Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: OOMV6 on 20 August 2012, 17:34:17

Title: Omega "restoration"
Post by: OOMV6 on 20 August 2012, 17:34:17
Hey guys,

An idea.

I have a '95 3.0 MV6 which is a daily driver. It was always intended to be a bit of a temporary stop gap thing, until I get myself sorted with a more appropriate vehicle for my work.

So, I was thinking, that in the autumn when I will be in a position to get the more appropriate vehicle for work, I have to make a choice as to what to do with the Omega.

- Sell it. Get next to nothing.
- Keep it on the road and tinker and fiddle in the evening / weekends to keep it going.
- Take it off the road and just do everything that needs doing plus other things that I feel like doing - a bit of bodywork etc - you know how it goes once you start.

Given that the known problems at the moment are leaking cam cover gaskets, cam belt due for a change soon, new rear caliper needed, and less importantly, temp gauge not working, some interior lights and dash lights not working, and a couple of unknowns such as a bang / rattle from rear suspension, I am thinking that option 3 might be a good idea.
I used to do loads of work on my cars but in recent years not so much. Would like to get back to the hobby though, so this might be a good opportunity.

I see many of you do repairs, maintenance, mods, to the daily drivers in your life, but has anyone done anything I am considering.

I do, of course, realise that it is not the financial most sensible option, but hey.....at least I won't be paying insurance, tax, test for that period.

Any thoughts, recommendations, words of encouragement ( ;)) , advice? Would be interested to hear.
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: b4ndit on 20 August 2012, 17:52:47
Go for it  :y
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: omega3000 on 20 August 2012, 18:00:44
If the funds were available i would do it myself , would be good to start a re-build thread with pics too ... re builds seem few and far between  ;)
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: flyer 0712 on 20 August 2012, 18:53:50
Why not...do it as a hobby where and when funds are available does not matter how long it takes..Just think of the end result.. :y
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 20 August 2012, 20:01:13
I'm sure I read somewhere that in Germany you are not allowed to work on cars! That anything must be done by a dealer? Can you comment as this seems very odd to us here.

Thanks
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: dbug on 20 August 2012, 20:34:29
I'm sure I read somewhere that in Germany you are not allowed to work on cars! That anything must be done by a dealer? Can you comment as this seems very odd to us here.

Thanks

Probably only refers to Germans  :) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 20 August 2012, 21:18:49
 ::) ::)
 
imo repair it..  :y
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: SIR Philbutt on 20 August 2012, 21:32:24
I used to work on my own car's many years ago but use of company cars made me lazy

Last year I did my cam cover gasket, easy with the guide on here and enjoyed myself and was proud that I could still work on cars.

A few weeks later I did my own disc's and brake pad's and a service on the car. Oh what fun and saved me some brass

Just before going on (driving) holiday this year did my cambelt, oil change, oil filter and ATF change only cost me the bits at Trade  8) :y

Last week had to do head gasket (it blew  :'( ) took me a few days but managed it on my own, with a little finger pointing and advice from my mechanic mate, and with what I had done before found I enjoyed every minute. Now I am writing a guide, hope OOF'ers like it

Will be doing more when it should be done and before it breaks  ::).

So I would say go for it and more kudos  :y to you for wanting to on a car you dont need. Dont know if I would  ::)

Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: OOMV6 on 20 August 2012, 22:26:44
I'm sure I read somewhere that in Germany you are not allowed to work on cars! That anything must be done by a dealer? Can you comment as this seems very odd to us here.

Thanks

Never heard that. My local garage, who isn't a dealer - just a small independant - knows I have worked on many of my cars. Never uttered a word about this. And you see plenty of people with their head under the bonnet at the weekends.
They have had an equivalent of SORN for years. Similar, but a couple of notable differences I believe. You "SORN" the car and the remaining tax gets returned to your bank account. The car MUST be kept on private land only, and must have plates removed.
Thinking I'll do this.....
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: Raymienets on 21 August 2012, 00:08:06
You should keep it. I picked up a 2.6 on Ebay really cheap only reason I bought It was because it had been converted to LPG. anyway has been sorned since March and not moved out my driveway since.I just tinker about with it every now and again buying what I can afford each month. So far have bought battery, discs & pads, wishbones and drop links and had to get a coil due to misfire. need a couple of tryres then will see what the damage is on the MOT front. Keeps me out of mischeif so the wife says.
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: dbug on 21 August 2012, 15:19:10
OOMV6 - if you intend to restore as a "hobby", you will find it both relaxing and rewarding.  There's no pressure to fix anything quickly in order to go to work in it the next day.  If you run into a difficult problem, shut the garage door and have a beer - there's always another day!  This is from experience in restoring my TR4A a few years ago.  HTH  :y
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: Webby the Bear on 21 August 2012, 15:40:57
OOMV6 - if you intend to restore as a "hobby", you will find it both relaxing and rewarding.  There's no pressure to fix anything quickly in order to go to work in it the next day.  If you run into a difficult problem, shut the garage door and have a beer - there's always another day!  This is from experience in restoring my TR4A a few years ago.  HTH  :y

depends what job you're undertaking imo. changing plugs is a piece of piss...... head gasket, for example, is a pita.

