yoeddynz

Let's see how long before it gets another motor..... But yeah for now I just wanna cruise.

Beer and chips for dinner! Just rummaged through my speedo cable collection and I have another inner long enough to fix the broken one. sweet.

You get todays gold star!

So as mentioned in the discussion I made it to the wof garage with no major issues. I have learned to ignore the temp gauge.. it tells lies. Maybe wrong sender for the cluster I'm using that's the old one from Viva one. The fuel gauge ain't working. The alternator light randomly comes on ..I suspect a bad earth. The speedo cable has now snapped at the other end ! But I made it and it was in good hands.. After wowing the tester as he's never seen an HB wagon before I walked off to do some shopping. I was hungry as and had a nice pie while I waited for the result. Whilst going shopping I spotted this.. I chatted to the owner, an old boy who's very proud of his Viva. He actually has a Datsun engine with a 5 speed box, fitted by the fella doing my wof. Finished shopping, walked back to the garage. Car was moved inside... Did it pass???? It did! Yes One of my sidelight bulbs was out. I'd known about it but forgot. He chucked another bulb in and passed it! (I have to fix the speedo asap which I will do so tonight). Yay!!!! Straight to the post office for some rego. So I drove home happy, checked the ignition timing with a mates light and it was indeed probably 10-15 degrees to advanced! Its also running lean but damned if I can move the jet down. Might put a slightly smaller O ring in that wont jam up. Got home. Took photo of this... Hung these in place... and sat back for one of these... A very, very happy man I am ! So speedo cable to sort then tune the engine. Change the oil. Get radiator leak soldered. Then in between driving I want to sort out the boot floor with some plywood and make it all flat ready for bikes etc.

Well I made it to the wof. It's in good hands... I have learned to ignore the temp gauge.. it tells lies. Maybe wrong sender for the cluster I'm using that's the old one from Viva one. The fuel gauge ain't working. The alternator light randomly comes on. The speedo cable has now snapped at the other end ! But I made it and now I eat pies while I wait for the result.

I think so? Its the type that's held down with two little spring clips (Oh that just includes almost every bloody dizzy cap out there ever...) . They dont seem to sit perfectly flat ie doesnt locate as well as the good old D25 type dizzy cap. I'll get a photo... This is true! Only just last night on my trip to the beach I had not one but two Tiidas and one Demio trying to take me on for a race.. Yes! That's the plan. He is a classic fan and dailies a El Camino He loves my other Viva so I shall win his heart again with the Viva style. Who can resist the Vauxhall Viva... Yeah wrong car I know.. but I couldnt find an HB advert!?

Thanks! Hopefully it actually makes it over the hill without turning into a mobile kettle. I am not sure how the state of tune is so I'll be taking it easy! Hey can a moderator person change the title to '1969 Viva HB wagon of patina- first drive!' Cheers sleep time!!!

A very exciting evening was had for us. We drove the wagon for the first time. In fact it’s the first time its been on the road since around 1999. I had been intending to have it ready to put through a Wof test on Thursday so we can hopefully take both Vivas to the Nelson area Oldschool meet in the weekend. But it turned out that my wof fella was booked out then. So I booked it for tomorrow and with that little carrot dangling in front of us we both set to work pronto to finish lots of little jobs. We almost had the list checked off but for fitting the bonnet, a side mirror and getting the windscreen washers sorted. The mirror will have to be a little purse mirror taped into the empty side mirror shell that I nicked from the Datsun 120y sitting out back. The windscreen washer is the original old push button type that I just need a reservoir for and the bonnet is now on in place after some quick rust repairs… I also pinched a filter from Hannahs Triumph wagon. It fits well enough and will do until I get something nicer.. Before it got too late in the day I thought I’d better take it for a drive. Its not idling right and shakes about a bit. My timing light bulb is blown so I cant check the timing. I can’t do it statically with a bulb and some wire as it now has electronic ignition. So I just twisted the dizzy until it sounded about right. The carb jet height is set at two turns down since I stripped it, as per Mr Haynes advice . I have no idea what’s going on but it runs. I jumped in and left the shed. I drove down the slope from the shed and heard a loud sound. Ha..I forgot that I had not cut the front lower corner of the front arches away to clear the wider wheels (a standard mod needed for Vivas) . Back into the shed again and out with the angle grinder. Then back out again and this time a little drive just up our driveway to start with. Brakes needed a good application to scuff off the rust on the discs but otherwise it was OK. Took some photos when it was at the top of our drive… I really like this next photo I took from our field with all its spring growth.. ( I have given up on mowing up here).. Hannah walked down and got the recycling bin and tried out the wesome useful load space.. Then back to the shed. I grabbed my tool box, phone and a shirt to stay warm for a possible walk home. First drive on the road here we go. OK not a biggy.. just 3km down the road to the beach. Hey wow.. it goes well! It wanders a little bit and needs and alignment but peppier than I expected. Steering is very light and the clutch is fine. Pretty quiet for a car with no bonnet and no carpets etc. It fun. Excited. Happy! Wow.. I did it. Yay. Down at the beach some old lady remarked how she used to own a Viva when she spotted it as I snapped some photos. I was sort of in an elated but slightly nervous, excited mood and didn’t really concentrate too much on what photos to take. I just snapped away and was happy to be there in the sun after all this time working on it. Drove home and showed the neighbour over the road. We spotted a weeping header tank seam on the radiator… Oh well.. hopefully it’ll hold for a trip to town and the test and I’ll get it sorted out later on. Water pump leaks too but I have 3 spares so will swap one in. Hopefully tomorrow I will also get the bulb for my timing light and properly have a crack at tuning it better. Next to Viva one and getting Kevins approval.. Please wish me luck with the test tomorrow!

