Vauxhall Cavalier MK III Hatchback 1.8 LSi CAT 1994
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 3:10 pm
Hi there,
Just signed up as a new member because I would like to restore my old "L" reg Vauxhall Cavalier to mint condition.
My car is currently in Central London, but its usual home is in Reading, Berkshire.
I bought this car 2nd hand from a Car Dealer in Catford South London around the year 2000, with about 75000 on the clock. It is now at 198000 miles. I have for many years done my own maintenance but I currently live overseas and getting older don't have the stamina or the time. My sister in-law has been looking after it in my absence, but she doesn't drive it much and the last 2 MOTs have seen quite a lot of rust setting in which has required some welding. The car has had new brake pipes, disks and drums, exhaust front NS spring. Front shocks and steering top bearings are about 3 years old. The wheels are not original. Cheap Alloys which look rather out of place and which are a little out of shape due to potholes. They don't balance easily and I wouldn't mind replacing them with something more robust. Distinctive as they are, I am not a fan of the original cavalier steel rims and plastic hubcaps though.
Now my son is learning to drive and I would like to pass it on to him eventually, but first I would like to give it some beauty treatment to stop the rust and make it look like the cool classic car it really is! But more than that I am really fond of it and I don't mind putting some money into it - even though it's probably only worth scrap value at present.
This car has served me well and I believe that the ones in good condition may become quiet collectible. I am not overly concerned about keeping it all original, but at the same time I don't want it to be a hot rod!
The main bodywork problems are a variety of panels showing some rust, e.g. rear quarter panel, rear sill, inside door bottom. The bonnet is very chipped and there are a number of small shopping trolley dents over the sides. The roof lacquer is peeling off. The front radiator grille attachment is broken (loose) and all the badges are faded and need replacing. I did get a quote from a trusted local body shop in the region of £4,500 to deal with the bodywork, including replacing the quarter panel, grille and bonnet. It sounds a lot and I don't know if that sounds a reasonable ballpark figure or not. I could probably build a kitchen for that money...
On top of that, the interior needs a lot of work. The headliner is hanging down at all corners and dropping away from the windscreen. The foam insulation behind it is flaking and turning into dust. The front seats have sagged and the material is loose. The back seat fabric has a slight tear, but that will get worse if it isn't fixed. Many of the plastic components are not only dirty but in quite poor condition. In particular:
1) There is a crack in the plastic panel at the rear of the dashboard where it runs along the bottom edge of the windscreen.
2) The internal rear view mirror is loose and the silver is rusting at the edges.
3) The driver's door panel has a cut in the vinyl and the plastic door tray is split. Furthermore there are plastic hooks on the inside face which lock onto plastic tabs to hold the panel securely in place and these have broken off.
4) The steering wheel surface is peeling and "sticky" to the touch
5) The gear shift knob is similar condition to the steering wheel and the leather skirt if cracked and flaking.
6) Window rubbers are deteriorated and allowing considerable wind noise through - also the door weather linings which are no longer available from Vauxhall.
7) The internal door pull handles and latches are badly pitted and scored.
Ideally I would like to replace all these panels and plastic / rubber components but with my limited knowledge of the industry I have no idea where to source such components.
The 1.8L petrol injection engine was rebuilt at 120,000 miles after it threw a piston ring and a new crankshaft was fitted. I removed the EGR valve and had a superchip fitted quite a while ago to improve driveability. (Frankly it doesn't seem to give it any more power, but the acceleration is smoother and more responsive and it idles better).
I replaced the water pump and timing belt about 30000 miles ago and I think the engine is in pretty good condition, despite the aluminium surfaces looking quite pitted, white and tarnished. She certainly drives very well for her age. The engine bay needs a good clean up, but that is just cosmetic. The Power steering rack is showing some leaks and probably needs a new seal kit.
Going beyond a basic refurb, I would also be interested in finding out if it is possible to upgrade the interior to a higher standard than before. For example electric / leather seats and dashboard, and wooden components instead of some plastic ones. Perhaps someone could kindly advise me how I might go about doing this, or if there are specialists that you know of in car renovations and customization who I might approach? It may be that the top of the range versions of these vehicles may have had some of these features? I would like to use original features where possible, but am not averse to a little discrete customization where it would really enhance the vehicle - providing it is in keeping with the car. I am not a fan of digital dashes and LED lights everywhere.
I am mechanically quite competent, (I teach engines - piston and gas turbine), but not experienced with the car industry - especially the business of restoration and refurbishment. Therefore I would be very grateful for some advice about when I might go to get these works done to a high standard at a fair price. I'd like to spread the work out over maybe a couple of years tackling the "essentials" first like bodywork, headliner and seats, then moving on to the "nice to have" items later.
I am sure there would be plenty of people who will say "don't waste your money" as it is such an old car. I do understand that; Cavaliers aren't exactly in the same league as a 1920s Oldsmobile. Nevertheless, please kindly indulge me and any positive advice would be gratefully received.
