Mojo?

[Envoy CDX]

Have any of you ever lost your mojo for working on the car?
I seem to be stuck in a rut, and just can not get anything I start finished.

Any thoughts? Ideas?

[Robert-in-Notts]

Yup ive felt like that plenty of times, if you start doing little jobs first, nouthing more rewarding then doing a little thing that makes a big differance, i find it gives you that boost to start doing the bigger jobs.

[Envoy CDX]

Yup ive felt like that plenty of times, if you start doing little jobs first, nouthing more rewarding then doing a little thing that makes a big differance, i find it gives you that boost to start doing the bigger jobs.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Even the big jobs seems like major tasks at the minute.
I think half the problem is I'm looking at the list of things to do, rather than tackling them 1 by 1.

[Robsey]

The joys of owning a 16 or 17 year old car...

Like you tell me though - it will get done.

just need to find the jobs you can complete, and put the jobs waiting for parts further down the to do list.

Whch jobs are urgent,?
Which jobs do you have all the bits for?
Which jobs need to be done?
and which jobs are just for jolly ?

I thing we are going to need a mutual butt kicking...
just to tell each other - come on, get on with it

[Envoy CDX]

Aye Rob, I'm just wallowing in the pity of idleness.
I don't like the idea of doing big jobs like stripping the bottom end of my engine down and replacing the bearings incase I fook it up.

Theres the 18Se project thats been sat about for 18-19 months now too.

Loads of ideas, just not enough skill / ability to do it.

[Robsey]

To be honest Gary, an engine rebuild is not that hard to do.

Treat it like you would for programming code..

Otherwords, do it step by step.
do it in a logical order,

the only other obvious comment is simply be very clean with your parts.

One of the first jobs I ever did was rebuild a Toyota Mk2 KE70, with a H4K engine... I was very green behind the ears, and I had to do it because I accidentally rammed a Mazda 323 up the rear.

Was a total front end and engine rebuild.... it was also 2 days before Christmas.

If you weren't 180 miles away I would help, or even do it for you

[Envoy CDX]

Feel like I'm chasing my tail with the c18nz. I'm only working on it to keep it going whilst I get the 18SE running, but now 11 months on, I'm no further forward, know what I mean?

[btcctroy]

yes its a job to getup in the morning

i have 4 vehicles 1 is an uno turbo that i've been restoring for 4 years. (a full nut and bolt rebuild)

cavalier has never been the top of the list for priority. sometimes wish it was the only project i had so i can focus 100 % on it.

cant get rid of my uno though, less than a 100 left now and i've had it 10 years.

[Envoy CDX]

yes its a job to getup in the morning

i have 4 vehicles 1 is an uno turbo that i've been restoring for 4 years. (a full nut and bolt rebuild)

cavalier has never been the top of the list for priority. sometimes wish it was the only project i had so i can focus 100 % on it.

cant get rid of my uno though, less than a 100 left now and i've had it 10 years.

It's good that your restoring it though, as long as your smiling at the end, it's worth while doing.
I think I just lack the confidence half the time.

[Envoy CDX]

Things to do:

C18NZ bottom end - growling (shells?), repalce sump gasket, unclog oil pickup pipe / oil ways, replace end crank seal.
5 Stud conversion / uprated braked - 288 / 260.
Passenger door need replaces due to extensive rot in the inner skin
Fit hands free kit
Replace front shock absorbers (was hoping to do this as part of the 5 stud conversion, however, is becoming desperate)
Replace rear arches / back of sills
plate / repair rear boot floor
Fit rear electric windows / illuminated rear grab handles and front map lights
Fit / wire in electric sunroof
Fit electronic speed clocks from a Turbo
Fit Calibra volt / oil pressure gauges

[btcctroy]

It's good that your restoring it though, as long as your smiling at the end, it's worth while doing.
I think I just lack the confidence half the time.[/quote]

you build confidence by having a go. if you get it right you know for next time, if you get it wrong you learnt a lesson.

many things i have done it the past haven't gone the way i wanted it to, when i started welding i thought i should give up now, but i continued to practice and now feel very confident with it.

engines are easy a load of nuts and bolts and precise measurements.theres many books with all the information you need.

hardest thing on an engine is the cambelt.

as for your bottom end you'd be alot better of taking it in to an engine builders to let them examine it.
always fit a new oil pump on vauxhall engines on rebuild.

