1994 Cavalier LSi C20NE (was C18NZ) Work-horse

[Robsey]

Perhaps a bit relavent! My 1998 1.8 Astra (X18XE1 engine) idles using 0.2, in drive that goes up to 0.3 which rises to 0.4 if AC is turned on.

Alan

Yes that is about normal for a petrol car.
Diesels - such as the Z19DTH on our 2005 Vectra-C read 0.1 at idle.

Diesels may be considered dirty due to the black guff they kick out on heavy throttle, but even our 150 bhp car manages 47 mpg combined cycle. Almost double that offered by our petrol Cavalier 27.8 typical.

[James McGrath]

27.8 is really under par for the C20NE though.
I normally get around the 35 MPG mark in the diplomat and that normally includes allot of short trips to work and back.

I can't really think of anything to improve the mpg that you haven't already tried other than perhaps injectors.
We'll see if a tech 1 session brings anything up If you make it to the VBOA meet this year.

[Robsey]

Thanks James,
That sounds a great idea...
I will probably want my fuel computer memory blocks programming too to the correct program number.

I have yet to strip out the whole ECU loom to look for damaged wires or dirty connectors.
I plan to do this in the next few weeks -
So by the time I get to the VBOA day, I will indeed have done / tried everything possible.

During my lunch break, I refitted the clutch pedal return spring. I really struggled and got very fed up when I replaced the clutch cable a few months ago when the spring pinged too far.

Fresh eyes and clear mind meant that I was able to re-seat the spring in a matter of a couple of minutes.
I then re-checked the clutch pedal travel and adjusted to suit.
Gear selection is smooth - again.
I had noticed a bit of difficulty as the engine warmed up before.
But all is now fine. ** touch wood **

Next job is to replace the black plastic panel on the hatch.
This may be a tad tricky as I have security screws holding my number plate on.
The current panel is cursed with reflector panels covered in cracks.

[Robsey]

Rear panel replaced when I got home tonight.
Took all of about 20 minutes to do.

The tricky part was removing my rear number plate and trim...
Sadly it did not take as long as it should have done...
So not a fantastic anti-theft rating despite anti-tamper screws and big sheets of double sided, extra wide number plate adhesive strips.

The reflectors look a lot fresher and tidier than my old ones. Sadly the black panel needs a good clean with back to black or even a light blow over with black satin paint.





And a new parcel arrived today - so it looks like I can now do my electrical projects.
Play time!!



It must be nearly show / meet season...
For some really daft reason I decided to clean and wax my car this morning before setting off for work.

Ooh shiney !!

[ilovedmymantas]

So not a fantastic anti-theft rating despite anti-tamper screws and big sheets of double sided, extra wide number plate adhesive strips.

I think you're ok on that one.
With traffic cars fitted with ANPR there's not much chance of stealing your plates for another car without it flagging up and I think the chances are probably pretty slim of a cav being stolen to order nowadays (thankfully)!

The reflectors look a lot fresher and tidier than my old ones. Sadly the black panel needs a good clean with back to black or even a light blow over with black satin paint.

I used to use back to black. It was all I could find at the time for my old cars but was the best product of It's type available, I still have half a bottle of it, but only for emergencies!

Instead may I suggest berry blast?
I tried this on humbuckers recommendation and have to say it's so much better and doesn't involve painting

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13497&hilit=berry+blast&start=50

Looks expensive at first but it seems to last forever

You won't regret it!

Forgot to say.
Looking really nice as it stands, hope you get your consumption problems sorted, I fear mine are just starting

[Robsey]

Thanks for the tip about Berry Blast.
Looks like I need to invest before VBOA.

As for number plates - we had the plates taken from the Vectra-C.
Back in the day when petrol station "drive offs" were quite common.

The car is parked on an open unlit car park every night, so all sorts of shinanigans take place when your back is turned.

[Envoy CDX]

It's coming together well Rob!

[Robsey]

Cheers Gary,
Good to see you popping in again.

Yep - the old girl has caused me no end of hassle, but I am hoping that most of it is behind me.

Emissions - meh!!
I have too many things to do before the cars first "public" appearance in July.

At the moment, plans are for -
Cruise control installation.
Alloy wheels and centre caps refurb and fit.
Maybe CD70 and Colour Display refit.
Maybe rear beam disc conversion.
Maybe rear brake light completion.
Fit Bosal SRi oval exhaust tail pipe.

And general tidying up / minor repairs...

but the old girl will still not be within a million miles of concourse quality.

[Envoy CDX]

It's still on the road, and it's still going, concourse can be something you aspire to!
Just have to get your Robsey-Mod-Con's installed and relax, enjoy it for the drive and comfort before you delve into anything else. It'll be fine

(Says the guy seriously considering retro fitting aircon..).

[Robsey]

Would that be VectraB air con with the temperature displays on the heater control panel ?

Just found this image from March 2011.
Not the proper centre caps, but they seem to look okay on my FanBlades.



EDIT - Spot the O.C.D.
I rotated the wheel so that the griffin was the correct way up.

[Robsey]

So with the idea of refurbing the wheels running round my head,

I spent a whole 5 minutes removing the centre badges off my modified Astra centre caps.
Modified to fit my FanBlades at the correct height.

Part number is 90 468 487.



One tatty centre cap.



Measure for a domed alloy centre griffin badge - 70mm across.



And the badges removed. A simple process of warming the back of the cap over a gas ring to soften the glue.

Then gently push off the badge with a prod rod through the hole in the back of the cap.



Ready for stripping and powder coating.

Just need to get the tyres removed from my alloys, and then they can go too.

It appears that the alloys were originally powder coated white and then spray painted silver and lacquered.

I have new centre badges winging their way from Portugal, as the originals have lots of dents on them.

