Ghandez' Astra GSi Progress Thread

[ghandez]

It's about time I created my diary as I am starting to spend money on wee bits n bobs and it would be nice to document it somewhere.

I bought my GSi in Aug 2009 with 18000miles on the clock, after splitting and selling my corsa.



My Astra looks fairly standard from the exterior









But the engine wasn't standard by any means! The mods already present included

iridium spark plugs
eds side mount inter cooler
re-mapped by Regal
baileys dump valve
dbilas flow master air intake
performance air hose kit
raid front strut brace
b&m short shifter gear stick
koni springs
irmscher door locking pins
irmscher front grill
chrome heating dials
bastuck performance exhaust system from cat back
samco hoses
boost gauge fitted in dash
courtenay sport uprated fast road clutch

The first things i did to the car was a good clean and detail. I did want to get into modifying straight away but I was a bit strapped for cash after buying the car!

However, tinkering on a budget was my forte, so the first thing i did was to get painting bits in the engine bay



I painted all the yellow caps black, and the spark plug cover blue with a GSayee carbon sticker on top.

Soon after I had saved up enough cash to do some more eye-catching modifications. I don't like to have a car the same as others, so the last thing I was gonna do was black or anthracite wheels. So I went for SRi Turbo wheels




And got them sprayed Lambourghini Gallardo Pearlescent Orange



While the wheels were getting done, I got the guy to do the rocker cover orange too, and the front grilles gloss black




I got hold of some samco hosing, and a samco breather pipe to finish off the engine bay for now. Oh, and repainted the spark plug cover to black/blue.

Some pretty pics







iPhone pics, hence bright colours..





And here it is at the Scottish Modified Show 2010



The next wee thing, after moving her from Glasgow to Leamington Spa, was a Milltek cat back system



Fitted after passing its MOT.

Next up is some new floor mats, and a Milltek pre cat decat pipe.

[ghandez]

Got the pre cat decat pipe fitted



Sounds a bit sportier, and feels alot keener at low revs. Picks up nicely.

Also I got the oil and filter changed.



Pic-whoring













I bought a second hand console to keep me busy over easter

In filler Primer


Painted BMW Sparkle Grey


Another silly sticker


And some Dodo Juice Beading




quick update...orange wheels off for a detail before pvs 2011, and callipers painted gloss black

PVS preparation

Wheels have been removed for 3wks, cleaned, clayed, glazed and waxed


While they have been off, the callipers have recieved some treatment


Along with the wheel arches


All lined up


Orange wheels are still off the car, getting treated with wax like theres no tomorrow

PVS Pics











It made 222.2bhp and 260ft/lb of Torque. Expected a bit more. Advised to upgrade the actuator to hold the boost better

A few things have changed since the last post though. I've tinted the front fog lights, vinyl wrapped the number plate recess on the front bumper, added a black coupe turbo boot strip, painted the opel badge black to match, and put on carbon wrapped wing mirror covers. Pics...







Future plans are to get hold of some new Toyo's, a sportscat section, and a Forge divertor valve.

[ghandez]

I treated the car to a mini detail, consisting of a wash, dray and glaze. Tyres and exhaust were dressed too

[ghandez]

So to bring you up to speed, Here's my car as it stands...








-Milltek Non-resonated section put in instead of resonated. Gives it a few more pops n bangs
-Wheels done in Audi Aviator Grey. I loved the orange, but 2 years was long enough. Glad I changed because some of the blue/orange cars at PVS this year were (imo) poorly done
-Stickers removed
-Wing mirror vinyl removed
-B Pillar stickers replaced
-Spark plug cover freshened up
-Toyo T1R's fitted
-Cambelt & water pump changed
-Mileage ~39,500

Next up
-Whiteline RARB
-Rocker cover colour change
-Blue Callipers
-Machine polish

[conrad222]

nice car matey! would love to get my hands on one of these love gsi's!

[Mark]

Lovely car mate!

[lejenko]

Great progress matey love the turbos in that colour

[pipamish]

I have a soft spot for Astra gsi's just love em wouldn't mind one as a project

[M_Blue]

Very nice car fella,loving the wheel's in that colour.

[Gairo]

Very nice car buddy