Vauxhall Cavalier mk2 recommissioning: episode 3

I get on and tackle the poor running on my Cavalier, including fitting a manual choke conversion

[@malcolmcowan9554]

Haven't driven a cavalier mk2 for 23 years best car I have ever driven

[@buickmclean8163]

Me too !

[@danielrussell446]

Hi Sion a great video as ever the automatic choke issue with the Pierburg carb was a major issue at the time my dad had issues with his astra mk2 with the same and he took it back from new with fuel starvation and also erratic idling etc he also a had issues with starting with his Belmont which also had the same setup I wouldn’t be surprised it’s the auto choke and it’s probably not a bad idea to do the conversion and as you say it will be easier to regulate hopefully a long run will help as well after it being stood a long time a great improvement well done

[@ashcardwell7711]

Good job! Best thing i did is replace the varijet carb with a weber 32 34 dmtl on my mk2 cav! Starts so much better and runs alot better!

[@FreddyVan]

Hi there Sion. I fitted a manual choke cable to my mk2 1.6 Cavalier in the late 80s to cure the same issue. It was a wider horizontal lever that filled the top half of that aperture. It even illuminated the tell tale in the cluster via an earthing link lead Found it in a scrap yard car, possibly an Astra mk1…….

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Interesting. I think you would need some evidence of the pre-1984 build date, but as I said in the video it's not something I've ever done

[@thejamesieboy]

Funnily enough I've just left him a comment about trying to get an original choke cable, look so much neater.

[@paulillingworth1242]

Manual choke will make a huge difference, I remember a F reg 1.6 cavalier I had when it was changed to a manual choke made much better to start up and save running issues, this was some years ago, auto choke ok while working. Ahhh those lovely old 8v GM family one engines , superb units and reliable.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

They are lovely smooth engines aren't they

[@paulillingworth1242]

@@MorselsAndMotors definitely, very fond of them, the height of durability and simplicity combined.

[@dreammaker730]

Yes indeed my fiesta 1.1 had to have the manual choke treatment .

[@Cavalier_Steve]

You can’t be that far away from me if your only 25 minutes or so from Biggleswade. Nice work, I wished I had an ultrasonic cleaner to get my carb spotless. Could you not of got a genuine manual choke cable with the wide pull handle?

[@MorselsAndMotors]

The problem is this kit makes it a sprung choke, so the cable pulls back. It needs to twist to lock it in place, which I assume the standard choke wouldn't (if it's anything like my mk1 Astra).

[@thejamesieboy]

Yeah the proper choke cable with the wide pull handle looks so much neater, and easier to use as no need to twist to keep it out.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Great work! Coincidentally on the same day I filmed a "how to use a manual choke" for dummies and I couldn't help mentioning about how autochokes sounded like a great thing in the 80s but never really worked. My family had a few Maestros that enjoyed overchoking themselves. The manual choke conversion will really ease your stress and give you back control, nothing worse than something you can't control like an autochoke!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh what a coincidence! Yes, my auntie who had a mk2 Cavalier estate in the late 80s was telling me how her automatic choke was always causing problems and was never right

[@cjs95]

@@MorselsAndMotors I don't think I've ever heard anything positive mentioned about automatic chokes.

[@maxeluy]

That kit looks factory at least on the inside, that's awesome

[@fhwolthuis]

Great improvement. Maybe it just needs a nice long road trip on the motorway to freshen up 😄