JMotor's project car thread. Misery loves company.

[JMotor]

Weekend came.

Corsa B time. 

I replaced the front crossmember a few years back. I did weld it in and made sure it was glued in well. 

What if I hadn't done a good enough job!?

I also LOVE* making work for myself.

 

These plates are needed for Turbo swapped cars. Totally overkill for a 1.8! Figured having the tie rod area beefed up couldn't hurt.

Right! Cracked on with welding these plates in.

Passenger side welds are better. I was able to dial my technique in by then. Drivers isn't great, but there was enough heat in the weld to take a good hold. 

Rubbed down the crossmember to slap some red oxide on. Then that reacted with some paint I threw on it years ago. 

Duck it! I'll let it dry and worry about it another time.

[JMotor]

Little more work done.

Finished the welding on the crossmember. With the rest of the panel painted to give it some protection.

Fitted a new radiator while I had the chance. Cooling fan works as it's meant to, that's a relief!

Then kicked the little bugger outside.

Very pleased with the colour in the sunlight.

Still waiting on a windscreen. I'll have to chase that up. 

[JMotor]

It's got a face!

Have to tweak the bumper a wee bit and some other fixings to put back on.

Gave everything behind the plastics a good covering of cavity wax. Happy with the way it's coming on now.

[Tenmil Socket]

41 minutes ago, JMotor said:

It's got a face!

Have to tweak the bumper a wee bit and some other fixings to put back on.

Gave everything behind the plastics a good covering of cavity wax. Happy with the way it's coming on now.

Fantastic work so far mate 👌

Please don't take this the wrong way but it's looking far better than I expected!

(Will it be for sale?)

[JMotor]

3 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Fantastic work so far mate 👌

Please don't take this the wrong way but it's looking far better than I expected!

(Will it be for sale?)

Thank you.

I get what you mean. I didn't expect the car to look this good so far either 😆. 

As for it being for sale. Hadn't even thought that far tbh. I will be keeping it for a little while as I will be displaying it at the VBOA show at Sywell aerodrome this year. Longer term maybe it'll head away.

[JMotor]

Glass in.

Nice to see it's loosing the rolling shell look about it. 

Plan to keep going with building it back up for having it mostly done and ready for MOT end of this month.

I am missing some parts. But I've had a delivery that should sort out that issue...

[JMotor]

Said delivery of parts happened today.

Slight problem was encountered.

Parts came wrapped up in this lil hot rod.

Nod to my early boy racer days with the photo on a slant.

It's prime for breaking too. Check out the failure list!

Now that doesn't seem too bad at first glance. 

Until I picked at it.

"She's fair pumped hai!"

It's actually a rare spec. 1.2 16v Envoy in Cypress Green AND someone ticked the power steering option. 

This very car has the EPAS column fitted. That's a wee score in itself!

Still doesn't stop it from being broken up. 

After welding one up the other Corsa, I have no want to do that all over again!

[JMotor]

Made a "short" on the TOOBS. 

Doesn't sound too bad at all. It has a note, but not in your face loud.

 

[Matty]

On 02/05/2024 at 21:24, JMotor said:

Said delivery of parts happened today.

Slight problem was encountered.

Parts came wrapped up in this lil hot rod.

Nod to my early boy racer days with the photo on a slant.

It's prime for breaking too. Check out the failure list!

Now that doesn't seem too bad at first glance. 

Until I picked at it.

"She's fair pumped hai!"

It's actually a rare spec. 1.2 16v Envoy in Cypress Green AND someone ticked the power steering option. 

This very car has the EPAS column fitted. That's a wee score in itself!

Still doesn't stop it from being broken up. 

After welding one up the other Corsa, I have no want to do that all over again!

True on the EPAS column. Still the go to part for ps conversions on classics!

Also, don't believe you'll sell the corsa. After all this work. And it's a honey! Never man 😉

[JMotor]

It's growing on me @Matty. Really is.

Think a good drive will seal the deal. It's been a forest from the trees kind of project.

Seriously thinking about swapping the EPAS into the Aquamarina car. As I want to use the steering rack out of the donor too. It 2.5 turns lock to lock from factory. Might be a good bit heavier afterwards.

Think the assistance will make the car easier to live with.

[JMotor]

Gave the Corsa a very quick wash tonight.

Yes, very happy with how it looks now.

I have done more stuff to it. A pal got the wiring and parts fitted back into the boot lid while I done the front scuttle and wipers.

A paint of the inner arch tubs is what's stopping the rear arch trims going back on. That'll be taken care of this weekend. Or on the way to being done.

Interior is the last major project and to be honest that's nowt in the grand scheme.

[grogee]

I'm a fan of PAS and with your wider wheels I would think it would make manouvering easier. How much of a PITA is it to fit? Presumably a bit easier with the interior removed? 

[JMotor]

It's definitely a car you're better trying to avoid dead steering 😆. 

From what I have read. The swap is physically easy, as I have everything on that side.

I would have to remove the dashboard just so I can get to everything with out too much of a fight.

Wiring will be the bigger task. Need to decide if I want to reuse the donor wiring and splice it in or get an aftermarket controller and have it as a separate entity.

Great thing about the popularity of the column there is a many different solutions to making it work.

Whatever route I take, I'm going make use of it. It'll be looked into after I get it back on the road.

[grogee]

I don't know enough about the epas but I'd think it's basically relay feed from ignition on, big fat power wires and a couple of signal/control wires. Presumably a module of some sort reading speed and stuff. 

I guess some of your wiring is already 'custom' to accommodate the non standard motor? 

[JMotor]

That's basically it.

Yes, I'll look at getting a signal from the patch loom the swap. It was made in a way that it's plug and play. Zero modification needed to the Corsa loom.

I'll install the EPAS in the same way, so I can unplug it's loom with ease. I'll strip the donor and trace all the required wires back. instead of hacking them out.