Tim's 1992 'K' 1.8 GLS auto...

[tim130879]

£60?!?!?! Is that all?

That was stripping and refitting too?

[Cavalier342]

I remember when we used to moan about filling the gas tank on a Cavalier costing £60... That was many many many years ago now lol

[Robsey]

£60?!?!?! Is that all?

That was stripping and refitting too?

I dis-assembled the parts and lugged them to the coaters.

They blasted, prepared and powder coated them - did a fantastic job as you can see.

I then collected the parts, assembled and fitted them again.

They also did my alloys to the colour of my choice.

[tim130879]

I remember when we used to moan about filling the gas tank on a Cavalier costing £60... That was many many many years ago now lol

Haha yeah.... in 1999 I was working in Sallisbury and used to commute 5/6 days a week there. Did 12 months of that in the GL, and I think £45 a week covered all that mileage.

Yeah shame I havent got the facilities to take all that off and get it powder coated. Maybe a job for later on this year. But just spoke to ex-colleauge at VX. Ordered the correct bushes wish I'd just done it that way around in the first place lol

Pack of 5 - £9.50.... Why 5 I've no idea but still, cant help having a couple of spares I supose.

[Robsey]

Yes, VX like to sell lower priced items in packs of 5.
I had to buy 5 bolts for something on the rear suspension,



And when my gear linkage became sloppy, I couldn't buy one swivel retaining pin.
They only sold them in 5s at approx £10 each.

Item 19 below.


Suffice to say, my linkage is still sloppy.
(Nothing my doctor or physiotherapist could provide treatment for - lol )

It is a pity the car isn't going on the ramps for undeseal work or something.
You could drop the whole of the trailing arm / rear beam assembly off from the car.

I suppose you could do the torsion bar anyway, if you are replacing all 4 bushes.

Don't forget to get some M8 x 25 hex head bolts and nyloc nuts, in case the old ones shear or need to be cut off.
They are quite a common / easy bolt to obtain.

[tim130879]

Sloppy linkage? Sounds painful lol

I know... when he said a pack of five, I thought oh here we go. How much is this going to cost, but at £1.70 something each - cant argue. And going to dealer was my last option anyway by the looks of it.

Yeah I hear what your saying but with a perished cam belt, I need to get the service done first; just in case, god forbid, it blew up, then that's the whole car pretty much written off. During the service they will clean all the underside up and do any preventative work on the surface rust. Its managed for 27 years ok, so don't think it'll rust into a pile of nothing in another 4-6 months.

[Cavalier342]

The cam belt snapping isn't a big issue with these engines, there is enough clearance between the valves and pistons so they don't take each other out if the belt goes. Only with the 8v engines.

[tim130879]

Yeah a few people have told me that about these trusty old 8V units. Its just a job I don't want to happen.... plus fed up with driving around like a 90 y/o in case any thing snaps lol. Its also prep work for its MOT in May. It'll fail on front pads at the very least - so get the basics done and then look at cosmetics.

All the jobs will get sorted. Give me a few months

[Robsey]

No problems Tim,

It is one of those.
Getting the essentials done, but whilst you have something partially stripped, it can sometimes save doing a few jobs a second time when you are working in the same area, but on a different part.

As Andrei said, the 8 valve engines, 18SE, 18SV, 20NE, 20SEH, C18NZ and C20NE are all non-interference engines.
So the only harm done if it fails is an early tow back to the garage to get a new one fitted.
And frustration on your part.

Pads on the front aren't a huge deal, but make sure you have the correct pads.
There were two sizes used on the C18NZ.
Sod's law said that I have the smaller pads on my August 1994 LSi.

I remember when we used to moan about filling the gas tank on a Cavalier costing £60... That was many many many years ago now lol

A quick calculation tells me that here in Manchester, it is currently only £73 to fill up at my local Asda or Morrisons.
(Approx 61.3 litres at £1.19 per litre).

Obviously much more expensive down on the south coast or using BP, Shell, Texaco or Esso.

But I always put 20 litres in at a time... unless going to VBOA or VauxFest, when I will double that - lol

[tim130879]

Tbh Robesy - I give up really looking at the price down here mate. We've lost probably half our petrol stations in Bournemouth over the last 15/20 years. Down to big supermarket chains...? Mmmm, a topic for a different thread maybe lol. Stuck £20 in on the way to Halfords this morning; £1.219 p/l. If memory serves was about 65/69p p/l when I was fuelling up in the old GL. But I maybe wrong there.

Still, as we finally got a few hours uninterrupted from the rain today - thought I'd finally give the boot a well deserved clean, as haven't gone near it since I brought the old girl; and start treating that little rust I found the other week.

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

[Cavalier342]

Good work, it's always worth pulling things out and checking underneath as much as possible. I used to keep myself busy doing that sort of thing every other day when I had my first Cav, everyone who knows me will confirm that. Sometimes for no reason at all.

[tim130879]

Thanks Andrei, not sure if an age thing, but the need to get every switch and panel out to clean - isn't as apparent 20 years on haha. Still - even though I get very tired very easily these days, still something I want to do. Weather hasnt helped down here has it?

Moving forward - mates confirmed drop off for full service and all the rest of it next Monday morning. So that'll be major jobs mechanically out the way. Then in another 5 weeks the rest of the body work will get done. Hopefully getting to the festival of unexceptional in July. 3 mates from Bmth and 3 coming up from Essex with their Allegro. Planning to stay, so should be a great couple of days.

Any one else going?

[Cavalier342]

Personally I don't mind the rain, as I walk everywhere these days I'm used to it, so it doesn't bother me. As far as working on a car though, ye, that is annoying.

