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Project Bridget - 1.4 16v Sport

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  • [Corsa B 1993-2000] Project Bridget - 1.4 16v Sport

    Hi all, I started this build thread over on AC and the time has come to transfer it over.

    "Bridget" is at present a 1.4 16v (x14xe) Corsa B Sport I bought back in March 2011 after my original Corsa, a lowly 1.0 12v 'Sting' edition, suffered a seized engine following a front end shunt and subsequent repair.

    This is how she stood back in March 2011...

    Click image for larger version

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    And this is how she stands as of August 2013...

    Click image for larger version

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    My current plans are:

    External
    Paint and fit GSI body kit, Irmscher rear valance, third brake light spoiler and M3 mirrors (In Progress)
    Tint and fit GSI fog lights (Upcoming)
    Replace tailgate and repair/respray rust spots (Upcoming)

    Internal
    Fit Vectra B three spoke steering wheel with audio controls (In Progress)

    Electrical
    Install auxiliary fuse box (In Progress)
    Wire in sub and amp (In Progress)
    Install kick panel courtesy lights (Upcoming)
    Upgrade to remote central locking (Upcoming)
    Wire in Vectra B steering wheel audio controls (In Progress)
    Divert additionally installed wiring through auxiliary fuse box (Upcoming)
    Assemble and install fog light loom (Upcoming)
    Repair wiring on heated passenger seat (Upcoming)

    Mechanical
    Strip down, rebuild and install c20xe + F16 gearbox and ancillaries required for it to run
    (Upcoming)

    Misc.
    Refurbish spare Cavalier slab
    (Upcoming)
    Fully underseal chassis (Upcoming)

    I've often had to work with a limited budget but the plan is to build up an OEM+ Corsa that's a bit of a sleeper. In the last two years I've put a fair amount of effort into this project and so I'm always happy to receive comments, criticism and feedback on the progress, and modifications, I've made.

  • #2
    List of Completed Modifications
    (To be updated)

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    • #3
      Not long after buying the Corsa I swapped out the standard x14xe airbox for a cone filter.



      It didn't end well...



      The glue that holds the end of the filter in place melted due to engine temperature. I was driving along when all of a sudden I heard it fall out of the engine bay and bounce under the car and away.

      Needless to say a fix was needed so I de-restricted and drilled the x14xe airbox before refitting it, fitting a shiny new strut brace and removing those God awful chrome wiper arms the previous owner defaced the car with!



      I then swapped it out for another cone filter and cold air feed set up that I ran with for some time.







      And yes, that is my blood on the cold air feed. The sodding thing cut me as it was going in!



      I also fitted a Corsa C sunglasses holder because I'm cool like that. Oh and wind deflectors! Personally I think that Corsa Bs with wind deflectors look much nicer.

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      • #4
        Next came an experiment with eyebrows as they'd suited her arden blue predecessor.



        They didn't last long! I also noticed that I had one valeo headlight and one depo; a replacement was in order.

        My attention then turned to the clocks. It's apparent that a previous owner was a heavy smoker; care to guess how I know this?



        Those should be white!

        Needless to say they were quickly replaced with plasma dials whose fitting was my first real bit of automotive wiring beyond fitting a headunit!





        I much prefer this method of lighting and the fitting process was ridiculously simple; I'd recommend it to anybody wanting to change their clocks.

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        • #5
          When I bought the Corsa I was aware that the drivers side electric window wasn't quite right; if it reached a certain depth it would drop into the door completely and need to be retrieved by removing the door panel. It also dropped a good inch or so from the top of the door when fully raised.

          On investigation I found this:



          That's definitely not in the Haynes manual!

          I'm assuming that the chunk of fence post was there to hold the bottom of the electric window assembly in place as it's cog was missing several teeth. The fence post was removed and a new electric window motor assembly riveted into place - a surprisingly simple job!

          The tailgate was then debadged although due to rust creeping in beneath the glass it's going to be replaced when I figure out how to swap the looms over.

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          • #6

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            • #7
              Spot the issue in the following picture:



              As you can see I have a rather mashed brake line! As far as I can work out the new backbox bounced around and burnt through the line...

              I was approx 124 miles away from home when I noticed the brake warning light come on; I checked the fluid level and saw it was low so topped it up and the light went off.

              I then drove back home to Leicester.

              For me that was a drive at "the speed limit" on the M4, M25 and M1 during which the warning light came back on. It was the next day I found the hole in the brake line when I lost all braking capacity whilst in stop-start traffic. I dread to think what would have happened if I lost it whilst moving freely...

              Long story short though a friend of mine who makes a living out of mechanic work made up a new line to replace the holed one and routed it away from the backbox to prevent a repeat.

              I feel very lucky!

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              • #8

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                • #9
                  The next change to the Corsa may not be to everyone's taste but I like them; they're a bit of a vanity thing I think but not having to faff about with a bonnet stay makes things easier/quicker at times...



                  Unfortunately I have, on occasion, forgotten that not every Corsa bonnet I open has raisers fitted... I've often surprised myself with a loud bang once I let go of said bonnets...

                  To redeem myself though I did a bit of real modification and fitted an Omega estate variable wiper control stalk.



                  I feel rather smug with the variable control in light drizzle that doesn't require the full intermittent wiper speed

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                  • #10
                    When deciding on what headlights to go for due to the odd headlights I mentioned earlier I decided to go for an old favourite of mine; a nice set of angel eyes.



                    I had a pair of these fitted to my previous Corsa but they were ruined in the front end shunt so a new pair had to be purchased; to be honest I think they were totally worth it.







                    I also fitted black door cards to better suit the cream seats; unfortunately it took a bloody long time to source a matching pair for the rear.

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                    • #11

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                      • #12
                        As I seem to have a bit of an affinity when it comes to wiring things in to the Corsa I decided the next logical modification would be an electric sunroof; thus a motor and switch from a Vectra was sourced, bolted in to place and wired up.







                        Unfortunately the motor burnt itself out and, as I couldn't be sure if my wiring was to blame, I went and picked up a second one which, luckily, still had the original Vectra wiring in place. This one worked perfectly

                        I also used the time spent doing the sunroof wiring to wire in and fit some illuminated sun visors from the same Vectra.

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                        • #13

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                          • #14
                            Purchased a few miscellaneous items for the Corsa before any more major modifications following the wheel loss scenario...



                            Vectra B chrome door handles.



                            GSI front splitter (already have a GSI front bumper, fogs, skirts, jacking covers and L-pieces from my previous Corsa; just missing the arches now!)



                            A map light from, I think, a Vecta. Not actually too sure now...



                            And a dash mat which is about as rare these days as rocking horse manure!

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                            • #15

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