1994 Cavalier LSi C20NE (was C18NZ) Work-horse

[Robsey]

Cruise control is something that I use every now and again on the wife's Vectra-C, when travelling between Manchester and the Wirral on Tuesdays.

I used to think it was just a gimmick, but now find it stops me from speeding when the motorway suddenly clears.

Also - it is something that Envoy (Gary) has been encouraging me to fit for about 8 years.
Almost a long standing joke between us.

I have fitted most other modifications, so it is almost natural to fit this last "upgrade".

[Envoy CDX]

Also - it is something that Envoy (Gary) has been encouraging me to fit fo about 8 years.
Almost a long standing joke between us.

Almost?!?!

It's 10 wires!

[Robsey]

The wire quantity varies dependent upon who's How 2 you follow.

The lazy method is 8 from the module.
Plus 1 to link power feeds between brake and clutch pedal switches.

I would prefer to do the "whole shebang",
and so fit the two additional wires for :-
The EOBD diagnostic socket,
And the dash tell tale wire.

You may ask why worry about the EOBD wire?
Well I have the "poor mans" diagnostic kit,
and it would be nice to have to ability to test and clear faults if they ever crop up.

Other devices in my car which use 16 pin EOBD are -
Omega 1 touch sunroof.
GSi / Calibra fuel computer.
Potential for Vectra-B remote central locking.

And

If I go back to my techno stuff one day,
With all the various Vectra-C CAN modules,
I will be able to program and callibrate them on board / in situ.

[Envoy CDX]

I'd expect nothing less from you Rob!

[Robsey]

Indeed - never been one to shy away from a little wiring project or two.

[Lowrider Dave]

Tempted to add cruise control but wiring scares me!

[Robsey]

The wiring is relatively easy.

It is the mounting of the module / motor unit that I have to consider carefully.

Cruise was never a cavalier option, so there is no specific location for it to be mounted.

It sort of has to sit near the near-side suspension turret, just inboard of my ABS modulator.

In my old engineering days I would knock up a couple of mounting brackets, but there is simply nothing of any use in my unit within the local NHS trust.

It will get done some time after getting the car back but before the fitting of the interior.

[Envoy CDX]

Mine is getting mounted to the nearside chassis leg in roughly the same position as it gets mounted in the Vectra B's.

[Robsey]

Okay - Spoke to Troy tonight.
Poor lad has been caught in the middle between myself and the paintshop lad.

To be fair I have given him no grief whatsoever.

Anyway the car has been promised to be returned to Troy's unit painted for mid-next week. (Well - before Christmas anyway).
We shall see. I have seen a few promised deadlines come and go without progress.

I am going to Troy's unit tomorrow evening after work to have a general nosey and to drop off the remainder of my rebuild parts.
Including arch liner expanding plastic rivets, shiney plated acme bolts and j nuts as used to fit the front wings.

Troy also tells me that he plans to visit the paint shop, to help the lad re-hang the doors.

At present the front screen is out, and all rust around the window and sunroof apertures along with all the visible bodywork has be addressed and primed.

No pictures yet though, as I have no idea where the paint shop is.

[Envoy CDX]

Fingers crossed it gets done right first time
And hopefully you do get it back next week, though unless they have a proper booth I doubt it will be properly dried in time to start rebuilding straight away.

[Robsey]

I am sure it will be fine...
Troy has said he will give the car a good looking over, and do any relevant snagging as he goes.

I cannot do too much until the first week of January.

I am working through until then apart from weekends and public holidays.

[Robsey]

As reported yesterday, I made a visit to Troy's new unit tonight in order to supply parts ready for reassembly of the old girl.

His new unit is about 10 miles (20 minutes) nearer to my home, and is a lot more spacious.
The only down side is a silly twisty-turny one-way system to get there.

