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LX Hatch restore


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#1 _AntonV_

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Posted 18 May 2020 - 08:25 PM

Hey lads. Joined here a little while ago.
Long story short, my wife's cousin had an LX hatch passed to her when her dad died. She got onto me to see how much she could sell it for. I had a look and gave her an offer, and picked it up the next day.. it was sitting in between 2 containers for about 8 years. So it's not the best, certainly not the worst either! Rear hatch was screwed. And passenger door is pretty bad... only bit of rust on the body that's bad is where the rear hatch joins onto the roof. Apart from that it's alright. There's a ding in the rear quarter, however there was a brand new rear quarter panel in the car.. same as a new front bar, and front left panel.. all new. When I cleaned it out, the original Hatch Hutch was in the boot, in great condition.

As soon as I got it home, it was fully stripped within 7 days.. and at the moment it is getting sand blasted. Don't worry, only the engine bay and interior, and strong sections are getting done. Then a little rust repairs will get done this week. Then off to fit that new rear quarter hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

It had the red 202 engine in it. After originally wanting to put an LS in it, I have opted to a 308 or 355, to keep it somewhat traditional. I have a mate with a new 355 stroker, who's getting back to me soon on a price..

I will be painting it the original green it was, and the a9x bodykit, flares etc. I'll post some pics now.. There's a long way to go, but I'm excited to see where this will go! And the wife loves it as it's still in the family, so she's all for it.. which is the first hurdle!

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#2 Bigfella237

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Posted 18 May 2020 - 09:58 PM

Great find Anton! Panama Green is a nice colour too (well, when it's in better condition anyway  ;) ), nice bright showier kinda colour.

 

Strange to see a 6 cylinder SL with a towbar and a drop tank though, I guess he used to do some long range towing? And I'm guessing a trailer jack-knife was responsible for that rear quarter?

 

So what's the plan besides the stroker... manual or auto? 9 inch? Wheels / flares / body kit / etc. or are you going for the sleeper look?



#3 _AntonV_

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Posted 19 May 2020 - 08:48 AM

At this stage I'll be keeping it an auto, starting to get to that age where I can't be arsed to use a clutch. Haha

Yeah I'll go a 9 inch under the arse. Will be doing the whole flares, bonnet scoop, wing addition too... I've got the front lower 2 piece bar, and the wing at the moment, and I'll pick the flares and scoop up next week.

I never met the guy, so not sure what the history was of a it... but yeah, I laughed At the tow bar. Hopefully in the next month it will start half looking like a car again.

#4 Heath

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Posted 19 May 2020 - 09:34 AM

Looks like a pretty good starting point in this day and age.

Awesome. Can we talk you into having a clutch pedal? That will make it just about perfect.

 

The colour is Mint Julep, rather than Panama Green, I imagine?



#5 Bigfella237

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Posted 19 May 2020 - 12:12 PM

Ah, yeah, I forgot about Mint Julep, thanks H.

 

To quote Ted Bullpitt: "Don't be stupid woman, autos are for poofs, real men have gears" :D



#6 rexy

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Posted 19 May 2020 - 01:47 PM

Don’t you worry about those manual lovers. They are just jealous that autos are faster!



#7 yel327

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Posted 19 May 2020 - 03:11 PM

I had the same car but in Poyal Plum with black trim. It was a 3300 auto. It had a tow bar but no long range tank. I used to tow my ski boat with it. When I repaired it for rust in the early 90's and painted it panels were cheap other than doors. I bought a NOS hatch for $50 from a wreckers. Good doors back then cost a pretty penny though but everything else was a dime a dozen.

 

I'd be making it a 350 too, the stroker cranks are so cheap today it is worth it. 



#8 Statler

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Posted 19 May 2020 - 08:02 PM

Perfect time to change the color . Just sayin'.  ;)



#9 grumpy xu1

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Posted 19 May 2020 - 08:45 PM

Mint julep, will look great, if it's a9x style, i think factory low gloss black bonnet ect, really suits them best. Along with either gts rims, hotwires, or V5 Simmons. Probably the nicest wheels on a9x's i believe, yep auto's are great & 4 wheel disc's. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

#10 _AntonV_

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Posted 28 May 2020 - 11:53 PM


Got the car back from sand blasting and primer.
Lots of little holes, but nothing major, had a car restorer come around to quote the rust repairs and paint, estimated $40-50k. Geeez, I'll keep you posted

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Edited by AntonV, 28 May 2020 - 11:56 PM.


#11 Bigfella237

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Posted 29 May 2020 - 08:22 AM

~ a car restorer come around to quote the rust repairs and paint, estimated $40-50k. ~


I don't know the exact details of course but that looks like a pretty decent shell you got there so I have to think that'd wanna be an award-winning paint job for that sorta money!

 

I know how many hours are involved but you can't just add-up the hours on a job like this or you get quotes like what you got, you need to find someone who will look at it all as one job and quote accordingly. Although I guess there's not too much in the way of choice of repairers in Muswellbrook?

 

Alternately, put some of that money into buying some gear of your own (welder, compressor, etc.) and hopefully find someone who's willing to give you pointers on doing most of the work yourself, if that's what you want to do of course?



#12 Heath

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Posted 29 May 2020 - 09:12 AM

Golly.

 

I'm pleased I don't outsource much. That seems like a lotta cash considering the good condition that the car is in.



#13 _AntonV_

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Posted 29 May 2020 - 11:32 AM

Yeah it blew me away, I have a close friend who is offering to do 90% of it, and my brother up in QLD is an unreal boilermaker also. It's funny you say to look for your own gear, I was checking out some small mig welders last night, not sure if I want to use this car as my learn to weld project thou. Haha

#14 Heath

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Posted 29 May 2020 - 12:20 PM

Bloody oath you do.

 

And honestly, the quality of the results you achieve on rust repairs (particularly with MIG welding) has very little to do with your ability to weld. It's just tack, tack, tack. Anyone can do that. The quality is driven by the measuring, the marking, the patience, the accuracy, prep, etc. 

 

If you're worried about it, as you get better, you can re-do repairs if necessary anyway. You'll find this won't happen much.



#15 I'm a Red Motor fiend

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Posted 29 May 2020 - 01:38 PM

I don't find that figure shocking. If the guy that quoted is good, you get what you pay for.
So many people under estimate the cost of restoration or even just a respray.
I encounter it all the time.

#16 _AntonV_

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Posted 29 May 2020 - 02:20 PM

Yeah I rang another mate who's getting his monaro done at the moment, at a different place, and he's up to $38k at the moment... he wasn't surprised also...
There are 2 shit jobs, replacing the rear quarter, which I have...
And re-doing the rear hatch mounting plates in the roof, one is totally missing... the rest of the car is small pitting crap.

#17 Liz Clare

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Posted 30 May 2020 - 08:38 AM

G'Day Anton,

 

That price seems right compared to my hatch, which had hardly any rust with the bonnet and lower radiator support the only replacement panels. No dings to repair either.

 

Great colour on yours by the way :) 

 

Cheers,

 

Liz :)



#18 _AntonV_

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Posted 22 June 2020 - 05:20 PM

While I'm waiting for the body restorer to free up, I picked up a 308 this morning, just been rebuilt, VL block with VN heads and a few other decent bolt ons. Small progress.

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#19 Ice

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Posted 22 June 2020 - 05:29 PM

Bonnet scoop for you

#20 _AntonV_

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Posted 22 June 2020 - 05:32 PM

Lol... Yeah I have one all ready to roll..




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