Sorry looking GTE 16V [Archive] - Astra MK2 Owners Club

Matt N

04-09-2006, 10:05 PM

I promised some pics so here they are. This is the GTE 16V I picked up last week, went halves on it with a mate but not entirely sure what the future holds for it at the moment. The previous owner had started to strip it for spares but needed rid of the rented garage it had been sitting in for the past 18 months so sold it whole. The indicators, mirrors and doorcards are missing but otherwise I think everything is there.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/DSCF0649a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/DSCF0646a.jpg

N/S rear arch, O/S is in a similar state. I'm guessing the sideskirts are going to be hiding some horrors.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/DSCF0647a.jpg

Half fitted XE. The car was fitted with a 220bhp SBD lump at some point but it went bang and the previous owner lost interest before the original engine was fully refitted. I think the airflow meter is missing, haven't had a chance to go through all the spare parts and bags of bits that came with it yet though.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/DSCF0650a.jpg

Half stripped interior. The car came with a set of Courtenay leather seats, doorcards are missing but I think everything else is there.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/DSCF0651a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/DSCF0652a.jpg

We basically have 3 options at the moment... 1) break it, 2) fix it up and sell it or 3) fix it up and keep it as a track car. What happens will largely depend on what state it's in once the bumpers and sideskirts come off and how much money it's going to take to get it through an MOT so at the moment it's future is hanging in the balance.

astrachamp

04-09-2006, 10:13 PM

i would fix it up and have it standard

Matt N

04-09-2006, 10:15 PM

I've got some pics from a couple of years ago when it wasn't looking quite so sad, it would be nice to restore her to her former glory but money doesn't grow on trees and I have 2 other cars as well so time will tell.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/GTE1.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/GTE2.jpg

Belmont turbo

04-09-2006, 10:22 PM

dosn't look to bad really fix up as a track day car

p.s ive got a spare air flow meter if you need one cheap

bigdrifter

04-09-2006, 10:29 PM

Would be nice to see it restored Matt. Are the rear interior quarter panels missing aswell? If so then just look in the bottom of there for what the skirts are hiding

Gteman

04-09-2006, 10:42 PM

Hope it doesn't turn out to bad for you m8.

It would be sad to see another one broke for spares.

Matt N

04-09-2006, 10:54 PM

Would be nice to see it restored Matt. Are the rear interior quarter panels missing aswell? If so then just look in the bottom of there for what the skirts are hiding
They are, hadn't even thought of that :duh:. The Mk3 is back on the road now so I may get a chance to have a look at the GTE next weekend.

Ian T

04-09-2006, 11:07 PM

Hi Matt, good to see you on here, you'll remember me from the CavWeb days. :)

Nice also to see what that car actually looks like, as when I saw it in the pics from the seller it looked too tidy to be partially stripped. They're fun cars to own and a darn sight easier to de-rust then the IRS Cav, go faster too, for the same power.

Ian.

Ian T

04-09-2006, 11:10 PM

Oh, and I've got a spare airbox if you need one.

Ian.

Matt N

05-09-2006, 09:13 PM

Ian T

05-09-2006, 10:45 PM

Hi Ian, hows things?

I've just binned my Cav as it wasn't worth anything and needed a lot of money spending on the bodywork and that was before I took the skirts off :dizzy:. I'd like to save the GTE if possible, I also have a Vectra GSi (which I love to bits) and a Mk3 Astra GSi that I've literally just transplanted the LET and F28 from my Cav into :cool: though so I don't know if I'm going to have the cash to save it and bodywork as something I can't do myself.

How things change.

That cav was one of the nicest around when I last remember seeing it, albeit a looong time ago now.

I also have a Vectra GSi (facelift hatch) which I quite like but probably won't keep for too much longer - it's a very nice car, in really good condition, but I'm having more fun with the GTE and would rather find a diesel estate instead of the Vec.

I reckon the hard bits of bodywork are things anyone can do. It just takes a bit of a mechanistic approach to cutting out rusty bits and welding new bits in. When you see it that way, the rest becomes easier. Filler is harder and can take absolutely ages to get right, but even that can be taught to anyone that wants to learn - it's all self taught for me and I reckon the vast majority of others on here are the same.

