1994 Cavalier LSi C20NE (was C18NZ) Work-horse

[Envoy CDX]

Sounds like a plan, I would however bring the headunit forward slightly and bring some kind of padding over the front edge then finish it off like you suggested.

[Robsey]

If you look at the side profile of the radio surround, it curves in at the bottom.

So the recess is 30 mm deep at the top and about 20 mm deep at the bottom.

The photo doesn't show it well, but the front of the facia is level with the front of the surround on the bottom edge.

[Envoy CDX]

Ah, missed it, but 2d is difficult to work out at times

[cavalier1990]

Well it amazes me how bad something can start out,

[ Image ]

and then 24 hours later can look like virtually new parts...
And for very little money... abour 1/3rd of what I was expecting.

[ Image ] [ Image ]

So obviously I am really pleased with the results..

Robsey, what was the costs for getting this sandblasting and painting done? I'm going to be getting the same on diplomat soon so just wondering?

[Robsey]

I cannot say how much your local supplier will cost,

But my local place "Chicago Coating Company" in Mossley, about 10 miles east of Manchester...

I was expecting a couple of hundred quid.
The final price for everything that I listed was a whopping - £60.
(Sorry - being a bit sarcastic in the build up).

Wow.
Super cheap and a fantastic quality of work.

[cavalier1990]

I cannot say how much your local supplier will cost,

But my local place "Chicago Coating Company" in Mossley, about 10 miles east of Manchester...

I was expecting a couple of hundred quid.
The final price for everything that I listed was a whopping - £60.
(Sorry - being a bit sarcastic in the build up).

Wow.
Super cheap and a fantastic quality of work.

Thanks Robsey, was just to get a very rough idea, I'm going to inquire with my local bods soon. I like the finish, not sure if they do that but will see.

[Robsey]

I am sure there will be someone local to you who can sand blast and epoxy powder coat your parts.

Chicago are a very old fashioned, "When I was a lad!!" no nonsense / "say it like it is" type of company.

No frills, no fuss -
Just drop the stuff off.
Pick it all up the next day.
Job done.

[Robsey]

Been buying more toys for the car...

A pair of nice loud 2008 Vectra-C horns.
They are virtually identical to those originally fitted in August 1994.
I have a pair of aftermarket horns fitted at the moment, but they are not very noisy at all.
So the proper Vauxhall jobbies should rectify that situation.

One of the final front end jobs that will need sorting for the MOT is the track rod ends.
As we all know, these are notorious for seizing on solid.
So to kill two birds with one stone, I shelled out for a pair of complete steering arms.
That is the arms, plus adjuster rods and track rod ends. All are Febi "Prokit" parts.

Will hopefully save a load of time and faff freeing off the current rod ends as they need replacing anyway due to torn gaiters.
And it means the bushes at the rack end of the arms are also new and free of wear, unlike the current 22 year old arms.

Hopefully there should be no discernable play in the steering or suspension when the MOT is carried out.

Just need the car now to complete all the reassembly.

[Lowrider Dave]

Sounds like a logical plan, future proofing and all that - well done on 5000 posts!

[Robsey]

Sounds like a logical plan, future proofing and all that - well done on 5000 posts!

Cheers dears...
I am still almost 1500 posts shy of the top 5 posters.

Not so much future proofing.
Just my attempt at being thorough.
After renewing virtually everything else, it would be daft to leave anything else undone.

[Robsey]

Talk of the devil - and he shall appear.

Here are the first pictures in six months of progress from the paint shop.

It is believed that the new paint is very shiny - despite at least a month's worth of dust hiding it.

As you can see - three doors and the tail gate still to do.







All the glass has been removed to ensure a proper job is done.

[Robsey]

No pictures = it never happened.

So some pics of one of my new steering arms.

On the adjuster rod, there is a course left handed thread that screws into the arm, and a less course right hand thread that goes into the rod end.

[Mk3alan]

Paint looking good!
Smear of grease/waxoyl/whatever on those adjusters and they will be movable in the future.
Love new bits!

Alan

[Robsey]

I feel that I should have shares in Febi by now, or even have a place on the board of directors.

With many hundreds of pounds worth of brand new Febi parts that have been fitted to the old girl in the last 7 or 8 months.

Hopefully it will all mean I can have at least 5 or 6 years of worry free motoring.

(Don't laugh - I know it is a Vauxhall that likes to reward t.l.c. with a failure somewhere else on the car).

[ilovedmymantas]

I think that paint is going to look amazing with a polish.
dust is a preservative !

[Envoy CDX]

dust preferred to rust..

Looking very nice indeed Rob.
Ping me a link to those arms and bits please

[James McGrath]

Looking good Rob, coming together nicely.

I could do with a new set of steering arms.
I already have 2 sets of track rod ends and GPS have OEM arms available for a reasonable price.
Hmm, tempting.

[Robsey]

Complete arms were £31 per sid, delivered.

As you can see from the photo.
All Febi Bilstein parts.

When I looked for Gary the other evening, typical prices were £36 or £42 per side.

So I would suggest biding your time until more acceptable prices are being asked.

[Robsey]

A little more progress -
Pictures from yesterday sent by Troy.
(Tuesday 17th Jan 2017).

Front doors fitted,
Rear quarter-lights fitted.
Hatch assembled (rear screen and wiper arm fitted)
Rear light clusters and aerial fitted.



It is hoped that the paint shop will be handing the car back to Troy mid-week next week.
After flatting and polishing.

And then it is the final push to complete the car ready for it's MOT.

After the MOT, the car will be coming home...
All being good with the world.

As a point of interest, Troy is canvassing for more welding work.
Bear in mind that he limits this to vehicles upto 2001, no later.
If you want any welding work doing, his unit is located just east of Oldham town centre.

[James McGrath]

Bet this will be better than factory fresh when it's finished, all ready for the shows this year.

I wonder if Troy could do some work on my Diplomat...

[Robsey]

I am sure he would do it for you.
As long as it isn't as bad as mine.

I think he feels a bit burnt by my very poorly cav.
Or Ex-poorly cav.

[cavalier1990]

On the home straight now at last eh Robsey, that polar sea blue, is looking very smart, bet the pics aren't doing it any justice. Wash and a wax and it'll be gleaming.

[Robsey]

To be honest, I haven't seen the car since 7th July 2016.
The day before it was trailered away to the paint shop.

The last few pictures have been sent to me by Troy, who had been helping the paint shop lad to reassemble the car.

I suspect no more pictures before early next week.

I visited Troy tonight to discuss a few items and drop off the steering arms.

[Robsey]

Okay - I have proved myself to be totally anal.

About 95% of the exterior of the car will look like new when it is finished, including fresh paintwork and Depo headlamps and front Depo indicators.

So I decided that it would be a good idea to purchase a brand new set of number plates.
I visited Lookers Vauxhall in Ellesmere Port on my way home from Birkenhead to Manchester.
My thinking being that original GM plates would be good quality parts, and also a sort of thank-you / tribute to the dealership as they have been very helpful and friendly whenever I visited to buy parts or to ask for technical assistance.

I was hoping that there would be a Vauxhall griffin symbol next to the Lookers name like they did 20 years ago. Sadly there is no griffin.

Surprisingly reasonable price for a main dealer.
15 minutes and £28.80 later I was rewarded with a pair of new plates to complement the fresh paintwork.

[James McGrath]

Nice.

Not anal at all; It makes a surprising difference to the overall look of the car when the number plates are nice and clean looking.