'89 cavalier SRi rolling project

[Asa-James]

first things first, i dont particularly like this car, so dont be surprised if some of the updates are a little "unusual" http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

anyway! after aquiring this last year and saving it from the scrap heap, i was at a loss as to what to do with a little blue, four owner, 130,000 mile Cavalier SRi, so i put it in the garage and forgot about it. Christmas came and went, i started it once or twice, and forgot some more.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/1325e850.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/7c9eb795.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/f3e393a2.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/9754ebc6.jpg

i finally decided in May to at least get it MOT'd and see what was up with it, so that if i planned to sell it, it was tested, or if i planned to use it, it was one less thing to do. it was also the first time i'd driven it on the road, and it was definitely interesting (the resulting MOT fail of three ma-hoo-sive flat spots on each front tyre explained why - the flat spots were below 1.6mm, the rest of the tyre was 6mm...)

so i threw a little bit of cash at it, as well as my dad's old LS alloys, and hey presto it was tested! something to add to its comprehensive service history
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/9c2b6038.jpg



shortly thereafter, my other cav was written off, and so the SRi has been pressed into service as a daily, still ironing out some issues but its getting there (and i might be getting a bit softer with the rot-rod)

near future plans now (and i'm only putting these here so i remember them) are a full interior swap from the Cesaro, including front leccy windows, leccy sunroof, and headrest parcel shelf with the brackets, redo my full soundsystem from the Cesaro, swap some engine bits off the old one (downpipe, CTS, 2 month old spark plugs, sucks being broke http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif) clean and polish it.

future plans include suspension swap off the cesaro, probably wheel swap, but i'm stuck on two sets, and try to enjoy it as much as possible.

[Asa-James]

update!

been having some wonderful running issues with it, that i *think* are now sorted, just one small issue left to solve to get the eml light off.


so after stripping the black interior out of the donor over the weekend, i decided tonight was a good time to start on the daily (bearing in mind i need ot to get to work)

started by emptying the car of all the previous owners garbage, found 6 pens, 32p, four keyrings of various designs, a cig lighter, two empty fag packs and a bluetooth earpiece. noice. onto the stripping...

started from the rear
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/70f7e00c.jpg

no rot round the inner wheel arches, or anywhere else ont eh boot floor, which was nice to see, and also found two small water leaks into the boot i wouldnt have otherwise found

after the pic, i stripped out the b pillar trims and bolted the seatbelts back up, then started on the dash, first to go was the casette player that didnt work

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/ced6a64d.jpg

i wonder of the warranty is still valid...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/4c377d79.jpg

managed to get it mostly stripped bar the essentials to drive it tomorrow, and found my favorite thing in the world...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/d1815827.jpg

**take me down to the choccy block city where the wirings crap and its far from pretty**

looking at how many additional connections have been made i might be using the dash loom out of the donor, its horrific!

so anyway, my dash for tomorrow...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/c033cae8.jpg

and i also found a nifty hidden kill switch that i'll be using from now on whenever i park

thats all for now, hopefully get the dash's swapped over tomorrow night

[Asa-James]

Felt guilty after doing nothing on the cav last night, so during my lunch hour I decided to sort out the tailgate rattle. Adjusted the striker in the boot but it was no different, so I took it off and found that after 23 years it had worn a groove (forgot to get a pic)

Dragged the welder out

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/b2d97328.jpg


And after a quick bit of fine tuning had it looking semi respectable

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/6c882e87.jpg

Refitted, gave it a shake and it seems to have almost gone, at worst it's a damn site better than it was.

Shekshy new rivnuts for the parcel shelf brackets

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/c20e0a1c.jpg


Nasty GB sticker gone, after a good buff and polish the outline should go

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/8d509b68.jpg


I'm keeping te original dealer sticker on the other side for now, I like stuff like that http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Knackered aerial stump removed (just looks odd without it)

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/5fae0b23.jpg



Dash out

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/5b69b28b.jpg

A lucky escape in the past...

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/87ebb702.jpg



And now this evening I shall mostly be rebulding the stereo loom http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Balley]

Good work pal.

