First Ever Project

[Optikal]

Corsa 1.4 16V GLS 5dr Auto

Here she is, battered, bruised, not working 100% but I do love her so. Forum dudes, meet Doris!






She has some cosmetic damage too, as you can see from these lovely dents, as well as a matching pinstripe thanks to kids with keys.




As well as those marks, she needs a new speedo cable, a replacement water pump, a new electric mirror controller (inside drivers door) and various rust patches mending.

I've already begun to debadge. Will do the rub strips next week.

Going to get a quote on a respray because with her being so old, every panel is a different shade of red now LOL.

Then going to look at some basic engine mods whilst I keep an eye out for some nice black alloys (Derestricted Airbox etc)

What size wheels will fit with no rubbing/mods to the arches? Baring in mind that I live in Speed Bump Hell too...

Also, can you lower on stock springs or will I have to go Aftermarket?

[kie-1200sxi-shed]

awww it looks like its bin neglected lol. try giving it a good t-cut (one for red paint) should come up good as sin them alot worse and have come up like new. also you maybe able to get the dents out yourself by pushing the dent out from the inside. if i were you id get some 15''alloys and lower it 40mm , but you will need to get upgraded shocks and springs.

but first give it a good clean,t-cut,polish/wax.

and

[nath2905]

hi and welcome

like kie said try tcutting it, will look like a different car
and perhaps get moulding back black, and push that dent out
will get it looking mint hopefully

[Optikal]

Just a tin of Back 2 Black on the plastics or a full respray? What do you guys think?

Going to grab some gear and tackle the rust spotting in the front of the bonnet and the bottom of the doors soon. Once that's done, I'll rattle can the repairs and then give her a few coats of T-Cut.

[Optikal]

Also guys, those big arsed ugly old plastic bumpers, can they be replaced with c/coded ones? I'm not after big fat chavvy bumps, just something that looks tasteful.

[nath2905]

yh mate you can replace them with colour coded 1's if you want, i'd go for the facelift 1's too
and i'd try tcut first as that is the cheapest opinion

[kie-1200sxi-shed]

yer, if you want colour codedbumpers just get the newer model ones (facelift) , will probs find them at scrapyard for about £20 each. dnt worry if ther on a 3 door they will fit (all corsa b bumpers are the same) if not just back to blackthe bumpers you have.

[Optikal]

Cheers boys. Was down the scrappies this morning and I know he has some in. Will go down there and barter with him on payday. What about the grille bit though? Mine's part of the bumper... Do I buy the job lot?

[nath2905]

get the grille with th bumper yh, thats if you want the vauxhall 1 or you can get aftermarket 1's off ebay but they 15 quid roughly

[Optikal]

Yeah, I'll look into that. I had an Irmy one on a 53 plate Astra I owned last year so know the ones you're talking about

Going to have to wait until sunday for my long reach socket though so can't take the battery off and complete the speedo cable or the water butt replacement til then. So frustrated!

[Subliminal]

Looking good. Take good care of it, though if you are going to do any mods ill be interested to see. Will be the first 5 door i will have seen, only ever seen 3 doors modded.

[nath2905]

theres a couple about mod'ed
theres one, on another forum, with 2.0 in it, gsi kit and angels bad boy bonnet etc, its well smart

[Optikal]

Alright dudes!

We've had quite a productive day today. The speedo is fixed and working again, though there seems to be a faint plasticy rubbing sound whilst accelerating. Still, it's likely that it's just wearing in.

Also fitted the new water retainer. The old one had cracked and was leaking terribly, new one is shiny and clean

Took off the front inner (well stepdad roughly ragged it out lol) and tried to knock the front dent out of the skin. The metal is creased though and will need filling professionally, the same goes for the rear dent.

Have been offered a set of Vaux alloys too for £30.

They're 14's and kerbed quite badly so will need to cash out on some restoration (and respraying black). Not sure if I like them though...

[Optikal]

Went down to the Scrapyard this morning and a set of flamer colour coded bumpers is going to cost £35. Bargain, I reckon. Also saw a set of 15" 5 spoke black alloys on an old Corsa and he told me £45. Thing is though, there's a car stacked on top of the Corsa so I'm worried the alloys might be misshapen with the weight . Will probably leave them and pick some up off of Ebay.

Been out and gave it a good wash and two coats of T-Cut this morning. Car looks a lot healthier but there's still a lot of glaring problems. Still, let's see some pics shall we?











I've decided not do a right lot on her other than tidying it up. There's 135000 on the clock and seeing as she's a group 6 on the insurance (and costing more than an 8v Mk4 Astra would, it seems like dead money to spend a lot. Still, the paintwork is bugging the hell out of me. There are panels that have obviously been replaced over time as the colour doesn't match one bit. The bonnet is covered in stone chips and then there are serious sunburn fades all over. Even after T-Cutting it is glaring.



But I know slinging £500 for a lick of paint is dead money so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas?

[nath2905]

run a proper polishin mop over it?
if not mate its bin sun burnt