Lowrider Dave - 1994 GLS (Archer)

[tonyo]

Whasappened Dave?

Come on.. You can tell us..

[Lowrider Dave]

Did you get the doomsday counter thing working ?

Yep, got less than 30 seconds...

[Lowrider Dave]

So I was going to start this update with an image of an attractive topless lass, but a brief look on the internet didn’t produce any images I could use. I spent 5 hours of my life conducting a thorough check though. Oh well, use your fevered imaginations instead.

You may remember that ‘Archer’ has been suffering from overheating. There have been suggestions, ideas and solutions offered here and on Migweb; I started a facebook page, a twitter feed and even a kickstarter project to help me solve this problem but no-one outside the forums really gave a wombats arse about it. Naturally this has left me depressed, disillustioned with humanity, and the coldness of social media and I now seek ‘closure’ from a therapist. She’s very nice and has a cracking pair of…

…so changing the thermostat didn’t help. After pondering options and reading forums, I had a mental list of three things: radiator, water pump or head gasket failure. The radiator looked fine but was (like a swimsuit model) hot at the top and bottom, which it shouldn’t if it was doing it’s job properly.
A trip to my local Auto Factors revealed they had one locally they could obtain for me. I duly collected it the following day but when I got home I discovered it had extra holes in the side of the casing for some reason. Also, one of the top outlets faced the wrong way. Back to the Factors I went, they showed me on their computer that the radiator they got for me was in fact the correct one for my car according to the number on the box. I suspect the wrong rad was in the right box - I got my money back. I did not even have to threaten violence or burn their property down. My probation officer would be proud of me.

Against better judgement - due to the abstract handling that couriers and the postal system in general suffers from (it’s as if it’s a requirement for the job: to throw parcels around like bags of sand) - I ordered a radiator online via the Bay of E. It arrived in good condition a few days later. But the replacement hoses I ordered had not - Roose, I’m looking sternly at you. I cracked on and removed the old radiator, like a Scottish drunk it spewed a load of rust coloured liquid that clearly showed a build up of thin sludge. I extracted the fan temperature switch and ordered up a new one just because.

Out with the old…


…and in with the new.


Fan temperature switch


Once again things hit a hiatus as still did not have the radiator hoses. So I started renovation of my spare rear beam.


Handful of parts off rear beam


Then that came to a halt as I discovered the end of the anti-roll bar have rusted and crumbled away. I need to find a replacement or find some one to weld bits on the end and then it tidy up.


In a rash moment I order up replacement breather pipes


But ended up waiting 14 days for Roose radiator hoses to arrive…


When they did, I found they did not fit - the description of the hoses said 2.0L 8v C20ne. I missed the bit that said GSI. I didn’t think that would make a difference but it seems it does…I’m asking for my money back if I can.


So the car is still not plumbed in or running. And I’m falling back into my ‘can’t be arsed’ mindset again - last time I had this, I sold the V6.

[iangsi]

Did you get the doomsday counter thing working ?

Yep, got less than 30 seconds...

Cut the red wire or the blue with 2 seconds to spare & save the world, plus pics would be good so we can see what it actually does

[Lowrider Dave]

The red one you say...WHAT, no...erm...blue..*snip*.
I keep forgetting to get a pic, it's not that exciting - just 3 numbers.

[Robsey]

KAABOOOOOOOOMMM !!

wrong one fella - lol

Robsey's crap wiring advice - ha ha
(It was the green wire all along).

[Lowrider Dave]

*Stands there blackened all over with gently smoking hair and shakes fist*
Dammit!

[Lowrider Dave]

Countdown to armageddon!

[James McGrath]

So the car is still not plumbed in or running. And I’m falling back into my ‘can’t be arsed’ mindset again - last time I had this, I sold the V6.

Don't get despondent Dave. You probably just need a break away from it to clear your mind.
You'll get there in the end I'm sure.

Awesome mod by the way.

[Lowrider Dave]

Cheers James.

