JMotor

Is it? I thought no one would notice about the wheels and ride height. Only as it's OEM wheels off an Astra with slight drop. Perhaps it is? Found this picture from the start of the thread to show what it'll look like when it's back together. So it could maybe raise an eyebrow or two? She is indeed a little fruitier under the bonnet. 1800 out of a Vectra B I had years ago. About the same power as your Maestro. So it felt spritely to say the least. Nearly the same physical size of engine as the 1.4/1.6 16v engines used in Sports or GSi's. This one is easier to work around, as they don't have the big stupid inlet manifolds like they did.

Began stripping the Corsa down. As the the body shop fellas have been down. Price quoted and rough date for getting it in sorted. They thought it was a cool wee thing. I have imposed myself a deadline too. Should be doable if I don't fanny about. This year's VBOA show at Sywell in July. Except I want some shakedown time of at least a month. So hopefully end of April it'll be mostly there. Edit - but of course that'll never happen. I'll be thrashing like hell the week before and STILL won't make it 😆. Can't wait to see the car built back up in a fresh coat of Aquamarine.

Giving this a follow as I like Monzas too. Hopefully it'll not look as scary when the rotten shite has been cut out?

I'd finish the Corsa I have. Then start developing the car further. I have another 1800 that would be the base for a throttle bodied set up. Set of cams, ARP rod bolts and standalone management. Larger diameter exhaust. Would also spend some coin on more suspension goodies, more brake upgrades and some good tyres. Hopefully go with a more fast road geometry, play with the camber and caster. Still keep it a road car with interior and leave the stock look on the outside. Hopefully it'll sound like this. Or the other option I have actually done. Is buy an Altezza RS200. Chucked some good Coilovers on it and some quality tyres on it. Makes for a fun but usable car. Then again.... That Ital in the for sale section.... An 3SGE BEAMS would pep that fucker up no end! Sort some suspension, brakes and a AE86 rear axle or something Ford based. Done. Said Ital would be left with all the patina too.

Ohhh you poor sod 😆. Aye the Maestro is peak grim for me. But by golly it does car without fuss. It also doesn't punish you. It starts first time, easy to fix, cheap to run and will transport you to your destination. I'd love to try a Lada Riva sometime to compare it to the Maestro.

Recognise that area, The brig at Craigellachie. Been there a few times. This and Sueno's stone were the fave spots to take car photos.

Easiest to link this vid from Alan at AM Details. Also, yes the BLARG will throw something up. They always do! Oh! Did the book reach you ok?

Little update. Maestro. Nowt to report. So I washed it, fully expect it to break now. Just a snow foam wash. Does a good job of getting the shite off. Can highly recommend the AutoSmart stuff. Then a nut and bolt check on the Corsa. Then a spin around the sheds. The little bastard surprised me. It goes well! It will keep spinning wheels if you stab the throttle. Should be a fun little car to hammer about.

That Maestro used to appear a street over from me. So it used to travel from the south west to Edinburgh for spells at a time. Then disappeared and found it for sale on ebay, after I bought mine. Anyway. Should make a good giveway motor.

Absolutely. It's way more fun pedaling a slow car quickly. Your A40 is exactly (to me anyway) what a fun back road blaster should be. Simple, easy to fix and just be fun. Yes it'll be a prick at times, yet it's an easy to fix car that doesn't cost the earth to look after either. "Smiles per mile"

I was surprised to say the least 😆. Forgot to mention. New owner is going to build a wee fast road car. Simple with no big engines, like a 1300 or 1200. Something to have fun in. I couldn't see myself doing it anytime soon. Besides that Maestro is too much fun!

Dragged this out of the corner yesterday. I was planning to sell it. Except I didn't fancy advertising it. Thought I'd wait for this month and then suffer the masses. This time, I was asked by a pal if it was for sale. Someone had asked him if he knew of any Novas for sale. Quick bit of phone number exchanging saw a fella coming down to look it over. Was happy with it, paid me a good bit of a deposit and will be collecting it in the next fortnight. He's getting a load of parts chucked in, as I don't want parts laying about if they didn't need to be. I can now get 2024's plans into motion soon. Finish the Corsa and then drag out my Astra Saloon for a weldfest. If I'm gonna be extra miserable, might as well be for something I want done.

