Should also mention I use the Wheel paint for ANYTHING on the car that used to be chrome, or silver. Since most these old cars had a lot of pot metal chromed pieces or AL pieces that are degraded. Cleaned up and a quick shot of etching primer (Thats the key BTW to get it to hold to chrome), and then the silver and if you do it to about everythign on the car, it looks like was meant to be that way. Pictures coming soon.

Currently looking for better directions for the top.. as thats one of the last things I have to do.

The beer supplier here...

It is amazing what Charles has accompolished on a fixed budget and with what we got from A&W and John and the time he has put in , less than 2 months of nights.

We've had some luck just enough leftover red paints to make a awesome color i call Goin' RED
found some pristine hubs ...some other parts from Rockauto.

Everything had to be perfect to be brought back to life.

It has truly been brought back from the dead.

Charles has done nothing on the cheap or marginal...the fact the condition i was willing to give the car to my wife vs what she is going to get .....night and day ... And i will surely be though of as a great guy when I'm lucky to have had Charles..

I have some leaves for you to rake, what kind of beer do you drink?

Wow, what a transformation. Maybe I'm drinking the wrong kind of beer.

Damini wrote:I have some leaves for you to rake, what kind of beer do you drink?

Ahh.. working on the car to me is a fun hobby.. Raking not so much

So this is what she looks like now.. Pretty much done with the visual stuff.

Have a short list of mechanical issues to address..

1 - The common (from what I can tell on the site) Starter relay or Solenoid intermittent starting issue

2 - Finish rebuilding the front suspension (Which is why in the pictures the New Hub Caps aren't on the front tires yet)

3 - Bottom Seat covers

4 - Find out if the weak charging is Alternator/Votage Regulator/Battery

5 - Installing new Hazard switch and cross fingers that fixes the Turn Signals

6 - Rewire electric fan and find out why the Temp gauge is still not working (replaced the sending units)


















Like the Silver paint "chrome" job







Can you see the tape and spray paint..?



Filled the cracks with Black RTV, glued a little padding down (some dense white fleece), and glued a piece of vynil down. Not perfect, but looks a lot better than the cracked up dash thats for sure.

I am sure some time in the next year, the heating system will have to be addressed, along with center console. As thats a complete mess right now and needs replacing.

Beer of the Week Fat Tire Amber Ale (In 22oz form)

katsi wrote:Wow, what a transformation. Maybe I'm drinking the wrong kind of beer.

I have a rule, My Beer shall not be the same color it leaves my body

So if the word "light" or "lite" or the calories are listed on the label I would gather you are probably drinking the wrong beer

I'm giving up on drinking wine...going to get back to Guiness and perhaps this restoration business will go smoother and quicker
(Naramata Nut Brown in the mail today)
Looks great.
Chris

Good job on the car, It looks great. I know she will be proud.

Nice Opel GT! Lets see some pics of that! and is that a kadett b??

For symptoms of a weak electrical system, you should first try the brown wire fix.
http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/bwfix/bwfix.htm

boogiedude wrote:Nice Opel GT! Lets see some pics of that! and is that a kadett b??

Thanks, the GT is a friend of mines car. As soon as im done with the Fiat I'm putting a motor together for him.

The Kadett is my High school car. Its what got me started on Opels (Which are my true hobby), currently working on a Manta with a transplated 2.8L out of a 2004 Chevy Colorado.

Got the wiring done on the Fiat, turn signals had to be "rewired" with a GM turn signal relay. A lot of the wiring was really messed up, so while no optimal (no hazards now) it works. I also wired in the radiator fan to a relay (was just switched) so again not optimal (comes on with key all the time) better than a switch.

Also added a few grounds while i was at it, and that helped the temp gauge and parking brake light came to life.

During testing realized alternator and voltage regulator need replaced and going to install a radio, and then i should be pretty much done. Although next weekend my brother in law is going to rebuild the front suspension. (That doesnt count because im not doing it)

Still have to do:

1 - The common (from what I can tell on the site) Starter relay or Solenoid intermittent starting issue. Works most the time and the "loose" wire fix doesnt seem to be the issue.. (thinking relay or just bad wiring in general). Added the extra power wire to the ignition switch, also not a big help.

2 - Replace Horn

3 - Find out why with new bulbs (Confirmed working) still can't see the speedo or tach in the dark..

4 - Find out why highbeam indicator is always lit

5 - Check oil pressure as its indicator is always lit too.. although gauge reads about 35-40 PSI
























Final list of work:

ENGINE :

1 - New belts and hoses
2 - New timing belt and Tensioner Pulley
3 - New Valve cover gaskets and distributor base gasket
4 - New Coil/Points/Cap/Wires/Plugs
5 - New Water Pump
6 - New Alternator / Voltage Regulator
7 - New Air/Oil/Fuel Filters
8 - New Radiator Cap

Other Mechanical :

1 - New Clutch Cable
2 - New Tires

Brakes :

1 - New Booster
2 - New Booster Vacuum line
3 - New Master
4 - New Flex Lines
5 - New Calipers
6 - New Pads

Suspension :

1 - New Tie Rods and adjusment sleeves
2 - New Upper Control Arm/Bushing/Ball Joints
3 - New Lower Ball Joints
4 - New Lower control Arm Bushings
5 - New Shocks
6 - New Linkage Rod

Body :

1 - Sand/Patch/Fill Bodywork
2 - Paint
3 - Patched Floor Boards
4 - Sanded and Painted bumpers
5 - New Side View Mirrors
6 - Replaced rear turn signals
7 - New NOS hub caps

Interior:

1 - Replaced Carpet
2 - Replaced Seats (Recovered bottom cushions)
3 - Replaced Door panels
4 - New Door seals
5 - New Top, top gasket, cables. velcro, etc..
6 - Replaced visor
7 - Replaced rear view mirror
8 - Repaired back seat

Electrical :

1 - Installed CD Player and speakers
2 - "Rewired" Radiator Fan
3 - "Rewired" turn signals
4 - "Rewired" lighting
5 - All new dash bulbs
6 - Replaced temp sending units
7 - Replace and "rewire" Horn

I think thats it.. total time about 9-10 weeks

Have a new appreciation for these little cars.. and who knows may have to find me my own sooner or later

why does the top sit up so high?
u just did not push it down in it position?

its because the top ether isnt old so it dont just tuck in. "but thats ok"
and or the velcro at the rear windows isnt ripping all the way loose.

a boot will hold it down when they use one.and without a boot you need to strap it.