2004 Astra Coupe

[roverspeed]

Well today's chore was getting all the interior lights changed. Dials still aren't perfect but they'll do until I think of a better solution. I asked for a refund from the seller of the original crap leds. Got these from "crazy leds"

Again with all my lighting stuff, form is following function. I have chosen red as it has the least impact on your night vision.

They were all a kinda off white originally

 

[Blackie]

Looks great buddy!

 

[carmad.]

my gtc does that tho i hate it


i seen that car for sale on gumtree last week fair play to ya

the calibra off the future

 

[roverspeed]

The headlights have arrived for me to pull apart, will get that done over the weekend and get measurements done. Then the internals will get ordered, likely to take a month to arrive mind you.

This evening I did the following:

Fitted:

LED brake lights
LED fog lights
LED reversing lights
LED Number plate lights

I'll leave the indicators until I decide the solution for the fronts.

New leather gear stick and handbrake gaiters (the only things that had any wear in the interior)

New thermostat - heats up nice and quick now

Removed the MAF I got from Colin Adams and replaced with a genuine Siemens one (was throwing up a light for rich post cat o2) Will go get a refund tomorrow.

Fixed a vacuum leak, really really nice idle now that I'm well pleased with.

Plans for the weekend are:

Fix the rattle in the drivers door
Fix the squeak in drivers seat base
Build and for a circuit to light the fogs in tandem with the brake lights. (I don't like cars with just single running/brake lights combined) the circuit will disable this function when the rear fogs are on.

If I get time, fit my sub and amp. I have already got the audio leads and rem cable run to the passenger footwell but I need to get them to the boot and find a route for power.

One of the rear heat shields is loose, I'll see if refitting is possible, it might be too far gone.

 

[roverspeed]

To whoever invented the e-torx, **** you, what was wrong with hex bolts ya p***k.

 

[Blackie]

To whoever invented the e-torx, **** you, what was wrong with hex bolts ya p***k.

Yea Vauxhall love to use e-Torx bolts! Lol

 

[roverspeed]

Yea Vauxhall love to use e-Torx bolts! Lol

None on the insignia.

I assume this is because it was a global car, sold in the USA as a Buick. They would have went mental saying it was against their God given right as mericun to use darn socialist e torx bolts

 

[roverspeed]

Ordered the BI-LED projectors on Sunday, maybe be about 3 weeks. Then I will I find out how badly HMRC want to shaft me.

Ended up having to order from Ebay.com and they are coming from China.

Decent beam patterns

They are 2.5 inch projectors, so hopefully should fit :-D

 

[roverspeed]

Today's little job done.

Pleased to see pistons and sliding pins were moving freely and working as they should.

By God the caliper carrier bolts were tight, my cheapy impact gun didn't affect them at all. 800mm breaker bar. E18 bolts didn't round off, but weren't far off it!

Coated discs, so shouldn't rust up.

 

[roverspeed]

Rear damper top bush on the driver's side was making a bit of a racket after I had disturbed it. I loosened it just to see if the bolts were seized.

So that accelerated/changed plans a bit so replaced both rear dampers today with Bilstein B4s.

I'll do all the springs at the same time, obvs.

Since I'm replacing the front damper, spring and top mounts. I'll do those all at once as a single unit.

I don't want to jinx myself, but this is such an easy to work on wee car. (Both dampers changed in 30 mins, jacking one side up at a time)

E torx not withstanding, nothing has been seized or rounded off yet even though it's fairly crusty underneath (see nothing of concern though)

Lower front arms, drop links and tie rods will arrive next week, so that's next weekend's job.

As always, not everything went perfectly, my torque wrench seems to have broke (the ratchet mech is slipping, maybe a broken pawl)

 

[Blackie]

Rear damper top bush on the driver's side was making a bit of a racket after I had disturbed it. I loosened it just to see if the bolts were seized.

So that accelerated/changed plans a bit so replaced both rear dampers today with Bilstein B4s.

I'll do all the springs at the same time, obvs.

Since I'm replacing the front damper, spring and top mounts. I'll do those all at once as a single unit.

I don't want to jinx myself, but this is such an easy to work on wee car. (Both dampers changed in 30 mins, jacking one side up at a time)

E torx not withstanding, nothing has been seized or rounded off yet even though it's fairly crusty underneath (see nothing of concern though)

Lower front arms, drop links and tie rods will arrive next week, so that's next weekend's job.

As always, not everything went perfectly, my torque wrench seems to have broke (the ratchet mech is slipping, maybe a broken pawl)

Don’t know where you are in the country, but if you’re anywhere near me (Newtownabbey), you’re more than welcome to borrow my 1/2” drive torque wrench.

 

[roverspeed]

Bi-LED Projectors arrived today from China.

Not bad considering I had to order them on EBay.com just over 3 weeks to arrive, and not VAT or Custom charges added. So result there.

