nzstato Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Can someone please tell me the measurement between the front subframe mounting bolts on a vauxhall viva? Also what the track width is? Better yet, anyone know where there might be a complete assembly for sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I can give you all this information, tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Hi man you got something for me. I'm about to ring every wrecker in the SI to see if they have got one sitting about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I got a little sidetracked last night and completely forgot. My humble appologies. I have a factory chassis manual which states all the dimensions on the shelf at home. Can you wait until tonight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Sounds good, I need to figure out if it would be possible to graft one into this A35 shell I have here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 If you have a welder and some steel anything can be done. I'll scan all the relevant pages if I can and you'll see how it attachs, etc. Can plan it all out. Get some OSGC to CAD it up for you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Chur Am not afraid with a bit of cutty cutty weldy weldy..... Only issue will be if I need to shorten it (which I think I will have to). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I've seen them cut and shut to make them narrower on kit cars and old hotrods. Pretty easy and just need to add some plates to give it strength back. Tricky bit might be the "outriggers" which go back to the chassis and where the radius arm mounts, should easy enough to fab something up for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 So the manual didn't have the dimensions I thought it did. From a measure in the engine bay, as good as I could get with the engine and stuff in the way - Crossmember mounting bolts (centres) - 770mm Total track - 1400mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nominal Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I think I have a drawing that shows dimensions somewhere. Will have a look in the weekend. I was going to use this setup in my Minor (even pulled the suspension from an HC and stored it for a few years). The biggest issue IIRC was the need to have high chassis rails (the beam mounts below the viva body) which are ugly/intrusive. I finally sold it to someone who crashed their lotus 7 clone, and needed new parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Cut out the inner guards, make up some new structure in there. Will be a cert job anyway. What did A35s have originally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 Cool, I'm going to have to cut it down to 550mm ish between the mounts but that should give me track that will still be within the (lipped guards). A35 had a really crap design (by modern standards), it was the first attempt by Austin to make a monocoq chassis and hence lacks any sort of rigidity at all. It has two U chassis rails (which only go just past the firewall) and the dampers/springs are mounted direct to that, it didnt even have a crossmember (sort of braced with the lip at the front) and the engine mounts are forward of the suspension mounts. So really, a silly design. Yes I will have to make some silly high frame rails to get it to work as there arent really any other subframe options which would work with this kind of car. Torana, HT etc has too much arc on the A-arms and a bit too big. Though ideas would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Most kit cars and rods (those that didn't keep the front beam/transverse leaf) seemed to use the Viva front end. Was easy and readily available, also about right for smaller cars. Only thing is standard hubs and stubs are a bit lame, might need to run 1800 Magnum brakes, Victor brakes, or fab up something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUL8R Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Why not chevette or Piazza front end? Similar setup... Double wishbone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Chevette and Piazza are similar, but don't they use the inside tower to mount the top of the shock? Still double wishbone, just slightly different component layout. Viva is fully self contained, only need to bolt in the crossmember. All the springs, shocks, etc are on-board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 I was intially thinking starlet/AE86 purely due to aftermarket bits available. However the idea of attempting to weld in the strut towers has put me off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivaspeed Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I was initially thinking Viva purely due to them being similar to LC/LJ Torana and loads of aftermarket bits available. However the idea sounds awesome. There is nothing you can't get for a Viva front end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 I'm still torn, one side of me says, "you're going build turrets for the rear so why not struts for the front" need to look at a starlet to decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nominal Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Here's the dimensions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzstato Posted November 2, 2013 Author Share Posted November 2, 2013 Thanks man, just went out and put the tape measure over the car. With a 20mm narrow this is going to work out perfectally. Anywhere know where I could pick a complete front end up - SI wide? Failing that I'm sure Prestons in Invercargill probably have a few stacked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.