tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27355189376859720122024-03-05T20:48:52.774-08:00VIVA LA VIVALife and times of a...................
Vauxhall VivaChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-46735185402594702802021-11-15T11:36:00.002-08:002021-11-16T09:26:04.434-08:00Engine rebuild? ........get a professional!! A while back, my son and I decided to rebuild the engine on 'ANA'. I managed to purchase a supposedly commercially re-conditioned block complete with new pistons. We did everything 'by the book' as far as possible. Engine complete it was installed back in the car and after a few attempts it started and settled into what seemed a nice even idle speed. No smoke, no alarming noises and we began to congratulate ourselves on a job well done.<div>A new reconditioned carb' was fitted, I converted to accuspark ignition and an electric fuel pump and checked the timing as accurately as possible using a strobe.</div><div>Despite all our efforts once out of the garage it just had no power especially on our steeply inclined uphill drive. I tried everything but nothing seemed to improve matters. </div><div><br /></div><div>Time passes as they say and I must admit to losing enthusiasm for removing the engine again to find the problem . In my seventies now I find that sort of work in a small single garage challenging to say the least and my son is in a wheelchair so the heavy work is really left to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Getting to the point where I was contemplating selling the car, my dear wife reacted with horror at such a suggestion. Our Viva has been in the family since 1979 and holds many family memories such long holiday journeys that are steeped in the car's nostalgia.</div><div><br /></div><div>'Old school' mechanics who understand these engines are now far and few in-between and are really only comfortable with plugging an engine into a diagnostic computer system. One guy was really honest and said "As it got a carburettor?" when I replied in the affirmative he said.....</div><div>"Sorry, I can't do those I have never really had much experience with them."</div><div><br /></div><div>After a search on Google I found a company in Stockport called 'Ric Wood Motorsport' and rang them. I was delighted when a lady called Karen answered and was not phased by my mention of troubles with a forty-eight-year old Viva giving a very positive " I am sure we can help with that" </div><div><br /></div><div>Ric Wood I began to realise was a very talented guy designing, race cars, and engine builds. He drove a Nissan Calsonic Skyline at Silverstone recently for example. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was to learn that his love for engine perfection was not just confined to exotic saloon race cars as he put the Viva on the Dynamometer rolling road. He rang me with his verdict...............</div><div>"You have done some thing very wrong with this engine" was his starter.</div><div>" I have manged to increase the the bhp, but there is something we need to investigate further to see what the problem is" was his straight to the point assessment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cutting a long story sideways his investigations found the wrong pistons in the block amongst other things and some major surgery was suggested. A complete rebuild was required.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the very short time I had known him, I realised he was a perfectionist and probably one of most talented engine builders in the North of England. </div><div>As time waits for no man especially at my age, I just wanted to get the Viva finished properly after all these years of restoration work.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl7KRxen6S0qNNPZABP0k2_a9v-zLMLFfHZ44r4kV32OrdCoOSd5YCu1iBoVSc32VvmGJmIvkXc2Yh_8TWplKJmqW1t67GAa1pVgrxPUZiltHWC09wazyORfZAj0cC6xZcMQuzz6iCQag/s4032/IMG_1780.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl7KRxen6S0qNNPZABP0k2_a9v-zLMLFfHZ44r4kV32OrdCoOSd5YCu1iBoVSc32VvmGJmIvkXc2Yh_8TWplKJmqW1t67GAa1pVgrxPUZiltHWC09wazyORfZAj0cC6xZcMQuzz6iCQag/w400-h289/IMG_1780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>His offer of making the humble 1256cc engine in the Viva run like a 'Swiss watch' was taken up and I left her sat amongst the more exotic machinery in his workshop.</div><div><br /></div><div>A re-bore and skimmed block together with new high compression pistons was a start together with a complete overhaul of the cylinder head. An unleaded conversion was requested by myself which seemed sensible whilst all this work was being done.</div><div><br /></div><div>He was right, it did run like a Swiss watch....certainly as good as it had ever done.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja04kLObKK5cgyX-82qaZrztNSNYhAOo2sWKzaV4gp3dmBmZqUBTkob0bnlpf8ELgsiWoiz9yjoRQIL9CbHxW2cg9W1SQ15qvGu2fDH9CqUUMAJj6oVJ-Zbh2juqNH0XZfwFh_K6UXyNgY/s1440/IMG_2056.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1440" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja04kLObKK5cgyX-82qaZrztNSNYhAOo2sWKzaV4gp3dmBmZqUBTkob0bnlpf8ELgsiWoiz9yjoRQIL9CbHxW2cg9W1SQ15qvGu2fDH9CqUUMAJj6oVJ-Zbh2juqNH0XZfwFh_K6UXyNgY/w400-h229/IMG_2056.