stuartyj21 astra gsi

[stuartyj21]

hi all, just recently bought a 93 astra gsi as a new project/daily driver.
the car has the all important redtop with 148k on it but it seems sweet enough with no rattles or smoke, the car is generally in good condition just needs some tlc.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqMOKjkE1uDQBwyMBNh5v8FcDw%7E%7E_12.JPG
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http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqMOKjkE1uDQBwyMBNh5v8FcDw%7E%7E_14.JPGhttp ://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqYOKpEE1r%214W7zmBNh5wCKG6w%7E%7E_14.JPGht tp://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqIOKpsE1q184bN%28BNh5wJeqBw%7E%7E_14.JPGht tp://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqQOKjYE1BPqnQ,6BNh5wPVlgQ%7E%7E_14.JPGhttp ://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqUOKogE10HE9Z-sBNh5wWzbN%21%7E%7E_14.JPGhttp://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqQOKjwE0+sooBwMBNh5wdDC%28%21%7E%7E_14.JPG http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqQOKj4E2BV10YlNBNh5wjrTew%7E%7E_14.JPGhttp ://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqMOKowE1z-YTje1BNh5wq4Jdg%7E%7E_14.JPG
only have the car home in n.ireland a week so havent had a chance to get stuck into it yet but will hopefully get a some work done over easter.:d

[AdamK]

looks good mate you need to sort your pictures out tho

[jafanan]

looks nice stuart

[steviegsi]

Nice one Stuart ! Bought a spectral blue one myself a while ago. Cracking little cars.

What's the plans?

[xe Dan]

keeping an eye on this as ive got a mk3 gsi to but mines an r reg phase 2

[stuartyj21]

the plans are to get the bumpers and skirts off and get whatever metal work that needs sorted done, then probably give it a full respray.

then get the interior done and cleaned, slight drivers bolster wear.

engine wise it aint broke so dont fix'it, just new timing belt kit, full service, new fuel pump and fan rad switch.

think thats all but will know better when i start getting it striped.

[stuartyj21]

well got the car up on the stands, so let the de-construction begin....
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110408-00006.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110412-00017.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110412-00018.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110412-00016.jpg

any comments or suggestions welcome, need some advice as to whats the best exhaust system and suspension kit to get etc...

[steviegsi]

If you are changing exhausts and or wheels, let me know as I may be interested in buying yours :)

[stuartyj21]

will defo be changing the exhaust be i am keeping the original wheels as i have a set of speedlines that will fit the astra.

[amggsi]

Lovely cars these, and that one fits in well with your Nova, same colour and all!

All the best with it.

[steviegsi]

Let me know how much you need for the exhaust when your ready and I'll have it mate.

[stuartyj21]

thanks adrian, i thought that myself when buying the car.
so hopefully i will get the astra upto the same standard as the nova...

[stuartyj21]

hi all got some work done lastnite, got the side skirts off to see what the sills are like and lucky enough they are ok.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110418-00022.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110418-00020.jpg

unluck for me the area around the petrol cap is rotten so will have to be replaced, so try'd to source a complete quarter panel but no longer produced:(
but got in-touch with freddie and he found a company in poland that does a repair panel just for the petrol filler cap on the mk3, thanks freddie your a star:thumb:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110418-00021.jpg

[Balley]

looks nice and original which makes a change!

[stuartyj21]

yeh thanks balley, just needs a few pounds spent on it to get it back to top notch condition.

[ECO16V]

Nice car mate should be first class when u get it sorted.

[AndyGTE95]

thanks freddie your a star:thumb:

no pun intended i believe lol

[yellowsrnova]

no probs stuarty :) glad to help as usually

[stuartyj21]

no pun intended i believe lol

well spotted andylol

[stuartyj21]

another small update on the astra rebuild, started to strip the bumpers and was hoping it would be ok but no luck. the astra is a rot box just like the nova:cry:
so on inspection i need a p/s rear quarter complete rear valance and d/s rear arch and fuel cap repair panel and i havent evn got as far as taking the front bumper off:( heres some pictures of the repair needed.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110428-00028.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110428-00027.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110428-00026.jpg

[MattBrown]

Reshell.

So much easier!

[stuartyj21]

its easy to say re-shell, but hard to find a mint shell at sensible money un-fortunatly matt

[MattBrown]

its easy to say re-shell, but hard to find a mint shell at sensible money un-fortunatly matt

Your right.

Astra GSI's mk3 ones seem to be creeping up in value.

But as with novas, most are getting old and rottern now:(

[stuartyj21]

like most vauxhall's matt rottenlol

i may aswell put all the hard work into it now and only have to do it once:thumb:

[mk1nova_rich]

Hopefully the rot isn't putting you off too much, its not that bad really :thumb: looked lovely before the kit and bumpers came off so I'm sure a few months work tidying it up and it will be back on form :d best of luck with it anyway pal, keep at it!!

[ryansnova]

its not that bad lol just think about when its finished and your crusing about in it :D

[stuartyj21]

i wont be put off, it just the more money i spend on panels and bodywork the less i have for other things:(

[stuartyj21]

hi all, will have some up dates soon , i have been collecting all the body panels i need and getting the car booked in for the metal work to be done in 2 weeks. so will get some pics up soon.

[stuartyj21]

i have finally got some pictures of the new panels i got for the car, the list is p/side rear quarter, complete rear slam panel , d/side rear arch and fuel filler cap repair panel.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110811-00065.jpg

also i had to get the rear interior stripped out in case any fire start when getting the repairs done.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110811-00067.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110811-00069.jpg

i left the car down today to get the metalwork started so hopefully collect it in a few weeks :)
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110811-00068.jpg

[novaa]

That should be a nice gsi when finnished getting very rare now

[stuartyj21]

thanks, im going to up-grade the suspension and exhaust, a-part form that its going to be standard.

