277 replies to this topic

[lx308]

Last weekend we gutted the LX & we carted her off for a makeover. Didn't find anything too revolting, yet. No bad for a 30 year old car. Behind the bonnet hinges & under the battery probably the worts spots for rust, at this stage.









Hopefully should only be a couple of months in rehab.

Would like to fit a 3Harrop 355, T5 & 9 inch but need to see what the panel/paint will cost 1st. Dash needs to be restored, interior needs full re-trim.

Will update as the panel man sends me photos.

[TempesT]

oooooh i like...

sticking with the same paint colour there?

I like the sound of your engine driveline combo

jimbo.

[Heath]

Mmmm Mint Julip under the Opaline Blue (?), yum!

Door trims are nice and retro, although the dash looks like it has a few imperfections, and I don't like the way the vents have been painted.

What colour?

[lx308]

sticking with the same paint colour there?

Nah, probably hothouse green. Might silver out the bonnet 4 door style - unsure yet. The only problem is I've yet to see a hothouse paintjob that really pops out at you, know what I mean?

the dash is pretty ordinary, needs total resto, which we will do to SS style.

We were thinking about doing the seats & door trims to original pattern but instead of golfball trim on the seats use the hothouse (black & green triangles) trim from VY dunnydore & also in the middle of SS design door trim.

[lx308]

Have made up or mind on the interior, it's going to be all original SS style golfball silver & black. There's some excellent trimmer's around & these look great.

Anyone got any pics of good hothouse paintjobs? I know it's a colour you either like or hate but there must be some bright paintjobs out there somewhere!

Cheers.

[dattoman]

ewww... mint julip
so poo

Hothouse is overdone
Find something nicer

[lx308]

Dattoman, I agree with the mint julep. I haven't seen too many hothouse Torries around.

V6 Hatch from the STC is the car you're looking for. Its been Hothouse green for a couple of years now.

Any pics of this UC?

[lx308]

That's the phrasing I was looking for, "Less dirty". I agree.

[Heath]

Mint Julip is a work of art. E-mail me at [email protected] if you want any Torrie pics.

[lx308]

Well, the torries been at the panel shop 3 weeks & nothing has started yet.....

We have ordered the interior trim, been told 3 months for the good stuff, so 3 months it is. Might be here before the car....

Found a console on E-bay, won it, Australia post made it unusable, so here we go again on a good console hunt.

Engine builder's been 2 weeks working out a 355 stroker quote & the trans supplier can't tell me where the shifter posi will be when fitting the T5. At least the diff people can tell me what they want to fit 9 inch.

The dash will need to be organised next, get rid of whatever paint it's been covered in & make it the right silver.

More patience needed I think.

Cheers.

[lx308]

The panel shop only does old cars & 1 at a time. He has impala that's almost finished. I think he likes the cars there a bit early so he can size them up for a month.
I'm starting to agree on the paint. Been looking at valencia, mandarin & theres a LJ on the forum that's absynith/chrome yellow mix that looks mint. I've since seen a few hothouse hatches,thanks to Heath & saw 1 in Perth on Monday, dosen't look right. Trying to talk the other half into an orange or red is poving difficult. it is half her dough, after all. She might have to buy her own...

Cheers.

[lx308]

[/QUOTE]theres a LJ on the forum that's absynith/chrome yellow[QUOTE]

http://www.gmh-toran...showtopic=15305

[lx308]

Well we have started on the panel work. Fixed the rust behind the bonnett hinges.


Got the engine bay back to metal, No major rust found yet.


Found & repaired a rust hole at the bottom of the A pillar.






Found that the new rear flares are no good so we have gone 2 steps forward & only 1 back - progress!!


I have sold the Saginaw box to help purchase the T5 conversion & hope to pick up a 9" & aliminium radiator on Friday.

Feels like we are getting somewhere now.

[A9X]

Well done and keep the momentum up.

It's amazing how a couple of days off can blow out to a month.

Try and get a parts list happening so you are always one step ahead of the build with bits waiting.

I know it's been a drama with my build.

Welby

[lx308]

Darren at The Old Car Garage has been plugging away. Engine back to bare metal, unused holes welded & undercoated.



Doors cleaned up, rust removed & door jams undercoated.



L/H sill needs replacing.


I reckon another 6 weeks & we might have it back!

I have 2 days in Perth next week to get some parts organised, take back the dodgy flares.
Still can't decide on colour. Leaning towards a bright yellow with black paintouts. Bloody hard when you haven't just got 5 colours to choose from.

Cheers.

[lx308]

Movement again!

Had r/h rear pillar done.






Rear fender done, looks like front fender has gone back on.




Still got to make up the new hatch seal lip & do the other side.

Getting somewhere now.

[Racehatch]

Well done, great work being done there!

I'm doing a similar body rebuild on my hatch at the moment, so I know what you are going through... Wish mine was as rust free as yours..

good luck, look forward to seeing more progress pics

[lx308]

Wish mine was as rust free as yours..

Yeah, Darren (the panel man) was very surprised with how much rust it hasn't got also. However, the cost won't come down.

Still got some big ticket items to organise - T5, LSD 3.5 centre, tailshaft. Datto has me some front brakes coming, coming, coming, coming.... I'm sure they'll be here soon.