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Jan 25, 2023 13:51:16 GMT
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I don’t know of any other , only Chevettes. For the gearing, you could try and source a 1600 axle for more favourable ratios. Good point on that. Been looking around at info, as it was a 2.0 auto, I believed it had a 3.6 diff, but I've seen some people on Manta pages talking about some 3.44 diff as well? If it has a 3.44 then it explains why it feels hilariously long geared haha. Just to highlight this, its seldom we see a build thread so thoroughly detailed, frequently updated AND hitting a complete car at the end of it. Proper commendable build sir, you should defo take a step back and be proud of this one. Ah thanks mate, appreciate it. There's plenty more I want to get tidied and sorted on it really, but it has been a massive weight off my shoulders to get it driveable. Just to highlight this, its seldom we see a build thread so thoroughly detailed, frequently updated AND hitting a complete car at the end of it. Proper commendable build sir, you should defo take a step back and be proud of this one. 100% amen.... Stonking M8 👍 OVIMOR Cheers mate. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Jan 25, 2023 13:54:45 GMT
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I don’t know of any other , only Chevettes. For the gearing, you could try and source a 1600 axle for more favourable ratios. I’m not sure but did they do a 1300 version? I know Ford did 1300 Cortina’s at the time. Could be another option if you can find one. Had the opposite problem running standard axles on my Kadett when it had a mk1 Cavalier motor; over revved it in the outside lane and smashed the hydraulic tappets 😂. Great to see this done and back on the road 😎 You are right, there was a 1.3 Cavalier too, but from everything I've read the 1.3 axles are different and seem to be considered weaker? Unsure if that is true, but it makes sense. Now the 5 engine is hardly a powerhouse, but seeing as it has a bit more HP than the original 2.0 had, I wouldn't want to go blowing up a 1.3 axle haha. To be honest it's not absolutely the end of the world, but it is just a little too long, to the point that 0-whatever acceleration is noticeably affected haha. Haha yeah I certainly wouldn't want to go too short, the MX-5 has a 4.6 Kia ring gear setup in it, and it's really great fun, but I think just a bump up to around a 3.9 ratio would be perfect for the Cavalier. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Jan 26, 2023 14:46:12 GMT
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Been taking a break from the workshop and cars for the last week, and it's been lovely to be honest. However I did have to do one thing. I don't think a car like this can possibly be complete without:  A lovely set of the most chintzy fluffy red dice I could find haha. And no I'm not doing 32mph in this photo, my speedo needle has retired, it decided to do that the other night. I have a GPS speedo I use, but I'll take the cluster off and get it sorted this weekend. Everything else seems good, we had a bit of rain last night and all the electrics are still working, so that's promising! Now onto the classic quotes. I can't wait to tick off all the classics, but so far I've had: 2x "My dad had one of these" 1x "I had one of these, quick cars!" and a standard "nice car mate" from a van driver earlier on haha. The one I'm looking forward to the most is "These were sh*t when they were new", that'll be a great day. Can't wait for the winter to be over, it's filthy already!  And the poor MX-5 is much much worse haha. Think I'll give them both a jetwash this weekend. Suspension seems to have settled a little bit more, I think it's sitting bang on now. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Jan 26, 2023 15:12:28 GMT
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That's looking really nice now,
Perfect stance and everything,
If, as you talked about earlier in the thread, you spray it similar to the Mazda it'll make it even better and a stunning pair,
Nigel
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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Jan 26, 2023 17:32:56 GMT
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That looks awesome, great work  As for quotes, assuming it works both ways round, all my brother got when he had his Chevette was "nice cavalier mate"  which annoyingly I get with my Vectra B as well |
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Jan 28, 2023 21:13:02 GMT
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That's looking really nice now, Perfect stance and everything, If, as you talked about earlier in the thread, you spray it similar to the Mazda it'll make it even better and a stunning pair, Nigel Cheers mate. Yeah I think the cream would look great, but we'll see. I do like the patina look, but there's several areas where paint has been damaged and there are some patches of surface rust in these areas. Probably a good idea to get it painted at some point this year if I can be bothered 😂 That looks awesome, great work As for quotes, assuming it works both ways round, all my brother got when he had his Chevette was "nice cavalier mate" which annoyingly I get with my Vectra B as well Thanks mate. Hahaha, I have had one person mistake mine for a Chevette so far, the front end is quite similar I guess. Weird that people confuse your Vectra with a Cavalier, they're not at all alike 😂 |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Jan 28, 2023 21:30:23 GMT
