I've been an active user on here for a long time but never done a build diary, so I thought it was about time I did one.
I bought my 1275GT when I was 16 in 1996, my first car. I used it until I was 24, but never sold it. Had it on the road a few times since for the odd year or so but really it needed a proper restoration.
So about 8 years ago I decided that I was going to do it, so I stripped it down to a bare shell, realised actually how rusty it was, got scared and left it for a further 7 years. Then finally last year I decided that enough
was enough, I either had to do it properly, or sell it how it was, as a project........ I couldn't sell it.
I was originally going to do the body work my self, but wasn't confident enough in my welding skills to do a good enough job so I did some hunting about and found 'Arch Farm Mini's'. Looked at some
previous work he had done and it all looked good. I got a quote off him and off my GT went for a full body work over and re-spray.
I had it back from 'Arch Farm Mini's' about 6 weeks ago now and im really happy with the results. Completely new floor put in, sun-roof hole gone (that was put in before I owned the car) and all other
bits of car rot gone. Ive had it Sprayed Black (original colour) but with a white roof.
Whilst it was away at the body shop I had time to strip down, inspect, clean and re-paint the engine ready to put in. The engine is from a 91' SPi. (minus all the injection bits)
I sold the engine that I took out 7 years ago as I was planning to put a Honda VTEC engine in it, but I decided that it just didn't feel right putting anything but an A-series in it.
The engine I took out wasn't the original 1275GT engine, it was from a Metro which I was I the car when I bought it 21 years ago.
So here is my progress so far.....
Strip down, 7 years ago.
1.jpg 78.02K
10 downloads
2.jpg 79.82K
8 downloads
The engine I stupidly sold!
3.jpg 87.18K
13 downloads
The rot I found....
4.jpg 66.16K
7 downloads
5.jpg 48.98K
6 downloads
6.jpg 67.57K
4 downloads