And ye, I totally agree, I wouldn't be as "anal" nowadays with regard to cleaning components and interiors, age certainly plays a part down the line. Credit to you for doing it properly though.

[tim130879]

Will this rain ever stop down south? lol

Popped into my old dealership this morning. Finally got the correct end anti roll bar bushes all ready for Mondays big service. A few of the mech have been with VX and Rover for over 20 years and couldn't remember seeing one last let alone in such good nick lol.

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

My mate in parts was really really helpful. Asked him to look at supplying the long header tank hose, the one that works its way round the air box on the right hand side (from drivers persp) of the engine and over the rad. No longer available, but was able to highly recommend a company called H.S Components in Dewsbury. Maybe anyone's heard of it? Weren't able to supply the hose but were able to supply, very randomly, a very perished hose that goes from EGR to exhaust manifold, which I thought was going to be a right mare getting. For only £17.

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr


Never mind.... found this company in the Netherlands that supplied the rad hose for 8euros! Minimum order was 15euros, so was forced to be a new 1.8 badge at the same time

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

Untitled by CaptainTimbo, on Flickr

[Robsey]

H S Components is another name for Genuine Parts Search or Auto Vaux.

So they specialise in old / obsolete GM / Vauxhall / Opel parts.
Prices can be silly expensive -
Blower Motor £219.
Wiper Linkage without motor £238.
Or silly cheap -
Wishbone sleeves - 11p each.

Good find on the hose in Holland
You were after a 1.8 badge anyway

[tim130879]

Yeah I've noticed that seems to be a trend at some company's….. the COPE company in Holland no different:
1.8 badge - 8 euros
16v badge - 28 euros??
Clock - 90 euros
4 way window switch - 250 euros???

Yeah couldn't find a refurb kit like I did for the other badges, but the 'i' is like 15 euros just on its own. I've taken the old one off now, shame they don't do a trade in. I could have an i for an i.....lol ?

Sorry. Taxi for one.....!

[Robsey]

Your humour is almost as bad as mine.


There are a few Cavalier badges coming up on ebay, but prices appear to have gone up in a crazy way.

Maybe they have noticed a surge in Cavalier refurbs and restorations.

A boot griffin badge for £49 - really?
The letter 'i' that you're after £15... yikes.
But I can get two "LS" badges for under £10.

I wouldn't know how to badge mine anyway.
LSi shell,
Diplomat / SRi alloy wheels,
SRi tail pipe and interior...

Driven by a Wombat !!

[tim130879]

Haha!! I'm desperately searching Ebay for Wombat bumper stickers!!

I've just had a look as well….
Corsa 92-99 Griffin boot badge, wait for it...…. £64.95!!!!
Red 16V boot badge.... £40!

That's why I got that £6 refurb kit. It's still all stuck on and looks exactly the same. Maybe we should start a new game; who can find the most ridiculously priced trim piece?

LS badges for under a tenner? Yeah but who wants an LS...?

[Robsey]

LS badges for under a tenner? Yeah but who wants an LS...?

It is the most common trim level.
But yes, nobody raves about an LS.
Although you don't hear much of anything below SRi trim level.

[tim130879]

That is very true!! Everyone just seems to rave on about SRi's and GSI's all the bloody time lol

PS I was only joking about the LS bit

[Robsey]

Everyone just seems to rave on about SRi's and GSI's

Exactly - Supply and demand.
Higher demand, commands a higher price.

PS I was only joking about the LS bit

No worries, I am not precious about trim levels
I like a lot of Vauxhalls between 1981 and 1996., regardless of trim level.

[Mazza]

I may have a New ‘I’ badge ... If interested. Or if you wanna go all out for a 2.0i...

That’s reminds me I owe Mr Robsey a small rear plastic trim. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to go thru all the boxes. Not forgotten mate.

No mention of the cavalier turbo then... haha.

Indeed the prices have gone thru the roof, primarily due to the limited supply of parts. Most ‘Cavi turbos’ have ended up as bean tins.

personally my first car was a saloon cavalier cdi - fully loaded, cracker of a car ... once the problems were resolved. I then moved up to gsi 4x4.... woah different bread and attention it brings.

I then moved back to cavalier gls and often driven a cavalier L ...

[Robsey]

That’s reminds me I owe Mr Robsey a small rear plastic trim. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to go thru all the boxes. Not forgotten mate...

I had forgotten.


If I do badge up the cav, I will probably just put pre-facelift silver / grey stickers on the boot / hatch.
No numbers or trim idents... just “Vauxhall” and “Cavalier”.

The turbos and GSi’s are rarer due to very bad corrosion issues.
And people not being able to handle a car with “balls” / ooomph.

[Mazza]

The turbos and GSi’s are rarer due to very bad corrosion issues.
And people not being able to handle a car with “balls” / ooomph.

Indeed So for some. I had my gsi for around 6yrs until then head went... and I simply had enough.

Anyways, sorry Tim - high jacking your post.

[tim130879]

Hey no worries guys, hi-jack away... lol. Good to hear people's opinions on models and stuff.

I may have a New ‘I’ badge ... If interested. Or if you wanna go all out for a 2.0i...

Have you? Well yes very interested as I'll need one at some point anyways. But don't really want to be paying £15'658 for an 'i' off eBay!! Tbh Mazza, it did cross my mind, but nooooo, I had to stop myself. lol. Trying my best to keep it original. I suppose I could have stuck a V6 badge on the back but that would be ridiculous Have a good rummage around and see if you have one. Can paypal you or whatever you'd like.