Estate practical project?

[mhampton1985]

hi to all!

i.ve recently purchased a half finished project, an estate 1.6 16v, i want to do major work to it but keep it practical for work (i'm a painter and decorator!) therefore the roof bars as ugly as they are have to stay!

It already had a leather calibra interior fitted, k&n, and gsi bonnet and grille and window tints.

I've now lowered it, stuck some black 5 spoke 15in alloys on and sent the gsi bonnet off to be resprayed (it was white when i purchased the motor and the car's Blue!) And basically now i'm thinkin power? any suggestions please help, i'm stumped with so many options so any other peeps input would be a great help? thanks

[nineball]

hi and :welcome: to are little family.

i know what you mean mate i'm not sure what to put in mine.

mybe a 2.0let or 2.5 or a 3.2 depends on how much work you want to do on her

[tab]

you had that estate off jimmyflo didn't you?

welcome btw:beer:

[mhampton1985]

yes mate, got it off ebay from a lad named jimmey, needs a bit of tlc here and there but it was the right price so i cant grumble! i think 2.5 and 3.2 is a little much for the insurers to take and i've been contemplating wether put a 2.0 let in and would like a little advise on what i could do with the 1.6 before i start with a transplant as its still a quite nippy engine?

[Alex]

A nice redtop would be good for a practical daily driver, can be picked up cheap and easy to swap.

[mhampton1985]

i didnt mention the exhaust, its standard to the middle then welded to a twin back with no silencer! this is my priority really as i Hate it, its too loud (**** i sound old!) i'm going to have all new from the front but maybe a decat? do these make much of a difference and will i have to consider that my mot is due in jan? also will i have probs with the engine manigment light or is it just a myth?

[astranutter]

:welcome: matey, another estate to join the ranks :cool: IMO engine choice is really what you want, but i agree with Alex for a C20XE for daily use.

[mhampton1985]

Old wheels up for grabs, need recon or powder coating

check out item number 170136897932 on ebay

exhaust up for grabs soon!

anyone know i can upload pics from my comp onto the forum?

[astranutter]

photobucket

[Kev_mk3]

looks like james old estate?

[Andy]

Welcome to the site mate.

[mhampton1985]

it is james's old estate! you should see a difference over the next few months since he had it, for a start i've sent the bonnet to be resprayed. sick of people flaggin me down thinkin its a bloody taxi!

[mhampton1985]

New Wheels (well reconned and powder coated!) went on last week with four new rubbers!

Can't go wrong with matt black!

http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/mhampton1985/?action=view&current=PICT0001.jpg

[mhampton1985]

right then, i decided to keep the 1.6 engine in for now until it blows up! if i drop on a XE though i don't think i'll hold back and go for it! give it a good servicin yesterday and took the door cards off to be prepped and sprayed! pics to follow soon!

[mhampton1985]

New front, middle and back gone on today, twin tail pipe off and up for grabs if anyone interested

Still waiting For bonnet to come back from sprayer!

[mhampton1985]

Got bored today so i decided to respray the grille and finish the door cards:

Before

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/mhampton1985/PICT0004.jpg

Prep n prime

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/mhampton1985/PICT0005.jpg

Pearlescent top coat!

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/mhampton1985/PICT0006.jpg

Sweet! will put laquer on 2morro when its hardened

[mhampton1985]

want advise on door cards, i've primed 'em but don't know what top coat put on? maybe if i get the primer solid and put a clear laquer on seen as i've got a grey dash? other suggestions would be great!

[mhampton1985]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/mhampton1985/PICT0008.jpg

[Nathan...]

i think you should tidy them up a bit more 1st mate.. the primer really brings out the lumps etc in the filler. and spray them in black, then get a black dash!!

[mhampton1985]

havent finished filling yet, i always put a mis coat on to see those lumps n bumps u talkin bout! otherwise i'll be there for days with filler! i'll have a run up scrappy in morning c if i can get a black dash,

[phil_h]

welcome to the site mate - nice project there, very nearly bought that myself lol

[mhampton1985]

thanks, i'm glad I bought it, as soon as i get me van on the road u will see a huge difference to how it was, meanwhile i'm just tidying it up and using it for work!

[mhampton1985]

Finished and fitted door cards today, kept them grey as i couldn't find a black dash up scrappy.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/mhampton1985/PICT0013.jpg

Also put on some really cheesy pedals that the mrs got for her corsa and they wouldn't fit, not really my cup of T but they were free and look a little tidier!

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/mhampton1985/PICT0009.jpg

[mhampton1985]

Dropped on a full set of great condition gsi seats yesyerday, fitted em this after noon, bit of a pain in the **** with the rear set as i had to put the gsi trim and foam onto my original seat bases, Goodbye old worn, ripped sticky sweaty leather! just need some door trims to match in now, maybe plain black?

will take pics as soon as i got some batteries for the camera!

[mhampton1985]

Should be picking a V6 2.5 up off chris next thursday! :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

[phil_h]

good lad :thumb:, are you doing the conversion yourself?

[mhampton1985]

don't know yet, a lad i know who does them has just had a baby so i dont think hes got the time, might have to pay some one?

[phil_h]

don't know yet, a lad i know who does them has just had a baby so i dont think hes got the time, might have to pay some one?

fair enough, theres plenty of people on here who im sure could help you out

[mhampton1985]

Just got off the phone to my garage and they have quoted me £800 :lol: labour costs to fit the engine i'm picking up next week, i thought this is over priced? does anyone know of a garage that will do it cheaper?

[mhampton1985]

picked up the v6 yesterday, i decided to put it in a different vehicle though,

Check the one wheeled V6!

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/mhampton1985/PICT0016.jpg

only kiddin! still goin put it in the estate!