[Lowrider Dave]

With the new radiator plumbed in and everything put back together I've given it a few runs and so far no overheating! Has been happily sitting at 94º as I trundle to and from work.

[ilovedmymantas]

Great result Dave
Now you can finally enjoy driving Archer...

[humbucker]

"2.0L 8v C20ne GSi"

How odd.

[Lowrider Dave]

"2.0L 8v C20ne GSi" How odd.

Exactly what I though - but then I don't know much about the GSi, so I thought I could be wrong. I got my £ back so I'll just keep my eye out for replacement hoses.

[humbucker]

"2.0L 8v C20ne GSi" How odd.

Exactly what I though - but then I don't know much about the GSi, so I thought I could be wrong. I got my £ back so I'll just keep my eye out for replacement hoses.

GSi2000s were only ever equipped with XEs. Surprised that Roose have the model/engines incorrectly listed. Frustrating for you. Perhaps try JS Performance or ASH (the latter offering lengths of hose (at a reasonable price) that you can route to your liking)?

[Lowrider Dave]

Now you can finally enjoy driving Archer...

Thanks - I hope so! I can move on to tackling the stinky petrol smell now!

[Lowrider Dave]

GSi2000s were only ever equipped with XEs.

Cheers Dan, I thought as much as my brother used to have one.

Perhaps try JS Performance or ASH (the latter offering lengths of hose (at a reasonable price) that you can route to your liking)?

The bends are quite tight by the front rad, I'll look into options, but stinky petrol tank is now the next port of call for any money to be spent. Anything that works for the moment will have to suffice!

[Lowrider Dave]

GSi2000s were only ever equipped with XEs. Surprised that Roose have the model/engines incorrectly listed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Cava ... JafXiBqLgA

[humbucker]

GSi2000s were only ever equipped with XEs. Surprised that Roose have the model/engines incorrectly listed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Cava ... JafXiBqLgA

Ah, that's a third party retailer. The kit is listed as 'Cavalier & Calibra 8V C20NE Coolant Hoses' on the Roose Motorsport website, although has 'GSi' in the page permalink. Odd.

https://roosemotorsport.co.uk/vauxhall- ... e-kit.html

[humbucker]

Stupid question (probably), but do you have the original pipes to compare shapes to? I wondered if the problem might be the inlet/outlet of the radiator?

[Lowrider Dave]

Do you have the original pipes?

Yes, I have the original pipes and that's what alerted me to the fact the Roose one's didn't seem right, I am using the old ones now and the Roose have been sent back. The rad pipe is more of U shape then the two angled pipe they supplied. I'm not too fussed now, I'll just keep my eye out for a Gates hose or similar.

My main task is working out the petrol smell and fixing that. I did find when I lifted the rear seats the cover over the pump was loose and when I looked the top hose was held on with a cable tie! Plus part of the metalwork had been cut - I shall get a photo soon.

Went down to my local powder coaters and shot blasters, only for them to tell me their shot blasting cabinet was 6" too short to take the rear beam! So off to the place I used previously...

[James McGrath]

With the new radiator plumbed in and everything put back together I've given it a few runs and so far no overheating! Has been happily sitting at 94º as I trundle to and from work.

Excellent news, glad to hear it.

[Lowrider Dave]

ARGH! WASPS!! WASPS NEST IN THE GARAGE!! ARGH! FUNK OFF YOU BUZZING BASTARDS!

[Greig Sri]

B and Q wasp spray works. I used it last year on the little so and so's.

Greig

[Mikebmth]

Good to see you're still plodding on with Archer

John suggested to me your fuel smell problem could be some holes even minute ones in the top of the fuel tank under the boot floor, he had the same issues with his Cav and swapped the tank out to have no further issues ever since.

As for the Roose hoses, they are a rubbish fit!! Also the guy who runs Roose I found very unhelpful and quite frustrating to deal with, I was going to do all of mine but he wanted £130 for 2 addtional hoses!! Which are just long flexi ones you can buy online for a few quid a meter.