Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra

stuntfreak · 13th June 2013, 01:45

The year was 1997, My Father purchased an Opel Astra, one of the first ones in India. What a lovely car it was. Lasted without any problems,.... untill I turned 18 and got my hands on it...Been fiddling around with it and doing everything possible. Moral of the story, I really really messed up the car. and then we rebuilt the Opel Engine. It became amazing once again. But soon I realized, that everything apart from the engine, was junk. Thanks to my 'rallying' in the astra.. So the car was in one place for 2 to 3 years. Now It's time to do something about it.

Here's what I'm thinking.

Step 1: Strip it apart and check for rusts. Patch it up
Step 2: Install a Roll Cage inside
Step 3: Find a Cheap Engine with some potential. Rebuild it and Turbo charge.
Step 3: Install the Engine (Front Engine) longitudinally.
Step 4: Use a rwd car's gearbox, along with an LSD at the rear.
Independent suspension with a RAD (Rear Axle Drive) Mounted in the center seems to be the ideal way to go about it.
Step 5: Upgrade Suspensions, Steering, Brakes, Wheels, etc.
Step 6: A lil bit of cosmetics
Step 7: Drift.

Steps 1 to 3 have been completed successfully
Well not exactly
I did find an Engine, a j20 (Suzuki 2.0L) Engine from a rally sx4. But it needs a lot of work. Just opened up the Engine. And started cleaning with my faithful team..

Lets see how things go ahead. Will keep you'all posted

Take care guys!

Drift safe..

Drive Safe..

krichared · 13th June 2013, 21:30

hey, the longitudinal setup and the RWD conversion seems interesting for the long ditched Opel Astra - referring to the current car scene in India. Waiting for further updates

stuntfreak · 14th June 2013, 16:48

Update!

Here's the Opel! Lying outside Kept it outside temporarily as I need to clear out some space. Got 3 Vehicle Bays occupied with customer cars and one for my own project work.Just took the Lancer out today, so first thing Monday morning, we roll this sweety inside, and start work! We've finished the Roll cage a while ago before it was kept here. Will be painted on Monday as I'm going out of town for 2 days. And I like my boys to fiddle around with project cars under my supervision only.

Anyways, cheers to the forever greatest Opel Astra!

These pics represent how the car is as of NOW. Lets see what happens in 6 months. I hope things go as planned, and this one turns out to be a real beast.

Take care guys, Drive Safe.
Always wear your seat belt.

Stunt Freak.

NOTORIOUS · 17th June 2013, 09:24

Thanx , Bring it on. Waiting For An Update !

chinmaypillay · 17th June 2013, 12:47

very interesting thread

updates please!

stuntfreak · 20th June 2013, 23:20

[quote=chinmaypillay;3151659]very interesting thread

updates plbr>

New parts arrived.. Things are moving slow at the moment. Searching for parts.

stuntfreak · 24th June 2013, 02:17

I'm falling short of manpower. Some one interested in working on this project? Like some one who wants to come over and help me finish this project with hands on efforts and some design knowledge?

I am busy with 5 parallel projects in my hand.. I really want to do this, but its going slow.

Pls PM me. I'm searching for people in the standard way, but I need someone with Ideas. It'll be cool Let me know. PM

Thanks

Stunt Freak

stuntfreak · 16th June 2014, 11:41

Okay.

So the previous Engine, the j20, was probably not a good idea. It was way too small for the car and the type of project. Anyways, We've sold it and now called for a nice bigger V-type engine setup.

Parts are coming in and the project will resume once our existing miata has been completed.

Stay tuned. A lot of excitement awaits.

Hemank

tazmaan · 16th June 2014, 14:34

Well well similar project to mine. I am installing a big engine in Tata Estate.

Congrats and wish you all the best!

