Club 80-90 Forums

So here I was, getting all exited to turn this old lady into a young and vibrant eye-catching fun-mobile for the family; checking out the roller-paint story and all that good stuff... but alas, I'll have to park that idea for the moment until the engine is sorted: Blew a gasket, overheated... and drove it further






The project will be delayed, but NOT shelved, with summer coming I wanna look good at the beach. The ideas picked up on this forum are mind-boggling...

Keep the information flowing! We SA owners are in the minority here so it is great to hear about another one, especially 2.5i. Better that those unreliable 2.6's (Sorry Ian ).

Details of your engine rebuild will be avidly devoured at this end.

Best of luck with it (the body looks to be in very nice condition, apart from that rear left window. I have a hole just there in mine!)

It is in a fair condition - got it about a month now so quite chuffed with the old girl. But it's a lot like 'investigative' policing at the moment... finding little things to solve the bigger issues. Some things I have to address include, fuel gauge (not working), sliding door (pops open while driving), power steering (non-existant), brakes, aircon (to be re-gassed), some minor body work... but overall I'm pleased with the machine and there's plenty room for the kids and luggage especially going away on holiday - because that's the reason we bought the van. But at the moment it's got a decent sound system (which keeps the kids happy)

Don't worry about the power steering. When I first got mine, PAS was top of the agenda. I even contacted Dean at Ace Auto Spares over there in SA to look at importing a system. The cost put me off, but 12 months down the line I don't know why I wanted it. You soon get used to the heavy low speed steering because once you get moving it is beautifully light.

I am also needing to resurrect the aircon, but with the diabolical summer that we are having in the UK, that is also on the back burner.

I'll be interested to hear how you get on sourcing coolant hoses as they aren't available over here.

Might be worth prioritising on the brakes as front bumpers are quite expensive.

Hang on in there............

So, this is where it is currently...



...and this is what I'm aspiring towards



The aim is to keep the exterior as close to 'original' as possible and paying greater attention to the interior creature comforts

With bumpers like that, perhaps you don't need to worry about the brakes

So now that she's back from repairs, the project will continue... as soon as I recover from the financial hole in my pocket left by repairs

So the journey continues... I just discovered that this...

can do this...

and this...




Anyways, the project is back on... but ain't gonna be no rushing

Some more pics of whats what...

Installed a Pioneer audio system (... or better said - had it installed professionally )


Remembered to check both water tanks... (that's what led to the blown gasket )

To do list...

Check why door pops open whilst driving (not good when family's with )

To do list...

Remove 'some' visible rust


Fit belt for aircon unit...



Summer is fast approaching and it ain't gonna be fun baking in a brick with temp at 34 degrees C

Gonna be using lots of this to see what really lurking beneath the surface...

He who looks for faults... will surely find them (sliding door rusted )



Me thinks it's best to start with prep work and see what lurks beneath