Dead Shell

Not updated on here for a while but did some more digging and came to a reluctant conclusion. The shell is f***ed! I’ve found rust places I’ve never seen it before on a 106. Can’t believe the MOT on this only expired in January last year.

So I will buy a base model and transfer the bits across. I don’t have the space or time to do the transplant just yet so I will need to unbolt and chop out what’s needed for the swap then dispose of the rotten shell before doing anything else. I will keep an eye out for a relatively local low mileage poverty spec 3-door non sunroof car with under 50k mileage for under £500.

Yesterday with my eldest holding a torch I had two hands free to use a very large screw driver and a big hammer to “fix” the broken seat slider on the passenger side. With that now moving backwards and forwards, I’ve started stripping the interior. It’s also back on all four wheels so I can crack the hub nuts off and start stripping the bay.

So having given the car a death sentence I thought I should back fill on the story and provide the compelling evidence that has made me give up on this shell and look for another. Those of you who have followed my previous builds on 106RR will know I am not work shy on the metal front but I genuinely think as others have said this one is too far gone.

Drivers side c-pillar not far behind the passenger side.

Passenger side rear window.

Passenger side inner wheel arch…

…held together by underseal and paint. This all came off with finger force.

Drivers side is quite well on the way too

Passenger side chassis rail gusset and under floor support rotten beneath the under seal.

Passenger side chassis rail

Double cold air intakes FTW

On the upside as I start stripping it the alternator and battery are almost brand new. Radiator was not a 16v rated item as it’s about half the thickness…