humbucker's 1993 Vauxhall Cavalier Turbo 4x4

[humbucker]

Well it was only a matter of time I guess... I’ve been thinking about adding a Cavalier Turbo to the fleet for a while now. It had to be Satin Red (I love this colour!), and it had to be near-standard. Oh, and relatively unmodified. The lower the mileage the better, and obviously free of the dreaded rot. A tall order you might think, and you’d probably be right. I decided to put it to the back of my mind while I started to get my V6 roadworthy again.

Then this one came up for sale. It had been in the custody of a member of the owners club for the last twelve months or so, who in turn had bought it from fellow member Bennymac. Benny had bought it to break, but changed his mind once he had it home and saw how solid the chassis was. Instead, he ran it for a while and then sold it on so that it could be looked after by another enthusiast. Knowing it was a good low mileage example, and ticked all the right boxes, I promptly booked my train tickets.

Anyway, I figured I should put a WIP up. Here’s a snap or two that I took today following a quick hose down (the car, not me):







Near mint Turbo leather:




"Probably the most desirable engine Vauxhall have ever produced"; the C20LET:


More or less as it stands:

1993 Satin Red Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 16v Turbo 4x4
6 speed Getrag F28 gearbox
Standard 16” light alloy wheels
Recent respray
Koni adjustable shock absorbers all round
30mm lowering springs
TX Autosport alloy radiator
Renault Laguna splitter
Magnecor KV85 HT leads
Samco / Roose Motorsport silicone hoses
Collins dump valve
Head skimmed and pressure tested
New valves and lifters
New gaskets
Metal head gasket
Helicoils reworked
Recent water pump and timing belt
Toad alarm, immobiliser and locking system
Delocked with Vectra door handles
Uprated door and rear shelf speakers
Dash mounted boost gauge
Complete Mongoose stainless exhaust system from manifold back (decat)
Courtenay Sport cool running thermostat
Relocated door and boot badges
Smoked side repeaters
Vauxhall tailored mats
Alloy door pins

This particular Turbo also has air conditioning, airbags, and wipers for the headlamps (although the air con is currently inactive as it needs a rad fitting). The car came with a great deal of service/parts history too.

The car has been very well maintained by its former keepers and is rock solid underneath. It’s in need of a new set of tyres which I’ll be sorting this week, a head unit, and I have already spoken to Mike Hayward about sourcing a locking kit for the transfer box. I’ll have it up on the ramps tomorrow so will post some pics of the underside then.

The intention is to maintain the Turbo to a high standard with some sensible / subtle mods, building on what’s already there. In case you were wondering, my other Cavalier, the V6 project (http://is.gd/XFpwJB), isn’t going anywhere; that’s still a long term restoration project. I’m looking forward to having both cars running side by side

[gsi pie]

that my friend is porn

glad you saved one buddy

agree best colour to have one

[iangsi]

you lucky lucky ..........

[cavboy180]

What a gorgeous car....

Lovely to see an unmolested model

[bigmitch]

Nice cav .Wasn,t for the need of of a estate I would replace the gsi with the turbo as long as
its still 4x4 not fwd .Of topic the locked box you where asking about on migweb is something else
no wheel spin or flashing 4x4 light when it rains

[gsi pie]

lock box FTW

[Kevwaggy]

[Lowrider Dave]

Git!
Lovely, lovely looking car. Well done sir!
My brother had a satin red GSI2000 and it looked lovely, someone T boned him and it was scraped, he still pines for it!

[Ads]

Hi Dan, as said over on the cav turbo site, you have a exellent cav turbo there, ive seen it a few times at different club meets and its a reall goodun, ive spoke to Benny about it, and he said its one of the cleanest underneath he has seen, well done mate, welcome to cav turbo ownership, enjoy it, Ads

[bennymac36]

Hi Dan, as said over on the cav turbo site, you have a exellent cav turbo there, ive seen it a few times at different club meets and its a reall goodun, ive spoke to Benny about it, and he said its one of the cleanest underneath he has seen, well done mate, welcome to cav turbo ownership, enjoy it, Ads

Did I say that ? oh well must have been the front end that was clean cos the back end was an lxi lol

Nah just joking good standard turbo there it probably could do with a detailed look over and some restoration underneath to the rear subframe etc but it all works.

[jimmy]

Very very very nice example you jammy bastard very nice mate

[Deeksin]

Love it mate well done on getting your hands on it before the cav destroyers did! Looks like it's been very well looked after! What's the plans? You running it through the winter?

[Gaz]

whens it being broke?

[TurboDan]

Looks like youve picked a nice one

[HAIRIBO]

Very very very niceI should really get my self one of those, one of these days. I need to finish the CDX first. Its only taken 10 years so far.

[planetc]

Does look nice, shame they never did an estate, would have been a good tow car with my dogs in the back.

[Envoy CDX]

Excellent Dan

[humbucker]

that my friend is porn glad you saved one buddy agree best colour to have one

thanks pie, it's good to have one that's in such good order. it's not without it's niggles of course, but then what second hand performance car is?! i'll eb sure to post updates/progress anyway. thought you might say that about the colour hehehe...

you lucky lucky ..........

no arguments there; i was very lucky to find such a good one, and furthermore one that is known to be good by so many who have seen her out and about at the shows

What a gorgeous car.... Lovely to see an unmolested model

thanks, she'll be staying unmolested too! that's the idea anyway!

