The Pineapple Breathes Again!

[AXrescuer]

After a year of slipped discs, pulled muscles and general body part failure, I've beaten the bitch and all she threw at me!

If I'd known last May that a simple cambelt failure would lead to numerous disasters that's taken me a year to sort I'd never have started the bloody repairs. Anyway, she's finally running again and so I'm happier than a cock in a fanny factory!

Just got to fit new track rod ends and rear brake pads and she'll be in for MOT.

 

[gallondrunk]

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[AXrescuer]

Was quite a lot to do, the aux belt had snapped taking out the cam belt and 6 valves. Got a replacement head but every time I went to fit it, I seemed to collect an injury. Also went through a lengthy snapped bolt, remove and tap phase, every bolt I replaced just seemed to fall apart!Three times I've been laid up with back injuries, it's weird cos I never actually did anything particularly strenuous! I got in a mind set where I was actually scared to go anywhere near the damn thing for fear of getting hurt!Now, do I risk driving it again?

[gallondrunk]

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[MrRegieRitmo]

Looks nice in that colour, I do have a bit of a strange soft spot for yellow cars, but it is my 2nd favourite colour after green, although strangely I can take or leave green cars unless it's BRG on something classic or a nice 70s lurid on something period or pale metallic green.I've never been bothered about MkIII Astras but I'm sure I will once they become rare as has been the case with everything else. I keep hearing good things about them.

[AXrescuer]

Drive it, you know you want to! Perhaps you could find a priest to exorcise it's bad luck curse?I had to do a head gasket job on an Astra with the 8v engine and found much the same thing with knackered bolts, especially on the manifolds :(Of course, once i'd finished and it wouldn't start I realised I hadn't drained/g-clamped the bloody tappets before putting them back! About 20 minutes of turning it over sorted that out though

I did the same, and once it decided to start, it sounded like a tin of nails for a good 15 mins!

[pompei]

I don't know about other parts of the country but in Hull it used to be bad luck to get in a green car. A fishing boat susperstition I think.

[Station]

The phase 2 Astra is the very last decent Vauxhall. Is that a 'sport' model? I love that yellow colour.

[MrRegieRitmo]

That's not a phase 2

[Station]

Phase 1:

 

 

Phase 2:

 

 

[Pillock]

Indeed. Mark 3 Phase 2, not mark 2. Identified by pointy grille, clear indicators and a black panel on bootlid.Great cars, my mum had a phase 1 1.7TD GLS in that metallic turquiose that suddenly became popular. Her first diesel and it bloody shifted.

[MrRegieRitmo]

I take it back! I was surprised you didn't know the difference between a MkII & MkIII Astra! I appreciate that people refer to subsequent models using different terms.

[AXrescuer]

That's not a phase 2

It's a phase 2 1.8 Sport.

[vicsmith]

I wondered what the Astra "Pineapple Sport" in your sig was all about, and I suppose it`s nice that I`ve found out by way of it`s resurrection.That must be rapid, the 1.6 was quick enough.Well worth the effort by the looks of it.

[AXrescuer]

It's one of a dying breed the Pineapple is. Pretty nippy it has to be said, surprised me when I first got it. The top end's been completely redone so with better compression, I'm hoping it'll be a little quicker this time around. It was quite good on fuel as well.

[vicsmith]

Yeah what is it about `90s big engined Vauxhalls being really good on fuel? 2.0 Cavaliers & Omegas, even V6 Vectras are amazingly un-thirsty compared to their equivalents.

[AXrescuer]

Not a clue mate, before it went big time bang last year, on long runs, this thing was doing around 80 mile on a tenner's worth. Mind you, that's sticking to 60ish.

[Station]

My GSi averaged 45mpg being driven sensibly about 100 miles a day.

[MrRegieRitmo]

That's not a phase 2

It's a phase 2 1.8 Sport.

Yes I know, I was thinking in terms of MkII not Phase II.Is Pineapple it's official name or is that what you've coined it?

[AXrescuer]

That's not a phase 2

It's a phase 2 1.8 Sport.

Yes I know, I was thinking in terms of MkII not Phase II.Is Pineapple it's official name or is that what you've coined it?

The Astra MK3 owners club coined the phrase I believe.

[red5]

If you want to be really pedantic it's a Astra F 96.....otherwise referred to as a V-Grill

[AXrescuer]

If you want to be really pedantic it's a Astra F 96.....otherwise referred to as a V-Grill

I prefer Pineapple, and besides, it's a 94!

[red5]

Pineapple is far cooler...I remember those coming out when new - is yours on 15' or 16' wheels?