Sold Vauxhall Astra Mk2 Merit Estate.

[purplebargeken]

I don't know if Brodders had to do some tweaking of the carb to get it to run reasonably reasonable whilst it was in his care. I never touched the bugger as I had no idea whatsoever. 

 

Conor?

[pandamonium]

I've wound the mixture back and forth with no discernable difference.

 

I bloody need a Weber.

[purplebargeken]

You bloody do need a Weber. I want to see this car fly!

[Brodders]

I don't know if Brodders had to do some tweaking of the carb to get it to run reasonably reasonable whilst it was in his care. I never touched the bugger as I had no idea whatsoever.

 

Conor?

I didn't touch the carb when I had it. I didn't want to go fiddling with it as I don't know much about them (and would have probably done more harm than good).

[purplebargeken]

My bad, thought you had mate. 

[pandamonium]

VID_20180417_183524.mp4

 

Its alive! ! 

 

 

 

[purplebargeken]

Wow, look at that bad boy. It looks HUUUUUGE!

[pandamonium]

That's what she said...

[purplebargeken]

^^ PMSL

[pandamonium]

There are a few cosmetic issues need sorting now, namely the wheels and the lower bodywork. 

 

Not sure whether to just firefight the rust or do something more drastic.

 

 

 

 

[purplebargeken]

Do it properly mate, then not worry about it again for a long time. 

[pandamonium]

Fitted the choke today, just need to get an appropriate air filter and that's the carb sorted. It runs lovely now, starts well and idles just right. Got a little stutter on acceleration, but i believe that's due to the carb being jetted for a 1.6 / 1.8 Golf... 

 

Next on the list, thermostat, radiator flush and a fuse to replace the one that popped when I touched what I thought was an earth wire against the carb... 

 

Looking forward to driving it soon. Hopefully I won't be fed up with it by then!

 

 

[purplebargeken]

Brilliant!!!!

[pandamonium]

Been offered this as it's due to be scrapped... 

 

 

 

[bigfella2]

Is that a converted van as those windows in the rear look wrong for some reason. Is it also rocking some vw tarantula's aka MK2 golf GTi rims?

[vulgalour]

2 door estate, rare but that's how they are.  Generally chosen by folks that wanted a van during the week and a family car at the weekend.  They are indeed VW alloys.  Hopefully the spare estate will yield bits to help out, usefully it's even the same colour.  I can't imagine the bumpers are easy to come by now so may well be worth hoarding those.

[Parky]

Those alloys have to be worth something to the Dubbers.

 

With those, the bumpers, lights and trim you could get some valuale spares and still get cash for the shell

[MorrisItalSLX]

And a tailgate with what appears to be half decent paint...

[CreepingJesus]

I miss that engine bay! Other than the very similar Mk2 Cav, I don't think I've had an easier or better car to work on.

The two door estate is a gift from the Gods of Shite. If the tailgate and bumper are good enough, then it's justifiable at a reasonable price. Good tailgates were rare as hen's teeth even when there were hordes of them around.

[Dirk Diggler]

I always loved MK2/3/4 2 door Astra estates; tbh is it really that bad? By the late 90s you couldn't give away these or 2 door Corsa saloons; but I've seen reasonable Corsa saloons sell (yes, sell, not advertised at X price) easily at surprising prices

 

I don't I could scrap that estate; I'd swap around what I wanted, sell the wheels and sell it on as complete as possible

[pandamonium]

He wants too much for it, (150) and it's not worth the hassle. Has no engine and the wheels are extra!

[pandamonium]

Today I've done the thermostat, and now it gets up to temperature and the heater works.

 

So far then, I have done:

 

Replace carburettor

Change plugs

Change HT leads

Replace thermostat

 

Doesn't seem like much, but it's gone from a spluttering old heap to a useable and reliable car that could be pushed into daily use.

 

[purplebargeken]

^^ and therefore you have thus won at life.

[320touring]

Top work! Glad it's now functioning well, they are decent cars:)

[pandamonium]

One sexy looking engine bay... 

 

 

[purplebargeken]

The Weber looks good in there but I must insist in claiming at least some of the credit for that engine bay lol.

 

One thing I do remember is the hose from the coolant bottle to the radiator doesn't seem right. Not sure if it is the correct type of hose. Might just be me of course. 

[Scruffy Bodger]

I used to thrash a van version of one of those to bits back in the day, brilliant little engine, I hope this one does you proud.  Pretty much did the same in 3rd, 4th or 5th flat out from what I remember? Unless on a proper bit of road of course.

[pandamonium]

No 5th gear on this, and only 1294cc's... 

 

It feels quite perky (on a private road drive ) 

[vaughant]

Im going to book the trend with this but i would love to fit a let engine and lower it a touch some decent stoppers!

A nice solid 2.0 8v or "red top" c20xe would be my choice, probably the former so it even looks the same under the bonnet pretty much.

 

Looking good so far anyway, bet that carb swap makes it feel like night and day? Always wanted one of these.

[pandamonium]

Done about 60 miles now, since I taxed and insured it yesterday, to give it a good shakedown.

Feels responsive and punchy, and also bumbles along pleasantly. I'm surprised, as it's jetted for a 1.6/1.8, and I only set the idle / mixture up by ear.

I do need to look at a heat shield / base plate, as starting from warm isn't perfect, once it has sat for a bit. Fuel evaporation methinks.

There is a pleasant barp noise on hard acceleration, from the lack of air filter housing, and 90mph is achievable on private testing tracks.

I think I'd like to re-jet the carb, as I'm sure the fuel economy will suffer due to the wider jets, and perhaps pay for a person to set it up correctly.

As for long term, you all know I struggle to keep a car more than 5 minutes..............