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;D Maybe I should search the forum more, might find some useful stuff thanks for the link. Motorway driving is a point, a sustained 4000rpm.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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craig
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,029
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I'll have to check the flywheel but the sump was holding oil. Will double check. The crank's good to go though with a set of 0.010 shells.
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Thanks Craig, get back to me re the flywheel and sump. I'm being really picky with the sump. The one on the white one needs a lick of paint, and the one on the red one has a few dents and a plug welded in to it. So if I can pick up another one in perfect condition and give it a lick of paint I can just stick it on the rebuilt engine with no messing around.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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djefk
Part of things
Posts: 844
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Oli you should defo fit a cooler, viva engines don't hold much oil capacity, hence on motorways (which they weren't really designed for remember), what oil there is gets too hot! Use a sandwich plate with a stat built into it or use an in-line stat though, you ideally want your oil heating up to around 80-90 degrees to do it's job of flushing away combustion crud etc. as quick as poss, then to stay at that temperature!
Good luck
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Oct 12, 2011 22:00:57 GMT
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olli, great project mate and credit to sticking with it through the hard times, its just a test to se if your up to the ownership and it appears that you have passed Regarding engine swaps, you have the perfect engine in your daily the 2 litre saab turbo engine is a very good and very strong engine, easily capable of 350-400bhp can use a type 9 box aswell if your running it in standard form (http://www.rwdmotorsport.com/Bellhousings/Vauxhall-2-0XE-Engine-to-Ford-Gearbox-Cable-Clutch-Bellhousing/prod_10.html)
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Nobody dies a virgin, because lifes curse word us ALL
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Oct 15, 2011 14:52:19 GMT
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Cheers Nick I have thought a lot about the Saab swap, know a fair bit about their capabilities and boy can they fly. Especially tempting as the gearbox on my dad's 2.3 has just given up so he's got another. Problem is they're a very big and heavy engine.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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How's the poly bushes working out on this?
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Oct 19, 2011 23:42:34 GMT
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They're still there, no problems with them. The ride is a bit crashy but then that could be down to any number if things, I still need to do some work on the suspension when I have the time, money and skills. Can't make a direct comparison with rubber either as I changed every component at the same time. Considering they're almost the same price as rubber though I think they're worth it.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Oct 21, 2011 11:07:45 GMT
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I think the only bit I haven't sourced now is valves. Need standard inlet and exhaust if anyone knows of any? Otherwise new conrods and pushrods would be useful... Think I've also finally settled on the modern engine I'll be dropping in after this. Once the new 1256 is done I will very slowly build up my stockpile
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Well it's been a while. The car was having a tonne of problems starting and running in November and with other things on my mind and insurance on another car it got left to go green on the road. In late November I moved out of the parents house into my own with my partner and were lucky enough to get one with a driveway, so I managed to work through the dark to get it running one last time just before the MOT and insurance ran out to stick it on the new driveway. Again, I've left it alone since then and have had my time taken up with a new family and a family car to get running well. The partner and I are both car nuts and met at a Mini show, and with both fun cars off the road we've been really missing them. However I was thinking maybe it was time to let someone else play with the Viva and to get something more suited to me at this time. With my age increasing, insurance slowly coming down and a 2.0 turbo for a daily drive, the bumpy, slow Viva wasn't interesting me too much. After much searching I was stuck with a decision between keeping the Viva, but actually getting round to doing the tidying up it needs, or tidying it up suitably, selling it and with the proceeds buying an E30 318is/325i or my number 1 choice, a mk3 Supra. Good looks, 80's J coupe, 3.0 engine...now I was interested. But I just can't decide if I want to get rid of the Viva. Anyway, whatever I choose, the Viva will need a bit of work, so I figure if it goes well and I still enjoy working on it, I'll probably keep it, finish the engine build and start collecting parts for a 160VVC K-Series conversion. If I don't enjoy it it'll be replaced by a Supra. As a tiny little side project so that I could start immediately, I decided enough was enough and the crappy Stromberg carb was going to go for good. In it's place I've been modifying an old HS4 I had lying around from my Mini days to be used on the Viva manifold. Today I finished off rebuilding the carb with parts meant for an 80's 1275 Mini and finally stuck the set up on the car with a new fuel pump I also conveniently found lying around the garage and a slightly larger Chevette fuel line to match the pump and carb. Unfortunately I couldn't try to start it as the Viva battery is completely flat and the Mini battery I pinched isn't quite charged enough, so that's a job for tomorrow. It also needs a new slightly longer throttle cable and a new/modified choke cable, and needs the vac and breather pipes sorting. I'll probably also modify the standard Viva air box to work with it if it will still fit as I figure a cone filter isn't a great idea directly over an exhaust manifold. Things I want to do in the coming months: Finally learn to weld - I now have my partners welder down with us so this can begin following Tony's guide. Clean up the engine bay and move the battery tray out to fit a bigger battery Take up the seats and carpet, treat the floor for any rust (only a little bit of surface rust) and repaint. Tidy up the wiring running down the car and behind the dash and wire in the reverse switch Repair the rear arch seat belt mounting points and a little patch in one rear arch Sand down and repaint the rusty patches around the car, mainly the valences with a little around the arches and wings, but it's all surface so no bodywork needed, just need to find a good paint match. New carpet and if I keep it a cars worth of sound proofing. Front suspension still needs some sorting as it's running on bump stops. Might try to do something with the exhaust but god knows what. Finish swapping steering wheels about and get the DTV wheel refurbished. And as of today I need to sort a second hand Tex mirror as my N/S one snapped off I can buy new but they're £50 each and it'll look silly with one new and one weathered. Alternatively I can get bullet/torpedo mirrors for £20 each, but I'm not sure they'd look right. Opinions please?