That said I know you have high standards. :)

Hope we get to see you (and the car) at one of the meets, plus you've found a good place to ask the model specific questions - there are some really knowledgeable folks on here. :)

Ian.

traffman

05-09-2006, 11:16 PM

That actually looks better nick than mines before the rebuild.

Either restore it or track day it, why break it? Theres not much left on it thats going to make you a few bob.

Matt N

05-09-2006, 11:25 PM

I ought to learn to weld really, it's something I have thought of before and I'm lucky enough to have a Dad who is extremely handy with a Mig welder even if he does avoid it if he possibly can. I'm not sure if I have the patience though and like you say my standards are high, probably too high :rolleyes:. I loved the Cav but after nearly 4 years was pretty much terminally bored of it and wasn't prepared to spend £2k plus to get the bodywork to a standard I could be happy with when I couldn't even sell it for that so it had to go, as it turned out the rot was starting to set in quite badly too when I got the kit off so I made the right decision.

My Vectra is a late pre-facelift saloon. I've had it just over a year now and honestly can't see me selling, it still puts a big smile on my face everytime I drive it. I never thought I'd love a 'standard' car so much!! The Astra GSi is quite entertaining at the moment, it has only been back on the road with LET power since Friday though. Half of my motivation for doing it was knowing that if, or should that be when, I get bored of it I should be able to sell it on fairly easily and for a reasonable amount.

MK2-JOHN

06-09-2006, 10:45 AM

i've got some of thoses quad headlights if you want them for your astra,£50 & they are yours

Matt N

07-09-2006, 05:32 PM

Thanks John, I may be interested if you're not desperate to sell them, I'm not spending any money on it until I've had time to get the kit off and see the extent of any welding required.

Ian T

07-09-2006, 08:41 PM

Matt, I've got a full sill (Hadrian) if you need one. It's a near side one, I didn't need it when I had mine to bits this year.

Ian.

Matt N

07-09-2006, 08:47 PM

Thanks Ian :thumbsup:. I'm going to start a list of everything I'm offered so I can take people up on what I'm missing as and when I know what is happening with the car. We're hoping to give it some attention on Sunday so there may be news and or pics up here Sunday evening.

Ian T

07-09-2006, 08:58 PM

There are quite a lot of photos on here in my car restoration thread, and on my website, which (between the two) cover the car since I got it. You'll already know that replacing sills is hardly the end of the world, but do check around the rest of it carefully first.

My view is that even if you use it to learn how to weld on you should still be able to end up with a decent job done at the end of it. :)

Ian.

Matt N

10-09-2006, 07:35 PM

The Courtenay leather interior is for sale.

http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthread.php?p=96449#post96449

Thanks,
Matt.

Ian T

10-09-2006, 08:16 PM

Are you going for a standard interior then, or no interior?

Ian.

Matt N

10-09-2006, 09:06 PM

I'm not sure to be honest, if we decide to do it up and sell it I'll be on the lookout for a light rainbow interior, if we track day it then it'll just have a pair of whatever seats we can find in the front.

We were both of the opinion that the two-tone grey Courtenay seats would look awful with the rest of the interior trim being beige and any money we can get back from buying the car is going to make it's survival a little more likely.

Didn't get a chance to look over it as planned today, the friend I went halves with was slightly worse for wear after going to a wedding last night and wasn't about so I got some little jobs done on the Mk3.

Matt N

12-09-2006, 10:56 PM

I've got a bit of an update, not much of one admittedly and no pics but hey!!

We spent this evening clearing out all of the rubbish from inside the car and sorting out what is being kept and what is going in the bin. I had a look inside the rear quarters with a torch like bigdrifter suggested as the interior panels are missing with slightly mixed findings. The sills are not in a good way, I'm sure you'll have seen worse but they're definitely going to need replacing but on the plus side the inner wings look to be in reasonable condition. The N/S has some corrosion down the front side of the wheel but there is no daylight visible although I haven't had a poke about with a screwdriver yet, the O/S looks to be rot free.

