Astra Mk1 in glorious poo-brown. SOLD

[Louise2cv]

Oh and Scooters...

 

will this do?

 

[Cavcraft]

I reckon that's how it should be Louise, have a look at this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EXHAUST-MANIF ... 0498643014

[Louise2cv]

 

I was thinking this was the problem area.

[Richard]

I think the best thing you could do there is remove the manifold and try to replace the studs, which might involve taking it somewhere to get thread inserts put in. If you do that there's a fair chance you won't ever have to think about it again.

[scooters]

Oh and Scooters...

 

will this do?

 

 

 

_SPANISH TUMMY BEIGE!

 

I die complete!

[Angrydicky]

That is lovely

 

If the exhaust is blowing you can usually spot it straight away as the problem area will be coated in fresh soot. The classic one is the manifold to downpipe joint (the bits you've circled in your photo). Is there any soot there?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Louise

 

check your flange isn't blowing. Your flange should be nice and tight and some studs will sort you out, giving it a good screw to fix it.

 

How terribly witty, NOT

[Louise2cv]

There is a mahoosive hole where that pipe joins the single centre pipe under the floor (about where the gear lever is) so I think that's my main problem exhaust-wise. I just wonderer if that bit I'd circled should have four nuts (one at each corner) top and bottom? The rearmost seem to have a nut and bolt arrangement but the ones at the front have just a nut underneath, I thought maybe they'd sheared off or something.

[Richard]

If you can't see anything up top there will be studs screwed into threaded holes underneath (in fact I think the ones that have bolts right through should have studs too). Manifold studs are standard parts and are cheap to buy. Some fettling might be needed to the manifold to make them fit, there might be stripped threads or broken studs. It can all be dealt with reasonably easily on the bench by a decent old-school mechanic.

[scaryoldcortina]

My dad's Chevette had an engine that i think is related to this one, and it had a terrible 6-bolt flange thing joining the manifold to the downpipe. It was forever springing a leak and causing a mega swearfest during replacement. My dad reckons its the worst bit of car design he can think of. (This is a lad who cannot see any inherent weaknesses in the design of the Reliant Robin)

 

 

I agree with him. It was particularly nice* of vauxhall to make it so you have to remove the exhaust downpipe to change a starter motor unless you prefer removing the gearbox...

[TimothyClaypole]

Was the 1st car I drove after passing my test on my own (1.2 in blue, my dad's).

 

Dropped everyone off on a Christmas Eve at the pub and had to pick them back up as trade against going for a drive on my own.

[Albert Ross]

I had one of these. URM 826Y. Mushy Pea metallic green. I lent it to a carless mate one weekend, and saw it only once after that. In a breaker's yard, after he'd forgotten where he parked it (In a Private car park.... Solicitor's Office!!!) And It had the tax in the window, and the engine/box missing. Apparently that went into a Mk2 Astra. Possibly. Maybe. I took the tax and weighed it in.... Twat.

[eddyramrod]

Well done Louise! Brave purchase, but it looks pretty tidy and I'm sure it won't throw anything at you that we can't sort out between us. Many happy hours with it...

[Shep Shepherd]

An acquaintance of mine had a surprisingly good X-reg (SKR 60X, I think) 1.3GL three door in white as his first car in 1996. I recall spending a lot of time in the local scrapyard pillaging the many mk1 Astras residing there for the spare parts that his example all too often needed. He wrote it off in early 1997, if I recall correctly

[trigger]

My first car was a B reg Nova 1.2 in the same Brazil brown so i really like your new car. Your the Princess of Autoshite.

[binhoker668]

Very very awesome! My friend had one back in the day - cramming us in with our gear for band practice. That's one to hang onto eh?

 

 

PS messerschmitt owner - quit lettin' the side down.

[Louise2cv]

I'm shopping.

 

1) For the hazzards, if I switch them on the dash lamp lights up but doesn't flash. This makes me think the switch works...

New flasher unit?

 

2) I've found a gas strut for the boot, new £14.99. It's not really worth hanging on for a second hand one at that price is it?

 

3) Is there a crash course in car radio wiring anywhere?

 

4) My biggest dilemma: The exhaust... is there any chance of little old me fixing it? Or is everything going to be that rusted together I'd be much better off paying someone to do it? I am just worried about the mountings, the joints and the general fannying about that I remember from my 2cv exhaust days. Or should I buy a can of coke, some jubilee clips and some exhaust bandage?

 

5) The ignition barrel is full of WD40. If it was seized/stiff before is there a chance it could seize up again and the steering lock come on when driving? This is a known fault with 2cvs, with that I just removed the steering lock, but I gather that'll be an MOT fail now, plus this is probably a much more complicated system.

[Rocket88]

I'm shopping.

 

1) For the hazzards, if I switch them on the dash lamp lights up but doesn't flash. This makes me think the switch works...

