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I've searched high and low, and there just is not enough Monza content on this forum...  Okay, where to start: I'd decided I definitely qualify for a mid-life crisis car, so I'd settled on something open, with 2 seats, maybe in the spirit of British sportscars from the 60's but with Japanese reliability. Something with a good club scene and a lot of after-market support. Couldn't think of a single option. Then, sometime in March, MonzaPhil texted me (in Istanbul, but not pertinent to this story) to tell me I was buying a Monza! Okaaay... Turns out it was a previous PH Shed-of-the-Week. Take a read of the link for the back story, which pretty much brings us up to the point where the car's been in a container for the last 6 or 7 years and the subject of some 'restoration' work and respray of sorts. Eventually in April I had the chance to go and take a look at the car, shake hands with the PO (on the price MonzaPhil had kindly agreed I would pay!), and figure out a plan... Ugh, Botophucket being a dick, pics in due course... |
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Last Edit: Jun 7, 2015 22:35:35 GMT by V8Vitesse
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Let's try that again, shall we (photobucket given a stern talking to):  Great from 10ft; subject of a complete repaint in an unknown shade of white. Much welding had been done, suspension largely refreshed, some new brake bits, and a pretty good interior. Started with a boost pack and ran smooth and clean. One or two obvious areas would need some fettling, but a deal was done and off I went to figure out removal of the car from it's resting place and transport to MonzaPhil's for a proper poke around. About a week or so later, with the initial assistance of Shiply, a very decent guy called Tony at Intermotor Solutions did a bit of this:  Now we're in business! |
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Last Edit: Jun 7, 2015 23:53:57 GMT by V8Vitesse
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Okay: Fast forward to the end of April, I have spent most of the time overseas and MonzaPhil has done some Olympic standard poking and prodding. What we (he) has found is: I have a solid car, it runs really well, but it's "been painted by an imbecile" (think tennis balls dipped in tipex and thrown at the car from 50ft by Stevie Wonder) and the welding is 'agricutural' at best.    The plan is to MoT it, see where we stand, and come up with The Plan. Which is exactly what we do. It fails, obviously, but not on anything too horrendous. I've previously been alerted to the need for ABS sensors (which were easily acquired for not-to-much folding, via Ebay/Opel Classic Parts Germany)  ...and Phil glues some metal into a couple of holes.  Before anyone points it out, that was quite clearly a 'extra' welding mask... After glueing and sticking and ABSing, we get a pass. An actual, real, MoT. And now it's time to take stock and decide which way to go. Let me go and negotiate with Photobucket... |
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Last Edit: Jun 8, 2015 4:22:14 GMT by V8Vitesse
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Having been successful with the MoT, I had to think about the bigger picture; there were 2 options: a) The car was welded and painted to a high standard, and should therefore be put on the road as an all-original/factory quality car. Seek out OEM parts and complete the process, enjoy it for a while, then pass it on. b) Much muppetry was involved, rectify those problems, then have some fun getting it how I want it and keep it as a toy I don't mind parking on the street... And that brings us up to the present day. On the one hand we have the 'shiny finish! TM' paint job and excellent mechanicals, on the other hand we have:   (yes, that's daylight viewed through the inner wing) I should point out that the bodges are in NO way a reflection of the PO, who is just as frustrated as me at the standard of work a 3rd party had carried out. The shell has been poorly masked, easily removed trim was left in place. The car was painted with the hatch shut, so there are 2 patches effectively masked by the overhang of the rear spoiler. The fabrication of the NSR arch is actually pretty good, which only serves to highlight (fibreglass-flavour) shortcuts elsewhere in that quarter. Parking it next to MP's '87 car starts giving me ideas....  |
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Last Edit: Jun 8, 2015 3:24:55 GMT by V8Vitesse
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The Plan, then: Wheels, but definitely NOT 17" split rims...that's been done to death, mainly by MonzaPhil. Inevitably The Voices made me send a PM to a certain Mr Skoda (of this parish), and Will sent me some of this action (yup, 17" splits):  Which eventually, when I get 'round to it, will look something like this - gimpy offset permitting (ET41). Not fitted in this photo, just propped up against the rusting hulk of MP's D454:  The interior will be converted from this:  Back to complete, factory standard and something more contemporary will be installed to address this problem:  And this will be replaced with something of a more appropriate size (way too small, surely destined for a Mini or similar)  Then we'll lose a coil from the front end and figure out the best way to drop the rear (E36 coupe springs looking favourable, unless anyone has some bright ideas or Mantzel bits they wish to swap for English Pounds). |
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Last Edit: Jun 8, 2015 4:30:28 GMT by V8Vitesse
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,893
Club RR Member Number: 71
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1986 Opel Monza GSE bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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I've searched high and low, and there just is not enough Monza content on this forum... You are right I've previously been alerted to the need for ABS sensors (which were easily acquired for not-to-much folding, via Ebay/Opel Classic Parts Germany) Slightly frustrated by that purchase as I gave Simon all four ABS sensors (two fronts were just a few years old and removed easily) and the modulator unit as well as the ECU as he had issues with the ABS and couldn't find the parts...... I'd just removed it all from my GSE in order to add less weight. Wonder where they went?? |
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Slightly frustrated by that purchase as I gave Simon all four ABS sensors (two fronts were just a few years old and removed easily) and the modulator unit as well as the ECU as he had issues with the ABS and couldn't find the parts...... I'd just removed it all from my GSE in order to add less weight. Wonder where they went?? I can imagine! I did see your (2012!) post when I read the PH thread, but while there was an ABS module kicking around, there were no new sensors and the old ones were properly butchered! But still, only about £20 quid each for new. It actually still failed the first MoT as the sensors did not extinguish the ABS light...Phil found another issue elsewhere (relay I think - he'll correct me if not). |
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Hello. Yes the main ABS relay had been gathering water so that had to be done. Yes it was painted by imbeciles but it does drive ever so nicely. Not sure I'm 100% on the "rusting hulk" comment Hope Canada is being good to you. Bring maple syrup or products derived thereof. Sent from the Monza Quantity Increasement Facility using proboards |
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This is now a clicky linky!  |
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Jun 19, 2015 21:36:18 GMT
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I getting the feeling that Monza's are trying to take over this forum!
