View Full Version : Time to De-Rust VAO
after putting it off for too long the time has finally come for me to start sorting all those bits of rust and to do some wee mods that ive been planning for years on the mex.
its not going to be a fast restoration, i'll be working on it when i can and i wont be rushing. ( its done when its done FIONA! ;) )
i would love it to be ready for the 2011 lakes tour but i cant see it happening :( more like 2013 or more!!
heres a couple of pics from a spare 2 hours i had. i love the first pic, seems a shame to take it apart. :p
wish me luck!
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/ABCD0006-1.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/ABCD0007.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/ABCD0008.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/ABCD0009-1.jpg
Frosticles
03-01-2011, 12:22
Nice little car is that :cool: Best of luck with it.
graham John
03-01-2011, 12:41
will be well worth doing as it will give the car many many more years of use
keep the pics coming
cheeRS
wetandwindy2
03-01-2011, 14:33
shouldnt think it'll be to bad David ,garage looks nice is it totally ready now how did the bells go
Car looks lovely in the first pic so i imagine it`ll only be even better when you`re done :)
keep the pics coming ;)
Doesn't time fly by..it was early 90's when i restored it, nearly 20 years ago:eek:
Don't set yourself any targets David..or budgets because you will only blow them lol:)
Cheers Diarmid.
bluevan1
03-01-2011, 20:05
good to see this car at the end of the day what work ur doing u will no its only you that has done it .then u no u have a good car the only way .
will watch ur progress m8...........:)
thanks for the nice comments guys, its good encouragement to get out and do something to it....i'll be needing plenty! lol
shouldnt think it'll be to bad David ,garage looks nice is it totally ready now how did the bells go
thanks! the garage is 98% finished thats why ive started on the car now. ive just got to get some lights in "upstairs" so ive got a place to store what i remove off the car and get it out the way.
the bells were good, i was slightly pickled which makes a change for me, how were yours??
Doesn't time fly by..it was early 90's when i restored it, nearly 20 years ago:eek:
Don't set yourself any targets David..or budgets because you will only blow them lol:)
Cheers Diarmid.
hiya ders, yea i think it was 91 or 92 when you did it so its not done too bad....probably thanks to your handy work :D
like i said at the start of this thread im not rushing it, it will be how i want it to be and it will be finished when its finished. all money and time allowing!
call in and give me hand anytime you like! lol
good to see this car at the end of the day what work ur doing u will no its only you that has done it .then u no u have a good car the only way .
will watch ur progress m8...........:)
ive got a bit of a to do list for it....... i will be stripping the car down enough to put onto my roll over jig and i'll be scraping all the underseal off the floor and looking for and cutting out any rust i find.
ive got a few patches of rust to cut out on the bodywork, bubbles on the drivers side of lower rear panel and bubbles on passengers door and a small dent some low life did at a car show to sort.
once all thats done a complete respray inside outside and underneath in original white, not to concourse but clean, usable and washable.
the engines going to be getting a new kent rl30 cam kit, electronic ignition and finally after owning them for 5 years :rolleyes: a set of twin webber 45s.
i'll be fitting a 5 speed gearbox with a quick shift and if ive got the money i'll be fitting an lsd with new bearings.
the suspensions getting raised slightly ( not sure how yet and i must be getting old! lol ) and im maybe going to fit single leafs to the rear as the original multi leafs are nearly flat.
a new quick rack will be fitted too and some polly bushes.
interiors getting last years christmas present fitted which was a full set of new aldridge seat covers and again if ive got the money and i can find one at a decent price an rs 3 spoke steering wheel and boss.
and anything else i find along the way lol
this seems a lot for me to do, im thinking it will cost quite alot and its also the reason why i think it will take me quite a while to finish it but now that its in my own garage i dont care how long it takes as i know it will be worth it in the end.