[btcctroy]

Things to do:

C18NZ bottom end - growling (shells?), repalce sump gasket, unclog oil pickup pipe / oil ways, replace end crank seal.
5 Stud conversion / uprated braked - 288 / 260.
Passenger door need replaces due to extensive rot in the inner skin
Fit hands free kit
Replace front shock absorbers (was hoping to do this as part of the 5 stud conversion, however, is becoming desperate)
Replace rear arches / back of sills
plate / repair rear boot floor
Fit rear electric windows / illuminated rear grab handles and front map lights
Fit / wire in electric sunroof
Fit electronic speed clocks from a Turbo
Fit Calibra volt / oil pressure gauges

defo take your btm end in. it will be so much easier an less hassle. you may need a crank regrind.
i'm doing a 5 stud conversion on mine. i have a pair of brand new cavalier turbo calipers and second hand sliders that i'm gonna be selling. you can use the cav turbo 284 mm discs with no mod to the 5 stud flange
how do you wire in the electric speedo clocks from the turbo. isnt the speed detected via the abs sensors or am i wrong.

[Envoy CDX]

defo take your btm end in. it will be so much easier an less hassle. you may need a crank regrind.

I hope I don't need a crank regrind

i'm doing a 5 stud conversion on mine. i have a pair of brand new cavalier turbo calipers and second hand sliders that i'm gonna be selling. you can use the cav turbo 284 mm discs with no mod to the 5 stud flange

Yeah, I got the front legs off a P reg Calibra, which is apparently using later hubs, so will accept the Vectra discs and calipers without any issues.
So, I'm just hoping the seller was honest

how do you wire in the electric speedo clocks from the turbo. isnt the speed detected via the abs sensors or am i wrong.

You can use the ABS speed pulse, but I'm looking at another way of doing it via a sensor from an Astra 4 / Corsa. Once it's done I'll have more information for you

[humbucker]

i havent lost my enthusiasm for the project car(s), but i have been very frustrated at not being able to get on with it this year due to other projects taking a priority over them. i'm not that upset about it, but i've been dying to get started on the cavalier all year. still, there's no rush i guess, all good things come to those who wait and all that jazz.

[Cavalier342]

I'm slightly frustrated that I can't get my sodding window sorted out. Doesn't close properly, and now the winder handle has come off because I broke the circlip trying to get the panel off, and rounded off the thread on the handle, from where I tried opening/closing it, so to open the window I now have to use a pair of pliers or grips to turn the crank. Overall, my restoration plans haven't changed one bit, I'm still going through with it. But it's the little annoying things that bother me. Also the cold weather and short daylight hours don't help.
Andrei

[Envoy CDX]

upgrade to electric fronts

[Envoy CDX]

Well, been thinking, plodding on and generally beating myself round the head trying to get my mojo back, but I think I'm just going to put everything on hold till Jan / Feb now.

[humbucker]

good opportunity for you to do some work on your shed first then hehehe!

[Envoy CDX]

good opportunity for you to do some work on your shed first then hehehe!

That's pretty much in order now. I need some dry storage for some panels though as they are taking up too much space, that or get round to fitting them

Smokey's getting cut up after the new year so need to find storage for 2 doors, a bonnet, 2 wings and anything usable forward of the b pillars

[Cavalier342]

upgrade to electric fronts

Definitely my thought.

[piercedrab]

turn it into a game get the list number it and tell people here the numbers but not the jobs and at random pick a name and they can give you a number takes the stress of having to choose yourself

[btcctroy]

good opportunity for you to do some work on your shed first then hehehe!

That's pretty much in order now. I need some dry storage for some panels though as they are taking up too much space, that or get round to fitting them

Smokey's getting cut up after the new year so need to find storage for 2 doors, a bonnet, 2 wings and anything usable forward of the b pillars

passenger side chassis, strut panel would be ace

[Envoy CDX]

good opportunity for you to do some work on your shed first then hehehe!

That's pretty much in order now. I need some dry storage for some panels though as they are taking up too much space, that or get round to fitting them

Smokey's getting cut up after the new year so need to find storage for 2 doors, a bonnet, 2 wings and anything usable forward of the b pillars

passenger side chassis, strut panel would be ace

i might unpick it

[Robsey]

You need to patch up your old shed, then you will have some space for your panels....

Don't forget also that you have more than half of a spare cav inside Smokey.

[Envoy CDX]

You need to patch up your old shed, then you will have some space for your panels.....

Can't it doesn't exist any more. grinder and a mad hour or two saw to that

Don't forget also that you have more than half of a spare cav inside Smokey.

Yeah, that'll be changing soon.