I've been wanting to post thread for a while now, as I've not really been keeping an eye on what's happening in the Vauxhall world since moving back to Scotland last year. Been busy working silly hours but got finished at a decent time tonight, so here's what I have and what I intend to do with each of them going forward...
Introducing in order of length of ownership...
This is my Cavalier GSi 3.0 V6 4x4, I've owned it since Feb 06. It was first converted to a V6 at Specky's in 2007, then in 2010 it was upgraded to an F28 and Calibra Turbo running gear. Had it on the road through winter and it was brilliant. Then for some reason it threw PAS fluid all over the road so it's been parked up for a couple of months while I work out the next move which is: Remove the engine and box, fit another TXB, a new Accumulator bulb, remove the ABS set up, ported heads, tubular manifolds and a bit of paintwork. ETA: Autumn. It usually runs Calibra SE9 wheels BTW.
This is my Cavalier GLS 1.8i Auto, or as I now call it "2000 Sport". Had this since June 07, when I reshelled much of my rotten SRi130 into it. Had done me proud on many trackdays. Runs a 20XE with Piper cams and goes well. Engine is a bit leaky now, but it doesn't seem to have lost any power! It should have the Turbo wheels on it that the GSi is borrowing. Half the front valance is missing as I got it towed to start it the other day and the straight bar ripped it off. No permanent damage. This one is taxed and on the road at the moment. Plans for the rest of the year: Wash and polish it at some point, drive it.
This is my Nova 1.3 in Jamaica Yellow. Was a 1.2 when bought back in 2009. Spent two years in a lock up until it got a Belmont 1.3 engine, Nova SR box, Cav SRi Recaros and loads more besides. Just finishing this one off as it's going to it's new owner in time for Billing. A manual choke kit for this car cost me £76! I'm sure they used to be about £15.
My Astra GTE 16V. I sold my Belmont SRi to get this. Nice early one with no cat or ABS. Bought from my mate Pete, who kindly delivered it from Guildford to Scotland with a load of spares in the boot! It's done 145,000 miles but has had a very easy life, there's no taps or oil leaks anywhere! Got a load of bits sitting ready to be fitted, along with a new nearside wheelarch and a wing. Really looking forward to sorting this one out. As well as it goes in a straight line, the handling is terrible! It's on the original suspension and some old plasticky tyres. Good for screeching round roundabouts at 35mph though. Next to the Mk2 Cav, this one attacts the most attention on the road. It's Mot'd and taxed but is spending July on SORN while I attempt to blitz everything in one hit.
And here's some of the bits ready to go on... New Monroe shocks, new strut tops, Avo springs, timing belt kit, service kit. Going to go for Continental tyres I reckon.
This is my Vectra SRi V6 - which I took pity on down the auctions in April on the not-particularly-wise reasoning that it had a nice leather interior. So, one windscreen, a tyre, coil spring, drop link, exhaust flexi, timing belt kit, six spark plugs, a coil pack and leads, blanked off EGR valve, a driver's door, a rear bumper, front grille, OE CD player, rear brake calliper, three brake pipes, short handbrake cable sections, a set of rear discs and pads, an air con compressor and two wiper blades.... it's actually quite nice to drive especially as I fitted cruise control. Although it does still clonk a bit from the rear suspension.
Currently I am trying to get the air con working. I pressurised the system with nitrogen and found that the compressor was leaking. So I changed it. You can see the bubbles in the pic. I pressurised it again and it blew a hole in a hose which had been rubbing against the compressor pulley, so I am going to splice that tomorrow. The bloody system is like a tea bag... if it needs a condensor I will sob.
See! It does have a nice leather interior. Unless it's hot as the air con doesn't work. Yet. I hope whoever has this car after me appreciates all the work that's gone into making it decent!
This is my Cavalier SRi. I really like these, one of my favourite Vauxhalls. I spotted this on eBay after a few ciders down in Reading. Usually this would count it out, but I was visiting Bristol the following week! So, I formulated a plan and ended up buying it. It's only had three owners before me, and has done 96,000 miles. My mate Darren drove it back from Reading so I've only driven it about a mile so far as I have actually left the car down there for the time being until the Nova - and probably the Vectra - are moved on. Hoping to get it up the road by August. Dunno what to do with it, I just fancied another one.
128bhp of eight-valve goodness. That's really not much at all these days is it? Ah, I still love 'em.
Finally, this is my Iveco Daily 2.8TD recovery truck. It's a five tonner, which means it is geared towards running at 56mph. The low gearing makes for great pulling power. It comes in very useful, sometimes I put cars on the back of it that aren't mine! Did a run from West Calder to Rochdale-Leeds-Edinburgh then up to Aberdeen and back the other weekend and it didn't miss a beat. Trivia: Both me and this Iveco used to be employed by Plumb Center. Plans are work out how to fit cruise control and paint the bed all nice.
