Coppen's Derv Mk3 Astra Estate to 300BHP+ 4x4 (Pic Heavy!)

[Coppen]

Well thought i'd start a thread on here as couldn't believe i hadn't already done one.

It started out as a bog standard Isuzu lumped estate 3yrs ago with 196k on it in red, i'm mean pink!! It was supposed to be an economical daily driver BUT i soon got carried away with it.



First up was the obligatory GSi front bumper which led to the full kit. Then a set of 17" Kahns i think they were....shocking stance!!





It soon had the following bits from my old white Opel 200iS a few of you might remember:




Cavalier V6 front struts
Cavalier V6 5 stud conversion (front)
Cavalier V6 5 stud conversion (rear disc brakes)
GSi rear beam with ARB
GSi handbrake cable
Lowered 40mm
Removal of roof bars & van trim strips
Veccy Handles
GSi front bumper & Grill
Full Set South African 200iS side skirts
Set of Tubby wheels









This is how it stayed for 6mths as i got a bit carried away on some other mk3's.




I've never really liked red cars and got fed up constantly polishing it so i decided for a colour change. Seeing as i had a black GSi that i decided to break, since it was completely rotten, i decided to rob it of parts to give the car a different look.




I wasn't convinced and had zero cash to get it sprayed properly or source the appropriate coloured parts so decided to go battleship grey....well, until i got a bulk load of black rattle cans cheap. So i thought i'd give it a shot last summer and the result wasn't to bad after compounding.










I wasn't entirely happy with the result, see the trend here? Although the car stayed like this for a further 6mths before i opted for a different set of wheels. I've always liked the pre-facelift Omega MV6 wheels so promptly bought a set that needed spraying and fitted them as they were.






As usual they never got resprayed and i was again thinking a change of colour as i now had a 300ZX in black. This time i decided it was to be white. I bought a donor estate for £200 to change the majority of parts over.







The donor car only had 1mths MOT left so i thought i'd have a bit of fun with it and turned it into a rat car.




Once again, another purchase got in the way. This time a V6 Omega that was running a set of 19's i couldn't resist to make a little cash on.



Hmm, 19's on an astra!! Haha it wouldn't move anyway but looked crazy!

What a mess!!!







Eventually, it turned almost completely white with the addition of my SA parts coming out of storage....think i'll keep the black roof though.

[Coppen]

Next up was the Irmscher rear bumper.




and running Madza MX6 wheels for rolling purposes only..got 2 nuts on them!




Next up (all the goodies before the essentials) was a trial fit of the facelift Omega MV6 wheels, a complete CDX leather interior set, some angel eyes/indicators (now opted against due to poor fit), opel grill & German rear smoked lights.















So, with a load of goodies it was heading in the right direction. However, now being on 215k, being run on SVO for a yr and both spring mounts needed welding for the MOT it was getting to the end of its serviceable life. I decided to take it off the road and start stripping it with a view to a different engine conversion. C20LET? Saab Turbo? V6? CDTi V6? V8?










Dammit!! 5mths have now past and i've not touched it!!! My 2 300zx's are getting all the attention atm BUT tomorrow the rest of the shell begins to be stripped ready for engine bay smoothing, seam welding and bulkhead modifications.

In the meantime, a couple of pics of why its been neglected so much recently.

[Joker]

lol how many cars have you got?

[Coppen]

8 atm, had 11 a few weeks back haha. Most aren't roadworthy by a long way. I've had 47 in 15yrs lol

[Benn]

Christ that's a good way of colour, the last white ones a lil off tho.. lol Love the tinted rear lights, but hate the ill fitting front ones..
Good work on all the swapping and rebuilding.. Oh and buying so many cars...

So 4wd turbo? Nice.

[Coppen]

Christ that's a good way of colour, the last white ones a lil off tho.. lol Love the tinted rear lights, but hate the ill fitting front ones..
Good work on all the swapping and rebuilding.. Oh and buying so many cars...

So 4wd turbo? Nice.

Yeah the fronts have all been ditched now. I've got a South African Ph2 Opel GSi grill off a 160iE and standard lights instead....that is when they get fitted....will be a long time off yet.

Initially, 2wd turbo circa 280BHP but once all in and running good will look into full 4x4

[Tomo195]

good project mate, modified estates rule

[dopey]

top work you have been doing all chopping and changing lol. you must have too much spare time on your hands for all those cars

[GSi_Online]

Is this actuli 4wheel drive? Youve spent alot of time on the astra(s). Iv neva been to keen on the standard Gsi grills. I purchased a clear grill one to accomadate the phase 2 lights. Wasnt to happy when i relised it doesnt meet the bumper nicely! How ever i left it be. Looking for a phase 2 grill now if you have one knockin around?

Iv always wondered what a Mk3 would look like with them Omega elite alloys. Iv got a passat with a set of TT comp alloy wheels to go on it. They look quite similar. Do you have a full pic with the elite rims?

[Coppen]

I've just found out that my storage is good for another year so i can finally start stripping the inside of the estate out. Tomorrow is starts )

Not got a full pic of Elites on and can't atm as the front struts are off and become hybrid units once i sort how to adapt the astra top mounts to fit.

It will initially be running 2WD to get it through the IVA without losing too many points and becoming a Q plate. Then MOT with a few to going 4WD at a later date as and when time allows and once the engine is then removed again for a fully rebuild and bigger turbo

[alistairolsen]

I've just found out that my storage is good for another year so i can finally start stripping the inside of the estate out. Tomorrow is starts )

Not got a full pic of Elites on and can't atm as the front struts are off and become hybrid units once i sort how to adapt the astra top mounts to fit.

It will initially be running 2WD to get it through the IVA without losing too many points and becoming a Q plate. Then MOT with a few to going 4WD at a later date as and when time allows and once the engine is then removed again for a fully rebuild and bigger turbo

It shouldnt need an IVA at all with just an engine swap, but it will need an IVA when you do the engine conversion. No point in jamming it through an IVA and then making it completely illegal by chopping the monocoque about.

[Coppen]

The engine swap (non-vaux) will entail cutting of the bulkhead anyway for the gearbox. I'm changing all suspension, steering, subframe etc etc so will have to IVA prior to MOT or doing the rear either way

[Coppen]

First of the goodies arrives though not needed for a long time.

A freshly painted mint front bumper with brand new splitter about to go into the attic before the wife sees it

[Coppen]

Dragged it out today as it was looking very sorry for itself......doors had all gone green

Gave it a damn good jet wash all over and under so its ready for cutting etc. Its very easy with a forklift

Then started stripping the interior after work until i ran out of light.

Hope to attack it again tomorrow

[Coppen]

Spent a bit more time on it today at break times.

Bit more stripped.

[Coppen]

Couple more hours on it this afternoon. Pretty much stripped now.

Just tailgate, rear exhaust, fuel tank, brake/fuel pipes to remove.

Leaving the rear beam/wheels on so its movable.

Weighs around 60-80kg on the nose now. Easy to pick up by hand and wheel about.

Hoping to get these jobs tomorrow or Sat as 3 days off now...though gotta sort out an 'open loop' on the 300ZX's o2 sensor as its not idling and belching out black smoke

Here's the pics

[Coppen]

Stripping complete as far as i want to go for the time being. Only rear beam/wheels/sunroof/windscreen left.

Gonna give it another blasting with jet wash solution inside and out before i start marking up front and bulkhead ready for cutting.