Brett's Astra GTE 16v Turbo Trackcar Project - Page 3

**Benn** · 04-09-2006, 19:43

crazy,yet very cool,

**CraigGreen** · 16-09-2006, 18:29

/\/\/\/\
Who TF is this guy?

**Brett** · 17-09-2006, 12:14

what the ****?? random!

**Benn** · 17-09-2006, 18:53

spam tastic,

**Add_Gee** · 22-09-2006, 08:27

Nice progress brett, hadn't looked at the thread for a bit

**Brett** · 22-10-2006, 19:00

been a while (again!) without an update so heres whats been going on in the last month or so!

First up, the tank was fully cleaned up and painted and whilst refitting I renewed all the rubber hoses. Next up was the fuel pumpassembly. I stripped the one from my old car down rather then the one that was on there, I replaced those silly rubber bushes on my old GTE 16v last year and didnt want to do that job again. I took it all apart and painted up the frame, a new filter and new rubber hoses were used and I kept the diaphragm thingy because the one on the Calibra Turbo I broke was virtually new. Refitted it and connected it all up to the tank.

Then the rear beam went back on, followed by the Vectra 5 stud rear brakes which I have fitted using Mark T's guide. I gave it all a good clean first too. Fitted the 5-stud Cally T wheels and dropped t back down. Ive still got to get a torque wrench and torque it all back up though!

Ive started to flock the dash too. With the electrics basically done I can put this back in now, and fit the rest of the cage, seats etc etc. Its coming out pretty well and hopefully shouldnt peel of this time

close up

top of the dash done...

Ive also decided to use a different master cylinder. One thing I noticed with the 288mm brake setup I used to have was that fitting them increased the pedal travel before I got any bite, so although I had better brakes they never fel sharp like I really wanted. Swapping rom the GTE m/c to a Calibra Turbo one with a larger piston should mean I can shift the fluid a bit faster and remove the extra travel from the pedal.

Im also about to build up the quik rak and fit that, so the rack I did have has come off to donate some bits and peices. All in all its been a bit of a step backwards for the engine bay LOL!!!

Ive also sold my Calibra 16v to release some time/cash for the project. Ive spent a lot of time and money on the Calibra in the year or so Ive had it and it wasnt making any sense to do so. So as much as I love the car, Ive let it go. Cavalier TD'ness here I come, cheap motoring till the astra's done and then Ive got my eye on an Alfa Romeo 156 when Ive got spare cash again!

**Benn** · 22-10-2006, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett

mmmmmmm nice rimage...

**Brett** · 23-10-2006, 17:23

aye, I want to stay with Vauxhall rims because aftermarket ones always seem to uspet the handling somehow. Kept the ones from my cally T for it

They will be powdercoated black when the cars done I think.

Went out tonight to have a final go at sorting out niggles with the loom. They were the rear bumper (turned out to be a bad earth which was easily sorted) boot courtesy light (bad earth, still not fixed need to run new earth wire) and the interior light not operating of the drivers door (fixed itself, worked tonight when I tried it LOL!)

So the dash should be goning back in Saturday

**Benn** · 23-10-2006, 18:00

sweet,

**Brett** · 01-11-2006, 19:22

Just bought a new fuel pump for it, a Walbro GSL392. details here (2nd pump down) if anyone knows what they are looking at as I sure as hell dont, but Im told its ideal for my car

http://www.aztpi.com/cgi-bin/store/a...duct=Fuel_Pump

It also came with a nicely rebuilt bracket assembly, powdercoated and new bushes LOL! If you dont know the way the brackets on these and some other Vauxhalls work, your lucky - its a terrible design and they're a nightmare to change) For the greater good I have sold the parts I had on the car to someone else needing new bushes!!

foreverwhite · 02-11-2006, 12:52

is it reliability and consistency with pumps rather than actual pumping power?

as ive seen silly powered cars running boggo pumps

Jack · 02-11-2006, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett

Cavalier TD'ness here I come

You'll never want another car ever again.

