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Vauxhall Frontera Prep? Vauxhall Frontera Prep?
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Light Overland Vehicle Tech Tech issues, tips and hints, prepping for travel
Under 3500kg vehicles, e.g. Land Cruiser, Land Rover, Subaru etc.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 10 Jan 2011
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Vauxhall Frontera Prep?
I have picked up an old Vauxhall Frontera (92) that will be used as the support vehicle for my forthcoming Pizza-Bikes across the Sahara mission (January 2012). It's got no MoT or tax and will probably need a damn good inspection/service but the engine and gearbox seem to be in very good working order and there is no sign of clutch slippage.

I am planning on making some bash plate/skid plates for any delicate bits of the underside but as it's support rather than a race vehicle I won't be fitting a roll-cage (too expensive). I will also be checking the transmission and suspension bits for any signs of bad wear before I go and take some spare CV joints and ball joints as I've been told they can be a problem. Does anyone have any experience with these or have any pointers about what else needs doing (bearing in mind that I am on a super tight budget!).

cheers,

Henry
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  #2  
Old 10 Jan 2011
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just to treat it gently! the army rally team ran these for a while as part of a sponsorship deal and they fell to bits, wheras normally they run N/A 90s with minimal mods and no dramas.
I presume you won't be doing extreme stuff as your supporting mopeds but vehicle preservation will need to be part of your driving style. these won't take a lot of abuse.
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  #3  
Old 10 Jan 2011
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A guy down the road from me has been trialing in his Frontera for years and he's a member of FOG The Frontera owners group...

Main Page - FogWiki

That would be a good place to start.
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  #4  
Old 10 Jan 2011
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Thanks for the info, will get in touch with the FOG

I will be on a pizza bike myself (two wheels only man!) and an ambulance mechanic (team members brother) and a team mates girlfriend will be in the frontera.

A guy who owns an off-road centre that runs fronteras and defenders said he rated them pretty highly so I guess time will tell on the reliability front. I am working on the assumption that the 'support crew' will have less problems than the moped monkeys at present - it would be good if they could follow on the race stages but if not they can hit the tarmac routes
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  #5  
Old 11 Jan 2011
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My only experience with Fronteras was when a mates spat a con rod out the side of the block in Morocco

Sorry i can't be more positive!
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Old 11 Jan 2011
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<QUOTE>I presume you won't be doing extreme stuff as your supporting mopeds</QUOTE>
I'm offended Moggy, the Frontera is supporting ME on a moped (well technically it's a step-through)!
The 'mopeds' in question will be trying to hit as many waypoints as possible and steer well clear of the black stuff.
We will be using Annova 125s with knobblies fitted and I don't think we'll suffer on pace that badly as long as we are very careful with our lines. It'll be damn hard work and long days but we will be trying to do it properly!

Spat con-rods eh? Just driven my frontera ambulance back from Manchester, its going to take A LOT of work to get it roadworthy let alone Africa-Ready! Still, what do I expect for 325 quid?
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Old 11 Jan 2011
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I stand back in awe. I considered doing the plymouth dakar on a c90 but had neither the nerve nor the arse for it!
325, bargain!
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  #8  
Old 11 Jan 2011
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Cheers. Some of the stages are 500 or so km long so it will be 'interesting' to say the least. Am trying to get sponsorship from an Osteopath.....
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  #9  
Old 11 Jan 2011
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When I had my Citroen XM estate car I followed a land rover through some floods. I was followed by a frontera. As the water rose up the landrovers chassis I kept elevating the suspension until I had it in 'maintenance position' This added about 18 inches (half a metre to the vehicles clearance).
The landrover and I cleared the floodwater but the Frontera died.

so if you anticipate going near water ( I know you heading for the dessert) I would do some waterproofing to the engines ancillaries, airways etc.

The water was 18" to 2 feet deep on a smooth road surface. (ie above wellie height). I drove throught it gently as by then I had no suspension movement other than the rubber bump stops.
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Old 12 Jan 2011
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I already have to replace the main fusebox and a load of wiring so will make sure they arfe fairly waterproof. I was thinking about adding a snorkel - sounds like this might be wise....
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  #11  
Old 13 Jan 2011
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this going from bad to worse. The chassis is rotten, failed the MoT on all 4 sections of sill inner/outer chassis...
As I have to fix THIS vehicle with a 50 quid budget I now have a serious amount of welding to do and metal to find - anyone want to donate a decent donor chassis??
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  #12  
Old 14 Jan 2011
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Hi Henry i have driven many of the diffrent flavours of fronteras while doing dealer demo's for vauxhall & for off road driving tuition.

generally they are very good one of the better "all terrain compromise vehicles" no real glaring problem areas, though some engines are better than other & suspension joints are an issue on all indy set ups.

they are good for what you have in mind for it, as you will be doing lots of road miles compared with off road work, lots of the accessable areas of the sahara is available to 2WD cars.

seems like yours needs lots of tlc..

bonne route..

Gren
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  #13  
Old 14 Jan 2011
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Cheers Gren,

Good to hear some encouraging comments about the Frontera

we'll be replacing all the ball joints, taking a few spares along with cv joints, boots, track rods/tie rods wheel bearings, bushes etc as well as a load of 'consumables' (filters etc).

As we have to jack the body up to do the welding I was thinking about giving it a 2" body lift as well, it's a simple job and the only real downsides I can think of are a marginal loss of economy and slightly higher CoG.

There are only two stages on the race that are not open to 2 wheel drive but from some of the videos I've seen there are a fair few dunes to cross!
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