stradacab Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 To cut a long (and not that interesting) story short, I've purchased a 1980 SR Berlinetta! Some of you may have seen it for sale on eBay. I tried so hard not to buy it for nearly two months, but a journey past Exeter on my way back from Salcome meant it was only 10 miles out of my way in Sidmouth......and I was only going for a look........ I've aways had "fellings" for the hatch and regret selling my GTE hatch 4 years ago (B811 VHT). The main reason for this one was it had been Ziebarted from new and was a one owner car until he sadly deceased in September last year. I'll treat it to a rolling resto on the odds and sods that need doing, it will be at Billing and I'll smoke it around this season before fitting arch, wings and having the sides painted in winter. It needs the rear panel and bumper straightening out, N/S arch repair 2 wings and the front tidying up. First up is the front, previous repairs have meant that the valence is rotten through as are the wing bottoms. It had been black stone chipped which spoils the look at front I have a pattern valence and two wings in stock (but the wings won't be fitted yet to keep colour) Off! And new one offered up, I will have to take the wings off completley to repair the nose cone under-shields because about two inches of it has gone I'll have to tack some "L" plates on to the remains of the bottom of the wings for now, and it will be finished off with a lower spoiler (which will hide most of the remaining damage to the wings) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Another Silver and blue combination, doesnt look too bad from the photos. Sure its easy for you to sort after seeing your previous work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 Thanks Mick, was hoping we'd have a pair at Billing, but I'll see you in your Cav Mk2 instead. Made a repair up tonight- it was a bit more rotten than I thought.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Fish Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Club motto that: "it was a bit more rotten than I thought" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Club motto that: "it was a bit more rotten than I thought" Could be everyones signature on here! Edited May 22, 2012 by Mick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 So I have let the repair panel in tonight but the inner wing that meets it is rotten too. I have chopped that out and spent the entire night cutting and shaping a new piece of steel. Isn't it funny how a simple job like replacing the valence to fit a spoiler has grown into repairs to nose cone and both inner wing fronts? Oh, and there are holes in the inner wing tops by the "A" post so that'll need doing too........................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Typical Manta/Cavalier/Ascona/any other 70's car thing isnt it really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted May 27, 2012 Author Share Posted May 27, 2012 Here's a couple of shots of the OS inner wing rust cut out and the repair plate I made to meet the new part on the nose cone. This is the second side which was not as bad as the NS one but same repair basically The pattern valence welded on and primed/ painted. I rubbed it down and did it again as the finish showed some sanding marks in the top coat so it needs laquering tomorrow, and then the spoiler I painted 2 weeks ago loosley bolted up to check for fit Have to make some temporary repairs to the rotten wings, would really like to go ahead and fit replacements but this is a rolling resto and it wont go to paint til the end of the year so I'll have to wait. Hopefullt the big reveal when finished later this week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Good work James, wish I could get on with mine as quick and as well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Looking good James. Nothing like good weather & a show deadline next Monday to get things moving on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 (edited) Finished tonight. Wings refitted (after welding on bodge plates) "mouth" painted in anthracite, bumper refitted and I have replaced the incorrect black nose trim with a stainless one from stock and a nice silver blitz to match. I reckon it tidies up the front a lot if you compare it to the before pic below Showing it this weekend so a wash and polish will make it look good. Next job is to do something with the wheels and continue to tart it up for Billing beofre the proper work starts at the end of the year. Edited May 30, 2012 by stradacab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper1483 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 That's a r8 effort, getting all that done, are you doing a full or a rolling resto, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 I love that little early GTE frontspoiler lip Nice repair mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted May 31, 2012 Author Share Posted May 31, 2012 Thanks for the replies, yes I'm pretty proud of it. The spoiler really balances the front end off I reckon Next on the rolling resto list is straightening and refitting the biffed back bumper, anyone got two side brackets for a hatch?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Nice Work James. Couple of pics of my old Manta to inspire you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share Posted June 2, 2012 Nice! I think I'd seen the front pic before but never realised it was a hatch til you mentioned it in this thread. Interesting that the correct front badge should be black, reckon I'll paint mine and change it back. Also, who blacked out the rear panel, was that you? and what year did you own it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Interesting you mention the back panel as I always thought it was standard. Perhaps it was an optional extra? I know it was standard on the Cav Sports Hatch. I owned this one way back in 1991. Wish I stil had her to be honest. She was a lot more solid than the GTE that replaced her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I reckon the back panel looks nice in satin black against the silver. Could be worth a try with a rattle can whilst the back bumper is off for the panel fettling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 (edited) I reckon the back panel looks nice in satin black against the silver. Could be worth a try with a rattle can whilst the back bumper is off for the panel fettling. I prefer it silver as it makes it Opel rather than Vauxhall, I know there are a lot of differences on the back but the black panel is for Cavs in my opinon.. Edited June 3, 2012 by Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 4, 2012 Author Share Posted June 4, 2012 After a great day today up at Berkeley Castle with the guys I though I would turn may attention to the back end of EJO. The pic shows that the ns of the bumper is pushed up and in close to the light, while on the OS the corner bracket is missing (fortunately someone has chucked it in the spare wheel well) Panel is pushed in on both sides and has some rust where the paint has split and obviously the brackets are bent too. So a combination of wood block and sledge, hammer and drift and slide hammer I have got the NS perfect, the OS was stuffed so I've got it in the right place I can't get to the back to shrink the dents out. This will need a proper repair when I have the car painted next year. Most of the damage is hidden so I'll do a bit of paint to stop the rust and that will have to do. Normally you just refit the bumper, but this one seems to have hit a post and it twisted so instead of following the curve of the body, it goes the oppsosite way! My idea was the bend it back but I have a spare coupe bumper in stock. Now we all know that the coupe and hatch bumpers are different (thats one of the first things they teach you in Manta college) but I wondered if the actual bar was the same......and it is! So I just need to swap the bumper cover over on to a spare bar. That's all for tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 6, 2012 Author Share Posted June 6, 2012 I have finished repairing the brackets and changed over the covers tonight and rebuilt the bumper (brackets, end brackets, fog light etc) ready to refit. Primed the panel but rain stopped play- damn not having a garage to work in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 I have managed to get the rear panel painted and laquered to hide the worst of the damage. Refitted the refurbished bumper and lined it all up. Makes the rear loook much tidier. I have also fitted a period radio (amp. aerial etc) as it never had one from new- (need some company on the long drive to Billing) and picked up some other jobs like headlamp motors not working, bonnet needed realigning, mirror mounts satin blacked) Next job is getting some ATS Classics refurbed to complete the tarting up ready for July. Then it needs a MASSIVE clean and polish. Watch this space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieH Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 looks well , nice neat job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share Posted June 18, 2012 (edited) Not really part of the project but thought I'd post this for a laugh. We went to Longleat on Saturday and I decided to trundle down in EJO. There's nothing like driving throught the lion enclosure with your family in a 30 year old car to which you have done no mechanical work to increase the levels of jeopardy! (All trim still intact despite them having a go at the rear wiper and a chew on the front windscreen rubber) Edited June 18, 2012 by stradacab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Fish Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 that monkey is thinking "nice capri!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.