Astra GSI Restoration

matt_wrx · 05-10-2008, 13:10

Hi, long strory so bare with me. Myself and my partner owned this gsi for 4 years. I then wanted a scooby so we sold it to some old guy who we thought would look after it. Within months he had sold it to a younng boy who was a nutter and is now serving 18months in prison due to his antics in it. My girlfriend was really upset hearing about the car so i went out and found it. Offered the guy some money and now it sits in my garage in a nasty neglected state. Being a panel beater for vauxhall iv deciebed to rebuild the back end.

It had welding when i owned it but now its fallin apart.

Iv decieded to fit a new back panel, boot floor, 2 rear quarters, passenger innner quarter and 2 new sills. So this is going to be a massive back end rebuild.

I have hunted for a shell but cant seem to find one. Iv been looking for a bare shells, straight from factory. But as it is no luck, so it looks like many hours in garage after work and on weekends.

IM doing this as it one of the originals and not a repica and want to bring it back to its former glory.

il post pics later today to show damage iv found just removing rear bumper and side skirts.

Some animal has alss tryed to fit a sill and it looks a mess, so il need 2 rip that back off,

Well im looking forward to this (maybe) so il keep everyone posted as i go.

*Adz* · 05-10-2008, 14:05

nice one mate! Cant beat a good old GSi

Be good to see pics of how it was when you owned it, and what its like now......

matt_wrx · 18-10-2008, 18:45

ok, bit of progress, after spending 5 hours in the garage ib managed to get alot done. 2 quarters are off, sills, bonnet, doors, and back end stripped.

found alot of rot so panels are on order. iv curently got my boot floor and inner wheel housing. But looks like 2 new inner quarters are ebing fitted. As i done the work my muisses took some pics, so i thought id post them up.

Cut low as dont have quarters to see where to section

new full sills will be fitted and section into quarer and A post

Dont you love drilling spot welds

All off

The rot, dont wanna repair it, rather change inner quarter

More rot, back panel is being changed

Driver side off

more fuel houseing rot

Theres the pics so far.

next il be sorting boot floor. not sure if im gonna section or replace the lot. all depends on decision made on replacing inner quarters or repairing.

good news is front it solid, no rust in turrets or under pedals.

***Tom Williams*** · 18-10-2008, 19:06

I had a red one of those for a while, unfotunately never felt the love for it and never got to grips with the drive and the driving position.

Externally I loved it and still think the mk3 gsi is a great looking car.

Good luck with the work!

Ed · 18-10-2008, 19:59

Looks like a lot of work. Good luck with it all.

Paul · 18-10-2008, 20:09

Good stuff, will you have to brace the door gaps to remove the inner wings?

duneii · 18-10-2008, 20:18

I love the Mk3 GSi i still have my spectral blue one in my garden, would love to fully restore it but funds dont allow! great work mate, will look stunning when finished!

matt_wrx · 18-10-2008, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Good stuff, will you have to brace the door gaps to remove the inner wings?

i should need to brace the door gaps as the chassis and b post will hold together. But as the car is old i will use the door restraints as a precaution. if the gaps gave, the rood would kink and id be making alot of work.

as im a panel beater i have restraints in work i can use, but wood cut to size and wedged will also do the job. vertical an horizontal. but diagonal can can also be used.

matt_wrx · 18-10-2008, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Williams

I had a red one of those for a while, unfotunately never felt the love for it and never got to grips with the drive and the driving position.

Externally I loved it and still think the mk3 gsi is a great looking car.

Good luck with the work!

It actually my girlfriends car, she absoloutly loves it, and that why she bought it back and im willing to spend hours and ££££ on it.

matt_wrx · 18-10-2008, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by duneii

I love the Mk3 GSi i still have my spectral blue one in my garden, would love to fully restore it but funds dont allow! great work mate, will look stunning when finished!

its being finished in flame red and my girlfriend wants gold flake. as its an original gsim chassis and engine i think it well worth the money, its almost 20yrs old. if doing all thisd work give is another 20 years il be happy. lukcy for me the fron is solid, one or 2 areas need looking. so il be sorting it. Rubbing down etch primer, 2 pac primer and plenty of wax oil and spray sealer to take care of it all.

**Melv** · 18-10-2008, 20:54

thats one hell of a project you have there. Good luck with it and keep the updates coming.

matt_wrx · 18-10-2008, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melv

thats one hell of a project you have there. Good luck with it and keep the updates coming.

thanks, il will do. misses is camera women, lol.

once the body work is done. il be looking at the engine, needs some bottom end work. still runs lovely, but change things before its too late. will be looking at engine just after i rebuild my wrx impreza engine, currently in bk room in bits

lol

Dell Balallan · 18-10-2008, 21:18

Good work mate! will be watching this thread to see how you are getting on!

matt_wrx · 18-10-2008, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dell Balallan

Good work mate! will be watching this thread to see how you are getting on!

Thanks, il update as often as possible

Gsi-guy · 18-10-2008, 22:10

I'm keeping an eye on this too, keep us posted

matt_wrx · 19-10-2008, 16:26

back in garge today, removed the back panel and passenger rear lamp housing. also had a good sort out. Now the big decision on whether to change rear inner quarters, as they are only vauxhall part and even with staff discout cost £250. the rear outer wheel housing doesnt carry any structural significance in instance of a crash. so repair is nagging me. but, the boot floor had been welded to the inner quarter and boot floor on both sides causing major problems. wud have to repair wheel housing, rear inner quarter where ist meets boot floor and where sill meets inner quarter

other problem iv noticed is the boot floor in the car has a flange around the whole floor. the new boot floor doesnt, so i dont have a flange to spot weld new inner quarter to floor unless i weld one on. or possible secion new boot floor panel 8 inches from back panel, creating a massive weld across boot floor, only the 8 inches nearest the back panel would be chnaged. this means i have the original flange to use yet im still cutting away all rot.

well heres a few pics of the bk panel being pulled off.

mikegray · 19-10-2008, 23:18

Thats one epic project mate. Your certainly not holding back. Great work keep it up!!!

matt_wrx · 20-10-2008, 19:54

Not done anything tonight, wednesday boot floor is being cut to remove rot ready for new boot floor to be fitted. cutting rot away and wheel well. leaving as much original boot floor edges in as possible to save flange to weld in new inner arches. wont make a improvemnt on strength tho by leaving alot of original floor in place. so is safe to do so.

Thought if post some pics of the car when i owned it originally

mikelee · 28-10-2008, 18:30

good luck with that mate, this one is actually in worse condition than mine, check my restoration thread. i found rotten front turrets on mine last night tho :-(

*Adz* · 28-10-2008, 18:35

nice one mate, i will be doing this next year, archs have just started bubbling on mine on the outside.... just want it all done tho for peace of mind, then it will be a show car only!!! get a van for a run around!

Dell Balallan · 28-10-2008, 18:36

good work so far! just think how int it will be when you are ready

mr.rail83 · 28-10-2008, 23:18

ace one mate u r da man restoring best car out there mk3 astra gsi such a top car hope u dont have too much problems must be gutting to see how trashed it is now because some oik cant appreciate such a fine car good luck