5 GT Turbo Another Grey Rebuild.

[Ron]

I'm a long time lurker on the forum, after having a couple of 5 GTT in the past and more recently a clio 172 and now a 200. I sold my Tungsten GTT to @50 shades of tungy several years ago on a gentleman's agreement that if he was to move it on I would get first refusal! Luckily he is a fine fellow and I have a another project! I originally got into them due to @Haz. He had one when we were at college. Many great and not so great moments spent in his passenger seat! This car was my daily for quite a number of years and it was always reliable.



A transporter was booked and a long drive up north to pick up the old girl. Unfortunately it wouldn't start due to a suspected seized fuel pump so Robin and me gave it a push onto the transporter. On arrival home I swapped out the pump and it fired straight away!




Back home and its amazing how big small cars are these days in comparison! Overall the body needs some work It isn't a basket case by any means. Short term plan is to make it sound underneath replace all the serviceable items and get an MOT. I want to get some enjoyment from it before I carry out a major rebuild. I fully stripped out the interior to check the condition of the floor. Passenger side is ok. I replaced the outer sill on this when I owned it before. The drivers side required a jacking point, inner/outer sill, repair in chassis rail under the seat rail and several parts of the front arch. Ill let the pictures do the talking!





Front wing and door removed.




















Its fairly nice working on something that hasn't been welded in the past. My other project a Classic mini can be a nightmare sorting out previous repairs/Bodges! I have a load more pictures to add! I hope it is of interest

 

[andybond]

I have a load more pictures to add! I hope it is of interest

an emphatic YES!

 

[DaveL485]

I love the way the interim resto involves replacing half the floor hahaha! Good work

 

[Ron]

Its always the way with old cars a small hole turns into a major rebuild! I have found it easier to remove large parts and replace them for new.



Removed the outer sill Uncovered even more rust as usual! Inner sill repaired as needed. This was the worse part. All parts have been treated and painted to protect with anti rust paint.



Ebay special sill that was actual not a bad fit but galvanised so needs grinding back well. Sized up cut to shape and welded into position. Finally got the chance to use my ancient spot welder! Certainly beats plug welding!





Rear closing plate for the sill formed and welded into position. All fully welded, treated, seam sealed painted etc.




Rear jacking point fabricated and welded into position.



The car had an attempted break in that had damaged the door catch. This was the previous repair so this was repaired.








This is damage in the front arch where brake fluid has gathered in the seam. All cut out and replaced for new. Several repair in the floor near the servo also.







From this picture you can also see a small section of floor had to be replaced in the rear left. I have removed all rust and treated along with seam sealing and painting. Then it has been coated in Gravitex.



Painted with 608 base and then clear. Not a bad match. The car is several shades of grey anyway so not overly bothered at the minute. I have also refitted all the body Kit repairing the captive studs where needed. Drilled out the door hinges and fitted new roll pins. This job was not fun. I had to modify the drill chuck of the 90 degree drill with the grinder to get in the door! Its the best closing GTT door I have seen now though! Its all built up.

I have refurbed the front suspension with new bottom arms, ARB bushes, Inner outer track rod ends,Steering column bushes, CV boots etc Next weekend is New brake lines and some braided hoses. No pictures as this is just nuts and bolts. Interior needs a good clean and new bolsters and seat fabric fitting. My last GTT I stripped as it was crashed this luckily has left me with a surplus of parts that i could never sell. Fortunately most of these parts I now need!



This as I left it at the weekend. Temporary wheels fitted whilst I have the new rubber fitted to the standard wheels. Thanks for looking. Ron

 

[gordini stu]

Good work going on there . Sold mine to an ocd chap on here . Might have a few bits kicking about if you short on anything .

Running a 40 26 merlo now . Saw Ryan few weeks back and your name popped up .
Nice to see you with a five again

 

[DaveL485]

Jeez, you're getting through that fast. Are you in the trade?

 

[Ron]

@gordini stu good to see you still have a green machine I bet that is some machine! Get Ryan up in the basket he will love it Good to be back working on an older Renault!