**CraigGreen** · 02-11-2006, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwhite

is it reliability and consistency with pumps rather than actual pumping power?

as ive seen silly powered cars running boggo pumps

The pumps can get tired as they age, its not so much that they pack up, but on a forced induction engine such as Brett's new one, fuel starvation is very bad news & could prove terminal. Better safe than sorry. Goes without saying that a pump is only as good as its wiring (live feed) so that will need to be checked accordingly.

Nice choice of pump though Brett. Ive just had my new Walbro pump arrive last week.. Same one!

**Brett** · 02-11-2006, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackS

You'll never want another car ever again.

Didnt get one in the end, bought a Mk2 Cav SRi on impulse instead!!!

Craig this pump has worked out to cost me £15

Ive got all new wiring for the fuel pump in place ready to go, should be strong as an ox!

Jack · 03-11-2006, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett

Didnt get one in the end, bought a Mk2 Cav SRi on impulse instead!!!

You bloody great gilly.

Cav TD's are sexy.

I love mine.

But not in that way.

**Brett** · 03-11-2006, 01:00

cavs are just great honest & simple cars! and so are astras!

Jack · 03-11-2006, 01:10

I think I prefer Cavaliers to Astras.

They're a bit more comfy and a bit less "I'm 19". I don't feel like I have to tw*t mine about everywhere, but my Astra was too easy just to snap it up to the limiter in first.

Or maybe that's the point. Who knows.

**CraigGreen** · 13-11-2006, 14:35

Got the dashboard in yet mate?

coolamasta · 13-11-2006, 14:50

When am I coming up to have a look then dude? Still need to see that corsa as well lol, will come up in the Evo to show you as well

**Brett** · 13-11-2006, 15:03

I finished the dash yesterday at a mates place, so its going in this coming weekend after ive gone through the electrics one last time to check insulation and so on. be good to get that in. Theres still feck all to see though

Rob - I'll ring craig and see if its still OK about the Corsa mate, and yes bring the evo!!

Im hoping there will be some proper progress to write up next weekend!!

**Brett** · 26-11-2006, 16:32

Internet is back up and working at home now

Heres last weekends progress...

started with the car like this... I got a new bolt to replace the shear bolt on the steering colum after changing it and bolted that in properly, then removed all the switches from the loom after giving it one last test.

next up I filled the remaining disused holes in the engine bay through to the interior. Most have been left by rerouting the wires out of sight...

Just the rerouted bonnet release cable left now on the passenger side.

Now I could mount the finidhed dash into the car, I first checked I had all the bits...

then realised I should first fit the boost and AFR guages, doing it with the dash in the car would be nigh on impossible..

Took about 10 mins to fit the dash in. Then I relaised my rerouted bonnet cable plan had come ustuck because now the handle & mount foul the dash...

This made it hacksaw time... Needs tidying with some flocking paint because the blade snapped and I wasnt in the mood to let that stop me

Dash is now in and Im very happy with it

Is it just me or is this a bit Peugeot 306 like...

Today ive been working on getting the locking right, which still isnt plaing ball

Befored I go any further I need to get this sorted, and also fit some gauages Ive been waiting for, oil temp and oil pressure. Digital to match the boost and AFR ones I already have. Im gonne put these where the cold air vents are either side of the trip computer.

**Benn** · 26-11-2006, 16:52

very cool,
shes getting there,
have you had a seat in it yet? making driving noices?

**Brett** · 26-11-2006, 18:14

yes, erm way back In february

Going to put the drivers seat out of a spare Mk2 I keep in a field on a mates farm when its got to that point to keep the bucket seats I bought last christmas.

**Benn** · 26-11-2006, 18:41

cool,
so we see it in the summer?

**Brett** · 28-11-2006, 22:33

yeah all being well. Motivation is back at its best now so plenty of cracking on to be done.

tonights efforts - make somewere to mount the oil perssure & temp guages. Cold air vents will do nicely