1991 Astra GTE 16V
Discussion
SAJ is due for some bodyshop work in the next week or so. I'm getting it done at Ian Taylor's bodyshop - aka http://www.paintshophorley.co.uk/
Work to be done includes the rusty rear corner, very minor-looking corrosion in boot, remove rear strut brace & clean strut tops up & repair/respray of front bumper.
Here are some picks as the car stands...
He is also due to have his exhaust overhauled as the front box baffles are shot. Going to replace with a high-grade SS custom made straight through de-cat pipe at
http://www.dsb-mechanical.co.uk/custex.php
Work to be done includes the rusty rear corner, very minor-looking corrosion in boot, remove rear strut brace & clean strut tops up & repair/respray of front bumper.
Here are some picks as the car stands...
He is also due to have his exhaust overhauled as the front box baffles are shot. Going to replace with a high-grade SS custom made straight through de-cat pipe at
http://www.dsb-mechanical.co.uk/custex.php
72,800 miles.
Just had the front exhaust box removed & straight-through pipe fitted in its place at DSB Mechanical Services.
They also had to patch a hole in the rear silencer & reposition the hanger.
Car sounds fantastic now!
The offending item
2" bore high-grade stainless pipe welded in its place:
Here's the lovely 912 they're working on:
and the system they made for it:
Couple of cars from the team they work for were in the workshop:
Just had the front exhaust box removed & straight-through pipe fitted in its place at DSB Mechanical Services.
They also had to patch a hole in the rear silencer & reposition the hanger.
Car sounds fantastic now!
The offending item
2" bore high-grade stainless pipe welded in its place:
Here's the lovely 912 they're working on:
and the system they made for it:
Couple of cars from the team they work for were in the workshop:
Edited by zygalski on Monday 16th July 12:50
Time for a summary...
Astra GTE 16V J897 SAJ
10/09/11 car bought 68,500 miles
12/09/11 Toad AI606 alarm/immobiliser with remote central locking fitted by Thatcham/VSIB approved installer
13/09/11 new windscreen fitted after stone chip
22/09/11 69,000 mile service carried out at V-Tuning: Cambelt & rollers replaced/new battery/spark plugs/fuel filter/air filter/oil filter/10w-40 oil/anti-roll bar bushes/rear wheel bearings adjusted
28/09/11 New number plates fitted
11/10/11 V-Tuning: driver/passenger front door locks & trim covers replaced/new gearstick gaiter fitted
11/10/11 Original radio/cassette player removed & Pioneer DEH-1300MP fitted/original front speakers removed & Pioneer TS-G1013I fitted
19/01/12 71,000 miles. New GM thermostat fitted/refurbished GTE Champion alloys x5 purchased
03/02/12 71,250 miles. MOT carried out/5 x 195/50/15V Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres fitted. Advisories on MOT are both rear springs corroded/both rear wheel bearings have slight play/oil leak
10/02/12 Replacement tailgate struts x2 fitted/new bonnet prop
28/02/12 Custom GTE 16v floor mats fitted
13/04/12 2 x new door pull surrounds fitted/armrest blanking plug fitted
23/04/12 New K&N high flow air filter installed
12/05/12 Worn drivers side vertical bolster fabric replaced, sagging lateral bolster foam replaced at http://www.cwtrimming.co.uk/
Also had spare steering wheel reconditioned.
26/05/12 72,600 miles. Following work carried out at V-Tuning:
Goodridge hoses fitted all-round
New brake fluid/system bled
Eibach springs front & rear fitted
Bilstein shocks front & rear
New front top mounts
New polybushes
Rear wheel bearings adjusted
Coolant drained & renewed
Steering wheel replaced with reconditioned one
Rear wiper cover replaced
New grille & badge fitted
Crumpled O/S front sill rail straightened & undersealed
10/07/12 72,800 miles
Front exhaust box removed & straight-through pipe fitted in its place at DSB Mechanical Services.
They also had to patch a hole in the rear silencer & reposition the hanger.
14/07/12 72,800 miles
Ian Taylor Body Repairs
Front bumper removed. Stonechips & split repaired. Bumper resprayed & 16v decal fitted.
Rear panel/boot rust ground out, treated & painted.
Astra GTE 16V J897 SAJ
10/09/11 car bought 68,500 miles
12/09/11 Toad AI606 alarm/immobiliser with remote central locking fitted by Thatcham/VSIB approved installer
13/09/11 new windscreen fitted after stone chip
22/09/11 69,000 mile service carried out at V-Tuning: Cambelt & rollers replaced/new battery/spark plugs/fuel filter/air filter/oil filter/10w-40 oil/anti-roll bar bushes/rear wheel bearings adjusted
28/09/11 New number plates fitted
11/10/11 V-Tuning: driver/passenger front door locks & trim covers replaced/new gearstick gaiter fitted
11/10/11 Original radio/cassette player removed & Pioneer DEH-1300MP fitted/original front speakers removed & Pioneer TS-G1013I fitted
19/01/12 71,000 miles. New GM thermostat fitted/refurbished GTE Champion alloys x5 purchased
03/02/12 71,250 miles. MOT carried out/5 x 195/50/15V Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres fitted. Advisories on MOT are both rear springs corroded/both rear wheel bearings have slight play/oil leak
10/02/12 Replacement tailgate struts x2 fitted/new bonnet prop
28/02/12 Custom GTE 16v floor mats fitted
13/04/12 2 x new door pull surrounds fitted/armrest blanking plug fitted
23/04/12 New K&N high flow air filter installed
12/05/12 Worn drivers side vertical bolster fabric replaced, sagging lateral bolster foam replaced at http://www.cwtrimming.co.uk/
Also had spare steering wheel reconditioned.