this took me ages to write all that! :p
acheyford
03-01-2011, 21:24
:eek: keep with it dave you know my number if you get fed up with it :D:D:D:D:D
it will be well worth the effort in the long run :thumbright:
thanks and i'll try to.
i dont think i do have your number actually and i cant ever sell it cos i'll never be able to afford to get another like it.
nice to see your on facebook :p not everyone in the escort world recognises me on there cos im not on as pockets lol
Sharpy_G
03-01-2011, 22:01
nice car, nice project ! :D
looks like I'll be joining you shortly too ;)
i cant ever sell it cos i'll never be able to afford to get another like it.
the first owner from carlisle would love it back too, as you know. ;)
keep the pics coming. good luck.
Yeh Im sure Mr Rudd would love it back !
Dont ever see David parting with it !
Cant wait till its finished ! as David misses driving it so much ! surprised no one has commented on the car that shares the garage with VAO ! LOL :cool::p
Mr Hoarder
04-01-2011, 00:09
surprised no one has commented on the car that shares the garage with VAO ! LOL :cool::p
Mk2 Astra GTE ?
fiona didnt want you guys to think she swears if she siad it was a vauxhall lol i'll go even further though and say its one of 3 we have.........dont ban me! lol :D
mark ive still not got round to sending neil a letter....i'll get round to it one day or even better tell him to get on here with some pics his twin cams etc.
Dave1800BDA
04-01-2011, 14:43
again a nice car, looks good to start with david, im sure it will be a nice rebuild
oggie snr
04-01-2011, 15:09
David you must spend more time in the garage son ;) Lakes 2013 will be here before you know it and that will be you 5th wedding Anniversary :eek:
im hoping it will be a nice rebuild too....ive got an astra gte to put back together before i want to get properly stuck into the mexico. :rolleyes: lol
your right oggie i do need to spend more time in the garage its just hard to tear myself away from daddies little girl (hannah).
going by your sig i wont manage it in 4 monts and 3 days!! lol
i think the lakes tour being our wedding anniversary is the reason why fiona would like it finished for then. she does really enjoy the tour with all the cars too.
Good luck with the resto David but the car looks good to start with so should be a great one once completed :)
Nice to see another County Garage car getting well looked after :cool:
mike77cos
20-01-2011, 21:51
Looks great now
Any updates on progress David?
Or are you still playing with plastic Astras :eek:
nope nothing more done to the mex yet :( and yes ive had my hands full with plastic astras. lol. i see it as having some practice before i get proper stuck into the mex. :D
heres a finished pic of the maroon one for you since you like them.
im really happy with it and it go's really well too.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/cars/finished.jpg
heres fionas one too
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/cars/SDC10329.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/cars/SDC10329.jpg
love this one, very 90's with the wheels on it as well, had them on my nova gsi...
gis a nudge if you want to ever sell it;)
love this one, very 90's with the wheels on it as well, had them on my nova gsi...
gis a nudge if you want to ever sell it;)
thanks and will do but fiona really likes this one so i think its a keeper :cool:
I like the plate on the GTE mate :cool:
i managed a couple of hours yesterday and today and i didnt take any pics .....sorry.
i removed the complete interior and front steering/suspension then got the old pinto disconnected and ready to be removed when i get a borrow of an engine hoist from fionas work.
i was ment to be starting to remove the rear axel tonight but my little girls tired me out lol :rolleyes:
felt good to be getting on with it and even better it all came appart without hassle and i didnt uncover any more issues......so far!:cool:
im starting a shopping list in my head now. full polly bush kit, higher springs, lsd, rs 3 spoke steering wheel.......
More to add to shopping list...................
