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Author Topic: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..  (Read 13505 times)

Offline Darren

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Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« on: September 24, 2010, 07:00:34 AM »
Another car related titbit from me ... it's all I have been doing in the workshop for months ...  :dremel:

On the MK2 Vauxhall Astra there is a design flaw on the drivers side engine mount. Simply put the the mount needs to move aprox 10mm towards the engine as it tends to rip the rubber inner from the outer casing in short fashion.

An easier approach is to make a simple spacer plate to take up the gap. You can see the triangular bracket bolted to the engine middle left. This attaches to the engine mount fixed to the chassis. Either the engine bracket wants moving 10mm left or the engine mount needs moving 10mm right. Or as I did make a spacer to go between the two.




A bit of 10mm thick scrap ally to cut it from.



A bit of milling.



All shaped up



A couple of holes



That'll do nicely



A couple of longer bolts and we're in ... job done ...! (sorry for the poor pic)

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Offline John Rudd

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2010, 07:18:36 AM »
hmmm...another nice job... :bow:

Where did you get that plate from?  :scratch:  (where's the green envy smily?
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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2010, 07:59:06 AM »
Thanks John,
The rest of the car is coming along well too .. won't be long now  :ddb:

That ally plate has been knocking around for the last 15yrs, about time I used a bit of it  :lol:

I did make some motorbike foot hangers and levers from it many years ago ... oh and the from brake caliper bracket.

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Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2010, 10:19:58 AM »
Very nice fix.

Any mods done to the lump?

Eric
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2010, 11:33:27 AM »
Some nice work there Darren!

Can't help but feel it's a bit wasted on a Vauxhall, though  :loco:  :lol:
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Offline John Rudd

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2010, 12:02:20 PM »
Quote from: AdeV on September 24, 2010, 11:33:27 AM

Can't help but feel it's a bit wasted on a Vauxhall, though  :loco:  :lol:

Oh...dont get me started.... :doh:
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2010, 12:17:17 PM »
Just another, simple improvement Darren. They all add up, and make the difference, when you can......  :thumbup:

Well done!  :clap: :clap:

David D
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Offline John Hill

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2010, 04:05:09 AM »
Quote from: AdeV on September 24, 2010, 11:33:27 AM
Some nice work there Darren!

Can't help but feel it's a bit wasted on a Vauxhall, though  :loco:  :lol:

Some models of the Vauxhall Astra were sold in NZ as Pontiacs***  (Canada and the US too)

*** "Poor old Nigel thinks its a Cadilac"
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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2010, 05:37:56 AM »
Sold with a turbo engine too I believe John? We didn't get that option here .... :(
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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2010, 05:39:56 AM »
Quote from: AdeV on September 24, 2010, 11:33:27 AM
Some nice work there Darren!

Can't help but feel it's a bit wasted on a Vauxhall, though  :loco:  :lol:

Hey Ade, been offered a clean Capri here, think it's a 2.8 for 500 notes ... I may just disgrace myself  :lol:
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Offline John Rudd

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2010, 08:14:20 AM »
Quote
Hey Ade, been offered a clean Capri here, think it's a 2.8 for 500 notes ... I may just disgrace myself  :lol:

Got any pics Darren?  :thumbup:
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Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2010, 08:18:07 AM »
We had a version of the Capri here. Was made by Mercury and was nothing more than a mustang. Same there?

Eric
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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2010, 08:25:10 AM »
Quote from: John Rudd on September 25, 2010, 08:14:20 AM
Quote
Hey Ade, been offered a clean Capri here, think it's a 2.8 for 500 notes ... I may just disgrace myself  :lol:

Got any pics Darren?  :thumbup:

Not seen it myself yet John ...
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Offline John Rudd

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2010, 08:26:34 AM »
Quote from: Brass_Machine on September 25, 2010, 08:18:07 AM
We had a version of the Capri here. Was made by Mercury and was nothing more than a mustang. Same there?

Eric

Eric,

There were several versions of the Capri sold here.
The mk1 came with a 1.3 or 1.6 litre engine ( based on the old 'Kent' engine ohv ) later models released had a V four engine in them. (taken from the old Ford Corsair)
The mk2 had the Pinto engine as a 1.6 or 2.0 litre, then there was a 3 litre version again a V six ( commonly known as the Essex engine)
The mk3 launched around 1983/84 basically was a facelift model of the mk2 but the 3 litre engine was swapped in favour of the Cologne 2.8 fuel injected engine with a higher output...