26/05/12 72,600 miles. Following work carried out at V-Tuning:
Goodridge hoses fitted all-round
New brake fluid/system bled
Eibach springs front & rear fitted
Bilstein shocks front & rear
New front top mounts
New polybushes
Rear wheel bearings adjusted
Coolant drained & renewed
Steering wheel replaced with reconditioned one
Rear wiper cover replaced
New grille & badge fitted
Crumpled O/S front sill rail straightened & undersealed
10/07/12 72,800 miles
Front exhaust box removed & straight-through pipe fitted in its place at DSB Mechanical Services.
They also had to patch a hole in the rear silencer & reposition the hanger.
14/07/12 72,800 miles
Ian Taylor Body Repairs
Front bumper removed. Stonechips & split repaired. Bumper resprayed & 16v decal fitted.
Rear panel/boot rust ground out, treated & painted.
Edited by zygalski on Saturday 14th July 15:40
A few updates from the last 3 months:
28/08/12
73,400 miles.
V-tuning
Gearbox fluid drained & replaced. New gasket fitted.
16/10/12
73,700 miles.
I decided that as far as I was concerned, the Piper was simply too loud for a daily driver.
Walker back box fitted at Mr Exhaust, Reigate. £80 all-in.
Car sounds great now. Rorty enough, but not anti-sociable loud. Probably a 25-30% reduction in over all noise levels throughout the rev range I would guess.
20/10/12
Won these on the bay for a tenner inc p&p!
30/10/12
Well I'm set for Winter now, with a fully working sunroof!
Craig, the trimmer I use cleared the drains & found that the winder mechanism was at fault.
He got a working replacement from an old Corsa for £10
Here's the old one:
And the sunroof slid all the way back for the first time in many a year I suspect:
28/08/12
73,400 miles.
V-tuning
Gearbox fluid drained & replaced. New gasket fitted.
16/10/12
73,700 miles.
I decided that as far as I was concerned, the Piper was simply too loud for a daily driver.
Walker back box fitted at Mr Exhaust, Reigate. £80 all-in.
Car sounds great now. Rorty enough, but not anti-sociable loud. Probably a 25-30% reduction in over all noise levels throughout the rev range I would guess.
20/10/12
Won these on the bay for a tenner inc p&p!
30/10/12
Well I'm set for Winter now, with a fully working sunroof!
Craig, the trimmer I use cleared the drains & found that the winder mechanism was at fault.
He got a working replacement from an old Corsa for £10
Here's the old one:
And the sunroof slid all the way back for the first time in many a year I suspect:
Update time.
28/11/2012 V-Tuning. Front suspension top mounts replaced with Febi ones, due to old ones splitting.
24/01/2012 V-Tuning. Front O/S ABS wheel sensor replaced.
SAJ had his MOT today & passed... eventually!
His horn wasn't working so the centre had a replacement ordered which arrived an hour later.
The "very slight corrosion to underside of vehicle" is just a tiny bit of surface rust where the sill rails have been jacked up at some stage. The rest of the underneath was 100%
28/11/2012 V-Tuning. Front suspension top mounts replaced with Febi ones, due to old ones splitting.
24/01/2012 V-Tuning. Front O/S ABS wheel sensor replaced.
SAJ had his MOT today & passed... eventually!
His horn wasn't working so the centre had a replacement ordered which arrived an hour later.
The "very slight corrosion to underside of vehicle" is just a tiny bit of surface rust where the sill rails have been jacked up at some stage. The rest of the underneath was 100%
Well just got SAJ back from Ian Taylor's bodyshop.
The bill came to just over double the £400 estimate, because the inner arch was rotten & they blended the rear wing into the O/S door.
Everything was thoroughly waxoyled & should last the lifetime of the car.
Ian spoke to me about the previous botch-job of a repair to the arch. Let's just let the pictures do the talking...
Then the finished repair. No hall of mirrors shocker, that's for sure!
The bill came to just over double the £400 estimate, because the inner arch was rotten & they blended the rear wing into the O/S door.
Everything was thoroughly waxoyled & should last the lifetime of the car.
Ian spoke to me about the previous botch-job of a repair to the arch. Let's just let the pictures do the talking...
Then the finished repair. No hall of mirrors shocker, that's for sure!
Had to get more bodywork done in the last few days.
I noticed the NSR outer arch was beginning to rust in the usual spot. I bought inner/outer arch panels & gave the bodyshop bloke the ok to do the (inevitable!) extra work as found.
In the end he had to do the NSR quarter panel behind the wheel & also the rear section of sill needed replacing. Pleased with the result & finish & the total cost for the work was £600.
I noticed the NSR outer arch was beginning to rust in the usual spot. I bought inner/outer arch panels & gave the bodyshop bloke the ok to do the (inevitable!) extra work as found.
In the end he had to do the NSR quarter panel behind the wheel & also the rear section of sill needed replacing. Pleased with the result & finish & the total cost for the work was £600.
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