All my previous Opels were daily drivers, so modifying and tinkering with them was a weekend sort of thing with the pressure of them having to be drivable for monday morning. I found myself wanting a project I could tip away at and put the time and work (not to mention MONEY!) into at a more relaxed rate, and do it right.
So initially I was looking for something mid 70's to mid 80's, preferably a Kadett C. However, while on my hunt, I saw the Cavalier SRi pop up in a donedeal search, based not too far from me. So I got on the phone, viewed the car up in the air etc. and made the deal. Have always loved them but rare as hens teeth, especially south of the border here in Ireland.
The car had to be transported back to the garage via a flatbed, then it was home.
Bit of background I know about the car: It was originally a UK car (K146 ANF) but arrived in Ireland in 1994 when it was a year old. It stayed on the road until around 2005 and was stashed in a shed until I got my hands on it.
As it spent most of its life in Ireland, it is rot free, however there is some surface rust around the underside and in the arches but it isn't so far gone that it isn't treatable. It was never undersealed bar the factory layer which should make the job under it a bit easier but its one that I'm not particularly looking forward to
Anyway, enough waffle, I'll write about it as I work on it.
So, a few of the first pictures I took of it:
I had it transported to the garage as the timing belt was 10+ years old and I wasn't taking a chance. Plus the fact that the brakes are knackered in it and the disks in the windows were 10 years old.
The first job was to get a timing belt into it so I could fire it up without bricking it! With the help of a next door neighbour, we decided to tackle it. So I got my hands on a Gates timing belt kit with new rollers and tensioner, a new waterpump etc.
A few pics:
So with the new belt in, the coolant system was empty (the coolant that came out of it was surprisingly clean, reassuring!). A new thermostat, coolant temp sensor and fan switch sensor went in before 7 litres of fresh coolant. The oil and filter was also changed.
So, the bare essentials were covered, fresh oil and a fresh belt.
Last but not least, 5 litres of Topaz's finest petrol dumped in and a fresh battery hooked up.
*drum roll*
And it started, no hesitation, no rattles, no squeaks, no clouds of smoke....quite anticlimatic. The exhaust blows a bit but that'll be lopped off and replaced with a nice stainless system at some stage.
So for the first time in my ownership it rolled (on odd tyres) out of the garage into a laneway. Temperatures are perfect, fan kicks in and it runs very well.
Interior is fairly clean too:
So that's it for the moment, a rolling project. It needs a new clutch badly so that may be next and then it's onto the underside before overhauling the suspension and braking system. Hopefully as straight forward as it sounds
Here's a couple of pictures that I look at as a goal, same car, same colour, except this one is spotless!
Watch this space!
and once left for a couple of days it goes from a yellow colour to a red/black appearance. I wrap it in cling film to prevent it completely drying out. It then is a case of cleaning it off, wire wheeling the area, and seeing what it has left you with. I definitely requires more time than stated in the instructions but the cold weather could be hindering it slightly. 
)
I will admit that I am very lucky to have the garage space! Me Dad is a plasterer and about 20 years ago it used to be his workshop, as we got older the work bench got smaller and the number of cars/parts seemed to increase! Have 3 cars stashed in it at any one time 
A grinder and a few small scrapers complete with the Bilt Hamber stuff plus some old clothes and you're golden! I will admit thought that it's a job I'll be glad to see the back of 