New flasher unit?...............................................Yes, probably

 

2) I've found a gas strut for the boot, new £14.99. It's not really worth hanging on for a second hand one at that price is it?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,No, even if you can still get them

 

3) Is there a crash course in car radio wiring anywhere?..............Go to your local Halfrauds, and drop the spotty oik trying to flog OMG subs a tenner to have a look at it in his lunchbreak

 

4) My biggest dilemma: The exhaust... is there any chance of little old me fixing it? Or is everything going to be that rusted together I'd be much better off paying someone to do it? I am just worried about the mountings, the joints and the general fannying about that I remember from my 2cv exhaust days. Or should I buy a can of coke, some jubilee clips and some exhaust bandage?.....................Exhaust bodging can turn into a world of pain without a lift.

5) The ignition barrel is full of WD40. If it was seized/stiff before is there a chance it could seize up again and the steering lock come on when driving? This is a known fault with 2cvs, with that I just removed the steering lock, but I gather that'll be an MOT fail now, plus this is probably a much more complicated system.

. .................How is it now? If ok, just give it the occasional squirt, I've never known one seize "in motion", but I do know a hilarious story about a Spitfire, an extremely worn ignitiopn barrell, and a hairpin bend.............

[dollywobbler]

You can safely remove the steering lock. it's only a testable item on vehicles built after 2001.

 

I'd check the wiring on the switch before replacing it necessarily.

 

Boot struts. A quick google last night revealed I could get new ones for the BX for £12.99 each plus delivery, which seemed cheaper than anything on Ebay. I've got to wait for another pay day, so the stick will continue to get some use until then!

 

I can't really advise on the exhaust as I've no experience of these engines. Perhaps SOC can advise further?

[eddyramrod]

I'm shopping.

 

1) For the hazzards, if I switch them on the dash lamp lights up but doesn't flash. This makes me think the switch works...

New flasher unit?

Probably; shouldn't be expensive. Switch them on and walk around the car, see if the outside flashers are, well, flashing. If they are, could it be the connection to the inside bulb?

 

2) I've found a gas strut for the boot, new £14.99. It's not really worth hanging on for a second hand one at that price is it?

For the peace of mind involved in a new strut, that seems like good value.

 

4) My biggest dilemma: The exhaust... is there any chance of little old me fixing it? Or is everything going to be that rusted together I'd be much better off paying someone to do it? I am just worried about the mountings, the joints and the general fannying about that I remember from my 2cv exhaust days. Or should I buy a can of coke, some jubilee clips and some exhaust bandage?

I'd be inclined to go to my trusted local exhaust shop who might even be able to find you a correct NOS part if you're lucky. Do you have a trusted local etc?

 

5) The ignition barrel is full of WD40. If it was seized/stiff before is there a chance it could seize up again and the steering lock come on when driving? This is a known fault with 2cvs, with that I just removed the steering lock, but I gather that'll be an MOT fail now, plus this is probably a much more complicated system.

Can you remove the barrel, blast it with an airline and replace it? Just a thought...

[Louise2cv]

The lamps aren't flashing. Just the dash repeater light's up and stays on.

 

I don't really know any exhaust places, but might call in to a couple today.

[RedSparrow]

Nice motor, early 1990's school teacher spec.

 

Also, chaps, can we please allow a lady to post without replying with idiotic inuendos? Just for once? Ta.

[eddyramrod]

SRSLY??? How long have you lived wherever you are? Shirley one of a Shiter's first jobs, upon moving house, is to find at least one local garage that can be trusted with whatever it is you choose to drive.

[Louise2cv]

Well actually there is the place that did the Aggro. But I didn't really do any kind of research into it, they just happen to be in the next village.

[dollywobbler]

Can be tricky. I've managed to find a place that I trust, but it's more for their 'we'll have a go' mindset than because they know all about every car I ever take there.

[eddyramrod]

That's all they need. Facts you can find, eventually, but enthusiasm is either there or it's not. If not, then the garage is really no use to us lot.

[wackywacerwill]

Is it possible to drill through/remove stud and nut n bolt that offending flange together? Might stand a better chance if it's removed from the car. I've recently done the same with the manifold joint which was blowing on the pug despite the new gasket which was fitted when the head gasket got done. The back stud wouldn't take so a nut/bolt and big fat washer arrangement was fitted to crush the home made cake tin exhaust gasket which has thus far worked a treat

 

Truly handsome vehicle you've got yourself there, great purchase.

[M'coli]

Check out eBay for the exhaust bits, there are a few mk1 Astra exhaust bits on there at varying prices.

[RobT]

Check out eBay for the exhaust bits, there are a few mk1 Astra exhaust bits on there at varying prices.

 

I've just bought a Montego back-box off this bloke on ebay and the price was a lot cheaper than my local motor factors were asking. I've had trouble sourcing the correct one so just called him up and gave the reg no to make sure I wasn't buying a wrong 'un again.

 

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/mr.exhaust/&_ ... 1497.l2754

 

I'd definitely recommend trying to find someone to fit it for you, I tackle most jobs myself but doing exhaust stuff without a ramp is a real pain. My local Kwik-bodge charge me £20 for the pleasure of fitting parts I've sourced and it's worth it to save me the hassle.

[Louise2cv]

The local exhaust dude says it'll be £70 as long as it's straight forward and none of those 6 studs cause him any bother.

 

I went and got a coke can and some jubilee clips.