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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topcat
Part of things
Posts: 289
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Jan 24, 2012 23:04:45 GMT
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Cool Viva, I've seen this parked up in Tunbridge Wells and I've passed you a couple of times, I would have been in a Volvo Amazon.
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Solved the mirror problem. Found a mirror on ebay with the same attachments, so with a bit of swapping around I had a half decent mirror again Also made some progress with the engine. After days of tweeking and not getting anywhere, I'd all but given up until I found the bit of wire I'd used to mock up the live connection between battery and coil ages ago. Thought it can't do any harm so threw it on and turned the key. It spluttered a few times and after a few more attempts I got it running for a second or two. Tomorrow, with a freshly charged battery and some more daylight, I'll attack it once more and give it a few more tweeks to trying and get it to stay running. Made a start on getting the carpets up too. Rear seat out, fronts are nearly out and then I can take a look at the whole floor pan. From what I remember of doing the audio wiring not long ago, the drivers floor pan has surface rust but should be solid, and the passenger side is almost perfect. The bit that worries me though is the rear arches. I'll have to make a start on getting my welding, grinding and fabrication juices flowing, with some help from tonyBMW, now I have my partners unused welder to play with, a Clarke Mig 160TM. Apparently fairly good ... Anyway, the rear arches The other side is as bad but already has a plate very poorly welded in, so that will need redoing. It scares me! Once the floorpan is done, I'll treat, prime and paint it body colour. Then comes the Silent Coat, Cloud 9 underlay and a Coverdale carpet in Wedgewood Blue.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Had another go today. Can't remember what I did now but I got it running for approximately 3 whole seconds. After that though all it would do was cough on the 2nd or 3rd crank and stop spinning. Couldn't get it to catch again. It feels like I'm missing something obvious, but I have no idea what... Also got the seats and carpets out. Drivers floorpan looks worse than I remember, but it doesn't feel crusty so I think it should be alright with a grind down. I've also taken pics of all the areas I know need welding... As the carpet was coming out Passenger side Drivers side Battery tray. I have a NOS one that will be modified to fit much closer to the outer wing, giving space for a decent battery. Or if that doesn't work I might put it on the opposite wing. Passenger side where wing meets bulkhead Spare wheel well Behind OS/R shock I also want to redo the parcel shelf. It came to me with two holes hacked into it, which I then tried to tidy up and open up for the current speakers, but found out how difficult it was and ended up hacking it again I'd like to make two patches, replicating the grooves and shape of the parcel shelf, cut the holes for the speaker nicely and then weld them in To go with that I've also got a fairly good condition parcel shelf trim. The current is the blue which is quite beaten up. These things get really fragile so I want to make a light metal frame for the new one and rivet it on, so it keeps its shape and rigidity and can hold the speakers. It will then be covered in vinyl to match the seats when I find some. Not quite sure of the best way to go with the frame though
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Feb 10, 2012 21:45:13 GMT
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i guess you never know until you start digging, but most of it looks like lack of seam sealer at the factory, rather than age related gaping rot holes. drivers foot well looks almost like soggy carpets sitting on barely painted metal.