Next on the agenda is to get the skirts, bumpers and wings off and find out exactly how bad it is (and get some pics for you lot), some decisions about it's future can be made then.

vauxmad

13-09-2006, 08:20 PM

looks like a good project and an ideal track wepon esspecially if you take the turbo outta the mk3 and give it a proper home :thumbsup:

GazJevs84

13-09-2006, 11:42 PM

looks like a decent project keep us upto date mate

Matt N

16-09-2006, 06:09 PM

Hehe, the turbo is staying put in the Mk3, it's only been in there 2 weeks and took too much effort what with messing about finding a radiator to fit and a Frontera intercooler. I've wanted a blue Mk3 GSi for along time and was fortunate enough to come across a very tidy one on eBay, there are a LOT of dogs about.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Astra/DSCF0697a.jpg

The bumpers and skirts should be coming off the GTE tomorrow (don't think my mate has any weddings to go to today :rolleyes: ;)) so we should be ok!! There might just be some pics tomorrow afternoon/evening.

Sipo

17-09-2006, 10:44 AM

Hope it doesnt hold too many horrors for you matey. On the plus side, that GSi looks a spanker :thumbsup:

Matt N

17-09-2006, 08:59 PM

Thanks for all the comments so far :thumbsup:.

We spent this afternoon dismantling the GTE, bumpers, skirts and wings are off and it probably weighs about half as much as it did because of all the crap that came out from behind them!! I didn't get any pics because I forgot to take my camera up to the farm, I've got to go back up tomorrow evening to put it back inside though (left it out tonight so it doesn't leave big puddles all over the workshop floor after giving it some justice with the jetwash earlier) so I'll try an dget some then.

To be honest it isn't as bad as I was expecting it to be, that's not to say it's good though. Both arches need replacing which I knew about anyway, the O/S sill is largely non existant (thanks in no small part to some indescriminate hammer weilding and screwdriver poking), the back of the N/S sill is gone and there are a couple of other places that the screwdriver went through but it's a lot better than the O/S. Both sides have rotted nicely behind the rear bumper, O/S is worse than N/S though.

On the up side that's about it. The inner wings seem to be solid and the front wings weren't hiding any horrors either, there is some surface rust in places but nothing catastrophic that can't be treated rather than cut out and replaced.

We still haven't made a decision about what's going to happen to the car, it may not be as bad as it could have been but it'll still cost to sort out properly. I have just sold the Courtenay leather interior on eBay for £155 though so the car as it stands only owes us £145.

Ian T

17-09-2006, 10:09 PM

Sounds to be no worse than mine was. With two of you working on it, even if you do have to teach yourself to weld, you should have it looking good in no time. :)

I was almost tempted by your leather myself, missed the end of the auction due to some heavy duty gardening after the Westerham get together.

Ian.

jimbojetset

17-09-2006, 11:03 PM

bigdrifter

18-09-2006, 07:47 PM

Sounds very similar too mine - arches, sills and rear corners

Matt N

25-09-2006, 08:04 PM

I didn't get any pics because I forgot to take my camera up to the farm, I've got to go back up tomorrow evening to put it back inside though (left it out tonight so it doesn't leave big puddles all over the workshop floor after giving it some justice with the jetwash earlier)
I still haven't got any pics and it's still sat outside a week later :o (surprised I haven't been moaned at about it making the place look untidy yet!!) BUT the general consensus at the moment is that it's going to live again and won't be broken :thumbsup:.

bigdrifter

25-09-2006, 08:09 PM

Sounds promising

Matt N

25-09-2006, 08:31 PM

Got to get it running yet as the engine is only half fitted, if that turns out to be knackered it may be a different story.

