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I’ve been lurking for a fair few months now so I thought I’d introduce myself and my motor which I've been working on.
I’d moved to Finland a few years back and had missed not really replacing my old 88 Celica which I had to leave behind in the UK. I was actually searching for another when I thought I’d widen my choices and I thought a GTE (GSi) would not only fill the gap perfectly but make a nice change and I could enjoy some good driving roads in an 80’s classic.
Usually, the only ones that tend to appear here were pretty hammered or incredibly rusty but this one came up in the next town and in the pictures at least, looked ok.
When I was looking around it, it was pretty grubby, but for the most part nearly rust free which is a good start. Some idiot had keyed the bonnet in the past and there were plenty of odds and sods to do, but it looked honest and straight overall. Given the choice, I would have preferred a 16v but the 2 litre 8 valve pulls like a train and is punchy enough.
The test drive revealed from what I gather from this site is a host of “usual” issues. Whistling vents, digital dash not great, busted lock where someone had tried to get it, odometer not spinning etc etc.
Under the issues was a good car trying to get out. Also, I like it being a less common 4 door....so I was sold on it
So a deal was done and I was the proud owner of a Kadett GSi.
I took it to a friend’s farm where I could make a noise and a mess and started assessing what needed to be done….quite allot actually but overall, nothing terrible.
First off, off with the tow bar! I took the rear bumper off and bits out of the boot to have a good look.
Sadly the tow bar attaches part of itself to the spare wheel well and has during the installation, dented it…but better that than rust I suppose…
So, I started my restoration here. I fetched my hammer
After a good few hours bashing and desperately try not to make is worse, I eventually got some shape back into it and pressed ahead with paint.
Its not perfect but allot better than when it started
Cleaned up the spare wheel and this bit was done.
I’ll one day get someone more qualified than a monkey with a hammer (me) to take a look to improve things but for now it’s presentable at least
Have also busy cleaning up the panels under the front wings. There was some odd grey material like rotten blue-tac which the wings sat on and it was a real pain to shift.
Thankfully it as all pretty much rust free with just a few bits to treat so after plenty of rubbing down, I blackened the areas to smarten it up again.
I'll put up further progess when I get a few more moments
I’d moved to Finland a few years back and had missed not really replacing my old 88 Celica which I had to leave behind in the UK. I was actually searching for another when I thought I’d widen my choices and I thought a GTE (GSi) would not only fill the gap perfectly but make a nice change and I could enjoy some good driving roads in an 80’s classic.
Usually, the only ones that tend to appear here were pretty hammered or incredibly rusty but this one came up in the next town and in the pictures at least, looked ok.
When I was looking around it, it was pretty grubby, but for the most part nearly rust free which is a good start. Some idiot had keyed the bonnet in the past and there were plenty of odds and sods to do, but it looked honest and straight overall. Given the choice, I would have preferred a 16v but the 2 litre 8 valve pulls like a train and is punchy enough.
The test drive revealed from what I gather from this site is a host of “usual” issues. Whistling vents, digital dash not great, busted lock where someone had tried to get it, odometer not spinning etc etc.
Under the issues was a good car trying to get out. Also, I like it being a less common 4 door....so I was sold on it
So a deal was done and I was the proud owner of a Kadett GSi.
I took it to a friend’s farm where I could make a noise and a mess and started assessing what needed to be done….quite allot actually but overall, nothing terrible.
First off, off with the tow bar! I took the rear bumper off and bits out of the boot to have a good look.
Sadly the tow bar attaches part of itself to the spare wheel well and has during the installation, dented it…but better that than rust I suppose…
So, I started my restoration here. I fetched my hammer
After a good few hours bashing and desperately try not to make is worse, I eventually got some shape back into it and pressed ahead with paint.
Its not perfect but allot better than when it started
Cleaned up the spare wheel and this bit was done.I’ll one day get someone more qualified than a monkey with a hammer (me) to take a look to improve things but for now it’s presentable at least
Have also busy cleaning up the panels under the front wings. There was some odd grey material like rotten blue-tac which the wings sat on and it was a real pain to shift.
Thankfully it as all pretty much rust free with just a few bits to treat so after plenty of rubbing down, I blackened the areas to smarten it up again.
I'll put up further progess when I get a few more moments
but I think a re-spray is in order as the idiot who key'd it managed to do most of the panels.
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