Rolling Resto the story of the SpaceKadett + RACE PREP VIDEO

SpaceKadett · Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 3:44 pm Post subject:

The brackets that held on my rear bumper, were almost non existant even though the bumper itself was quite good. I had a spare bumper with some good brackets on it so I reconditioned those and ground off the ceased bolts and stuck in new ones and treated the inside of the bumper to a lick of paint too. At least it'll hold your weight should you want to tie your shoelaces on it sometime.

SpaceKadett · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:14 am Post subject:

Didn't get much time at it last week. Just managed to get a bit of paint on under the rear arches. Surprisingly noticable even when you stand back from the car. She is riding high on GTE shocks mixed with springs off the original 1.2. Can anyone recommend springs for that will give me a more reasonable ride height on 14's?

SpaceKadett · Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 3:16 pm Post subject:

My rebooked National Car Test is on Tuesday the same day as my van's insurance runs out, just to keep me on my toes. Jobs still to do this weekend and weekday evenings are
1. Valve stem oil seals
2. Get the dash working
3. Change front shocks and fit new balljoints and tierods
4. Steering rack gaiters
5. Passenger CV joint and Boot
6. Rear brakeshoes
7. Passenger main beam not working. earth problem
8. Front screen washer jets not working
9. Boot hatch rust weld.
10. Bolt up front bumper.
11. Bolt up front wings.
12. Stop rattle in drivers seat.

Wish me luck, I think I can do it.
I welded the rear valence, fillered, sanded and painted it and rear corners during evenings and lunches this week and did a little patch on a front wing that I missed when I was doing them and repaired a spot on a rear arch. Here's how the back turned out.

gazster · Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 9:07 pm Post subject:

you`ll get it done an it pass, im sure the hard graft will be worth it. big grin

SpaceKadett · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks Gazster, it's not going to be as ready as I'd hoped but if they give me a 30 day ticket to get it sorted I'll be very happy. I can begin to run around in it then. I completed the bodywork today and I'm really buzzed to be able to look at it and say I have a rust free Kadett now. Suddenly to me, it seemed to look a whole lot better today.

Mini-service on Monday last week.

SpaceKadett · Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:11 am Post subject:

My girlfriends father has become terribly sick and is in Intensive Care in a hospital 40 miles away so I'm looking after her younger brothers while she and the older ones and mother stay at the hospital so all above plans are cancelled.

scotti · Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:01 pm Post subject: car

sorry to hear that mate , still plenty of time to get her on the road

Ash · Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:31 pm Post subject:

Get well soon old chap.

Your car will be there once everything is sorted. its been around for nearly 30 years whats a bit more time.

SpaceKadett · Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:38 pm Post subject:

Thankyou for your kind comments. I had to collect some people in the snow from the end of the private road where my girlfriend's parents live today. It's also where I've been working on the Opel.The only front wheel drive we had available to get up a slippy hill at the end was the Kadett so it did useful service today.
There's plenty more to do on the car, but there always will be, because I plan to use it hard and keep it well maintained. But this picture is so perfect I'm declaring it the end of project photo.
Here's to the road ahead!

mitch1965 · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 10:49 am Post subject:

Nice one mate, as you say these are always a rolling resto, i doubt there isn't one that isn't. Very Happy

SpaceKadett · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject:

I was working my way through my list of jobs for the test, and the door handle gave up the ghost.

This was awkward for a couple of days because the key lock on the passenger side doesn't work because someone tried to rob my desirable motor : ) a few years ago and my boot struts don't hold. To get into the car after locking it at night I had to do an interesting manouvre going inn through the boot lifting the latch on the passenger side and holding the boot up with my foot. then I'd have to go out through the boot again and go in the passenger side and open the drivers door from the inside and then go around to the drivers side and get in.
I got the ball joints, tie rods, fan switch, front panel to wing bolts, drivers door latch, bonnet lever, shocks swapped back, brake pads fitted and got a door lock fitted.

SpaceKadett · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:12 am Post subject:

One of the jobs I had to do for my retest on Sunday was replace my windscreen. The laminated ones on my doners are all getting that white haze between layers except for the one I broke trying to get it out last year, I found one old safety glass one and cut it out and spent four hours over evenings and mornings, squeezing it in. It was the most nerve wracking and difficult job I've had to do on the car to date. I've done a front and rear wheel bearing and fitted rear shoes amongst other jobs since I was on last.

Out with the old

SpaceKadett · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:02 pm Post subject:

... and in with the new. Spot the brilliant sign I got for Christmas.

I also did the massive job of putting a new split pin on the end of the driverside driveshaft. Yes the jobs are getting smaller, at last.

austinc · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:33 pm Post subject:

good news how long is your test for,heard there changing it on june any car over 10 year old must have a nct every year must get mine in before that

SpaceKadett · Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:50 pm Post subject:

My retest is this Sunday. The cars first registration date is in March. Based on what happened with a mk2 Fiesta I had I might just get a month, if I'm luck I'll get a year and if I'm very lucky I'll get two. I'll let you know.