Build Diary Summary: the journey of the project from the start

Peugeot 205 GTI Restoration

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Our 205 GTI is a bit tatty and crusty

1/11/2023

This car was still in use when we purchased it and its a bit crusty, showing signs of age but thankfully not too far gone

stripped and ready for surgery

12/11/2023

Preparing for this nut and bolt restoration means everything stripped, bagged & marked.

Fabrication for our 205 GTI

17/12/2023

Its bare metal, cut out the rust and fit fabricated replacement or off the shelf new parts. Where we can we keep the original metal to retain its history

Peugeot 205 GTI Mixed media blasting

Bradley Taylor
18/9/2024

Due to the thickness of the underseal, it is more efficient for it to be removed by a wire wheel on an angle grinder. Then, once most of the underseal has been removed, it will be sand blasted to clean any remnants

Gearbox strip and inspection

Brandon Rowley
2/10/2024

Today the gearbox has been stripped to inspect the internal parts. The gears are in ready good condition as well as the bearings.

While the case is separated they will be blasted to take them back to a factory finish.

The internals will be cleaned of old oil, inspected in more detail and them oiled with fresh oil of the correct specs before refitting into the fresh case.

Underbody parts painted

Charlie Harris
2/10/2024

Applied Hybrid Epoxy Anti Corrosion before applying Polycoat Protect once fully cured

Rear seat floor section

Sam Warburton
3/10/2024

The rear seat floor section had had a very poor repair done previously with multiple pin holes which had also made what material was left very thin and weak.The area was then cut out completely and a fresh new piece fabricated from scratch putting back in the original profiles for the captive bolt and the floor grommet hole. All internal areas coated with weld through primer and fully welded into place to create a seamless factory looking repair.

Steering wheel completion

Paul Hames
4/10/2024

Hand stitching completed using the original loop and under stitch process.

Epoxy primer

Bradley Ball
8/10/2024

Cleaned and Painted the shell in anti- corrosion hybrid epoxy primer . Using the cavity gun to get the hard unseen area

Driver Side Wing

Sam Warburton
9/10/2024

The inner wing had some snapped bolts that were drilled out and the rivnuts replaced as some of the threads were damaged.The tabs to mount the lower section of the front wing were damaged also so new tabs welded on and rivnuts fitted.The pattern wing was a poor fit so getting them to sit nicely took some fettling of the edges and mounting points but sits better now.

STP Flex

Bradley Ball
9/10/2024

Stp flexed all the panel joint and areas in need ready for stp flow

Sub Assembly

Mark Tombs
14/10/2024

Today has been spent building as many sub assembly's as possible to speed the assembly of the car along when it's ready, I between ordering parts chasing suppliers and assisting colleagues in the bodyshop.

Rear Seat Sewing

Sharon Whitfield
16/10/2024

One backrest and seat have been sewn. We have used new webbing for the rear straps as old ones were worn and not strong enough.All seats and backs have had new velcro and calico tubing replaced with new to improve the strength and result in a better overall fit.

Gearbox Assembly

Brandon Rowley
17/10/2024

Today we now have all the needed gearbox parts with us so I can now begin reassembling the gearbox. To begin with i used a scraper to clean off all the old gasket and sealant from the mating faces and made sure to degrease so the new sealant will be able to bond to the faces correctly.

Paint Shell

Bradley Ball
18/10/2024

Cleaned and masked up the shell. Applied isolated areas that needed . Base coat and clear

Rear Subframe

John Dearman
21/10/2024

This afternoon, I've installed the shockers onto the rear axel. We have replaced the shockers and shocker mount bolts as well as all the nits and washers. We also have replaced the nuts and washers that bolt the subfram into the chassie. Once the rear axel had been built together, We then installed the rear axel onto the chassie.

Engine Bay

John Dearman
26/10/2024

Today, I've installed multiple components into the engine bay.This includes the fuel regulator valve, which is also plummed in, the coil and H,T leads with the roughing plastic peace. The breather system has been fitted as well as the front bumper wiring harness and various brackets

Dash and centre console installed

John Dearman
28/10/2024

The final components for the dash have now been installed. This includes the following:

glove box and pasinger kick pannel
The drivers kick pannel
Both A-piller tip trims and bottom trims
The radio
Centre console and gearshift surround and boot
Handbrake lever cover.

Final prep finished

John Dearman
6/11/2024

This morning we have finished final prep for the NEC and photo shoot this morning.