I owned a 1986 2.0 litre model wasn't particularly fast.... :coffee:

The Capri disappeared around 1987 and was allegedly replaced by the Ford Probe that didnt do particularly well here...

Bit of a historical run down for you... :D

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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2010, 08:27:44 AM »
Quote from: Brass_Machine on September 25, 2010, 08:18:07 AM
We had a version of the Capri here. Was made by Mercury and was nothing more than a mustang. Same there?

Eric

Yeah but I bet they put a proper engine in it though .. mine from years ago was a 1.6L / 102.5cu. Nice to drive though I really liked mine.

Maybe I'm getting old and the past looks rosy as I seem to be looking at older cars these days  :lol:
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2010, 06:26:59 PM »
For 500 notes Darren, it's a steal. Pretty much any roadworthy Capri is fetching £1k+ these days, nice ones are pushing £3-4k, and a decent Brooklands will fetch north of £12k... Bonkers money for a dagenham rust-bucket with a fairly weak engine (the 2.8i never was one of the best, although it does sound good in full song).

If it's any consolation, I recently paid £400 just for a Capri LSD.... got the shell for an extra 50 quid....
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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #16 on: September 26, 2010, 03:35:40 AM »
Hi Ade, I did look at another one a couple of weeks ago, needs sills, a pillar and some under bonnet welding for £300. I would need to look underneath first though to check the chassis. Not running but has a 2l pinto in it.

And I just missed a Manta A on the road tax and tested for ... you won't believe this £125 ..  :jaw:, now they can look nice done up. I was gutted as I've been looking for one for a while.

The right one will turn up one day ... still .. got to finish the  ... Astra first getting there ...
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Offline Shepherduke

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #17 on: September 27, 2010, 11:48:07 AM »
Hi Darren, is that a picture of the bike that caused all your grief?  Keep taking the tablets!
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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #18 on: September 27, 2010, 12:21:10 PM »
No Mate, that's the one I bought once I could walk again (took me two years) I bought it standard and it ended up looking like that.

Look like this standard, find the parts I didn't modify or change ... you'll have a job ...!!

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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #19 on: September 28, 2010, 08:21:27 AM »
I literally stumbled across this and I just couldn't resist posting it here ...

Hi Ralph ... mate  :wave:


I'll go and hide now ....  :lol:
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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #20 on: September 28, 2010, 08:35:39 AM »
Quote from: Brass_Machine on September 24, 2010, 10:19:58 AM
Very nice fix.

Any mods done to the lump?

Eric

Sorry Eric I missed your post,

Yes quite a bit was done to the engine, lightweight forged pistons. The standards were also light & forged but these new ones are more so and raised the comp to 11.5:1. Con-rods big end machined to take out the ovality and balanced. Up-rated bolts to suit. Block re-bored to new piston size. Crank fully re-ground/balanced with new shells fitted. Head re-worked to improve flow. Lightened flywheel to 4.5kg from 9kg. Uprated clutch. Cometic head gasket. (other bits and bobs too)

More mods to come shortly to bring the speck up higher.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2010, 10:22:05 AM by Darren »
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Offline Divided he ad

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #21 on: September 28, 2010, 07:49:09 PM »
Quote
I'll go and hide now ....   :lol:

I don't know.... All these guys with there hoarse power envy... I'd hide too  ::)


Still not got any pic's of mine from the outside?!  I'll have to get that sorted. It was all polished up for Sunday too.... 'Nother car show :-)



People seem to have forgotten the 3.1 RS Capri too    :headbang:    :ddb:   Saw quite a few at the RS National show on Sunday. They fetch into the excessive thousands!!





Ralph. (the guy with the Astra eating ford  :poke:)


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Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #22 on: September 28, 2010, 08:00:18 PM »
Quote from: Divided he ad on September 28, 2010, 07:49:09 PM
...
Still not got any pic's of mine from the outside?!  I'll have to get that sorted. It was all polished up for Sunday too.... 'Nother car show :-)
...

Bring on the pictures brother!
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Offline Darren

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Re: Modifying an Astra Engine mount ..
« Reply #23 on: September 29, 2010, 03:50:16 AM »
Yes Ralph, you've had it for a while and no pictures .... and it's been to shows ?
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