but on the whole i agree that as theres no time restrictions and if you want you can shut up shop when you want i'd go for it  :y
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: dbug on 21 August 2012, 16:20:28
OOMV6 - if you intend to restore as a "hobby", you will find it both relaxing and rewarding.  There's no pressure to fix anything quickly in order to go to work in it the next day.  If you run into a difficult problem, shut the garage door and have a beer - there's always another day!  This is from experience in restoring my TR4A a few years ago.  HTH  :y

depends what job you're undertaking imo. changing plugs is a piece of piss...... head gasket, for example, is a pita.

but on the whole i agree that as theres no time restrictions and if you want you can shut up shop when you want i'd go for it  :y

Nothing's a pain in the arse mate if you have the inclination and more importantly the time to do it.

I completely rebuilt the TR engine incl all new rings, shells, seals etc (bores only required honing), with balanced, ported and gas flowed head.  Gearbox and overdrive dismantled and rebuilt.  All new suspension and steering joints, new brakes incl all pipework, fitted power assist brake booster, chassis welded and painted, all bodywork repaired and resprayed (was BRG).  Only component not stripped by me was the diff, although it was removed to allow chassis reinforcement in that area.  Hate to think how many hours I spent on it - although as I said earlier there was no pressure to get it on the road and if I got pi**sed off with any aspect I found a rest from it with a couple of beers helped ;)
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: Kevin Wood on 21 August 2012, 16:31:27
Nothing's a pain in the arse mate if you have the inclination and more importantly the time to do it.

I completely rebuilt the TR engine incl all new rings, shells, seals etc (bores only required honing), with balanced, ported and gas flowed head.  Gearbox and overdrive dismantled and rebuilt.  All new suspension and steering joints, new brakes incl all pipework, fitted power assist brake booster, chassis welded and painted, all bodywork repaired and resprayed (was BRG).  Only component not stripped by me was the diff, although it was removed to allow chassis reinforcement in that area.  Hate to think how many hours I spent on it - although as I said earlier there was no pressure to get it on the road and if I got pi**sed off with any aspect I found a rest from it with a couple of beers helped ;)

Exactly how I approached building the Westfield.. several times. ::)

It's much more of a joy to be working on a car when it hasn't got to get you to work the following day and there's something special about driving a car where you have personally assembled every nut and bolt. For a start, when something starts rattling, you know pretty much instantly what it is and how to get at it. :y
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: dbug on 21 August 2012, 16:53:09
Nothing's a pain in the arse mate if you have the inclination and more importantly the time to do it.

I completely rebuilt the TR engine incl all new rings, shells, seals etc (bores only required honing), with balanced, ported and gas flowed head.  Gearbox and overdrive dismantled and rebuilt.  All new suspension and steering joints, new brakes incl all pipework, fitted power assist brake booster, chassis welded and painted, all bodywork repaired and resprayed (was BRG).  Only component not stripped by me was the diff, although it was removed to allow chassis reinforcement in that area.  Hate to think how many hours I spent on it - although as I said earlier there was no pressure to get it on the road and if I got pi**sed off with any aspect I found a rest from it with a couple of beers helped ;)

Exactly how I approached building the Westfield.. several times. ::)

It's much more of a joy to be working on a car when it hasn't got to get you to work the following day and there's something special about driving a car where you have personally assembled every nut and bolt. For a start, when something starts rattling, you know pretty much instantly what it is and how to get at it. :y

And hopefully how to fix it  ;)
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: OOMV6 on 21 August 2012, 20:10:12
I'm gonna do it.
Restoration, that is. Not sure to what degree, but knowing how I am with these things, I'll start with the essential repairs, which will develop into doing the non-essential ones, which will develop further..... Only time will tell.

Hopefully be able to take it of the road start November.
Title: Re: Omega "restoration"
Post by: dbug on 21 August 2012, 21:19:34
Good for you mate - likely to be a classic in years to come :y
Plus it'll get you out of the house for "man time"  ;D ;D ;D ;)