My GTE 16V Restoration Thread.

[Astra Dan]

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.

[Pitstoppete]

put yur bott away benn..

lovely result mincers.
cant wait to thrash its ass at RWYB

[alistairolsen]

that looks awesome my man! just need ablack one in south central to finsh it off!

[Jamie_F]

was looking minty fresh yesturday

[AL]

Fack me - thats looking well now!

Lot of car for the money

[Tom Williams]

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!!

[The Simps]

I cannot believe Benn hasn't got a hairy bum!

looking forward to giving this a mintiness inspection at the weekend Dan!

Simps.

[Benn]

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,

cannot believe benn did that, child!!

did what?

[Neo_Daz]

Car is looking rather snazzy

You want to buy the GTE rear box i have on my GSI ?

[Tom Williams]

did what?

pulled your trousers down when dan was taking a proper photo

[novagsix]

looks good mate.now look after it.

[Byron]

****in beauty.
Rusty gave it away at that price! Its looking like a different car now. Just get them tyres blacked up!

[Tom Williams]

love the jaguar!!

[Benn]

pulled your trousers down when dan was taking a proper photo

dan wasnt,

[DarrenH]

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 !

[Benn]

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...

[nrj]

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 )

[Astra Dan]

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 .

[Benn]

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..

[Zoe]

Very nice indeed

[Byron]

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)

[Rustwagon]

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!

[Ginge]

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

[alistairolsen]

you need to further tighten your grasp on the worls supply of cesaros IMO!

[carpartnut]

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.......