My new '84 CD

[spiney_norman]

Evening chaps/chappettes, about time I introduced myself. My name's Rob, I grew up around old Opels and Vauxhalls as my dad and uncle always had Senators, Monzas and Royales when I was a kid. Got into mk1 Cavaliers a few years ago and I've had half a dozen of them so far, still got my coupe which is mechanically sound but in a pretty dire state body-wise, but it will live again one day! I've been to Billing for the last three years with the Manta club as well, so I've seen a few of your lovely motors 

Anyway, last year I found a Viva estate in a shed with 13k miles on it from new and spent the next few months tracking down bits for it and generally getting it back towards it's former glory. Eventually I decided it was time for it to go to someone who had the money to finish the job properly and do the car justice, so of course as soon as it was sold I was on the hunt for the next project. Then this came up on ebay...

[img width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/spiney_norman/20130224_163134_zps76606490.jpg

[img width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/spiney_norman/20130224_163148_zps90f5ceae.jpg

[img width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/spiney_norman/20130224_163215_zpsb5c7ec9e.jpg

[img width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/spiney_norman/20130224_163202_zpsa843718b.jpg

[img width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/spiney_norman/20130224_163236_zps6fd795cf.jpg

Now I've had plenty of mk1 Cavs and my first proper car was a mk3, but I'd never had a mk2 before. I remembered the SRi my Dad had about 15 years ago (A643 NHO - still out there anywhere?) and it was fairly local so after a speculative bid I won it. It was advertised as a non-runner, but how hard could it be? When I turned up to collect it I was told the seller suspected it was a fuelling problem. I spent an afternoon with the help of my dad and uncle, checked everything over, reconnected the wire to one of the injectors and with a couple of gallons of fresh petrol it fired up and ran perfectly.

Next step was the MOT, which it failed as expected. It had been stood in a shed for a couple of years, so needed attention to the tyres, brakes, all the usual things you'd expect, and a small patch on the NS sill. With that all now sorted it's off for the retest in the morning, and will hopefully be on the road some time in early March, as soon as I can afford the tax disc!

The plan for the moment is to smoke it round for at least a few months, see if I like it or not then go from there. It's a pretty sound car generally, and I'm really looking forward to getting it out to a few shows soon!

[Matt O-SRi]

That looks ace Rob!! Very clean and early too!!  ;D

Look after it, looks a goodun and welcome to the club!! 

[spiney_norman]

Thanks Matt! It's got a shiny new 12 month ticket as of this afternoon, just need to sort out some tyres which are newer than 30 years old and a tax disc then give the interior a serious clean

[Guest]

She looks lovely! I really like the colour.

[gonch]

Really nice that is.

I thought early Cd's came in only brown and gold?, obviously not.

[Rabbit]

Thats a cracking colour    8)

[kensascona]

are you still needing a foglamp

[spiney_norman]

Yep, still after a foglamp if you've got a spare one Ken? Let me know!

And thanks for the kind words everyone. I remember a lot of CDs when I was a kid being done in very... err... "80s" colours, really happy to have found one in an unusual colour that to me looks much better than brown

[Matt O-SRi]

Stalk on its way mate 

[spiney_norman]

Cheers dude!

[Guest]

She looks lovely! I really like the colour.

I agree. It is the metallic blue they used before they brought in the slightly lighter Helios Blue in late 83. Had an SRi in it at the time.

[Matt O-SRi]

Had an SRi in it at the time.

You should post some pics of it up John. Would be interested to see them.

[kensascona]

Yep, still after a foglamp if you've got a spare one Ken? Let me know! yes mate ive found the fog lamp how does £15 posted sound to you

And thanks for the kind words everyone. I remember a lot of CDs when I was a kid being done in very... err... "80s" colours, really happy to have found one in an unusual colour that to me looks much better than brown

my mates got a A reg ascona cd hatch in beige i also knew of a A reg auto in white but that one got broken up  :(

[spiney_norman]

£15 posted sounds spot on thanks, PM me your payment details and I'll get you some money sent!

The hose is done, had to take the inlet manifold off to get at it but it's sorted now. Think the system's airlocked as the heater's blowing cold, but that should be easy enough to sort out. This car's really coming together nicely

[Guest]

Cooling shouldn't airlock as its self purging. Is the water pump OK?

[andy]

Pump, blocked matrix or thermostat - I've seen all do strange things to temperature!

[spiney_norman]

Thanks for the replies guys, it was pointing downhill when I did it, don't know if that has anything to do with it. I assume the water pump's alright, the engine certainly doesn't overheat. I have noticed a bit of white foam in the header tank, but it's not oily, more like someone's tried flushing it with washing up liquid in the past. I'll keep an eye on it, I was thinking it was probably a good idea to do the HG, cambelt and water pump before too long anyway!

[spiney_norman]

Haven't been on here for a while so probably time for a quick update! Not a lot to report except that it's all going really well, turned out the heater wasn't blowing cold, I just had my hands over the fresh air vents in the middle of the dash 

No problems to report on the cooling front either, seems to have calmed down with a bit of use, it's losing a little bit of water but nothing I'm worried about and I've done quite a few miles in it now. Had some problems with the front brakes binding on, solved with a brand new master cylinder luckily.

I'll be at the RR Gathering on the Sunday as well, I'm the big beardy guy in the cowboy hat with the Manta club if anyone wants to come say hello!