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little more exotic than a 1256cc Viva..................... Ric's V8 Holden Commodore</td></tr></tbody></table>painted in Garth Tander's Holden racing team colours.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotbcJFJzyw1Kvuwk_feLKGMlowaYVVfo6FraEUgFjBYKSUNOX3bZ88-if77ckokINVr_KLF5yV3B4WhqUt149IqNIjCvvU0INK8oleyq7xBiV2MqVVB4Onw3_y0eFFIdhJAxY1e69gTsB/s4032/IMG_2158.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotbcJFJzyw1Kvuwk_feLKGMlowaYVVfo6FraEUgFjBYKSUNOX3bZ88-if77ckokINVr_KLF5yV3B4WhqUt149IqNIjCvvU0INK8oleyq7xBiV2MqVVB4Onw3_y0eFFIdhJAxY1e69gTsB/w400-h300/IMG_2158.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsxFevt2oqUQklhOYoDqqmL7HVAVoC5ncVNXHoA_4l8ja2UDjqjLxGvp_KSRqDGtdHi5UGjK8geMuA7P_Y0h4UnfRwcCVzYI7s95dugaPOuu7-LdAXh4Mijy74fvblUkx2DnUU296rZ2W/s4032/IMG_2155.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsxFevt2oqUQklhOYoDqqmL7HVAVoC5ncVNXHoA_4l8ja2UDjqjLxGvp_KSRqDGtdHi5UGjK8geMuA7P_Y0h4UnfRwcCVzYI7s95dugaPOuu7-LdAXh4Mijy74fvblUkx2DnUU296rZ2W/w400-h300/IMG_2155.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Ready to go ......... .ANA's new engine.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> </div></div>'<br /><br /><br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-70319913710974454382021-11-15T09:53:00.000-08:002021-11-15T09:53:40.550-08:00Stromberg carburettor <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Recently purchased a reconditioned Stromberg150CD to replaced the original in 'ANA'. I rapidly ran into a few problems when I realised the fuel intake tube was 'missing' with a threaded hole instead.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKov-mYOsOxNIMAgu3rSdFK7R6JvhU-lqdBojoadCuwDGImMhigek8SYwjpSqk7Is7GVFxbtKwDHa17MPpRFUV2FSHEvGfRy1XdrzqQaxt4tXInshB1X_lIAbjd87lm80sY5uMa_UTBmqp/s1600/IMG_4310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKov-mYOsOxNIMAgu3rSdFK7R6JvhU-lqdBojoadCuwDGImMhigek8SYwjpSqk7Is7GVFxbtKwDHa17MPpRFUV2FSHEvGfRy1XdrzqQaxt4tXInshB1X_lIAbjd87lm80sY5uMa_UTBmqp/s320/IMG_4310.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Stromberg 150 Carb fitting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Carb threaded fitting</td></tr>
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<i>This was originally designed for a direct threaded pipe intake similar to a brake pipe union. I decided to use a barbed threaded fitting to a rubber tube. Finding the thread size was not easy....Imperial?.....Metric?......BSP?.....NPT? </i></div>
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<i>I tried M10 x 1.5 ; 3/8 UNC ; etc, with no luck.</i></div>
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<i>After some head scratching I found it was M10 x 1.25. So if you have this problem converting to a 'push on' fuel pipe fitting, this is the thread required :)</i></div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-29510867861329928062016-07-07T09:54:00.002-07:002016-07-07T15:15:01.511-07:00wheeler dealers.............<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Old Vauxhall Vivas especially the Magnums and Firenza coupe often seem to attract modern flash alloy wheels like a moth to a flame. My old bog-standard 1256cc 2-door HC Viva would, in my opinion look a little over-dressed in chrome or mat black 'go-faster' wheels. Built for comfort and not for speed 'ANA' the Viva has the sensible steel wheels with chrome hubcaps that were supplied on the Vauxhall assembly line in December 1973.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sporting her newly sprayed 'Yellow Gold' colour ( same colour she was born with) her wheels were looking a little down-at-heel to say the least.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Not one to see a lady looking sad, I had all the old tyres removed by a friendly local tyre depot and took the wheels to 'Stockport Powder Coating' Grit blasted and powder coated to something like the original silver colour. Back to the friendly tyre depot who shod the four gleaming wheels with new tyres.......... </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Not exactly flashy chrome - but 'ANA' looks happy in them, and that's all the matters...................</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dT-zdh74PEn1gTxEDmucplo29YPwLB1ybW4RtBggFNU9U2jtodxBUHuCAYgOYrRECrzhtFGuxfbYYkW_eKl0Qi1BN_iWwiRum145axRwALZ-3OlwYVfdNyozW86y2eqNoQ1ECnoJgUXw/s1600/Viva+tyre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dT-zdh74PEn1gTxEDmucplo29YPwLB1ybW4RtBggFNU9U2jtodxBUHuCAYgOYrRECrzhtFGuxfbYYkW_eKl0Qi1BN_iWwiRum145axRwALZ-3OlwYVfdNyozW86y2eqNoQ1ECnoJgUXw/s640/Viva+tyre.jpg" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New wheels man.......newly powder coated wheels for 'ANA'<br />
