Bilbo's mk1 Cavalier

[bilbomk1]

I've been thinking about these brakes, has anyone had this type of caliper before on a Manta/Cavalier or another similar setup on another car?

Just wondering if they're actually any good? All the cars I've done brakes on in the past have had slider pins and floating type calipers, it seems weird to me to have a retaining pin on the caliper itself, and having the caliper and yoke mounted to one another just with a slide on rail shape in the casting of each. Due to the retaining pins being totally exposed to the elements it seems like these could be a bit more prone to seizing than a slider pin caliper with sealed rubber boots on the sliding mechanism?

[ChrisT]

It's so long since I've seen standard calipers I can't remember what they look like, I know they were the sliding type and most people had problems with them seizing.

I thought early Cavs came with twin pots, which were used as a common upgrade for the sliding ones.

Have a look at Zelandeth's 78 Cav -
forum.retro-rides.org/thread/222528/1978-vauxhall-cavalier-colonel-mustard?page=2&scrollTo=2750939

[bilbomk1]

Sept 27, 2022 5:20:52 GMT ChrisT said:

It's so long since I've seen standard calipers I can't remember what they look like, I know they were the sliding type and most people had problems with them seizing.

I thought early Cavs came with twin pots, which were used as a common upgrade for the sliding ones.

Have a look at Zelandeth's 78 Cav -
forum.retro-rides.org/thread/222528/1978-vauxhall-cavalier-colonel-mustard?page=2&scrollTo=2750939

I put a photo of them on my previous post, but it started a new page so you may have missed it. Yes they are a sliding type, but with the exposed pins and a single pot type. I've heard they're ok calipers but are prone to seizing if left to sit. Thanks for the link, good to see another mk1 thread that is current as well!

It is annoying that the earlier calipers are better, god knows why they changed them to something clearly worse 😂 I have saved a post somewhere about which calipers can be upgraded to. Now I've cleaned these up I'll probably use them at first, but then maybe switch to one of the other options, apparently a more modern caliper fits with Carlton 2.2 vented discs, which sounds like a much better option!

[Paul Barrett]

Twin pots are a good upgrade from earlier cars.

Another option with maybe familier calipers is astra gte/ cav etc 256mm calipers and the. Using Audi 100 discs Re drilled to suit hub and hire opened up.

[Paul Barrett]

I have this setup on the A series and works well

[Paul Barrett]

I correct myself, Audi 80 discs
Years 91-92

Or if you want bigger

Cosworth 2wd discs with the calibra turbo etc calipers that combo works. Had them on a previous car but you need bigger wheels obviously around 280mm discs and big heavy calipers.

[bilbomk1]

Sept 27, 2022 21:45:16 GMT Paul Barrett said:

I correct myself, Audi 80 discs
Years 91-92

Or if you want bigger

Cosworth 2wd discs with the calibra turbo etc calipers that combo works. Had them on a previous car but you need bigger wheels obviously around 280mm discs and big heavy calipers.

Nice one Paul, thanks for the info. I'll likely go for one of your earlier suggestions, I'd like to keep 13" wheels. For now I'll try these ones at first, and change them when I realise almost immediately that they are terrible haha.

[bilbomk1]

So I got some front end bits sorted this evening, starting with the badge. I actually bought an original great condition Vauxhall badge on Ebay, but after 2 weeks I asked if it had been sent and the guy just ignored me and immediately sent me a refund with no explanation haha.

Decided I couldn't be bothered trying again, so pried the original off and gave it a go.

Not got any good photos of it before, but it was like all the old red Vauxhall badges seem to go:



The paint was almost completely gone, and what was left was extremely faded. So I gave it a quick scuff up and found some Ford Vibrant Red? Radiant Red? Something like that, in the cabinet. Don't know what the original badge red was, but looked close enough for me, so I just went for it. Sprayed the whole badge, put the heater on it to dry, then very carefully rubbed all of the raised edges down with sandpaper, and the tiny bits I literally scratched clean with a fingernail haha.

I'm actually so happy with this, I'm not great at very delicate type jobs, don't have much of a steady hand, and usually would end up doing something stupid like putting a massive fingerprint right in the middle 😂 but it's really brought it back:



It's not perfect, and I'm sure the red is the wrong shade, but whatever. It was free, and I think it looks decent.

One thing the previous owner did restore to a very good standard was the headlights. They've got all new bits on the back, clips are all new, the glass has been restored, and they look basically brand new. I wanted the car to look a bit more like a car, so I decided to fit them tonight. Got the driver's wing back on after the welding last week, and got the headlights fitted. Then got the Mothers Mag out and polished up the front bumper I rust converted the inside of the other week. Came out really quite good, not mint but nice and shiny for 5 minutes work. Got the bumper fitted, seems to be sitting a bit low on the driver's side, so I think the end mount on the bumper may be bent. I'll get that sorted soon. Gently pressed the badge back in place, and I don't know if it really works that well with the car being red, but this is how it's supposed to look I guess haha:





Ignore the bonnet, it's not bolted in so doesn't shut at the moment, and ignore the indicator as well, that's not actually bolted in yet haha, just hanging there. I have the chrome trim that goes between the lights and the bumper, but it's quite bent in the middle. I'll get that straightened out a bit and mounted soon.

