Vauxhall Cavalier GSI RestoMod Track Car
Discussion
B'stard Child said:
Edited to remove as I promised
No probs at all - I figured a post would be quicker than a PM as you'd posted 3 updates in short succession and I was expecting another![biggrin](/inc/images/biggrin.gif)
Sadly, there's not another one coming for a couple of weeks at least - I'm stuck in the middle of the sea. I know sometimes PH's mail system isn't the best anyway, the post was most welcome. No probs at all - I figured a post would be quicker than a PM as you'd posted 3 updates in short succession and I was expecting another
![biggrin](/inc/images/biggrin.gif)
Pflanzgarten said:
Yes.
I did however read through council ferrari’s posts without noticing he’d photographed his address until you quoted it so my point still stands.
To the OP, a bit like the Ecsy thread we’re all routing for you.
Thank you, it's appreciated. It's really not far off being done now. I did however read through council ferrari’s posts without noticing he’d photographed his address until you quoted it so my point still stands.
To the OP, a bit like the Ecsy thread we’re all routing for you.
Edited by Pflanzgarten on Wednesday 1st February 19:13
BC's intentions were good and I understand that you might not agree with the method, but it got the warning through and that's what matters.
DuncanM said:
Easily one of the coolest cars on PH, love it ![smile](/inc/images/smile.gif)
I don't know if I'd go that far, but I'm really glad it makes people smile. ![smile](/inc/images/smile.gif)
RumbleOfThunder said:
Fantastic to see this build pop up again. I'd completely forgotten! Was it already decided to stay with the white or add some BTCC decals?
I know, it's dragging on and the updates became quite infrequent unfortunately. It's staying white for the time being, I was tempted to add some decals but the painter did such a good job it feels foolish to cover it up! RumbleOfThunder said:
It does look immaculate in white. Also most of us are big fans of mwstewart's Fiesta and the Lexspace builds, so don't worry about it dragging on. ![hehe](/inc/images/hehe.gif)
Ha ha, thanks! I suppose you're lucky that I didn't start the thread when I bought the car 7 years ago. ![hehe](/inc/images/hehe.gif)
Mr Tidy said:
It looks better in each update!
I have fond memories of watching Cavaliers race in the BTCC and bought a 1992 SRi in 1995 which was a great car.
Now I'm already looking forward to seeing the next stage.![thumbup](/inc/images/thumbup.gif)
Thank you mate, appreciate that. I love those BTCC Cavaliers and have been an avid follower of the BTCC ever since. It's still great racing, but I do miss the supertouring days. I have fond memories of watching Cavaliers race in the BTCC and bought a 1992 SRi in 1995 which was a great car.
Now I'm already looking forward to seeing the next stage.
![thumbup](/inc/images/thumbup.gif)
Visually, there won't be much to change now. It's just ECU wiring, fuel lines and a bit of faff. Doesn't sound a lot does it....
LankyMcTally said:
Itching to see this complete and in the metal!
Me too buddy, me too! Pflanzgarten said:
![thumbup](/inc/images/thumbup.gif)
Are you 100% on the final livery yet?
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52664556897_b223325613_b.jpg)
Like this
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52665502505_e6c40ee974_b.jpg)
B'stard Child said:
I have actually sent you a message on another subject related to you car - just in case it ends up in your spam folder ![biggrin](/inc/images/biggrin.gif)
Received and replied mate, thank you. Given my work schedule it may be a tight deadline, but that's oh so tempting. ![biggrin](/inc/images/biggrin.gif)
phil_cardiff said:
It looks so good in plain white though...
But livery won't spoil an absolutely brilliant build.
It does, it looks fantastically clean which is how I've designed it. But a livery, might make it looks special. I need to find someone good with photoshop to do me some mock-ups. But livery won't spoil an absolutely brilliant build.
Speed Badger said:
I love this build! What about the lesser spotted Anthony Reid JTCC livery, still keeps a lot of white then goes mental at the rear.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/cbxEQ1wM.jpg)
That's not a bad shout at all. It was the later facelifted Cavalier that he raced, but I do like the style of livery. ![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/cbxEQ1wM.jpg)
One of the other ones that was in the running was an Omega Evo style, like this;
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52665781030_c1986fc5ee_b.jpg)
Time for an update;
After bleeding the brakes and leaving them to sit for a couple of weeks, I noticed that the rear calipers were both seeping brake fluid from the bleed nipple thread. I tried new bleed nipples but got the same problem, so had to stump up for a new pair of calipers. Before fitting I gave them a bit of etch primer;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/iUyMreLg.jpg)
And a couple of coats of satin-ish black, to match the Wilwoods on the front;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/bNAATUqi.jpg)
Here they are compared to the black finish on the old ones, they look much cleaner and are a closer match to the finish on the fronts;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/mgwa9Hsw.jpg)
I also had to address the problem of not having sun visors (due to the roll cage), so I installed a sunstrip. I didn't want to go too deep because it's an easy ticket for the Police, so went with a fairly conservative depth. I also found some stickers that ape the style of the original badges;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/JAgWmaxi.jpg)
Fitted;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/wa3Gx6st.jpg)
Opinions welcome, I quite like it but can't decide if it's chavvy or not? It is a Cavalier, so some chavviness is definitely allowed.
