Project GTE

[Matt GTE]

A new toy means a new project thread so here goes. I'll keep the spec and photos updated in this first post with all the work in progress stuff below as and when it happens.

Current Spec:

Car:
1990 Nova GTE in White (mostly)

Engine:
E16SE 1.6 8v OHC
No mods currently

Suspension/Chassis/Brakes:
Cavalier SRi 16v 256mm front brakes
Goodridge braided hoses
OMP front strutbrace
Random lowering springs with standard shocks
Polybushed TCAs, tie bars and rear beam
Lowered tie bar mounts
Harry Hockley strengthened TCAs
Turreted rear end
Cavalier SRi 16v 15" alloys with no centre caps
195/50/15 tyres
McGard locking wheel nuts

Exterior:
Clear indicators and side repeaters
Euro rear cluster (twin fog)
Bonnet pins
Colour coded door handles and skirts
Delocked doors
De-vinyled B pillars
Poverty spec tailgate (no wiper)

Interior:
None to speak of!!

Current pics:

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image082a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image080a.jpg

(Updated 02/08/08)

[Matt GTE]

Ok, where do I start? I was browsing the cars for sale forum a few weeks ago and came across this GTE rolling shell with a few interesting bits and modifications which happened to be fairly local so I went to have a look. I already had a 1988 1.0 shell that I'd been slowly building (read hadn't touched for 6 months) into a track car but had pretty much lost all interest and hope of it ever being finished. Having had a particular soft spot for GTE's ever since I started driving just over 10 years ago when a lad I knew at 6th form had a very nice Calypso Red example on Phase 2 Renault 19 16v alloys I had to have it. The fact it already had some modifications that I'd planned for my other shell but not got round to was an added bonus.

Fast forward 3 weeks to yesterday and Matt, the previous owner, delivered the fairly sorry looking GTE on a trailer with a bootful of spare parts.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image196a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image197a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image198a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image199a.jpg

The basic plan is to get it up and running using the bits I'd already bought for my other shell then use it to hack about in when my Vectra comes off the road at the end of May before taking it off the road when the MOT runs out for some more serious work and much deserved TLC. Ultimately the intention is to tidy it up and make it look like a GTE again (albeit subtley modified) and then keep it for a summer toy and trackday car although I don't expect it to be anywhere even vaguely close to completion for quite a while.

[essexgte]

Good to see you've started the rebuild already Matt.

Have fun with it.

[Matt GTE]

Good to see you've started the rebuild already Matt.

Have fun with it.
Thanks Matt, I'm sure I will :D!!

A brief continuation from the weekend that I didn't post at the time. I got the engine, front suspension and brakes, alloys and rear lights from my old shell swapped over as much to solve storage issues as anything else. I need to have a MAJOR clearout as I currently have 2 Novas and 2 Vectra GSi's (1 out of the 4 is roadworthy lol) as well as a mountains of parts... eBay here I come!!

Engine in, bay needs a serious clean but I didn't have time and there's no guarantees this engine is staying in anyway....

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image204a.jpg

Abandoned back outside until the next time (was getting dark hence crap pics). Already looking better with the front end down and standard rear lights but it will hopefully be unrecognisable from this by the time I've finished!!...

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image210a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image208a.jpg

That's all for now, it may not look much but has bags of potential imo. Bootlid and rear bumper are next on the hitlist.

[Matt GTE]

I've been messing about up at the farm this afternoon swapping the suspension on the GTE (so I can sell it as I'll be going for coilovers) and as the sun was out I got some better pics. There probably won't be much in the way of progress for a bit as I need to get my other Vectra finished and out of the workshop so we can get the GTE in and go medieval on it's ass lol so in the meantime it's just going to be a case of sifting through all of my Nova (and Cavalier, and Vectra, and Astra and...) parts and selling what I don't need to help finance the project.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image211a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image214a.jpg

The pics make it look fairly respectable... they don't show the flat paint and funked arches but all of that will be getting sorted. The plans have now changed to tubbed and turreted back end, new rear quarters and back panel, strengthened engine bay, inside and out respray, coilovers all round and a 2.0 16V transplant... if we're going to do it we may as well do it properly ;) :p.

[Matt GTE]

Before:

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image221a.jpg

After:

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image222a.jpg

A massive improvement imo even if the tailgate is the wrong colour... it also means I can actually lock the car now!! I may be picking up a GTE tailgate and a pair of bumpers in white next weekend but if not this one will be staying and I'll keep my eyes open for a spoiler.

While I was at it I also swapped the bonnet as I've never been a fan of Astra GSi bonnet vents on anything other than an Astra GSi and the bonnet itself was a bit crispy underneath on the leading edge and around one of the vents. If I decide I want bonnet vents I've got an Astra GTE bonnet that I'll cut up and get those vents welded in properly. I also fitted a proper GTE grill instead of the meshed one, no badge unfortunately but it's an improvement.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image223a.jpg

[Ernie]

pm sent fella

[Matt GTE]

Haven't posted in here for a while but I've finally sorted myself out and got rid of both of the Vectra GSi's so I can now start on the Nova!!

Since my last post I've managed to get hold of a pair of white GTE bumpers and, a white GTE bootlid and a white GTE grille with the badge (that cost as much as both bumpers and the bootlid together but hey!!). Unfortunately the bootlid was rusting away nicely underneath the vinyl so I rescued the spoiler and tinted rear window then scrapped it, the whole car will be getting a respray anyway so it's not a major problem.

So, as it stands now...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image082a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image080a.jpg

And with my newest toy (the Vectra GSi's replacement), a '98 S-plate 328i coupe...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/ProjectGTE/Image076a.jpg

Hopefully the next update will be slightly quicker coming than this one was!!