Rolls of welding wire
Pleanty gas
P40 fiberglass
Chicken wire
You will get there in the end! ha
cheers,auld
and ive got some box section you can have to brace the shell before you put it on the spit to give it some strength back!
auld
http://www.microskiff.com/yabbfiles/Attachments/ThisThreadIsWorthless.jpg
:rolleyes: lol
Sounds good David :cool:
What sort of springs you got in mind?...a lsd too...good man! plenty fun ahead! lol :D
auldy your a cheeky sh"te lol im away to find your for sale advert for your transit if your going to be like that :D
shifty, i want to raise the car up a wee bit cos its getting too low and an lsd for some fun if i can find one cheap enough.
i didnt take any pics cos i didnt have much time, i'll get some the next time im working on it..........sorry! :la:
i managed to nip out to the garage again for a couple of hours. i got the rear end totally stripped down - leafs, axel, shocks, fuel tank, hand brake cables, drained all fluids.
all came appart so well i had to text ders to thanks him for putting it together so nicly in 1991 lol :D soon be spit time!
again no pics yet, there wasnt time to take any sorry. :rolleyes:
i managed a few more hours in the garage today and i even rememberd to take some pics for once!
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/06032011_001.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/06032011_002.jpg
the brown stuff on the drivers side floor isnt rust its remains of the stuff that was under the carpet.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/06032011_003.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/06032011_005.jpg
i scraped a bit of the underseal/waxoil off. its nice to see theres still some paint below it
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/06032011_009.jpg
now for the bad bits
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/06032011_006.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/06032011_007.jpg
my lofts getting a bit full!
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/06032011_010.jpg
mike77cos
06-03-2011, 22:09
Its amazing what can appear, but doesn't look to bad
she looks a solid enough yoke mate :cool:
thanks. i propably didnt need to go and strip it down this far, i would have got away with a wee tidy up which might have lasted for another few years but i might aswell get it over and done with early so that i can try and keep the rust away.....I HATE RUST!!!!!!!!!!!
wetandwindy2
07-03-2011, 22:24
good pics wouldnt mind a rumage in that loft David ,not much to repair there at all
Looking great there bud, my loft is full of swag too but not nearly as tidy as yours! I admire your approach, strip it all off and see what you've got to work with. It's the only way!
thanks and im glad you guys all approve :D
thats the windows out now thanks to my mate davey, and ive got an engine hoist now so the engine and box will be out soon.
sorry for the lack of updates.....the engine and gearbox were out last weekend and i started to build up the and fit the roll over jig.
today the jig was wound up and the car was turned onto its side, i was absolutly crapping myself when i was turning it over and untill i get used to it i'll be crapping myself everytime i go near it lol :p
i started to scrape off some of the old underseal/waxoil. ive found using an old blunt screwdriver, a little bit of heat and clean it at the end with some meth spirits.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/19032011.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/19032011_002.jpg
the trolly jacks there to stop the car shacking too much when im scraping, makes me feel better too lol
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/19032011_003.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/19032011_005.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/19032011_006.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/19032011_007.jpg
i got a sore back and i was ordered into the house by a little voice calling for daddy so thats it for today. :D
I feel your pain bud, I know exactly what you're going through. Keep up the good work, it'll be worth it in the end.
KelvinS1965
20-03-2011, 10:48
That's looking great. I'd like to clean off my arches like that on my RS2000 Mk2 (once I've done the other work), but haven't room for a spit. I guess I'm going to get dirty. :D Have you tried using a chisel, like a 1" wide one as that was my plan? What do you plan to paint the underarches/floor pan with once done as I originally thought to use smoothrite, but I heard it's quite brittle after it cures.
Best of luck with the project...I'm off to start clearing my garage so I can get to work on mine.:thumbright:
I feel your pain bud, I know exactly what you're going through. Keep up the good work, it'll be worth it in the end.
thanks:thumbright: id been having a look at what your doing and thats why i tried it.... it works well.
That's looking great. I'd like to clean off my arches like that on my RS2000 Mk2 (once I've done the other work), but haven't room for a spit. I guess I'm going to get dirty. :D Have you tried using a chisel, like a 1" wide one as that was my plan? What do you plan to paint the underarches/floor pan with once done as I originally thought to use smoothrite, but I heard it's quite brittle after it cures.