@DaveL485 I picked it up end of May and grab a weekend when I can! I’m a tractor mechanic by trade. Bodywork is self taught by trial and error and advise from friends.

 

[DaveL485]

Ah, I thought it was real time updates hahaha!

 

[Haz]

Looking good and nice to see its getting some love. It doesn't look like it's developed much more rust since when you bought it off me, like 10years ago? To be fair @50 shades of tungy did keep it in a heated garage but knew it needed more work than he was willing to take on, and one job turns into five haha.
Ps, when are the orange 3 spokes going back on?

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Beautiful work @Ron and pleased you could share it with us and come out of the shadows

 

[Ron]

@Haz Ive been trying to think when I originally picked it up! Feels like a lifetime ago! Wouldn't say its much worse and Robin definitely saved it by keeping it in the garage! Im not sure the 3 spokes will make a comeback! Do you still have them?

Thanks @Big Steve - Raider lots of work as you well know! Hopefully make an event next year!

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

@Nick Kettle is a very knowledgeable member also from Leicester if you need some local support

 

[50 shades of tungy]

nice, big chunk of progress there Ron. Nice to see the old girl improving and getting to the road.

 

[Ron]

Morning Chaps. The bulk of the refresh is now done. Its rough around the edges but mechanically sound! The last couple of weekends have been sorting the niggly jobs. central locking solenoids, changing window regs, making all the lights work, fitting missing trim screws. The final 20% that takes 80% of the time.

I have changed all the brake pipes and used braided hoses as the old flexis looked original! Also changed the compensator valve for a spare as it was weeping. The rear boot floor was scabby so a clean of small patch welded into the chassis rail and then treated just to freshen up. The rear was also treated to a set of Gaz adjustable dampers. Full set of tyres on the original wheels and redid the tracking.



The reserve tank strap needed to be replaced along with all hose clips etc. It was just holding on! Ran the tank suitably low on fuel also to make sure the reserve pump was working. Bonus it was as I had checked the motor and got it going again on WD40 prior to fitting.

The interior has been fully stripped out and cleaned. The driver's seat was in a poor state so I have rebuilt it out of several spare parts and changed the bolster for a new one off ebay. I'm not overly pleased with the bolster its not the correct shape even after trimming and feels lopsided.






The engine has had a service, tappets set, rocker gasket, plugs distributor cap/rotor arm cleaned, carb tweaked etc. Changed some of the suspect looking coolant hoses and bled the system. Coolant system seems to operate well. It will be getting a hose pipe flush when it is back on the road. I Found some old Gunk in the workshop and it has lifted off years of road shite and oil leakage with the help of the steam cleaner. It Looks a lot better although I haven't taken any photos, it looks the same as any other C1J!

I have also fitted my old Scorpion 3 inch rolled out tip stainless exhaust for the full period Barry boy experience. It sounds lovely. That's all for the moment. Finished just in time for the winter

 

[andybond]

Fantastic progress! Shame as you said just in time for winter!

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Great work @Ron ! She's looking a lot better for herself now..

 

[Haz]

You have made good progress.
Iirc there's a relay in the o/s qtr to control the reserve pump.
I forgot how knackered that seat looked! Is it bent too, looks like it leaning to the centre of the car?
A wash? I'm guessing that's the second time it's been cleaned since you sold it haha.

 

[Ron]

@Haz Yes you are correct the relay was removed and cleaned up before the saggy rear door cards were fitted

No the seats not bent as far as I can tell. I have had to weld the seat frame as one of the cross bars underneath was broken. Its the best out of the two frames I have. The pivots have some wear and its a bit wobbly. They may get changed in the future.
I think washing cars is called detailing these days, I don't think @50 shades of tungy does that either

 

[Haz]

I meant to test the pump without the need to drain fuel.
Ah, have you had the full upper cover off? Just looks like the base and head rest are level but the back is leaning to the right and further back. Might just be the pics.
Again, iirc, the early clio ph1 share the same seat base. Might be easier to source?
Oh to have the time for detailing!

 

[Ron]

@Haz I think it looks strange because the head rest is high one side!

Is there any rebuild kits for steering racks or can they be cleaned and adjusted?