Addz's Astra GTE 16v Diary....

[Addz]

Brought the car earlier in 2005. 1 Owner from new (called Stanley :confused: ) and done 75k miles which all checked out correct.

Car was absolutely standard. Even had both light washer jets and towing eye cover! Also had orange side repeaters, which were quickly changed for some clear jobbies....

http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/mygte1.jpg

I decided I wasnt going to go too mad with engine modding, since the XE is strong anyways, and really id want throttle bodies which arent an option at the moment.

First thing i noticed after a few weeks was that the centre section was blowing more than a hooker in a brothel, so I decided to replace the entire system from the downpipe to the backbox with a custom made stainless steel jobbie from LongLife. I decided to keep the standard backbox as i liked the standard look, but after a few hours of having the new system on, it blew the backbox to crap, so new backbox is needed :o
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary1.jpg

New Cat1 Alarm was fitted, as was my little mobile phone bracket that was in my old Astra.
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary2.jpg
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary3.jpg

Got rid of the resonator and the pityful cold air ducting, and replaced it with some 5inch air conditioning stuff from HomeBase :cool:
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary4.jpg
It draws air in from behind the number plate, although its a little squashed so ill re position it later on.
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary5.jpg

Also decided to drill ONLY the front of the airbox for more air. Makes a nice roar on full throttle.
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary6.jpg

Fixed the 'droopy' glove box so it now sits nice and straight like it should (many thanks to Astra Dan :beer: )
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary7.jpg

In went some brand new made to fit Velour Vauxhall mats. Also my Sparco Pedals that ive had sitting around for ages were finally fitted.
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary8.jpg

Chrome Bonnet lifters from SUPANOVAS went on. More of a practical thing rather than to look flash, as they open the bonnet higher than normal, and also now theres no fecking bonnet stay to bang my head on :D
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary9.jpg
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary10.jpg

Fitted some headlamp covers. Searched high and low for these. No one remotely local had some. Luckily I found some in a dealership's parts place in Cambridge. Looked like they had been on the shelf for 15 years, judging by the dust....
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary11.jpg

New headunit went in (thanks to my Brother) and also some stainless heater control holders, just to add some bling :D
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary12.jpg

Also fitted/replaced but no pics are:

K&N Panel Airfilter
New Fuel Filter
New earth strap
Coolant Temp Sensor

To Do List

Oil and Oil Filter change
Coolant change
New Clutch
New Backbox
New Alloys

[Belmont turbo]

nice looks very tidy

1 Owner from new (called Stanley ) and done 75k miles which all checked out correct.

jammy git :)

[braders]

looks great that mate. hope your not gonna go 2 mad with the mods and just keep it pretty much standard.

[richie00boy]

Yeah nice one keep it that way.

[Addz]

Cheers lads :D

Gonna keep it pretty much standard looking. Just a bit of colour coding to come, and also some Vaux 6 spoke alloys (same as what braders currently has) with some decent rubber.

Am currently looking into getting a replica standard backbox made up in stainless steel :D

Then in a couple of months, after the To Do list is sorted, uprate the suspension and springs then its a case of Drive, Wash, Polish, Wax, and more Driving.... :D

[Sipo]

Very nice dude, i do love a decent looking and tity standard MK2 - would be a shame to waste it! :D

[BazW]

looks nice and clean, dont see many in silver aswell :cool:

[Addz]

UPDATE

New alloys and tyres put on it. The 15inch Vauxhall 6 spokes as found on mrk3 Astras, and some 195/50/15 Toyo's T1-R which grip like a mofo :D

http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/gte_alloys1.jpg
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/gte_alloys2.jpg

Also, some brand spanking new BERU ignition leads, which cured a few flat spots at low revs :D

[BazW]

same tyres as me, do yours always look like theres sod all air in em even though theres about 32psi?

[Daza]

Looking very nice and clean there Addz

[astrasteve23]

looking very nice indeed, nice tidy example you have there! those wheels look good on it! any plans for uprating the suspension?

[GTE16v]

looking good there chap

[Addz]

looking very nice indeed, nice tidy example you have there! those wheels look good on it! any plans for uprating the suspension?

Aye, gonna lower it a tad (30-35mm) although not sure what kit to get it. Its a daily driver so i dont want it to be a too harsh ride! :D

Thanks for all your comments so far lads!, ill keep this diary updated as it progresses :D

[astrasteve23]

the AVO -25mm (i think) kit is highly rated!

