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Jul 27, 2015 16:36:34 GMT
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Hello,
anyone done a viva engine conversion? i have a hb and wanted some idea's but nothing v8 powered, something more 1.6 pinto power to 2.0 pinto power ect and whats involved if someone has done it.
cheers
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Jul 27, 2015 18:29:18 GMT
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Hi, I don't know specifics about V'halls but I'd be looking at something a bit newer than a Pinto for more modern performance & economy (Zetec maybe?)
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Jul 27, 2015 19:16:01 GMT
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That has sprung to mind but iv'e never done an engine conversion before and most i have ever done is pulling one engine out to exchange for the same unit. i am good with a welder though haha so anything electrical and the making of parts to the exact mm bla bla, i will turn into a tesco cabbage unless i like to make it look like frankinstein :')
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Jul 27, 2015 20:28:01 GMT
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Jul 27, 2015 23:12:55 GMT
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My first thought was Rover 3500 or Buick 215 V8 then I read your post properly. Seriously though those light weight V8s do go sweet in a Viva. A fellow I was in a hotrod club with many years ago used a Buick 215 powered HC Viva to tow his drag car. Was a real sleeper. Just looked like grandpa's Viva with mag wheels until you saw it doing 80mph towing the transporter. If you are not keen on the V8 route have you considered any of the late model V6s? A lot also depends on how confident are you with mechanical things and fabricating mounts etc. It is a huge muck around taking a modern front drive engine and fitting it into a rear drive car but many have done it successfully.
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Jul 27, 2015 23:20:37 GMT
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I have an idea that a fellow member of this forum and another that I frequent has put a Mazda V6 into an HB Viva. Hopefully he will come on here sometime and may be able to shed some more light on the issue for you.
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i do love the idea of a v6 and v8 but there's no way i would be able to insure even though i got 5 years no claims i would be looking around £12400 a year because it would be a big engine mod. i would like a smaller older carb engine in there. i have done a fair ammount of mechanical work and fabricating body panels but something like this i have always wanted to do but i'm very unsure and especially if it was a big engine.
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Jul 28, 2015 13:20:58 GMT
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Firstly don't do anything until you have got your registration issues sorted out, the more original it is the better. After that we'll I've seen a v12! But for a small engine and lots of performance a turbo rotary would be the way forwards. Look for YoEddyNZ (or similar spelling) thread on readers rides for his v6 viva which he had a rotary in previously
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786
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Jul 28, 2015 14:25:39 GMT
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My first suggestion would be an XE or C20LET, but they seem to command quite a premium these days.
SR20 Nissan?
Toyota 4A GE?
These have all been fitted in RWD applications so are fairly easy to get the bits together for a conversion
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mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,937
Club RR Member Number: 77
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Jul 28, 2015 16:23:05 GMT
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I'd suggest the alloy headed 'small block' Vauxhall lumps. They go from 1.2 up to 1.8 with 8 or 16v heads May even share the same bellhousing pattern, although i think the main difference is the offset to tip the engine over slightly
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786
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Jul 28, 2015 18:11:59 GMT
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^^ I'd forgotten about them. The 2ltr 8v is a cracking engine. I had a MK3 Astra SRi and it went like stink
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Last Edit: Jul 28, 2015 18:12:13 GMT by MrSpeedy
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lord13
Part of things
Posts: 536
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I've done a couple of viva engine conversions, i'll do a quick list....( i'm assuming you have the 1159, 1256cc ohv engine in yours) 1. slant four vauxhall ( 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.3 ) easiest engine swap, no bulkhead cutting or anything, the viva was built for this engine, get a donor viva hc that has this engine and swap the lot, engine, gearbox, exhaust, subframe, rear axle etc it all just bolts on. you can even just unbolt the front subframe, lift the car up, drag out your old subframe engine and gearbox and just slot the 2.3 set up back in,( sometimes you have to adjust the engine mounts with a hammer, they angle further back depending on which donor car you took it from) and lower the car back down, theres even a cut out on the front valence of the hb to clear the top pulley bolt as you do it. you can even use the 1159 back axle, the 2.3 prop bolts to it, it's all there to do,even the gear lever hole is on a plate that you just drill out the rivets, turn 180 degrees and put back in for the slant4 gearbox, only draw back is viva's are thin on the ground these days. but it's an easy route to a nice quickish viva ... (victor engines can be used but have a different sump, you'll need to swap to a hc or gt sump ) theres a few more things to it, but not much and they're all easily sorted. 2. ford x-flow: pretty much a bolt in job, fabricate your own mounts on the viva crossmember and bolt it in, it will clear the bulk head without cutting (just) the 1.6 is a slightly taller block than the 1.3 but will still clear the lip under the heaterbox, the sump will not need modding, maybe a little dressing back if you want it lower in the bay. if you use the standard 4 speed box you shouldnt have any gearbox issues, but if you use the type 9 5 speed, the gear lever comes up to close to the handbrake, so you'll have to move the handbrake or modify it. obviously you'll need a prop made up. 3. ford pinto: fabricate mounts, fabricate a sump, and it should go in just like the x-flow does, i had one with a pinto in it, but the bulkhead had been messed about and looked rough, i haven't done one myself, but i'm sure it will go in without bulkhead cutting, or the minimal of cutting. 4. ford essex v6 . amazingly fits in without any bulkhead mods or sump mods, 4 speed gearbox fits easily as well, 5 speed will need the handbrake mod, the only awkward bit is the viva steering column goes through the space where the oil filter should be, so fit a remote filter, still very tight though, the remote housing i used kept fouling the column, so maybe a different column needed, or slight repositioning of the original is needed. 5. vauxhall xe,: seen this done without any bulkhead mods, youll have to fabricate a sump or use a manta one, but luckily the manta gearbox bolts straight on. also youll have to make engine mounts etc. 6. vauxhall 8v FWD , same as above, manta sump and gearbox. modded engine mounts etc. 7. vauxhall ecotec: everyone slates these engines, i've never had a problem with them and they're fitted to everything , fits the same as an xe without the pricetag, and they come in all sizes right up to 2.2 which is a great engine in my opinion. hope this helps, any questions, especially on the slant4 just pm me
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mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
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Jul 29, 2015 16:42:04 GMT
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I had a Vectra 2.6 24v and it loved to be revved. They're held back by boat-anchor flywheels and management, both of which are easily sorted. And being a V6 it sounded lovely.
A true lost opportunity is the Lotus 2.2 twin cam engine, as it's based on the Viva/Magnum engine and would suit it like nothing else - it's pretty criminal they put it in the Sunbeam but not the Viva!
If you wanna stick with Vauxhall but don't fancy the Lotus route, V6 or red-stripe, it makes a lot of sense to go for a 2.0 8v OHC. It'd be quick enough to do whatever you needed it to on the roads, and yet you could still open the taps and put some effort into it without losing your licence in the first week.. And in my experience, 8v engines sound better than multivalve ones on carbs. Add the parts availability to the hundreds of units available for peanuts and..
Me, i'd look at modern set-ups first, like S-Type and 3-series stuff. The Ford/Jag V6 has lots of capacity options, a 2.1 crank in a 3.0 block would make a very short stroke unit ideal for a light car, and it's all alloy. The 2.0 4-pot in the BMW must be worth looking into - both these options are multivalve engines with 6-speed gearboxes and every other breakers has one!
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