Kind regards
Andy Woolford
Just signed up as a new member because I would like to restore my old "L" reg Vauxhall Cavalier to mint condition.
My car is currently in Central London, but its usual home is in Reading, Berkshire.
I bought this car 2nd hand from a Car Dealer in Catford South London around the year 2000, with about 75000 on the clock. It is now at 198000 miles. I have for many years done my own maintenance but I currently live overseas and getting older don't have the stamina or the time. My sister in-law has been looking after it in my absence, but she doesn't drive it much and the last 2 MOTs have seen quite a lot of rust setting in which has required some welding. The car has had new brake pipes, disks and drums, exhaust front NS spring. Front shocks and steering top bearings are about 3 years old. The wheels are not original. Cheap Alloys which look rather out of place and which are a little out of shape due to potholes. They don't balance easily and I wouldn't mind replacing them with something more robust. Distinctive as they are, I am not a fan of the original cavalier steel rims and plastic hubcaps though.
Now my son is learning to drive and I would like to pass it on to him eventually, but first I would like to give it some beauty treatment to stop the rust and make it look like the cool classic car it really is! But more than that I am really fond of it and I don't mind putting some money into it - even though it's probably only worth scrap value at present.
This car has served me well and I believe that the ones in good condition may become quiet collectible. I am not overly concerned about keeping it all original, but at the same time I don't want it to be a hot rod!
The main bodywork problems are a variety of panels showing some rust, e.g. rear quarter panel, rear sill, inside door bottom. The bonnet is very chipped and there are a number of small shopping trolley dents over the sides. The roof lacquer is peeling off. The front radiator grille attachment is broken (loose) and all the badges are faded and need replacing. I did get a quote from a trusted local body shop in the region of £4,500 to deal with the bodywork, including replacing the quarter panel, grille and bonnet. It sounds a lot and I don't know if that sounds a reasonable ballpark figure or not. I could probably build a kitchen for that money...
On top of that, the interior needs a lot of work. The headliner is hanging down at all corners and dropping away from the windscreen. The foam insulation behind it is flaking and turning into dust. The front seats have sagged and the material is loose. The back seat fabric has a slight tear, but that will get worse if it isn't fixed. Many of the plastic components are not only dirty but in quite poor condition. In particular:
1) There is a crack in the plastic panel at the rear of the dashboard where it runs along the bottom edge of the windscreen.
2) The internal rear view mirror is loose and the silver is rusting at the edges.
3) The driver's door panel has a cut in the vinyl and the plastic door tray is split. Furthermore there are plastic hooks on the inside face which lock onto plastic tabs to hold the panel securely in place and these have broken off.
4) The steering wheel surface is peeling and "sticky" to the touch
5) The gear shift knob is similar condition to the steering wheel and the leather skirt if cracked and flaking.
6) Window rubbers are deteriorated and allowing considerable wind noise through - also the door weather linings which are no longer available from Vauxhall.
7) The internal door pull handles and latches are badly pitted and scored.
Ideally I would like to replace all these panels and plastic / rubber components but with my limited knowledge of the industry I have no idea where to source such components.
The 1.8L petrol injection engine was rebuilt at 120,000 miles after it threw a piston ring and a new crankshaft was fitted. I removed the EGR valve and had a superchip fitted quite a while ago to improve driveability. (Frankly it doesn't seem to give it any more power, but the acceleration is smoother and more responsive and it idles better).
I replaced the water pump and timing belt about 30000 miles ago and I think the engine is in pretty good condition, despite the aluminium surfaces looking quite pitted, white and tarnished. She certainly drives very well for her age. The engine bay needs a good clean up, but that is just cosmetic. The Power steering rack is showing some leaks and probably needs a new seal kit.
Going beyond a basic refurb, I would also be interested in finding out if it is possible to upgrade the interior to a higher standard than before. For example electric / leather seats and dashboard, and wooden components instead of some plastic ones. Perhaps someone could kindly advise me how I might go about doing this, or if there are specialists that you know of in car renovations and customization who I might approach? It may be that the top of the range versions of these vehicles may have had some of these features? I would like to use original features where possible, but am not averse to a little discrete customization where it would really enhance the vehicle - providing it is in keeping with the car. I am not a fan of digital dashes and LED lights everywhere.
I am mechanically quite competent, (I teach engines - piston and gas turbine), but not experienced with the car industry - especially the business of restoration and refurbishment. Therefore I would be very grateful for some advice about when I might go to get these works done to a high standard at a fair price. I'd like to spread the work out over maybe a couple of years tackling the "essentials" first like bodywork, headliner and seats, then moving on to the "nice to have" items later.
I am sure there would be plenty of people who will say "don't waste your money" as it is such an old car. I do understand that; Cavaliers aren't exactly in the same league as a 1920s Oldsmobile. Nevertheless, please kindly indulge me and any positive advice would be gratefully received.
Kind regards
Andy Woolford