Astra mk3 Arctic 3.0 V6 + F28 with Quaife

[DavebGsi]

Haha, I knew someone would comment. It's a rally thing as I've seen so many bolts damaged having been hit due to them poking through from the top down. Bottom up is the future, try it, you might like it

if i'm going rallying in any of my cars it won't of been on purpose

 

[harvey]

The Astra mk3 V6 was dug out of its Winter hibernation as I had a couple of jobs lined up having now covered 60,777 miles. If you missed the custom LCD dash conversion that I made see here.

First one was to remove the rear nearside door card to figure out where an annoying rattle was coming from.

A bit more poking, prodding and slapping and I found this loose in the bottom door, dried up sound deadening goop.

Also noted the central locking pushrod was loose so applied a tried and tested motorsport fix.

With that faffy job sorted the door card was popped back on.

Next job was to sort the screen wash tubing as the pipes were showing their age having gone through a few heat cycles under the hood and had a small weep. I removed both pipes and cut them back before soaking them in boiling water so they were supple enough to be pushed on for a nice snug fit.

Last job was to try and figure out why the gearbox level plug was still weeping after fitting a crush washer which they don’t normally have anyway. Jacked the car up on its side and removed the level plug.

After a good inspection I noted a slight deformation of the alloy casing when the level plug should sit snuggly, if you zoom in you can see the dent.

The old M18 crush washer outer diameter wasn’t quite large enough to cover the damage so oil could just sneak past. I bought an M17 crush washer which was 24mm OD instead of the M18 22mm OD, filed the ID so it was a tight squeeze over the threaded section of the level plug and then added thread lock to the rear ID of the crush washer. I could have messed with chemical metal to get the mating face smooth but access is tight and I would have had to remove the drive shaft, I’m hoping my fix has sorted it so time will tell.

Level plug torqued to spec being 50Nm and as you can see the new crush washer covers the mating face damage and coupled with the thread lock fingers crossed no more damp patch reappearing.

 

[DavebGsi]

good update mate, fingers crossed the washer works! many a time I have been filing and die grinding out washers for all sorts of crazy fixes lol. Their usually a winner.
If that fails I would try a doudy washer next ( the one with the rubber bonded in the middle )

 

[harvey]

The Astra mk3 V6 has been re-homed and relegated to on-trailer storage after a shuffle round with the cars.

The cars covered a few miles this year and I’m happy to report my F28 oil level plug fix has worked with no more fluid weeping.

I’ve also deploying a version 2 fix for the clunking exhaust which only happens on very bumpy roads which in a firm riding lowered mk3 Astra is most roads. A long rubber hose with heat shielding to stop the exhaust burning through.

Another slight annoyance is the central locking as the driver’s door locks via the alarm remote but then unlocks itself, lock it again and it’s fine. I decided it could be the c/l motor so had a good spare which I tested and proved to be working. Driver door card removed, excuse the tape it’s when I installed elec windows as a povo spec Arctic 2 don’t have them.

Door locking mechanism was surprisingly easy to remove as I was expecting a battle.

I swapped the suspect c/l motor (bottom) with the tested good spare (top) so the original door mechanism was refitted.

Bolted back in without a fuss, tested working so popped the genuine mk3 leather door card back on.

I stripped the suspect c/l motor but couldn’t figure out why it was doing what it was. Could be the microswitch was being activated with the plastic sliding part bouncing into side, but no idea so stuck it in my spares pile as a working but dodgy spare.

Astra at rest covered back up.

 

[Kev_mk3]

good stuff, dare i ask whats now in its usual spot?

 

[harvey]

good stuff, dare i ask whats now in its usual spot?

See here Kev_mk3 as my garage weigh has made a break for freedom this year. Both will be making an apperance at VBOA next month on the Sat & Sun.

 

[Kev_mk3]

Forgot you had that lol Amazed the Astra didnt go in the garage while you worked on the ST.

 

[harvey]

I've stuffed the GTE in there which usually lives on the trailer

 

[Andy_Mk3]

The Astra mk3 V6 has been re-homed and relegated to on-trailer storage after a shuffle round with the cars.

The cars covered a few miles this year and I’m happy to report my F28 oil level plug fix has worked with no more fluid weeping.

I’ve also deploying a version 2 fix for the clunking exhaust which only happens on very bumpy roads which in a firm riding lowered mk3 Astra is most roads. A long rubber hose with heat shielding to stop the exhaust burning through.

Another slight annoyance is the central locking as the driver’s door locks via the alarm remote but then unlocks itself, lock it again and it’s fine. I decided it could be the c/l motor so had a good spare which I tested and proved to be working. Driver door card removed, excuse the tape it’s when I installed elec windows as a povo spec Arctic 2 don’t have them.

