Craig from L.I.

[BQS4]

Craig;
I was digging through some old pictures... again...and came across this one that belongs to you. This can be used for reference, as it's the C&D Ascona you now have.
Gene

[soybean]

Gene, do you have the whole article? I've been hunting for it and the other they did on changing out the pistons and decking the head. I believe it was done in 75? I can't find them anywhere. Thanks, Jarrell

[hrcollinsjr]

Something seems odd about the carb. Is that a water choke? Is it in a different location relative to the stock Solex? They're using a '72 or earlier car since the '73/'74 models had electric chokes?

Harold

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by soybean Gene, do you have the whole article? I've been hunting for it and the other they did on changing out the pistons and decking the head. I believe it was done in 75? I can't find them anywhere. Thanks, Jarrell

Jarrell;
Sadly, no, I don't, I wish I did though.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr Something seems odd about the carb. Is that a water choke? Is it in a different location relative to the stock Solex? They're using a '72 or earlier car since the '73/'74 models had electric chokes? Harold

Harold;
It is a water choke solex, but, the mount is custom made as it has the turbo coming in just after the carb. And it was a 71-72 car, but, Craig can give you the exact year.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by soybean Gene, do you have the whole article? I've been hunting for it and the other they did on changing out the pistons and decking the head.

The car was done in phases. After it was no longer eligible for Showroom Stock racing, they milled the head and put in flat-top pistons, and fitted 6" wide Borrani steel wheels.

Then after they got bored with that, they turbo'd the engine in 1976, but it got low compression pistons fitted again. They fitted BBS alloy wheels to it and Pirelli P7's when they did the turbo fitment. The intake is a full-custom tubular steel piece. Not the best for airflow, but it fits.

I have all the articles pertinent to the build-up except for one. Pretty neat stuff in general, especially for the mid 1970's.

Bob

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr Something seems odd about the carb. Is that a water choke? Is it in a different location relative to the stock Solex? They're using a '72 or earlier car since the '73/'74 models had electric chokes? Harold Originally Posted by BQS4 Harold; It is a water choke solex, but, the mount is custom made as it has the turbo coming in just after the carb. And it was a 71-72 car, but, Craig can give you the exact year.

. . . and to add, this is a '70s style, very typical Rajay, draw-thru type (carb on turbo intake side) turbo installation . . . for the "younger" crowd out there!

They used as many of the stock components as possible, from what I see, and fabricated only a custom intake and exhaust manifold! That's the way it was typically done back then, boys and girls!

[crliwa]

Thanks Gene and everyone else. I have some of the articles but would like to put a complete set into a binder to keep/bring w/the car. So, Bob, Gene etc if you get a chance to copy or scan the articles I would greatly appreciate it.

It appears that the CD Ascona will have to go to AZ to get restored unless someone has a better suggestion. My connections here do good work but the timeframe to get things done is non existent. The Datsun 2000 is coming back to the house in PHX and the Solo Ascona is going to Gilbert to be reassembled.

By the way I'm in Phx for the holidays and would welcome the opportunity to meet with others in the area. I'd love to Visit Paul in Yuma but I'm leary of taking the GT that far. So far the longest drive it's been on is less that 50 miles each way.
Happy Holidays to all.
Craig

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by crliwa It appears that the CD Ascona will have to go to AZ to get restored unless someone has a better suggestion.

Sure, you can give me the car, I'll restore it. Then I'll let you look at it once in a while, as long as you make an appointment first...

[crliwa]

I know it's the season for giving but I'm not quite ready to give it away..(although it would no doubt be finished beyond my expectations)

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by crliwa Thanks Gene and everyone else. . . . . It appears that the CD Ascona will have to go to AZ . . . to be reassembled. By the way I'm in Phx for the holidays and would welcome the opportunity to meet with others in the area. I'd love to Visit Paul in Yuma but I'm leary of taking the GT that far. So far the longest drive it's been on is less that 50 miles each way. Happy Holidays to all. Craig

. . . THAT'S IT??!!! Exactly what is it you're worried about and why, Craig? Certainly can't be the engine/drive train . . . used to drive my '73 everywhere without a second thought . . . even with the original Solex and points no less, and that was when that car was my ONLY Opel and DD!

I also bought my Kadett in Seattle through e-Bay and, sight unseen other than e-Bay pics and phone conversations with the owner, flew there and drove the car back to Texas!! . . . and, YES, it had points. In a nutshell, 7 states over 4 days with two minor mishaps along the way that were fixed with just hand tools.

I just don't get it . . . why the reluctance to drive your Opels, people?!!

[crliwa]

Ok I agree I'm becoming a wimp. Cars are made to be driven. Unfortunately I have my cars in NY and AZ, so months go by w/o them getiing driven. Having said that, I've definately had some bad luck with my Opels that used to be my daily drivers. They were very reliable then.... but now it seems that every drive yields a new problem. In addition when I'm in AZ I'm usually on my own whereas when I'm in NY and I have a problem I can call on my son if there is a real problem for a tow.
My most recent near disaster was that the rubber fuel line broke and gas was going everywhere. This is not a problem you want anytime no less while 50 miles outside of Phoenix. It was a real surprise.. I never thought to crawl under the car and check the condition of the fuel lines before going out... What I keep relearning is that not using a car is not good and you WILL have problems when you decide to take it out for a spin. Having more cars than time to drive them is not a plus either (NO I'm not upset about the too many cars part just the "too little time"). Since getting Malcolm's Targa, the others get even less use but I only have 10 years left 'til I can collect SS then there will be no excuse.