[Addz]

UPDATE

Lots of new things done since the last update!

Including:

Complete different exhaust system and backbox. (more like the original twin square slashcut, but in stainless steel)
New cambelt, aux belts, rollers, waterpump and engine mounts
New Headunit (the motorized one kept fouling the dash so it had to go :( )
Stealth Shelf and chromed chain supports with amped 6x9s
Mrk4 Astra High Level Brake light
Genuine Irmscher smoked rear lights
Pilot HID Xenon headlamp system
Ultra white LED sidelights

I shall get some pics up ASAP.

TO BE DONE

Buy AVO Chassis Dynamics Kit and fit
Buy E-Tech Strut Brace and fit
Renew suspension bushes
Replace Clutch

[GazJevs84]

excellent progress mate get some pics up :)

[Belmont turbo]

Pilot HID Xenon headlamp system

how much was the HID kit mate. did it make much difference my lights are rubbish :(

[Addz]

how much was the HID kit mate. did it make much difference my lights are rubbish :(

My halogens were hopelessly poor. I couldnt see my lights on the road!

The HID kit has changed all that! Cats eyes and road signs literally glow from some distance back! And now i can actually SEE my lights on the road!

Xenon is quite strange, in normal daylight the halogens look visably brighter, but when its dark its quite the opposite!

They are expensive though. One thing i found out after i brought them is that im down 2 volts at each headlight due to the car wiring so it might be an idea to check that on yours with a multimeter first.

Once ive sorted the voltage drop, the HIDs will be even more affective!

I'll get some pics up ASAP. :Banane43:

And mine cost me Just over £200 (it should have been £300 at the time!)

[Addz]

Heres me HID Kit in one side, and the normal halogen in the other, notice the difference!
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary13.jpg

This was the result against a wall on my house. Notice the halogen (on the right) doesnt even make any impression on the wall!
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary14.jpg

My GTE at the seaside, showing off its new Irmscher rear lights and its exhaust system.
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary15.jpg

And a nice pic of it down at the Southern most point of the United Kingdom, Lizard Point in Cornwall! :Banane42:
http://www.speedcity.co.uk/img/adams_images/diary/diary16.jpg

More pics coming soon! :)

[bigdrifter]

Very nice, tidy example

[traffman]

That hid kit looks superb, did you say it was 300 quid?

[Addz]

I got it for £200, I think you can get it cheaper though. Sorry for the late post! lol

UPDATE

15 year old springs and shocks changed for AVO Chassis Dynamics kit.
15 year old antiroll bar bushes, wishbones and suspension bushes renewed.
E-Tec strut brace fitted.
Trip Computer fitted.
Sunglasses holder fitted.
Thermostat renewed.
2-tone lights on warning alarm fitted.

Photos to come....

[Tony K]

Any word from the nips yet?

http://www.asianmediawatchdog.com/banzai/pics/ladyone.jpg

[Addz]

Not yet, ill email them again....

[richie00boy]

So how is it driving now?!!!

[Addz]

Richie, handling much nicer now :D

Had to take the HID Kit out as it was flickering on startup, as the crappy thin/old factory wiring couldnt supply a decent voltage. Got a relay wiring harness made up, and now they are back on and shining nice a bright!

Also changed the rad fan switch to a lower one which has sorted the little cooling problem I had.

The Pioneer 4 ways have been replaced by Genesis 6x9 Sub woofers. Sounds much punchier, although not overly bassy. Need to tinker setting them up though, as they make the panels rattle, so gonna sound deaden a few bits first :D

Also changed the standard 4x6 rear speakers for Infinity jobbies. Much nicer :D

Shall get pics up ASAP! :D

[Ross_Mk2]

Sounds a nice setup, you guys who seem to know lots and lots about car audio and the setting up of car audio, is there any site or something where you learnt about it? As i have not got a clue and would like to get my setup just right!

[Addz]

UPDATE

Not much more has changed I dont think. Here are some pics anyway:

http://www.refreshimages.com/images/adam/astra1.jpg

http://www.refreshimages.com/images/adam/astra2.jpg

http://www.refreshimages.com/images/adam/astra3.jpg

http://www.refreshimages.com/images/adam/astra4.jpg

http://www.refreshimages.com/images/adam/astra5.jpg

[G.TERI.E]

Addz's 1st time iv'e seen your car, looks a nice clean example m8:thumbsup:

[Tony K]

Looks like I'm going to have to pop down and sort your trims out again.

