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Nov 15, 2017 16:05:58 GMT
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I'm getting sucked into an Opel vortex.There's been a real nice mid 90s V6 Omega saloon in town for a while that belongs to the bloke who runs the hardware store. I asked him this morning while I was buying some supplies how his Omega was going. he's been given a quote for €3000 to fix it. I will need 10m ( chimney's got to go up to clear the roof as well as down to the ground for inspection) of insulated stainless pipe which at €300 per metre = €3000!! That’s fate right there!!!  |
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düdo
Part of things
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Posts: 770
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Nov 15, 2017 21:51:04 GMT
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I'm getting sucked into an Opel vortex.There's been a real nice mid 90s V6 Omega saloon in town for a while that belongs to the bloke who runs the hardware store. I asked him this morning while I was buying some supplies how his Omega was going. he's been given a quote for €3000 to fix it. I will need 10m ( chimney's got to go up to clear the roof as well as down to the ground for inspection) of insulated stainless pipe which at €300 per metre = €3000!! That’s fate right there!!! Haha. Good sums. Unfortunately old Ewald - the hardware monger - doesn't stock insulated stainless pipe. I know a bloke - Kraft Walter - 'Strong Walter' who does demolition so I'm hoping he can turn up some reclaimed stainless pipe. |
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Last Edit: Nov 16, 2017 9:16:34 GMT by düdo
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düdo
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Posts: 770
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Nov 18, 2017 14:00:15 GMT
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New thread title : By Astra to the stars. Not this week mate. Latin innit, makes everything seem important but.. It's only a '98 Opel Astra. Don't even think I've noticed the existence of this car before a bloke came by my shed last week and offered it to me gratis ( more Latin). It looks like a lump of bland, with the streamlining of a turd. Quite a roofless turd. If anyone can get me excited about the design I'm willing to try. First step was changing the clutch master cylinder on the Cruiser last night and getting deep-frozen in the process so I could go and collect Manfred's trailer this morning in exchange for a case of beer. Then off 7km to the next village to collect - pleasantly small distances on this haulage. It was last on the road in September and starts/runs - managed to get onto the trailer by itself. At these prices you can't really say much but it's not a basket case. I haven't really checked it out, don't even know what engine is in there! I'm going down there now for some private investigations and some more pics.  
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Last Edit: Nov 18, 2017 14:10:46 GMT by düdo
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düdo
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Posts: 770
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Nov 18, 2017 17:20:43 GMT
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I can confirm that it does have a plant in the front : looks like a 1.6 with one lonely camshaft. I do have a spare 2.5 V6 ( most of it) and there's space aplenty where that puny plant sits but it's not realistically going to happen soon. It's been welded along the sills probably not too badly at the time. But needs re-visiting. Rear arch rot, side damage. So probably do the minimum for the shortest way to TÜV next Spring?  I was really trying to get excited about the new ride and its low no price but not there yet. The wife enjoyed playing with the electric roof though.  And now the Cruiser has got its clutch back I was able to get Frank Sintra into the inner sanctum for the weld attack . The sanctum looked small once filled with GM product but I couldn't have made it any longer as I wouldn't have been able to manoeuvre any vehicle in there. At least I can shut the doors and heat it as it's turned bitter cold.  |
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Last Edit: Nov 18, 2017 17:30:27 GMT by düdo
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Nov 18, 2017 18:51:20 GMT
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wouldn't knock any cabby at that price...even an escort!!
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'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating
'80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip
'97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 2,010
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Nov 18, 2017 19:07:30 GMT
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Opels are not really my thing, but as an industrial designer (if that adds any weight to the argument) I think they're generally fairly well designed (if only a bit bland).
