lisbon_road Posted May 6, 2017 Author Share Posted May 6, 2017 Busy times. My wife has signed the contract on a house extension, £25K and the builders promptly said that they need another £18K for more foundation work than they anticipated. Work is horrendous with people shouting at each other about stuff which is at least partly my fault. At home, well, teenagers, what can I say? So, to escape I bought one of those leather gear lever gaiters off ebay for Rembrandt. Have to say looks superb, as the interior is really pretty good. Next, might consider swapping the complete dashboard as there is a tiny bit of damage in it. Calling that car Rembrandt is just the ultimate in Autoshite irony. And I've finally fixed the dodgy fuel pump so I can now put a decent amount of fuel in it. All I did was fit the sealing plug and connections from another old pump and a length of lead chopped out of a scrapyard car. RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sterling Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Love these Astras Lizbon. Me and a mate bought an absolutely shagged one for £70 years ago (before we got driving licences) body-wise it was immaculate because it had been barried up MAX-POWA style but the clutch was so fucked we couldn't actually drive anywhere, it ended up being sold on for parts, never did see my £35 back. I have since driven an Astra if this shape a couple of times and would really like to properly try one at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_Rocket Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Those replacement gear lever gaiters on ebay really do make a difference. The originals get grotty so quickly.. I'm pleased the Astra is still doing sterling service. My ancient Isuzu-engined one refuses to die, it just keeps going with the minimum of fuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 Rob, now the petrol tank is fixed, I can fill it so check the petrol consumption more accurately. Definitely better than 50 mpg on a run. Not bad at all. RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 More than a year since an update. Rembrandt, the Rembrandt silver Astra is doing well but I'm thinking of doing one of the rear arches and getting the sill painted on that side as it has a lot of surface rust. The offside wing is scruffy, and it would be easy to swap it for another one. My question is: if I get a wing painted, will it match? What's the consensus as I'm aware that paint matching has come on a lot but I'm not really up to speed with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 If anyone actually reads this can they tell me how to change the title? I'd like to change it to something mentioning 'paint question', which would hopefully get people who know about paint to read it but I can't see how to do that - I am sure it can be done. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingz123 Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 If anyone actually reads this can they tell me how to change the title? I'd like to change it to something mentioning 'paint question', which would hopefully get people who know about paint to read it but I can't see how to do that - I am sure it can be done. Thanks.Go back to the very first post and ‘edit’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dozeydustman Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 More than a year since an update. Rembrandt, the Rembrandt silver Astra is doing well but I'm thinking of doing one of the rear arches and getting the sill painted on that side as it has a lot of surface rust. The offside wing is scruffy, and it would be easy to swap it for another one. My question is: if I get a wing painted, will it match? What's the consensus as I'm aware that paint matching has come on a lot but I'm not really up to speed with it. A decent paint shop will be able to match the rest of the paintwork, or get a barely distinguishable difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Silver is hard to paint match and is worse when it’s panel to panel like a new wing against a front door. On a quarter they’ll try to paint it up to a body line in the panel. If it’s a decent paint shop then they’ll blend it into the other panels so you can see the transition if the paint isn’t a 100% match . It’s down to the skill of the paint shop really . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Must be mk3 Astra day , I looked at mine too ! That's all i did though , look at it .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 Looking is a start. Thanks for the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted November 9, 2019 Author Share Posted November 9, 2019 Update for Rob T. The Astra has 115k now. Mot today, and examiner said the emissions are like a new car and loads better than many 4 year olds he sees. Going well, though I do very low milages these days. Skizzer, 500tops and RobT 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 That mint 40k. Arctic 16 valve one I bought ...went to the bridge £154 car take back last week . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 The engine in the Rob T Astra runs ok but I have K sealed it, and it leaks oil. Knocks a bit when it starts up as well. I noticed someone selling a recon head, water pump, oil pump, pistons and rings and other bits on ebay for £40, apparently taken off a car that had done 1000 miles and was rear ended. I collected it, which got a bit complicated as the gent was on the IOW, but fortunately got it before we were all told to stay put. It all looks pretty good and the pistons are reasonably clean with new rings. My engine runs ok, and the markings on the pistons in the engine (H3) are different to the new ones (H4) though I think both are standard size. I'm thinking of leaving the pistons and rings well alone as I generally feel that new rings in old bores is fraught with problems as the rings bed to the bores. There is no lip on the bores though, remember years ago when you'd get a huge lip? Anyone an opinion? I will be fitting the head and the water pump with a new belt. The tensioner looks fine and not very old so I will leave that. The head looks good with new studs, thermostat and I have a set of new bolts and head gasket set which was £4 from an autojumble. I'll fit the new big ends out of the new set of parts for sure, which isn't difficult on an Astra as the sump drops off as long as the exhaust is loose. I'm not that skint really. I'm just tight! scdan4, N Dentressangle, Burnside and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 Glad to hear this still exists. Good luck with all the work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 It certainly exists Rob. It remains easy to drive and totally reliable. Up to 117.000 now though I admit the rear arches are looking a bit grim. Worse than when I bought it from you. I'm finishing the engine, will probably swap the dash and possibly paint/clean up