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So, got a few bits sorted out today. Overall it's going nicely and driving great. Had the rear right drum getting a bit hot, pads were just a bit too close to the drum. That's sorted now, driven on dual carriageways at 60-70 and zero issues. Decided to take it to the workshop and jack the front up, just wanted to check everything, bolt check things now it's had 100 miles or so driving. Everything was completely fine, just the new front wheel bearings had the tiniest amount of play when the wheel was pulled at 12 and 6. It was such a tiny amount I had to get a mate to check it for a second opinion. Tightened the nut the tiniest amount I possibly could, and chucked a new split pin on. Both fronts now absolutely perfect. I guess it was just because they were brand new, just wanted a very small adjustment to be set perfectly. Also fluid checked everything, checked brake unions, radiator, just everywhere for leaks and other issues. Nothing at all needed, all looking good.  Absolutely loving driving it about. Overall more people seem to give way to me than I'm used to, which is funny, and convenient for me too 😂 However had a couple of people flash me that are following me, presumably commenting on the car, but I get instantly paranoid and assume something is falling off and have to pull over to check 😂 It's funny how small it looks compared to even small modern cars:  I was next to a new KA in traffic and it's just weird, everything modern makes it look so small haha. Anyway other than that I got a Bluetooth module installed so I can use Spotify on my phone. Speakers aren't all that, just cheap Pioneer ones I had lying around, but plenty good enough for me. Just need to put a phone mount in somewhere now. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Not been a huge amount going on, been pretty busy and just having a break from the workshop, but been driving it about a bit. Brought the MX-5 home as well to join it, I started up the CMAX for the first time in ages to move it and it was beeping at me like a helicopter going down haha, so my mate is going to go weigh it in this week. RIP. Great seeing them both together:   Vauxhall has been great, driven it a bit, tried out some 70mph dual carriageway driving and it's plenty happy. I want to add some thin engine mount shims as the sump is very very close to the notched subframe. Just some 6mm MX-5 ones will do the trick, will get that done in the next week. There is a ton of room for this, so no issues with tunnel clearance etc. Other than that I mentioned before the bushes all looked really good, but I will be doing these over time, as good or not they are still very old. Going to start with the rear traction arms and panhard rod bushes first I think. I believe the panhard ones you can still seem to find NOS rubber ones, but the rest are scarce to non-existent, so will likely go with the lowest hardness polys I can find. There seems to be a few options out there for polys, just don't want it to ride like the MX-5, so will look into it a bit more. Will have it back at the workshop tomorrow for a full check over, fluid check etc. I'm getting more confident in it now, but after this much work a couple of full checks after a couple of hundred miles can't hurt! |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Nice looking pair of cars, the Cavalier looks to have polished up well,
(Still think it'd look stunning in the same colour scheme as the MX5,)
Nigel
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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Nice looking pair of cars, the Cavalier looks to have polished up well, (Still think it'd look stunning in the same colour scheme as the MX5,) Nigel Yeah I'm pretty happy with them to be honest. Both need some tidying and the 5 needs a good wash and clean up, but it's nice to have the choice of 2 fun cars for every journey! Ah god don't, my girlfriend has even said she wants to help sand it, literally the worst part of the job, so I'll likely get around to it one day later this year haha. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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No massive update, but have got something sorted that was my main gripe with driving the car. I had assumed at first my exhaust was causing vibration somewhere, but it became clear the engine now it's settled slightly on the mounts was causing the cooling heatsink fins on the sump to just just about touch the subframe at certain RPM. Mainly at idle and cruise RPMs around about 3k. Anyway, nice simple fix. A common thing to do on lowered MX-5s is drop some engine raiser shims under the engine mounts, so I made some. I didn't actually remember to get any photos but like these ones that Destroy or Die make:  So imagine them, but just finished not quite as neatly on the edges, and that's basically what they look like 😂 I jacked the front up, got the engine mount nuts underneath loosened on the threads, jacked the front of the sump up with a block of wood to protect it, and dropped them in. Got everything bolted tight again and fired it up. The difference is crazy haha, it's so much nicer inside the car without the vibration, and it's one less thing to worry about, I didn't want that cast ally sump cracking from the vibration or something. Simple change, and they're small enough that no issues with bonnet clearance or engine being raised too far. The plate I used was about 5 or 6mm I think, so just raised it a bit, and still plenty of thread on the lower engine mount nut, the thread still goes all the way through the nut so that's not a problem. Nice easy job and it's a much more pleasant experience driving it now. Not much photo content but here's a front shot:  This actually reminded me that I need to look at why my bumper is sitting wonky on the driver's side, I think the mounting rubber is turned to a weird angle and causing it to sit lower. Will sort that soon. Other than that the car has been pretty much mint, been giving it some harder driving and it is just great. I mean it's no rocket ship due to the gearing, and the fact it's got a standard 5 engine, but it's plenty quick enough. I'd like to get a proper 0-60 time on it soon, don't think it'll be all that but I'd like to see how it stacks up to my 5. Been sorting a few bits on another car I used to own. Sold it to my uncle last year, my old Yaris T Sport.  Just sorting MOT for him, which it failed on rear discs, rear brake efficiency, and front droplinks. So not too bad tbh, getting that sorted and re-tested this week. This car was hands down the best all rounder car I've ever owned 😂 It's a warm hatch, not quite a hot hatch, not quite an economy hatch. But god it was fun, handles so well, not fast but quick enough, and will get 45mpg without much effort. Girlfriend is considering selling her Alto to buy it off my uncle, I'd absolutely love that. I'd be in it all the time again haha. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Superpro bushes seem to be a good compromise on shore rating mate from experience. Mix of rubber and poly also.
Manta 1800 had 3.67 ration which may help you, straight swap over whole axle.
