Re: Project Poppy - 1987 MkII GT

[Dutch GT]

Yes, I remembered at the last minute to re-connect the breather pipe, but maybe you're onto something... where does the other end go? Maybe it is blocked. Never really thought about what it really does, but could this be the problem all along as the petrol gun used to click off all the time, but not spill. Hopefully it was a particularly frisky pump!

EDIT - Sorry to Hijack the thread by the way!

[Cpt Custom]

Thanks Dutch for posting the info on fitting the new fillerneck.

I hope you get the leak sorted soon .... and don't worry about hijacking the thread - lol.

[Cpt Custom]

I finally managed to get some more of the body kit off. This time I removed the sill covers and the rear valance only to find more nasty rust!











So I decided Poppy is going to need not only her rear arches replacing, but most of the rear panel too. Unfortunately, as most of you will know the arches at least aren’t available from VW or any of the other main suppliers. However, through the power of the Scirocco Register I have discovered that there’s a guy in Belgium who has produced a rear arch repair kit. I’ve also had offers of replacement parts from some of the other members on the site so I’m confident that these problems aren’t insurmountable.

At least I eventually figured out why I was having so much trouble removing the screws that fix the body kit onto the bodywork. If you look at the photo below you’ll see how the screw goes through a small rectangular slot in the body kit. However, instead of going straight into the body as I thought was the case they actually go into small rectangular fixings attached to the body. If these stay still like I now reckon they’re meant to then there’s no real trouble removing the screws. However, most of mine were loose meaning that they were turning with the screws and so no matter how I turned the screws they weren’t ever going to come out.



My wife ended up pressing a screwdriver head through the slot in the body kit to hold the plastic fixings in place and then I was able to unscrew the screws.

Just need to get the front arches, the spoiler and the bumper off next. I wonder what delights I’ll uncover when I do that!

[Dutch GT]

That hurts to see, especially as ours is also red... kind of like having X-ray internet! Gonna leave our plastics in place, out of sight and all that.

Good luck with it all, good to see you making progress

[Cpt Custom]

Been busy these last few days what with stripping off the remainder of the body kit, continuing to remove the interior trim and also getting a few more parts together …

First, let’s get the really nasty bits out the way. I have now removed the remaining bits of the body kit along with the front bumper.

Surprisingly, the front arches were nowhere near as bad as the back. In fact, if I’d not already sourced some pretty neat replacements from bensspares I might just have patched them up.



Here’s the offside wing removed. As you can see it too isn’t that bad …



And underneath the driver’s side things were found to be pretty sound …



Upfront things weren’t so good …



Decided to try and source replacement parts, which I’m getting from markh. Not only am I getting the front end including the slam panel, but he’s also providing the arse end of a Mk2 he’s been breaking. That’ll give me what we need to patch up the rear end and the rear arches.

Also got the door cards removed, though I did leave the internal workings in place as Poppy is still sat outside waiting for a space to come free within the garage.





Also removed the front passenger seat though it took some time for me to figure out that the securing bolts Mr Haynes refers to are not underneath the car, but underneath the seat!



Finally, worth mentioning that I’ve been buying some more goodies for the restoration …





As well as the above bits and bobs, I’ve also got new front suspension arms and the necessary handbrake cables for the rear disc conversion.

[DT1]

Glad to see that you managed to get the front off.

[Cpt Custom]

Glad to see that you managed to get the front off.

Cheers Colin.

Though I did wonder at that point if I'd taken on too much. Seeing her looking like that struck hard and I must admit for the first time I was questioning if I'm doing the right thing, but a few of the guys on here helped pick me back up pointing out that they've seen much worse brought back from the dead!

On a more positive note, I'm kind of liking the new look ... it's sort of 'Christine' meets 'Jaws' complete with rotting teeth.

Nice to meet you by the way at Durham Dubs ... hope it won't be long before we see you again.

[DT1]

Likewise, but I'm not sure when I'll be back down to a show. Most of the ones that are left seem to be in the south.

Well, to continue on the positive, the whole front end is covered by the spoiler/bumper, so as long as you get the rust under control it doesn't have to be too fancy underneath.

[Cpt Custom]

Likewise, but I'm not sure when I'll be back down to a show. Most of the ones that are left seem to be in the south.

To quote from 'Talking Heads' ... "same as it ever was"

Well, to continue on the positive, the whole front end is covered by the spoiler/bumper, so as long as you get the rust under control it doesn't have to be too fancy underneath.

True, but there are two problems with that.

