Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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Dec 31, 2014 19:43:08 GMT
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 This was meant to be a cheap & cheerful build for a replacement runabout but is rapidly turning into a slightly tidier project! OK so the car came up cheap thru a garage I deliver to, I'd been searching for a tidy early Tigra for awhile but all seemed to either be too far away to be sensible OR complete rotboxes for minter money so when this popped up I just had to have it  it's a 98 Chequers edition with the 1400 16v Engine and 102k on the clock...but I didn't care what it had under the bonnet as I had a plan   A little something I've had hidden in storage....1500 isuzu turbo-diesel motor & box from a corsa b  I pulled it out of a rotten car a few years ago with intentions of fitting into the Viva but as with so many of my plans...they changed so it just sat there....out of sight but not forgotten as I had always thought that the Tigra would be an oddball conversion and probably better on fuel than the donor car(sleeker shell design) but with a few tweaks could also be a fun b-road blaster! Anyway....first order of business was to strip the isuzu motor of all ancillary parts and tidy up the block, degrease the head then start painting stuff      A N/A plenum cover was sourced so as to simplify the intake pipework and a blank made up to block off where the original turbo-to-inlet pipe went then paint for both  As that was happening I furnished it with a new timing belt kit, water pump and gaskets where needed and to ensure clean, smooth running I measured the valve clearances and organised some new shims from vauxhall. And just incase nobody notices.....  The pump has been tweaked and roughly setup for more off-boost fuel, white polo mod and adenoid pin turned so the steepest part of the ramp is in use and diaphragm cover dimple removed & slightly raised to allow more pin to be used. All that and raised boost from the standard teeny, tiny snail should see a marked improvement in performance over standard More shortly Steve |
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2015 14:15:29 GMT by Steve
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Dec 31, 2014 20:06:55 GMT
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This is going to be good
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Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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Dec 31, 2014 20:44:25 GMT
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With engine prep progressing nicely I then turned my attention to the shell. It's a tidy example bar a few blebs of rust on the rear arches and an annoying dent in the drivers front wing(which pushed out ok but not perfect...it'll do for now) and as with most examples there was some rust holes showing in the outer sills...so the skirts came off to see how bad  Drivers side had a couple of holes, nothing too serious so cut the curse word out and buzzed some plates in  I tidied up a few little patches of rust further forward, primered and painted with a random can of silver wheel paint until I can be bothered to filler and smooth it out. Then I moved over to the passenger side where I was greeted with just the one hole....rinse & repeat  Seems the standard sideskirts are good at gently rubbing the paint off over time allowing sitting water to do its worst  this was a nice save as I've seen much MUCH worse examples. With that out of the way it came time to start removing the 1400 motor....like so  Quite an easy job if it wasn't for the poor access to the rear of the motor! Ended up stripping all the front end ancillaries, upper inlet manifold and all wiring from the motor before it would drop out cleanly but got there in the end At the same time I pulled all the factory-fit A/C pipework & condenser as I didn't need it along with all the pas pipework as that's being replaced by a manual rack from a late Corsa for less complication and reduced weight (gotta compensate for the heavier derv motor somehow ) Whilst removing the radiator & condenser it became clear the front crossmember wasn't in its first flush of youth and needed a spot of repair so out came the sparky stick once more  That got cleaned back flush and the whole crossmember left to marinate in de-rusting solution overnight.... And thats up to today! I have parts on order which won't be seen until after new year, I shall get some paint on that crossmember tomorrow if the weather plays fair and hopefully pull the pas rack out also so some more eng bay cleaning can happen. Amongst my orders I hopefully have a set of these on their way to me soon  15" Astra sport steel wheels will hopefully be getting banded as they only come in a rather boring 5.5" width More tomorrow Steve |
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purplevanman
Posted a lot
Way too orangey for crows
Posts: 3,829
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Dec 31, 2014 21:05:15 GMT
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my spare engine is being used how dare you.. you .. you bounder you ;P good plan though |
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sowen
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,245
Club RR Member Number: 24
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Nice one, be interesting to know how well the diesel fares against petrol equivilents in economy  and performance? Love the turbo plenum cover, is that a vinyl sticker? |
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MK2VR6
Posted a lot
Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,328
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Lovely little sleeper. Great save, too. Tigras seem to have vanished just as quickly as they appeared. Watching with interest!
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This will be a interesting build, should confuse a few people when there's puffs of black smoke coming out of the back. Will you be fitting updated springs to compensate for the heavier engine?
