What would you do?

[the dude]

To a car your going to drive all the way to africa, and over everything in your path.

getting alsorts of conflicting answers, so i have come to the Gurus.

This is the list ive got so far, anything non essential? missing anything?

Big, burly fan on the front from an Astra GSI
K&N filter
Oil Cooler
Spring Assistors

Heat wrapping manifold -(are the standard ones Mild steel or stainless?)
Sump + fuel tank guards - home made
route the fuel line internal (out of the way) - is it worth getting mudflap hose?
put in bonnet pins, hold it down over the really rough stuff. nececarry?

Remember this is on a budget of around £0.10, we can get more, but selling the car in Cameroon, so not much point.

also looking for all of these parts, so if anyone can help out, will be brill.

[craig green]

K&N filter? Fook that if you wanted the engine to last....

Deffo decent shock absorbers from the likes of KONI or yellow bilsteins.

[Mike]

Id pick a car that is going to make it something that is noted for its endless off road & on road use. Not a bloody Nova.

[meritlover]

K&N filter? Fook that if you wanted the engine to last....

Deffo decent shock absorbers from the likes of KONI or yellow bilsteins.

[Philsutton]

on the plus side, there is nothing you cant fix on a nova without some cable ties and gaffa tape.

[_JH_]

forget an astra GSi fan, use a corsa or Nova diesel rad and fan. You'll need a longer hose to the expansion tank, but you could ask a local scrappy nicely and just pick what you need from a scrap car.

Definitely route the fuel lines inside the car. When you smash a hole in your tank, it'll make using a jerry-can easier

Don't bother with an oil cooler. It'll be hot out there, but if you have a good rad and fan as mentioned it'll do the job. You won't be screaming the engine anyway - unless you're a chump.

Forget heat-wrapping the manifold.

Instead of bonnet pins, use bonnet rubbers like you often see on minis. bonnet pins won't line up after you've hit a gazelle at 60mph

And finally, add to the post you put on the grasser forum that you want tyres. Put your location in there and you should find people nearby to you

I have no experience of driving in extreme heat, but most of the problems experienced with over-heating are down to the existing cooling system being faulty.

[Matt2107]

Ruddy good service before you go.

Would it help not having a bonnet?
I guess you'd end up with sand in the air box.

[AlexW]

Ruddy good service before you go.

Would it help not having a bonnet?
I guess you'd end up with sand in the air box.

and you would get pulled over prob, deffo in the uk its iilegal but i dont know and im just thinking...... (or lack of thinking)

[Dod]

Big Burly Tyres on 14" Wheels, steels at that. They'll straighten with a Hammer, Bring Spare Red Hoses and a Rad. Go for a 1200cc Nova, a tough little engine, Tank guard and a Sump Guard. Astra Springs and as mentioned Billies or Koni's.
If you could manage it, Cav TD Twin Fans? It'd be a squeeze but possibly worth it.

[mowgli]

fit a diesel thermostat, it opens at a lower temperature, costs pence. I wouldn't bother with the fitting of a bigger fan, just make sure the one you've got works.

take a 4 or 5dr nova because you can open the rear windows to help with in car cooling, & getting your stuff in & out will be easier.

Remember this, GM took the novas to very hot countries to develop them. these cars will cope with the hot weather. The local fuel will be rubbish so take spare spark plugs