Astra VXR Engine Bay Overhaul! Top Hat, Catch Can, Hardpipes, Heatshield, and Silicone Hoses

Installing an Airtec catch can with Sprogley Motorsport breather setup, Airtec top hat kit, Sprogley motorsport inlet elbow, silicone breather hoses, and Courtenay Sport intake heat shield. The engine bay on the VXR was well overdue a refresh!

[@Yodaracing1]

Nicely done mate top work !!

[@HallattMedia]

Love the content mate makes me miss my Astra even more 🫠

[@vwcamper2065]

Thanks for the video was a big help I have a zafira doing too hat & full intercooler

[@shaunmacdonald1611]

Top work mate 👍

[@TwoSpanners]

nice work mate

[@charliebelton1994]

Looks great mate!

[@JamesBalazs]

Thanks!

[@DirtyCruze.]

Love your video. Similar car. I have a Chevy Cruze LS 2016-2019. I do mods as well. I'm happy to come across your channel . Nice video. From Miami Florida 😎👍🏽

[@JamesBalazs]

Glad you like the video! Some of the Chevy's you guys can get in the states are pretty cool - I think one version of the Cobalt had a 2.4L engine which supposedly would bolt straight in to the Astra, I'd like to import one and try the engine swap eventually :)

[@davidlundrigan1435]

Looks good. Only thing I wouldn't fit to mine is the catch can as is slows the flow of gasses increasing crank case pressure.

[@dwaine22]

Just scratched the shit outta ya cam cover

[@JamesBalazs]

Yep 😭

[@dennyTruffles]

James Balazs, question; has that little filter on your catch can made everything around it an oily mess over time?

[@JamesBalazs]

Yeah it has made a bit of a mess. Not too bad because I don't drive it much (spend more time cleaning it than driving it some months) though.

[@ibbi270]

Can you tell me if replacing Crank Sensor on the VXR is hard?

[@user-ox1ge5mh3v]

I am asking you That tank will Stop smell smoke come out of the breathing ??

[@MrKutzzy]

I've just done a crossover delete on my astra h 2.0 turbo sri today using the Courtney silicone pipework and the heat shield. Can't get to the dipstick now haha Is yours the same?

[@JamesBalazs]

Yep unfortunately. You can just about get it out on mine, but it's almost easier to just remove the intake to get to it.

[@SkyWalker-nk4hk]

The two hoses that come from the top left of the head the smaller hose goes to some sort of one way valve do you know what it's called?

[@JamesBalazs]

One way valve, non return valve, check valve, or PCV valve :)

[@DJMARCEE123]

Hey Balazs! Nice video! Wondering about how many kilometers until you have to empty the catch can? Or how does that work? Also about your name. Are you hungarian? 😊

[@JamesBalazs]

I have done over 1000 miles since fitting the catch can, and it hasn't needed emptying yet. Still less than 25% full. I think a better quality catch tank than the Airtec, with internal baffling would catch more oil but this one really just acts more like a breather. And my grandfather was Hungarian but moved to England

[@DJMARCEE123]

Thank you for the fast reply. Sounds nice, I have a GTC Turbo Sport (about 200hp, 170 on paper but drag races proved I bought it with 200+) and thinking of building the same as you did in the video so I found it very useful. Thinking of going out to britain and buying a VXR then staying there would be a better upgrade. The local regulations & laws allow these tunings, or you have to revert it to have the examination every 2 years?

[@JamesBalazs]

@@DJMARCEE123 the UK is much better than a lot of Europe for tuning. The only thing you have to be careful with at inspection is emissions, they can fail you for not having a catalytic conveter. Almost everything else is fine as long as the car is safe and roadworthy.

[@DJMARCEE123]

Lol I need to move to UK :D what do you think about swapping engine to LEH so I will have an OPC as the body is already OPC but with double exhaust and diffuser. Would you recommend buying a VXR instead? My car is in very good shape btw. Would it worth it to move it and tune it or sell it in HU and get a VXR at UK?

[@JamesBalazs]

@@DJMARCEE123 it depends what they are worth in HU I guess. You can get a nice VXR for £3k - £6k in UK depending what mileage and condition you want. If you brought it over, an LEH swap is easy enough and they're common engines to find and cheap to buy. OPC is rarer here and would definitely be unique! Or since you're planning to tune it you can rebuild the engine you already have with stock LEH pistons and aftermarket forged rods and safely make 400hp with the right turbo.

[@huffgsi83]

Hoe much have you lowered the car by mate ?

[@JamesBalazs]

It's on stock suspension still mate 🙂

[@dinyal_riy]

I need piston 💔

[@shalomMF1995]

I can't believe the bits I just watched, my eyes hurt You could have used a length of metal on the air box fixing to get your can past the heat shield. And why did you not just buy longer bolts instead of a rivnut kit 🙈

[@luminouslentil8510]

All good stuff. Turn music off when doing sound tests tho, eh? Lol

[@JamesBalazs]

Will do next time 😅 still figuring out the editing, it takes more effort than actually working on the car 😂