[Asa-James]

up early today, and i started by ripping the carpet out, only to find all the heavy sound deadening was smelly and a bit waterlogged. so i put my Colin Chapman head on (to get speed, add lightness) and ripped that out as well. couldnt see any obvious water leaks, so i'll just keep my eye on things for now

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/b0283291.jpg

i then spent a good couple of hours removing the old central locking loom, and putting in the one from the donor, as well as door looms and then checking everything, including the new electric windows, still worked. then began the wonderful process of putting everything back

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/a0d7a0be.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/dabe0828.jpg

and then i got bored, so as it stands...

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/ae97337c.jpg

at least i can drive it to watch the BTCC tomorrow http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[hotrod]

Good work mate hope you get it all sorted! :)

[mowgli]

that wiring reminds me of my stepbrothers golf... when he appeared at the end of each college term, me & dad would prune the various bits sticking out of the dash.....this was repeated about 4 times a year.. all of the wires were add ons & we never found out what they fitted..

[Asa-James]

bored at work yesterday, so i pulled the downpipe off as it was blowing its nuts off (been meaning to do this since the MOT)

started off as...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/7447c605.jpg

two minutes later...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/5e59c514.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/fd8abd6e.jpg

and then another five minutes...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/211c1b66.jpg

now its as quiet as a 23 year old car with a noisey buzzing centre box can be http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

and a couple of hours spent today with this http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/5694d974.jpg

[brownbear]

Looking well that is.

[pie]

looking good dude

[Asa-James]

take one CD and hit "play"
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/3d92f379.jpg

one battered drivers seat with a loose bolster
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/da337a3d.jpg

split it down
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/ea014f11.jpg

separate base
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/7bf8621a.jpg

find lovely snapped metal (and also the same on one of the donor seats)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/086f8259.jpg

refit everything with nice new(ish) cushions
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/65f7a204.jpg

refit to car and congratulate dog on a job well done http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/82aa09d8.jpg

[Asa-James]

support donor car properly
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/6403110a.jpg

remove wheels, disc, caliper
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/02007f95.jpg

remove hub and strut
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/ebe017b8.jpg

and bottom arm
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/43567603.jpg

strip struts down as you know the shocks are well past it, and laugh at the strut top bearings condition...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/7e0b963d.jpg

take it all to work, borrow the workshop for a couple of hours and start with this
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/e2fecc71.jpg

compare your new(ish) springs to the old units
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/c28dbffc.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/08f34bb6.jpg

compare the bottom arms to remind yourself why you are swapping them
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/220e1e3f.jpg

refit, take picture, and get excited as to how it should settel and now ride on the road http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/b6fadc42.jpg

also replaced the o/s wheel bearing, so thats both front bearings done and forgotten about

[Balley]

Looking good pal.

[16v-kev]

looking a good job there mate not many cavs left these days ! and that lower arm is well past its best !

[Asa-James]

no pics, but quick update

sorted out the tracking today, stripped the steering arms off the donor (all new track rod ends oin the last 12 months) stripped, cleaned and greased everything, then swapped them onto the SRi. wheel alignment sorted!

now, if the rain stops at some point i still need to do the electric window motors and build the front doors up...

[Asa-James]

leccy windows in, crossovers wired up in the doors with components all in, doorcards on, stereo set up, and as i was about to take some lovely pics the heavens opened.

tomorrow...

[Asa-James]

so finally have the finished interior (bar a clean)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/b0cd5d1d.jpg

tweeters located to the doors to save running wires from my crossovers back through the door looms (crossovers located in the doorcard)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/bcbee46e.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/4487fde8.jpg



and onto today. i decided to check out if the wiring was there for headlamp level adjusters, and have a poke around behind the lights, so i broke the toolkit out and pulled the headlamps and indicators off. the wiring was there, i plugged a motor in, fited the switch, tested AND IT WORKED!!