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Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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Thanks for your interest guys Simon - I think it's vinyl but didnt actually check what it's made of...got a spare if it doesn't stay put and might lacquer over it next time Sceptre - I will be going with coilovers eventually but the more I think about it I suspect the weight difference with the derv will prob not be much baring in mind I'm ditching the A/C and PAS systems which might tip the scales back to almost standard weight.....this is my illusion and I'm sticking to it eitherway I will get the car over a weightbridge when it's done to confirm the numbers. Today has been a wet & windy one so next to sod all progress rack came out easily so that's one less thing to do, started to try and fathom the wiring but gave up so will come back to that at the weekend. I did have a crack at beefing up the RH engine mount rubber as it sits quite far forward compared to the standard Corsa derv mounting so will be under some odd forces....rammed it with silicone and a small plate  Yeah that should help it a bit More soon Steve |
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Interesting project = Bookmarked |
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1964 Saab 96 two Stroke
1971 Hillman Avenger 1500 GL (Tuned 1600 fitted)
1976 Saab 99 2dr EMS (Project of very slow progress)
1978 Saab 99 2dr EMS (Awaiting reshell)
1981 Saab 99 2dr Turbo (Awaiting reshell)
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recarouk
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 435 
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keep the updates coming |
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village
Part of things
Always carries a toolbox. Because Volkswagen.......
Posts: 567
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I'm not really a huge fan of Tigras, but this project could change my opinion.
bookmarked!
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"The White Van is strong with this one...."
Chris "Chesney" Allen 1976-2005 RIP
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Nice to see a tigra get some rr attention !
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was one on ebay a while ago with a 1.7 turbo diesel conversion |
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Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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Quicky update A package turned up whilst I was at work so had a test fit as soon as I got home...  Corsa b diesel radiator fits perfectly something to be said for standardised mounting points...bloody useful! Hoping the weather forecast for tomorrow is a lie so I can crack on with painting that crossmember and plan the wiring Steve |
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Happy to see this progressing so well, you know I approve.
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This is an awesome project. I don't think theres enough diesel projects.
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Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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More updates Yesterday was a complete wash out so not much was accomplished other that a bit of painting done to RH engine rubber mount and battery tray(which came out curse word ) so with the promise of a semi-dry day I got up early and set to it! First off I wiped down the front crossmember and all other bits I treated then got jiggy with the primer  Then whilst that was drying I dragged the 1400 out from underneath the car and slapped it on a pallet as thats sold and wheeled out its replacement  After a bit of fiddling with working out which colour wires do what it then came time to put a bit of colour on the crossmember  Front & back in silver with the top getting a single coat of black so it kinda looks factory....All be it done with whatever I had on the shelf and in stupidly cold conditions so it looks cack up close! It'll do just fine, it's not a showcar While that was drying I took a few mins drilling a few spot welds so I could ditch the original air filter box bracket off the o/s strut tower  Didn't need it...twas in the way....so away it went Then we got on to the main event! Engine&box were shuffled under the car then jacks were dropped so the crane could reach and hoik the lot up into the bay. Bit tricky as the arb/track control arms get in the way but using the "lift-twist-lift" method got the job done relatively quickly. Once up to correct height I bolted up the front gearbox mount then after a jiggle the rear gearbox mount went in so now it's sat where it wants to be ready for me to fab up a RH mount :-)    Both gearbox mounts are standard petrol jobbies which bolt in with no mods and allows standard petrol driveshafts and gear linkage to be used all nice & easy. I was a little impatient about this really as I should have fitted the steering rack first but I'm still waiting for it and it does seem there will be enough room to get it in with the engine bolted in so no big deal really. Got lucky on the wiring side of things, all but two wires are easily found in the engine bay which serve starter, oil pressure and alternator all conveniently on the same 6-pin plug...the other two which will be water temp and glowplugs I shall have to route inside to where the ecu used to live but again no big deal. I now have a universal intercooler kit and egt gauge on order which I should hopefully see in the week so more updates soon...just scratching my head about that engine mount as I still can't work out an elegant solution but I'm sure I'll think of sumat. Laters Steve |
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Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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Parts update  Universal 550mm intercooler with 2.5in pipe outlets, more than enough for the current turbo and plenty of scope for future upgrades so future-proof  2.5in pipe kit with hopefully enough bits to make this work Going to make a start on the engine mount tomorrow night so more unexciting updates then Steve |
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Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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was one on ebay a while ago with a 1.7 turbo diesel conversion I remember seeing a dark blue 1.7na converted one on there a year or so ago, was interested at the time but it needed a windscreen and was 200miles further than I was prepared to travel so missed out...twas cheap too |
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sowen
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,245
Club RR Member Number: 24
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Universal 550mm intercooler with 2.5in pipe outlets, more than enough for the current turbo and plenty of scope for future upgrades so future-proof *cough* Supercharger |
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it's a 98 Chequers edition with the 1400 16v Engine and 102k on the clock...but I didn't care what it had under the bonnet as I had a plan 
I pulled it out of a rotten car a few years ago with intentions of fitting into the Viva but as with so many of my plans...they changed so it just sat there....out of sight but not forgotten as I had always thought that the Tigra would be an oddball conversion and probably better on fuel than the donor car(sleeker shell design) but with a few tweaks could also be a fun b-road blaster!
this was a nice save as I've seen much MUCH worse examples.
and performance?