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That's exactly what it is, next to no paint there at all. Well it is a Vauxhall :roll: At the weekend I got some life. She started and ran surprisingly well. After yet more coughing I took the plus out. Plus point was they were wet with petrol, bad points were they were gunked up with oil and had white speckley signs of water. Bit concerning but cleaned them up and tried it et voila I do have videos, but as soon as the Viva lived my laptop died and has just cost me a new hard drive :roll: so video coming later. Did a little preliminary tuning and set the jet to give 3.8% CO, later tuned down a little as it seemed run a bit smoother leaner. Still have no idea if it will drive alright and have any power under load, all things to have fun with later down the line. For the moment though it starts first time from cold and is noticeably more responsive at 'blipping' from idle than the Stromberg was. I do like an SU a bit lumpy at idle though. I've also slightly revised the fuel line under the bonnet and found a bit of hose to fit to the overflow valve so it doesn't spill over the manifold :goodideasign: fitted a cheapie crankcase breather filter to lose the breather pipe with the K&N (still not a permanent feature). Modified the choke cable to fit well to the SU and linked it all up, works a dream. Still need to sort the throttle cable and do a little rewiring for the live on the coil. I've also been playing about with steering wheels but have settled on the HPF wheel that Jon was selling. Postman gave it to me today (thanks Jon) and have to say I'm very happy with it, looks great. Will try to recover it with leather to match the bits Jon already did, will see what I can do about the tired Griffin badge, and am considering painting the spokes satin black as per original plans, but the gloss has really grown on me. Plenty of time until the interior goes back in anyway :x Tomorrow I might even get around to stripping the rust and treating the drivers floor pan, like I planned to do weeks ago.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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That rust doesnt look too bad- especially if you get it early. And at least once repaired its mainly in places where your repairs wont be seen. Glad to see your still enjoying fettling away with it.
Were those carpets wet?
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They were wet, weren't when I took them out but the damage was already done. Water was leaking in through a grommet on the bulkhead shelf. A full re-grommet is on the cards. A quick video as promised. Not that it shows much but it idles, runs and revs. I figure there's not much I can do with it now anyway until I get a seat and throttle cable fitted to see it performs under load. Have also finally got a move on with the floor. Got an angle grinder and used a knotted wire wheel. Paused half way through to get a breathing mask, goggles, gloves and ear defenders and restarted - much better. After the wire wheel I gave it a quick going over with a flap disk to try to get rid of the mountainous pitting. Didn't work fantastically so instead of thinning the metal any more I'll just use some high build primer and sand it back to get it smooth. The end result will be an 'as new' looking floor with fresh paint. As it stands at the moment, a few doses of Kurust. Having trouble getting in the corners though and still need to take up the seam sealer.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Mar 24, 2012 22:11:20 GMT
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After loads of searching for a throttle cable I eventually found one I'd had saved in my Ebay watch list for ages that was the right length and the right price. My pedal was all rusty and looked pretty bad so I thought it would be silly not to smarten it up a bit. Took it all apart, degreased, cleaned and re-lubed the linkage, rubbed down, , primed and painted the body. Looks a million times better now. Best of all though, I now have a working throttle cable again. Soon I think I'll be sticking a seat back in and seeing if the new carb set up actually has any power of if it's too far out of tune. Still seems to run and respond much better on the SU compared to the Stromberg.
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Last Edit: Mar 24, 2012 22:11:54 GMT by oli8925
Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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ShaunOfCalder
Part of things
Yes - I should know better....
Posts: 120
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Apr 15, 2012 15:00:56 GMT
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I keep on checking your car for inspiration, still working on my baby and waiting for my springs, really like how clean your HC looks. I've got my Retro Gathering tickets bought, AA Breakdown cover renewed....
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Another bloody Mx5 The wifes' Suzuki Grand Vitara Mercedes Sprinter Ambwilans (Rescue Unit)
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May 12, 2012 19:37:34 GMT
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What with the great weather we've had today I thought I'd take the plunge with my welding so I can finally work on getting the Viva back on the road. After a lot of problems with gas regulators I finally got to this quality of weld which pleased me greatly. Tomorrow I'll continue to practice and try some butt welding. Might also try the first bit on the Viva which is just a small, random drill hole in the footwell, then I can get the front half all finished and painted. A great thanks to mig-welding.co.uk for their help. Penetration I've also been cracking on trying to sort the engine rebuild, sticking to my original plan of fitting a Blydenstine Stage 3H spec 1256. From selling a load of leftover parts from my Mini I've saved about a quarter of the costs so far, good times. Now, standard valves or big valves? *continues reading tonybmw's threads*
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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