Clio williams restoration

[SOHROB]

Right guys im contemplating getting a williams and restoring it. Now im not mehcanically minded and will be getting the work done at various garages and bodyshops,in addition i dont have deep pockets lol.

What i have in mind is to start with the engine, oil filter,plugs,coolant,air filter,cam/aux belt,new water pump,headgasket. Anything else i should do providing the engine is in good condition?

Then a recon steering rack,bushes all round,track rods etc to tighten things up.

Gearbox recon service

Finally new rear arches regardless,possibly sills of needed,wheels refurb,new window rubber and plastic trim,tidy up interior.

Question is does it sound like i have all bases covered and do you think it
could end up being very costly?

Thanks

 

[Daz.]

if you don't have deep pockets then don't!

Just totting up your list to do it properly theres over 4k worth of work. plus the starter car.

I'd personally go out and buy the very best car you can - budget 4k and be very patient.

And I 100% know what I'm talking about as I've been there and done it!

 

[Jamie]

If you're not going to do it yourself it will cost obviously alot more.

With a Williams the first things you'll need to do is attend to the body work. Arches, wheels and boot will need doing no doubt plus odds and ends due to age. Like stone chips on the bonnet etc.

Engine may not need too much attention. If it's pulling good pressure maybe ok. The suspension will all be worn. New dampers, joints etc etc.

It's going to get VERY expensive. I'd be looking to do as much as you can tbh. Especially the replacement of mechanical parts. If it's a 2nd car it also means you won't need to use it day in day out.

Talkingfish has rebuilt a Williams and it looks pretty new. I'd shudder to think of the cost.

 

[Bluebeard]

Absolute money pit. Never worth doing imo.

as above, just buy the best you can. There are some minters out there.

 

[Daz.]

Absolute money pit. Never worth doing imo.

as above, just buy the best you can. There are some minters out there.

Even some of the minters have hidden issues and i've still to stand next to one and say yes that needs nothing doing to it.

I wouldn't buy a williams unless I could take a fair few panels off and check whats underneath, how many people would actually let you go to their house and start dismantling the thing!

 

[fuel_slut]

As above, uber money pits.

If you don't do anything your self your looking at a massive bill of thousands. you sound like you dont know what your getting into. Its a labour of love to restore these things and takes months/years.

 

[fuel_slut]

I bought a mk1 valver a year ago that everyone said was in mint original condition, but soon after I found out it was rotten throughout and had repair work all over it. Mechanically it was a long way from mint as well.

 

[bill]

if you don't have deep pockets then don't!

Just totting up your list to do it properly theres over 4k worth of work. plus the starter car.

I'd personally go out and buy the very best car you can - budget 4k and be very patient.

And I 100% know what I'm talking about as I've been there and done it!

what he said lol

 

[SOHROB]

Thanks for the input guys, the reason i didnt want to buy one in good condition was for two reasons.

Firstly so i knew that all the work was done to a good level and there would be no rust issues later.

Secondly to be able to choose certain components, whilst i want to maintain the standard look of the car eg wheels and ride height i will will be upgrading certaon components.

I do have friends in the trade so i will get some discount and £4k doesnt sound to bad bearing in mind i will do it over a 6 month period.

 

[bill]

and there would be no rust issues later.

you'll be lucky!

best bet is just buy a decent one in the first place and fix whatever your not happy with

 

[Jamie]

Rust will come back. Had my arches done a couple of times. Rust on these cars is ineviatable as death.

 

[DIDITNO]

Rust will come back. Had my arches done a couple of times. Rust on these cars is ineviatable as death.

is it, never had mine done, and my cars fine. could do with a repaint, but the rust fairies have been no where near it.

 

[Bluebeard]

Rust will come back. Had my arches done a couple of times. Rust on these cars is ineviatable as death.

Then they weren't done properly my love!

Most people (my cars previous owner included!) just get the rot ground back and then layered in filler. Well that will last about 6 months before it comes back. The proper way to do it (I'm getting mine done) is to cut out the back wings and replace the metal. Underseal the lot and it should last a good few more years!

 

[Jamie]

I had my panels cut out and then welded back in too.

 

[Bluebeard]

Did they not underseal the back of them??

 

[The Spaniard]

I agree, properly repaired arches do not rust. Physical impossibility for iron to rust if its not exposed to air and water.

If they rusted you have somewhere that either wasnt properly painted, or the original rust was not completely removed.

 

[Ali]

Tough call. I loved the way mine looked, so cool. But i hated everything else about it. the near death everytime i drove it handling, the constant repairs, the fumes....

Owning the car ruined my overal impression of the car.

 

[Daz.]

Arches are the least of the problems, cut out welded in and sealed you'll be fine if you get someone who will actually do it properly, I paid £1700 to have mine done and both sides of the car and bonnet, bumper done!

This was a classic car restoration company who did it properly but on top of that was hundreds for new seals, second hand items (i.e things that are not available new anymore).

For a new owner to come in and spend 4k in 6 months not knowing about the car you WILL miss something big.

I had to remove the entire interior to make sure I'd got all the rust.

I'd do it all again don't get me wrong but i'd have started with a much better car and have much deeper pockets!

 

[Bluebeard]

^^ Yeah I agree there.

I bought what I thought was a minter, but upon removing the interior found even more rot than i'd ever expected.

Hence the very expensive bill i'm going to have when it goes down the bodyshop!!

 

[roystinho]

Don't do it, it'll cost loads

Buy this one instead http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1792445.htm

Yes it costs loads to start with, but run it for a year or 2 and you'll get a big chunk back after (unless you smash loads of miles on)

 

[Daz.]

^^^ ooof shame its a 3.

9k's a lot of money, and I'd be replacing every rubber bush on the thing!

 

[SOHROB]

hmmmm i wouldnt pay 9k lol plus i want a 2 which is what i had when i was 20.

As i said i will get quite a lot of the work done through mates which will reduce the cost. Plus why would i pay 3-4k for a car which somebody "tells" me has been restored?

This way i know exactly what has been done and im able to document it and take pics.

As regards to rust in particular the rear arches, these will be cut out and new wings fitted with the whole underside being re-sealed.