[azopelnut]

Craig how long will you be in AZ?

[crliwa]

Hi Paul.. I'll be in AZ til Jan 3rd.. Hope all is well and that you are having a great Holiday season
By the way here's my latest gremlin.. I always leave the negative battery terminal off when I'm in NY and the car goes months w/o getting started. When I got here I hooked it up and it started fine. I took it out and when I parked it I left the cable on. 3 days later I decided to go to the Scottsdale Pavilion for their Saturday evening car. It was stone dead, obviously something is draining my battery. I jumped it and let it run for 1/2 hour then took it out . I got up to about 30 and turned the key off and tried to restart it , NG so I put it in gear let out the clutch restarted and turned around and headed home, put it in the garage and it tried to turn it over again still NG so

I ended up taking the F150 Lightning to the show there were some beautiful cars there (Hmm a 32 Ford would fit nicely into my collection.. maybe if I sell a couple of the cars I'll never finish I could extend my HELOC and get one)

I may now have a bad battery I'll try charging it and see if it comes back.. (It's only a year old)
Happy Holidays to all

[azopelnut]

Craig
please PM your phone number. I would love to make the trip to Phoenix to see your beautiful GT

[crliwa]

Paul there is no room for Pm's in your inbox.
My cell #'s are 631-877 2774 and 516 410 5447. house phone 602 374 7540
It would be great to see you but the GT I have here is the Black one that I had at OMC 25 .. The Targa is still in NY. In addition, I have the Silver Ascona 1900 that is getting the 175 hp Opel engine w/ twin 45 webers. The interior is redone and now it needs to be reassembled. . The Datsun 2000 roadster comes out of my friend Dick Lowell's place by the 28th so the Opel can go there for the engine and some of the reassembly.
Craig

[crliwa]

I'll be heading back to NY on Wed. Sorry I didn't get to meet any fellow Opelers while I was here. I trailered the Ascona /1900 with all the part inside the car and the engine in the trunk to Gilbert AZ to be reassembled. I'll be back here soon to do some of the reassembly and hopefully it will be running then.
Question, Has anyone installed the rear side windows with frames into a 1900 and are there any tips you'd like to share. I bought them a couple of years ago when the car was being painted and haven't really thought about them since.
I'll post pics of this car soon.

[RallyBob]

Gene, Ascona side windows are just like the middle-bay windows on a wagon...they're swing-out style.

So you need to fit the rubber 'hinges' into the b-pillar post, 'glue' the aluminum frame into the window opening (a non-curing mastic is used from the factory), fit the rubber gasket/edge guard to the window opening, then fit the glass into the forward rubber 'hinges', and attach the 'pop-out' mechanism to the c-pillar area with three screws.

Bob

[crliwa]

Bob thx for the info on putting the windows back in.
I am back in NY but had to take the Black GT out for one last run (YES, less than 50 miles) before tucking it in 'til I get back to AZ. I was driving on I -17 and the loop 101 at the north end of Phx where most people move right along all the time. I have the aluminum flywhell w/the 2.0 etc. so this GT accelerates faster than any of my others. As I got up to speed the slow lane was doing 65-70. I saw a 85-87 Nissan 300zx in the left lane and decided to go with him.. the acceleration to about 85 was good but then he saw me and decided to step on it. From 85 to 95 he dropped me but then decided that was enough. I almost hit 5000 rpm at 100 where the acceleration was very gradual. My exit was coming up (as was the temp.), so I got off and finished the drive at a reasonable speed.. I do enjoy the driving out west as opposed to here on LI where it takes about 2 hours to get to Times Square from my house less than 50 miles away.

[neuropel]

Craig,

So your 2.0 with the aluminum flywheel has better acceleration than your 2.4 GT?

Todd

[crliwa]

I haven't raced them against each other but right now I'd say that it is slightly faster from a standing start. The 2.4 Targa w/ FI is still not tuned correctly (runs rich) to get everything out of it but will definately overtake the 2.0 once it gets going. The 2.0 has a lot of work done to it in addition to the aluminum flywheel. Sprint "header", Chevy pistons, custom exhaust, Cam, weber and who knows what else. It was built mainly by Dick Lowell in AZ. then the final assy. was done by Craig "I can't work with you "helping" Jr.
Dick moved from Opels to Datsun's and he is the guy I bought the silver 1900 Ascona from that was the Southeast regional SCCA solo champion. That car with the engine that Dick is putting in it (with the dual weber 45's) should be my fastest Opel.
I'm hoping that it is done in time to take it to at least one Opel meet this summer. I also want to put A/C in it which should be doable since it has a lot more room than the GT.