Project Astra

[Jezuz]

hello all
new to the boards and am now just starting a project
totally new to modding so please be patient with me here..lol

ok after much umming and aaahhhhing have decided not to get a new car but will keep the trustworthy mk3 astra 1994 1.4

this is the second car int he household and i wld like to do up the car not only to look the part but also go aswell

i wld assume for the speeed i will need to carry out an engine transplant...but i do nto wish to do that just yet
first i wish to work on the styling

i will have approx 150 per month to spend on the car
i wld like to start of with the bodykit...lwhat is available to put on

any other help is much appreciated

[C9SRi]

save for wheels + a drop first.

[Jezuz]

what size wheels wld be best and what drop

[DaveB]

17s, 40mm

[davescav]

If its a Mk 1 Astra - 15s, Mk 2 - 16s, Mk 3 or 4 - 17s. Go for a 30-40mm drop, and DONT just buy springs, getting matching shocks/dampers aswell.

[Gaz]

Agree with dave on the wheel sizes depending on each car

40mm drop is the usual too, theres lots of gsi kitted astra mk3 non gsi's so if you wanted to make it look like a gsi then theres people who will know where to get the parts if you cant find one being broken. As for the engine, depending on how old you are, you cant beat the '3 engines of choice' - 20XE 2.0 16v, C20LET 2.0 16v turbo, and C25XE 2.5 V6.

[Haynzee]

First thing to do is suspension - I reckon a 60mm drop with bilstein gas dampers and PI springs , some say this is too low, i dunno really, mine was ok at -80mm, got through some tyres though

£200 should about cover that.. and the car will be transformed, youll be doing 2 wheels around every roundabout

Then get some 2nd hand wheels - £300 should get your some 17s with decent tyres

Next, i'd go for a decent exhaust system, and drill the airbox, £150 should get you most of the way towards that. the 1.4 makes a great noise then , ask DaveB, his sounded

Since you'll have 17s on, next up has to be bigger brakes, £150 will easy get you front and rear discs, calipers etc off a 2.0 cav in a scrappy, get some greenstuff pads, and new grooved front discs.. ask Olly on here for gen on fitting them, its fairly straight forward

then onto styling.. keep away from GSi stuff and go for these tasty Reiger bits:


This is £118, goes under your standard front bumper -



This is £148, and again, fits to the standard bumper

This spoiler is sweet, and only £78

You never se this stuff on the road, and it would stand out a treat
Check it out here


then you'll need to paint the bugger, so save for a couple months and get it painted, and cleaned up

Oh and get a decent alarm system

[PERALBOY]

yeah i have the reiger front apron, looks really good and i have yet to see another on the road!!

Would post a pic but dont know the links as my pc has went pete tong and i am on my old ****ty p333!

[PERALBOY]

my internet is running really slow or the host of the gallery is.

http://www.m1gst.com/4images/details.php?image_id=167

Click on that, if it doesnt take you to a pic and takes you to a search page just search for "peralboy" and you'll see the reiger front. Just to give you an idea as the pics on reiger site arent very good for that stuff.

[xx 5id xx]

do u have to roll the arches when putting the 17's on the Astra mk3? (on a 5dr)

[adamSRi]

Originally posted by PERALBOY
yeah i have the reiger front apron, looks really good and i have yet to see another on the road!!

chap round here got the full kit includin sideskirts grille the lot. its alright. still prefer gsi bumpers though.

[DaveB]

haynzee : when I had 60mm springs with bilstein shcosk the car handled like an absolute dog and I came close to crashing it sooo many times, it did not feel right at all. Now on my 40mm avos and bilstein its brilliant

sids: no rolling required as long as you get ET42+

[PERALBOY]

Nah as dave said with the right offset etc you dont need arch work, cant really be more than 205 wide tho as far as i know.

and ok i have yet to see another in scotland!

[OllyHewitt]

215s here with no probs

[PERALBOY]

yeah i have 2 spare milie miglia (sp) alloys that are 215 but i wasnt sure how low u can go on them, only ever used to go to get new tyres for my good alloys.