the underside while we are on lockdown. But I am reluctant to start welding as I don't think we should be doing anything dangerous and I do not have enough gear to do it. I have enjoyed owning it, though to this day I have no idea why I bought it. I look forward to a chance for you to see it again one day after we have returned to normal, if we ever do. Might be a good thing if a few things don't actually get back to where they were. RobT and Burnside 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New POD Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 My vague memory of going around the V6 engine assembly at Ellesmere Port in 2003 was that they measured the bores and then chose a piston to suit. IIRC they had about 8 sizes. It was a fleeting visit, we went to look at the leak test equipment. Further down the assembly line. If I were refreshing an engine (and I've only ever rebuilt one a RD350LC, that required 3mm oversize pistons) I would use the old pistons, new rings and have a very light hone on the bore. But at that miles I'd leave well alone. If I was doing a cam belt I'd be fitting a new GM tensioner from a dealer. Always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 I've had the pistons out and the pistons look very good. The bores have cross hatching visible and the rings look fine. I've cleaned the carbon off the pistons and put them back. The big end bearings looked a bit worn so I have put a new set I had in. On these, it is straightforward to change bearings and other parts with the engine still in, though in hindsight I should have taken it out. I would have got it reground that but would be against the staying at home rules currently and I don't know if the local machinists are open. Cavcraft, CGSB, The Moog and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 The engine was totally filthy. I can't see any leaks from seals, so it looks as if the oil has been getting out of the cam cover gasket and the sump gasket. The sump gaskets tend to leak on these. The sump itself was full of crud and really took some cleaning. Rob told me when he got the car that it was well overdue for an oil change and it looks like this was the result. I got a new sump gasket from Eurocarparts which proved to be a decent quality one, and I've used a trace of Loctite engine sealant on each side. I also had to straighten the flange of the sump a bit, perhaps where it had been hammered off once before. Wonder why it was taken off? scdan4, CreepingJesus, GrumpiusMaximus and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 The two bolts that hold the springs that clamp the end of the exhaust into the manifold both broke. Fortunately, I have a spare manifold and two spare bolts. The spare manifold has two broken screws that hold the heat shield on, but they should be easy enough to get out and helicoil if necessary. I might have a go at getting the broken screws out with an easi out but I don't think it will be easy. Cavcraft, Burnside, paulplom and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Tomorrow I hope to have the head back on and might have it running. paulplom, Cavcraft, Burnside and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Today head is back on but being lazy, it isn't running. No excuse tomorrow though. Was a bit surprised how bad the camshaft bearings are. Doubt that this will cause a problem but they are scored. Still everywhere is totally filthy. Rummaged through my collection of new head gaskets sets and used a C16SE gasket which seems the right thickness. It is an Elring one, if there's one thing I don't like, it is cheap head gaskets as often comes from ECP these days. I'm going to write down there that this thing needs to be back running tomorrow. Let's see if I can do it! Coprolalia, Shirley Knott, GrumpiusMaximus and 11 others 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Not that it will go anywhere of course! Burnside, RobT and Cavcraft 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 Today, got the cam cover on. On the exhaust manifold, helicoiled one screw for the heat shield and got that on. Hosed out the radiator of some real gunge. Fitted a load if pipes n stuff. So very nearly there now. scdan4, N Dentressangle, paulplom and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New POD Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 I did a head gasket a few years back on one of these. Two of the pistons were loverly clean due to the coolant washing them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Well, it is back together. All done. Seemed to take an age, but I've never been over this car so there were a lot of damaged air pipes and stuff to be sorted. It is clattering though. I've warmed it up and the tappet noise hasn't gone away. Undecided whether to run it and hope the tappet pumps up or change it - I don't think it would be too difficult to change. I do remember this happening before with these engines and it might take a while for the tappet to go quiet. Any opinions are welcome. I changed the gearbox oil and it took me ages to get the new oil in, using a syringe and some tube. Got a method now though so if I need to do it again, I'm sorted. In other news, text message to say I have lost my job. Well, never a dull moment. I'm ok financially (will die poor from lack of pension but no cashflow issues) so life goes on. Cavcraft, Stanky, BorniteIdentity and 6 others 3 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Previous (neglected) oil changes can make the tappets quite noisy on these. Sometimes a couple of three engine flushes does the trick, but in my experience they can take an enormous amount of abuse and never really get any worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Thanks for the reply Cavcraft. I used the hydraulic tappets that came with the new cylinder head that I bought, so I was hoping they would be ok. Perhaps if I feel brave, I'll take it for a run and see if it goes quiet. But I can't do that right now - no essential travel needed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Do like that shape astra, would happily run a 1.6pez or 1.7 derv one! Mega work there though, nice job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted April 14, 2020 Author Share Posted April 14, 2020 Started it up this morning and the tappet is quiet. Which is great. Quite how that works - did it fill itself up overnight- I dunno but no worries, right? Not super smooth and I suspect the lambda sensor. I used a different one because I couldn't get the sensor out of the old manifold, though I didn't try that hard. But I have a new four wire sensor I can use. The original sensors in these were single wire and I've never understood how they work at all. Return the signal from a delicate sensor through an exhaust system? Coprolalia, Burnside, Stanky and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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