My workshop like yours is in a big barn and built in a similar fashion. The walls are fully made out of reclaimed doors and I can open two on either side of a corner (so four in total) to easily get a car in. Never done that though as I have the luxury of two other spaces to work on cars.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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düdo
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Nov 18, 2017 19:21:42 GMT
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wouldn't knock any cabby at that price...even an escort!! You're absolutely right. It's a bargain and I'm warming to it. A mate came by and couldn't believe it was a giveaway - kept on saying : there must be something wrong with it? The previous owner said it was only good for parts so I was quite surprised that it's relatively sound. This summer I was actually having a casual look at 90s Escort convertibles but I'm better equipped to deal with this. The last convertible I had was in 1989 when I was nineteeen. It was a cheap 1962 Hillman Superminx and I was out of my depth but I can sort this one. |
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Nov 18, 2017 19:26:33 GMT
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1.6 SPi with I think 67bhp when shiny and new, only one engine worse (the 1.4 with 59 when new), guess which my Astra has... v6 slots well in them but makes them quite nose heavy but for free with a v6 going begging I know what I'd do  |
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düdo
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Nov 18, 2017 19:29:35 GMT
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Opels are not really my thing, but as an industrial designer (if that adds any weight to the argument) I think they're generally fairly well designed (if only a bit bland). My workshop like yours is in a big barn and built in a similar fashion. The walls are fully made out of reclaimed doors and I can open two on either side of a corner (so four in total) to easily get a car in. Never done that though as I have the luxury of two other spaces to work on cars. Lets have some pics of your workshop then. And what manner of things have you designed? I paticularly like the Tigra design and that it was originally the work of Opel design students. And much of the 90s Opel design - simplicity, function, working man's wheels. A bloke called 'Bert One' was responsible for the Astra convertible - his name's all over it |
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düdo
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Nov 18, 2017 19:36:27 GMT
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1.6 SPi with I think 67bhp when shiny and new, only one engine worse (the 1.4 with 59 when new), guess which my Astra has... v6 slots well in them but makes them quite nose heavy but for free with a v6 going begging I know what I'd do I see you're an Astra-naut. Now I get it! Thanks for the figures : that's scary, that whole 67bhp. I've got quite used to four camshafts now, I just know that if I start fiddling with it it's going to sit in bits. The Opel order of things 1. Weld up Frank Sintra asap for daily duties 2. Meld the 2.5 + 3.0 V6 in the inner sanctum while smoking a pipe and listening to the radio and test fit in the Tigra 3. Take Bert One Astra to TÜV in Spring |
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Last Edit: Nov 18, 2017 19:51:05 GMT by düdo
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79cord
Posted a lot
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Nov 18, 2017 21:21:09 GMT
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Needs late GSi grille to banish the bland.  or even a piece of chrome or painted plastic to reduce that oversized opening. Sohc does look misplaced in the cabrio but is hardly the first concern if it works. Still a nice tourer. |
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Last Edit: Nov 18, 2017 21:26:03 GMT by 79cord
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düdo
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Nov 18, 2017 21:29:55 GMT
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Needs late GSi grille to banish the bland. or even a piece of chrome or painted plastic to reduce that oversized opening. Sohc does look misplaced in the cabrio but is hardly the first concern if it works. Still a nice tourer. Spot on. |
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Last Edit: Nov 18, 2017 21:30:18 GMT by düdo
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düdo
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79cord Mate, you shouldn't have got me started about the GSi grill! Found one already in the right colour in the small ads. Blimey, there's a lot of used 'tuning' kit/tat available in the smalls . I should just put a cover over the Astra and leave it til Spring instead I'm getting the first signs of the mania , pricing up a 60mm drop, starting to foam at the mouth. 
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79cord
Posted a lot
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Nov 19, 2017 10:07:22 GMT
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Wow. Cars of 'that' age might be dangerously tempting but at least you can get bits easily/economically.
Should look good with your current bumper!
Stiff springs might show up convertible torsional rigidity?
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düdo
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Nov 19, 2017 10:43:06 GMT
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Wow. Cars of 'that' age might be dangerously tempting but at least you can get bits easily/economically. Should look good with your current bumper! Stiff springs might show up convertible torsional rigidity? Yeah, cheap bits - I'm sat on an Astra F tat heap here. Hadn't considered torsional rigidity, just wondered whether a saggy door is the result of geometry shift or just shagged? It will be going down a bit and there's a set of 'Angel-eye' headlights for €20 to go with the grill? To illuminate its way better round the U-bend. I've rocked up twenty years late to the party, baseball cap wrong way round, like a sad uncle.  |
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Last Edit: Nov 19, 2017 19:58:25 GMT by düdo
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79cord
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As you say small engine with tuning bits pretty sad. At least it doesn't have capacity badges, & don't think you'll be rushing for 17" chrome wheels, 2' rear wing & vinyl grafix.