Door locking mechanism was surprisingly easy to remove as I was expecting a battle.

I swapped the suspect c/l motor (bottom) with the tested good spare (top) so the original door mechanism was refitted.

Bolted back in without a fuss, tested working so popped the genuine mk3 leather door card back on.

I stripped the suspect c/l motor but couldn’t figure out why it was doing what it was. Could be the microswitch was being activated with the plastic sliding part bouncing into side, but no idea so stuck it in my spares pile as a working but dodgy spare.

Astra at rest covered back up.

My central locking keeps doing the same thing, already replaced the passenger door motor as that died altogether. Might have to replace the drivers side too and hopefully fix that.

Looking good otherwise though, this is a pretty special mk3 I'll always envy

 

[Gareth]

Spotted your car over the weekend still looks fantastic. Maybe you should put it on our stand next year

 

[harvey]

Spotted your car over the weekend still looks fantastic. Maybe you should put it on our stand next year

Why thank you Gareth I have considered showing with this club but my wife drove her car being the Astra V6 and I took my Vectra ST200 and we like displaying them both together. We'll probably just do the one day next year so will consider displaying with mk3oc

 

[harvey]

Popped down to Sywell Aerodrome for the annual VBOA show last weekend and took my Vectra ST200 and the wife’s Astra V6. Loaded and ready for the off, nice uneventful drive both ways and we got a few thumbs up from other drivers. Neither cars missed a beat so I've done something right

We had planned on camping Sat and Sun but decided we had burnt enough so scooted home on Sun afternoon. Great weekend and nice catching up with all the fellow club members both new and old.

The Astra was looking half decent in the bright sun to say we couldn’t be bothered to clean it when we got there.

On the way home the Astra cruise Control stopped working which I later diagnosed to the clutch pedal switch. The switch didn’t have sufficient travel so a lovely motorsport fix sorted that one using a slit 6mm fuel hose and ziptie, now working again.

In other news a mate spotted a wanted add so after making contact I’ve sold my huge Vauxhall sign I’ve had stashed away for 12 years. I had planned on mounting it to my garage ceiling backlit but never got round to it. It was 138cm (4 foot 6 inch) diameter so a bit of a monster size. The new owner is very pleased so that’s the main thing.

 

[harvey]

Popped to a small local meet at the weekend in the blistering sunshine, I’m so glad I persevered with the Astra mk3 AC it was a wonderful cool drive out. The meet was at www.griffinsheadnottingham.co.uk I was expecting a larger turnout but it is holiday season and was hot hot hot. My mate came along in his Astra mk4 SRi Turbo so we parked together. Great mix of all sorts so I’ll let the pics do the talking.

 

[harvey]

Enjoyed driving the Astra V6 this year and last month it went for its annual health check and I’m pleased to say no split ball joint boots this year and it passed. MOTer did comment on the loud exhaust but was aware I’ve done all I can to quieten it down with the extra silencer. It’s now SORN and will be making a welcome return to the road next year.

 

[DavebGsi]

Looking good mate, I taxed mine again this month but with the unpredictable weather I feel like it might be in vane!

 

[harvey]

I noticed the exhaust tips had started to crack and peel 3yrs after having them ceramic coated.

Due to the above issue I decided to try another company Maldon Shotblasting & Powder Coating and had them recoated in Graphite Black.

Prior to fitting I painted the shiny stainless steel rear visible face in black VHT.

Then jacked up for easier access and yes I used axle stands, safety first!

All done, sealed and bolted in place.

 

[harvey]

I decided it was about time the Astra V6 had an oil change as it was last done in August 2018, oh heck. It’s only covered around 1,300miles since then but I still felt I had neglected the poor thing. Out it was dug from the Winter slumber and last month it got some loving and check over for its 2023 usage.

Brought the engine up to temp and removed the sump bung and left it dripping to get every last drop of oil out.

The early Vauxhall V6 lumps are a bit of a pain as the oil filter is located on the front of the block and if you don’t shove a rag into the gap just below between block and sump the oil can go everywhere and you end up chasing random drips between the lowest point of the bellhousing and block. They later used paper cartridge filters but these cost more than the metal screw-on version so I stuck with the early filter setup obviously, lol.

Nothing but the finest old school genuine stock from my shed stash, this only leaves me one more OE oil filter on my shelf from way back and my bulk purchase pre PSA takeover

 

[harvey]

On Saturday the wife and I popped along to the new VauxALL show held at The British Motor Museum displaying on the Vauxhall Drivers Club stand. A fab show with a relaxed atmosphere and some lovely cars.

 

[DavebGsi]

Looks like a good car show, I might look at going next year.

did you go with a club?

 

[harvey]

I was on the VxDC stand but any club can register to display. It was a decent turnout & good mix of motors with the added bonus of the museum