Mk3 - 5 Years in Barn

[Andy_Mk3]

Greetings everyone, I'm new here!

I'll briefly introduce myself first, I'm Andy, I'm 15 years old (16 in May), and I quite simply love cars and working on them. Especially trying to get them going again. So when I found out about an Astra that had been stored in a barn for 5 years, I jumped at the chance when I was offered to have it if i could fix it!

First off, I'll start with a couple of pictures of how I found it:













It is a bit of a mess, the engine and gearbox need attaching properly as they are both just sitting there currently. the engine was taken out to replace some sort of seal, but apparently is in good working order now.

Inside is in good condition, a few bits of rubbish, but in good condition anyway.

So, on Saturday, with some help, I'm hoping to get the engine and gearbox back in place, then I can start work on getting all of the wiring fitted.

So I will keep you posted on progress, and if anyone has any tips on getting the engine in, that would be very helpful, as the guy who worked on it previously, said that he couldn't get it past the 'steering box', and it needs two people to get it in place.

Anyway, thanks for reading

 

[echofsilence]

wow! nice find!!

At 15 i wasnt even looking at cars past the playstation screen! lol.

All the best with this! Hopefully ull get it going in 2 years (or 3 if they raise the learning age to 18!) and u'll be able to drive your creation!

Project name: Frankenstein - MUAHAHAHA


Good luck with it! =D u've come to the right place for advice. The lads and lasses on here are very clued up wen it comes to astras!

 

[justg]

Hi and welcome to mk3oc.

That is some project you have there.

 

[KROW]

I like it, good luck, doesn't sound the easiest job, but if its free, its all good!

 

[Andy_Mk3]

Cheers for the warm welcome

The playstaion is good for driving like a mentalist but nothing beats being covered in oil and dirt!

Well, once engine and gearbox are in place, i can get it jacked up to check brakes and everything to prepare for an eventual MOT.

I managed to climb in and there's still decent pressure on the brake pedal, however handbrake isn't conencted. Clutch need looking at too!

I'm looking forward to thins though.

The only downfall being is that the car is on a farm here in cornwall, and I live near Peterborough! I only come here 3 or 4 times a year. But If I come here for 3 weeks in the summer, I'm sure I could get it to a pretty decent state.

I'd like to be able to sand blast some of the parts but, as long as they work they'll do for now! Although I do sense a few trips to the scrap yard!

But I am hoping to get this going to drive when I'm 17 (they're not changing the law yet! ) Insurance is a killer though, got a quote from Tesco, £1,907!

Oh well


Edit: In the time I wrote this I got another 2 replies!

So thanks for the welcomes, and free is good, even if I don't get it going, I'm sure I'll learn a lot, as I'm doing a mechanics course in college next year

 

[Kev_mk3]

fantastic work i want one of them finds

 

[rc]

looks a good find! will be a good learing curve for ya!

 

[Andy_Mk3]

fantastic work i want one of them finds

I've always wanted something like this too

looks a good find! will be a good learing curve for ya!

It sure will! I have a pretty good knowledge about cars, but still a lot to learn

Going to scrappy on Monday for bolts and rotor arm and whatever else I find that I need!

 

[Andy_Mk3]

I don't know an awful lot about these cars yet.. but eventual mods I hope to be:

Lowered (30mm maybe?)
Nice exhaust (any reccomendations?)
16" Alloys
CD Player
Power Steering (Off scrappy)
Fit Tachometer (eBay job probably, unless you know any good'ns)
Change side indicators
Change rear (maybe front) lights
Tinted windows

And no idea how much it would cost, but my unvle spayed hid orange transit van black, so I'm thinking something could be done there

 

[Barber]

looks like you have alot of work ahead of you
good luck with it and keep us posted

 

[LEE69]

Fair play to you mate, my son is 11 nearly and would love the opportunity you have to do this.

 

[Andy_Mk3]

Fair play to you mate, my son is 11 nearly and would love the opportunity you have to do this.

Haha, I've wanted something like this for a long long time!

looks like you have alot of work ahead of you
good luck with it and keep us posted

Will do I'll get some better pics today, originals were only done with phone, and there wasn't much light!

 

[hoikey]

its a shame you cant trailer it back to your house cause then you could focus **** loads of time into it and have a nice little motor there mate for your first car, what engines in it mate? oh and welcome to the forum

 

[Andy_Mk3]

It is a shame, although I've got another week left here, and hoping to be here for at least 2 weeks in the summer, maybe 3.

The trouble is, neither mum or dad have a car with a tow-bar.

I would like to get it back home though, proper tools and everything there lol.

It's a 1.4, done 93k.

 

[hoikey]

well for a 1.4 that insurance isnt too bad, i was paying £1200 on a 1.1 fez with a years no claims, still paying £1000 at the min with 2 years no claims

 

[Andy_Mk3]

Blimey! I'm relitively lucky with insurance because my mum works for an insurance company, meaning that I wont be paying comision (about 15%) and could get a little more off.

 

[Nathan...]

awesome stuff mate, looks clean enough, should polish up well to the site mate!!

 

[wayne1]

nice good find m8 needs a lot tlc

 

[k3v.gsi]

and if anyone has any tips on getting the engine in, that would be very helpful, , said that he couldn't get it past the 'steering box', and it needs two people to get it in place.

Thought this mite help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOXPcLTLON8

 

[k3v.gsi]

If thats not working above look in here