1998 - Vauxhall Corsa Breeze - Runabout Shed Project.

[envoycdx]

Well, I acquired this car off my Granddad hung up his keys (luckily at the same time I decided the cav - see signature was coming off the road).
That was um, 4 years ago this coming October.

Now, I appreciate it isn't rare, and isn't a classic - but it's served me well just racking up 156k last night actually
It's not the prettist of things, and it's also a Cat C write off, the passenger side is approx 4mm shorter at the back, and 3mm at the front. But it drives straight - so it's all resolvable.
 
It is referred to as "Harliquin" at work and amongst family as I've simply been replacing panels as required.

This is a fairly recent pic:



Just a bog standard 1.4 hitorq lump that takes longer to do 0-60 than most things. But it gets me by.

I fully intend to eventually spruce her up and get everything one colour again, and hopefully straighten out the shell where possible.

[envoycdx]

Rightly / wrongly last year I thought I'd replace the tailgate as it was battered to hell, what I failed to check was how bad the damage to the rear end actually was. So what should have been a straight forward swap taking no more than an hour turned into an afternoon of cursing, metal beating with a lump of wood and "Thor" my 4lb hammer to try and bring the back end out a bit.



Tada!


Whilst that was happening, I and my friend Steve happened to notice that the sealant on the roof gutters had cracked, so that got scrapped out too and then resealed.

[envoycdx]

So, a few years back I broke a MK3 Astra 1.4 (multipoint) Always had intentions of dropping the head and other bits onto my block - sort of a hybrid 1.4 hi-compression type affair.
Recently dug out the bits I salvaged














I got the car on 92k some years ago, and really need to get round to doing a belt swap on it.. last one was at 108k.

[autoverse]

Mismatched panels add to the shed vibe, it's got plenty of potential. As I've stated countless times on this forum
I used to drive a Corsa B with the same engine. Mine was a Capital which was essentially a Breeze with some extras. Makes a change from the default 'let's drop a red top in there'.

[envoycdx]

Yeah, if I do change the lump, I will be looking at something like an 1800 from an Astra 4, Vectra B or a Corsa C. No need for silly figures.

But yeah, I'll never loose the car in a strange place that's for sure

[envoycdx]

today, I ground back some of the rust spots and slapped some primer / paint on to seal it back up. It isn't pretty and I really should have masked it up better. Just wanted to stop the rust getting any worse whilst I had a bit of time.

Will see how well it comes up a bit later and stick some pictures of my "effort" up.

[envoycdx]

So botched up the paint - no picks currently but theres less rust so thats something at least.
Anyhow, chucked the car through the car wash (I know, mechanical carwashes are a sin - but I'm laid up with issues currently) and ever since I'm now getting a groan on full lock to the left and whilst backing off - sounds like a top mount. annoying since everything was stripped down not so long ago! Damn it!.

Anyhow, looks like the top mount bearings are about £20 each, may as well do the pair I guess.. Hurrah.
So that also means I may as well drop it 40mm too.

Oh well, win some loose some.

[envoycdx]

Turns out it isn't the top mounts, track rod end and a pair of ball joints on order - so hopefully be sorted tomorrow!

[envoycdx]

Well, 2 track rod ends and lower ball joints later and she's tracked up and driving well.
Time to save up for some tyres now though.