Best of luck with the project...I'm off to start clearing my garage so I can get to work on mine.:thumbright:
thanks!
the spit does make it soo much easyer. just get it nice and high on some decent axel stands.
i found a small blunt screw driver works well till i find a strong plastic or wood scraper. i did try a metal scraper but i found the corners of it dug in and scratched the original paint.
i think im going to paint it again with 2 pack white. i think your right about the smoothrite paint....not too sure.
i did have a car years ago that i added red paint to white stone guard and sprayed the whole floor with it in about 10 mins. it looked spot on untill id driven it about for a few months and it started to flake off lol.......the things you do when your young!! :p
i did a good bit more today.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/20032011_001.jpg
some of the paint that was put on in 1991 is flaking off down to what looks like to be the factory primer which looks green. i thought it was ment to be dove grey?????
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/20032011_004.jpg
mike77cos
20-03-2011, 20:12
looks grey to me???
lee bishop
20-03-2011, 20:18
id try and find something not metal to scrape with mate. coming along nicely though
ickyrsesc
20-03-2011, 20:58
Great project mate take your time and make sure you get it right first time i,ve done 3 escorts like that over the years i used a heat gun zinger brush scrapper petrol and thinners for the really heavy bits of underseal but worth it in the end but your car looks really nice to start with which makes it easier only a few minor repairs in the usual blackspots:thumbright:
coming on well there David, sore backs are the worst mate...I know how you feel...no wonder I always hit the drink after a heavy session on the escorts :rolleyes: lol
Keep at it though :thumbright:
garrybhoy
21-03-2011, 18:35
Lookin good David.....nice to see the old Astra's there.......look what I got !
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t250/garrybhoy/IMG_0088.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t250/garrybhoy/IMG_0087.jpg
cheeRS guys i will keep at it as im really missing driving it now that the weathers getting better.
ive got myself a wee bar stool type thingy to sit on which keeps the pressure off my back a bit so that i can stay out longer........sorry fiona! :D
thanks and nice astra shell garrybhoy, i knew of 2 like that but didnt have the cash to buy either at the time. one might still be there but its sitting not far from the sea :(
whos is the escort sitting beside it??? looks like one from oban maybe??
garrybhoy
22-03-2011, 01:47
No its not David, this car hasnt seen the light of day yet, it belongs to my mate Alan Forest, full grp4 shell, six link etc, 3 way adjustable proflex all round, 280bhp red top, 6speed sequential box power sterring etc etc etc, its been getting built for over 7 years now, finally have all the pieces, just has to built up now.
sounds like its going to be a nice mk2. whats the palns for the astra??
bluevan1
22-03-2011, 21:25
sounds like its going to be a nice mk2. whats the palns for the astra??
u progress coming on well.
the last time a had to do that job of scrapping underseal was 10 years ago its a sore job but worth it in the end .keep up the good work.
alan forrest gp4 shell is well build a have see the shell a couple times...
garrybhoy
23-03-2011, 01:20
sounds like its going to be a nice mk2. whats the palns for the astra??
Just going to re shell my old GTE 16V and have it as a road car, then we will be building another MK11 for a bit of fun.
cool! should be a magic car when its done then! id go daft and paint and powder coat everything though lol
do i replace the wings with cheapo hadrian ones which ive got or do i try and save the original ford wings by using the hadrian wings for repairs??????
im also wondering weather or not to get the underside blasted.
what do you guys think??
I'd try and repair the original wing if I could Dave as the rest looks pretty original.
As for the bad back I think I spent a solid 2 weeks under my MKII picking away.........and that was after blasting :confused:. You still don't seem to be able to get everywhere with the shot.
