2 replies to this topic

[vivaspeed]

Well, after lurking for ages, making some posts and now realising there needs to be more Vauxhall-ness on this forum I have decided to post my Viva.

Discussion: http://www.oldschool...hp?f=18&t=25968

Let me give you a brief history.

While building a 4AGE Starlet in the beginning of last decade (some time around 2001-2002) I saw a very quick and interesting supercharged HB Viva at Ruapuna. First thoughts were "why a Viva..." - I thought that was cool and did some research - it has been downhill ever since...

Take one $500 Viva with a 'worked' 1256cc, Weber 28/32 DCD carb and extractors, big bus wheel and Hillman Hunter seats. Went okay until one day it didn't - couldn't be bothered investigating so out came the old engine and it lived in the garden for a while.



Add one $200 1800cc Magnum front brakes, crossmember motor and diff, a dirty old Link EMX running a mitsi single point injection unit and a nice new cage that I got in exchange for a 3SGE motor.





I took that contraption to the track and had some slow fun, on a good run it would rev to at least 5000 but not happily. It was a bit front heavy and tended to oversteer in the wet. It was like this for a couple of years.



Then it rusted, and the engine was crap so I pulled it apart, cut a big hole and put a better engine in it. That process took some 4-5 years.







I painted it myself in the depths of winter when the steel was a bit cold (I'm an electrical engineer, not a tradesman painter, so can you imagine the quality???) and put it back together. Strangely I still had all of the parts despite moving several times.





Since then it's been to Taupo a few times, done some club events, and most recently Manfield in the wet.





For those who like to get carried away with details, it's got the following bits inside:

Toytoa 4AGE smallport with std ECU
W57 gearbox and Niteparts bellhousing
Escort 'English' diff
Magnum 1800 brakes front and rear
Princess 4-pots (Front)
Fibreglass bonnet, boot, bumpers and patches in many little rust areas
Plastic glazing
Cage, seats, harnesses, and all the lovely safety stuff
Sits on 15" minilites with Dunlop Direzza targa/DOT legal tyres.
Lots of 'custom' stuff made in my shed
Many bits from pick-a-part.

Lots of mods coming up now I've got some decent workshop space again.

[vivaspeed]

Well Trademe has been getting a bit of abuse recently... some new goodies for my Viva that I have to share.

A GT type grill - had to paint the area behind it matt black to make it look right, and also cut some space to fit an oil cooler behind it.

I somehow suspect the car won't go any faster with this, but it does look good...



...and something that will make the car go faster, not from Trademe but something a mate built and I picked up at a favourable rate. It's a small port, got some ground cams, adjustable cam gears and is a nice fresh new motor. It will soon take the place of the tired old wrecker motor I've currently got doing the job.

[vivaspeed]

Time for the new engine, has only been sitting for a couple of months but this was the first free weekend I've had for a while. Thought I'd get this in before the next Road and Track round in June.

Made a start, pulled the old 4AGE out to make some space (and to give the workshop floor a nice oily, damp texture).



Swapped over the relevant parts to the new engine, with many problems - first the knock sensor fell apart due to being brittle so a Pick A Part tripped followed - $4 and a greasy arm later we were back in business. Then the usual things not coming apart easily, not going together properly, etc



Then the dizzy wouldn't fit because of a stupid bushing the last owner used with his 4K dizzy. I got frustrated and went home. I have 5 weeks to get it going... no rush.

See this problem here: http://www.oldschool...php?f=2&t=27276