Introducing in order of length of ownership...
This is my Cavalier GSi 3.0 V6 4x4, I've owned it since Feb 06. It was first converted to a V6 at Specky's in 2007, then in 2010 it was upgraded to an F28 and Calibra Turbo running gear. Had it on the road through winter and it was brilliant. Then for some reason it threw PAS fluid all over the road so it's been parked up for a couple of months while I work out the next move which is: Remove the engine and box, fit another TXB, a new Accumulator bulb, remove the ABS set up, ported heads, tubular manifolds and a bit of paintwork. ETA: Autumn. It usually runs Calibra SE9 wheels BTW.
This is my Cavalier GLS 1.8i Auto, or as I now call it "2000 Sport". Had this since June 07, when I reshelled much of my rotten SRi130 into it. Had done me proud on many trackdays. Runs a 20XE with Piper cams and goes well. Engine is a bit leaky now, but it doesn't seem to have lost any power! It should have the Turbo wheels on it that the GSi is borrowing. Half the front valance is missing as I got it towed to start it the other day and the straight bar ripped it off. No permanent damage. This one is taxed and on the road at the moment. Plans for the rest of the year: Wash and polish it at some point, drive it.
This is my Nova 1.3 in Jamaica Yellow. Was a 1.2 when bought back in 2009. Spent two years in a lock up until it got a Belmont 1.3 engine, Nova SR box, Cav SRi Recaros and loads more besides. Just finishing this one off as it's going to it's new owner in time for Billing. A manual choke kit for this car cost me £76! I'm sure they used to be about £15.
My Astra GTE 16V. I sold my Belmont SRi to get this. Nice early one with no cat or ABS. Bought from my mate Pete, who kindly delivered it from Guildford to Scotland with a load of spares in the boot! It's done 145,000 miles but has had a very easy life, there's no taps or oil leaks anywhere! Got a load of bits sitting ready to be fitted, along with a new nearside wheelarch and a wing. Really looking forward to sorting this one out. As well as it goes in a straight line, the handling is terrible! It's on the original suspension and some old plasticky tyres. Good for screeching round roundabouts at 35mph though. Next to the Mk2 Cav, this one attacts the most attention on the road. It's Mot'd and taxed but is spending July on SORN while I attempt to blitz everything in one hit.
And here's some of the bits ready to go on... New Monroe shocks, new strut tops, Avo springs, timing belt kit, service kit. Going to go for Continental tyres I reckon.
This is my Vectra SRi V6 - which I took pity on down the auctions in April on the not-particularly-wise reasoning that it had a nice leather interior. So, one windscreen, a tyre, coil spring, drop link, exhaust flexi, timing belt kit, six spark plugs, a coil pack and leads, blanked off EGR valve, a driver's door, a rear bumper, front grille, OE CD player, rear brake calliper, three brake pipes, short handbrake cable sections, a set of rear discs and pads, an air con compressor and two wiper blades.... it's actually quite nice to drive especially as I fitted cruise control. Although it does still clonk a bit from the rear suspension.
Currently I am trying to get the air con working. I pressurised the system with nitrogen and found that the compressor was leaking. So I changed it. You can see the bubbles in the pic. I pressurised it again and it blew a hole in a hose which had been rubbing against the compressor pulley, so I am going to splice that tomorrow. The bloody system is like a tea bag... if it needs a condensor I will sob.
See! It does have a nice leather interior. Unless it's hot as the air con doesn't work. Yet. I hope whoever has this car after me appreciates all the work that's gone into making it decent!
This is my Cavalier SRi. I really like these, one of my favourite Vauxhalls. I spotted this on eBay after a few ciders down in Reading. Usually this would count it out, but I was visiting Bristol the following week! So, I formulated a plan and ended up buying it. It's only had three owners before me, and has done 96,000 miles. My mate Darren drove it back from Reading so I've only driven it about a mile so far as I have actually left the car down there for the time being until the Nova - and probably the Vectra - are moved on. Hoping to get it up the road by August. Dunno what to do with it, I just fancied another one.
128bhp of eight-valve goodness. That's really not much at all these days is it? Ah, I still love 'em.
Finally, this is my Iveco Daily 2.8TD recovery truck. It's a five tonner, which means it is geared towards running at 56mph. The low gearing makes for great pulling power. It comes in very useful, sometimes I put cars on the back of it that aren't mine! Did a run from West Calder to Rochdale-Leeds-Edinburgh then up to Aberdeen and back the other weekend and it didn't miss a beat. Trivia: Both me and this Iveco used to be employed by Plumb Center. Plans are work out how to fit cruise control and paint the bed all nice.