[Dervy]

nice to see a standard gsi, shame about the rust though, look forward to seeing this progress

[stuartyj21]

thanks dervy, thankfully its not as bad as i thought.

[stuartyj21]

hi all, im trying to get vaux diamond black paint (81L) 2pac. anyone got any ideas, as eveyone i contact only does the water based paint.

[stuartyj21]

just a quick update on the progress, the car is in getting the metal work done. So far the d/side arch is done and the back panel is cut out, heres the pictures.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110820-00074.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Newtownabbey-20110820-00076.jpg
any comments welcome.

[walker-nova]

looking good stuarty

[simonm]

That's lookin good I have one the exact same at the mo as my daily and love it I'd also take the exhaust if no one else takes it if it's good if course mines a little farty and I'm getting old so it's a bit noisy lol

[stuartyj21]

thanks for the comments, dont know what to do about the exhaust was going to replace it with a stainless system and twin oval back box.

[simonm]

Does sound good alrite just mine has a half stainless and rusty farty one and as it's my daily I want to stick a standard one on if I can get one

[stuartyj21]

the standard box has a nice note off it, so if its ok i will just keep it and replace the middle section for now.

[stuartyj21]

hi all, just got word that all the metalwork is finished so will get pictures up later :)

[stuartyj21]

here are the pictures of the work so far.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG_1277.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG_9666.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG_7183.jpg
any comments welcome, will get better pictures when i pick the car up.

[steviegsi]

Looks like a tidy job that, paint soon?

[stuartyj21]

getting the electrics done next which wont take long, by that time the paint will have arrived. then get it prep'd and painted.

[stuartyj21]

hello, a small update on the progress. got a stereo and set of speakers for the motor, nothing fancy but it will do me nicely.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/Antrim-20110909-00083.jpg

[stuartyj21]

also got the car moved round to the sprayers so this is the stage so far, comments welcome.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20110929-00098.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20110929-00100.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20110929-00099.jpg

[scott.parker]

Looks smart mate..

[Vlietje]

Looking good mate, keep up the good work!

[stuartyj21]

thanks, everything seems to be moving on quite quickly. hopefully be painted by this friday :)

[brainsnova]

Nice to see a gsi getting the treatment. Top work so far :thumb:

[stuartyj21]

Thanks, all the work is mainly bodywork. Going to get a timing belt kit for it and I have a coolant temp sensor for the radiator because it was over heating. Apart from that Its go to go:)

[stuartyj21]

just a quick update of the progress these pictures are from last monday, all comments welcome.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20111007-00105.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20111007-00102.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20111007-00104.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20111007-00103.jpg

[stuartyj21]

here is how it looks today, called in after work :)
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG-20111010-00107.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG-20111010-00109.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG-20111010-00108.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG-20111010-00106.jpg

[krobinson]

Was it painted in a booth?

[stuartyj21]

you must be kidding keith back to the old skool, done in a shed.

hopefully getting a few coats of clear tomorrow and flatted.

[stuartyj21]

another small update, hopefuly get the car back form the painters sunday.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG-20111012-00112.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/IMG-20111012-00111.jpg
and now all the flatting done...
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20111014-00116.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/Antrim-20111014-00115.jpg
all i need to do now is get it built-up again, any comments welcome.

[boyle_46]

looks a good job Stuart , ive just come back on here from being off for months hows the black nova doing you still got her ? ahh oldschool painting i done my KTM orange corsa done in a mates shed **** it looked like it was done on tyrella beach untill we got the compound on it , orange peel lol will be nice to see this astra out not too many of them about theese days , you remember the white one that sat in styles in antrim i seen it a few years ago when a mate was doin deliverys ?

[stuartyj21]

thanks nathan, yeh damm that orange peel :( i think the painter has been flatting it for a few days now. but looks like a good job so far.

still got the nova parked up and covered up :) hows little red riding hood doin? i know theres a red mk3 astra in antrim but dont know whats in it aint been taking to the lad yet...

[boyle_46]

the red nova was built into a rally car at harper rally prep , it was then sold on to a fella in liverpool ive had a yellow sr from then and im driving away at my silk violet one , ive just bought a saloon aswell mate , yeah there ahh yes yes it is red i seen it when barry was doin a delivery many moons ago didnt think it was still on the scene , will have to see the gsi again keep her all wrapped up untill summer mate :)

[stuartyj21]

you've sure got the nova bug nath, i will get pics of the astra up soon. nearly all exterior work is complete, just interior to get in and cleaned :)

[steviegsi]

Looks great mate, makes me miss mine.

[stuartyj21]

you sold it, what did you take for it if you dont mind me asking?

[steviegsi]

Took around 950 iirc for it with no wheels. Which was pretty good IMO as it need a waterpump , Mot , tax and a few silly bits and pieces done to it. It sat in the garage for about 6 months after I got a load of welding done to the floor , and what with the nova in a million bits in my brothers garage I couldn't justify keeping it. Shame though because I reckon they will shoot up in value within the next year or 2 like novas have done.

[stuartyj21]

they are just a typical 90s vauxhall rusty haha

[stuartyj21]

at last an update :)
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/200.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/400.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/stuartyj21/astra%20gsi/397.jpg
the nova is sold and the astra is up forsale :(

[Balley]

Both GSis look gorgeous!

[stuartyj21]

thanks, its a shame they both have to go :(

but hey kids take up all my time, so may aswell let someone else enjoy them...