My GTE project

[littlebarlow]

Been on the site for a while now and never really post anything so thought it was about time I shared with u my newest GTE project with all you nova loving fans!
So here goes...
It all started at VBOA 2012 (yes the wet one!) where I came across a bloke called David collins, who as i was chatting away to him mentioned he had a GTE for sale which was in need of a little tlc...... just what ive been looking for!!! He showed me a few pictures and without any further a do i put a £100 deposit on the car there and then just off the pics!
A week later I set off in the tranny van with car trailer to collect my pretty much mystery gte!
Got her loaded up and from what i could see it was a pretty good base for a nice gte restoration!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0336.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0336.jpg.html)


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0334.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0334.jpg.html)


Got the car home and started the dreaded job of having a really good look all around it and underneath!
And too my suprise it wasn't too bad!!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0361.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0361.jpg.html)




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0359.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0359.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0358.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0358.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0342.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0342.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0341.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0341.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0340.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0340.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0339.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0339.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0356.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0356.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_0357.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_0357.jpg.html)
The main area needing the most attention was the boot floor, but from my previous experience with nova...most do!!!!

Unfortunately due to my motocross hobby also costing me a fortune at the time the nova stayed as it was tucked up for well over 12 months in the garage, untill about a month ago when I decided to drag her out and make a start on her!............more to follow!

[Deany1]

Very nice mate!great starting point.

[NathanKirkpatrick]

Looks great. Another GTE being saved :)

All the best with it....

[novadave24]

looks good mate same rust place were my gte has must be a gte thing lol

[littlebarlow]

With the GTE now as my priority the last few weeks has seen alot of progress to the old girl!
Noticing the car had alot more dints, bumps and scrapes on it and the rear arches although looking solid and tidy they were also on there way out! i decided to strip her down ready for 2 new rear arches, boot floor repair and a full respray!

Also tried on a set of speedlines I got off a dirt cheap gsi someone was selling nearby :)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_2911.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_2911.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3006.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3006.jpg.html)
With the GTE now stripped we loaded her up and off too a local friends bodyshop to start on the proper work!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3017.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3017.jpg.html)

Since being at my friends shed work has come on rapid, with myself doing most of the welding along with my uncle too lend a hand on the tricky parts!!
Firstly set about cutting out the shapes for the boot floor!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3026.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3026.jpg.html)

Got them welded in both sides!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3157.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3157.jpg.html)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3156.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3156.jpg.html)

And whilst that was going on my wheels were having a nice little re-furb :)
Not sure on the smoothed center caps but they were half done by the previous owner so was easier to carry on than try scrape out the filler!
Really pleased with the finish on the wheels though :)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3141.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3141.jpg.html)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3163.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3163.jpg.html)

[littlebarlow]

Next job was to repair the rear panel from some nasty rot! and also behind the drivers side headlight!


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3027.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3027.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3170.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3170.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3176.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3176.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3180.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3180.jpg.html)

With the plating done by myself , my uncle and i then set about the rear arches! picked up some arch repair panels from cleveland panels for £18 each and suprisingly were really good considering!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3087.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3087.jpg.html)

Got those welded in nicely :)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3186.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3186.jpg.html)

Then was the job of My friend Iazac to fill them in! The lads a wizard with filler!!!!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3232.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3232.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3233.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3233.jpg.html)

And before we went any further I hired an arch rolling tool off another friend to allow for the speedlines :)
This was a little more of a head scratch with the nova arches not being round! but really happy with the end result!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3236.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3236.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3241.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3241.jpg.html)

[littlebarlow]

By the time id finished messing around with rolling the arches Iazac had prayed the bonnet, bumpers, grill and mirrors :)
And i also got a nice set of mint mk1 headlamp protectors off ebay to go on!:thumb:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3207.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3207.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3209.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3209.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3231.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3231.jpg.html)


Pretty much where im up to at the moment, car is being prepped ready for a full spray this week :)

[NathanKirkpatrick]

coming on great buddy :)

any better pics of the speedlines?

[littlebarlow]

Cheers, not sure on what the smoothed centers will be like when they are on the car, has it been done many times before?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3150.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3150.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3164.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3164.jpg.html)

[gte-87]

Looking good keep up good work.....