Bit by bit it's looking a little more complete. Won't ever be close to concourse but should look good with the new wheels on, oh and after a good wash! It's absolutely caked in dust at the moment.

[Paul Barrett]

Single pots are fine when working properly, have them still on my stock manta coupe exclusive. But any more than stock power I’d upgrade to at least the twin pots.
You’d struggle to get anything else under 13’s

[bilbomk1]

Sept 28, 2022 6:26:44 GMT Paul Barrett said:

Single pots are fine when working properly, have them still on my stock manta coupe exclusive. But any more than stock power I’d upgrade to at least the twin pots.
You’d struggle to get anything else under 13’s

Thanks, I may get some twin pots if these prove to be curse word at staying unseized.

[bilbomk1]

I got some more free tyres delivered last night. Free and very old once again haha, I just want to test fit them to see what size I need.

So this time I had 165/70/13 to try, similar to the previous, sidewall a bit smaller. They were all horrendous to fit, the bead was so tight from age, I thought it was just me being an idiot, but 2 mates turned up who have both fitted tons of tyres before, and had the same problem. Bead so tight even with an absolute ton of tyre soap, they were just shredding. I managed to fit 1 of the tyres out of the 4 without too much damage. Weirdly it was the oldest tyre out of them all haha, I can't even see the rectangle DOT code box on the sidewall, so it must be pretty ancient.

Anyway it went on and after some hairspray and fire it inflated fine. Hard to judge at the moment as there's no engine in the car, and the rear doesn't have lowering springs in yet, but they will fit at least.



Needs more sidewall for sure I think, I need all the sidewall for maximum retro. Top view looks promising, plenty of room here for a larger tyre I think. Rear was much the same.



Slight tangent, but my jacking point I welded in works! Ok there's no engine in currently, but it didn't end up in the passenger footwell so I've done something right there at least haha. I knew it would be fine, but it's good to see it in action:





Anyway when I got home last night I got bored and decided to do some Photoshop work. As I could only get 1 tyre to mount without losing all its air I had to jankily Photoshop the rear wheel on. It's much easier when they're straight on, but whatever, it gives an idea:



This is a rough estimate on where the car will sit with the engine, box, interior, all the loom, and rear lowering springs installed. If it sits like this I'll be happy, I think it will look great.

I did mention before that I'd love to have a matching fleet, team cream, with red wheels on both the 5 and the Cavalier. Photoshopping red to most colours is pretty easy, but cream was a real pain haha, so it's not perfect, and neither are the wheels. I chose Advan A3As as I absolutely love 13" 3 spokes, such a classic design. Anyway it gives a rough idea:



Honestly I think I rate it like this! Looks a bit different, and that front badge really pops on the cream colour. Anyway this won't be happening until next year if it even does happen at all, but I think I'd like to do it eventually. Not sure whether it would look better with the bump strips removed and the holes smoothed over before painting though.

Oh I have also ordered new tyres now, in 175/70/13, so hopefully I can get the wheels actually fitted and stop almost blowing myself up with exploding beads haha.

[ovimor]

I have 175/70-14s on Mittzie alloys.

Nice chunk of black 👍


OVIMOR

[qwerty]

Sept 27, 2022 21:40:18 GMT Paul Barrett said:

Twin pots are a good upgrade from earlier cars.

Another option with maybe familier calipers is astra gte/ cav etc 256mm calipers and the. Using Audi 100 discs Re drilled to suit hub and hire opened up.

Wonder if Mk2 Golf GTI Discs would work?
Thats an upgrade you can do on Early Polo's and Mk1 Golf's. Vauxhall "2 Litre" calipers and Mk2 Golf GTI 256mm discs

[sleag40]

I think the discs contain the wheel bearings on these.

[ChrisT]

Sept 29, 2022 18:55:08 GMT sleag40 said:

I think the discs contain the wheel bearings on these.

The bearings are in the hub, the problem is that the disc bolts to this from behind so is quite shallow compared to those that fit over the hub. I think it's also bolted using a different pcd to the wheel studs which limits what off the shelf discs can be used - I could be wrong about this last bit.

[Paul Barrett]

You are correct chris, 4x92 if memory serves me correct when I last machined a set of Audi discs

[ChrisT]

Thanks, thought it was but then really doubted myself after writing it.

Back on topic, Photoshop looks great in that colour combo, would keep the rubbing strips while it's still original red but lose them for the cream.

[bilbomk1]

4x92mm is correct from a set of new old stock discs I saw on eBay with measurement annotations on. They do bolt to the hub, so discs of the same style or re-drilled centres is the only real way of getting something else on there. I'll try the standard 245mm solid discs for now and look to upgrade in the future.

[bilbomk1]

Sept 30, 2022 5:48:00 GMT ChrisT said:

Thanks, thought it was but then really doubted myself after writing it.

Back on topic, Photoshop looks great in that colour combo, would keep the rubbing strips while it's still original red but lose them for the cream.

Yeah I think I agree. I do like the whole "survivor" car look, and having something not mint will make me less concerned about it I suppose, which isn't a bad thing for a daily.

[gtviva]

Didnt the brake upgrade back in the day consist of Carlton MK1 vented discs and calipers?