Loving the Motor by the way.
i started on the passenger front inner wing today. i did this in about 2 hours with my heat gun and soft wire brush and some times a scraper for the tight spots. its coming off a lot easier now.:D
i should be turning it over during the week or next weekend to start the other side.
i also noticed that the jigs front mountings are bending. might have to remove them and weld/double up the bars at the weekend too. :(
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/03042011.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/03042011_004.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/03042011_005.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/03042011_009.jpg
heres the bucket of waxoil thats been removed so far.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/03042011_007.jpg
mike77cos
03-04-2011, 23:06
Great work mate
Looks Great !!
I dont get time to go for a good look in the garage at it ! so thought I would take a wee peek in here !!
Keep up the good work ! :) :thumbright:
thanks:D
thats quite sneaky fiona! :rolleyes:
soul destroying job even on a spit,keep at it buddy looking good.dont look like much welding is needed?
thanks and its not that bad of a job. i can imagen that it would be much worse if i were doing all this while lying on my back on the concrete floor!
so far the car needs small ish repairs to all of these:- both front wings, front panel, both sills, spare wheel well, lower rear panel and passenger door skin, once fixed it will need a full respray.
i also would like to rebuilt the diff and maybe fit an lsd if i have the spare money, fit new rear 1/4 window rubbers as these ones have split, find and fit an rs 3 spoke steering wheel and get the interior retrimed with the covers i got for xmas lol.
it all adds up! i dont think i have the cash to do all this but i'll try my best.:D
Coming on well mate , nice progress :cool:
i turned the car over on the spit today to get at the floor on the other side, i was crapping myself again, i keep thinking its going to fall over!
more scraping of underseal, seam sealer and filler.
i didnt clean this lot up as i normally do as i think the fumes were getting to me i ended up feeling sick and had a bit of a sore head so it looks a bit rough in the pics.
both chassis legs had a skim of filler in some areas but i cant see why it was there as when i removed it the leg is not rusty or been repaired, maybe just a cosmetic thing???????
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/IMAG0005.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/IMAG0004.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/IMAG0006.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/IMAG0007.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/IMAG0009.jpg
KelvinS1965
10-04-2011, 22:41
Hats off to you fella. I had a brief try at mine now that the outer wing is off and the underseal/stonechip didn't even budge. I think I might just give mine a scrub and touch up the minor flaky bits. :)
cheeRS.
get a really good heat gun it makes it soo much easyer.
RS2000&MEXICO
11-04-2011, 00:01
keep up the good work dave looks like a good solid shell you have there:)
thanks
it has a few repairs needed but nothing too bad thank god!! :D
Met David and Fiona last night walked past there house while on holiday and noticed the red MK2 sitting at there door. Got chatting and got a look at at the white Mex really nice car :cool: it doesn't need that much to be fair good project.
cheers for now
stan
btw thanks to Fiona for the midgie spray need it up here :D
thanks and no problem and it was nice to meet you too:D
ive been on holiday this week so ive managed to get some work done on the mex. these took me ages!
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0187.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0188.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0190.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0192.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0199.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0200.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0201.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0202.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0205.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0206.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0207.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0209.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0210.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0203.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0204.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0211.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0213.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0212.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/mk2mexico/mex%20resoration%20pics/IMAG0220.jpg
looking well there David, nice n solid :cool:
spits are a god send! lol
thanks craig. :D the spit does make it a hell of a lot easier.
bluevan1
16-08-2011, 00:51
comeing on well m8.
good to see some progress .keep at it...
nice work.
great work David:cool: keep it up son
thanks guys....im trying my best :D
some very nice work :cool:
Bloody hell I didn't realise how long its been since I last got a chance to work on the car....been doing a few house things and adding another baby to the family in this tim
Good to hear about the new addition to the family. Take it you won't be at the lakes this year. Doing well with the mexico. Looks like it should be ready for lakes tour 2020. :D any way great times ahead. Cheers Colin 2.
Thanks Colin, id better start saving for charlies first escort lol ...I've not got a finish date for the mex but maybe I should to get me to get on with it.
No we won't be going to the lakes this year :0(
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