2006, 21:05
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#14 | | Regional Co-ordinator
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fareham,Hants Drives: A shineeeey Nova
Posts: 40,060
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Tom Williams pulled your trousers down when dan was taking a proper photo | dan wasnt, | |
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07-08-2006, 21:12
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#15 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Northeast Kent
Posts: 28,792
| top job on the paint. takes some balls to spray the arches the colour the car should be and hope to cut/polish the rest back to match. turned out great.
standard is the new modified ! | |
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07-08-2006, 21:14
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#16 | | Regional Co-ordinator
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fareham,Hants Drives: A shineeeey Nova
Posts: 40,060
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by 0ddball top job on the paint. takes some balls to spray the arches the colour the car should be and hope to cut/polish the rest back to match. turned out great. | 4shades,
had to polish a bit to get a semi match... | |
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07-08-2006, 21:15
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#17 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: FA Cup Winners Drives: Mk1 Astra / Zafira
Posts: 4,880
| i nearly cried when i saw that orange peel pic, but then read later on been sorted it, phew.
Looks good and still not spent too much, well done chap.
(you need a cav gsi now )
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BREAKING: NOTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!! < a 1st for me
FOR SALE: A Lot Of Obsolete New Vauxhall Stock | |
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07-08-2006, 21:17
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#18 | | Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Fareham, Hants. Drives: 1.3L GTE 16V SXi Est
Posts: 14,511
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by 0ddball top job on the paint. takes some balls to spray the arches the colour the car should be and hope to cut/polish the rest back to match. turned out great.
standard is the new modified ! | I'm well pleased will the colour match . | |
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07-08-2006, 21:20
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#19 | | Regional Co-ordinator
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fareham,Hants Drives: A shineeeey Nova
Posts: 40,060
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by nrj i nearly cried when i saw that orange peel pic, but then read later on been sorted it, phew. | was taken the day after painting it,
was flatt and polished to match the paint finish on the car..  | |
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07-08-2006, 21:20
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#20 | | Banned
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,592
| Very nice indeed | |
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07-08-2006, 21:20
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#21 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hampshire Drives: '58 BMW X6
Posts: 2,237
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by 0ddball standard is the new modified ! | Sent an e-mail to Dan saying that earlier today. Almost word for word.
Standard older vauxhalls are a rarerity (sp)  | |
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07-08-2006, 21:35
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#22 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 418
| Needs some 15" alloys my m8 has sum fink dey are tsw venins or somfing? & Exorzt is abit puny needs 2 be jap cut dem engins sound well sweet on a big boar bakbox & gd gains 2!!!1!!1!1!!
In seriousness though, that is a stunning turnaround got a bargain and have ended up for a better example of what you could of bought for similar money. Arch job looks fantastic aswell! | |
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07-08-2006, 21:36
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#23 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Thatcham,Berkshire Drives: Fear into children
Posts: 5,933
| ive done a small ginger sex wee all over myself..
When you gays coming up my way for a photo session and general mince/giggle session?
Ginge
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Novadaz said if u need a hand with the rear dick convertion just ask me lol.iv done 2 of them and theres nothing to it | |
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07-08-2006, 22:08
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#24 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: glasgow/oban Drives: like its a hire car
Posts: 4,860
| you need to further tighten your grasp on the worls supply of cesaros IMO! | |
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07-08-2006, 22:15
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#25 | | MIGWeb User
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Yorkshire Drives: Astra GTE 16V
Posts: 1
| Sweet !
Just about to go through the same only all of my outer sills are completely shot !
Rear archers too and the front wings but everything else including the wishbone mounts are excellent.
Whats the sills like to replace,did you replace yours or patch up ?
Cheers in advance,newcomer....... | |
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