My Astra 1.6 (I need assistance)

[Ross_Mk2]

Hi all!! My Astra, a 1.6 GL 5Dr with -at the minute- GTE kit with modded spoiler and 3 spoke 15" alloys, there is also a cherry bomb exhaust and a damn tow bar!. The pictures attached are a little dated and hope to get some pics in the morning. I am a complete newbie as this is my first car and with just getting into modding i am full of questions but 1 will do for now! This engine is a 1.6 carb....BUT i have a 2.0i 8v in a cavalier at my disposal with power steering i might add! Really i want your feedback on weither i should keep the 1.6 carb engine or drop in the 2.0i 8v out of the cav?

Tomorrow i am gonna try making a few more adjustments to the bodywork, do you think with some pictures i could get some ideas/help from you guy's? :D

Ross

[stt]

The first thing i would do would be to swap the discs and calipers off of the cav onto your astra - no point going quick if you cant stop quick.
As for the engine, its a straightforward swap, just depends on how much the insurance is going to cost.

[_SBD16v]

personal choice i would gte rid of the 3 spokes ummm yea other than that good luck

[REMUS]

I think he should purchase some cali 16v/cav gsi:sri 16v/Astra GSi calipers and disc's far superior items imo and they don't sell for much on ebay.

But don't do it unless your sure you can do it on your own, I mean it's really not difficult but you don't want to end up putting yourself through a hedge or worse!

[stt]

assuming its a 2.0 8v mk3 cav, the discs and calipers are the same as a calibra 16v etc
256mm - ate calipers

[Brett]

Ditch the 3 spokes for sure, I'd rather have the steelieslmaolmao

I'd fit the 2.0i lump, changing engines is a far better way of uping the power, more relaible and much cheaper.

Forget the power steering, its shite anyway.

buy some security for it if you dont already have some, even a half decent crook lock or something. its not much. A MK2 Astra is a joyriders dream.

[Ross_Mk2]

Thanks for the feedback on the engine, since the pictures i posted last night i have added the clear indicators, colour coded wing mirrors and corner splitters to the front GTE bumper. The engine is the mk3 cav so your saying it should have the same brakes as the calibra 16v as standard? Tomorrow the smoothed of tinted tailgate will make an appearence along hopefully with the removal of the towbar!!!

I also need quick fast help, today me an my mate went down the scrap yard for his clio so we looked around for the astra, luck would have it a GTE delivered last week, untouched!!!! So i took the HT Leads, Distributor Cap, Steering Wheel an this is what i need help on............ the dash board. Its the jet black one which will replace my brown one nicely, just need some tips getting it off as i can't find it in the haynes manual. Should be goin back down tomorrow to take the rest, hell i might even have some new pics!!! :D


New pictures attached

[Sweeny]

smart lookin car

do u wan some 60 mm lowering springs got sum if u need em

ive got 3 spokes on whats left of mine n they do look smart lowerd

for you old farts on ere we may b young but 3 spokes are taken as old skool :D

[REMUS]

assuming its a 2.0 8v mk3 cav, the discs and calipers are the same as a calibra 16v etc
256mm - ate calipers

I'm not sure thats correct, are you taking about the 2.0 8v SRi? If so that may be true.

I don't think the CDi for exsample had 256mm disc's as standard.

[traffman]

3 spokes old skool omg, i must be ancient!

Change them to gsi mk3 wheels or cavvy gsi alloys, sleeker an more in keeping with the car.

looks clean an tidy though.

[Jon S]

i like your drive way

[Ross_Mk2]

Thanks man but what about the car?

[Brett]

the brakes are 256mm!!! all 2.0i 8v/16v MK3 cavs have 256mm discs.

If your swapping the whole dash then its a reversal of removal, and it sounds like you have done it already by removing it. Best advice is take your time and dont loose any bolts! I've done it twice now its not to hard to do.

[Ross_Mk2]

Thanks brett for the brakes tip theyw ill have to go on took the astra round the block last night with just the 1.6 lump an the brakes aint up to scratch, put on the smoothed tailgate i won off eBay for £35 with tints an spoiler, ok the tints crap but i think its still cheap for a smooth tailgate!!! Got some lights too putting them in hopefully in about half hour so i should have some pics of what the back looks like!!!

O yeah an the dash!! F*c* sake!!! Hardest thing i have done yet, might be because i have no patience but i aint looking forward to taking the brown one out because i can't wreck this one like the one in the scrap yard. Took us a good while i tell ya, god help me when i come to putting it back in!!! Think it was a good deal for £10 though.

Question: With the smooth tailgate there is not a place for the number plate, so i was thinking of hanging it from behind the bumper with some brackets so it does'nt ruin the look, do i need a light for the number plate to pass the MOT? If so any ideas?

[REMUS]

I take it you have run into some difficulties? As for the number plate you need to get some double sided bonding tape or simple drill a couple of holes depending on how brave you feel ;)

[Brett]

you'll need a number plate light yeah, if you get pulled you will be fined, and it wont pass an MOT.

with the dash just take your time. remeber where all the screws go, dont forget the dash also bolts to the heater matrix when you take it out, took me 15mins to find that mofo. Then another 30 mins to take the heater controls out and screw the same bolt back on after I eventually found the rattle!

