Figz's Astra Duo Project

[Andy_Mk3]

Ok here we go folks! Here's my diary for my first car. Astra Mk3 1.6 8v Duo

I picked it up on Monday 22nd December for £350. There's hardly any rust on it and it really is a solid car, very good buy as far as I'm concerned It's got just over 127k on the clock, so just run-in nicely

My plans are to leave it pretty much standard in terms of looks, as it has nice colour coded bumpers and front fog lights already. I will be changing small things though. I'll pretty much end up with a Mk3 sport rep, with a few extra gadgets

Car
Astra Duo 1997

Engine
1.6 8v. X16SZR converted to C16SE. De-cat, race centre section, 3" tail pipe, Mattig 4-2-1 manifold. De-restricted airbox, pipercross panel filter.

Transmission
Standard 5 speed gearbox (F13)

Suspension
Apex springs, 40mm drop all round. Standard front shock absorbers, Koni adjustables on the rear.

Brakes
Vectra 288mm front brakes. Standard drums at the rear. Goodridge braided brake hoses.

Styling
GSi rear spoiler, de-tangoed rear GSi lights, smoked side repeaters, two-piece angel eye headlights with 6000k HIDs, Omega bonnet struts.

Interior
Cruise control, electric windows, one-touch electric sunroof, multi-function trip computer, sport interior, white LED dash conversion, Vectra chrome door handles, Omega variable intermittant wiper delay.

ICE & Security
TOAD alarm. Alpine head unit, 12" Sony sub powered by Boss Audio amp. Vibe 6.5" components, powered by JL Audio amp.

Performance
Rolling road result before engine conversion: 79.91bhp, 100.88ft-lbs. Post engine conversion 99.91bhp, ~110ft-lbs.

Future Plans:
To be replaced with a 1.6 Sport on bodies

 

[Andy_Mk3]

First progress update.. it's christmas eve, the sun was out and I finished work at 11.30am, so I got cracking with getting the car cleaned.

Here is how it stood before washing..

Firstly I got the pressure washer out and spent some time getting the much off, blasting the arches and also getting bits of green moss off the sunroof.

Here's how it stood during and after washing..

Then once clean and dry, it was time for a polish, so I chose my weapons:

Then after some rubbing it looked like this..

I only had time to do the bonnet, both wings and drivers door today, so I'll finish it off on boxing day

 

[Space Cadet]

Car looks good mate

 

[KinG^Lee]

de-bump strip ?

 

[Alex]

Should keep you busy for a while then Andy

 

[savage16v]

Glad to see you have a thread on the go mate

 

[rickisgrate]

how much for the house?

 

[rc]

looks tidy mate!

 

[Twelfty]

ooooo shiney

 

[Andy_Mk3]

Car looks good mate

Cheers!

de-bump strip ?

Nah, keeping standard. I don't like de-bump strip on 5 doors anyway!

Should keep you busy for a while then Andy

It should indeed, I have 5 months to do it at least

Glad to see you have a thread on the go mate

Cheers

how much for the house?

£250k

looks tidy mate!

Thanks

ooooo shiney

Yeah it's getting there, need more polishing and should be alright eventually

 

[Kev_mk3]

does the TVR come with the house? looks great mate. personally if your keeping standard bumpers get something like the Irmscher roof spoiler like Matt Daly is selling not a GSI as it looks daft otherwise.

Fiat rear wiper and de restrict the airbox now job done

 

[Andy_Mk3]

TVR doesn't come with the house! It's been there for over 2 years now though.

Ta for the info!

 

[Kev_mk3]

heres the spoiler for you aswell so you know what it looks like on my old sport (basically what your doing )-

 

[Andy_Mk3]

ah that doesn't look too bad that.. i think i need to find some sport alloys, or something with a simular look

 

[Kev_mk3]

sport alloys are easy to get mate, bloody gorgeous wheels imo

 

[Andy_Mk3]

was yours dropped 40mm?

 

[Kev_mk3]

was yours dropped 40mm?

gmax shocks with 35 / 40mm eibach springs. Gmax where perfect on my 1.6 i had but as the 2ltr in the sport was heavier the shocks where not the best. Personally if you get funds stick a 40mm gmax kit (shocks and springs on) will do you well

 

[Andy_Mk3]

Ok mate, I'll keep an eye out on here and on ebay for them

 

[MKDave]

Hey you've finally got one!

Whats wrong with a GSI spoiler on standard bumpers? I've got plastics and I'm still getting a GSI spoiler for my astra

 

[Andy_Mk3]

I think I prefer the GSi spoiler.. that irmy one looks a bit plain to me lol