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My mk1 Caddy 1.8t full resto project/wedding car

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So far still prepping shell, inetersting rear chassis work

So after 8 years of ownership, 6 years ago I took her off the road for a quick paint job, which never happened and she got stood up in a variety of garages. 2 years ago, whilst engaged and planning our wedding, I was still pushing the idea of using the caddy as part of our wedding transport, along with a hired splitty (that was her part of the deal). And so me and 1 of my best men, who has a body shop, started stripping her down for what should have been a quick paint job.

At this stage I was unhappy about putting plates in the floor where the brake pipe clips had rotted holes through, so we made a 'spit'. Once on the spit we found some real horrors which I can only hope had deteriorated whilst in storage and not when I had been driving it around previously, The cab floors were repairable but thin to put it nicely, but so much of the rear chassis was rotten it was just unrepairable. The chassis for the rear shackle for the leaf spring had snapped in half., and so, we took a brave move to design and make a new box section chassis, which is very strong, and suprisingly not that heavy.

The car then left my home garage and headed up to the body shop still on its spit where it has now had both new foot wells welded in along with new custom (jack point/structure beams ((between the wishbone and seat base))?)

As I write, we have put the welder away, and the underbody, inner wings, rear inner archs and engine bay are all sealed, stone-chipped, painted and laquerd.
I'm guessing the question is why am I doing it instead of just goin out and buying a better one. Well it was 'my' car and part of me can't let go (a bit sentimental in a hoarder kind of way), and also it's a K-reg '92, which I've always believed to be quite rare, a friend has told me he found it was 1 of still around according to some site somewhere, but i am a little sceptical of this at the moment…
So, I have a full car with a 20vt APP engine and 6spd box, that i am currently in a research and buy parts stage with and the rest of the body work to complete along with the rolling gear that I am half way through refurbing or replacing to fit back on.

All help with advise on the engine conversion gratefully received, and constructive cristism welcomed, but I am hoping that any negative comments and my build shall not get aired.

Oh did I mention, the wedding is July, 2015, like THIS YEAR, :'(
 

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Doing a 20vt conversion is a big job, lots of specialty parts need to be sourced - engine and gearbox mounts, wiring loom, plumbing between intercooler and engine etc.

If you've got the time and money to work on it then go for it but if there's any chance it won't be ready for July why don't you concentrate on finishing the bodywork and getting the original engine and mechanicals running. You can always do the 20vt conversion after you are married.

That's if the missus lets you. Lots of things change when you get married. :lol:.

Cheers

Paul

Last edit: by sports racer


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