Nath & Alex's GTE restoration

[Nath&Alex]

In October 2009 I finally decided to bite the bullet and purchase my first Nova, my parents own a Newsagents and in the early nineties I used to read Max Power and remember the Courtney Green C20LET and the Pink C20LET. I always liked the GTE but never thought I'd have one.

I bought this from a kid in Rochester, it had been sat in his garden for at least twelve months. I checked it over, saw a few signs of the old tin worm but didn't realise until I got it home how bad it was.

The plan now is to strip it due to the horrors I have found and then send it to be stripped of paint and rust. Gonna use the same guy Chris Astley used for the current Nova he is building.

Anyway here's a few pictures and thanks for looking

Nath :thumb:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0008.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0002.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0001.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0003.jpg

Dodgy welded up rear arches
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0004.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0005.jpg

When I attached a battery and turned the ignition on loking foward tothe digidash lighting up. After stripping the dash down I found the Ex owner kindly chopped through the wiring.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0007.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0006.jpg

16v front brakes
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0013.jpg

A lovely early 20XE, shame it has an F18 and not an F20 but we'll change that!! Unfortunately the crankshaft pulley has a sheared in it :mad:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0009.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0015.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0010.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/DSC_0014.jpg

[auzzy-b]

WHITE.. Nice!!!:thumb:

[Joe Richardson]

looks a hands on project,with alot of work to be done,but im sure it will be nice once finished :thumb:

love white GTE's

Joe

[brucer]

looks like its got potential, you planning on keeping it fairly original?

[Nath&Alex]

looks like its got potential, you planning on keeping it fairly original?

Well I'm going over to Luxembourg May bank holiday to get lots of brand new bodyparts, it will be as good as it can be when I am finished.

Since it looks like Chris Astley has gone out of business I'll be using a Harry Hockley strenghtening kit, then get either a Harry Hockley or a Custom Cages T45 multipoint roll cage.

It will be a track car so totally stripped out.

Rear disc conversion with possibly mk3 golf setup, bias pedal box but not sure whether to do a corsa conversion or Tilton pedal box??

[Mboasty]

looks like a good project you got there, luv white gte's (ive had 2) restore it back to original i say.

i hope yours wont be as bad as one of mine was.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/mboasty/P1010843.jpg

[bazil]

Oh no you said the L word! You'll get bombarded with people wanting stuff brought back lol.
Good luck, pro tec motorsport have the strenthening kit on there website at 65 quid!
I'm getting all the parts to rebuild my GTE back to oe spec, still need some parts. I'm glad to see it's a rebuild and not a reshell, keeping another GTE alive

[Nath&Alex]

Oh no you said the L word! You'll get bombarded with people wanting stuff brought back lol.
Good luck, pro tec motorsport have the strenthening kit on there website at 65 quid!
I'm getting all the parts to rebuild my GTE back to oe spec, still need some parts. I'm glad to see it's a rebuild and not a reshell, keeping another GTE alive

Externally it will look standard if I can get the parts, however it will be a track car so not standard inside.

Going for Carbon bonnet and bootlid(if I can get enough interest in the group buy) but will paint white

So where do I get bootlid vinyl from?

[bazil]

IMO talk to an experianced painter, I've seen the acheivable results and can look great, and it doesnt dull over time, iirc you can't get the oe spec ones now and some aftermarket ones are a different texture and colour.

Not sure about the carbon look, it's not my cup o tea, I'd go fiberglass, much cheaper and easier to get.

[Nath&Alex]

IMO talk to an experianced painter, I've seen the acheivable results and can look great, and it doesnt dull over time, iirc you can't get the oe spec ones now and some aftermarket ones are a different texture and colour.

Not sure about the carbon look, it's not my cup o tea, I'd go fiberglass, much cheaper and easier to get.

The carbon panels will be painted white so no one will tell they are carbon :thumb:

[bazil]

Is fiberglass to heavy lol are you going for a full T45 cage??

[Nath&Alex]

Is fiberglass to heavy lol are you going for a full T45 cage??

