Lowrider Dave's 1.8 LS

[Lowrider Dave]

After three weeks in the garage I took it out and gave it a good wash and then treated it to a new cambelt and tensioners, as I'm heading out across europe for a week in her, I thought I won't risk it as the old one was slightly worn.

[Cavalier342]

Good, kick the peugeot out and stick the Cavalier in Just the ticket.

[Lowrider Dave]

Cracked on today with getting Jose ready for my week driving in Europe - across the alpine passes of Switzerland and the like. Fitted both wheel arch liners and cleaned wheels. Then onto replacing the worn looking radiator to thermostat hose, new one obtained via ebay. popped off hose and greted my brown water - out with the hose and flushed the system.


Clean the thermostat housing...


Old and new hose - cut to fit styleee


Got thes handy cable tie/firtree mounts from ebay - they now hold the rad to expansion tank hose.


Fitted the nice doorcards I got from Dan (Humbucker) at Billing.



Tried out a few places to have my GoPro for when I'm driving across Europe.

[cavaliersri130]

Cracking work done there m8.
I really like the idea about the cam that would be cool.

[Cavalier342]

Now you can record all those idiot drivers before you leave the country

Good work, I'm sure you'll have fun on the rally!

[planetc]

Does it have a backup strap to stop it hitting the floor when it falls off the car?

[Lowrider Dave]

No, as the GoPro is as light as a packet of fags and the suction pad was designed for this kind of thing...but may well add a 'security line' for peace of mind!!

[Lowrider Dave]

EDIT: Popped off hose and was greeted by brown water - flushed the system and on with the new hose.

[humbucker]

"popped off hose and greted my brown water"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The less said about your brown water the better! Haha! Pretty sure that would have gone unnoticed if not for your subsequent post haha!

[Cavalier342]

If you've got brown water coming from your hose, go see the doctor

[jimmy]

Fantastic read fantastic looking cav fairplay fella

[Envoy CDX]

Excellent progress, sorry to hear about the keying sucks.

[Lowrider Dave]

As the forum's resident 'tamed cameraman' and banger rally nutcase, I missed the roads of Europe so I planned a 7 day jaunt to Switzerland to travel the passes and get some photos. I tok the 1.8 as the V6 would cost me an arm and a leg in fuel! Get a cuppa and a biscuit or two and enjoy:

Waiting for the ferry at Dover


Hockenheim Race circuit museum



Stuttgart Porsche Museum






The building has amazing architecture...

…and an underground car park, rude not to use it.


I'd seen a few Opel Vectra As but hadn't captured any on camera, this was my first (cackhanded) attempt!

[Lowrider Dave]

Various Opel were few an far between, but this smart Cally was in front of me at a queue...


…and this Astra whizzed past in the pouring rain.


On the approach to Interlaken I took a brief stop


The following day I attempted the Grimselpass. I got halfway due to snow shutting the pass. You can see how the low cloud has set in, the temp was 3.5 degress and it was snowing lightly.


I pushed on until I found I could go no further, so a few photos were taken before heading back.



At a lower sea level there was no snow and slight better tempertures but just a glance upwards and you can see the snow line on the trees and mountains. I attempted the Sustenpass (even though I knew it was closed).


This too was snow bound but a few photos were taken.

[Lowrider Dave]

Abandoning the passes for now, I headed to Chur and saw this (Opel's are increasingly rare in Europe, products by BMW, Mercedes and VAG rule the roads)


I couldn't resist parking my dirty Cav in front of their smart dealership


Leaving Chur the following day I pulled up sharpish on the slip road onto the motorway as I spotted these:



Later saw this immaculate Alfa GTV.


A cow


Chur to Andermatt via route 19 and the Oberalppass.

Only 2046 metres above sea level (Ben Nevis is only 1344!)


Got my anorak on for:

[Lowrider Dave]

Pi$$ me, Switzerland throws up some fantastic scenery



But the weather can be unpredictable on the passes, and although open this time, they were subject to complete fog 'white outs' - I made it to the top of the Furkapass…


...and headed down the other side


Yes, that is a coach you see approaching that concrete legged hairpin bend!


More scenery

[Lowrider Dave]

In Meiringen spotted a few things of interest






Back in Interlaken





Much more can be found at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davekirwin ... 882092364/

[DiplomaXE]

Epic Dave.
Just got back from the 6hrs of Spa, Belgium. bloody awesome.

[Cavalier342]

Awesome pics Dave, love the snow ones.

[Envoy CDX]

Wow.... just wow..

[btcctroy]

I'd love to go to Switzerland looks fantastic
Nice pics there Dave

[Gray16v]

Great pics, Cav doesn't look a miss

[jimmy]

Awesome looks great fun love the porsche museum

[Pilky]

Gorgeous pics there buddy

[retrogeezer]

fantastic set of photos Dave, cheers for sharing them here. Loving the DTM Calibra's and 'Wankdorf' made me laugh..