Actually nice looking lights, integrated indicator globes might be a little more difficult to change & force you towards LEDS?
Boring normal lights do add a subtle bit of 'silver' to contrast the dark paint nicely though.
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Last Edit: Nov 20, 2017 4:43:45 GMT by 79cord
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Nov 20, 2017 11:33:06 GMT
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If said saggy door has any vertical play in it, then it's just saggy and you'll need some new hinge pins. If the door hinges are solid then the shell might've sagged a bit. Try jacking it up in the middle, that'll easily show a tired shell, mind you, all convertibles are saggy.
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 2,010
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Nov 20, 2017 11:42:22 GMT
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Lets have some pics of your workshop then. And what manner of things have you designed? Nothing that made it to any market. I have two degrees in Industrial Design and I think I'm quite good at design, but I'm not a very good designer! Fortunately my degrees are also useful in research (I'm currently doing a PhD) and teaching. Here's my workshop, which I built about 18 years ago I think. Hard to see through the mess, but the ground floor walls are fully made out of old doors and two on either side of the corner open.  I've rocked up twenty years late to the party, baseball cap wrong way round, like a sad uncle. For some reason this made me think of the song "The unseen man" by Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells. |
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Last Edit: Nov 20, 2017 11:43:33 GMT by melle
www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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düdo
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Nov 21, 2017 14:44:16 GMT
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As you say small engine with tuning bits pretty sad. At least it doesn't have capacity badges, & don't think you'll be rushing for 17" chrome wheels, 2' rear wing & vinyl grafix. Actually nice looking lights, integrated indicator globes might be a little more difficult to change & force you towards LEDS? Boring normal lights do add a subtle bit of 'silver' to contrast the dark paint nicely though. Good eye for detail. I don't mind a bit of tat - as long as it's not on my car! It's a dying art form, the heavily spoilered and kitted pretender with mismatched panels and red-oxide patches - more imagination than money. In D such vehicles mostly to be seen these days in the former East where the old ways still prevail. It makes a nice contrast to the homogeneous black Audi. A friend runs a classic restoration workshop out east in Dresden and he's often sending me pics of Opel tuning monstrosities/ hand-made heaps. Incidently he just sent this current view of his workshop :  If said saggy door has any vertical play in it, then it's just saggy and you'll need some new hinge pins. If the door hinges are solid then the shell might've sagged a bit. Try jacking it up in the middle, that'll easily show a tired shell, mind you, all convertibles are saggy. I'll check the play in the pins. If the shell is sagging, then it'll lower itself and save me on springs! Lets have some pics of your workshop then. And what manner of things have you designed? Nothing that made it to any market. I have two degrees in Industrial Design and I think I'm quite good at design, but I'm not a very good designer! Fortunately my degrees are also useful in research (I'm currently doing a PhD) and teaching. Here's my workshop, which I built about 18 years ago I think. Hard to see through the mess, but the ground floor walls are fully made out of old doors and two on either side of the corner open. I've rocked up twenty years late to the party, baseball cap wrong way round, like a sad uncle. For some reason this made me think of the song "The unseen man" by Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells. That's an impressive construction. Bit like Caractacus Pott's workshop in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Must have taken some time to piece together? You sound properly qualified to work on Saabs! I couldn't find the 'unseen man' song to listen to, just some lyrics : Haha yes. Can't remember the last time I went anywhere that had bouncers and the only 'girls' that see me - and mostly don't hear me - are my three daughters. No laments for lost youth.. just stick a bigger spoiler on the back! Meanwhile.. down the shed last night on Sintra duty : The horror! The 'new' sills that were fitted by the previous owner/bodger were just spot welded over the old rusted out sills then all other areas of corrosion were fibre-glassed over. Yeah, kwality. I may be some time Frank Sinatra = Old Blue Eyes Frank Sintra = Old Brown Sides  |
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Last Edit: Nov 21, 2017 14:53:23 GMT by düdo
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,617
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Nov 22, 2017 12:50:25 GMT
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Great stripes, Visa chrono & Gilbern invader.
Scary Sintra, too late for Halloween.
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