Topic: My first calibra a poorly 96 2.0 DTM (Read 1930 times)

Phantom3110 · « **on:** September 08, 2010, 09:21:41 AM »

Hello everyone

Just got my first calibra, to cut along story short my brother has owned nothing but calibras since i can remember and has had only minimal hassles with them (fuel injector relays and leaky rocker cover gaskets).
My Seat Ibiza just died and he recomended a calibra and by chance there was one available, its a 96 2.0 DTM which has been standing for 2 years on a driveway.
Now as you can imagine the 2 years standing has made the paint go from bright white to dull white and the interior as my brother kindly put it smells like a horses ass, but luckily the interior isn't the cloth one either it was lucky to get the black leather or it was changed in its life, theres been no other mods made to the car so its bog standard bar the seats.

Now upon owning the car it was time to see what worked and what didn't.

Took dipstick out to find coffee density oil, not good the water in the header tank was rust red and no fuel reaching the injectors and the battery was knackered and the fuel tank was empty (luckily)..

We removed a plug to see if we had a spark, good news there was next was to find out the fuel issue, we removed the injector rack and cleaned the injectors a little with carb clean just to see if there was a fuel flow or they were blocked luckily they were clear of blockages while the main fuel feed pipe was off the rack we turned her over to see if there was fuel getting up 3 turns nothing on the 4th turn theres was a dribble then a gush of fuel.
There was either a blockage or some odd culprit in the pipe so now we have fuel, we re-assembled the the fuel injector system also while i was at it the ICV was removed and cleaned as it was totaly caked up in black sh**.
The moment of truth we needed to know if she would fire, knowing that the engine oil was not good it would only run for a very short time. We sprayed some carb cleaner down the inlet body as this is caked in black sh** turned the key and she spluttered into life

But alls not goodish the 2 sets of rubber bridge pipes that run under the car had totaly give up the ghost, petrol was pissing out of them we replaced the 2 offending pipes oddly enough the return pipes were ok, turned the key and she fired up with no fuel leaks anywhere else. engine off as i did not want the engine to run for long due to the oil.

Ive got to ditch the oil i'm tempted to flush it out with flushing oil then some new full synth oil and rechange the oil again after 2 weeks of road use (after her m.o.t) any thoughts on this oil situation would be appreciated.
And ive got a bottle of rad cleaner as i may as well do the cooling system before using new coolant and to see if theres any knackered components there.

The back box has a hole in the top probaly due to standing or previous life and my alloys are cream and not white but all the electrics work including the sunroof and lights and indicators.

Its a nice car but in need of love as theres moss growing in any little gap but good news is the body is very good and no holes or rot underneath the car or under the bonnet.

I will post pics as soon as i can in her condition now. i need to get her tidyish and through her m.o.t then i can bring it home and get stuck in on the paintwork as at the moment i have no car and the cally is 7 miles away at my parents.

I must admit i'm looking forward to spending time on this car as i'm bored and taking this car on is going to be my new past time.

Trigger · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2010, 09:25:42 AM »

Welcome to the site, you're in the right place, any advice you need just ask

. Looking forward to some pics

Phantom3110 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2010, 09:29:06 AM »

Cheers trigger

Hopefully by the Sunday or Monday the latest.

Wills Toy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2010, 09:31:45 AM »

Always good to see another calibra saved. Good luck with restore and welcome to the site.

Will

simon · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2010, 09:39:00 AM »

Welcomes..

Bit of elbow grease and you'll have it gleaming in no time.

DanSE4 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 08, 2010, 09:39:52 AM »

Welcome.

It's a labour of love with some of these Calibras but all worth it in the end. As with Trigger, look forward to seeing pictures & if there's any advice you need then this is the place to ask it.

Phantom3110 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2010, 10:18:50 AM »

Cheers everyone for the welcome

Just a small question did all the DTM'S have cloth interior or did some make it out of the factory with leather, also were they numbered i've looked on the ashtray badge and there was no number...ive seen some callys with a number on there DTM badge.
If there is i'd be interested to see what number off the production line she was and how many were made.