I'm going to leave it as is on the outside. But not going to add any 'fake' patina. I like it just how it is. The idea that it has been pulled from a shed after years of neglect (which actually it has) and had the bare minimum amount of work to make it solid and pass a Wof (which it hasn't... I got a bit carried away again..). The bonnet is faded red and brighter red underneath. I am torn now about leaving it. With it popped open it will look terrible against the engine bay. Might throw some paint at it. The doors are on, windows in and tailgate hung. Its looking sweet. The height has come down with the added weight and its about spot on for a daily hack. I must get some pics and do an update. Struggling to tune it without my timing light (blown bulb that I cant get locally) and I cant set the timing statically as its now got electronic ignition with a hall sensor pickup. The O ring I replaced in the carb has certainly stopped it leaking....its now swollen up so much I can barely move the jet. So as it is I cant get it to idle smoothly much lower than 1100. Engine sounds fine when I rev it but at low speed almost has a miss. The dizzy cap needs replacing too I reckon. Anyone got a really good spare?

I have two and 1/16th (a spare wing, door, some glass) Exciting times this afternoon. The car now has doors fitted and the tailgate in place. It looks like a car again. So many mismatched colours and parts. I like it.

Good idea. Post updates.

Lovely sound ! Looking forward to more vids

Yeah.. slut.

Yeah pretty much that. I think maybe different gauges too? I used to like the idea of the round torana headlights but the rectangular Viva ones suit the front well so I'll stick with them. Cant be many HB toranas out there eh. Bugger all Vivas now either.

I fitted the gear stick in mine yesterday.tried the gears and the stick promptly fell apart in two. The rubber insulatorbit failed. I remember hearing a national radio program on a book of kiwis first cars. The announcers first car was a viva and she noted that her gear stick fell off. Then other listeners backed her up. Ha... silly gear stick. Not typical English quality. Blatantly must be shit toyota quality like that found in one of sheepers mustangs....(but he won't read this because he's a snob ) I welded a new length of steel on. All fixed

Cool! I need to test out that Williams inspired F1 Beagle race car you have built.

Go karts with track evaluated geometry and custom built ecus etc etc

Cool - with luck I will have this wagon along so I can fit propshaft in. I'll (should) take the mx5 engine and box while Im at it....

Get some boy racer to teach you how to use a manual again....

Big congrats on making a mini me! I see a very awesomely built go kart in the future....

For a Triumph? If so would it not be easier to start with the PI bodies?

yay for food!

^ appeals to my OCD tendencies dealing with household cables..

Fitting out the interior this evening. Hannah has cleaned the seats and they came up great. Now contemplating just having rear seats only and simply extending the pedals and steering wheel back.. so comfy in there being able to stretch out. Kevin agrees...

It'll be a mazda v6 one then. I think it was off an eunos 500 we got the first 1.8 v6 from. Yes.. Geoff and 8 ball.. a weekend viva mission and both get them on the road Cheers Ben.. I must grab that prop shaft btw !