Hi Everyone,

Finally getting round to starting a project thread which has been delayed due to COVID and the great British weather.

Bought a cracking 20VT plus in the lovely light metallic red although like most 20yr old cars it’s not without its problems.

Just passed it’s MOT with a few minor advisories but the to-do list so far:
1) Car has been repainted previously to a good standard but has a few dodgy bits, orange peel and a bit of rust coming through.
2) all 4 corners of the cills are rusting, not bad and nothing a bit of grinding and cutting out the old metal won’t solve3
3 Small dent in drivers side bottom rear quarter
4) Both Eiffel towers gone at the bottom
5) radiator support bar pretty much non existent...dam you rust!
6) engine mounts upper and lower knackered
7) washer bottle tube perished
8) washer bottle cap missing
9) windscreen surround rusty at bottom
10) headlights cloudy
11) rear springs rusty
12) rear spring back plates in bits
13) rear brake callipers a bit crusty but working
14) plastic scuttle cover (if that’s what you call it) faded and horrid
15) lock side trims corroding
16) injector wiring plastic cover broke
17) air box brackets broke
18) oil leak
19) all belts, idlers etc need replacing
20) clutch slip (on full boost in 3rd, 4000k ish)
21) surface rust on most of suspension components
22) passenger window rattle/wobble when going up/down
23) barnacle widget wired to battery not switched live
24) surface rust on front cross member, behind wheel arch liners and front slam panel
25) tracking off
26) weird noise from cambelt area......
27) both front foot wells pushed into car where some idiots have jacked the car on the floor pans

There’s a lot more and it sounds like a terrible car but pulls well, looks and sounds lovely it’s just that I want the car looking and driving 100%!

Forgot how good it is driving the coupe, kids keep pointing and have the wow look on their face

Next thread will contain the list of things I’ve done so far!

Work done so far:
1) plastic scuttle cover repaired and repainted
2) washer tube replaced
3) cambelt, aux belts, idlers, tensioner etc all replaced
4) Cam variator replaced
5) Cam cover bent back into a sort of flat shape
6) new battery fitted
7) air box repaired
8) split air box to maf pipe replaced
9) wheel liners refitted properly
10) bonnet adjusted as was sat on the windscreen wipers making a mess
11) car cleaned in and out
12) fitted new gas struts but bonnet doesn’t stay open...buy cheap
Buy twice aghh!
13) new super bright headlight bulbs (still like candles!)

Parts ready to fit:
1) radiator support bracket
2) rear brake dust guards
3) cambelt protection plate thingy to stop the aux belt going into the cambelt if it failed (sorry Joe, can’t remember what you call it :))
4) cambelt rear guide
5) Eiffel towers
6) engine mounts upper and lower

Need to buy rear springs and lots of rust inhibitor primer.....also may invest in some welding gear and brush off my welding skills to have a go at tackling the body work myself!

Finally getting round to doing some more work, although as with most things what started as a simple job has turned into a mission!

I’ve done the odd bit like replacing hoses and general cleaning but decided it was time to get stuck into replacing the suspension but I’ve found one of the hub bearings has gone, callipers crusty, spring and shocks knackered (as expected), subframe bush’s shot but the main issue is the dreaded rust!!! I’ve got rust/holes going into boot floor, big holes in the rear cills, bumper supports almost gone etc. main cills along the car look fairly solid which is a relief but as I took the side skirts off most of the bolts sheard off

So I’ve decided to remove fuel tank, sub frame etc and refurb the lot.

Anyway I’ve already got most of the parts but the big dilemma is do I have a go at the welding myself? I’ve done welding in the past in a previous job but never on a car. Thinking it might be time to have a go.

Finally started to work on the coupe again, major rust repairs carried out, now prepping for painting (etch, stone chip and a bit of colour where needed).

Tons still to do but finallly only holes in it which it left the factory with