Must have those bumpers...

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SteveL
This is the point in the killing spree when you really should turn the gun on yourself

20 years ago I did a major overhall on a 2.3 Capri for a guy. It was his hi-school car I believe and he had it for many years. Got a good job and one day decided to rebuild it. New engine, 10:1, cam, header,exhaust, Weber, suspension bushings, shocks, springs , clutch and it was a ball to drive. The car was still very nice. I met him again a couple years ago. His son is now a teacher and subbed at my kids hi-school. He recognized our last name and made the connection. As it turns out the Capri got sold a few years back and I think he regrets it now quite a bit. They do have a killer 5.0 Mustang that is strictly road race stuff but I'd bet that old Capri will be missed forever.

Did it sell from the Elma area?? I remember one that sold to one of the Capri listers in '02 or there abouts.
The car went back east, were most Capris "return to the earth", for a fairly decent price...

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SteveL
This is the point in the killing spree when you really should turn the gun on yourself

I think he lives in Monte so that might be the one.

This claims to be an actual Kadett C

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OPEL-KADETT-C-RARE-ORIGINAL-CONDITION-5-SPEED-OPTION-/130486626564?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1e619be904

It's an actual Opel/Isuzu. We never got the German Kadett C over here.

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Doivi Clarkinen
It's an actual Opel/Isuzu. We never got the German Kadett C over here.

Yup, it's got the awful Isuzu 4 banger, wing nut missing from the air cleaner 'cuz the Hitachi 2 bbl won't idle or accelerate. Probably blow a head gasket just sitting there.

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hudson
This claims to be an actual Kadett C

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OPEL-KADETT-C-RARE-ORIGINAL-CONDITION-5-SPEED-OPTION-/130486626564?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1e619be904

http://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?2,45420

Sure he's BS'ing, but this could still be a small, potent, lightweight, rwd, G5 car. I could see a SR20DET in their being a whole lot of fun. Can someone make the manufacturer connection?

-Martin.

I don't think you can get to nissan from GM, Isuzu, or Opel. But there are many choices from the general. Which means a drop in ~160 hp, no?

Any part under the sun is made in Germany for these still.

This is Isuzu made under contract/in association with GM, and sold in the US badged as Opel and sold as part of the Buick dealers line-up. How's THAT for confusion?? Opel and Buick seem to be legit mfrs to me.

Watch for the typical paint system failiure common to Jap cars of that time, when any pinhole let water in that got under the primer. May be OK if a SW car.

One drivetrain option and possibly easiest is to drop in real Kadette C 1.9/2.0L, trannie, etc. Look on the www.opelgt.com forums for info. Stock Kadett C trannie probably not the best; the Ascona A/Manta A have a large 2-3 step, and I expect the stock Kadette C to be no different, so research optoins for that. (I have designed in a Ford case World Class T5 with tight ration for this drivetrain in our 'new '72 Manta A, but have not done the actual build yet.) The Opel engine is a good, light engine; with plenty of mods, and info for how to build. 150-160 HP is easy; large bore, short stroke. Be prepared to build and drive a revvy engine. But no issues I ever found in lots of rallying with common sense care in building; we revved the 1.9L's to 8k+ all the time (stock forged crank), and that even with stock hydraulics lifters and common stiff valve springs. BUT, you have to be prepared to work harder for parts here than for many other options.

Common GM engines? 151 ci maybe? Notably heavier engine, more torque, but I know little about them. I'm not the right guy on the newer stuff. Maybe Wilson will chime in; he has researched these.

Regards,
Mark B.

Drop in the Saturn Sky drivetrain and 4link a Chevy S-10 7.5 inch 10bolt axle. Escort kit will work fine, and it gets rid of the odd three-link original suspension. Opel quickrack. Get JVL to do up a suspension.

This is afterall, the same as a Vauxhall Chevette, and very similar to the US one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/2011 08:07PM by wvonkessler.

There's always a gazillion options, I was just wondering if there was a nissan connection I wasn't aware of. Nissan SR20DET is 200+rwhp, stock for $1500 engine/trans/ecu/wiring.. sure the trans gearing isn't perfect, but it works and is a simple drop into just about any RWD chassis. I'm keeping my eyes open and thinking (dreaming?) about building a lighter car _next_... whenever that may be. I was a bit of an opel perv back in my Opel GT days... not a certified Opel perv, I'm a certified Nissan perv, but could be convinced to cross breed for the right combo:-)

-Martin.

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MRWmotorsports
There's always a gazillion options, I was just wondering if there was a nissan connection I wasn't aware of. Nissan SR20DET is 200+rwhp, stock for $1500 engine/trans/ecu/wiring.. sure the trans gearing isn't perfect, but it works and is a simple drop into just about any RWD chassis. I'm keeping my eyes open and thinking (dreaming?) about building a lighter car _next_... whenever that may be. I was a bit of an opel perv back in my Opel GT days... not a certified Opel perv, I'm a certified Nissan perv, but could be convinced to cross breed for the right combo:-)

-Martin.

Well back 84-90 I pushed the Opels hard (kinda ironic since my daily bread was a Saab V4 business) and like now with Xratties and Volvo 240s, I found Asconas and Mantas all over for the boys. I had 5 Opels out in the woods at one point full of JVAB stuff I'd import from Sweden. At one point 3 of the guys had Opel stationwagons and I had a Saab 95 V4 wagon and my 510 friend had a 510 wagon--so we just had to have a "service rig playday" in the woods.

Now they are ultra rare and even out here in NO Salt-land nearly always
inside out rusty.

Stick with the Nissan, turn the boost up or get a Cossie T3 Garrett.

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wvonkessler
Drop in the Saturn Sky drivetrain and 4link a Chevy S-10 7.5 inch 10bolt axle. Escort kit will work fine, and it gets rid of the odd three-link original suspension. Opel quickrack. Get JVL to do up a suspension.

This is afterall, the same as a Vauxhall Chevette, and very similar to the US one.

Wilson,
No need to get rid of the Original rear suspension, works fine, problem with Opels, Ascona,Manta as well Kadett is the front suspension, rear has so good grip that car understeers quite badly, there´s an easy fix for that though, go sideways.... =)