[Benn]

Good work on this, the rust is all in std places. Will be much better after...

Smooth center caps look different but odd....

[littlebarlow]

Yea, im thinking i could maybe still put a sticker in the centre if they still look a little odd on the car, failing that source some standard ones!

Got my pillar vinyls in the post today :) not looking forward to fitting these though!!!!:confused:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/IMG_3291.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/IMG_3291.jpg.html)

[bazzap8389]

Looking good mate :) where did you get the vinyls from?

[littlebarlow]

A bloke on ebay, they were £20 but well worth it, sent me some samples first which was really helpful, closest ive seen to genuine ones. Which i presume are extinct by now lol?

[littlebarlow]

Little update... :)
Cars nearly ready to be sprayed, just another rub down and prime to get rid of any imperfections in the filler and were ready to go!!!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/primed2.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/primed2.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/primed.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/primed.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/ready.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/ready.jpg.html)

[7ova]

Looking good, best way to be get stuck in
Keep the photos coming

[NathanKirkpatrick]

Have you a link for them vinyles? Car seems to be coming great keep up the work. Your mate done an awesome job on the arches (Y)...

[AntonM]

Have you a link for them vinyles? Car seems to be coming great keep up the work. Your mate done an awesome job on the arches (Y)...

Long shot but Maybe its these ones.. but they have ended, can always contact the seller via message?..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vauxhall-nova-1-3sr-door-window-pillar-vinyl-grey-matt-/181254081382

[Benn]

Glad to see all the glass is out. I hate a half job.

[littlebarlow]

Long shot but Maybe its these ones.. but they have ended, can always contact the seller via message?..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vauxhall-nova-1-3sr-door-window-pillar-vinyl-grey-matt-/181254081382


Yea this was the one, he does them in any color, and also does the boot vinyl. If you contact him he will deal direct instead on through ebay.

[littlebarlow]

Glad to see all the glass is out. I hate a half job.

I have to confess i accidently smashed the windscreen getting it out lol :cry:! luckily i have a second chance as i can use the one out of the gsi.:thumb:

[Andy]

use your smashed seal and cut the donor seal to get the good screen out

[Kev Turbo]

Good work Mush, Glad to see George getting his hands dirty too :)

[littlebarlow]

Works come along well with the car this week :)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/primer.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/primer.jpg.html)

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/doorshuts.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/doorshuts.jpg.html)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/quater.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/quater.jpg.html)[

Boot floor looking alot better

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/image.jpeg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/image.jpeg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/boot.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/boot.jpg.html)

wings also looking alot fresher !!!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/wings.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/wings.jpg.html)


Managed to also get hold of a set of brand new gutter trims! well happy with these!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/image1.jpeg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/image1.jpeg.html)

And with it being my birthday the misses came up trumps with some cool little presents in the shape of a jazz wiper, wind deflectors, panel filter and trut brace !:thumb:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/littlebarlow/gte/image3.jpeg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/littlebarlow/media/gte/image3.jpeg.html)

[littlebarlow]

Pics are a bit poor quality but will get some decent ones at the weekend when I have the car back from the spray booth.

[lee 16v]

That spray booth is a tip. Maybe buy them a broom so they can sweep up!!

[lee 16v]

This is my booth before I paint this BMW. Its over due having the walls washed down and filters changed, no point doing it yet as it will be all done a day or two before xmas ready for the new year.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c170/lee216v/Mobile%20Uploads/photo-1.jpg

[littlebarlow]

Granted he does need to have a bit of a spring clean in there haha! yours looking really nice there, BMW going back the same color?

Been down to the car tonight and put the bumpers grill and bonnet back on ready to bring home saturday! cant wait to get it back and start building it back up now!

[lee 16v]

I work on the theory that the less dust in the booth the less can get in the paint, the less dust in the paint, the less flatting and polishing I have to do.

The car was just having a tidy up not a respray, the guy was supper fussy and it took a lot longer than my boss wanted, but he was really happy with it in the end.

[Kev Turbo]

Got an update in ya?

[scott.parker]

Nice project, only just seen it, good going so far, how did you get on with the arch rolling? As you say there meant for round arches..

[Kev Turbo]

This thread is screaming out for an update!!!!