Jamies Stripped Cavalier..

[Pimpvehicle]

Hey all, had my Cav a lil while now so thought id start a wee thread.

I bought the car shortly after writting off my gorgeous Rover Coupe but we are all young and stupid once.

Right the car, the car is a 1994 1.8 LS, in Silver but at the moment looks champaign gold..

Plans are:

Try and improve the "untuneable" C18NZ as much as possible and make the car as LIGHT as possible.

So far i have removed:

Back seats
Carpet
Seatbelts
Most soundproofing
All plastic trim
Spare wheel and tools
Headlining

Still to remove:

Sunroof
Sound proofing
Remove dashboard to remove rubber soundproofing
Rear doorcards
SRS system
Engine bay sound proofing
Wing material

Etc etc. Pictures explain more. I will upload them later.
Found out i cant raise the bonnet so quite gutted as the bonnet is bolted on at an angle, unless the hinges themselves were raised?

Just a few questions;

How much does the car weigh standard?
How do i remove the dash
How do i remove the steering wheel
Wings
Front bumper

Thanks in Advance...

[Pimpvehicle]

This is how the car started off:





Back at mine:



Let the fun begin!

First off, some decent rubber.



Boot full of crap


Under powered engine:


Temporary improved intake


What it will look like lowered


The only rust patches:



And how the car now looks


I hate sound proofing




My steering wheel in place



Sorry for the random assortment of pictures but its late lol, but you get the idea

[Robsey]

Just a few questions;

How much does the car weigh standard? Approx 1200Kg for LS with manual gearbox


How do i remove the dash? Screws on each end of dash, and screw at the centre of the demister vents under the wind-screen

How do i remove the steering wheel -
remove battery for approx 15 mins
Remove airbag (Screws in rear of steering wheel) Carefully unclipconnector(s)
Undo the main nut until just on the end of the thread.
Rock the wheel left to right etc, whilst pulling it off the shaft...the nut will hopefully stop you smacking yourself in the mouth.
Remove nut, remove wheel

Wings Undo bolts on drain channels on either side of engine bay. (All bolts should be 6mm thread (10mm socket / spanner)
Undo bolt at bottom of door frame
Undo bolts from front panel (Remove bumper first)

Front bumper Remove large bolts from box section in engine bay - 8mm thread (13mm head head socket required).
Unscrew self tappers from wheel arch liners - No 2 Philips Screwdriver
Pull rear edge of bumper "outward", then slide forwards off brackets and off the car.
Think thats how you do it...from memory.

[Pimpvehicle]

Thanks Rob, il have to get the car on a weighing bridge once fully stripped out! Just wish it didnt have a sunroof that would save me plating the roof... Quite surprised the car weighs 1200kg Hopefully try and get the weight down to about 1000kg.

Currently im thinking, remove ALL sound proofing from the car and keep the following:
Dashboard and centre console
Radio and front speakers
Bucket seats and harnesses
Sun visors


Rivet/bolt an alloy plate over the sunroof hole
After removing the sound proofing paint the whole floor matt black for protection
Remove back door cards
Try and remove all metal brackets ie

Seat mounts
Spare wheel holder
etc

And just have a 2 seater rally style interior with a subtle looking exterior, the only real modification on the exterior will be 1 cold air intake, debadged and de trimmed

Rob, i tried your technique to get the steering wheel off but still no luck Also found there is a limiter as such on the accelerator pedal sticking through the carpet, removed it gives about an extra inch of pedal travel so maybe take off will be better as the butterfly should open more..

[Envoy CDX]

What's the plans for the car? As to be honest that looked like a fairly straight and honest Cav.
Not sure how the intake is improoved though?
The heatsoak will be unreal.

Are you planning to take the dash out and leave it out?

[Pimpvehicle]

My plans are to make it a super light cavalier, today i removed the bumper (well ripped it off lol) wings, bonnet etc. There was 1 bolt for each wing inside the car behind the electrical boxes down by your feet if sat in the car.

Found that the cavalier has a "charcoal canister" like on the Rovers.. But it looks more of a pain to remove.
Noticed the battery tray is stuck to the chasis so that will be removed and have the battery in the boot and also the washer bottle inside the car. I like minimal engine bays.