Parts dropped off tonight include: -
Acme screws - for reattaching the front wings - x 25
J Nuts - for reattaching the front wings - x 25
Exhaust hanger rubbers - x 2.
Engine to front down pipe mounting rubbers - x2
Exhaust flexi-joint tension springs - x 2
Full head gasket kit for the exhaust manifold gasket - x 1
Front wheel hub bearing split pins - x 2
Front disc pads (the correct size this time) - 1 full set (4 pads)
Front arch liner expanding plastic rivets / clips - x 50
Complete Angel Eye headlamp assemblies - 1 pair except H4 bulbs
Non-OEM track rod ends - 1 x left and 1 x right.

Hopefully that will be enough parts to allow Troy to get the car road worthy again.
I will just need to get 2 x H4 headlamp bulbs to allow the task to be finished.

As soon as the car is considered road worthy, it is to be sent back home, where I will be tasked with final refitting of the interior, any outstanding parts or modifications.

[Envoy CDX]

Koool!

Osram Night-breakers I believe is where it is at for H4's. I am intending on fitting a set to the Yaris (and have been for about a month..) so will post up some pics when I do.

[Robsey]

It will be nice to see progress in the pocket rocket, but I would have thought that you would be saving your play-funds for Fogs.

Wow - just been looking at the cost of those bulbs.

Anywhere between 22 and 31 quid - each!!

The last pair of bulbs I bought were two for £17 a couple of years ago for the Vectra.
And they were not no-name budget bulbs either.

[Envoy CDX]

It will be nice to see progress in the pocket rocket, but I would have thought that you would be saving your play-funds for Fogs.

Wow - just been looking at the cost of those bulbs.

Anywhere between 22 and 31 quid - each!!

The last pair of bulbs I bought were two for £17 a couple of years ago for the Vectra.
And they were not no-name budget bulbs either.

Got mine from ECP for £14.99 (32% off or something). They work well!

[Robsey]

Yep just seen it.

£13.99 for two bulbs.

So for that price, I have ordered a pair of H4's and a pair of H7's

65% discount and free economy delivery to work

[Envoy CDX]

Kool beans.

[Robsey]

Spoke to Troy today.

The paint shop lad has requested the acme bolts and j-nuts, so that he can prepare to fit the front wings etc early next week.

So it sounds like progress is being made.

Hopefully I will get to see it in the "flesh" in the first fews days of January when I am on leave.

When I get to see it, I will post up some long awaited pictures.

[Lowrider Dave]

Fingers crossed for you!

[Envoy CDX]

Fantastic news!

[James McGrath]

Sounds promising, looking forward to seeing it.

[planetc]

First visit for a while, looks like I've missed a bit!

[Robsey]

Welcome back dear sir.
Great to see you about again.



H4 Nightbreakers arrived today at work.

H7's to follow in a week or so.
(Currently out of stock).

[Robsey]

H7's arrived today along with a few other bits.

I have been in the workshop today at work.
A rare occasion, brought on by the need to cover duties of technical staff on leave.

Anyway -
I had a bit of a play today with my spare radio surround.
Still toying with fitting the CD70 Sat nav in summer.
Although being a lazy arse, I am constantly tempted to revert to standard and fit the SC303 instead.
I will do this anyway for the time being.

And then review my option when there is more daylight and warmth.

This gives me ample time to get the radio surround to a reasonable standard.

So I made up a double din conversion panel using 3 mm thick ABS to find where the radio cage should sit.

And then I had to cut out the centre spar and the sides to allow cage and the bigger modified facia to sit in there to.





I will do a bit of further fettling and then fill the gaps in the surround so that it all blends in nicely.

[Robsey]

I will probably use a variation on TurboDan's suggestion regarding expanding foam, cling film and fibre glass.

And Troy's suggestion to make it look sweet with black leatheretted covering.

I have a cunning plan...

Regarding the electrics - I will do an adapter lead (similar to an SOT 122S) so that I can chop and change between CD70 and SC303 as the mood takes me.