My New 65 Kadett A

Mach1Tom · 11-14-2007

A few weeks ago I won a 65 Kadett wagon with a 1.0 & 4speed on eBay for $152.50 A few members knew about it but I didn't want to post until I actually picked up the car. Well it's in better shape than I thought & has only 46k miles. It has been sitting in a barn since 1980.

I hope to check it out better this weekend. I really need to thank Ron M (gtopeler) for driving 4 1/2 hrs each way with me to get this Opel & for storing it at his place along with 5 of my other cars & way too many parts to even mention. And also to Allen & Vickie for the 4 wheels & tires that hold air so we could roll it off the trailer a little easier.

~ Tom

Mach1Tom · 11-14-2007

Here's some pics of the interior. The engine was taken out by the guy I bought it from. Two of the piston pins are froze from the car sitting so long. Hopefully I can loosen them up & just freshen up the engine a bit.

guyopel · 11-14-2007

That was a Great find ! Good luck on your project .

John

Mach1Tom · 11-14-2007

And the last until I clean up the car & see what I need to get it on the road.

neuropel · 11-14-2007

I like the rear hatch. That car would make a great "mini" woody.
Can't beat it for the price Tom!

Opelkurt · 11-15-2007

Neat- sliding windows for the back seat passengers. I never knew about that.

And "tenths" on the odometer? My '67 Kadett B didn't even come with that!

-Kurt

MantAscona · 11-15-2007

Great car Tom. I've always liked the A's and being a wagon makes yours especially cool. Good luck with it!

Duane

tomking · 11-15-2007

So Tom, when will we see you drive up in a wagon instead of the GT? Good Luck with the project.

jlthunder · 11-15-2007

Tom;

That is a cool little car. Just think of all the parts you can fit in there

OpelGT-de · 11-15-2007

Nice to see an US-specs Opel Kadett A.

1st pic: In 1997 I bougth this A Kadett at Opel Unlimted in LaHabra/CA
(The yellow one in the background)

2nd pic: During restoration

3rd pic: after restauration

tekenaar · 11-15-2007

Tom C. . . . post some pics of the 1.0 engine since it's not in the single underhood shot posted . . . please. Going back to all original, right Tom? What shape is the engine in? . . . remember, it's a 6V electrical system and "Carter" carb! . . . actually referred to as an "Opel" carb, but is a 'dead-ringer' Carter single barrel knockoff, also used on the earlier '58-'62 1.5/1.7 Rekord engines.

OpelGT-de · 11-15-2007

here a some pics of the original 1.0 engine

sawdust · 11-15-2007

Originally Posted by guyopel

That was a Great find ! Good luck on your project.

You gonna have it ready for the 2008 season?

jlthunder · 11-15-2007

Wow! The spark plug wires are right next to the exhaust manifold.

opelnut_1 · 11-15-2007

WOW that is clean an neat for sure!!! and look at all that room,

envoys

Mach1Tom · 11-15-2007

Rolf, those are some great pics. My 1.0 came disassembled with the rest of the car. I hope mine looks as good when I put it back together.

At first I was going to modify the car, but since it's in better shape than I thought, I'm going to put it back to original. I guess my 2.2 roller rocker engine build is on hold. I'd rather get this engine back together & in the car. I have a good stash of NOS parts already & there's lots on eBay for this car too. So the car will be running by spring. I just don't know if I'll have the body & paint done. I'd like to have it ready for RT 66 or the fall Autofair national event.

The car is about 2 hrs drive north at Ron's house. I'll check it out more & get some pics of the disassembled engine this weekend while I'm there. That's after we go to Todd's (neuropel) house on Saturday morning to trailer my 70 GT to keep the wagon company for the winter. My 72 GT & 70 Mach 1 stay close to home so I can take them out when I like.

kevinfier · 11-15-2007

Tom,
Nice wagon! I'm sure that if there were more pictures on ebay,it would have gone a lot higher.
Will be great to see it on the road.
Kevin

opeljohn · 11-15-2007

Guess I'm going to have to change the wagon color to silver on the front of the Rt. 66 shirts.

alpharm · 11-15-2007

Nice wagon!!!!!

GTJIM · 11-15-2007

Originally Posted by Mach1Tom

Two of the piston pins are froze from the car sitting so long. Hopefully I can loosen them up & just freshen up the engine a bit.