Cut off is support sharp and they are a nice 5000-5500k pure white colour.

I am away with work next week. so I won't get a chance to build the headlights until Easter. I want to take my time and make them nice and neat.

I also didn't trust their documentation, so have waited until now to order the shrouds.

Don’t know where you are in the country, but if you’re anywhere near me (Newtownabbey), you’re more than welcome to borrow my 1/2” drive torque wrench.

CHeers @Blackie I use it all the time, so I might as well get another

 

[roverspeed]

Phase 1 of the headlight build.

Didn't melt the headlights, so that's a plus point.

Need to order a set of suitable shrouds now.

 

[carmad.]

would ya do a set off these to order ??

 

[roverspeed]

would ya do a set off these to order ??

I guess I could, if you got all the stuff it's not much to put together. What kind of car?

 

[Mr.Mint]

would ya do a set off these to order ??

Same. Astra H.

 

[roverspeed]

Same. Astra H.

Pm me and we can run though the details of parts needed and it'll give you an idea of costs.

 

[carmad.]

I guess I could, if you got all the stuff it's not much to put together. What kind of car?

mk4 astra and mk5

 

[roverspeed]

Nothing too exciting to report, exhaust hangers on the back box broke due to corrosion. So fitted a universal hanger and also a cheapie pipe trim.

This is temporary, the exhaust is in poor condition so I ordered a cat back system from John Ashley exhausts. Not much more than a standard system.

My headlight parts arrived, so should get them put together over the next few days and hopefully fitted.

Not looking forward to getting the front bumper off, as all the fixings look like they are gonna snap. Anyone suggest the best place to find out what fixings to have at hand and where to get them?

Sunday morning breakfast run after a proper clean by my brother with some of bigpimps products

Aforementioned cheapo exhaust trim


Oh and it's new number plate, pity it's a current plate but I'm not that bothered.

 

[roverspeed]

Finally got round to finishing the headlights.

Replaced the front crash bar as the old one was bent front a minor fender bender in its past.

Oh and wrapped the fogs yellow whilst I had the bumper off.

Have to wait until it's a bit darker so I can align them. Looking forward to see how they perform.

 

[Blackie]

Looking great dude, loving the yellow fogs, but then again I’d be a little biased on that! Lol

 

[roverspeed]

Looking great dude, loving the yellow fogs, but then again I’d be a little biased on that! Lol

Cheers!

Yes I love my yellow fogs, ever since I had them OEM on my Eunos. Plus they actually function better! I also have 3000k Amber bulbs in the fogs

 

[roverspeed]

Went out for a run once it finally got dark.

Very pleased, the main beams are ridiculously good.

Width on dipped beam is a little narrow, but I think I need a little lateral adjustment.

Passed plenty of cars and no headlight flashes, so confident I have they set ok, actually a little low maybe.

 

[roverspeed]

I really must get into the habit of taking pics whilst I do stuff, I don't have the patience lol.

Another productive sunny day, lower front arms, drop links and top mounts done today.

I wasn't supposed to do the top mounts until I'm fitting the Bilsteins and Eibachs July ish time, but they were a bit rattly so I went ahead and did them.

All very straight forward, nothing at all seized, just a stubborn passenger side balljoint that took some persuading to get out.

I also got 4x Hankook Ventus Evo fitted last week, it's nice to have 4 matching tyres again!

 

[roverspeed]

Gonna get some pics up soon.

Done over the last lot of weeks:

Gates Powergrip Timing Belt Kit and Waterpump fitted. Full coolant flush and change whilst I was at it.

John Ashley Catback Exhaust single 3.5" pipe Fitted (later found a pinhole in one of the welds on the backbox, got a big of discount and welded it up myself)

New post cat lambda sensor as the old one ripped its threads out in the old exhaust

Fixed any loose heat shields and removed the rear one all together as the new backbox is so much smaller than the OE one that its nowhere near the body now.

I only got the exhaust as the old one wouldn't have passed MOT, this was marginally dearer than a Pattern Part OEM system, so what the hell.

New top mounts including spherical bearings Febi Bilstien - these went to £3,88 a side in Eurocarparts, as being end of line!

New Anti-roll bar bushes on the front, what a major pain in the arse that was.

Wired brushed and painted the front subframe and rear torsion beam with hammerite straight to rust paint(not the best I know but its more just for keeping it looking fairly fresh.

Discovered a weep down near the bell housing, not oil. Brake fluid....................ballax, clutch slave cylinder is leaking. Doesn't seem to be too bad, no sponginess of the clutch. But that will have to be done soon. Will be my first ever clutch change myself on a transverse engine car. I have only done one on the mx5 before. So looking forward to that.......not.
I have to do it without removing the subframe, as looking at the subframe bolts, I am pretty sure every single one will snap if I try to take them out!