Nice cav .Wasn,t for the need of of a estate I would replace the gsi with the turbo as long as its still 4x4 not fwd .Of topic the locked box you where asking about on migweb is something else no wheel spin or flashing 4x4 light when it rains

yeah i've spoken to mike about a locking kit already, not looking forward to the ballache of trying to get the box off but needs must...

lock box FTW

do you have a locked box on your gsi? did it transform the ride as everyone suggests or was it already fitted when you bought the car?

i hate you!

um... thanks kev

Git! Lovely, lovely looking car. Well done sir! My brother had a satin red GSI2000 and it looked lovely, someone T boned him and it was scraped, he still pines for it!

yup, chuffed to bits with the motor, sorry to hear about the fate of the gsi! was this recent? your family are all cavalier fans then?!

Hi Dan, as said over on the cav turbo site, you have a exellent cav turbo there, ive seen it a few times at different club meets and its a reall goodun, ive spoke to Benny about it, and he said its one of the cleanest underneath he has seen, well done mate, welcome to cav turbo ownership, enjoy it, Ads

thanks ads, as you can probably guess i'm thrilled to bits with the car, inside and out is in fantastic condition. couple of bits here and there that need attention so i'll be sure to post progress at the cav turbo site as well as here, will no doubt be calling on some advice from the experts!

good standard turbo there it probably could do with a detailed look over and some restoration underneath to the rear subframe etc but it all works.

yeah i had it on the ramps and it's tidy underneath, bodywork wise. the arches look like they've been replaced at some point though, was this during your ownership? chassis rails are good, inner arches are great too, certainly looks to be in better order than my v6 was when i bought that.

Very very very nice example you jammy bastard very nice mate

cheers jimmy

Love it mate well done on getting your hands on it before the cav destroyers did! Looks like it's been very well looked after! What's the plans? You running it through the winter?

it needed to be saved from the breaker vultures! i wont be running it through winter, it's not a daily driver, that's what the astra (and eventually the omega) are for. with a bit of luck this one will be tucked up in the garage all winter.

whens it being broke?

hahaha dream on!

Very very very nice I should really get my self one of those, one of these days. I need to finish the CDX first. Its only taken 10 years so far.

a v6 cdx + a turbo FTW! do it!

Does look nice, shame they never did an estate, would have been a good tow car with my dogs in the back.

yeah, not sure why the estate eluded the design team. meh.

Excellent Dan

cheers gary, i thought you might approve somehow!

[bigmitch]

the locked box does change the car bud. It did pose some problems but I change the way of removing it
Even having a steering pipe connection made instead of cutting and welding ,but do it after five years of
constant problems with the hydraulic system and making sure the tyres are the right pressure and
rotating every 1500 to 3000 miles to protect the 4x4 it was getting on my t@#s .The grip is
some thing else. I first tested it at the back of the fathers which is mostly gravel . it just shot of
I haven,t given it beans on tarmac
It just passed it s mot pick it up tomorrow, so find out then.But if advice needed ask
Nice color looks like mine with a blower, I am now tempted to get one

Baz

[TurboSteven77]

need i say more

[TurboSteven77]

at least car will be loved and have loads of tlc in your ownership

[bennymac36]

Drop me a pm Mr Humbucker should you want to know anything about the car during my ownership.

[Squig]

Lovely car Humbucker... I'd give my back teeth for a turbo, but I'll be damned if I'd use it as a daily driver. With 4 cars on the drive atm I can't see it happening any time soon.

Anyway is this remaining more or less standard or will you be doing the whole silly power thing?

[TurboDan]

If i were you i'd do some nice little touches to it just to bring it upto date abit, nothing too much just a few bits here and there. Thats the way i wanted to go with mine.

Have you got any more pics of the inside? It does look like its in good nick in there.

[humbucker]

good lord, i'm gone for five minutes and when i return you're all tearing chunks out of each other hehehe! in the interests of claiming my thread back i've removed the previous comments so that i can update you on the turbo's progress without distraction!

at least car will be loved and have loads of tlc in your ownership

thanks for the vote of confidence steven, much appreciated

Drop me a pm Mr Humbucker should you want to know anything about the car during my ownership.

i will definitely be in touch benny, pm incoming!

Lovely car Humbucker... I'd give my back teeth for a turbo, but I'll be damned if I'd use it as a daily driver. With 4 cars on the drive atm I can't see it happening any time soon. Anyway is this remaining more or less standard or will you be doing the whole silly power thing?

heheh yes i know what you mean, i've got six here now, although two are destined for breaking... (neither of them cavaliers you'll be pleased to hear!). the turbo isn't a daily driver, it's on a limited mileage insurance policy and will spend most of the winter tucked up in the garage. this one is for keeps, and will be looked after. as for plans, no big power project, want to keep it more or less standard, OEM+. the v6 is for playing with. might do a rebuilt on the LET at some point afterwards and i'm already thinking EDS chips as good power increase can be had for little outlay/work on these lumps, but nothing too crazy.

If i were you i'd do some nice little touches to it just to bring it upto date abit, nothing too much just a few bits here and there. Thats the way i wanted to go with mine. Have you got any more pics of the inside? It does look like its in good nick in there.

dan the interior is mint; heath hurt his back in a big way and found climbing in and out of his turbo quite difficult so he took out the mint condition leather interior that he'd sourced for his car and put it in nicci's (this turbo). he then fit cloth in his motor. as for mods, yes i'm going OEM+, tidy things up a bit, but nothing major to begin with as the V6 is my project for playing (for now...!!). i'll get some more snaps of the interior up for you shortly.