Surely you will be able to find a nice new set of pistons and rings for the 1.0L motor as it was used for many years in Europe - 'alpharm' may even be able to help you. What size are the pistons? Standard or oversize?
I have seen them for sale on EBay.UK and EBay.de from time to time as well.

A nice wee wagon.

Well ... Car-A-van !!

alpharm · 11-15-2007

Many people these days have good memories from those days so it is good to know that the oldtimer spirit is still alive although it is hard to keep.

Mach1Tom · 11-15-2007

I thought for sure I would be outbid. I emailed the seller the day before for more info. He said it had a good title & was already notorized. My max bid was a bit over $500

The car came with a new set of AE .030" over pistons. But the bores are really clean with no ridges or marks. I think a light honing & new rings would be fine as long as I can free up the pins. I'd hate to bore it out if it doesn't need it. I wouldn't mind building another "hopped up" engine for it though. Something like what Kevin has in his wagon.

There are 2 sets of pistons on eBay right now at $100 each. there's also std. & over rings for around $10. My egine is the base 1.0 not the 1.0 S with a little more HP. I think the "S" pistons & valves could be used. I'll be asking more questions & reading old posts as I build the engine. If I understand correctly the 1.0 is basicly the same as the 1.1 & later 1.2 engines.

alpharm · 11-15-2007

With 500+ euros you will be able to find in Greece from engine block new with or without pistons or cpl engine 1.2L in good condition.
But transport cost will be high!

soybean · 11-16-2007

Originally Posted by alpharm

Many people these days have good memories from those days so it is good to know that the oldtimer spirit is still alive although it is hard to keep.

It looks like the one my Dad brought back from Germany while stationed there in the army. Called it the "Grey Goose" It was still running around town here until the early 80s. Brings back lots of great memories. Good catch Tom.

Jarrell

opelgtguy · 11-16-2007

Hey Tom:
I've been missing this thread somehow.
When you were showing me the auction I thought the car looked fairly nice - but your pix REALLY show it to be nice. Congratulations !
Rick

11-14-2007	#3 (permalink)
guyopel Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Duluth,Ga. Posts: 643 Real Name: John Provided Answers: 2	That was a Great find ! Good luck on your project . John __________________ Guyopel I have not failed - I've merely found 10,000 ways that won't work." ---Thomas Edison It's amazing what God lets man get away with when lightning is so cheap. Mark Twain

11-14-2007	#5 (permalink)
neuropel Rice Cooker Join Date: May 2002 Location: Spring Church, PA Posts: 1,779	I like the rear hatch. That car would make a great "mini" woody. Can't beat it for the price Tom! __________________ "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln ________________ 1972 GT 2.4L 1974 Manta GT/E 2.2L 1973 Manta Rallye 2.5L

11-15-2007	#7 (permalink)
MantAscona Kick a little asphalt Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plumsteadville, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,090	Great car Tom. I've always liked the A's and being a wagon makes yours especially cool. Good luck with it! Duane __________________ "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten"

11-15-2007	#8 (permalink)
tomking tomking Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SW Missouri Posts: 1,278	So Tom, when will we see you drive up in a wagon instead of the GT? Good Luck with the project. __________________ TMK

11-15-2007	#9 (permalink)
jlthunder 1000 Post Club Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salfordville, PA Posts: 2,138 Real Name: Jeff	Tom; That is a cool little car. Just think of all the parts you can fit in there __________________ 1972 Opel GT, Owner since 1983 2001 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0 Turbo V6 Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 1973 GT, Parted out, R.I.P. 1968 Kadette, Owner since 2006, Sold, 28 June 2008

11-15-2007	#6 (permalink)
Opelkurt Cam-in-head? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 177 Provided Answers: 1	Neat- sliding windows for the back seat passengers. I never knew about that. And "tenths" on the odometer? My '67 Kadett B didn't even come with that! -Kurt