[REMUS]

oh yeah I seem to remember you can buy led mounted bolts, i forgot it was an mot requirement!

[Brett]

oh yeah I seem to remember you can buy led mounted bolts, i forgot it was an mot requirement!

if they are the bolts with LED's in the end, then that will also fail an MOT.

AstraSteve23 had an idea about using a Sierra one or something when he wanted to do his. PM him he might be able to explain more. Hes in New York till the weekend though the lucky ****er:(

["YT"]

lookin gd mate! i dont really like the 3 spoke wheels tho... part from that keep it goin :D

[Ross_Mk2]

Almost everyone says that about the 3 spokes!!! They will do me for the time being, i can also get them chromed if i wish for £40 the whole set, dunno weither its worth it but hey, they are on thats that (for now)!!! So no ideas on mounting the rear number plate an still lighting it up? I will ask steve see what he thinks

[REMUS]

blingin, my bro had the same set on his Jubilee.


if they are the bolts with LED's in the end, then that will also fail an MOT.



I seem to remember it being posted on a thread in mig but I suppose you would need to search for it.

[Ross_Mk2]

Right i think i have got the rear sorted!! started scraping off the kroozin sticker, an the window tint an sun strip are shite, they will be changed eventually but the body work is sorted take a look!!! FINALLY NO TOW BAR!!!

[Ross_Mk2]

Marvelous!!!!! Since passing my test its gone from bad to freakin worse!!! No MOT had to cancel it for saturday took the front wheel off to free the drivers caliper went ok!! New ball joints i put on about a month back are all ripped!! The car aint been anywhere, so they gotta be changed dunno what happened there!! An to top it all off no one out barring one mate who i phoned 5mins too late cus he filled the car up!!!!! Get me a rope i gonna shoot myself :D

[Ben K]

if you go to demon tweeks they have numder plate lights which are bolts but illuminate the plate for 30 quid (bit steep ) but i have the same problem with the cabbie

ps car looking good if you use the cav engine will need to use an injection fuel tank if you get stuck give me a pm mine used to be a 1.6 carb now an xe

ben :)

[Ross_Mk2]

all that info is old!! Sticking with the 1.6 for now mate just wanna get it on the road an look half decent

[Ross_Mk2]

Slowly but surely, took it out for a quick run around the block (shhhhh) MOT 2moro!!!!! The cold air feed set-up that astrasteve came up with makes a hell of a difference, noticable on a certain hill round by me!!! Hopefully this baby will pass 2moro first time, pay for insurance an get the papers around wed-thurs, an be ready for cheddar!!!!

[Ross_Mk2]

At the MOT centre now!!! The K&N filtercharger turned up this morning banged that in an took the astra for its first proper run in over 12months!!! Runs smooth could'nt believe it

[Sipo]

At the MOT centre now!!!

Walking around with a laptop and mobile internet access to kee us updated? Thats dedication :D

[Ross_Mk2]

Still no phone call, he told me tuesday i said i live round the corner can i not bring it in? He said i fit it in an give you a call!! There aint no way it can fail on bodywork only thing i worred about are the emissions an maybe the brakes, gonna have to see

[Ross_Mk2]

Got it, passed with flying colours!!!! someone want to lend me £1200 for insurance? i give it you back monthly!!!!

got one for the brain boxes: the rev counter works fine, speedo does'nt cable is in but nothing, know why?

[Brett]

bargain straight through eh! Ive never had a single car go straight through an MOT!

surely the speedo worked before the MOT, it must have. If it did take it back and tell him to sort it, not your problem. Failing that check its located into the gearbox properly and into the back of the dials properly.

[Ross_Mk2]

My Step-dad has done all the work on the car with me, everything was checked an checked again, not a whole in sight!! only thing said was it was running lean, gotta get that fixed old chap!!!

Nah did'nt work before either!!! Its connected to the gearbox an the cable spins, its the clocks!!! Goin to the scrappy now know there are some there

Update: Got some new clocks that work cost £10 means i have to go back to the standard black ones for now though :( There was only 1,000 miles difference between my old clocks and the new!!!

[astrasteve23]

Got it, passed with flying colours!!!! someone want to lend me £1200 for insurance? i give it you back monthly!!!!

got one for the brain boxes: the rev counter works fine, speedo does'nt cable is in but nothing, know why?


good to see all the hard work you and your step dad done sent it straight through the MOT!

the rev counter is electrical and is fused and the speedo is cable driven as you know. on mine i have had the cable break where it goes into the gearbox so check that. or have you fitted the new dials and its fine? if so then it was your dials.

[Ross_Mk2]

Another mod the bad boy bonnnet, shame that one thing body wise goes right, then the engine goes wrong!!!! Still needs spraying but red primer is doing its job for now!

PS: Ignore the big nasty open mouth and number plate, all work in progress :D

[astrasteve23]

looking good! bad boy looks good on the mk2's! i dont like the corner splitters! get a splitter that will replace the standard one or that sits below the standard one but goes the full legnth of the bumper.

[astrasteve23]

oh yeah i found that bloody number plate light just now that you wanted that you no longet need!