1986 Vauxhall Carlton CDi, Daily use of a 37yr old car.

[Bren]

15 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

Bargain. I’d imagine getting parts for that will be harder than getting parts for the Carlton. Hopefully it won’t end up on a banger track. 

Parts. And rot. Sadly it is easier to buy a good one.

[sutty2006]

2 minutes ago, Bren said:

Parts. And rot. Sadly it is easier to buy a good one.

Rot I can deal with. It’s sourcing parts that’s difficult 😥 

[sutty2006]

Captains log. Star date 180523. We had a fuel leak yesterday. I didn’t fully tighten up the tank sender bolts because I feared snapping them off was imminent. Nipping them up a bit more cured that problem. Along with a coolant leak from the main elbow to water pump, again, tightened the hose clamp up a bit. 
 

First meet of this year done. Pre 2000s daily driver meet. The caddy has a 6.5 v8 turbo diesel as fitted to Humvees that me and a mate shoe horned in one day 👌

 

 

[Dyslexic Viking]

7 hours ago, sutty2006 said:

The caddy has a 6.5 v8 turbo diesel as fitted to Humvees that me and a mate shoe horned in one day

I like, I like a lot.

[sutty2006]

Norton Autoextravaganza 

 

 

[sutty2006]

Today I treated the Carlton to some new shoes.

 

the fronts are 15 year old Firestone fire hawks. They still had the nobbles on when I received it. But I think it had sat on 4 flats for some time. The rears are 23 yr old Camacs and the captains side had begun to open up. Very perished and I didn’t trust them. I did the right thing and ordered Firestone multi hawks, which aren’t directional. £107 for 2. Wasn’t worth putting cheap shite hyfly on it.

Grabbed a spare 30mins at the end of my shift to throw them on

 

off with the camacs

 

shiney rubber

 

lovely job. 
 

[Bren]

On 4/29/2023 at 7:00 PM, Bren said:

On car and classic there is a V reg Royale saloon being auctioned. Been off the road since 1995. Bidding is up to £300.

It's identical to the one I had.

Now on ebay. Too much work for the new owner.

[sutty2006]

I thought I had a wheel bearing on its way out. Turns out it must have been those old tyres! 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

On 4/30/2023 at 7:03 PM, EyesWeldedShut said:

Congratulations - I wondered where mine had gone. (Found out yesterday the barge is doing 22 mpg  - told the wife it's doing 32  )

When my Mrs had a V8 Disco I used to sneak out and put the odd £20 in it, she couldn’t understand it when people would comment on the consumption, she told them it’s better than the diesel Espace she had before it!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

On 5/21/2023 at 6:13 PM, sutty2006 said:

Norton Autoextravaganza 

 

 

There looks a lot more than 20ish years between the Carlton and PA, by Comparison a 2003 Vectra and a new Insignia  aren’t much different.

[sutty2006]

12 minutes ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

There looks a lot more than 20ish years between the Carlton and PA, by Comparison a 2003 Vectra and a new Insignia  aren’t much different.

We aren’t developing as quickly as we did during the 70s-90s that’s for sure. 

[sutty2006]

I’ve been toying with fuel economy. I can’t afford to fill the tank yet. Infact no, I lie. I DARE NOT fill the tank yet, it’ll probably leak. They all do. 
 

I have done a very rough calculation on fuel economy. I put 14L of e10 in last week when the gauge gets to “uh oh!” and reset the trip. Done just about 80 miles until the gauge reached “uh oh!” again. That equates to 28mpg….and that’s round town/going to work… which is 4 miles each way. I’d say 28 is about right for one of these. Especially with a shift-o-matic! 

[Wibble]

Sounds bloody good to me for an old auto on short trips.

[sutty2006]

On 5/25/2023 at 8:58 PM, Wibble said:

Sounds bloody good to me for an old auto on short trips.

Yes. And my plan worked. 
 

I had threatened 12 months ago to push this into daily service as the fuel economy is comparable to the A6 Allroad round town. Yet diesel was loads more expensive than petrol. 
 

now, petrol is becoming more expensive than diesel again. 
 

you can thank me later. Lol

[MJK 24]

On 5/25/2023 at 8:58 PM, Wibble said:

Sounds bloody good to me for an old auto on short trips.

Definitely is.  I had a W124 230E automatic and you’d have to drive very carefully to get 25mpg on short journeys.  

A steady motorway cruise got 31mpg absolute max.

[sutty2006]

Something arrived in the post. 
 

Nearly a game of pass the parcel….

 

Plan is now, to have the front valence repaired and painted. Then fit the lower trim. I really want to fit it now…….. but I might hold on yet.

[sutty2006]

Have spoken to my body shop man. Going to take it over to him on Monday so he can have a look at what I need doing. Should have it done for next month hopefully. 
 

going to have this addressed too. 
 

 

[sutty2006]

Time to drop the Carlton off for some titavation. 
 

[sutty2006]

Back from body shop tonight.

pin striping didn’t get fitted. I know a guy for that though 😉

 

front splitter is actually wrong. It’s a mk2 cavvy splitter but he’s made it fit. It’ll do for now. But the front end is looking much better now

 

just isn’t quite long enough

 

sexy

rear quarter didn’t need cutting out. He was able to grind it back, treat the rust and paint over. 

 

needs a damn good clean and polish now.

[danthecapriman]

Looks fantastic!👍

I don’t even think that splitter being for a Cav is all that noticeable. I’d probably not have noticed if you hadn’t mentioned it.

[Wibble]

Looks brilliant, as for the “splitter”, it’s fine and looks great. That trim was notorious for coming adrift. Dad’s 83 Carlton was the same. The transport department bolted it back on with brass bolts and said “if it comes off again, we’ll scrap the car”!

[sutty2006]

My good friend, we shall call him “the Stig” has fitted some pin striping for me! The OCD gods are happy now! 
 

 

 

hopefully going to fit the rear bumper on Saturday. Or at least some time this week. VBOA next weekend. 

[Bren]

That looks lovely.

[sutty2006]

The Carlton came with a new rear bumper.

 

And new it is!
 

Thankfully it’s the right one too. Can’t believe how easy it was to change. One bracket bolt seized up but I was able to get the grips on the back and relieve it of duty. 
 

I cleaned up the paint behind 

only two nuts hold this on! Imagine if this was a 2010 insignia, you’d have to set fire to it to get the rear bumper off! 
 

plenty of copper jizz on the studs

 

 

and there we have it. 👌

[sutty2006]

The Carlton successfully made it to the VBOA (Vauxhall Bedford Opel Association) show yesterday.  The manta came too. Ruthie says it drives lovely. Been getting a nice warm reception with it. 😊 

 

[Lankytim]

You’ve got a body shop man???

[sutty2006]

8 hours ago, Lankytim said:

You’ve got a body shop man???

Don’t we all? Lol

[Lankytim]

3 hours ago, sutty2006 said:

Don’t we all? Lol

I did but now I don’t. Would he take any more work on? 

[sutty2006]

4 hours ago, Lankytim said:

I did but now I don’t. Would he take any more work on? 

He’s based in upper tean. I can pm you his number? 

[Lankytim]

3 hours ago, sutty2006 said:

He’s based in upper tean. I can pm you his number? 

Sure, if he’s ok with it.