&3 vega gt......fun begins

[ukjon]

Ok so bought what I beleive to be one of only two vega gts in the uk fully stock and been in a garge rusting for last 10 years so here are pics of her when I picked her up...










The front fenders are totall rusted through in several places and so is the header panal... the back is generally ok a couple of bits to patch but nothing major... interior is mint apart from slight fade to carpet...

So here it begins








So this is it sofar got new panals on way so once they are here and prepped ill post more pics.... plus looking at a rover v8 next week so will update.

[zeke]

Dude, post some bigger pics eh! You can go at least 1024 by 1024 here and up to 256 kilobytes.

[res0o7eb]

Nice-looking early Vega GT - from what I can see with a 'digital magnifying glass'.
Where did you get new panels? Early Vega parts are nearly extinct over hear in the U.S.
Rover V-8 translates to an all aluminum early 60's Buick/Olds 215 cu. in. V-8 in the U.S. Is your Rover V-8 bigger?

[ukjon]

I got the panals from a guy in canada, though they havnt arrived yet so am just hoping they are in good condition when they get here....though doubt they will be worse than mine.
The rover v8 over here has several sizes the early ones are 3.5ltr which is the 215ci, there are also some 4ltr (245ci) and 4.5ltr (275ci) ones around, I need to do some more research as not sure if i change engine weather the air con and power steering will be linkable.... ill put some bigger pics on when I get a chance.

[Roccosvega]

Hey ukjon, Welcom to the site.I like the color scheme of your vega ,are you going
to stay with that color.Go to NixvegaGT for your inspiration.

Robert

[ukjon]

Hey ukjon, Welcom to the site.I like the color scheme of your vega ,are you going
to stay with that color.Go to NixvegaGT for your inspiration.

Robert

Am not sure at the moment..... the interior is black with red carpet so was considering doing the same on out side.... or maybe very hi gloss black with a white stripe.... my mind is changing almost daily but is gonna be a couple of months before she is ready to spray so ill have a think..... ideas welcome!!

Jon

[NixVegaGT]

I think this will be a fun build to watch. Hopefully you'll be able to see your vision come to fruition faster than mine. LOL. Peep this thread about the 215 and the Vega. There's some more info that may be useful to you.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28388

[ukjon]

ok so here is the next installmen... I cant make the pictures any bigger am using photobucket... does anyone know haw to enlarge them?

the front end is full stripped and all under parts cleaned back to metal and primed with zinc primer... just waiting on new panals the will wax oil all and rebuild the front... then she is in for mot.








this is prob the worst part of the body left to tackle have cleaned out rust just need to cut out the section and weld in new piece..







hope you like!

[NixVegaGT]

Yeah. That looks familiar. The sheet metal back there is pretty straight forward so not too complicated to bend. GOod luck.

[ukjon]

update, sorry about delay will get some new pics on here soon, got 2 new front fenders they are secound hand but rust free and nice and straight. so have fixed all problems underneath and wax oild entire front end, fitted new fenders and got her back on road for now..... found a new screen from a guy not too far away who has a 71 vega, which he has fitted a cosworth engine too.... is very nice. he is trying to sell me the engine but not sure if finances will allow at the moment.

Next steps.... she is going in tuesday to a machanic freind to get a new mot and a good tune of engine. then is booked in for full resparay at end of month... so hopefully be back by xmas. colour I think is going to be black with a white strip, going to clean up sides by removing the marker lights and smoothing out. Also thinking about chopping bumper down to make little quarter bumpers that would open up the grill and (I think) make the front better looking.


Hope you are all good..
jon

[zeke]

Do the 2 piece bumper, I think it makes these cars look a whole lot better!

I made a picture tutorial in this thread here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28612 if ya wanna know how to post larger pics.

[monza75tc]

Jon,

To be different you could look into the setup from a Manta 400.

From 1979 until 1983 the GM division Opel offered special "homologation" Rally versions of the Ascona and Manta, the Group 4 Ascona 400 and later, Group B, Manta 400. Both models were produced by Opel in very small numbers and were built in a variety of special Rally specifications.

Both cars used two door bodies for added strength and were fitted with 16 valve 2410cc engines supplied by Cosworth and coupled to a five speed gearbox. For lightness the Ascona/Manta rally cars came with Glass-fibre body panels and special wheels.

Dick

[rustic302]

Hello Jon, only just chanced upon your post.
I've been on this website for a while waiting for a H-Body to come up in UK.
Hows your car coming along?

My Dad and bro saw your car at a car show this summer I have a few pics of it and it was in a newspaper article (I should have pics of that also).

I emailed Martin at DB motors last year about the Cosworth engined Vega - I want that car but not the engine - want to do the Rover V8 thing aswell
Did you see the car up close? I was only able to get some 70/80s pics off him, he said the car was tucked away in a lorry box.
Did you see the other H-Bodies he had?
I really want one but it's looking like I'll have to import from Europe at my price range.

Cheers
Don

P.S. seen the Drag Vega on ebay? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

[ukjon]

Hello All, ok so things are moving a long have stripped interior and have got all new carpets etc togo in. she is currently in the shop being sprayed and some welding done. also the best part have bought a range rover with a 3.5 l V8, which is going to be put in.
hopefully be done in acouple of monthe so will get phots etc up.

hope you are all well
jon

[bugdewde]

range rover with a 3.5 l V8, which is going to be put in.

jon

That's great news. You will be very happy with your engine choice. I have the Buick grandfather of your engine. The little 215 is just about a perfect match. Only 30lb heavier than the Vega engine but I think it may have a lower center of gravity.

Here's some good reading .... there's some good links to other readin in this thread : http://forums.h-body.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=345
Here's an article comparing the 3.5L to the Chevrolet 5.0L..... love the 3.5L .... it's perfect.: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2202359/4 Just click on the article page and it will get larger so you can read it.
Also, if you look at the other 3 pages, you'll see how my 215 was in the Vega.