January 10, 20233 yr comment_224163 Hi there guysĀ I am Curtley Prince from South Africašæš¦šæš¦ I've owned my 1985 Opel Ascona 1.8 Gls 5speed Hatchback for the last 4 years.Ā Through the years the car has seen many repairs or should I say tasteful upgrades.Ā Bought the car with 13 inchĀ steel wheels.Ā Processed to buy whiteĀ 14 inch tear drops. Drove the car for few monthsĀ Battery gave inĀ Replaced batteryĀ Fuel pump gave inĀ Replaced itĀ Then the carburatorĀ Replaced it with KEIHIN KS2 popular conversion in South Africa (citi golf carburator)Ā Got a counterfeit pan cake K&N filterĀ Cylinder two on the head didn't have any sparkĀ Got head reconditionedĀ Accelerator cable brokeĀ Used a mk1 golf accelerator cableĀ I thought the carburator was faulty because the settings wasn't properĀ Ā Near the end of 2020 the head gasket went unbeknownst to me.Ā Replaced the fuel pump againĀ Unfortunately didn't solve the issueĀ In April 2021Ā The head gasket was doneĀ Carburator was reconditionedĀ In May 2021 I replaced the front brake padsĀ In August 2021Ā The right rear wheel cylinder burstĀ Which caused the wheel to lockĀ Left the car like thatĀ In 2022 JanuaryĀ I proceed to fit the astra mk2 rear disc setup Drove the car like that for better part of a yearĀ without handbrakeĀ In August 2022 I imported left mirror from UKĀ Cause they are extremely rare in South AfricaĀ in October 2022Ā I had the tear drops reconditioned I got Lcd digital cluster fittedĀ Ignition wire burned for a second time.Ā November 2022 I fitted the cheapestĀ HID kitsĀ I could find.Ā Demeber 2022Ā I fitted 256mm front discs with FN52/24 calipersĀ January 2023Ā I fitted astra mk5 rear disc setupĀ After bleeding the brakes the brake master cylinder gave inĀ Huge fluid leak into the brake boosterĀ I was lucky to find a suitable replacement apparently the escort mk3 and opel ascona uses the same brake master cylinder.Ā Ā Report
January 10, 20233 yr CLUB MEMBER comment_224170 Awesome.....welcome to the site Current mk2 stock: 3 LXs: white c20xe, blue & red std, blue LX parts car, blue GLi, & monaro VXR Renault 5e daily (french go kart) Report
January 10, 20233 yr comment_224176 Welcome to the site, that looks like a nice car is it sound underneath, The problems you have had remind me of my days of ownership with of several Triumph Dolomite Sprints few years ago. Report
January 11, 20233 yr Author comment_224189 Thank you everyone for the warm welcomes much appreciated. š Report
February 8, 20233 yr Author comment_224257 Hi there everyone so I bought a mid spec snowplough still look looking for left side. If anyone has one please let me know if you are willing to send it to South Africa.Ā Ā Report
October 3, 20233 yr Author comment_224745 Haven't done much to this one yet in the last few months. I've only done repairs. Fuel pumpĀ Leaking fuel pipesĀ Brakes felt very spongy but think I'm use to it now. Digital cluster isn't working stuck at 0km/HĀ Still need to sort out the handbrake cable. Ā Report
November 7, 20232 yr comment_224774 That's a good list of stuff you have ticked off, what's next on the list to do? Report
November 14, 20232 yr Author comment_224785 Hi there just a cheeky little update on my Ascona haven't been able to work on the car with the new baby she demands all my time. Ā Unfortunately not the good kind of updatešĀ I've found an oil leak that I've yet to determine the sourceĀ Engine is covered in oilĀ However found out where one oil leak is coming from near the oil pump. The rest is still a mystery. Also found that the radiator is leaking seems like I will be needing one sooner than I thought š¤ Yes I've two fuel filters on so that the carburettor doesn't flood. I am using a fuel separator and a universal electric fuel pump. So the list continue on what still needs fixing šā¬ļø Ā°Handbrake doesn't work so need to get custom cables or use astra mk5Ā cables. Ā°Digital cluster sort out it's bugsĀ Ā°Temperate gauge isn't working cause it's not connected. Engine bay side. Will need new temp switch. Ā°Brakes isn't how I imagine it should be will see if I can find a different brake servo perhaps it's my servo. My problem is that brakes engage rather low and not as high as I thought it would be. Ā°Drivers seat is falling apart need new seat foam. Ā° The car has a hard start that I can figure out when you go to start it for the first time morning/afternoon/night doesn't matter it swings like the battery is completely flat then afterwards it would startĀ Don't know if it's the starter or if there is a connection problem somewhere.Ā Ā°I've yet to fit my lowering springs a bit afraid of taking the struts out š haven't removed struts before on a car that I driveĀ Only on the spare cars but will grow a pair and tackle that job when I get there. Also on the hunt for some other rims I've grown tired of the teardrops now. I'm torn on my engine choice to replace my 1800 carburettor C20xeĀ 20sehĀ X20xevĀ Z32se V6Ā C20xe is the ultimate choice but it's getting ridiculous these days. V6 is one of the engines I really want but they weren't really available in South Africa šæš¦.only available in rwd omega b 2.6 y26se So parts are very scares and only imported engines are available here. X20xev is a engine I'd settle for very underratedĀ 20seh if I can get one I will take it I won't be fussy. I've too many ideas and never stick to one. I've recently done this brakeĀ upgrade but now I want to go 5 stud š¤¦ yes you've guessed correctly turbo wheels šāŗļø Ā Ā Ā Report
April 23, 20242 yr Author comment_225190 So brief update on my ascona since I've posted lastĀ In December 2023 bloke that cutting my grass accidentally broke my left rear quarter vent windowĀ After a nightmare trying to find the glass I finally managed to find the glass Still busy installing it.Ā Ā Got the digital cluster to work somehow by itselfĀ Ā Car won't start now suspect it's the ignition switchĀ Ā Radiator leak got worse luckily managed to source a new one still need to get a brand new expansion tank and radiator hoses.Ā Ā Sourced astra mk4 handbrake cable hopefully it works š¤š¤ Ā Theres a oil leak I can't track down š¤· Don't know after 39 years if the engine is finally finished.Ā Ā Report
February 15, 20251 yr Author comment_225759 2025Ā Ā Here's what I've done so farĀ Chrome exterior handlesĀ Chrome interior handles senatorĀ Senator glovebox buttonĀ Commodore chrome door locksĀ Still need to swap over the lock pinsĀ Ā Hopefully getting centre caps for the rimsĀ Ā Rear right door handle has to be repairedĀ Ā Ā I've few parts that needs to be fittedĀ Brand new radiator (aftermarket)Ā Brand new coolant bottle(aftermarket)Ā Rear left quarter ventĀ Astra mk4 handbrake cableĀ Ā Ā Ā Report
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