The favoured plan at the moment is to have it as a track car (nothing serious, just a bit of fun really) until we get bored of it and then find a proper interior for it and sell it on. It'll be a bit of a slow burner as neither of us have bucketloads of money to throw at it but a mate of a mate has said he'd be up for teaching me how to weld so that should save a few quid on the bodywork and mechanical stuff isn't a problem.

bigdrifter

25-09-2006, 08:44 PM

All good fun - learning new skills is always helpful too

Ian T

25-09-2006, 09:29 PM

Yep, I agree with My Drifty above. Learning new skills will keep it cheap, and doing it slowly will give you the chance to do it well.

Keep us posted.

Ian.

Mjl16vGTE

25-09-2006, 10:29 PM

I think all mk2 astra GTE's will have rotten sills if veryone took the covers off and looked. Most are scarred!! Mine had gone on the sills backs and the floor at the front where the wishbone bolts up.

bigdrifter

26-09-2006, 06:45 PM

Yep - mines no exception, the rear 12 inches or so of both sills on the 16 valve have both been plated up before I got it (having full replacements soon) and I daren't look under the 8 valves skirts- the little bits not covered by the skirt are very solid and apart from the arches its pretty tidy but I'm sure there will be some tin worm hiding under the skirts

Matt N

03-10-2006, 05:45 PM

I've finally managed to get some pics!! I'll start with the O/S, would appreciate comments and/or opinions.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/OS1.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/OS5.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/OS2.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/OS3.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/OS4.jpg

Matt N

03-10-2006, 05:46 PM

...and the N/S:

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/NS1.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/NS4.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/NS2.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/NS3.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/GTE/NS5.jpg

Ian T

03-10-2006, 05:50 PM

Well, I'd say that's the same, if not a bit better than mine was.

Crack on.

Sills and arches, or quarters if you want it done properly, plus inner arch repair panels, then job's a goodun.

Check the A pillars for rust from the inside out, and the floor at the bottom of the bulkhead, which rusts from the inside out too.

When are you starting? ;)

Ian.

astrachamp

03-10-2006, 05:51 PM

looks like you will have your work cut out there, any news on the engine?

Matt N

03-10-2006, 05:57 PM

Sills and arches, or quarters if you want it done properly, plus inner arch repair panels, then job's a goodun.

Check the A pillars for rust from the inside out, and the floor at the bottom of the bulkhead, which rusts from the inside out too.
The bulkhead has supposedly been welded already although I haven't got a clue where I should be looking!! We're pretty sure it's going to be a track/messing about car so I'm not sure if we'd go for the full quarters, what sort of money are the panels (full quarters and individual repair panels) though as that may affect any decision.

looks like you will have your work cut out there, any news on the engine?
Just a bit lol, I can't weld yet either!! I'm in the process of acquiring an airflow meter then it's a case of putting it back together and seeing what else is missing, the engine bay wiring is a mess though so I'm guessing I could be in for a few headscratching moments!!

GazJevs84

03-10-2006, 06:24 PM

The bulkhead has supposedly been welded already although I haven't got a clue where I should be looking!! We're pretty sure it's going to be a track/messing about car so I'm not sure if we'd go for the full quarters, what sort of money are the panels (full quarters and individual repair panels) though as that may affect any decision.

that is what i am expecting mine to look like when the rain stops and i get to take a look lol here is mine now and i plan to do a complete restoration

http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9175

i plan to replace the quarters on both sides n/s and o/s and i have been told that beevers auto panels is the cheapest place and are a good fit etc

http://www.beeversautopanels.co.uk/

hope this helps bud :thumbsup:

Ian T

03-10-2006, 11:30 PM

I'd agree with that - Hadrian panels do seem to be a decent fit for their price. :)

Ian.

Matt N

14-10-2006, 11:06 AM

I will be breaking this car in the near future so if anybody wants any parts drop me a pm and I'll see what I can do. Pretty much everything is there apart from the seats, doorcards, indicators, mirrors and a couple of bits of trim.

Thanks,
Matt.

Matt N

19-11-2006, 06:40 PM

Some final pics before it's collected (the rest have disappeared somewhere, not sure where). The shell might not have been that bad but pretty much everything else would have needed replacing, it was in a bit of a state.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Stuff/Image001.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Stuff/Image002.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Stuff/Image003.jpg