Looking good though.

http://splinteredsunrise.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/fonz.jpg

[DarrenH]

looking good addz. i notice youve got those clear side repeaters like mine. are they standard ?

the look exactly like the normal button shaped orange side repeaters but they are clear, and orange bulb. i need to replace one if mine, i wonder where they are from?

[micky taylor]

looking good addz. i notice youve got those clear side repeaters like mine. are they standard ?

the look exactly like the normal button shaped orange side repeaters but they are clear, and orange bulb. i need to replace one if mine, i wonder where they are from?

not standard mate........ebay

[Addz]

looking good addz. i notice youve got those clear side repeaters like mine. are they standard ?

the look exactly like the normal button shaped orange side repeaters but they are clear, and orange bulb. i need to replace one if mine, i wonder where they are from?

Cheers matey.

Well they originally came already fitted to my old white Astra. I pinched them off that and removed the orange originals off my GTE. A couple of months later, my girlfriend noticed them and said she wanted clear ones on her Nova. So we got some and I fitted them. Its about a year and a bit on, and her ones are 'misting' up. They have gone a little cloudy. Whereas the ones on my GTE are clear as anything, like brand new.

So I assumed they were Vauxhall originals, and my girlfriends ones were copies, but if Mickey says there wasnt such thing as clear originals, then I dunno where they came from lol!

All I would say is look out for the quality of them if you want them to last....

Ill double check mine, in case they have any markings on them.... :thumbsup:

[johnl]

I had a set I picked up from the local motor factors and they are still clear 4 years on. However the Calibra I broke a few months back had some on and they have gone all misty so perhaps it's just different makes?

[DarrenH]

aha, good info. a quick search on ebay reveals they are just bulb and lens kits that plop straight over the stock holders. so therein lies my problem, the holder is shagged! thanks addz

[Astra Dan]

There's a dude on eBay who sells the smoked ones, increasingly hard to get hold of. They were about £4 a set. Can't quote on the ageing quality as yet.

Addz your car is saucy apart from the wheels IMO. They are naaasty.
A set of the ever-classic Cav SRi/ Cesaro wheels would totally sort your ride, or even Cav turbo rims.

But I am biased. lol

Edit: Here's the side repeaters:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-CLEAR-SMOKE-round-side-repeaters-Calibra-Nova_W0QQitemZ250203628648QQihZ015QQcategoryZ14763 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

They come with new rubbers too. Ooh.

[DarrenH]

nooooo dont tell him that!! its the same colour as mine!

[Astra Dan]

Oh sorry....

Erm, Cav Gsi alloys? Nooo. Quality Vaux rims are very hit and miss I think...

[Astra Dan]

The same dude also does a very nice replacement electric aerial:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Golf-Audi-Alfa-Romeo-wing-mount-electric-aerial_W0QQitemZ250203158380QQihZ015QQcategoryZ366 76QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

[Addz]

There's a dude on eBay who sells the smoked ones, increasingly hard to get hold of. They were about £4 a set. Can't quote on the ageing quality as yet.

Addz your car is saucy apart from the wheels IMO. They are naaasty.
A set of the ever-classic Cav SRi/ Cesaro wheels would totally sort your ride, or even Cav turbo rims.

But I am biased. lol

Edit: Here's the side repeaters:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-CLEAR-SMOKE-round-side-repeaters-Calibra-Nova_W0QQitemZ250203628648QQihZ015QQcategoryZ14763 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

They come with new rubbers too. Ooh.

LOL ive had Cav GSi alloys, and I have gone off them. Ideally I have some speedlines on it as I think they look great. But I think ill stick with Vauxhall alloys for now, so its either the soft 6 spokes as I have now, or the Cesaro jobbies. If i ever sort out uprading the brakes I may look to the Cesaros, they suit Odders motor nicely. For now ill stick with these :thumbsup:

[Astra Dan]

Let me know, I can sort you 288s easily for that perfect rim-to-disc-interface.

[vauxmad]

looks nice mate. as tony says you need to sort out your trims.

I have the same wheels on mine but i left the centres off as ithought they looked better. give it a go see what you think.