13th June 2013, 01:45	#1
stuntfreak BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 212 Thanked: 1,577 Times	Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra The year was 1997, My Father purchased an Opel Astra, one of the first ones in India. What a lovely car it was. Lasted without any problems,.... untill I turned 18 and got my hands on it...Been fiddling around with it and doing everything possible. Moral of the story, I really really messed up the car. and then we rebuilt the Opel Engine. It became amazing once again. But soon I realized, that everything apart from the engine, was junk. Thanks to my 'rallying' in the astra.. So the car was in one place for 2 to 3 years. Now It's time to do something about it. Here's what I'm thinking. Step 1: Strip it apart and check for rusts. Patch it up Step 2: Install a Roll Cage inside Step 3: Find a Cheap Engine with some potential. Rebuild it and Turbo charge. Step 3: Install the Engine (Front Engine) longitudinally. Step 4: Use a rwd car's gearbox, along with an LSD at the rear. Independent suspension with a RAD (Rear Axle Drive) Mounted in the center seems to be the ideal way to go about it. Step 5: Upgrade Suspensions, Steering, Brakes, Wheels, etc. Step 6: A lil bit of cosmetics Step 7: Drift. Steps 1 to 3 have been completed successfully Well not exactly I did find an Engine, a j20 (Suzuki 2.0L) Engine from a rally sx4. But it needs a lot of work. Just opened up the Engine. And started cleaning with my faithful team.. Lets see how things go ahead. Will keep you'all posted Take care guys! Drift safe.. Drive Safe.. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by GTO : 13th June 2013 at 17:19. Reason: No more than 2 smilies per post please
	(5) Thanks

13th June 2013, 21:30	#2
krichared BHPian Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 28 Thanked: 7 Times	Re: Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra hey, the longitudinal setup and the RWD conversion seems interesting for the long ditched Opel Astra - referring to the current car scene in India. Waiting for further updates
	() Thanks

14th June 2013, 16:48	#3
stuntfreak BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 212 Thanked: 1,577 Times	Re: Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra Update! Here's the Opel! Lying outside Kept it outside temporarily as I need to clear out some space. Got 3 Vehicle Bays occupied with customer cars and one for my own project work.Just took the Lancer out today, so first thing Monday morning, we roll this sweety inside, and start work! We've finished the Roll cage a while ago before it was kept here. Will be painted on Monday as I'm going out of town for 2 days. And I like my boys to fiddle around with project cars under my supervision only. Anyways, cheers to the forever greatest Opel Astra! These pics represent how the car is as of NOW. Lets see what happens in 6 months. I hope things go as planned, and this one turns out to be a real beast. Take care guys, Drive Safe. Always wear your seat belt. Stunt Freak. Attached Thumbnails
	(3) Thanks

17th June 2013, 09:24	#4
NOTORIOUS BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 809 Thanked: 124 Times	Re: Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra Thanx , Bring it on. Waiting For An Update !
	() Thanks

17th June 2013, 12:47	#5
chinmaypillay BHPian Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: BLR/CBE Posts: 146 Thanked: 248 Times	Re: Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra very interesting thread updates please!
	() Thanks

20th June 2013, 23:20	#6
stuntfreak BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 212 Thanked: 1,577 Times	Re: Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra [quote=chinmaypillay;3151659]very interesting thread updates plbr> New parts arrived.. Things are moving slow at the moment. Searching for parts. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

24th June 2013, 02:17	#7
stuntfreak BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 212 Thanked: 1,577 Times	Re: Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra I'm falling short of manpower. Some one interested in working on this project? Like some one who wants to come over and help me finish this project with hands on efforts and some design knowledge? I am busy with 5 parallel projects in my hand.. I really want to do this, but its going slow. Pls PM me. I'm searching for people in the standard way, but I need someone with Ideas. It'll be cool Let me know. PM Thanks Stunt Freak
	() Thanks

16th June 2014, 11:41	#8
stuntfreak BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 212 Thanked: 1,577 Times	Re: Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra Okay. So the previous Engine, the j20, was probably not a good idea. It was way too small for the car and the type of project. Anyways, We've sold it and now called for a nice bigger V-type engine setup. Parts are coming in and the project will resume once our existing miata has been completed. Stay tuned. A lot of excitement awaits. Hemank
	() Thanks

16th June 2014, 14:34	#9
tazmaan BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 931 Thanked: 3,442 Times View My Garage	Re: Building a rear-wheel-drive Drift Opel Astra Well well similar project to mine. I am installing a big engine in Tata Estate. Congrats and wish you all the best!
	() Thanks