Tim's 1992 'K' 1.8 GLS auto...

[Cavalier342]

Jesus, sorry to hear that Tim. Hope you recover soon man.

[Robsey]

Wow, that is a major shock.

Hope you make a quick and full recovery fella.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Until then, look after yourself.

[tim130879]

Yeah wasn’t quite expecting that whilst I was running a bath at half eight in the morning. New stent in heart, prob working now better than has been for last 5 years. Still wasn’t expecting a heart attack at 40...!
It’s me worrying about my sills. This Cavaliers nearly killed me already

[Cavalier342]

That's ownership of modern classics for you lol. A lot of blood, sweat and beers goes into it. At least in my case it did.

[Robsey]

Good to hear that you are on the mend.

Blood, sweat and beers?

Bugger!! I knew I was missing something.
Not had a proper drink since 2001...

Driving for a living has it's down sides.
Maybe that is why I am going grey and bald instead.

[Cavalier342]

Yep, usually would end up scraping my knuckles or slicing a finger doing something, end up sweating and swearing on a hot afternoon and go get a cold can out of the fridge. Blood, sweat And beers.

[tim130879]

Well back home - cant do much atm but nice to come back and find the new plates have arrived. Another small detail that makes a big difference.

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

[Cavalier342]

Very nice. That'll definitely finish it off nicely. I think I tried getting new plates once for my 89 L pre-facelift, from a garage that wasn't far from here, but they couldn't help me. Quite cool that you managed to get an exact replica design.

[Robsey]

Fairly close copy...
They do lift the appearance of the car when you have shiny new plates fitted.

It is them little touches than make all the difference.

Welcome home by the way.

[tim130879]

Their not bad are they? To be honest they are what I ordered; I asked the guy to put the VX logo in red so it stands out a bit than just standard black. They look really good fitted.

Here's something that might be controversial... lol. Tried to find an easy and slow job this morning as I'm bored witless atm. I've always liked the pin stripes so had a go and don't think they look to bad? I've got a couple of original brouchers so tried to copy as best I could the lines from the pics of the CD/V6/Diplo etc...

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

[Cavalier342]

Tell you what, if you did that yourself, good work! Not sure about the dark stripe though... Can't work out if it looks right or not. Sort of divides the rear quarter panel a bit too obviously, if you get my meaning.
Just for comparison, this is how my old V6 was, with the silver stripes. I can't work out if yours is Smoke Grey as well but the body colour is very similar at least.

[tim130879]

Now you mention it - yeah I do see what you mean completely. The 1993/1994 brochures that I got my 'inspiration' from all show very contrasting colours and stripes ie;
Spectral Blue - white
Satin Red - white
Diamond Black - white
Blah blah blah.... It doesn't show any lighter coloured higher trimmed vehicles though, so I took a gamble as I've seen loads of pre-face lift CD's in silver with black stripes.
Must admit the white in your picture does look good. Is that your old V6 then? If so, where was that taken? Looks really smart. Dying to get my wing mirrors painted now lol
Yeah mine is most certainly, according to 1993 edition 1 catalogue, Smoke grey with Tracs upholstery in Anthracite

[Cavalier342]

Yep that was my old beast, was still on the road last time I heard, it went to a member from here up North somewhere. That photo I took at Beaulieu during a Vauxhall day event, all sorts of Vauxhall owners all parked in a field on the museum grounds. That was back in 2014.

I'm quite surprised that your GLS doesn't have colour-coded mirrors, I thought GLS models had that feature. Unless they have been replaced with standard covers at some point. Either way, spraying them up isn't that tricky, I did mine once on my old LS auto. Crap outcome really but I'm no bodyshop expert lol.

[tim130879]

Don't forget mines a very early facelift (doesn't even have drivers airbag). CD upwards would have had (again looking at brochure), even 1994 edition 1 still shows GLS with black wing mirrors.
I suspect in late 1994, with Vectra coming soon, and about the time CDX replaced CD, VX were chucking all sorts at Cavalier, as its seems then that GLS comes with painted covers and front fogs too.
This is how geeky I can get

I tried painting my first GL ones red myself..... looked shit ha! But were I used to work; I know a mobile paint guy that'll do them for me cheap at some point

[Cavalier342]

Fair enough, might just be the later models that had them as you say. The mirror covers aren't too difficult as they are smooth, but just takes a bit of practice. But if you can get someone to do them, then bonus.

[Robsey]

The casings are quite easy to remove from the body.

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=5321&p=49830&#p49830

Just take your time.

They will be easier to paint to a modest standard if done off the car.

[tim130879]

HT leads changed this morning - look at state of this one! They're all the original but even so, I'm shocked it would even turn over still in this condition.... It has certainly made a difference to the idle 'lumpyness'. Haven't taken it out for a test drive yet, for obvious reasons, but hoping it might pull a little better in the mid range now its been swapped for new ones.

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

[Cavalier342]

That is very gunky indeed. Wouldn't help with all that grease and oil on there, it gets right through to the terminals and would definitely reduce performance.

[Robsey]

That is very gunky indeed. Wouldn't help with all that grease and oil on there, it gets right through to the terminals and would definitely reduce performance.

The leads should be fitted clean and dry.
The rubber caps should be enough to keep moisture out.
And the heat of the engine would soon boil off any ambient moisture.

I remember a spray-on plastic film that used to be available to seal the moisture out from plug lead joints.

The lead on the coil can get very dirty and corroded due to being sat on the inner wing, which can get very damp with condensation.

Again - it should still be fitted dry.
Just make sure the lead and coil terminal are clean, dry and securely fitted.

[tim130879]

Thanks Robsey, although one problem leads to another potential. Think this, no doubt again, original dizzy cap, has see better days. The orange section stays in place but this black cover moves around some what. Looks like one section around one of the three securing bolts has cracked over time - not good I take it?
New one on order if needs be...

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

[Robsey]

It will work perfectly fine without the black cover.

Mine hasn't been fitted for a few years with no ill effects.

[Cavalier342]

Those black covers are there just for cosmetic purposes really, they don't actually serve a purpose as far as I know, they are split into two pieces, upper and lower. After so many years it's normal for the top half to go brittle and crack/split around the mounting bolt holes.

[tim130879]

Boom! The big moment... finally went up on a ramp for the first time since I got it. Looks great from above; but what disasters are lurking underneath?? Apparently none...! Loads of surface rust, but not a sign of rot anywhere. Such a weight off my mind. Ok... so new exhaust, brake bits, new fuel line, CV boot, but rot free. The slight rust seen in previous pics in boot were prob due to condensation nothing more and very treatable.
I was dreading to day as, surely, it cant be this good... but apparently it is.

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

[Cavalier342]

That is very clean for it's age. Means a lot less effort to treat any obvious rust and get it sealed up with a layer of underseal.

[Robsey]

It could be me, but it looks like it has had new sills.
That would explain the good overall finish.

Definitely means less for your garage to do.
A good clean off of any flakey underseal, treat any surface corrosion, and a good underseal.

Keep an eye on those rigid fuel lines though.