Possible retro engine transplant for Viva HC

[jz]

Heyy

I own a VGC Viva HC in stock form with its 1.2ltr engine. This car is lethargic to say the least.

I love it though and would never think of getting rid of it. Recently I was thinking of a possible engine transplant.

To put it very mildly, here in Malta Vauxhall engines from the period are very rare. Besides, in order to keep the very cheap (8€) road tax and insurance the car currently has I'm limited to transplanting just engines that were produced on the car.

Ideally would like to find a 2.3 OHC slant four but from what i'm seeing these seem to have vanished even from the UK.

Any help please?

[matty2300]

2.3 slant fours come up now and then - viva owners club is a good place to ask/look, though i wouldnt like to think how much it would cost to get one to malta!!

I heard that the isuzu 1.5 /1.7 turbodiesel lumps are poular in malta and even used for drag racing! not exactly period or vauxhall (Still GM though so a close relative!) but certainly a cheap to run and reliable engine.. and surely modifying the car to fit a 120ish BHP 2.3 is going to make the tax/insurance more than modifying to fit a 70bhp 1.5 or 85bhp 1.7 regardless of whether its a period modification?

[`state]

I don't know how popular or expensive they are over in malta but the mx5 engine has to be a contender these days. Looks right at home in the chevette in the readers rides on here.

[usedabused]

I would look at TDi personally,

Can you not turbo charge a 1.2 engine and stick that in?

[grumpy]

Stick with vauxhall and a xe . Or matbe a slanted lotus engine from a excell if you couls find one. 2.2 with twin webbers as standard

[jz]

Dec 19, 2013 11:28:46 GMT `state said:

I don't know how popular or expensive they are over in malta but the mx5 engine has to be a contender these days. Looks right at home in the chevette in the readers rides on here.

I've never been a fan of cross-make transplants....

[jz]

Dec 19, 2013 10:53:22 GMT matty2300 said:

2.3 slant fours come up now and then - viva owners club is a good place to ask/look, though i wouldnt like to think how much it would cost to get one to malta!!

I heard that the isuzu 1.5 /1.7 turbodiesel lumps are poular in malta and even used for drag racing! not exactly period or vauxhall (Still GM though so a close relative!) but certainly a cheap to run and reliable engine.. and surely modifying the car to fit a 120ish BHP 2.3 is going to make the tax/insurance more than modifying to fit a 70bhp 1.5 or 85bhp 1.7 regardless of whether its a period modification?

I'll definitely go for a slant four 2.3 as soon as one comes up for sale. It's the only option that makes sense in my case and not to ruin the car which is in such awesome condition.

Keeping a close watch on ebay daily

Perhaps you don't have any spare one by any chance ?

As for the diesels.... I'm way past the turbodiesel phase. We used to race them a couple of years back but they ain't my game any longer.

[usedabused]

I know its in a chevette but looky looky.





From here

www.opelgt.com/forums/opel-engine-performance-modifications/1961-new-1-1-litre-performance-restoration-8.html