Renault 18 GTD

[derskine]

After doing quite a lot of work on my petrol 18 GTL I decided to swap it for this knackered diesel one that everyone already knows....

 

 

 

Mechanically it's okay, except for a sticky starter solenoid that can sometimes get quite annoying.

Niggly things also need sorting like the drivers door lock but I've found you can still buy lock sets for them.

 

The main issue with this car is the rot, it needs quite a lot of work, and the MOT is out in about a month.

I'm going to be spending a lot of time with the MIG welder and even more time fabricating panels for it. A lot of the welding required is underneath/hidden which is fine because I don't need to bother about how it looks, but the rear arches need replaced and the drivers door needs replaced - though I have found a door skin for it.

 

It is worth saving though, purely because the engine is fantastic, it cruises along nicely and returns fantastic mpg.

I'm planning to crack into some welding on this soon, so will have quite a few before and after pictures.

[CortinaDave]

Delighted Rene is still hanging on. He is a shed, but gave me faultless reliability and is a total fuel miser.

 

First few days I had it I kept tapping the fuel gauge as I thought it must be broken.

 

I know a cheap shite friendly local welder if there's any bits you want to farm out

[derskine]

It will live on for a long time after the bodywork is sorted - it's still only done 57000 miles.

After my mk1 is finished I don't really have anything to do so I don't mind spending the time welding it, but cheers for the offer.

I've also got a good passengers wing for it, and FOAD fitted a good drivers wing.

[carlo]

If the engine is still that good it would be nice to make it a rolling restoration, perhaps put it back in its original paint for a treat!

[CortinaDave]

I wondered if you might transfer all the running gear off Rene to the 18GTL... although probably a shame to interfere with it if it was working fine as it was

[garbaldy]

still well worth doing I say as you just don't see these anymore, makes a refreshing change from most of the so called classics you see about, not too keen on the paint though I just wanted to buy it and repaint it again

[Stixy]

Which diesel engine does it have ? ive never seen one 

[derskine]

I don't mind the paint and don't think it's worth the effort painting it properly, it still gets a lot of attention if not more like this.

I was going to do that to the petrol 18 but I would feel bad doing that considering the low numbers, they should be saved not scrapped.

I've managed to get a pair of rear arches for it so will be taking it off the road shortly to get the welding sorted out.

 

I think one of the rear springs snapped today too.

[willswitchengage]

Which diesel engine does it have ? ive never seen one 

 

The same as the R21 and early Espaces had

[derskine]

It's got the 2.1 N/A Diesel engine, same as R21, Early Espace and Trafic.

I'm quite fond of the engine, despite being sluggish it's nice to drive.

[derskine]

This is coming off the road tomorrow as the MOT expires.

 

There's quite a lot to do but the cortina is only a couple of days work from being roadworthy so all of my time can be devoted to the 18.

 

Here's my provisional list but there's no doubt more.

 

Welding - Both inner wings, both front jacking points, a rear trailing arm mount, both sills need attention, both rear inner arches need sorting and both outer arches need sorting.

 

I also need to change the door locks as currently only the passengers one works which is a bit annoying.

The starter motor also needs changed as the solenoid keeps getting stuck.

The battery goes flat after ~15 mins without the engine on, but I got a new battery cheap so that'll be fitted when it goes back on the road.

The timing belt needs changing, and I might aswell do the waterpump too.

It's well overdue an oil change too.

 

 

But overall it'll be getting sorted, and properly, will just be annoying not having it's cheapness for a while.

[garbaldy]

Good to hear that its not gonna get droped from a helicopter or shot at, keep the updates coming.

[nisfan]

Underneath looks like its been shot at but derskine will fix this. Deserves a medal as i couldnt see anybody else saving this, myself included.

[derskine]

Now that I've got a suitable place to do it, the welding will be reasonably painless just time consuming.

[derskine]

Today we put the 18 in the workshop where it'll be for a couple of months.

Nisfan and I took a hammer to the filler/rust, he has a few pics that illustrate the work ahead.

[derskine]

I didn't take many pics

 

[Luckythirteen]

Ouch. Is that the principle of breaking it so you'll have to fix it?

Good luck anyway.

[Angrydicky]

Good luck! Will it be getting resprayed in the original colour, when the welding is complete?

[derskine]

Ouch. Is that the principle of breaking it so you'll have to fix it?

Good luck anyway.

To see how bad it is, this was all filler and fibreglass cloth that didn't have epoxy applied to it!

 

Most likely will be staying this colour, I'm already grudging spending so much money on a car that is completely worthless.

[nisfan]

Moar pics of the epic rust,

 

 

 

 

[garbaldy]

under the red paint is it metallic green as that is the spitting double of my old one, they must all rust in the same places

[CortinaDave]

Nah it was originally burgundy. One giffer owner from new until Aberdonian shite legend Kinkersaab flagged him down and bought it off him.

 

It was the Giffer's company car and he kept it once he retired.

 

I took this pic when me and my mate bought it off Kinkersaab in Nov. 2012 (thats my mate driving - not me!)

 

Its been a bit of an Autoshite bike since then

[garbaldy]

Nah it was originally burgundy.

 

 

 

yeh I knew that what I was meaning was its rusted in the exact same way and areas

[CortinaDave]

Shame this is a drivers side wing rather than N\S

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RENAULT-18-O-S-DRIVERS-FRONT-WING-NEW-/301270334372?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item46251c7ba4

[derskine]

Ive got a very good used passengers wing

[CreepingJesus]

Must say, it didn't look that bad to me, when I saw you on the road recently. That's some epic bodgery needing undone, so good luck there.

[derskine]

Considering the hidden horrors it didn't look too bad.

Where did you see me?

[CreepingJesus]

You were behind me, coming out of the Asda in the Bay a couple of weeks ago. Then again on the Hillend bypass.

I'll just remember to wave at people in random shite, and see what happens!

[Spiny Norman]

My uncle had one in that same shade of burgundy, super comfy car I recall. Best of luck getting it fettled.

[derskine]

You were behind me, coming out of the Asda in the Bay a couple of weeks ago. Then again on the Hillend bypass.

I'll just remember to wave at people in random shite, and see what happens!

 

Ah right - I work at BAE Systems along at the end of the road so I'm down the Bay all the time.

Wave at people in shite - though there is a risk of getting a few confused looks from giffers.