Beginning the restore soon...

[CoriolisSTORM]

Well gentlemen, I got the Ascona dug out of the weeds and briars and such this weekend. Now onto business, I'm about to start my restore job and work on it during the weekends as I have time. I have yet to decide upon an engine, but the body is what needs the major work right now. It has the potential to be a great car and a reliable (and semi economical not that that is all important) vehicle. Now, it has a little more rust than I originally thought, but nothing that should be too hard to fix with a little bondo and a grinder. So, onto the interior, its basically trashed to heck and back. The seat hardware has rusted to bits due to the weatherstripping rotting out. And, I saw daylight through one of the floors.. How hard is it to replace the floorpans? This Ascona has been through the wringer and time has not been too kind to it. The passenger seat has a rusty frame and has a hole all the way through it, and the drivers has just a rusty frame. I didnt even check the backseat yet. So, how hard is the seat hardware to replace? Or how much are new(er) and less beaten down seats? (I would prefer the style like is in it, its the black imitation leather kind) Finally, weatherstripping and seals. Where can I find some seals and such for the windows to stop all this degradation and hopefully begin to reverse it? My biggest deal right now is getting the weather stripping replaced to hopefully stop the leaks. Pics next weekend when I head home to start work on it. On a side note, while jacking it up to put some wheels on it (we used Kia wheels), I noticed "Made In Germany" on one of the blinker lenses. Gotta love that! (And before it comes out, yes its worth it, as its been in the family since the early 80s, probably almost since it was new.) And I found why the original 1.9L blew to bits too. My g'ma made a 120-150 mile trip in a little over an hour in it. So, she was burnin that rubber! Finally, one bright spot in all of this, the auto transmission still works pretty good even though its been exposed to so much. It took a little WD40 and a slight persuasion with a hammer to free the mechanism, and the thing shifted fine into whatever gear we chose. So, I dont think that'll be a hard thing, it'll just need rebuilt.

[namba209]

www.opelgtsource.com may have the window seals and there are members on the site that may be able to help as well. One that comes to mind is Charles Goins, I believe he has had some sheetmetal pieces made up. You may want to put the pieces you need in the ads secton too. HTH.

[CoriolisSTORM]

If what I am looking at is correct, the seals are "disc" which I guess means discontinued? (hopefully discounted instead! )

[GTJIM]

Have a stroll around some car dismantling yards and have a look at other cars - many use similar weather stripping.
Also seek out your local rubber extrusion store where the local Hot Rodders have been getting stuff like that for years - sure to be one somewhere about ... look at "Rubber Products" in the Yellow Pages (and sniff out all the Bondage Shops!)

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by CoriolisSTORM If what I am looking at is correct, the seals are "disc" which I guess means discontinued? (hopefully discounted instead! )

Try ordering what you need from www.dr-manta.de

[soybean]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Try ordering what you need from www.dr-manta.de

Good site Gene. Jarrell

[ungermm]

The major issue maybe the rust to the floorboards and other areas. You can probably do the quicky grind and bondo of small areas of rust and repaint youself. For floorboards, usually that would require cutting them out and welding or fastening new metal in. If you know how to do that, your on your way. If not, you might want to learn. To hire someone to do that may make you feel like the cars not worth it even for an old family heirloom. Jerry

[CoriolisSTORM]

Yep, I'm gonna have to do all of the welding and such myself. It shouldnt be too terribly bad I think. As far as seats go, what will fit really well? (Keep in mind I need the hardware and everything to go with them since mine rusted to bits.) I would like to get the originals redone, but I'm not too sure that it'll be possible they look so far gone. The drivers side one looks pretty good, the passenger one, well its a goner. I'll try to get some pics this weekend gentlemen, for your enjoyment. I am actually looking forward to this project. Am I a glutton?

[CoriolisSTORM]

Sorry about the double post, but I'm away from home during the week at school/work, and I'm still looking around for engine options. Guys, can you give me some measurements of the engine compartment on an Ascona? I would, but its a long way from here...

[CoriolisSTORM]

The options I'm looking at now include:
VW 1.6L or 1.9L TD (diesel for those unfamiliar with them)
VW 1.9L TDI-m (TDI converted to mechanical injection, which gets rid of all the damn computer controls for the most part)
Opel 1.9L (rebuilding an old one.)
Suggestions? I'm kind of hoping a VW diesel will fit without cutting the hell out of the car!
___
Some more things I'm wondering, since mine is currently soulless...
What side is the intake and exhaust on with a stock 1.9L? How good/reliable were the Ascona automatics? How many gears did they have? It currently has one, and took only a little WD40 and a tap of a hammer to get the lock up so we could get it out of park (setting that way for 25+ years). What type of rear end is in here and does it need rebuilt? My grandfather said something about "internal driveshaft" or something like that, and an axle and transmission combo like that is unfamiliar to me, since my other vehicle is designed for a far different thing. I tried the search for stock specs and didn't come up with much. I'm going to see if I can find the old block and head and such this weekend, he's still got it laying in the woods around where it was setting somewhere abouts...