Communal MK3 Cavalier Thread

[mk2_craig]

On 2/27/2021 at 1:33 AM, Jim Bell said:

 

 

CAV FANZ. What’s the script with that trim panel on the tailgate, was it only on certain specs and years? My LS hatch (94 I think) didn’t have it. 

[Jim Bell]

Just now, mk2_craig said:

CAV FANZ. What’s the script with that trim panel on the tailgate, was it only on certain specs and years? My LS hatch (94 I think) didn’t have it. 

Seems to be the thinking man. High trim spec only. 

 

[Split_Pin]

Mine is an LS so it doesn't have it. You would have needed to sell a further 100 Olvetti printers and 50 OKI faxes in Quarter 2 1993 to get the GLS with the decent rear end.

[Dick Longbridge]

It doesn't matter where the script is. It's all about the i. 

 

[Lacquer Peel]

I think they look nicer without the boot trim.

[Split_Pin]

HEY CAV FANZ.

I realised I left this one hanging.

I got the Cav welded up nicely in the end.

Rear crossmember was rotten.

Welded up.

Boot floor.

Engine wise, in order to cure the high emissions:

New dizzy cap, rotor arm and O2 Sensor.

A pass was achieved in April.

After that I:

Had the timing belt kit, water pump and aux belt replaced.

Scuttle panel

Wiper linkage and blades

Rocker cover gasket

Oil and filter

New wheels as the steels went with my Corsa when I sold it.

Polish, wax and interior valet.

It turned out like this:

I then got this:

Sold the green one to an enthusiast in Rosyth and it now looks like this:

I'm not sure it rides terribly well on the 18 inch wheels but they are period correct Kahns and they look nice.

A good ending.

[Split_Pin]

I bought this one in June:

1.7TD for those that don't know and only about to tick over to 95000.

Cosmetically its poor, paint has a lot of lacquer peel, headlining is held up with about 25 drawing pins and the seats are tired. The green one was much nicer and the Albany cloth SRi interior was lovely.

But

It is solid, spectacularly so.

Stuff I have done.

Welded a hole in the rear sill. Well it started out as one, but became 3 big ones, as I expected! (After the faff of finding a welder last time I learned myself)

Timing belt was done again. I saw no evidence of tensioner replacement and I got in touch with the chap that did the belts previously (being a debt collector many, many years ago means that I seem to now be able to trace literally anybody!) and indeed, he didn't change them because they 'looked good'.

Passed MOT last month with only a few advisories and the tester was very impressed with how solid it was.

It shakes like a dog shitting razor blades at idle which is off putting. I spoke with the old gentleman who owned it for years, up until 2019 and he said he had tried everything to cure it. He said something about a pressure issue on the pump but it fires up instantly and drives fine so I'm presuming it's just some sort of idle adjustment that's required. 

Unfortunately there is an ongoing issue with the car where it will run hot on long motorway inclines. Anywhere else it runs at a normal temperature,  even in traffic. To address this I changed:

Radiator

Water pump

Thermostat

Fan switch

Tested fans

Coolant

This didn't really help all that much I wondered if sitting on boost was causing some kind of forced combustion leak, so I did a sniff test on the head gasket (as I have read that the Isuzu diesels are bad for this) but it was fine.

It always cools down again and turning the heater on regulates the temperature well, but I can't take passengers and subject them to a blast of heat and having the windows down as well. Fine if I'm on my own though. 

There's also a small leak from a rubber thermostat pipe but that's mainly my fault.

I haven't used it much due to this. I'm on the lookout for a reasonably priced petrol one, preferably in LS spec or similar. Prices are all over the place though. I will keep this one until then though as I really like MK3 Cavs now.