Dollywobbler's Omegawd - Cruisin' (old people can do it too)

[richardmorris]

Soiled nappy for a 2017 Calender shot ?

Better than the soiled pants.

[dollywobbler]

You say bodge, we all know in 6 months time when this turns into a for sale thread there'll be a note about "small leak from fuel pump, keep a rag under it".

 

What you mean is you've done a permanent fix.

 

Alas, it is still leaking. Seems to dump a load when you turn it off. Thankfully, he kept it running through the retest...

 

Oh well. Home now. Feeling a bit deflated, but probably just exhausted! Took me until Wales to realise there is a lumbar adjustment. Then a relay just randomly started clicking. Oh, and it occasionally, it seems to have no power. I can't fathom why. Seconds later, it has power. ALL VAUXHALLS...

[trigger]

You can't feel deflated with a free car! Even if it owes you £100 it's still a massive bargain and well worth the effort.

[danthecapriman]

Good to hear you got home with it. At least now the pressure is off and you can sort things at your leisure. Getting it through an MOT is a right result too, so that's one worry dealt with.

 

You going to do a write up? Preferably with much pics!

[Pillock]

At least you can take a more relaxed approach to finding a gasket now it's home.... Still reckon you're in credit on the whole luck thing.

[Bobthebeard]

The sense of relief is overwhelming. And that is just mine. Am sure yours is even more so!

As for:

"Then a relay just randomly started clicking. Oh, and it occasionally, it seems to have no power. I can't fathom why. Seconds later, it has power."

That will be the Vauxhall Power Relay. (VPR).

Well known for being a bit temperamental on a collection. 😄

[vulgalour]

If it's dumping fuel once its turned off, would that not point to a fuel return line?  Congrats on getting it home and MoT'd.

[dollywobbler]

Let's get today up to date then. I woke up in a room that contained much finery.

 

Outside, there had been snow.

 

The Omega started disappointingly well. Scarcely a clatter to be heard. I then drove it back to Bristol, where I hoped to find a seal. As reported earlier, this did not happen. However, this did happen! The car jammed itself in Park and wouldn't let go. Google told me secrets. This yellow button is a very useful one. It overrides the transmission lock.

 

I went to Halfords and spent a hideous amount of money on tools of bodgery. Aluminium tape for the exhaust, some magic sealing tape for the pump, and hand wipes so I could clean myself up afterwards. Here's the pump.

 

Diesel seems to seep out of the lid, but the sticky-out bit (where the tamper-proof screw is) frustrated my attempts to seal the joint with tape. I couldn't get tension all the way around. Access is also hideous - much easier if you remove the inlet manifold. I was not about to do that. I would have needed to buy more tools. I went back into the shop, but none of the magic potions looked likely. So, the only solution seemed to be to soak everything in degreaser, wipe it up then plaster the pump with ally tape. So I did this. Then I taped the exhaust and headed back to the test centre. For some reason, I got a proper Sat Nav special, which involved driving up a steep track, with the mirrors an inch from scraping walls each side. Nice!

 

I know you've been waiting for it, and here it is! Petrol station shot. Actually the second time I've put fuel in. I splashed a bit in yesterday, but was reluctant to overdo it in case things went badly wrong. 

 

On the way back, I saw a good omen. Possibly.

 

Then I got home, just in time to see the first steam train of the season. Great Western indeed!

 

 

 

 

Bonus images!

The bonnet stay. Doobeeeyus struts dot com.

 

This sodding heated seat doesn't work. Check out my fake plastic wood!

 

Based on ten miles of hooning along the A44, mostly uphill.

 

EXECUTIVE. This is before I filled it with all of my detritus. It now looks like a tramp has been living it. Which is dangerously close to the truth...

[r.welfare]

Have you got heated rear seats as well?

[dollywobbler]

Yes. Maybe they work...

[Matt]

Good to hear that it got home fairly easily, under it's own power is a good thing. Where was it you stayed at? It's a lovely looking house!

[omegod]

I've got struts to donate, make a list of any other bit's and I'll see if I have them. driver heated seat usually doesn't work but the rest should 

[danthecapriman]

Brilliant. It's a really good looking car.

Glad it's saved and not heading for the crusher too.

[Royale80]

Looks exactly the same as my old Elite-except mine was a 3.0i and the heated drivers seat worked.

 

In fact everything worked including the climate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are stunning looking motors!

 

Well done!

 

Steve

[trigger]

I still bloody love it, even if you don't.

[barefoot]

'Fake plastic'?

[RobT]

That looks a fine conveyance, definitely worth persevering with. I bet you'll sleep well tonight after that massive caper!

[DVee8]

Bloody fine looking car.Well done DW.please it has been saved.

[dollywobbler]

That looks a fine conveyance, definitely worth persevering with. I bet you'll sleep well tonight after that massive caper!

 

I think that's ultimately why I feel a bit meh. Haven't seen my bed since Wednesday!

[dave21478]

Nicely.

An awful lot of people just would not have bothered - only a true blue beige shiter would put this much effort in.

 

I have bad form with Omegas, but looking at those photos gets me thinking about them again.....It looks like a massively useful load lugger.

[Longblackcoat]

Leaving aside the tribulations of collection, these are bloody good cars. I had a 2.0 petrol version as a company car when they were new and absolutely loved it. I also drove the exact version you've got for about a week and thought it had all the torque that mine was missing.

 

If it's fully sorted (and yours can be) then it's a really excellent car - is put it up there with an E39 BMW.

 

Hope you can get it perfect!

 

[edited to add]

 

My company Omega was a particularly vile shade of reddy-purple, so for me to remember it fondly despite the HIDEOUS colour must mean it was a bit special.

[cort16]

Do these have the intercooler as per the 525 TDS or are they stuck with the lower bhps?

[Brodders]

Nice, I love Omegas, especially the Elite models. Those wheels are my favourite alloys fitted to any car.

 

Well collected. Good luck with getting everything sorted out and being part of an Elite club.

[cort16]

This time next week

 

[Dave_Q]

Do these have the intercooler as per the 525 TDS or are they stuck with the lower bhps?

I think they are intercooled, but slightly less bhp than the tds.

[dollywobbler]

Yes, intercooled I believe. Though it's hard to see much in the engine bay. It's alarmingly MODERN in that regard.

[trigger]

 

 

This time next week

I'm expecting this.

 

1997 Vauxhall Omega Estate Custom by Triggers Retro Road Tests, on Flickr

[KWhite]

This is Epic!! Love these Omega's

[Six-cylinder]

DW - Sat in comfort it has been a great journey you have taken me on, thanks for that.

 

I admire the way you have done this, as I would have made it prohibitively expensive for myself by having a transport company move it to a garage to have it fixed. I have not got your guile, energy and confidence.

 

When I left the Vauxhall dealer my first new Omega was on order two weeks away, so I never got past Carltons.

[Guest Hooli]

Great news this is home, I always wanted a funny named Carlton.

 

That pump doesn't look too bad to do, just find out what the metering screw does first. That way if it does drive different afterwards you know how to adjust it.