1993 Vauxhall Corsa Merit - Sleeper

[forde]

love the car mate except for the merc trims they are awful, i would rock some black steels with no trims for boggo-spec look and not lower it too much!

[benjammin]

Interested in seeing the cavalier ARB and how it fits

[craig1010cc]

I'm liking that alot Espec the merc wheel trims, thats inspired

[nofrills]

really like the merc trims dude.... nice little resto

[Deleted]

I think its different

[qwerty]

Like that a lot!!! How easy is the engine conversion? Looks pretty straight forward.

[luckygti]

Great little car and write up. Always good to see a thread go from beginning to done in one go And I love the stance and Merc trims, inspired

[MELV]

Aug 11, 2013 23:13:35 GMT hamps said:

Nice little project, I like it just need to get a heat gun on them plastics!

Cheers Hamps. I'm more of a driven not detailed person but they will get done eventually.

Aug 12, 2013 1:56:00 GMT unique said:

Great read this and great job, she doesn't half take off aswell. Never really been into Corsas but this is subtle and I love it. Bet you gave some boy racers a suprise at the lights eh?

Not thinking about putting any alloys on it?

Thanks very much. It does surprise some folks now and again.

I do have a small alloy collection. I'm leaning towards the Astra GTE wheels with the red detail in the centre. I have these wheels at home:





Also have these but finished in anthracite

Aug 12, 2013 4:35:04 GMT @captainmcawsome said:

got to say a good write up,its still on an L reg and deserves to be here
lot of people knock corsa's but you forget how long they have been running about

good work

Thanks very much.

Aug 12, 2013 6:17:41 GMT forde said:

love the car mate except for the merc trims they are awful, I would rock some black steels with no trims for boggo-spec look and not lower it too much!

Cheers. They were a late night ebay bid and I have grown to like them. There are that many Corsa's going about it's hard to be a little different.

Aug 12, 2013 6:50:56 GMT benjammin said:

Interested in seeing the cavalier ARB and how it fits

Here you are - www.migweb.co.uk/forums/other-mechanical-electrical/495871-fitting-cav-rarb-corsa.html

Aug 12, 2013 7:55:30 GMT craig1010cc said:

I'm liking that alot Espec the merc wheel trims, thats inspired

Thanks very much.

Aug 12, 2013 10:02:16 GMT nofrills said:

really like the merc trims dude.... nice little resto

Thanks very much.

Aug 12, 2013 16:28:50 GMT @captainmcawsome said:

I think its different

That's the plan. Too many out there look exactly the same; GSi front bumpers, arden blue, speedline wheels, etc, etc.

Aug 12, 2013 19:43:32 GMT qwerty said:

Like that a lot!!! How easy is the engine conversion? Looks pretty straight forward.

It is pretty straight forward. I used a 1.2 8v shell which is one of the easiest to convert but they are all pretty easy. More reading here - www.obsessiveperformancedisorder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=106&sid=d4c0b60703757ad68917169a928dda59

Aug 12, 2013 20:42:15 GMT luckygti said:

Great little car and write up. Always good to see a thread go from beginning to done in one go And I love the stance and Merc trims, inspired

Thanks very much. It's quite good to see it all on one page.

[xbo11ox]

Hey this is great!!!! Nice work man.

[qwerty]

Ah so this is running the "big block" 1.8? Much performance difference to the "small block" 1.8 as found in Corsa SRI etc?

[MELV]

Aug 13, 2013 22:44:22 GMT xbo11ox said:

Hey this is great!!!! Nice work man.

Thanks very much.

Aug 14, 2013 8:21:30 GMT qwerty said:

Ah so this is running the "big block" 1.8? Much performance difference to the "small block" 1.8 as found in Corsa SRI etc?

Yes, mine is the big block 1.8 (C18XE) engine. Officially they re supposed to be 125bhp but I've known a few that are way over that as standard, around 140bhp to put a number on it.

The C18XE was only in production for around a year in 93 and were standard in the 1.8 Mk3 Astra GSi, Astra CD and Astra Diamond. After that Vauxhall fitted the C18XEL (L for Low output) to the Mk3 Astra Sport.

The Corsa C 1.8 SRi runs a 125bhp Z18XE, not too sure about the performance differences. If i was doing it again I wold probably go for the smallblock engine for the handling and weight advantage. There are a few well tuned smallblock 1.8s out there. I keep posting links to MIGweb but that's where I am most of the time. This is a long read but a cracking smallblock 1.8 build. www.migweb.co.uk/forums/projects-restorations/283840-lees-garage.html


Some more C18xe info here - www.migweb.co.uk/forums/engines-transmission/450716-c18xe-ecotec-opinion.html

[ustbutler]

Really like what your doing, It looks clean but not in your face witch i like a about it.

Astra GTE wheels look on the money for me

Great car . S,butler

[MELV]

Slight mishap as I was taking the Corsa out to blow away some winter cobwebs.



It would happen as my son was away for a nap! haha! It's in my garage jacked up and on axle stands ready to be put back together, a bit wierd that it has came loose, maybe the clamp has seen better days. Will get a proper nose at it during the week and will take the chance to cover the recent brake pipes in underseal too.

[darrenh]

i like the merc trims, makes it look all 1980s futuristic. a bit moondisk too

[niwid]

Merc trims look awesome, although if your sticking with that look, I'd do a bit of debadgeing and smoothing on the car too. This makes me miss my old Corsa

[Deleted]

Cool little project! Credit to you for doing right by the DVLA and insurance aswell with the engine swap. Too many jokers around that don't bother with the legals

[MELV]

Cheers gents, I do have a set of the same wheel trims that are chrome rimmed but I think they may be a bit much.

Smoothing things really goes against the whole driven not detailed vibe I've got going. Not that I'm aiming for a "vibe" that's just the way I see it.

Doing the DVLA thing is the only way IMO. It really bugs me seeing things advertised as, for example, 300bhp 2.0 Turbo Nova - still down as a 1.0 but for the buyer to change. If you can't do it properly don't do it the half arsed way!

[MELV]

Well the Corsa has been in the garage for most of the winter. There were a couple of nice days where it has been out but sitting there hasn't been the best for the old girl. Quick check over before MOT time reveals a couple of wee patches needed in the sills and some repair work required on the drivers side chassis rail.

I have never welded in my life but a friend of a friend will be sorting it out for me. AGW it should be done in time for the MOT running out on the 5th May.

[MELV]

MOT ran out on the 5th May. Welding was done today and MOT is booked for Monday so should all be good for Crail next Sunday.

Will of course tidy up the seam sealer and paint over it plus wash the car before Crail if I have time.

Before




After

[MELV]

MOT Passed with 3 advisories.

NS front to rear brake pipe slightly corroded
NS front brake pipe slightly corroded
OS front wheel bearing is slightly rough when rotated

Happy days.