Astra's in for some more work...

Phil W · 1 Mar 2007 at 18:32

Well, i didn't really want to have to spend much more money on it, but the Astra is in for some more work.

As you may know, when i first had it, the HG was gone. So the head was skimmed and everything was replaced, but the original head bolts were used as the replacement new ones were the wrong ones and being a Sunday, couldn't find any places that stocked them at such short notice.

So we took a gamble and used the original head bolts.

Mistake.

Gradually since day 1 there has been oil contaminating the water ways, gradually getting slightly worse as the car heats up and cools down more and more.

So this weekend she's off to have OEM (not copycat this time) HG set and bolts fitted.

There is also a Coolant hose on the back of the engine thats split at the jubilee, so that will be replaced at the same time.

Last weekend the car had a good flush out of the coolant (mmm brown sludge aiiii) so the water ways are all cleared out as best as can be, making the job easier for the guy doing the work.

Dropping the car off at start of weekend and it will be finished by the end of the weekend, i'm buying the parts in but labour is £150, seems reasonable enough to me!

Can't wait to get her running properly again and get out and have some fun

/ oh btw i'm also picking up some Sport steel wheels for her, finishing the sleeper look

How she looks now...

Not the most exiciting of threads but hey.. i enjoyed writing it :rolleyes:

Phil

agw_01 · 1 Mar 2007 at 18:35

Can't argue with the labour costs for a HG replacement. If you mentioned 'Rover 214' they'd instantly triple that price.

I like that car with its current wheels. Looks smart and stealthy... don't go with steelies

Unless they're small and wide

-Mike- · 1 Mar 2007 at 18:37

agw_01 said:
Can't argue with the labour costs for a HG replacement. If you mentioned 'Rover 214' they'd instantly triple that price.

I like that car with its current wheels. Looks smart and stealthy... don't go with steelies Unless they're small and wide

Seconded with regards to the wheels

Kreeeee · 1 Mar 2007 at 18:42

Phil W said:
/ oh btw i'm

Sleeper eh? So what stonker is under the hood?

-Mike- · 1 Mar 2007 at 18:45

I could be completely wrong, but I think she's got a red top ticker?

Kreeeee · 1 Mar 2007 at 18:47

-Mike- said:
I could be completely wrong, but I think she's got a red top ticker?

Mmmm...

Phil W · 2 Mar 2007 at 16:40

Hello,

Yeah its a redtop. According to book figures 150bhp standard, this has been de-catted and also has a modified air filter, although i'm in the process of tinkering with an airbox to get better air flow and reduce heat-soak.

Good news on the head front, its a GM head so could at some point go porous, and a guy at work can get hold of one thats been ported and polished etc etc (Stage 1 tuned he called it) so i'm having a price for that today.

Also going to be purchasing a power cap for it next month, replacing the SFi box and increasing airflow, hopefully to increase torque.

Its running an F18 Gearbox instead of a F20, which (and has been proven) to pull harder than the original F20 gearbox.

/edit - Hmmm wheels, i'll get a picture of the Sport steelies and see what you think. I figured they would be better than the normal black steelies as there is no need for wheel trims, and they have centre caps as well...

(would be silver though)

Liverpool-Lad · 2 Mar 2007 at 16:59

Perhaps the F18 has been modded but this suggests otherwise...(or it was in better condition than the F20). The powercap will also sap torque, was of time IMO.

Same 6800 rpm on MK3 astra tyres.

Code:

Gearbox 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th rev
===========================================
F10/F13 032 058 087 127 160 034
F16w 034 062 094 135 170 036
F16c 038 062 090 118 150 040
F18w 037 071 109 145 181 040
F18c/F18+ 037 062 090 119 150 040
F20(3.55) 038 062 090 118 150 040
F20(3.72) 036 059 086 113 143 038
F23 035 061 091 126 152 037
F25 037 071 111 140 161 039
F28 036 059 088 116 143 172 038
F40w 035 065 101 141 178 215 038
F40c 032 059 089 116 143 171 034
===========================================
Gearbox 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th rev

GFX707 · 2 Mar 2007 at 17:04

Old Astra just screams "boy racer" to me. I hope you don't have a big fart can exhaust strapped on the back of that thing

Phil W · 2 Mar 2007 at 17:16

GFX707 said:
Old Astra just screams "boy racer" to me. I hope you don't have a big fart can exhaust strapped on the back of that thing

Standard looking back box mate, Small oval (in black).

Phil W · 2 Mar 2007 at 17:18

Liverpool-Lad said:
Perhaps the F18 has been modded but this suggests otherwise...(or it was in better condition than the F20). The powercap will also sap torque, was of time IMO.

Those figures seem to tell differently, or maybe its just the age of the engine thats making the difference, but it deffinately pulls harder than a mates XE astra.

You ran an Ecotec pipe didn't you? I have heard that these are not so good because of the surface on the inside, but the Courtenay/M-Tec units are better because they are smoother on the inside.