My Silk Violet GSi project

[Kickingriffin]

Hi all

Not been on to say hi for ages.....
so after 10 years of owning Silky it's gone downhill due to lending it to my mum for awhile and not having a place to store her......
So...now sadly she's not in a great way......
Had a look today and cosmetically could be much worse, however, the chassis legs are shot and so, worry that the project is a no go....can anyone help me to source these?

Currently, until the car is up in the air the full extent can't be seen so I thought I will enquire in advance......

Any guidance greatly received....I would love to get silky back to former glory.....

Cheers all
Kate

[Vlietje]

Can't beat silky GSi's!!! Do you need both chassis legs!?

[Kickingriffin]

Looking that way :(

[dgbnova#1]

Cheaper to buy a shell as donor parts tbh if your able to do it

[scott.parker]

Bloody hell, blast from the past!..
Kate, i cant remember, is yours a genuine gsi? If so save it, if your not up for saving it let me know, i might be interested, as I'd love another silky.. :)

As for saving it, if you need both rear legs get them off a car thats getting scraped, seen people do it.

[dgbnova#1]

Yes look in the articles there are s few guides to panel removal but otherwise if it's to much I'm sure someone will have it off you of here

[Kickingriffin]

Cheers guys.... Haha yes blast from past....hehe
still in nova mode though....just ended up with a company car and then started riding a motorbike too (too many hobbies)

Luckily...my other half has done project work so has the know how....just wanted to check...seems hard to get hold of.

Well, I bought it in silk violet...but the log book has always said blue....but I have jotted down the paint code off the vin plate to research.....

[dgbnova#1]

It does list it as blue if it's violet all 3 I've seen list it blue so your fine there

[Kickingriffin]

Ahhhhhh....that's good...it has always baffled me.......

[dgbnova#1]

Got to love Wikipedia




Violet is a bright bluish purple color that takes its name from the violet flower.[2] On the traditional color wheel used by painters, it is located between blue and purple.

[Kickingriffin]

Haha brilliant...good old wiki!

So does everyone still do PVS?

Also has anyone ever used Green Vauxhall Parts co?

[scott.parker]

Yeah Vauxhall green parts are brilliant, hes got an eBay account as well as direct from his website.

[Kickingriffin]

Yeah Vauxhall green parts are brilliant, hes got an eBay account as well as direct from his website.

He just emailed me back and doesnt have any....says they are near impossible to get......:(

[dgbnova#1]

What were you after rear or front chassis legs ?

[Kickingriffin]

Currently........ I say that loosely as only been able to have a brief look (waiting to get car in air) def front as one is totally split nearly......

[bazzap8389]

There's a front leg on German eBay now!

[Vlietje]

That's a non GSi leg though. But the best you can get at the moment...

[Kickingriffin]

Wow... German eBay... I must be dumb not to look there lol!

[bazzap8389]

I've sent you a pm

[Kickingriffin]

Right...after this thread I ended up buying a new shell (red nova) and plan to use the GSi as a donor.. Use the 1.6 for now but want to drop a bigger lump in but thinking not red top (as much as I would like to) but thinking a 1.8 maybe or... 2.0 8v?
Whats your thoughts and would both fit easily?

[ocdstigy]

Right...after this thread I ended up buying a new shell (red nova) and plan to use the GSi as a donor.. Use the 1.6 for now but want to drop a bigger lump in but thinking not red top (as much as I would like to) but thinking a 1.8 maybe or... 2.0 8v?
Whats your thoughts and would both fit easily?

Extremely easy to fit!

[dgbnova#1]

What's your plan for the old shell someone may take it on as it genuine Gsi save it getting binned ?
any big block needs some work doing but it's not hard to do tbh it's fairly easy if your handy with the spanners there is an article on how to fit one if you look

[Kickingriffin]

Cheers guys.... You have all made me decide to go away and have a serious think about what I would like to do....
In the past I had 3 other Novas but this one is to be a true project one....
cheers guys :)

[ocdstigy]

dont forget me if you decide to sell ;)


Good luck :)

[Kickingriffin]

I won't..... So many decisions...mmmm

[Kickingriffin]

So after walking and thinking for most of PVS.......AND THE LAST MANY YEARS!! This is where I'm at... Still confused of where to go.......
I have this....http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/10/ygu9azen.jpg
And this......http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/10/huvuny2e.jpg

Stuck.......my beloved silky is (as stated above) completely shot....chassis legs have completely gone.....but new shell is solid...but would love to get silky on the road again but just unsure if I should or use the tidy new red shell....