Welcome and I hope you enjoy yours.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,893
Club RR Member Number: 71
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1986 Opel Monza GSE bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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I getting the feeling that Monza's are trying to take over this forum! Welcome and I hope you enjoy yours. Yeah be nice if Monza people also used TWOMAS but I reckon that forum is going to die quietly |
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jj
Part of things
Posts: 27 
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Jun 20, 2015 12:23:09 GMT
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I getting the feeling that Monza's are trying to take over this forum! Welcome and I hope you enjoy yours. Yeah be nice if Monza people also used TWOMAS but I reckon that forum is going to die quietly It's gone very quiet on TWOMAS maybe needs poking with a stick to see if it's alive. |
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Jun 20, 2015 14:07:44 GMT
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Yeah be nice if Monza people also used TWOMAS but I reckon that forum is going to die quietly It's gone very quiet on TWOMAS maybe needs poking with a stick to see if it's alive. I find that, as I get older and and more senile, keeping up with several one-make forums is nigh-on impossible. I'm grateful that a site like RR exists so that those of us with a diverse fleet have a single, receptive, spot to squander the little free time we have. I guess the knock on effect of that can be loss of activity elsewhere, sadly. |
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Jun 20, 2015 14:36:01 GMT
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I wasn't sure there was any room for more senility in your old age...
Sent from my empire using proboards
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This is now a clicky linky! |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,893
Club RR Member Number: 71
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1986 Opel Monza GSE bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Jun 20, 2015 14:49:47 GMT
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Yeah be nice if Monza people also used TWOMAS but I reckon that forum is going to die quietly It's gone very quiet on TWOMAS maybe needs poking with a stick to see if it's alive. It's past that stage, I mean I've stopped posting there because I don't like talking to myself (well not all the time, I do occasionally have to do that to make myself see sense, I'm not mad just sometimes if I'm working on my own it's nice to have some company..... I think I'd better stop there.. |
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Jun 20, 2015 15:27:29 GMT
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Monkeys have been in this car (back on topic) How much effort does it take to remove these?  See here the difference between Opel Polar White and what I imagine is Electrolux Fridge White....  ....and here...  Overall it is a good car, it's just that many parts have been ruined by monkeys. Monkeys. |
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This is now a clicky linky! |
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Jun 20, 2015 16:00:28 GMT
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It's not as special as the slam panel though, is it!  When are we relocating it to chez V8Vitesse? Also, when is the mission to retrieve the Super Top Secret project back to MonzaPhil Towers? You know, the one that's going to blow everyone's minds... |
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Jun 20, 2015 16:52:10 GMT
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I know. I didn't think you could make slam panels from artex but wow, you can!
Not sure on delivery date, did some stuff to it today.
Not sure on collection of super-top-secret project-brain-melt either.
Sent from my super top secret lair using proboards
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This is now a clicky linky! |
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Jun 20, 2015 21:35:59 GMT
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 Sent from my I'm tired using proboards |
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This is now a clicky linky! |
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Jul 15, 2015 18:54:46 GMT
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Since V8Vitesse is probably busy some way or another, I'll do a mini-update. The coolant wasn't in very nice condition so I've finally bitten the bullet and pulled a few bits. Beware the car that's been sat around...   So it's radiator out time.   After a bit of wetness....  Now sat in the yard because the factors sent me the wrong water pump. The rad is clear and in pretty good condition, a couple of the alloy pipe T-pieces are grotty and an outlet snapped clean off the water pump (hence the need to replace). All the bolts came undone without fuss, crank pulley was removed painlessly (for access to a water pump bolt). Anyway. I've got stuff to do to my own car(s). Bye. |
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This is now a clicky linky! |
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,608
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Jul 16, 2015 11:21:24 GMT
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Congratulations upon getting those bolts out intact!
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