1966 Vauxhall Viva HA Deluxe

[accord83]

Lot of work when a cut up chicken pie dish would have been cheaper.........
Serious commitment Tomi, looks a lot better than my yellow beam deflectors. Get the crazy bald one to read his pm's. John.

[vauxviva]

[vulgalour]

That's really clever, stuff like this is why I really enjoy your threads.

[vauxviva]

Thanks vulgalour

i got the idea from the rear spoiler on a MR2 that reflects Toyota in the back window

[vulgalour]

That's what it reminded me of! I thought it was too obscure a reference to mention.

[79cord]

Just the sort of thing I want to do with for my Civic's rear spoiler,in red to double as additional stop light.

[accord83]

Nice work. Have you made one for Rays Viva Tomi? thinking about it though, it would have to be left in a barn for 40yrs and lit by a carbide lamp to be authentic.

[vauxviva]

Brabham twin carbs

this is a rare pair of Brabham HA carbs Stromberg 125's on a early cast alloy brabham manifold for the 1057 engine

different to the carbs used on the more commonly known Brabham HB which used Stromberg 150's on a updated stronger manifold

now fully cleaned and rebuilt with stainless steel heat shields fitted

I'm not a fan of chrome pancake filters so i decided to make my own

these early brabham manifolds are known for cracking at the mounting points due to the overhanging weight of the carbs, my steel air filters and heat shields have made them even heavier so a brace will need to be made to avoid breaking the manifold

these carbs will be going on a 1057cc engine that i am rebuilding



carbs before rebuild





materials for making air filters, laser cut 3mm steel discs, alloy bar, foam sheet from ram air










missing from this pic is a mesh support i made to stop foam being sucked in























1950's radar aerial intensifier, i found info on these from linkhttp://www.customcarchronicle.com/cc-builders/barris-kustom-shop/hirohata-merc-mystery-antenna/







but they are rare and sell for silly money when they do come up for sale so i made my own

[darrenh]

those carbs look great, nice treatment on the filters too !

[yoeddynz]

Damn that manifold and carb setup is wicked ! Keep the updates coming :-)

[vauxviva]

spare 1057cc engine being rebuilt ready to fit

full rebuild new pistons, crank grind etc
rockers, pushrods, oil pump, timing gear, valves/valve springs all new
new 1256cc camshaft fitted
viva 90 higher compression head













floor mats fitted







1980's zemco performance computer fitted calculates 1/4 mile time, 0-60 etc






c02 fire extinguisher mounted in boot

[vulgalour]

Those green straps are a nice touch. Attention to detail as always with your builds.

[vauxviva]

thread revival

first time its seen daylight in 6 years

out of sight, out of mind i moved on with other cars but i cant bring myself to sell this one being my first car

its been in a concrete garage stored in a air chamber and after 6 years its the same as the day it went in

i still have the billet wheels, they where taken off the car for storage


the car needs a new engine its worn out and the oil pump is tired, still runs great though

unsure what direction I'm going with this, i have a rebuilt 1057cc and a set of brabham carbs ready to fit, i also have a 1256cc or might go for an engine swap something like a pinto

it also needs recommissioning brakes etc

[Ryannn]

I know someone who used to own this 😆

[vauxviva]

Sept 13, 2023 18:19:56 GMT Ryannn said:

I know someone who used to own this 😆

if its the guy leaning on the car, i think i was in contact with him via email many years ago

[vauxviva]

engine swap time

fiat twincam 1800 with a 5 speed box from a fiat 124 coupe

[vauxviva]

Old engine out

Viva and fiat engine blocks are roughly the same size, engine mounts are also in the same place wich is helpful

The twin cam engine is taller but the viva engine runs a top mounted downdraft carb and big air box so height wise there is enough room


Fiat 5 speed is a much larger and heavier gear box so tunnel will have to be cut out and remade

Viva gearbox weights 21kg and fiat is 35kg


I'm keeping the original rear axle, they are known to be a weak axle but I guess I'll find out, I have spare axles if I break one

I'm only at the early stages but I can see its not an easy swap, steering shaft makes things very tight especially for exhaust and crossmember/steering rack under sump makes things harder

[vauxviva]

tunnel cut out, modified and welded back in, I've kept the tunnel as tight as possible to the fiat gearbox, doing this means the carpet still fits

gearbox crossmember made using original combined with a ford Capri crossmember so i can use the Capri gearbox mount, bracket made to fit the fiat gearbox

exhaust manifold made by cutting up the fiat downpipe and modifying

engine mounts made, only tacked in pics for test fit

[yoeddynz]

Great swap! I imagine the fiat engine is not much heavier, if not actually lighter, than the all iron viva lump?

[vauxviva]

Mar 10, 2024 22:10:30 GMT yoeddynz said:

Great swap! I imagine the fiat engine is not much heavier, if not actually lighter, than the all iron viva lump?

the fiat twincam engine is around 10kg heavier and the gearbox is around 14kg heavier

I'm spacing the front subframe off the chassis 1 inch, this helps with engine fitment and should keep my ride height the same with the extra weight but it means i have to modify steering shaft