Then we have the question of engines.......
Currently have.....http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/10/e4ase2us.jpg
And this.......http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/10/a5a3e5us.jpg


But do I sell both lumps and do either a redtop or 1.8 (possibly both turbo or throttle bodies) or maximise the 1.6 out silky?????

Ahhhhhh can't take any more confusion lol!!
Please help!!!!
Currently both are stripped.....nearly

[Kickingriffin]

Heres a few other pics so far...http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/10/5avura9u.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/10/a6a6u3u2.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/10/9amerery.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/10/yse3utyd.jpg

[peester]

There will be many people championing redtop's; for good reason too.
I guess I was kind of hoping you'd rule out a big block small block debate ha..
I vote small block, 1.6 16v or 1.8 16v; fit it naturally aspirated for now, buying-in the parts and plan for turbo conversion in the meanwhile.
Speak with Warren Greenland of WG Motorworx, one or both of the Steve's at Track and Road in Essex, and Craig Green on here for some pointers/ideas.

[Kickingriffin]

Haha.....the only debate going on at the min is the one in my head haha.....I too feel that would be the best bet...probably that bit more affordable too..?

What's the view on silky or the new red one? Sorry Dave to ask the same old stuff to you again after we saw you yesterday but thought it be good too get all the pointers on a central page too where all pics and links etc can be posted...

[peester]

Not at all. The bodyshell dilemma is an easy one for me. The most solid every time. You'll want to spend money on the fun stuff!

But its not for me, its for you. I know the sentimental value to you. Also I know you know a good welder! Sooooo.. ha

[Kickingriffin]

View on cutting out the decent chassis legs? Dodgy??

Mmmmmm I want to say the solid one but I also know that there's not many silkies left now....
Typical indecisive female

[rich a]

In the end its gona come down to how deep your pockets are and how much u wana save a genuine gsi . For my money id save it what ever as they are getting harder to find and id love to own a silkie. In the right hands most things are repairable if u look through the site people have saved far worse. Engine wise id keep the 8valve I love speed but have kept the 8 valve in mine an love it for me original is best, maybe with some subtle tweeks Rich

[Kickingriffin]

Thanks Rich.... that was the very very original plan exactly for that reason....
Yes....been trawling through....it did just worry me with the legs being that bad.....
I am.too attached to that car....the underside is shot...but once the carpet is up fully we will know more....I think the back in particularly bad now as the inside is showing bubbles round the ashtray in the back/arm rest....we will see when it's all out....

[dgbnova#1]

As above save the Gsi or pass it to someone who will get some pics or the rot on it and in answer to wether or not changing the legs over well Its the same of you buy new ones just you need to remove them an re fit them Bazzap had new ones fitted to his car and basil has some great pics of his de spotting of panels if you look at the article sections

if you want to see proper saveing of a shell mk1oc some of them Astra lads need a medal for what they do to keep one

start looking for someone to do the work as your informed on prices then that may decide it

[dgbnova#1]

Also e reg shell not a good base to re shell a mk2 Gsi as it's got lots different pitty as u just sold a great mk2 shell last week for very little

can buy boot floors new still

[rich a]

Nice one dave we'll start a campaign for kate to save the silkie gotta be done. Joking aside if you don't fancy it someone out there probably will do some looking around its suprising what you can still find an if ya blokes handy with a spanner ya laughing

[Kickingriffin]

Haha.....I've just told my other half of the final decision.... Saving silky....he agreed but as he is the expert welder out the two of us (haha) he has his work cut out....it will be the paint job that I'm thinking will.be steep....
But am back towards silky....
You will be glad to hear I'm sure hehe....
Thinking back to the original idea of using the mk1 for donor parts....

[scott.parker]

I know what I would do, in hindsight i should of saved mine etc, as at the time it was so rotten, but you could still get them from £12-1500.

Personally, save/re shell the gsi and keep the original engine imo.

[Kickingriffin]

Ok.....Think my minf has been made up...Keep silky...
Do you think put back to totally original (looks wise) or do you think it would hurt doing some simple changes (eg not sourcing original stickers etc)?

[Vlietje]

Good job on saving a silky!! GSi decals can be bought on the bay of e, they're an exact copy made from a genuine set for both the doors and the tailgate.

[Kickingriffin]

Coolio thank you....can imagine they aren't cheap...

[dgbnova#1]

There's gona be cheaper than 25 year old originals I'd have copy ones all day long now