Yep the plan is to go for a big Mr's T45 cage :thumb:

[bazil]

Oof that's alot of cage lol what sort of suspension you going for? I've got front and rear bilstein group A coilover Tarmac stuff with TAS eccentric top mounts and quickrack for my GSI

[Connor]

Looks like the previous owner cared for it :tard:

[Edd]

Plans sound good.

Are you getting Duick/Steve to sort you the parts out in Luxenburg ?

What parts you getting ?

[bazil]

Plans sound good.

Are you getting Duick/Steve to sort you the parts out in Luxenburg ?

What parts you getting ?

I pm'd Steve last week to see if certain parts were still avalible but got no reply?
I've sent him messages before and got replys but not this time.

[Edd]

I pm'd Steve last week to see if certain parts were still avalible but got no reply?
I've sent him messages before and got replys but not this time.

maybe he forgot ?

I know when I was sorting out picking up parts it could take him a few days to get back to me.

Plus he probably gets lots of pm's about parts and 90%
of them are not serious about going over there I would think.

[bazil]

Very true, I'll maybe send him another, I just don't like bugging people. I like this GTE rebuild, it's good to see another genuine GTE saved, even if it is a track car it still keeps the numbers up

[Nath&Alex]

Oof that's alot of cage lol what sort of suspension you going for? I've got front and rear bilstein group A coilover Tarmac stuff with TAS eccentric top mounts and quickrack for my GSI

Was looking possibly Group A bilsteins or their coilovers as there are no wheel arch mods. Don't realy wont to start tubbing and fitting turrets. I'm ordering a quaife quick rack when I get chance

[Nath&Alex]

Looks like the previous owner cared for it :tard:

Passenger side arch has been changed, they cut out the old one then slapped the new one over the top welded it and slapped loads of filler on it!! :tard:

[Nath&Alex]

Plans sound good.

Are you getting Duick/Steve to sort you the parts out in Luxenburg ?

What parts you getting ?

Well I know Duick/Steve was doing them, but was planning to go to Classic Opel parts. Looks like they have everything I need, would be nice if they answered the email I sent!!

So far I will be replacing :eek:

Passenger Rear quarter
Drivers Rear quarter
Passenger wing
Drivers wing
Passenger inner rear wheel arch
Drivers inner rear wheel arch
Passenger inner front wheel arch
Drivers inner front wheel arch
Passenger sill
Drivers sill
Passenger door
Drivers door

Not realy sure about front end or floor until I get it stripped :thumb:

[Rob]

glad youve signed up mate :thumb: and as said the other night after youve put this much effort into rebuilding her it will be a bit scary taking her out on track lol

oh and you got a link for the Classic Opel parts wouldnt mind a few bits for my loon

[Nath&Alex]

glad youve signed up mate :thumb: and as said the other night after youve put this much effort into rebuilding her it will be a bit scary taking her out on track lol

oh and you got a link for the Classic Opel parts wouldnt mind a few bits for my loon

Alright Rob :thumb:

Yep signed up the day after saw you guys

Can you tell Craig them seats are definitely going, you're more than welcome to come round over this weekend just give me a ring :d

Got a quote back off that geezer £400+vat to strip the shell :d http://www.paint-strip.co.uk/

ANyway here is your link
http://www.opel-classicparts.com/eng/

[bazil]

You are better of phoning OPC, even if you find the parts on their site they might not have them in stock anymore, I've had a lot of parts from them but they no longer have the parts in stock that I need.

[Connor]

So far I will be replacing :eek:

Passenger Rear quarter
Drivers Rear quarter
Passenger wing
Drivers wing
Passenger inner rear wheel arch
Drivers inner rear wheel arch
Passenger inner front wheel arch
Drivers inner front wheel arch
Passenger sill
Drivers sill
Passenger door
Drivers door


Holey Moley :eek:
Should be a minter once its all done :thumb:
will be watching this one

[novalicous]

Good to see your a member now :thumb:

was good having a look around and a talk with you

hope the arm/shoulder is getting better

and when you come to sell the front seats drop me a pm ive got money waiting :d

[Nath&Alex]