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Superpro bushes seem to be a good compromise on shore rating mate from experience. Mix of rubber and poly also. Manta 1800 had 3.67 ration which may help you, straight swap over whole axle. Cheers mate, bushes are high on the agenda for sure once I have some cash for it, they're not exactly cheap but 100% worth doing. The SuperPro options look good, and I did find a seller that sells them in separate listings, so I can start off with the ones I want to do first and spread the cost (and absolute misery) of doing them over time. Thanks, I think getting another axle and doing a proper strip down and rebuild is a good plan, all new seals, bearings etc. just so I can drop essentially a brand new unit into it, just for peace of mind. Current axle is a bit of an unknown, but feels like it's happy for the time being. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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As a heads up bearing for manta axles are not cheap.
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Mar 10, 2023 18:33:18 GMT
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As a heads up bearing for manta axles are not cheap. Sorry mate forgot to reply to this. You're not wrong haha, not ideal, but I would like to get another axle and get it properly refreshed, so might start buying bits over time to spread the cost a little. |
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Last Edit: Mar 10, 2023 18:33:49 GMT by bilbomk1
1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Mar 10, 2023 18:35:09 GMT
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So, not been on here in a while! Not a dead thread though I promise, just been driving it. It's so good. It's actually so good 😂 I've been driving it a load to "bed it in" so to speak. I've put about 1,300 miles on it now, really just wanted to put it through its paces as a daily driver, and it's been absolutely flawless. I had one very small fuel leak on the fuel filter, a jubilee just wasn't quite nipped up enough, other than that it's been perfect. In the rain, the frosts we've had, it just starts and goes. My heater seal on the firewall has come away a bit so heater is a little less powerful right now than I'd like, but I'll fix that this weekend. I still find it so amusing parking amongst modern cars, it's actually quite a small car really in comparison to the bloated crossovers and the like that are knocking about.  Even gave it a little run down to work, they've put an absolutely disgusting massive rubber speed bump in on the entrance though, which is total misery. Had a couple of people asking "who's Cavalier is that downstairs?". Gets a lot of interest wherever you go really, I'm still not quite used to it yet haha.  Anyway I said I wanted to try a mk1 Golf front lip, so ordered one from Classic VW, was under £30 so worth trying at that price.  Honestly I'm not really sure on it, like it almost looks good, but the way it needs to sit to bolt on is just a little high up for me, and the ends aren't quite long enough to sit flush on the front valance edge. I've got a potential breaker with an OE front lip that I'm currently messaging someone about, so might just go and get that this weekend. Overall though, bloody love this car, it's so great just cruising about in it, and once you get the revs up its actually not a slouch either. So pleased. The MX-5 is being seriously neglected right now, poor thing. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Mar 10, 2023 23:10:53 GMT
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Great to see. You didn’t hang about getting it Road worthy.
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Great to see. You didn’t hang about getting it Road worthy. Yeah so glad I put the effort in, booking various retro shows this year, it'll be nice to go in something a bit more retro show worthy than an MX-5. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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So, other than a couple of little fuel leaks, and a blocked fuel tank vent that was causing fume smell (both now sorted), the car has been awesome. The sun has come out a couple of times, and it's been lovely cruising about in it. Anyway the other day I hit a bit of an issue. Literally. Smashed into a bit of an issue haha. Was going down a road with some particularly disgusting ruts caused by buses and HGVs, avoided a broken drain and drove straight into a rather nasty deep but short rut in the road. Rear suspension compressed and the exhaust basically just exploded haha. Now my exhaust is not perfectly tucked, but it doesn't hit the floor at all really, only on speed bumps and stuff. I am planning to properly tuck and bend it up nice and high when I get the time and parts to do so. But yeah so this rut caught my centre box behind the midpipe so hard that it ripped the centre box backwards. The clamp was done up so tight as well, but out it came, and pushed the centre box and axle bend literally around the axle itself. Pancaked it around the axle, I've literally never seen anything like this before haha:  Anyway this obviously left my midpipe hanging by the flexi pipe. So dragged it about 200 yards down the road and pulled over. Car full of shopping, girlfriend went looking for any bit of exhaust that might have been left behind, and I tried working out how we were getting home. Luckily I had an enormous white cable tie in the car, so I zipped the midpipe up near the floor, and we limped it home sounding like a Spitfire haha.  A couple of days later I got the centre box clamped back onto the midpipe and drove it to the unit, just held up with multiple cable ties and no backbox. Was pretty grim, but it made it just about. Now fixed with some bodged exhaust bends for now until I make my new tucked system in the next few weeks.  Gave it another wash as well:   I've booked a few retro shows, I'll be at Holmes Hill Launch Day on the retro Sunday, I've applied for Players Classic in June, and I'll book my Retro Rides Goodwood Sunday ticket this week as well. Probably be some others I'll go to as well. |
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1980 Vauxhall Cavalier - MX-5 VVT engine/box conversion, GSXR ITBs
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Blimey, that tube is proper smashed lol. At least it caused no other damage. The rods are the worst I’ve ever seen lately
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which annoyingly I get with my Vectra B as well