The Little Ying

[tyre_tread]

Drop Test said:

I just had a look in the 'goods master' book i have and you will be happy to know that we do a turbo timer........

Edited by Drop Test on Thursday 20th September 15:54

Hmmm, we should talk once its on the road. Or before?

It's a bugger trying to organise stuff to be done on this car from a distance. Once the welding is done I'll be up there to get the rest sorted and get it MOT'd.

[tyre_tread]

IT LIVES IT HAS AN MOT!

Garage reckon it looks pretty solid considering age, mileage and stood for 5 years.

I will probablt have to wait a couple of weeks to pick it up as really busy next week and away on hols week after.


I had to cheat and get the garage to do the welding. they also had to replace the 2 handbrake cables as not able to free them. Also needed a tyre.

[tyre_tread]

After an eventful first few miles yesterday evening involving a disappearing fan belt, I piloted the little tyke home this afternoon

Puts a smile on your face!

Needs lots of TLC though. Paintwork is rough and underbonnet filthy/rusty.

Needs a service as well so that's first on the list.

[tyre_tread]

Service is done followed by an Italian tune up yesterday.

Today I spent 3.5 hours T -cutting the little tyke and discovered a white car trying to get out from under the grey one. I took some pics but had the camera on the wrong setting so they're not good enough to publish.

Took the little guy over to see JB and Blipi and JB ended up with a stupid grin on his face.

I shall probably be at Sywell in it tomorrow.

[tyre_tread]

Big thanks to Spurting Bare who kindly spurred me into action earier this week and polished the Ying while I cleaned the upholstery and wheels.

It now looks something like this

[tyre_tread]

I started earlier today just looking for an electrical fault (rear wiper) and ended up stripping the rear seats and side panels out to check for corrosion as I know these cars can be prone to a bit of tin worm in these areas. I was pleasantly surprised at how little rust there is.

It needs some attention especially around the rear seat belt poits bt otherwise reasonably sound.

[ScoobieWRX]

That GTti must be as rare as rocking horse droppings. I haven't seen one of those on the road in absolutely donkeys years.

Gotta be a good candidate for an almost nut and bolt strip and rebuild, lots of engine and handling mods, and then tracks days!!

Lovely car!!

[tyre_tread]

Why, thank you sir!

They are becoming rare.

I think it'll have to be patched up for now as no garage to work in yet (build starts on 7th Jan at last!) and funds currentky a problem bue to build but in the long term it will be restored to as near original condiion as possible.

Its currently my everyday driver.

[bob1179]

What an a cracking little car! Good luck with the resto job, how far are you going to take it? The rust doesn't look too bad. What's panel and parts availability like?

I remember the 1st of August 1990, my old man picked up his brand new Sierra 1.8 LX Estate, not quite as cool though...

[tyre_tread]

bob1179 said:

What an a cracking little car! Good luck with the resto job, how far are you going to take it? The rust doesn't look too bad. What's panel and parts availability like?

I remember the 1st of August 1990, my old man picked up his brand new Sierra 1.8 LX Estate, not quite as cool though...

Thanks, not sure how far the resto will go yet. Will depend a bit upon time & funds later in the year.

I was really lucky on 1st August 1990 as my other mate has bought a new MX5 and at one minute past midnight we went out for a blast in it and then at 8.00am was picked up by my other mate to go and pick up the GTti which WE then drove to Edinburgh and back (from Leicestershire). We dropped the car off on 2nd August for its first service (600 miles). You should have seen the look on the salesman's face!

[White Fly Swater]

[quote=tyre_treadI was really lucky on 1st August 1990 as my other mate has bought a new MX5 and at one minute past midnight we went out for a blast in it and then at 8.00am was picked up by my other mate to go and pick up the GTti which WE then drove to Edinburgh and back (from Leicestershire). We dropped the car off on 2nd August for its first service (600 miles). You should have seen the look on the salesman's face!
[/quote]

it was 720 (check the paperwork!)

I know I was there !!!

