Astra MK4 SRI project

[GaryVaux]

While building my nova, i bought a mk4 astra 1.6 sxi as a reliable/sensible car.


I had owned the sxi for 3 years now, and as initially hoped it was a superb car, never gave any hastle other than routine maintenance.
So now that the nova is pretty much finnished (well all the big spending is out the way for the moment) I decided to upgrage the astra....

I do 50miles a day comuting to work,so "fast" cars were ruled out.
I really like the mk5 sri cdti150, but they were still a bit out my price range,

Spotted this in the autotrader....

Mk4 1.8 sri,
Factory fit prodrive kit
18" technomangesio alloys
bilstein b14 coilovers
irmscher grill
1 owner, and 41k miles




Ive always wanted a mk4 sri-turbo, so loved the look of the car
Went down for a look at the car (near motherwell) gordonlivsey came along. I was hoping to barter the price down (which was high) But i couldnt fault the car other than surface rust on the tow bar

So the deal was done

[astra v6 230bhp]

**** me thats nice

[mac1976]

nice car bud , you going upto crail for the tv , if so will catch up with you and get a look over the nova

[Kev_G]

thats bloody nice. its been modded perfectly

[GaryVaux]

As the car had a private plate on it, the V5 had to be sent away and original plate transfered, before i could register it in my name.

The red SXI was sold locally by word of mouth, and i got was i asked for it, Cant ask better than that, so nova was trhe daily driver for a week and a bit.

Meantime melv sorted me out with a HPI check on the car, which as expected came back all clean

3 and a bit weeks later, i went down to collect/pay for the car. Got home at 9.30pm, and removed the neck of the towbar, and 1.8 badge..

[Fow16v]

thats nice, i love the wheels they just seem to work so well on everything

[keithcdb]

When is the engine and box coming out for a full clean and paint?

Nice MK4 Gary

[GaryVaux]

**** me thats nice

yeah, i saw it and though "thats stunning" but its too expensive, following week it was still in the autotrader, so i phoned up about it

nice car bud , you going upto crail for the tv , if so will catch up with you and get a look over the nova

Im working, but hope to get a swap. Was speaking to ure mate knox on sunday

thats bloody nice. its been modded perfectly

yeah, only got a few changes i want to make

thats nice, i love the wheels they just seem to work so well on everything

The finnish on them is really nice, almost chrome like, bugger to clean though, too many spokeslmao

When is the engine and box coming out for a full clean and paint?

Nice MK4 Gary

Funny you should ask... Check the next update

[kennybarbour]

When is the engine and box coming out for a full clean and paint?

keithcdb you are clearly a man after my own heart. if a car wasnt meant to be dirty there wouldnt be covers and seals on stuff

buuuuuut its still a very nice car gary

[GaryVaux]

Next was to take off all the wheels, gave them a clean/polish/wax



So in my usual style, did this:


painted the inner arches silver, and the bell/edge of the disks black

[Melv]

looking good Gary. No damage to the rear bumper ? Surprising really as a lot of towbars are bodged on and bumpers cut etc.

[Dell Balallan]

Looks amazing that! Are you going to get a turbo spoiler just to finish it of as a sri-t lookalike?

[GaryVaux]

Next i took the towbar off (i was going to paint and re-fit) but ill prob use it once a year, and both my mums car and dads landrover both have tow bars anyway.

Rear bumper off, and towbar unbolted:


removed the rear suspension, all splash guards etc, and gave the rear arches the same treatment:


wire bushed and painted the rear beam black.

The bottom of the shocks had stonechips and the paint was going scabby, so re-painted them. Gave the springs a spray aswell




The fleet:

[GaryVaux]

keithcdb you are clearly a man after my own heart. if a car wasnt meant to be dirty there wouldnt be covers and seals on stuff

buuuuuut its still a very nice car gary

You love it really Now wheres my polishing cloths...lmao

Looks amazing that! Are you going to get a turbo spoiler just to finish it of as a sri-t lookalike?

YES Its on the shopping list, already been beat to two star silver ones on astraownersclub

looking good Gary. No damage to the rear bumper ? Surprising really as a lot of towbars are bodged on and bumpers cut etc.

nope Its a genuine towbar with removeable neck. So sits just under the std bumper (and above the prodrive rear extension)

[kennybarbour]

does 2 cars count as a fleet? if so i have one too, i'll have to start refering to them as a fleet, rather than just as the van +1

p.s. strip it out and cage it!





the nova that is, obviously

[GaryVaux]

does 2 cars count as a fleet? if so i have one too, i'll have to start refering to them as a fleet, rather than just as the van +1

p.s. strip it out and cage it!


the nova that is, obviously

Im not sure on the technicalities, but im using the phrase

Also removed the "vauxhall" and "astra" boot badges...

[Rick Draper]

Very nice.

[Kev_G]

i need a garage like you lmao

[Byron]

Looks nice that. Jewel (rare) rear lights would freshen the back end up a treat

[GaryVaux]

Very nice.

Cheers

i need a garage like you lmao

Its my dads workshop/farm shed, ive an allocated spot for the nova, rest must be kept clear for his tractor projectslmao

Looks nice that. Jewel (rare) rear lights would freshen the back end up a treat

Was outbid on some lexmaul rears on ebay last week, probably get a pair of the replica ones (which look almost as good)

[GaryVaux]

Pic of the engine bay, all fairly standard:



Interior:
Irmscher centre console and chrome heater rings
irmscher door pins
irmscher alloy gear knob
Chrome gaiter surround
Pioneer flip front headunit with steering wheel control interface
Infinity sub/boschman amp

Engine

spent an evening (well started at 4pm) giving the car a good polish/wax, cleaned the windows, then took some pics the following day..

[GaryVaux]

And an artistic one:

[Steve!]

lol at the artistic one

[kennybarbour]

since when have you had a garage?

[GaryVaux]

Todays work, was supposed to be removing the sump/gbox from the nova and trying to cure the oil leak once and for all, but instead i had a long lie, then fitted my vectra C intake pipe.

The vectra airbox joiner pipe doesnt give much clearance to the top rad hose. Most people just live with it. Instead i positioned it so it wasnt touching the hose, which gives one problem, the oval of the joiner and inlet are at 90dgegrees to each other,



So i came up with a solution..

One mould/former

a light heat from a blowtorch, and heres the result:


Fitted