New guy with Kadett 'A' :)

[BOB-irl]

Hey guys, I just stumbled upon this site while trying to find out some info on the Kadett 'A'. I'm from Dublin and I got a 1965 Kadett 'A' Saloon recently off eBay in the UK for £400 (€500 - $775). It is a Scndinavian example, LHD, white with red interior. It's nice and solid where it counts. Surface rust all over it though but not that bad. Here's some pics.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...B-OPEL/020.jpg
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...B-OPEL/019.jpg

And here's what I'd like to do to it. I know some people won't agree with this idea but I've always been into American 60's Hot Rods and this is as close as I'd ever get to one living in Ireland. I have 3 Kadett 'C' Coupes and a Kadett 'E' Convertible too. No 'B' or 'D' yet but I'm still young So this car is the only one I can get away with doing something like this to.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...KadettADWG.jpg

So anyway I'm wondering can anyone tell me where the Kadett 'A' was sold cause I've never seen one in Ireland, no one I know has ever seen one, not even people who've worked for Opel all there lives have seen one so I tell myself they must not have been sold here. And the only RHD one I've ever seen was Richard Hammond's one for Top Gear, and he bought that in South Africa.

Any help would be great.

Bob.

[guyopel]

Welcome to the site , looks like you have a great find !
Good luck with your project , you have some good ideas.
John

[BQS4]

Welcome to the site, NICE concept ideas, what are you going to run for the motor?

[BOB-irl]

Hey, Thanks for the Welcomes

I'm not sure yet about an engine. The engine bay looks quite small but I have seen one with a CIH engine in so it will take as much as a 2.4. At first I was thinking of only swapping the 1.0 OHV for a 1.2S OHV from one of my Kadett C's. I know those engines very well and they are quite good. But when I pictured what I want to do with the A I thought I can't only put a 1.2 in there. A 3.0 24V Opel Omega engine would be nice But I doubt there would be any room left to sit in the car, not to mention drive it.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by BOB-irl Hey, Thanks for the Welcomes I'm not sure yet about an engine. The engine bay looks quite small but I have seen one with a CIH engine in so it will take as much as a 2.4. At first, I was thinking of only swapping the 1.0 OHV for a 1.2S OHV from one of my Kadett C's. I know those engines very well and they are quite good. But when I pictured what I want to do with the A I thought I can't only put a 1.2 in there. A 3.0 24V Opel Omega engine would be nice But I doubt there would be any room left to sit in the car, not to mention drive it.

The purist in me, and others, would suggest you follow your first thought here . . . uh, the 1.2S with twin single carbs and would be by far the easiest to do . . . practically nothing to fabricate and a nice power boost over the "A's" 1.0 single carb engine.

Any other engine choices require extensive rework and fabrication due to engine size and power (torque) production, not to mention major sheetmetal work in resizing the transmission tunnel, the "A's" is tiny!! Brakes will also be a major problem, drums all around.

That said, not that it can't be done, just be sure you completely understand just how much work will be involved! I'd hate to see this very nice example end up as another "unfinished project!"

[nabrunhosa]

Hi

I have a Kadett A I am restoring at the moment.

I live in sutton surrey uk I have seen one of these kadett's with a 2.0l opel gsi engine in them.

Your ideas look well cool.

If are changing your car that much what are you doing with your original stuff.

I am restoring my car to original and currently looking for a unbroken chrome horn button.

Is your broken if not are you willing to sell.

Cheers

Nelson

[nabrunhosa]

Sorry forgot to mention that only right hand drive ones I have seen were sold in South Africa and Mozambique.

[BOB-irl]

Originally Posted by nabrunhosa Is your broken if not are you willing to sell. Cheers Nelson

Hi mate. I haven't been on here in ages. I didn't realise someone asked my something This Horn piece you need, is it in the middle of the Steering Wheel? My car has been dead since I got it so I haven't heard the Horn. But the part is in perfect condition. I was with the car last night checking out what it needs. I'm not sure yet what I am defo gona do with the car in the end so I don't want to make any decisions yet but if I'm not using it I'll let you know.

Since last nights exploration of my A I know now that it is the 'Super' adition (Well according to a badge on the boot lid it is anyway). I think they had 48bhp compared to 40bhp of the normal A.

I also know now why the front right side wheel sits in at the bottum like the back wheels of a Fiat 500. The steering rack is Bent like........something that is bent really bad When one wheel is straight the other is turned in too. I was hoping to put my A on the road before Christmas but now I don't know.

I was checking out whether it can be converted to RHD too but it looks doubtfull. The foot wells are different on either side. I think the LHS foot well goes deeper than the RHS foot well. Very little room for pedals, brake cylinder and steering column on the RHS.

I also need a new 6v battery cause converting it to 12v will take quite some time I think. A job for later on I think.

Is there anyway of changing the wheel nut studs on the A cause they are very short? I've seen A's with different wheels on but I think it would need longer studs to do that.

Can the front drum brakes be changed for Discs from say a Kadett C?

And I hate leaf springs. They're no fun

I took some pics last night. I'll throw them up later.

[nabrunhosa]

Sorry took long to reply.

I have a six volt battery if you want it.

Do you have a phone number maybe we can chat about the cars.


Cheers


Nelson

[midozdenasana]

Hello nice Car Opel Kadett A
I have lots of nice parts to Kadett A. I'm living in Denmark.

[Lone Ranger]

Originally Posted by BOB-irl Hey guys, I just stumbled upon this site while trying to find out some info on the Kadett 'A'. I'm from Dublin and I got a 1965 Kadett 'A' Saloon recently off eBay in the UK for £400 (€500 - $775). It is a Scndinavian example, LHD, white with red interior. It's nice and solid where it counts. Surface rust all over it though but not that bad. Here's some pics. http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...B-OPEL/020.jpg http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...B-OPEL/019.jpg And here's what I'd like to do to it. I know some people won't agree with this idea but I've always been into American 60's Hot Rods and this is as close as I'd ever get to one living in Ireland. I have 3 Kadett 'C' Coupes and a Kadett 'E' Convertible too. No 'B' or 'D' yet but I'm still young So this car is the only one I can get away with doing something like this to. http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...KadettADWG.jpg So anyway I'm wondering can anyone tell me where the Kadett 'A' was sold cause I've never seen one in Ireland, no one I know has ever seen one, not even people who've worked for Opel all there lives have seen one so I tell myself they must not have been sold here. And the only RHD one I've ever seen was Richard Hammond's one for Top Gear, and he bought that in South Africa. Any help would be great. Bob.

Just joined and great to see the interest in the A Kadett. This was a very popular car in SA and one of the best performing 1000's in its 54hp S form at the time. I would seriously suggest you keep the ohv pushrod engine as it will produce really good ponies, and maintains good handling. Used to race one successfully against the Minis in our day (70's) and could easily outpower them. The engine is practically unbreakable and wiil turn 8000rmin in well set up street form. Have a lot of the old gen on the this so don't hesitate to make contact

[opeletti75]

i have new upper and lower balljoints for 45 each if your interested they're on this site on the ad board opeletti75