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Author Topic: Restoring cars  (Read 4650 times)

Offline ollie288

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Restoring cars
« on: March 22, 2011, 06:47:15 pm »
Has anyone restored an old car? Im just looking for general advice on it. How difficult it is etc. This would be my first restoration project. I have all tools. I can weld, I am decent with electrics and mechanical things, engines are not my strong point but my old man knows his way around an engine.

I am looking at getting an MK1 golf to restore to its former glory! Would that be to difficult to do as a first project?

Thanks for any advice  :happy2:

Offline MAT ED30

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2011, 07:39:26 pm »
Done a few  :laugh: mk1 should easy enough to just strip it down bag everything up in clear bags and write on them what they are and just take your time. Plus enjoy it as it's going to cost  :signLOL: but it's a bloody good thing to do

Mods yes but way too many to stick in this little box

Offline telewebby

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2011, 07:45:13 pm »
done a few mins over the years, one you start stripping it down you will find more and more things to replace, all the old clips will have gone brittle and you will shout and swear as you snap studs/bolts and try and find bits for it which are out of production and sink more money than the car is worth doing it.................


















but i would do it all over again as once its built you can stand back and admire your work

alex

Offline VC

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2011, 07:56:54 pm »
Get friendly on a forum that specialises in the car you choose - for advice, whatever you think it will cost you in time and money then multiply it by 3 too  :laugh:

Been there, done it, loved it. Everyone should restore a car at some point in there life

Offline Phil Miller

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2011, 09:06:09 pm »
ive fully restored 3 mk2 Astra GTE's over the last 6/7 yrs, altho there not that old they can rust, the first one didnt look that bad but once id started it was 2 yrs before it was completed and i was on it most weekends, i found the hardest bit was finding the original parts things like a complete under tray (at the time i didnt know they even had them fitted) and the rubber seal on the bumper under the headlights, i did find tho once you start you do get to the point where if you know there is something missing you have to find one otherwise its a half job, as already said the trim clips go hard and break, finding them is very hard, the fun part i found was things like rubbing down the rear beam to paint it jet black, altho not really needed it always made me smile when i took them for the first MOT after id finished and the testers jaw dropped when they see how clean they were, would i do another....... to right i would, hope you enjoy the project mate :happy2:
2004 Golf 5dr TDI, 140 remap, GTI front bumper, skirts, highline cluster, 18in wheels, jamax coilovers, winter pack
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Offline ollie288

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2011, 09:58:38 pm »
Cheers guys  :happy2:

I defiantly want to do it.  I have been looking for a decent base car for a while now. I will find one!  :party:


Offline Phil Miller

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2011, 10:08:17 pm »
theres a black mk1 on someones drive down my road, its in bits tho, main thing is the shell looks solid
2004 Golf 5dr TDI, 140 remap, GTI front bumper, skirts, highline cluster, 18in wheels, jamax coilovers, winter pack
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Offline JPC

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2011, 10:49:33 pm »
I've just had the director of transport from the burj al Arab on the phone. He wants a full rebuild of a 1999 rolls Royce silver seraph! Eeeak! How about that for a restoration!

Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2011, 10:51:45 pm »
 :scared:

Is this the start of JPC International?

The GTI isn't just a machine. It's very much a living, breathing thing.

Offline cmdrfire

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2011, 11:19:18 am »
Do it JPC! Do it!


On another note, I'm in the middle of my Karmann restoration. I have some advice.

1) Don't start.

2) If you do start, don't start in the middle of working and completing a Masters degree.

3) It will take far longer, and be far more expensive, than you can possibly predict. 2 and a half years and I've stopped counting the money...


I will be thrilled when I'm finished, and I'll never sell the car on. And I'm glad I've done it, as I will have literally removed every single bolt from the car (and hopefully put it back on).  But I'm not convinced it's something I'll want to do again.

Offline tony_danza

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2011, 11:26:10 am »
I've just had the director of transport from the burj al Arab on the phone. He wants a full rebuild of a 1999 rolls Royce silver seraph! Eeeak! How about that for a restoration!

I need your bank account details....

Sideways yo!

Offline ollie288

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2011, 11:26:11 pm »
Cheers guys  :happy2:

Can you think of any other good cars to restore other than the mk1?

Offline JPC

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #12 on: March 26, 2011, 12:37:41 am »
I've just had the director of transport from the burj al Arab on the phone. He wants a full rebuild of a 1999 rolls Royce silver seraph! Eeeak! How about that for a restoration!

I need your bank account details....



Haha, it all checks out trust me haha. I've had a 22 page PDF report including point which need addressing

Offline richtung

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2011, 01:20:19 pm »
take a look at:

www.detailingworld.com there are quite a few restorations ongoing as well as results of various projects.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=182810 MK1 engine restoration

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=148712 more MK1 info..

Hope this helps

rich

Offline PDT

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Re: Restoring cars
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2011, 02:01:42 pm »
also consider building a track based saloon/hatch car or even a kit car, far more enjoyable to do that a restore.