11-15-2007	#11 (permalink)
tekenaar Cunning Linguist Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX 75074 Posts: 4,430 Real Name: Otto Provided Answers: 12	Pics of 1.0 engine? Tom C. . . . post some pics of the 1.0 engine since it's not in the single underhood shot posted . . . please. Going back to all original, right Tom? What shape is the engine in? . . . remember, it's a 6V electrical system and "Carter" carb! . . . actually referred to as an "Opel" carb, but is a 'dead-ringer' Carter single barrel knockoff, also used on the earlier '58-'62 1.5/1.7 Rekord engines. __________________ 1960: ♥ '61 Rekord PII 1.7 3S 3.9 ♥ '69 Kadett LS 'sprint' 1.9 3A 3.18 1970: ♥ '70 GT 1.9 4S 3.44 ♥ '72 GT 2.2SSD 5S 3.44 ♥ '72 GT 2.4FI 5S 3.44P ♥ '73 GT 1.9FI 4S 3.44 ♥ '75 1900 1.9FI 4S 3.44 1980: ♥ '85 Bitter SC 3.9FI 5S 3.44P 2000: ♥ '09 Solstice GXP Coupe 2.0 SIDI VVT Turbo 5S 3.73P Last edited by tekenaar; 11-16-2007 at 11:31 AM. Reason: link correction

11-15-2007	#14 (permalink)
jlthunder 1000 Post Club Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salfordville, PA Posts: 2,138 Real Name: Jeff	Wow! The spark plug wires are right next to the exhaust manifold. __________________ 1972 Opel GT, Owner since 1983 2001 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0 Turbo V6 Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 1973 GT, Parted out, R.I.P. 1968 Kadette, Owner since 2006, Sold, 28 June 2008

11-15-2007	#16 (permalink)
Mach1Tom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 386	Rolf, those are some great pics. My 1.0 came disassembled with the rest of the car. I hope mine looks as good when I put it back together. At first I was going to modify the car, but since it's in better shape than I thought, I'm going to put it back to original. I guess my 2.2 roller rocker engine build is on hold. I'd rather get this engine back together & in the car. I have a good stash of NOS parts already & there's lots on eBay for this car too. So the car will be running by spring. I just don't know if I'll have the body & paint done. I'd like to have it ready for RT 66 or the fall Autofair national event. The car is about 2 hrs drive north at Ron's house. I'll check it out more & get some pics of the disassembled engine this weekend while I'm there. That's after we go to Todd's (neuropel) house on Saturday morning to trailer my 70 GT to keep the wagon company for the winter. My 72 GT & 70 Mach 1 stay close to home so I can take them out when I like. Last edited by Mach1Tom; 11-15-2007 at 07:49 PM.

11-15-2007	#17 (permalink)
kevinfier Opel Adventure # 77 NC Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: West Coast of Illinois Posts: 210 Real Name: Kevin	Roof Racks Rule!!! Tom, Nice wagon! I'm sure that if there were more pictures on ebay,it would have gone a lot higher. Will be great to see it on the road. Kevin

11-15-2007	#18 (permalink)
opeljohn Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Springfield IL Posts: 376	Guess I'm going to have to change the wagon color to silver on the front of the Rt. 66 shirts.

11-15-2007	#19 (permalink)
alpharm OPEL PARTS GREECE Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: GREECE Posts: 140	Nice wagon!!!!!

11-15-2007	#21 (permalink)
alpharm OPEL PARTS GREECE Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: GREECE Posts: 140	Many people these days have good memories from those days so it is good to know that the oldtimer spirit is still alive although it is hard to keep.

11-15-2007	#22 (permalink)
Mach1Tom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 386	I thought for sure I would be outbid. I emailed the seller the day before for more info. He said it had a good title & was already notorized. My max bid was a bit over $500 The car came with a new set of AE .030" over pistons. But the bores are really clean with no ridges or marks. I think a light honing & new rings would be fine as long as I can free up the pins. I'd hate to bore it out if it doesn't need it. I wouldn't mind building another "hopped up" engine for it though. Something like what Kevin has in his wagon. There are 2 sets of pistons on eBay right now at $100 each. there's also std. & over rings for around $10. My egine is the base 1.0 not the 1.0 S with a little more HP. I think the "S" pistons & valves could be used. I'll be asking more questions & reading old posts as I build the engine. If I understand correctly the 1.0 is basicly the same as the 1.1 & later 1.2 engines.

11-15-2007	#23 (permalink)
alpharm OPEL PARTS GREECE Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: GREECE Posts: 140	With 500+ euros you will be able to find in Greece from engine block new with or without pistons or cpl engine 1.2L in good condition. But transport cost will be high!

11-16-2007	#25 (permalink)
opelgtguy Opel-ing since '74 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hatboro, PA Posts: 807 Real Name: Rick	Outstanding ! Hey Tom: I've been missing this thread somehow. When you were showing me the auction I thought the car looked fairly nice - but your pix REALLY show it to be nice. Congratulations ! Rick

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