Iv got the steering wheel off and removed all the bolts rob said, how do i remove all the controls and cluster to disconnect them so i can fully remove the dash?
Also has anyone ever removed the charcoal canister? It seems to have a fuel trap, connects to the inlet under the butterfly and connects to the brake vacuum pipe to, but i cant see where the other black pipe goes to from the canister. Its amazing how much weight is actually coming out of the dam car! Theres foam everywhere lol. Il get up some pictures later im just going to finish removing as much as possilbe before it gets dark..

Does anyone know where i can get a new front bumper? as mine was cracked and scuffed beyond filler tbf.

Thanks.

[HAIRIBO]

If you want a fast light car, get shot of those 17" Dotz. and stick to the standard ls steel wheels. Smaller rolling raius so quicker accleration and they are much lighter.

[Envoy CDX]

Need to be gentle with those bowden clips, or they'll snap.
lightly nip the plastic together and wiggle the metal rod over the nose.

Still a shame though

[Pimpvehicle]

You on about the bumper?

[Pimpvehicle]

Been doing some more stripping today, not that theres much left lol. Had a few ideas pondering the ol noggin..

Instead of using the temperature gauge to measure the outside temperature i will place it in my new intake when i get it, so i know how hot or cold the air is going into the engine

Starting trimming down the dash at the moment, trying to get the glove box and dash pocket off. Need to find a heat gun to remove all the black sound proofing throughout the car then going to paint the floor from front to back in matt black. Removing the SRS wiring loom and any excess loom. Removing a few exhaust heat shields to as they are so friggin rusty and falling off anyway.

Can anyone recommend where i can get some cheap front bearings and cv joints? as they need doing.
And how do i get the rear door card off? Is it the same as most cars where there is a circlip on the window winder? Its just i cant seem to find it..

If you want a fast light car, get shot of those 17" Dotz. and stick to the standard ls steel wheels. Smaller rolling raius so quicker accleration and they are much lighter.

And hell no they are ugly lol, these alloys give me 30mm more tyre coverage and look good.

[HAIRIBO]

And hell no they are ugly lol, these alloys give me 30mm more tyre coverage and look good.

But they are heavy as F@ckl and your making the car slower so Your just wasteing your time taking all the dash out. Plus the stopper on the accelerator is to stop the butterfly opening too far and closing it self again.


My opion is you are recking a car, but at the end of the day it belongs to you and your a young lad, so it's up to you.

You do relise that even with all this weight saving and big wheels some one in a standard 2.0 will still beat you in speed?

But again its your project.

[HAIRIBO]

Stick the standard steel wheels back on with out the wheel trims, and paint the trye name up in white. This will make the car look like a stock car and go with your stripped and theme.

Try and replace the side window glass with perspex.

[Robsey]

Also depends on what you plan to do with it in the future.

It wont sell for much as a stripped out shell, when the time comes for a new challenge, or just a change.

[Gaz]

Its a bit of fun, you go do whatever you want.

[Robsey]

Will this make it cheaper to insure?

Normally insurers up the cost of premiums when you add stuff or upgrade trims etc.

I think you will need to declare the removal of any safety items (airbags etc), padded dash panel etc. to your insurance for it to remain valid.

Right, serious comment over... now enjoy! as Gaz advises.

[Pimpvehicle]

It is a bit of fun lol, no offence to Cavalier owners but, its an old cheap Cavalier and not all that amazing lol.

The dashboard is going back in but i have ditched the feet heaters and glove box and dash pocket. Still got to remove alot of the black sound proofing. But i dont know which way to remove it, my mates usually chisel it out but it damages the floor. A heat gun would wreck the paint but i dont know if a hair dryer would get hot enough to melt the glue. The seat belts and airbag has been removed and will stay removed.

And declare it to the insurance? Pfft forget that lol, my first car cost £310 a month for declaring alloys and a stainless steel back box on a 1.4 Rover! Might try Adrian Flux tho, but since my crash i have to keep my policy going until next year . But it has gone down £70 a month having this car.

All that will be in the interior is, Dashboard, seats, front door cards and centre console all the rest will be ditched. Will alloy plate the roof to loose the sunroof, exhaust heat shields have gone, almost everything that can go will Also anyone got any advice on getting the glue residue of the side of the car? Got to try and remove the aerial and rear wiper to plate it up to smooth off.

