1991 1.6 resto job

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

I have finally started making some progress with my 1.6 resto project. Bought this car nearly a year ago and then just left it sat in storage while I finished my other projects. Plan is to restore it to a standard body and interior, keep the 1.9 brakes and rear beam that are already on the car and the engine is getting 11:1 CR with a catcam, 4 branch manifold then converting to MP5.2 motoronic which will be mapped to suit. Not chasing mega power or I would have done a 16v swap, just wanting a slightly more modern version of the original with a touch more bite ;P

 

This is her the day I bought her from Falkirk

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

First task was to strip her back to a rolling shell and see what needed doing. As you can see the front end had the usual bodge job of a box section under the radiator, inside the seat frames had been cut out quite rough arsed and left spots in the floor to begin to rot. Also discovered the A pillar had a small hole when the windscreen was removed. The rear quarter / B pillar had some rot which I already knew about

 

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Once stripped she was steam lanced inside and out ready for the first stage of bodywork. (yes I used a forklift, no I didn't bend anything underneath)

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

The car was sent to the first bodyshop, a local guy with a lot of experience in classics.

 

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Edited February 3, 2019 by Richie-Van-GTi

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Whil all this has been going on the seats have been fully retrimmed as well, looking a bit baggy on the pics but just pressure marks from where they were stacked.

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Car should be going in for blasting and painting in the next couple of weeks

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Car went to the blasters yesterday to have the engine bay stripped bare then onto paint shop today. Got it to the paint shop and we agreed it should go for a bit more welding as the blasting has exposed some thin metal and previously hidden bodge jobs. Should be back round the painters in next 48 hours. Had a look at a 205 they just painted, not yet polished but looked mint. Bit of confusion though as the owner reckons it's a 95 car but it has Be1 box and lever, phase 1.5 trims inside and the early style roll pin door hinges. Oddly the vin number had been punched out

[Doc 205 6 1 Cars]

Looks like a cracking job! 

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Whilst its stripped I'd advise stitch welding the seam across the toe board. It often pulls apart on the spot welds, you can weld it quite neatly from the inside.

[Telf 224 2 Cars]

looking good

[dale205mills 39 7 Cars]

Nice to see some sheet metal work on a restoration of a 205.

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

On 2/19/2019 at 2:37 PM, Tom Fenton said:

Whilst its stripped I'd advise stitch welding the seam across the toe board. It often pulls apart on the spot welds, you can weld it quite neatly from the inside.

It's getting some attention there already, will mention stitching it more though, thanks

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

few more pics, welder finished up today and its now in the paint shop. Had to remove a wing and replace some rotten metal on the inner wing, patch on the front panel that was pretty much non existent, patched a couple of bits in the boot and one under the rear seat.

[MrStock 5]

Awesome work! I totally respekt that kind of craftmanship!

[DamirGTI 342]

Thumbs up for work and effort ! miss some bodywork project material on the forum lately .

 

That reminds me , to finally get off my arse and fix my sorrento 205

 

D

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Been titivating some parts while the car is away, strut tops waiting for the new Billie's coming after tweeks sent me the wrong ones. Also ordered new top cups to go with them and the new springs. Servo freshened up with new 23.8mm MC, being put with 1.9 brakes. Slam panel is now in primer, awaiting the top coat coming in post

Edited February 24, 2019 by Richie-Van-GTi

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

finally a bit of an update from body shop, engine bay is done. Hopefully the rest will be done soon.

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Not updated in a while, shell still at body shop, getting frustrated now with the lack of progress from them. Been tinkering on though with other bits. Engine has been stripped down, Inspected and built back up, various ancillaries had the same treatment and bought new starter and alternator. Now making a start on dying the trims back to the right colour instead of fifty shades of grey. Engine shot is with old head.

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Engine now has catcams trackday camshaft, all shimmed up, rasied CR to 11:1, gti6 throttle body with map and ICV machined into plenum.