After bleeding the brakes and leaving them to sit for a couple of weeks, I noticed that the rear calipers were both seeping brake fluid from the bleed nipple thread. I tried new bleed nipples but got the same problem, so had to stump up for a new pair of calipers. Before fitting I gave them a bit of etch primer;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/iUyMreLg.jpg)
And a couple of coats of satin-ish black, to match the Wilwoods on the front;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/bNAATUqi.jpg)
Here they are compared to the black finish on the old ones, they look much cleaner and are a closer match to the finish on the fronts;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/mgwa9Hsw.jpg)
I also had to address the problem of not having sun visors (due to the roll cage), so I installed a sunstrip. I didn't want to go too deep because it's an easy ticket for the Police, so went with a fairly conservative depth. I also found some stickers that ape the style of the original badges;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/JAgWmaxi.jpg)
Fitted;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/wa3Gx6st.jpg)
Opinions welcome, I quite like it but can't decide if it's chavvy or not? It is a Cavalier, so some chavviness is definitely allowed.
Next up, I had to address the top mount/ride height issue. I've mentioned before that I couldn't get the car very low at the front, and this had been on my to do list for sometime. Anyhow, a friend was using the same top mount setup in his car and it was basically unbearable. It rode like it had no front suspension.
I decided to revert back to the original top mounts, which had the added bonus of bringing the car back down to a sensible ride height. After pissing around with it, it looks like this;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/KRGR6daL.jpg)
I expect it'll settle a touch more once the springs have some road miles on them.
And now time to have the rest of the exhaust fabricated. With my helper, ready for delivery;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ywBHLoXZ.jpg)
And after a couple of weeks; I got these pictures from Luke at LAFabrication;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/8eVn4sHp.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/wEPpiosh.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/YN4BS9mv.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/CfguwdDf.jpg)
I went with a single 3'' round tailpipe, as that's very similar to what the BTCC Cavaliers ran. The later ones, anyway.
More helpers, helping!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/RQ6738PL.jpg)
Unfortunately, that's where the update ends for now. While driving home, the van burst it's intercooler so had that to sort out before I could do anything else. While on the ramp at Luke's, we also found that the manifold was touching the subframe and so will require a bit of rework before I can get the thing MOT'd.
I decided to revert back to the original top mounts, which had the added bonus of bringing the car back down to a sensible ride height. After pissing around with it, it looks like this;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/KRGR6daL.jpg)
I expect it'll settle a touch more once the springs have some road miles on them.
And now time to have the rest of the exhaust fabricated. With my helper, ready for delivery;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ywBHLoXZ.jpg)
And after a couple of weeks; I got these pictures from Luke at LAFabrication;
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/8eVn4sHp.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/wEPpiosh.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/YN4BS9mv.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/CfguwdDf.jpg)
I went with a single 3'' round tailpipe, as that's very similar to what the BTCC Cavaliers ran. The later ones, anyway.
More helpers, helping!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/RQ6738PL.jpg)
Unfortunately, that's where the update ends for now. While driving home, the van burst it's intercooler so had that to sort out before I could do anything else. While on the ramp at Luke's, we also found that the manifold was touching the subframe and so will require a bit of rework before I can get the thing MOT'd.
Scoobydrew95 said:
I think the GSI badge on the sun strip is a really important little touch and definitely finishes the look. Without it, it would probably look a little awkward.
Exhaust and everything just looking absolutely amazing.
Thanks mate, I like the GSi badge there, it's a tiny detail really but sets it off. Exhaust and everything just looking absolutely amazing.
B'stard Child said:
^ WHS - looks great
Thanks bud, appreciated. LeighW said:
Looks fantastic, love it.
Wish I'd kept mine!
Thanks dude, there's so many cars I wish I'd kept hold of. The test will be whether I keep this one, once it's done... Wish I'd kept mine!
Kev_Mk3 said:
That's a great shout, I love Bitburger and the DTM style liveries. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff