Astra Mk1 in glorious poo-brown. SOLD

[wackywacerwill]

 

But I've really enjoyed myself, and learnt loads!

 

This is exactly why I get my hands dirty too, nothing like doing it your self. Well done for getting it sorted, I reckon many have learnt some good stuff from this thread.

[MrDuke]

Da iawn Let me know when you're free to strip my cyl head and sort out the top-end rattle

 

 

Also, forgot to say - HG Jones in Pen Y Groes is pretty shite-friendly, if you need owt double-checking. The guy rallies a mk2 Scrote, and was incredibly helpful with my chod when I lived round there.

[Louise2cv]

Yep, he did some Allegro stuff for me and was talking about restoring an old BT van last time I was there

[Caffiend]

I reckon many have learnt some good stuff from this thread.

 

I have. I wasn't allowed to touch daddy's nasty dirty dangerous car bits and tools when I were a lass, but I'm doing IMI Level 1 now and my theory ain't too bad, but still need to summon up the confidence to get the spanners out and do more than remove/recharge a battery ... This thread has helped - thanks Louise and everyone else who's posted.

[dollywobbler]

Ah, hello Caffiend! Hadn't noticed you'd snuck in here.

[Louise2cv]

Well thanks all, glad you have enjoyed it.

 

We'll see if it lasts eh? Going to town to fill up the tank in a minute... ooooooo the tension!

 

One of the local "boy racer" MG ZRs has conked out right next to the Astra. I've offered to help, can't think why he declined

 

I think thats something odd to do with the fuel system, he ran out of petrol, he's put about 3 cans in but it won't fire. I suggested checking the pump was primed/pumping and maybe checking the fuel cut off switch as the first things to try. But saying all this while standing in a pool of coolant, crying over the engine bay of a poo brown 30 year old astra that hasn't moved for 3 weeks probably didn't inspire much confidence.

[Louise2cv]

Mr and Mrs DollyWobbler have been to visit, and we all agree that the Astra is perhaps getting a bit hot. I'm sure Ian will be better able to describe it but the rad wasn't getting too warm and neither was the bottom hose but the top hose was very hot, so we were thinking maybe the water isn't circulating as it should (pump) or the rad is blocked.

 

It is also running a bit quick at tickover, but I knew that already, I'm just too scared to adjust it!

[John F]

Mr and Mrs DollyWobbler have been to visit, and we all agree that the Astra is perhaps getting a bit hot. I'm sure Ian will be better able to describe it but the rad wasn't getting too warm and neither was the bottom hose but the top hose was very hot, so we were thinking maybe the water isn't circulating as it should (pump) or the rad is blocked.

 

It is also running a bit quick at tickover, but I knew that already, I'm just too scared to adjust it!

 

Yep, I agree with Ian's prognosis. You could try flushing the rad with a hosepipe first, that might cure it.

 

There should be an idle speed adjuster screw on the carb, playing with that *shouldn't* affect anything else

[scaryoldcortina]

The data sheet I posted for the carb says that the carb in question has a bypass idle circuit (looks like a second idle mixture screw) so you might be better off leaving it to someone with a gas analyzer to adjust - Double check that your high tickover isn't due to an air leak but I'd advize against random twiddling of the screws because most times it ends up worse because there are three adjustment points - idle mixture, idle air bypass and throttle stop.

[Louise2cv]

I did flush it when I changed the coolant, but I guess as I'm replacing the fan switch it wouldn't hurt to do it again! Shall I just bosh a new pump on at the same time, or is there a way to diagnose it?

 

Suits me Scary! I really don't want to be messing with the carb ever again! At least it's running now so I can get to a garage without too much worrying. Hopefully get it booked inwith the one MrDuke selected, I believe the boss there started with a Vauxhall main dealer, so it should bring him some happy memories!

[John F]

The data sheet I posted for the carb says that the carb in question has a bypass idle circuit (looks like a second idle mixture screw) so you might be better off leaving it to someone with a gas analyzer to adjust - Double check that your high tickover isn't due to an air leak but I'd advize against random twiddling of the screws because most times it ends up worse because there are three adjustment points - idle mixture, idle air bypass and throttle stop.

 

Fair point, well made!

[retrogeezer]

Well thanks all, glad you have enjoyed it.

 

We'll see if it lasts eh? Going to town to fill up the tank in a minute... ooooooo the tension!

 

One of the local "boy racer" MG ZRs has conked out right next to the Astra. I've offered to help, can't think why he declined

 

I think thats something odd to do with the fuel system, he ran out of petrol, he's put about 3 cans in but it won't fire. I suggested checking the pump was primed/pumping and maybe checking the fuel cut off switch as the first things to try. But saying all this while standing in a pool of coolant, crying over the engine bay of a poo brown 30 year old astra that hasn't moved for 3 weeks probably didn't inspire much confidence.

 

That will more than likely be an air lock in the fuel system, probably just need to tow it to bump start it....

[John F]

Hmmm... I wonder if there could be an air lock in the coolant circuit as well? Not sure how it's set up with this engine.

[scaryoldcortina]

Another point to make... The rad top hose is meant to be hotter than the rad and should be much hotter than the bottom hose - this is normal

 

Here's a page with a nice animation of how it all happens.

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system2.htm

[Louise2cv]

But so hot that the gauge is nearly in the red?

[Louise2cv]

I wish I'd have stuck with something air cooled.

[scaryoldcortina]

How do you know that "almost in the red" isn't actually normal for this car? I find old car gauges to be neither accurate nor consistant from car to car - you can get one car that reads cold and another the same that reads hot even though they are both fine. I'd say that as long as it isn't starting to boil and spit from the pressure cap it's probably alright.

 

Mind you, weak mixture makes your tickover high and the engine hot.... but that's the carb again

[John F]

I wish I'd have stuck with something air cooled.

 

What, and miss out on all the knowledge you've gained from this project?

[dollywobbler]

Scary - it's a bit odd. With the engine running, the gauge went up to two-thirds and the top hose felt too hot - though that's only an approximation using my hand as a temp gauge. The bottom hose felt stone cold right up until we turned the engine off, at which point it suddenly became very warm. That left me wondering if the pump is at fault. The thermostat is behaving as it should. Top hose stays cold, then goes warm quickly as the stat opens.

 

However, apart from the too-high tickover, it runs very nicely I must say. Seems generally very solid too. I took some pics, which I'll upload later. I'm just out of a committee meeting so my brain is feeling a bit fragile at the moment.

[Rocket88]

What kind of condition is the rad in ? I suspect blockage............new water pomp wouldn't hurt though.

[dollywobbler]

Rad did look old (and tiny!) but as far as I could feel through the fan hole (with the fan disconnected I hasten to point out!) it seemed universally warm. Not a perfect test.

[warren t claim]

How hot does the heater get?

[dollywobbler]

Nice and toasty Warren. S'pose thinking about it, that makes the water pump unlikely. *Clueless bloke content*

 

About time we had another picture of the fabled beast.

 

I particularly like the Mini door mirror attached on the passenger side. A true autoshite solution!

[Louise2cv]

One day, if its good, I might polish it.

[Morgan84]

Wax it on top,and protect it underneath and it should last a few years if its a solid example

[M'coli]

Re: the cooling system - I think from what I can gather, that it's fine - it goes in hot, comes out cold, and has a toasty heater. If the radiator was partially blocked, the water would still be hot when it reaches the bottom hose - the radiator is supposed to cool the coolant, and this one sounds as if it's doing just that! The temperature gauge can be different from car to car, but so long as there is some indication of what the engine's doing then you'll be fine. It's better to have one that cries "panic" too soon than one that doesn't!

 

If you want to test this, take the thermostat out and go for a drive, it should only get hot when you're stationary for a long time.

[Louise2cv]

My lazy/haven't-got-much-cash plan was to just leave it, and tell Matt* keep an eye on the gauge, keep an eye on coolant level and stop if steam comes out. It only does a 2mile (if that) whizz down the bypass and then 10hrs later comes back (after he's been at work, not because it takes 10hrs to do 4 miles) so I doubt the engine really has time to get that hot anyway.

 

It does do a little wee of coolant after a run, though, not sure where from... there is/was a leaky hose but only a very seepy-weepy leak. After a run it seems to leave a good 30cm diameter wet patch on the tarmac. There seems to be a drip forming on the block itself but I couldn't work out it that was just where the leak fromthe pipe was running to IYSWIM. Would the wee after running the engine be because of the pressure in the system or something (remember I have no idea about cooling systems, sorry!).

 

Thanks for all the advice.

 

If I do feel up for it I might change the rad switch which we know (I think?) isn't working and if I do I'll flush the system again as a double check.

 

TBH I don't think I've ever paid attention to how hot the heater gets

 

 

*It's my toy but Matt's car. This way I get to play with it, Matt gets to breakdown in it. Win-win. Or something. Serves him right for drinking wine while I'm on ebay.

[TagoraGL]

*It's my toy but Matt's car. This way I get to play with it, Matt gets to breakdown in it. Win-win. Or something. Serves him right for drinking wine while I'm on ebay.

*He must love you very much!

[Station]

It sounds like it's running fine now, I wouldn't worry about overheating.

[Pillock]

it seems to leave a good 30cm diameter wet patch

 

Reminds me of a girl I used to know.