New workhorse - 2.5 V6 Hatch.

[Lowrider Dave]

Where did you get the bits to do the oil cooler bypass job from please?

[himselfunknown]

Where did you get the bits to do the oil cooler bypass job from please?

I got them from Pirtek, who supply hoses and fittings. They made up the bypass line while I waited, and provided blanks to fit into the top of the cooler to prevent coolant leakage. Unfortunately one of these fouled with the coolant bridge, so I ended up using a piece of the old pipe and made my own blank.

If I was doing the job again, I'd measure the distance between the cooler spigots, take the old pipe in to Pirtek and get them to crimp a piece of flexi onto the ends, creating a loop. This would do the same job, but prevent fouling with the bridge.

[Lowrider Dave]

Thanks. When I replaced my oil cooler is was a 'mare and so if the opportunity presents itself I will do this instead. Does this affect the oil temperature?

[himselfunknown]

Thanks. When I replaced my oil cooler is was a 'mare and so if the opportunity presents itself I will do this instead. Does this affect the oil temperature?

No idea how it affects oil temperature as I don't have an oil temp gauge, but it's not overheated yet and I've done some sitting in traffic!
I have an air/oil cooler from a Mk2 Astra in the shed, and was going to fit this if it got a problem. The logic being that if an air/oil cooler explodes, I don't spend the next ten years trying to clean the oil out of the cooling system!!

My 3.0 V6 had the oil/water heat exchanger removed, and this never had any trouble with oil temp, although it did have an air/oil cooler fitted with a thermostat to help keep the oil in a temperature band.

[Lowrider Dave]

Thanks.

[himselfunknown]

Finally found a powdercoaters that came recommended, and aren't silly with their prices, so I decided to turn these sad looking things:







Into these:





with obligatory on the car shots:





FINALLY I won't have to clean off the brake dust every time I drive down the road! Just got to get the centre caps sorted now.

So I can highly recommend City Powdercoaters, Birmingham. 01214487646. They aren't too hot at answering the phone (they're busy as fook!), but bear with them as they are the best and cheapest that I've heard of in the Midlands. They also refit your tyres and balance them up for the right money too.

And no, I'm not on commission, although I wish I was.

[Stoater85]

wheels look Awsome bud. very nice on that colour of cav.

[himselfunknown]

Cheers mate! I think anthracite (or 'dark gunmetal grey' as they powdercoaters call it!) looks awesome on most cars.

[Gaz]

shame they arent in derby, i could have dropped my bbs's in

[himselfunknown]

shame they arent in derby, i could have dropped my bbs's in

I do plan on going back to get some wheels for the Golf done, so I might be able to take them for you, if there's room in the car.

[himselfunknown]

Today I kind of inadvertently sold the interior, so I had to put the turbo interior in at short notice. Had enough chance this evening to give the fronts a clean up before it went dark. Hope to get the rears done tomorrow.

Rather shaky photo!:

[belmont_dazz]

Looking good tony! Really is a nice car for a workhorse!!
I fit my new interior monday too .

[himselfunknown]

Looking good tony! Really is a nice car for a workhorse!!
I fit my new interior monday too .

Yeah, it's not too bad! Hopefully it will last me for a while yet!
Hope the interior goes in OK.
If you find a pound on one of the seats, send it us back, eh?!

[himselfunknown]

Well, this car has now reached the end of the road:



Although it's not all bad news: a lot of the parts will go into building 'Supercav', which I'll be cracking on with soon. Check out my 3.0 Cav WIP thread for the details.

[Envoy CDX]

Do you want this locked down Tony?

[himselfunknown]

Do you want this locked down Tony?

Yes please Gary. But before you do, here is a link to my current WIP in case anybody is interested!

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=13635&p=140073#p140073

[Envoy CDX]

Another one bites the dust.

SUPERCAV!