First, I'm not sure yet whether or not the standard body kit will be going back onto Poppy as I'm less precious if you like about keeping her standard than I am with Lily.

Second, being a perfectionist in most things I do, I'm not sure the fact that only I would know what was underneath wouldn't still trouble me. I dare say that makes me sound a little sad, but it's just how I am.

[Cpt Custom]

Well here we are ... it's October and I'm left wondering where September went!

Having taken the decision to take my time with Poppy's restoration and spread the work over the winter I was prepared for things to go a bit more slowly, but I wasn't quite ready for the project grinding to a halt.

Since I last posted an update I've been waiting for the chap the garage had lined up to do the welding to make a start on the major work needed to make Poppy solid underneath. The work was also to involve replacing some of the rusted sections with various replacement panels.

However, due to other committments he's not been able to get started and so I'm left champing at the bit at the moment. Until that works done and I get her inside out the weather I'm struggling to come up with anything I can be doing. The guy's supposedly good at what he does so I'm gonna hang in there as he's expected to start very soon. I have to say though that if it isn't done soon then I might need to look at other options as I'm desperate to see the project progress.

There's a lot to do to get Poppy where I want her to be and I reckon next summer could come around all too soon if I sit around too long. So keep your fingers crossed I have something to report soon.

[Funky Diver]

Waiting on other folks to fulfill their part in the timeline is a complete pain in the proverbial. It's one of the reasons I'm not putting an end date on Trinny. Plus, means I'm not under pressure to rush it finished, not that you are, but it is nice to be ABLE to potter on rather than the frustration of not being able to.

It'll come good in the end

[G Beats]

Ant had a look for a bit on this 1 m8 a lot going but needs to be done by the look at the body work but i know you will get there as you have done and got a lot of parts for her.

[Cpt Custom]

Well I’m pleased to say there’s finally been some further progress to report. Things are now certainly underway, but more of that in a moment.

First, thought I’d just report back on where I am with obtaining replacement panels. You might remember that in addition to the body panels I’d already got from bensspares, I was still looking to get my hands on a front end, rear valance and replacement arches. Thankfully, I was able to get all of these from markh once he’d cut them off a fire damaged Scirocco he was breaking.







New teeth for Poppy!



Few little dings here and there, but so much better than before!



I was delighted when we got hold of these, but Steve our welder was keen that I try and pick up original repair panels to sort out the arches if at all possible. I know … hen’s teeth and all that.

Thankfully, I’d picked up on a forum thread about some copy parts that have been getting imported and that led me to approach a few of the guys that I believed had already ordered them to see what they were like. One of them, MarkyMark had regrettably taken the decision to not progress with his own restoration project so I’m now buying his unused set. Hopefully, I’ll get them next week.

I’ve also had another break in that I came across an old posting by GTXTRA re a NOS rear panel, which unbelievably hadn’t sold. Needless to say I quickly snatched that up too. Oh, and thanks to The Autoad for letting us use the 'Rocco Grotto' as a meeting point.

So Poppy will now be getting the replacement front end and slam panel I got from markh, plus the arches from MarkyMark and the rear panel from GTXTRA. A big thank you to them all for supplying the bits I needed.

If you’re keeping count of what I’ve got you’ll have realised I now have the rear panel and arches from markh left over. Not decided what to do with them yet. I might keep them as spares, but if anyone desperately needs the same panels for their own project I’d be happy to discuss selling them on. Given all the help I’ve got from everyone on here already it only seems fair!

Okay, let’s talk actual physical progress. We now have the front end including the slam panel removed.



Open wide!







The chassis legs have been drilled/marked up so that we shouldn’t have any major problems relocating the new section.





At least there’s easy access for working on the engine!



And check out the new bonnet support!



So there you have it. I know it looks bad, but hell sometimes things need to get worse before they get better … or so I keep telling myself.

The new wings will be going back on temporarily to help align everything back up and I expect we’ll have the new panel welded on in the next couple of days.

Then we plan to strip out the remainder of the interior including the dash, remove all the glass and trims plus take out the engine ready for the shell to be blasted. Ideally, I’d like to have got her onto a spit, so we could take her back to just a bare shell and have the whole lot blasted. However, I’m afraid that’s going to be too expensive so she’ll just be getting blasted from the sills up, but at least that’ll allow us to go for a bare metal respray.

Should be good when it’s done in … let’s see, 2015 should be about right – lol.

Meanwhile, Lily looks on in disbelief!

[bensspares]

wow paul,most impressed with your determination to overcome adversity...

regards ben

[the edmundator]

I doff my metaphorical cap to you, sir.

A labour of love, indeed.