[Mk3alan]

I had my Astra wheels refurbished (similar centre cap) and the guy doing the work had a knightmare of a job in his stripping bath as he said Vauxhall used a nylon finishing process? that was very resistant to the stripper, took twice as long as normal!
Newly finished wheels look so nice - don't forget to use the sticky weights when balancing.

Alan

[Robsey]

From what I can tell, the wheels should strip very easily.

The caps seem a lot better coated, but sadly they have little nicks and marks in them.

The caps should sand smooth easily enough with some very fine emery cloth / sand paper.

[Robsey]

I decided today that it was a long time since I last spent some time doing some rhythmic rubbing.

It was time to clean my centre caps of glue residue.
For this I used some good old fashioned Boots extra-strength nail varnish remover.

Double bubble on the pleasure factor!
Not only do I get completely off my face on the fumes,
But after a mere 5 minutes each, all glue was softened and then wiped away.

As usual the pictures make the caps look quite tidy, but they are not in reality.
Easily sorted, but far from presentable.

Here we go, four glue-free caps.



And for bling factor...
A shiney new bolt set.
Not GM, but tidy enough.



They will need painting if they are not to show up like a sore thumb against the alloys and caps.

UPDATE -
All caps have now been lightly sanded to remove all marks - except the slice mark in the bottom right cap.
That is simply too deep.
Looks like a cutting disc has accidentally been dropped briefly on it or something.

[Envoy CDX]

It's looking good, I think those fan blades will really really set off the cav nicely. Especially with you're chosen colours.

[Robsey]

I now have another 15" Fanblade care of ebay.
Apparently it may need refurbing.
Just what I planned to do.

That will mean that I will have a proper alloy for my spare wheel too.
5 wheels and 4 centre caps.

I am hoping to get the wheels stripped and coated in a week or two.

The current task is cruise control and other electrics... hopefully done in the next week or so.

I am glad you approve Gary.
I am not 1000% sure what I think of the non-standard colour scheme, but then mine are non-standard centre caps.

Hopefully they will look good when they are fitted. - fingers crossed.

[Robsey]

So - I am not sure if it is classed as progress or not, when you rip out all of the trims from your dash except the light switch panel.

My boot is now full with the following.
1 - centre console including window switches.
2 - lower dash moulding including ash tray, radio and enclosure.
3 - heater panel and trip computer.
4 - instrument cluster.
And my glove box is in the back seat of the car.

The instrument cluster had to come out to give access behind the scenes for routing through my cruise control loom from the engine bay.
Because I have the Astra Digi Dash, I do not have a mechanical speedo cable.
Instead I have a loom with three wires from the gearbox transducer.

This gave me the idea of routing the cruise loom through the same grommet hole in the bulkhead.

A lot of swearing and cursing resulted in the cruise loom being taped to the speed transducer loom, and this was fed through the grommet and the bulkhead.

I am confident that most of the cruise prep work is done, and so the connections should be completed on Sunday.

The cable in-situ.

[Robsey]

Now then - my dilemma.
Refit my "standard configuration" set up - single din radio and the dash as Vauxhall intended it, ?



Or

Go back in time to 2014 and refit the Vectra-C CD70 navigation radio with large colour display, get rid of the ashtray and move the heater controls to the bottom of the dash where the ashtray used to sit. ?



The car is never going to be " original" due to the various Omega and Astra GTE parts already fitted, so I could go either way with it.
Ease and simplicity says keep close to original format.
Being different and accepting the challenge says go the 2014 route...

Hmmm - decisions, decisions
I have a few days to decide. Even my wife will not cast an opinion.



One bonus of taking the instrument cluster out is that I noticed one contact on the main black connector was not as curved as it should be. It was quite flattened so potentially not pressing fully on the track of the foil at the back of the cluster.



I had once or twice suffered problems where none of the tell tales came on (hand brake, eml, abs and air bag lights).





Normally a wiggle of the connector had cured this.
This contact was easily reformed into it's proper shape, so hopefully another permanent fix.

[ilovedmymantas]

Tough choice.

I must admit your standard config looks better - but I've always been on the side of different.
You can't beat a decent sized satnav with up to date maps though!

[Envoy CDX]

I am glad you approve Gary.
I am not 1000% sure what I think of the non-standard colour scheme, but then mine are non-standard centre caps.

Not for me to approve, it's your car Rob
It'll look good, and better than the usual antracite route people tend to lean down.

[Robsey]

Not for you to approve?

Why not?
I would think that you would soon tell me if it is going to look like a dog's bum hole.
At least I hope you would.

I thought about keeping standard aluminium / silver,
but being different in a subtle way can also be quite a pleasant change, or a total disaster.

I am hoping not to be a disaster. Ha ha.

[Envoy CDX]

You know what I mean, regardless of my opinions - it is your car and you have to be happy with it

Like anything, its down to the prep, I have a good feeling about the colour you've chosen for them.

Looking forward to seeing the progress

[iangsi]

The screen for the satnav looks standard & a good fit like it was always there, it's just the control panel for it all looks out of place colour & fit wise if you understand where I'm coming from.

[Robsey]

I know what you mean.
That surround was an ad-hoc affair that lasted a fair few years.
It was a quick ten minute job using a grey closed-cell plastizote foam. (LD24FR).

I did make a proper sculpted surround back in 2016 whilst I was waiting for the restoration of the shell to be completed.
The surround is made to fit better around the slightly modified radio facia.

It has never been fitted before now.
This is how it sort of looked in 2016 - But I have tidied it even further since then.

[Envoy CDX]

I know what you mean.
That surround was an ad-hoc affair that lasted a fair few years.

I did make a proper sculpted surround back in 2016 whilst I was waiting for the restoration of the shell to be completed.
The surround is made to fit better around the slightly modified radio facia.

you know what this means then don't you?