BUT to get them on the car, i had to use the carcass off the donor car, along with the glass off the SRi (and the innards, they look better)

so i stripped everything down, and was struck with an idea...

preface (left) vs facelift (right) - i stayed with preface
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/dec5f8c8.jpg

can you see what i'm doing...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/9749531f.jpg

and not forgetting these
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/eaea5ae8.jpg

mmmmmm..
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/d9dee9fb.jpg

looks better
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/38acd464.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/18db3750.jpg

i refitted the grill, but it looked wrong. grey plastic grill on a blue car with dark headlamps, only one thing for it
primered
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/1fe086c7.jpg

second coat
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/522a1b58.jpg

finished, dried, fitted
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/5bdbc7a2.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/e1db068a.jpg

after this, i gave the whole car a wash (first time since i bought it last november :p )

next is start from the front, polish, polish, wax. dont know how far along it'll be by billing, but the shopping list for the autojumble is tinted side repeaters, bonnet badge (some scrote stole it), aerial bits and decent front indicator units (they wernt great to start with)

just hope the weather stays good tomorrow

[hotrod]

Def making some good progress mate! looking forward to seeing it at billing. :thumb:

[Asa-James]

Wheels on

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/d1d701a3.jpg

[Asa-James]

gave it another clean tonight, took it for a quick sensible hoon (now the emissions tuning is set properly), and took some more pics...

the good (side)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/1a45eee0.jpg

the bad...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/8409db7b.jpg

the "i still cant believe i own one"
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/1294c1bc.jpg


and after a quick look on howmanyleft.com, it seems theres only 25 registered 1989 cav SRi's left, so i'd best look after it http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

tomorrow! oil change, rear lights in, front bumper, wings and bonnet polished and waxed

[Balley]

I like this more and more everytime I see it!

[Mike]

Interior look soooo much betterer in black!

[turbojolt]

when are you sorting the rusty arch? pain in the **** if you leave it and it rotts the inner arch

[Asa-James]

after billing, i'm chopping the arch out of my donor as i know its solid

[mk1nova_rich]

Seriously simple yet effective modifying on a budget!! Some really good work gone into it so far, looks cock on :thumb:

[pie]

looking good dude :thumb:

love early sri's :)

if only i could find a tidy saloon one :(

[Nova_Tek]

and after a quick look on howmanyleft.com, it seems theres only 25 registered 1989 cav SRi's left, so i'd best look after it http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

We've gont one too recently restored, so there are 23 more around. Wonder what they all look like :)

Great work on this one :thumb:

[brownbear]

Looks awesome! Simple touches make all the difference. Nice to see you back in a 3 letter motor. ;)

[Balley]

I know of a very clean red one from near me on a H-plate. Completely standard and unrestored :)

[Mazz]

I really like that Asa...top bombing!

[Asa-James]

tonight was al oil change (with the three week old oil out of the donor...) but i didnt get pics, i imagine most of you know what oil looks like http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

also changed the thermostat as it's been stuck open since i bought it, so it now runs to temp, fan cuts in at 90 on the gauge (which i thought was a little low) and drops out at 85, so happy happy http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

also sorted this out
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/c81535fc.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/94e691b2.jpg

new cork gasket, but lets be honest it'll be wet again in a few weeks lol lol http://www.cavmk3oc.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif i'll pick another couple up at billing I think
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/033c2c5e.jpg

[brownbear]

Any updates on this??

[Spudly]

Damn you Thomas, i thought he are been doing more stuffs then :p

[camels toe]

You can get a rubber gasket that will last for years,them cork ones are utter toss.

[brownbear]

Damn you Thomas, i thought he are been doing more stuffs then :p

Cavvy love! What can I say. I hactually like this!

[Spudly]

Ha, Asa has rubbed off on you (in a good way) as you now get turned on by mk1 novas and mk3 cavs, good work Asa :d

[Asa-James]

Well you can all stop getting excited, the project has run into funding issues (in other words, the free stuffs all been done, time to save haha)

[Spudly]

Gay :p


lol

[brownbear]

Have you cut the panel out of yor red one yet? Destruction is free! Show us pictures of that! :)

[Nova_Tek]

Use a bit of liquid gasket/silicone gasket sealer on both sides. Makes it last much longer.

[Dervy]

looking good asa

[Asa-James]

UPDATE!

due to a shard of metal destroying one of my tyres, and having no budget to replace it, i've had to switch onto the "winter wheels"...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/cavalier%20SRi/DF2EB0EB-5718-4777-895E-7E8A91FBE728-1175-00000240456D560C.jpg