Lowrider Dave - 1994 GLS (Archer)

[Lowrider Dave]

At last I remembered to get some wipers, the old ones were falling apart quicker than a 1970s DJ’s reputation.




A recent trip out brought to my attention that the petrol stink was still there after I’d replaced a lot of the pipe work and so I delved into the engine bay to sniff out the leak. After close inspection, the end of the pipes where it meets the fuel rail didn’t look too clever so I took them off cut a small bit off and reattached them with new clamps. This may or may not solve the issue.




Slightly shorter pipes with new clamps and random pancake thing.



Current things to sort are the CDX doorcards and wiring for kerb light, the interior light which looks an utter mess behind and thus doesn’t fit properly and the broken sunvisor clip needs replacing. I will then turn my attention to fitting the leather interior.

[Lowrider Dave]

I wanted to run some wires through the bulkhead for future use and knew there was already a handy thin flexible plastic pipe already installed where the previous owner had goons fit the alarm. I tried to thread more wire through the pipe but it kept snagging. I couldn’t see why as the expansion tank was in the way, so only one way to find out…

Removed the dirty tank and employed the area know as ‘the kitchen’ for cleaning operations. The person know as ‘the wife’ or ’She Who Must Be Obeyed’ has no say in this whatsoever. I am the boss. Of my own tiny mind.


Then it was cleanerated.



I was able to see the problem, a rubber bung had been put in the bulkhead preventing wires from getting through the tube, so that quickly ‘did one’. I dug out a suitable bit of pipe to use instead and that would allow me to thread new wires through. I put one wire to carry power to the voltmeter I’m installing and a spare pair of wires ‘just incase’ for the future - who knows, perhaps a mini fridge for a cocktail bar?
See wires all tied up in the engine bay being good and not causing chaos:



I disliked the old interior light that was held in place with electrical tape, so these ‘bug eyes’ lights from the parts bin went in instead. I resisted the temptation to put in a glitterball.

[colin1]

[ Image ]

Then it was cleanerated.
[ Image ]

Those things are fiendishly difficult to clean

[Robsey]

A hot wash in the dish-washer is a good way to do this.

But them header tanks are impossible to get properly clean.

[Super89]

Dont waste time cleaning.

http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/aca ... 9612N.html

[Lowrider Dave]

http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/aca ... 9612N.html

Oh, handy *makes note*

[James McGrath]

They are a pain to clean.

If the deposits aren't too tough then you could try putting in some gravel and water and giving it a good shake.

[Lowrider Dave]

In a bid to boost my post rate and also satisfy some deep-seated desire to upset and offend people...

I had inflicted no damage to anything for a while and the ashtray was trying to look busy, but I knew better. I dragged it off for an upgrade. I fel something with red numbers on it would be suitable, and thus it was so.


More holes than a Swiss cheese orgy…


Cut it out!


Just a light trim to the edges, sir?


Like two sumo wrestlers squeezed in a Mini - the gauge was cajoled home to form a snug fit.


Thanks to Robsey’s discussion on how to wire things up so not to create an instant inferno I managed to wire it up. I also renewed my profound hate for trying to refit the ashtray - hateful crap thing. That’s it, nothing else to see. Sod off.

[Greig Sri]

And what will that led read out be for?

Greig

[Lowrider Dave]

A day based countdown to my inevitable demise. Or a voltmeter. The translation on the Chinese packaging wasn't that clear...

[James McGrath]

A day based countdown to my inevitable demise.

Oh dear. What does it say at the moment?

[Lowrider Dave]

"Today is not your sausage, tomorrow is sunflower of dog" - I do think the Chinese translation is a bit hit and miss...

[Robsey]

The thing that pickled my brain was mention of a detention wire...

We think they meant a detection wire.

(Sensible interlude...)
red to power the display.
black is the common ground...
whatever colour is left is to monitor the voltage.

So much for number 26. Sweet and sour pork balls - and an extra helping of black bean sauce.

Nothing else to see? - we didn't see your glamorous assistant holding the fag tray thingy aloft to show the display working in all it's luminescent glory.

[Lowrider Dave]

Gratuitous photo of said thingy in actual use will be forthcoming.

[Lowrider Dave]

With Archer overheating like a fat slag in a kebab shop…I decided to replace the thermostat. I had a new thermostat and water pump put in when I first bought the car to combat the exact problems I’m having. But, you can never be 100% sure about any new item, so a new one was purchased and duly installed.


I also splashed out on a new temperature gauge sensor.


New and old thermostat together.


Whilst running it to temperature with the expansion tank cap off (to rid it of air pockets), I was busy painting when I noticed a volcano erupting in the engine bay…


…this made the car wee.


It’s the little things - as my wife would say - that make the difference - I replaced the broken sunvisor clip with one kindly donated by Top Poster himself, Andrei.


Just because. And miles better than ‘Done the ring’ or other ‘humorous’ sticker.


This confuses the locals. And almost everyone else.


To help combat the damp problem, I have been painting this round the garage - an epoxy paint claiming to create a barrier against water ingress.


I also applied it to the areas that suffered from damp creeping through the mortar.

[Robsey]

It does amuse me when a product used to keep out water, is actually made with water.

How does that work?

Now that your car has relieved itself, does it cope better without overheating now.?

Interesting choice in window sticker...
Now what would you do if someone came up to you with an Oyster card.?

I've got one of those cards from my year at King's College in 2006.

All good progress

[Lowrider Dave]

Yes, odd the epoxy required water to thin it?!
The car still over heats sadly. I don't have a free day for three weeks now to arrange a change of water pump which I think could be the main culprit.

[colin1]

Can I ask what happened to your sunvisor clip?

The once-in-a-blue-moon instance where I needed my sunvisor across my door window resulted in my retaining clip disintegrating when I went to replace the visor. Not a problem (I thought) I've got two cars sitting at home doing nothing for the time being, I'll borrow one and replace that when the car's back on the road.

Identical as luck would have it, unfortunately identical in every way - it disintegrated too, as did the one from the other cav. So that's 3 cars with no sunvisor clip on the driver's side. I decided to spare the passengers side in all cases before I ran out of sunvisor clips.

This a bit of a Vauxhall sunvisor clip thing? Do they perish over time? Or am I about to receive a summons from the RSPCA for keeping sunvisor clips in appalling conditions?

[Robsey]

Nope the RSPCA will not be concerned with your persistent clip failures.

It is quite common on the 80's and 90's Vauxhalls.

The original part number was replaced with this one. Probably due to poor materials. (Not able to cope with 'age hardening' - not enough nylon 66 in the formulation)
Current GM part number is - 90332334

And they are stupidly expensive to buy new for what they are....

http://www.vauxhallsuperstore.co.uk/sea ... q=90332334

[Mk3alan]

Held my survivor back in position on my Astra with a therapist - works!
They are rather over priced but, the similar looking clip fitted to an early Mercedes is, wait for it, £34!!!!!!!!!!

Alan

[Lowrider Dave]

I'm of an inclination to replicate the part for 3D printing, just for my own personal spares and not selling extras to anyone else, oh no, of course not.

To answer your Q Colin, it came like that when I bought it, but as Robsey says, they break for fun due to poor materials used in the first place.

[Lowrider Dave]

Held my survivor back in position on my Astra with a therapist

I'm not sure what to make of this...

[Mk3alan]

Therapist! Haha. That's android spelling for you!
Should have been tywrap!

Alan

[Lowrider Dave]

[iangsi]

I take it all is not well in archer land. Did you get the doomsday counter thing working ?