coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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Thought I'd do a diary of my current project, Bought this CAT C car recently off this forum and intend to put it back on the road, but with a V6 lump in it.
The idea is to end up with a spec like;
X30XE (or X25XE with 3.0 cams) engine
Cav/Cally turbo brakes
5 Stud
Cav Turbo wheels
F28 G'Box
Coilovers
Facelift bumpers
Power steering
The base car:
1996 'N' 1.4i Sport
47k miles
The write off pictures (doesn't look much!). Was written off July '07.
The repairs taking place (5th & 6th April '08)
The car as of 6th April '08.
Next thing for me to do is get some seatbelt pretensioners, MOT the car, then take it for a VIC check at Oldham. Should be back on the road by mid May. 
The bumper can stay red, 'cos I'm after a set of facelift bumpers, depo lights, new plastics and debadged grille anyway, but they're not going on until the conversion has happened as I'll only end up marking or damaging them as we work on it.
The only aspect of the conversion likely to be outsourced is the painting, where poss, we (me and a mate) will do it ourselves.
I'll try keep this updated as it progresses, any pitfalls we find, and other bits and bobs of info...
Cheers, Col.
[Edited on 23-05-2008 by coldanconversions]
[Edited on 26-05-2008 by coldanconversions]
[Edited on 27-05-2008 by coldanconversions]
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Adam C
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Jan 07
Location: Cornwall UK Drives:Arden Blue Gsi T
User status: Offline
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Looks and sounds like its going to be a really good project, always had a soft spot for black corsa with the red strip down the side
Will keep an eye on this project
My Arden Blue Astra GSi MK4 on BBS LM's Project Thread
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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Update on the project...
First off, it passed it's MOT and VIC so the cars insured and back on the road!
It's had the bonnet and bumper painted black now (although the bumpers will be changed to facelift soon anyway).
...and I've got the following parts ready/ordered to go on when I do the swap;
X30XE Engine (headgaskets gone though) from an Omega MV6
F28 6 Speed Gearbox from a Cally Turbo
V6 Engine Mount Kit
F28 Gearbox Mount Kit
F28 Gearbox
Flat type Flywheel
Cav V6 Discs (new)
Cav V6 Calipers
Motorsport Driveshafts
New Wheel Bearings
5 Stud Conversion Hubs
Big Block CV Joints
Chassis Strengthening Kit
Rear Disc Conversion Plates
Powerflex Polybush Kit (Full Car Kit)
Cally Turbo 16" Alloys
FK Coilovers
and the not so important stuff (as fas as getting it converted goes);
Toad Ai606 CAT1 Alarm
LMF Badgeless Grille
Depo Smoked Headlights (on the group buy)
New Arch Plastics
Smooth Handles
3 Spoke Corsa Steering Wheel
Omega Illuminated Grab Handles
Omega Adjustable Intermittent Wiper Stalk (Dunno If It'll Work, But I'll Try!)
Laguna Splitter
German Pressed Steel Plates
So it's all coming together nicely. Next thing is to find a knackered Cav V6 (anyone know of one?) cos I need the inlet, ECU, wiring, rear hubs, rear calipers, sump, and starter motor.
Will hopefully be in a position to start the conversion by mid-July.
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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a few update photo's...
Front bumper being painted:
The car as it is today (sweet rims!):
The donor engine (ex Police Omega MV6 X30XE):
Stripping the MV6 out (there's a hell of a lot of ancillary stuff to get out before you get to the important stuff!)
The engine should be out tomorrow morning, then I need to strip it down to diagnose the problem. It's a suspected head gasket, but I won't know for sure until I can see it.
Coming along nicely. 
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stu_c
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Registered: 11th Dec 07
Location: Westleigh, Greater Manchester
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like 2 see this when done good luck mate
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Adam-D
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Registered: 11th May 02
Location: Cheshire
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i would also like to see this finished
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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So would I  ...Cheers tho peeps!
Can't wait to get it it finished, but I have a feeling it's gonna be a month or so, then maybe 2-3 weeks off the road.
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James_H
Member
Registered: 16th Sep 07
Location: Slough, Berkshire
User status: Offline
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be worth it for sure
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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More progress today... Although I wish I hadn't bothered!
Got the engine out and there is the brown 'mayo' everywhere! it's all in the inlet, throttle bodies, sump, round the top end... everywhere. Can't understand how the engine even ran!
There's also a s**t load of oil sat in cylinder 6 (see pic below  ), and some was in cylinder 1. Cylinders 2-5 ware okay, just coked up a bit.
With all this crap splashing about in 1 & 6 though the bores have been marked slightly, so it's going to need some attention to smooth them back out.
Which means that along with a new gasket kit that I'd planned, I'm now ordering a new set of piston rings and I may also get the big and little end bearings...
Which I'm pleased about! 
At least in the end I should get a solid 3.0 litre motor out of all this effort.
It's out! (took about 4 hours all in all)
The very poorly X30XE lump
You can see the oil just sat in number 6....
What a mess!
[Edited on 26-05-2008 by coldanconversions]
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cjohnson
Member
Registered: 27th Apr 08
Location: silsden,west yorks.Drive: Astra van
User status: Offline
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wowza... Been talking to this lad tonight about his project as he's from near me... It's gonna be a beast of a car! Engine looks a state though!! I'll keep my eye on this
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Simon_16v
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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Is it the headgasket thats gone on it?