Thought I better update my thread, started to strip the GTE down a bit more

Novalicous(Craig) took the front seats on Thursday, so I thought I'd have a go at taking the carpet. I then found out the Nova carpet is in two sections :d You learn something new everyday!!!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova003.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova004.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova005.jpg

Pulled lots of old stereo wiring etc out
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova002.jpg

Looks like the loom has been jointed and modified at some point, well it definitely has as it's got a Mk2 dash!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova006.jpg

Does anybody have a clue what these are? I'm sure I'll find out eventually :wtf:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova007.jpg

And things go from bad to worse, I wish I didn't poke stuff :roll:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova001.jpg

[Nath&Alex]

Had another go at doing a bit today

Removed the bumper, back panel doesn't look too bad but we'll see once its all stripped
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova008.jpg

Below is another look at the appauling repair to the rear arch, welded on the outside lots of filler & not sure whether you can see it in the photos but you can see daylight between the inner arch and outer. Nice!!!!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova009.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova010.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova011.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova012.jpg

Some might think I'm nuts since its going to be stripped anyway but I decided after removing the rear carpet to remove the sound deadening

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova013.jpg

Gutted found another problem on passenger side
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova014.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova015.jpg

Drivers side looks ok at the minute though
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova016.jpg

[vaughanmc]

Should be an interesting project mate :)

[bmw156]

Nice progress

get the welder out

[The Simps]

Is that shell really worth saving? Now you've got the GTE bits would it not be worth sourcing a solid lower spec car?

[Nath&Alex]

Is that shell really worth saving? Now you've got the GTE bits would it not be worth sourcing a solid lower spec car?

Isn't that just defeatist? I want to save this GTE and make it nice again :d

[vaughanmc]

Is that shell really worth saving? Now you've got the GTE bits would it not be worth sourcing a solid lower spec car?

That's the route I have/would take lol

[Nath&Alex]

Should be an interesting project mate :)

Should be, once is stripped I really know how bad it is lol

[Nath&Alex]

Nice progress

get the welder out

It will be coming out soon enough ;)

[The Simps]

Isn't that just defeatist? I want to save this GTE and make it nice again :d


Fair play to you :thumb:

Personally, all the money spent on those panels and welding could be spent on performance related mods for your TRACK car.

[w88rdy]

If its for a track car i would just buy a donor vehicle myself,but you might change your mind one day and bring it back to full standard spec at least you have options.

If the money for panels and stripping isnt a problem just go for it,will be watching this one !

[Nath&Alex]

Did a bit more tonight, managed to get all of the passenger front footwell done. Surprise surprise there is more rust coming through.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova017.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova018.jpg

Did most of the drivers foot well, but ran out of time
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova019.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/Starletnath/Nova/Nova020.jpg

Hopefully will get it stripped in the next month or so it can go over to be stripped of paint, underseal, sound deadening and rust :d But need to get it done before April as my busy time starts at work until June so project will pretty much will come to a standstill :(

[novalovingned]

Isn't that just defeatist? I want to save this GTE and make it nice again :d

Good attitude! Dont want another nova hitting the scrap yard. Keep faith it will all be worth it when your done :d

[Nath&Alex]

Well unfortunately situations have changed at work and I'm not gonna have much spare time to work on this :(

So look out for the for sale thread, gonna split it I think unless someone makes me an offer. Got some new genuine GM panels to sell as well!!

[novalicous]

Afteernoon nath ill hvae to pop over and see if theres any bits that i fancy

sure we could come to a deal on someparts :thumb:

[Nath&Alex]

Well unfortunately situations have changed at work and I'm not gonna have much spare time to work on this :(

So look out for the for sale thread, gonna split it I think unless someone makes me an offer. Got some new genuine GM panels to sell as well!!

Well looks like we're back on :thumb:

Would be good when I'm ready to get some assistance :d

Would be good if Nick J could spray it :roll:

Ordered myself some nice roller electric garage doors, once these are fitted the GTE can come back in the garage and I'll get my welder cranked up lol

[davidfox280585]

never seen this mate there are a few of us in doncaster mate!