1990 Cavalier CD project

[Cavalier342]

Well done on the MOT mate, great result. She didn't look like a failure

I still kept my early front wiper arms from my old manual, in case I get another early Cavalier. Or I just keep them like other parts... Never too many spares and all that...


Looking at your CD, I really really want another early one... Nostalgia and all that...

[jimmy]

Fairplay fella thats a real nice looking tidy cav

[Colorado]

Thanks, Next stage was to get rid of the parking dents on the doors (9 in total) https://twitter.com/dent_men. The dentman fixed it all up and you wouldnt know. Next my wife tells me she is pregnant and it might be a good idea to finish up this project as by next may she will be giving up work. With that in mind i am going to forge ahead and get the front drivers wing drivers side bumper section and door repainted as these are plaqued with lacquer peel following a poor repair job. Will also do the 2 mirror casing again. After that it looks like it will come off the road and the Colorado go back on,as we will need a large car for all the babystuff and the colorado by virtue of its seatbelt tensioners airbag and side impact bars is probably the safer transport option.

[Colorado]

Following a seized caliper the CD was limped home where it will probably now come off the road as its Tax is due at the end of October. Managed to get in practical classics this month though

[humbucker]

nice one paul, got a scan of the mag item?

[James McGrath]

Well done on your feature in Classics Monthly by the way, I was quite surprised to see you in there!

nice one paul, got a scan of the mag item?

I've got one at home, I'll post it up if you like.

[Cavalier342]

Was the caliper seized shut or open? Usually they stay open I've heard which means braking was probably interesting on the way back.

[Colorado]

lots of smoke and a bad smell. My spannerman will deal with the mess. Its tax runs out and will be off the road at the end of October so dont know when it will get done or not.

[Cavalier342]

Smoke from the brakes? Or the clutch?

[Colorado]

brakes being drawn thru the blower from the front of the car am guessing it was the brakes

[Cavalier342]

Shouldn't smell, well then again I haven't had a caliper seize on me yet, but if it was seized on, and you had trouble pulling away, it might have been the clutch instead. Was it a rubber-burning smell? Like tyre smoking?

[planetc]

Shouldn't smell, well then again I haven't had a caliper seize on me yet, but if it was seized on, and you had trouble pulling away, it might have been the clutch instead. Was it a rubber-burning smell? Like tyre smoking?

You get the same smell from hot brakes as you would from an overheated clutch Andrei. That unmistakeable aroma of cooked friction material.

[Cavalier342]

Fair enough. Never smelled hot brakes myself, although I see where you're coming from, friction material, etc.

[James McGrath]

Finally got my internet back today so as promised, here is the scan.

Well done Paul!

[Colorado]

thanks thats better than i could have done!

[Colorado]

i will have a full investigation carried out. but as you can imagine i was reluctant to do any more damage to the car so sensibly nursed it back home after a while to cool off. clutch or brakes it was a very burny smell

[vauxhallnutter]

Sorry to hear of your troubles Paul, hope you sort it soon. I have seen this one in the metel and its every bit as good as it looks.

[Colorado]

Thanks Mark all ok now. I decided to take it off the road for the winter after i spoke to you when i picked up the wings. The colorado will be back on the road instead. Today i am dropping it off for the drivers side wing door and bumper corner to be resprayed along with two new mirror covers

[Colorado]

An update on the cavalier cd. It hasn't returned to the road but has had further attention to it.

[James McGrath]

Great to hear it's back on the road.

[humbucker]

An update on the cavalier cd. It hasn't returned to the road but has had further attention to it.

Great to hear it's back on the road.

[Colorado]

I think at some point it really needs the fuel tank dropped and the fuel pipes renewed, I noticed a petrol smell a lot when it was fuelled.

[James McGrath]

An update on the cavalier cd. It hasn't returned to the road but has had further attention to it.

Great to hear it's back on the road.

Ooops. 'Hasn't' morphed into 'has' in my head. Wishful thinking perhaps.

Glad it's still with us anyway.

I think at some point it really needs the fuel tank dropped and the fuel pipes renewed, I noticed a petrol smell a lot when it was fuelled.

Yeah, check all the fuel lines especially the ones round the back of the inlet manifold as they are normally the ones you can smell. Also check along the underside of the car for any dripping. If it is dripping it will probably look more like oil than fuel as the petrol will dissolve some of the factory underseal and turn black, at least that's what happened with me. I had all the fuel lines replaced on my CD shortly after I got it. I believe it may be something to do with ethanol in modern fuels causing these old rubber lines to deteriorate more quickly.

[Colorado]

Thanks, I think the fuel lines will have to be done to be honest. I would hate for it to catch fire! Was it expensive

[James McGrath]

Thanks, I think the fuel lines will have to be done to be honest. I would hate for it to catch fire! Was it expensive

No, quite cheep really. I think I was only charged the cost of the hose when I had mine done. About £20 or something. I was having a full service done at the same time though.