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by cjohnson
wowza... Been talking to this lad tonight about his project as he's from near me... It's gonna be a beast of a car! Engine looks a state though!! I'll keep my eye on this
Alright fella! We'll get there in the end... I just stuck an order in at KG Motaquip for the bits to sort the engine.... £540!
Good job I've got the Omega to weigh in and a few bits to sell, or this engine would be worthless. It'll cost me more that I bargained for, but I'm just going on the fact I'll know the engine's solid once it's done.
I also ordered a cool running thermostat and a 4 Bar fuel pressure regulator from Courtenay Sport (another £90).
Gonna price up bottom end bearings and shells tomorrow, but they're a dealer only part so will no doubt be an absolute fortune.
quote:
Originally posted by Simon_16v Is it the headgasket thats gone on it?
Yeah it is, these engines don't suffer from head gasket failure as a rule, but this one has... Big time!
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ainsley_brader
Member
Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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have you checked the oil cooler?
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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I was about to say that, that's normally the culprit with Vauxhall V6s, rather than the HGs
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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Not checked it yet but I'm pretty sure it hasn't gone (there was no sign of oil in the header tank or any of the coolant drained from the car).
After the heads were removed you could quite easily see where the HG had failed (right hand bank next to cyl 6).
I know what you mean though, I half expected the oil cooler myself, but when I saw the trademark white smoke and there being no oil in the water, it seemed to be all pointing to a HG.
The cooler may have gone as well though, in which case I'll be properly pissed off!...
I'll be taking the cooler out this next weekend, we gave up on it yesterday as one of the bolts to the block is all chewed up, and we were getting nowhere fast with it!
[Edited on 27-05-2008 by coldanconversions]
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col
Member
Registered: 1st May 08
Location: cumbria
User status: Offline
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cool project keep at it
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Adam C
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Jan 07
Location: Cornwall UK Drives:Arden Blue Gsi T
User status: Offline
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Nice to see this project still going, shame about the engine but it will be worth it in the end
My Arden Blue Astra GSi MK4 on BBS LM's Project Thread
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Crazy LEDs
Member
Registered: 14th Sep 06
Location: County Durham
User status: Offline
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Nice one
did it piss its MOT as it is such a solid original rust free Corsa i was sad to see it go
I would also check OC before anything else on a V6
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Crazy LEDs
Nice one
did it piss its MOT as it is such a solid original rust free Corsa i was sad to see it go
I would also check OC before anything else on a V6
Alright fella, yeah it pretty much just went straight through... It just needed front discs before it went in for it.
Gotta say, the car is a great example. Solid shell with no rust or cracks on the B pillar around the doors... Spot on! Drives nicely too.
Update on the project-
More stuff changed this weekend (didn't get much done tho, stag do in Liverpool was top priority this weekend!). The FK Highsport Coilovers arrived on Thursday, so got them fitted and set up.
Here's yesterday/today's update photos for everyone
The before picture:
The Kit:
Great kit, easy to asssemble and install, no instructions though.
After  :
Was totally pissing it down, so it's a crap picture. Also managed to rip the splitter off on a speed hump within half hour of driving.. Clipped straight back in tho.
The front splitter now sits exactly 3 and a half inches from the road
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cjohnson
Member
Registered: 27th Apr 08
Location: silsden,west yorks.Drive: Astra van
User status: Offline
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lookin ace now mate, you got any further with the lump yet??
Carl...
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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are you expecting those coilovers to be suitable for when the new engine goes in?
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by cjohnson
lookin ace now mate, you got any further with the lump yet??
Carl...
Cheers mate, it actually sits pretty well on them. Will be loads better when I get the cally turbo rims on. But I can't do that till engines in and hubs are on.
Engines not come on any further this week. Got most of my bits ready, just waiting for an oil cooler to turn up. Could be a few weeks for the engine yet.
quote:
Originally posted by Dave A
are you expecting those coilovers to be suitable for when the new engine goes in?
Good question, I'm hoping they'll be suitable... I've been speaking to a guy whose got a 2.5 Corsa and he's using GAZ Coilovers... Says their no bother.
I'll obviously have to raise the ride height at the front once the engine's in to take up the extra static sag. My thinking behind it is that they're a generic Corsa B kit, so I'm assuming they're catering from base engine through to GSi and even the diesels.. Which tend to be significantly heavier than petrols. 3.0 V6 heavy? I donubt it, but hopefully it'll still be up to the job.
Worst case I'll have speak with FK to try swap the springs, but I'll cross that bridge when/if I come to it.
What's your opinion on it? You think they'll be alright? Any suggestions if not?
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dan-h
Member
Registered: 28th Jan 06
User status: Offline
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need higher poundage springs to cope with the extra weight
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coldanconversions
Member
Registered: 26th Mar 08
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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Is that opinion or or experience? I've heard all sorts of things on this one, but who to listen to it's hard to tell.
What exactly is the extra weight we're talking about here anyway? Does anyone know? I've never actually heard anyone say that converting to a V6 adds an extra ?kg to your kerbweight... It seems to be a wierd unknown about this type of swap.
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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Dan is right, you will need higher poundage springs, although the damping on those units is pre-set so you wont be able to match the damping rate to the new higher spring poundage.
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