[Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

[Kadett_GSi_16V]

Hello! I am from Latvia and just wanted to say hello and show you my Kadett. I bought it just a week ago. The car's not bad, it has bad repaired sills and rear arches, but I think I'll fix them next summer, as the car is my everyday transport.
I've had Kadett's previosly, but this is my first Kadett with RedTop.

[DarrenH]

Re: 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

hello and welcome ! i like your new kadett. its quite a rare colour that black here in the UK, maybe not for europe ?

it is so confusing sometimes to see steering wheel on the left side, and brake cylinder!

what are your plans for the future, after the bodywork ?

i think maybe your gsi has kadett 8 valve exhaust? he will be much happier with 16v tail pipe

[Kadett_GSi_16V]

Re: 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

Thank You!
I don't know if the black colour is rare or not, I've seen couple of black GSi's here in Latvia. In my opinion it suits car well. The only problem is to ceep it clean.
The bodywork isn't first job to do, there are some things to do with interior, as well I need to sort out some mechanical stuff (oil cooler tubes, V-belts, wiper mechanism worn out, e.t.c.). Some things already has been done: have replaced timing belt, spark plugs, fuel and air filters, strut top mount, engine oil, have sorted out a small RPM driving problem-it was damaged isolation on CKP sensor's wires.
The bodywork will wait 'till next summer 'cause I can't take the car apart, at first i have to finish a MK1 Astra (Kadett D) project, so I will have another driveable car.
The idea is to ceep this GSi as original as possible, sort out mechanical and visual things and enjoy it!

[Kadett_GSi_16V]

Re: 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

Thank You!
I don't know if the black colour is rare or not, I've seen couple of black GSi's here in Latvia. In my opinion it suits car well. The only problem is to ceep it clean.
The bodywork isn't first job to do, there are some things to do with interior, as well I need to sort out some mechanical stuff (oil cooler tubes, V-belts, wiper mechanism worn out, e.t.c.). Some things already has been done: have replaced timing belt, spark plugs, fuel and air filters, strut top mount, engine oil, have sorted out a small RPM driving problem-it was damaged isolation on CKP sensor's wires.
The bodywork will wait 'till next summer 'cause I can't take the car apart, at first i have to finish a MK1 Astra (Kadett D) project, so I will have another driveable car.
The idea is to ceep this GSi as original as possible, sort out mechanical and visual things and enjoy it!

[Kadett_GSi_16V]

Re: 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

It's been some time from last post, so here's news on this car. As I've wrote in first post the car has badly repaired sills & arches by previous owner. I must pass MOT in august, so all these things needed to be repaired. I knew the sills and arches are bad, but I never expected that they are so bad:







Here you can see how he joined the inner and outer arches: with foam! Great idea!!!



Condition of inner sills:


As you can see, the remains of the original sill is left beneath the "repair" panel:


And here's some pictures of work done so far:







Contact primer:


Primer:


Other side:




And here's my girlfriend and she's a very, very, very big help.


Soon to be continued!

[Roger]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

wtf?? the previous owner rivett everything? I've seen a lot of stupid restorations.. but this....??

very good the car is in good hands now.. you are now making it correct with the right tools..

Good luck!

[1800turbogte]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

Excellent work there, i'v still got to learn to weld. Hows the Mk1 going? Would love to see pics of that aswel after seeing the care and attention you have put into this!!

Chris

[Kadett_GSi_16V]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

wtf?? the previous owner rivett everything? I've seen a lot of stupid restorations.. but this....??

very good the car is in good hands now.. you are now making it correct with the right tools..

Good luck!

Thanks! That guy was truly professional rivetter! It was very easy was to remove all this s...t!

[Kadett_GSi_16V]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

Excellent work there, i'v still got to learn to weld. Hows the Mk1 going? Would love to see pics of that aswel after seeing the care and attention you have put into this!!

Chris

Thanks, Chris! I didn't finish the MK 1 project because of the lack of time, this winter and spring I was very busy in my work, so I just hadn't enough time to work on MK 1.
Here's some pictures of it when it still was in one piece:





I hope to start work on it again this fall. Things done so far:

[tonka666]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

My 2 favorite vauxhall/opels there nice work i had patches on mine held on with filler and one or two rivets! I had a black 2.0 8v gte and it looked great when it was clean and polished just doesn't stay that way for long!!

[Kadett_GSi_16V]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

News from the battlefield!
Rusted inner arch



trial-fitting arch



Little repairs done



Making the inner arch from the remains of removed outer arch



Finished




Painted



More rust to come!

[easytrans]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

Thats some nice fabrication work you have done there

Keep up the great work

Laurie.

[Kadett_GSi_16V]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

Thanks, Laurie!
A little update:




Arch finally in place




Constructing rear bottom corner:



Primed:




Starting with other side:





Stay tuned!

[7unner172]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

some excellent work there dude

[Davey J]

Re: [Latvia] 1989 Opel Kadett GSi 16V

Fantastic fabrication. Bodywork is the one area of cars I cannot currently do. Mechanical stuff, stereo, electrical (with some tutting and arm folding) etc no problem. RESPECT to you for achieving that!