I really like that. Looks proper and fits with the rest of the car's look your going with.

Absolutely. I'm going to fill the hidden areas full of wax. Thankfully I can get to those areas from inside the car. Really don't want to have it rot out again in a couple of years.

Got on with the lower arch corner. I couldn't be bothered chasing rust. Just whacked the lot out. As you'll see why. Two layers that have been rusty for sometime. Made a new inner piece. It was a bit lumpy looking here. That was due to me making that from several pieces to get the curves close. Welded on the outer and tried going with smaller holes to plug weld with. That worked really well. Then ran over the welds with the grinder and fingerfile to get here. Overboard maybe, but not a bad habit to have.

Didn't get a photo. Was fair scunnered tonight. No doubt there will be someway it'll come out. But yeah, I could buy another on the road ready to go. My other thoughts was what else is wrong that I don't know about. Luckily I'm next to no money into it. I also remembered something else too. I have a Corsa to get ready for paint. So yeah, I don't feel bad about giving up on the Twingo.

Not good news. For the Twingo. That broken plug is not coming out, at all. Then found the radiator is leaking, the exhaust is shagged and the brakes need replacing. Nope! Nae chance! Too much on and patience has run out. It's for the bridge in the new year. Keeping the alloys, so not all bad 😆.

Fack! Twingo is now a three cylinder. Rest of the plugs came out no bother. Also have to wait on an alternator, Expensive little bugger too. It's not putting me up nor down really. Just added hassle. The remains of the plug should come out with a square easy out. Hopefully Amazon shipping gets me out of the shit 😅.

Fitted a new starter and battery. Good enough to see if it'll start. Which it did! Phew! It drives too. Came out and then backed the car into my bay all under its own steam. There is other issues, which may relate to the lack of alternator. It's also a bugger to start, but will start and rev up. No weird noises when it does run, thank goodness. Ah yeah, need an exhaust. Blew the guts out the back box.

Ha! I do the same when I send a car in for test 😆. Totally get where you are coming from, you want it to be right from the get go. Nowt wrong with that! Getting that advisory free pass is a nice feeling. Makes the effort worth it. But here! "She'll be reet lad"

This. Just overthinking it @RoverFolkUs. Let the tester tell you what else it needs. Started thinking like that now. It's made life easier(ISH) for me.

John.... You are an utter dickhead! So that's on 2023's IN with the Maestro. It was nearly about the same time last year I bought a bloody Nova on a whim too.

Ahhh bugger! Now own a '08 Twingo. Pal had bought this and an Astravan. I immediately wanted the Renault. As it was sat on these wheels. 16 inch Speedline Chronos. Had planned to throw the car away and keep the wheels. Ach why not give it a quick wash to get the crap off it. Looked not to bad. Garage it came from said it wouldn't turn over. Maybe the engine was seized? Hmmm. Lets cut the alternator belt off and see if the alternator is the cause. As I've seen the same thing happen due to a locked up alternator. Yep, engine now moves. Good start. Tomorrow will see a new battery and starter bought. Can't hurt to try, end of the day I'll get the money back from scrapping it and keep the alloys.

Thank you ASSS. Like the T-Shirt. Unfortunately it's *slightly* too small for me. But, I do appreciate that they sent me something.

Little more progress with the Corsa. Had a fella who runs a body shop local to me have a quick ganders. He requested I strip the car down before he wanted to quote. Which is fine. So far the doors and tailgate have been stripped. Not much left now. Leaving taking those off to nearer the time. Room is at a premium for me. Also maybe a handy tip. Cheap knife was the perfect tool for getting the rear window out. Only good if you don't care about marking up the paint. Did find this while poking about. To be expected, I suppose. It's double skinned there. So a good reason for not chucking out left over bits from the repair panels you use. Anything else will be made from sheet steel. I shall not complain. The project is making positive progress again.