Looking forward to putting in some hours of work on her, been told there getting quite rare now and i think the car deserves to live once more.

simon · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2010, 10:20:38 AM »

Quote from: Phantom3110 on September 08, 2010, 10:18:50 AM

Cheers everyone for the welcome

Just a small question did all the DTM'S have cloth interior or did some make it out of the factory with leather, also were they numbered i've looked on the ashtray badge and there was no number...ive seen some callys with a number on there DTM badge.
If there is i'd be interested to see what number off the production line she was and how many were made.

Looking forward to putting in some hours of work on her, been told there getting quite rare now and i think the car deserves to live once more.

Whats the registration number buddy?

Phantom3110 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2010, 10:54:00 AM »

Its N399 RPG

simon · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2010, 10:59:21 AM »

Well its definately a DTM, doesnt bring the number up though. i know on diboors it did when i looked hmmmm

Phantom3110 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2010, 11:27:54 AM »

Strange but at least shes a real one, just got a insurance quote for it...i think i'll shop around 1200 quid from my current insurer is a tad vertical for a man whos been driving 20 yrs..

I wonder if DTM'S are classed as a classic car now.

angus346 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2010, 11:56:15 AM »

Quote from: Phantom3110 on September 08, 2010, 10:54:00 AM

Its N399 RPG

i reckon that number is worth a fortune in Afghanistan

welcome to the site mate, sure is the place to be

DanSE4 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2010, 11:58:47 AM »

Quote from: Phantom3110 on September 08, 2010, 11:27:54 AM

I wonder if DTM'S are classed as a classic car now.

None of the Calibras are classed as classic cars however, as mine is over 15 years old, I could've got classic insurance on it. They wouldn't do it though as it's been lowered.

Phil. · « **Reply #13 on:** September 08, 2010, 11:59:56 AM »

Welcome

Pics or the car doesn't exist

simon · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2010, 12:05:23 PM »

Quote from: Phantom3110 on September 08, 2010, 11:27:54 AM

Strange but at least shes a real one, just got a insurance quote for it...i think i'll shop around 1200 quid from my current insurer is a tad vertical for a man whos been driving 20 yrs..

I wonder if DTM'S are classed as a classic car now.

Thats my renewal price and ive only been driving 4 years and lost my licence, shop around mate

Mr Spoon 73 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 08, 2010, 12:27:14 PM »

Blimey, I thought Direct Line were raping me for £330 for fully comp with all my mods, I'm beginning to feel lucky

Phantom3110 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 08, 2010, 20:11:16 PM »

Got it down to 498 comp not to bad, looking forward to working on it this weekend oil change and a rad flush is the order of the weekend and if theres time a interior clean and 30 magic tress to get rid of the stale standing smell...
On the lookout for a parcel shelf as the one in there is some naff wooden made pile of tosh.

Pickles · « **Reply #17 on:** September 08, 2010, 20:24:18 PM »

Quote from: Ya Mam on September 08, 2010, 10:59:21 AM

Well its definately a DTM, doesnt bring the number up though. i know on diboors it did when i looked hmmmm

Really? What number is it?

Phantom3110 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 08, 2010, 22:00:16 PM »

Had a look at the logbook (the half you keep when you send off the main part) all it says is "Make: Vauxhall" "make/type: Calibra DTM"

Is there any other markings on the car that could help me other than the ashtray badge, does Vauxhall have some sort of database on there cars.

callum · « **Reply #19 on:** September 08, 2010, 22:22:51 PM »

Quote from: Phantom3110 on September 08, 2010, 20:11:16 PM

Got it down to 498 comp not to bad, looking forward to working on it this weekend oil change and a rad flush is the order of the weekend and if theres time a interior clean and 30 magic tress to get rid of the stale standing smell...
On the lookout for a parcel shelf as the one in there is some
naff wooden made pile of tosh.

Welcome to the best calibre site on the net. As said get some pics up.
Also £20 posted for parcel shelf bud pm me if interested.

Author Topic: My first calibra a poorly 96 2.0 DTM (Read 1930 times)