Whats with the steering shaft sliding down the column? I guess thats what the spring is for.

Hopefully her down to a ton and she will be a tad quicker, then spend 220 and get a set of lowered shocks and springs from Jamex that will drop it 60mm so should aid in handling, Who makes strut braces? To date i have only found a front upper one and apparently is to fit the 2l only..

I am tempted to go down the 2 or 4 point cage route but i dont plan on rolling the car lol. Unless they can be bought cheap?

Still dont know how to get the back door cards off :/

Any help on the above essay would be great, Thanks lol.

[Gaz]

Also anyone got any advice on getting the glue residue of the side of the car?

Tar and glue remover, or even some petrol

Whats with the steering shaft sliding down the column? I guess thats what the spring is for.

thats cos someones hit it too hard and popped it off the splines at some point, just yank it hard upwards. its to stop the wheel hitting you in the chest in an impact

Hopefully her down to a ton and she will be a tad quicker, then spend 220 and get a set of lowered shocks and springs from Jamex that will drop it 60mm so should aid in handling, Who makes strut braces? To date i have only found a front upper one and apparently is to fit the 2l only..

Search calibra strut brace on ebay he lists them badly for a cheap upper one, you dont really need a lower one as the frame is doing that job

I am tempted to go down the 2 or 4 point cage route but i dont plan on rolling the car lol. Unless they can be bought cheap?

Real cages arnt cheap id leave it out myself

Still dont know how to get the back door cards off :/

Screws along the bottom, ones in the handle and behind the cover where the interior handle sits, remove the U clip holding the winder on and pop the card off from the botttom

[HAIRIBO]

Insurance companies are funny when in comes to roll cages. Alot wont touch the car and even they get iffy over show cages. I'd ask you company first. I'd hate for you to spend money on one, only to find out your insurance becomes invalid.

[Pimpvehicle]

Did a little more work today, really do need to get some pictures up! Today i;

Removed both back door cards finally
Removed rust from front slam
Removed rust from bumper mount
Painted inner arches black
Painted slam panel
Painted bumper mounts
Removed all the rust from the drums
Painted drums black
Got a lil more glue off the car.

Slow but sure progress. I promise to get some pictures up soon, and thank you to everyone for the advice that has been given and the help.

[steven240374]

WD40 gets glue off with a bit of elbow grease i used it when i de-badged mine

[HAIRIBO]

Surface cleaner and a razor blade is what I used on my doors mate.

[jacko-lah]

Been doing some more stripping today, not that theres much left lol. Had a few ideas pondering the ol noggin..

Instead of using the temperature gauge to measure the outside temperature i will place it in my new intake when i get it, so i know how hot or cold the air is going into the engine

.

I wonder, if the temperature will change with flow rate.

[HAIRIBO]

I don't think it will be sensitive enough to use as an air intake sensor, but then as a bit of fun its worth a try. I just wouldn't treat the displayed temp as gosspil

[Pimpvehicle]

More work done today sort of lol, removed the drive belt as it could do with replacing and had a look at the cambelt and its mashed! a stainless cap head was stuck inside the cam cover and rubbing on the belt luckily it didnt come loose! so took the cambelt off and decided to look for a new one, but not having much luck on finding just a cheap belt on its own..

So far this is my new parts list that will hopefully be bought once i get another job.

Brake pads
Brake discs
CV joints
Spark plugs (Bosch super 4)
Oil filter
Oil (Would 5w 40 be good?)
Oil flush
Neoprene hose (For inlet to bumper intake)
Cambelt
Drive belt
Ignition leads (Wouldnt mind some uprated ones)
Rocker cover gasket (Leaks oil slightly)
A new exhaust manifold (If they can be found)
New downpipe
Cherrybomb backbox
Decat pipe
Redex injector cleaner
Fuel filter
Carb cleaner for the inlet
Brake fluid change
Gearbox oil change

I know im not going to get mega performance but maybe 100bhp if im lucky, so its about 100bhp per ton...

And Haribo it was just a random idea that came into my head that might work...

Also been ringing around about removing the sunroof and was thinking of some 1mm/2mm alloy sheet to rivet or bolt onto the roof and use silicone sealer undearneath.

Seen a guy on RT today replace is sunroof with a perspex one, as in drop out the sunroof and put a perspex sheet in the size of the hole with a seal