1979 Opel Rekord E Belina 2.0S Auto, now 2.4 manual - PAINT!

fantastic bit of parts bin engineering.

i was just going to quiz about compression ratios with the capacity increase, but its the same bore size, just bigger stroke on the 24NE right ?

the "worlds worst carb" is it varajett ?

Firstly both the 2.0 and 2.4 have ecu's, looms and sensors everywhere. I do have all the efi off the 2.4 but to answer spineynorman's question, a 2.4 manifold doesn't fit under the bonnet that why you have to use a Carlton 2.2 manifold which fits on a 2.4 head.

Updaaaaaates! Sorry it's been a while - busy doing other stuff.. (getting Elks Monza ready for RRG manly)

Firstly to close off the conversation above: Looks like we've worked out how to fit the Frontera 2.4 injectors & rail on the Manta inlet mani, so that'll sort that out nicely I also, after much measuring up & cross-checking of part numbers managed to get a NOS clutch & cover (£26 on eBay - result!) so that's all sorted and the engine & 'box are now finally bolted together. I'm leaving that to one side for now while I sort the shell out..


On that note, after a tip-off from RobinXR4SexyEyes (thanks dude!) I 'popped' down to Devon to snag this:



I am a Rekord collector*

Thanks to VIP for his company on the trip (Brighton to Brixham & back in an N/A banana-diesel Recovery truck is a looooong way) and to Robin for the initial tip-off and your hospitalitah


Back at TAB:






The plan now is to break this Rekord* for all the parts that are better than / missing off mine.

To look at them both that probably seems mental (mine looks horrendous tbf) - why break the better looking one? I shall answer that photographically..


Front floor paaaans: (private joke for Elkatron there )




Strut tops:




Arches made of pog, most of which is falling out, then given a comically thick coat of paint:




Rear panel (inside the boot) - that's the bumper bolt there, barely holding on..




Rear floor paaaaans (beneath the back seat) - signs of old repairs:




Rear panel, where the bumper was :




To summarise; it's curse word hanging.


So:-

- The bonnet & boot are better than mine (straighter & less prep for paint)
- 3 of the 4 doors are better than mine (as above) and it has electric windows which mine doesn't
- All the chrome from around the door tops & gutters, door handles and rubbing strips is there (which mine is either missing, or has been rubbed down & painted black)
- The rear bumper is probably better than mine
- The back seat has headrests (ermagherd, plush!)
- Manual centre console - easier than bastardising my auto one
- Mine has one crappy headlight
- I never got round to working out if the auto prop would work, but this has a manual one
- I never got round to working out if the Monza manual pedal box would work, but this has one
- There's a yellow knob to match the interior
- I'll have some spare front legs to cut up & coilover at my convenience without stopping the car from working
- I'll have a spare diff in case I 'accidentally' weld one up sometime..
- Some useful parts, etc.. You get the idea



Yesterday I started taking it apart. Our scrap pile is getting a bit big & we need a handy way of taking it all to the bridge..




Chrome trims..




Seems to be one of these missing, annoy!




Some stuff needed. Some stuff it's good to have as spares..




& that's where I'm at - more soon..


*Rubbish Pun Count: 13 (I think? Does anyone care? Is anyone actually reading this bit anyway?)

Good read chap. I would like to see a chart of the pog/ rust dust/ paint/ holes/ actual car - ratio for the yeller one...

Looking good Andy, always good to have a suitable spares car

Thanks all - glad my inane ramblings serve as some entertainment anyway..


Terri I think it goes: loads/ quite a lot / far too much / some / not a lot

OhEmDee - you do make I lol always a pleasure dude!

Been pottering on with this in between other things - few pics so I've got an up to date Rekord*..


The scrap car is mostly stripped:



3 of the doors will be used on the final car - NSF one is rusted out so I'll have to try to resuscitate the OMG ratluk one.

Still quite a few bits left to take off, plus once the other one is 'done' I'll probably remove a load of spares from this one (glass, diff, brakes..) to futureproof myself somewhat.


This is the inner framework that the rear headrests fit into:

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They're now cut out, ready to be welded into t'other shell.


Ever wondered what a Mk2 Escort Roadster looks like with most of 2 Rekord interiors piled on it? Of course you have:




I got the logbook through for the scrap car, which tells me it's a '78 Rekord Berlina HL/CD - this rather amazing website shows all the various models in the lineup: www.senatorman.de/Rekord_e1.htm - some of the interiors are INCREDABLE! I think the 'crushed lion' remains my favourite though

Interestingly the '78 has electric windows all round, but manual locks, whereas the '79 has central locking but keep-fit windows.. When I build the final 4 doors back up (after a few repairs, and paint) I'll fit the CL & E/W - plus all the chrome trims & handles


E/W mech & chrome from the one door that isn't transferring over..




Labelled up E/W loom for all 4 corners, removed intact with switches, ready to go back in the other shell:




Discovered some comedy fibreglass 'repairs'..




Front/rear screen trims -

One set look like this (peeling/ratluk'ed/farked):



T'others are like this (faded/white/farked):



Chrome corner pieces look ok tho. Must be able to get generic lengths of this trim from somewhere?


Carpets out for a vacuum & jetwash:



Much better! (you'll just have to believe me - I realise in the phone pics they look exactly the same)





Car still looks like curse word:




S'all for now - mwoar soon..



*Rubbish Pun Count: 14

Great read this, loving your work. My uncle had one of these, but don't know which engine or spec.