Dos_Box Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 Another tip (from first hand experience) is that if your head gasket is going/coolent ingress you get excessive smoke from the exhaust as well.
cpjitservices Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 the lack of the temp gauge annoys me on the Corsa C/Astra H etc. What good is a warning light? It's too late by then. Or if it drops fluid, there's nothing left to fire the light..useless design. My Z series with the external thermostat (I had the internal one punched through, damn silly thing) is as close to bombproof as I can get. 2001 8 valver (so cavalier design of engine, Z16SE derived from X16SZR, which derived from C16SE/C14SE, which dates back a LONG way). People say it's the "worst of the worst" for power etc...yet the autobox will merrily spin the wheels up to 3rd, it's more than happy over the ton, and it's no slouch. Give me the old 8 valve growl.. I've boiled mine once when the internal thermo jammed shut, but the heater matrix and full fans can easily pull them down to cold very quickly. I just did it in stages to avoid thermal shock, and let the engine idle down until it was around 80 degrees on the gauge, then shut down as normal. Then fill with boiling water from a kettle. Job done, no harm befell. Best one I ever saw was a 1.8 CVH Sierra that arrived at my house one night, sounding like i was about to explode...no lights on etc. My mate jumped out and hid behind my motor..."the fanbelt's gone, I had to run without lights to get here (no alternator, no water pump). Shut it down, opened the bonnet...steam galore, 2 hoses blown off. Let it cool, reassembled it, new belt on, refilled with coolant, kicked it in the guts...and off it went quite happily. Soon destroyed by an Astra-G in a flat spin that ripped the roof clean off. Good story right there, I remember my old mans Sierra Sapphire 2.0 ltr sport, it was in black and was the GHIA model and I believe was the saloon. On an 'F' Plate. It was an absolute Gem. He was in love with it - UNTIL he came to insure it and the insurance company gave him too choices.... Hand over the keys or risk your life.... It was a cut and shut. Dont see many Sierras kicking about these days, or the old Scorpio's - Good Cars, Good Engines.... All taken over by the Mondeo which isnt a bad motor.. my mate has an R reg Verona with 209,000 on the clock and it still sails through MOT and the engine doesnt sound like its about to give up anytime soon.
Sirbendy Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 even the 1.8's were a tail happy beastie in the wet though...reliving their capri heritage a bit on the rear axle..heh..Mind you, I WOULD have a Capri..
Miscbrah Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 even the 1.8's were a tail happy beastie in the wet though...reliving their capri heritage a bit on the rear axle..heh..Mind you, I WOULD have a Capri.. I would have a Capri also, but I would have a Manta first.
cpjitservices Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 (edited) Capri's where good cars BUT personally, not my style I'd rather have ... actually no I'd have a Capri also.!!! Damn nice cars.... I'd put the Calibra next to the Capri..... Same league! Heading to eBay.... Edited November 14, 2012 by cpjitservices
twin--turbo Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 Got 2 Sierras on my drive .. Both off the road at present.... had 13 over the years and a scorpio Cosworth and a granada Cosworth.... This weekend I make a glorious return to RWD and POWER Rob 1
Miscbrah Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 Capri's where good cars BUT personally, not my style I'd rather have ... actually no I'd have a Capri also.!!! Damn nice cars.... I'd put the Calibra next to the Capri..... Same league! Heading to eBay.... £1000 will get you a STELLAR Calibra, though not the coveted turbo. £10,000 will get you a STELLAR Capri.
synaesthesia Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 Used to love Calibras. Drove an SE6 and always used to want one. @twin--turbo - bet that RWD lump is amusing in the snow and ice though?
Miscbrah Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 Used to love Calibras. Drove an SE6 and always used to want one. Well they're dirt cheap now! SEs and anything. A grand will get you a perfect one, though I imagine in ten years time they'll be as expensive as their predecessors (Mantas) with special editions commanding premiums. I got myself an SE5. 8v, black with no rust, factory BBS alloys/Irmscher suspension pack, cream leather interior. Absolutely love it:
twin--turbo Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 Both the sierras are 4x4, but some of the other ones were RWD and fun.. Spent far too long stuck with FWD things. My Currrent TDCi mondeo is being replaced with an unsensible car as I no longer need a car for big mileage... Rob
Sirbendy Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 I would have a Capri also, but I would have a Manta first. Manta, yes. Ditch the 1.8...something like a Senator/Viceroy straight-six, or a Carlton 24v, or an Omega lump... Prefer the capri though...there's a Tickford Turbo tooling round Ironbridge..the 2.8i with added turbo...that made me stare. Or the RS3100 MK1 that I often see round Atcham, with the "big wing" on the boot. LOVE the MK1..
twin--turbo Posted November 14, 2012 Posted November 14, 2012 Manta, yes. Ditch the 1.8...something like a Senator/Viceroy straight-six, or a Carlton 24v, or an Omega lump... Prefer the capri though...there's a Tickford Turbo tooling round Ironbridge..the 2.8i with added turbo...that made me stare. Or the RS3100 MK1 that I often see round Atcham, with the "big wing" on the boot. LOVE the MK1.. RS3100's and Tickfords are in the stratospher price wise. Turbo's and especial Brooklands 280's are very high too... I once had a project 1.6 laser. Rob
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