[tyre_tread]

White Fly Swater said:

tyre_tread said:

I was really lucky on 1st August 1990 as my other mate has bought a new MX5 and at one minute past midnight we went out for a blast in it and then at 8.00am was picked up by my other mate to go and pick up the GTti which WE then drove to Edinburgh and back (from Leicestershire). We dropped the car off on 2nd August for its first service (600 miles). You should have seen the look on the salesman's face!

it was 720 miles (check the paperwork!)

I know I was there !!!

Yes, you bar steward, you made me drive it first!

Still, that look on the taxi drivers face when he TRIED to cut us up in Edinburgh was priceless!

And its still having the same effect on people who try and outgun it on straight acceleration

Edited by tyre_tread on Saturday 5th January 10:57

[jumplead]

tyre_tread said:

White Fly Swater said:

tyre_tread said:

I was really lucky on 1st August 1990 as my other mate has bought a new MX5 and at one minute past midnight we went out for a blast in it and then at 8.00am was picked up by my other mate to go and pick up the GTti which WE then drove to Edinburgh and back (from Leicestershire). We dropped the car off on 2nd August for its first service (600 miles). You should have seen the look on the salesman's face!

it was 720 miles (check the paperwork!)

I know I was there !!!

Yes, you bar steward, you made me drive it first!

Still, that look on the taxi drivers face when he TRIED to cut us up in Edinburgh was priceless!

And its still having the same effect on people who try and outgun it on straight acceleration

Edited by tyre_tread on Saturday 5th January 10:57

I could 'have' it in a race (on a track obviously, racing on the open road is an incredibly dangerous and irresponsible thing to do)

[tyre_tread]

jumplead said:

tyre_tread said:

White Fly Swater said:

tyre_tread said:

I was really lucky on 1st August 1990 as my other mate has bought a new MX5 and at one minute past midnight we went out for a blast in it and then at 8.00am was picked up by my other mate to go and pick up the GTti which WE then drove to Edinburgh and back (from Leicestershire). We dropped the car off on 2nd August for its first service (600 miles). You should have seen the look on the salesman's face!

it was 720 miles (check the paperwork!)

I know I was there !!!

Yes, you bar steward, you made me drive it first!

Still, that look on the taxi drivers face when he TRIED to cut us up in Edinburgh was priceless!

And its still having the same effect on people who try and outgun it on straight acceleration

Edited by tyre_tread on Saturday 5th January 10:57

I could 'have' it in a race (on a track obviously, racing on the open road is an incredibly dangerous and irresponsible thing to do)

Can't find performance figures for you Astra but I doubt it would outhandle the Dai.

Maybe we'll find out one day?

Might be worth you remembering though that when it was built it was the fastest accelerating prouction car from 30 to 60. Faster than a 911 turbo allegedly.

Where's the Stig when you need him?

Edited by tyre_tread on Saturday 5th January 19:18

[jumplead]

Who said anything about the astra?

[tyre_tread]

jumplead said:

Who said anything about the astra?

Well, according to your profile that's all you own at the moment. Unless you've made an acquisition in the last 48 hours?

[Nurse!]

Alan came to visit with the loopy banzai beast.
(Not sure if it was the driving or the mental car!)

Still gibbering.

[tyre_tread]

Nurse! said:

Alan came to visit with the loopy banzai beast.
(Not sure if it was the driving or the mental car!)

Still gibbering.

There was quite a bit of giggling from the passenger seat which I take it was enjoyment rather than fear?

The drifts were interesting weren't they

[tyre_tread]

Little bugger lost its alternator/water pump drive belt (again) on the way home from Dolf's last night. I managed to nurse it home.

Fitting a new one will be interesting - there's no bloomin space down that side of the engine. Oh well, bye bye knuckle skin.

[tyre_tread]

Sorted. New belt £5.70 and fitted in less tha an hour including getting tools out and putting away again.

There's a knack and once you spot it, its a doddle.

Might even have a go at the rear wiper that packed up.