HC Viva Chris Hill Copyright.</td></tr>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-30288093611201245432016-07-07T09:22:00.000-07:002016-07-07T09:29:15.735-07:00Windscreen wrangling.......fit a classic windscreen in ten minutes (or so)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Paint and headlining finished..................and now to put all the windows back. Like fitting a headlining I have never, ever, had the occasion to fit a windscreen in a car. But, I took them out so I should be able to put them back in especially with perfect new windscreen rubbers. What can go wrong??</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPgHHsKMiBIRz1jOlJLihTD8f0ESuxyR6s8iRBZOsXAKtkxZNmN2mbIdWIEwZTZZi3DwMqwyCp4Es7w47lEe3ArxkRK4jiarrHp320qSl5RyV3rTOJrGM4Fb4cQDUMRs6KHbirslEddKW/s1600/Winscreenless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPgHHsKMiBIRz1jOlJLihTD8f0ESuxyR6s8iRBZOsXAKtkxZNmN2mbIdWIEwZTZZi3DwMqwyCp4Es7w47lEe3ArxkRK4jiarrHp320qSl5RyV3rTOJrGM4Fb4cQDUMRs6KHbirslEddKW/s640/Winscreenless.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for a bit of windscreen fitting............'ANA' the Viva after the re-spray. Chris Hill Copyright.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Not exactly correct that statement.... many years ago I took a Viva side window out to replace the rubber. I tried putting it back with a piece of string like the book says....it was a complete failure when the string broke !! Loosing faith in that method I tried the hard way with old spoons and lots of swearing. Managed it in the end, but it was a pig of a job.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>So I searched 'Google' and lo and behold a Mini owners forum described that exact method (old spoons). So I put the new rubber on the front screen like it suggested and managed to fit the bottom and two sides, so far so good.........and ground to a halt on the home run with the top two corners and the top of the windscreen. Using old spoons and soapy water I gave battle levering the rubber channel over the glass. Over one hour later with an occasional impersonation of Basil Fawlty threatening the car with a 'good thrashing' I succeeded with very sore fingers, two bent spoons and my dear calm wife looking around the garage door and asking why I was hitting the windscreen with a bunch of twigs and shouting "Right.....this is your last chance !" </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I am here to tell you...........<u><b>THAT IS THE VERY WORST WAY TO </b></u><b><u>PUT A WINDSCREEN IN</u></b>............there <b>IS </b>an easier way. My wife suggested a professional windscreen fitter. I ignored this lack of faith in my manly abilities and decided to go back to the Indian Rope trick piece of string method. I actually bought a long length of strong nylon cord actually made for the job....not like the cheap garden string I used last time. You feed the cord all along the rubber glazing channel with the two ends coming out of the bottom centre of the channel. With my glamorous lady assistant applying pressure to the rear windscreen I pulled one of the strings and as if by magic the the rubber flipped over the window flange like it should. I worked progressively in both directions with the two ends of the string occasionally helping matters with a silicone lubricant spray.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Corners need a bit of muscle power but the whole job was done in ten minutes.......most of that time was putting the cord in the channel!!! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Both side windows were done in the same way, taking about five minutes each side. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy ( well actually silicone spray or WD40 works better)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Flushed with success, I decided to put the new chrome faced nylon bead into the centre channel of the windscreen rubber. At this rate I should be finished in ten minutes, (what can go wrong?)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I had bought the special tool used for fitting aforementioned bead and realised I did not have a clue how to use it. Again I looked on YouTube, etc, and found a video of a professional windscreen fitter using one. He did a whole screen in a few minutes so I tried to replicate his method by feeding the nylon trim/bead through the diamond shaped loop and opening the rubber channel at the same time - it just jammed and bent one edge of the 'chrome' surface.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I began to realise that perhaps these bead fitters come in different sizes or perhaps I just did not have the 'knack' no matter how I tried. Trying to suppress my altar ego Basil Fawlty and the desire to throw the bloody thing to the back of the garage, I came up with a cunning plan which I commend to you........</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzCr4fgwzmoGWWn9OUYwA1ehmvak1EmjHugjNH_COASGXtlDFoKjE263Gostxec2Z_hSLqBYEwxO9Mr8Pj5P4h6wsoZVOzH5bl28QYHU-pysX-Rs5FnQJqQGDFVdIBHTJ87A_qKkRwrAB/s1600/Windcreen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzCr4fgwzmoGWWn9OUYwA1ehmvak1EmjHugjNH_COASGXtlDFoKjE263Gostxec2Z_hSLqBYEwxO9Mr8Pj5P4h6wsoZVOzH5bl28QYHU-pysX-Rs5FnQJqQGDFVdIBHTJ87A_qKkRwrAB/s640/Windcreen1.jpg" title="Viva, windscreen," width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inserting bead/chrome trim into windscreen rubber. HC Viva Chris Hill Copyright</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I put one side of the bead/trim into one rubber channel and then used the tool to push the other rubber channel over making a snug fit, this can be done quickly with practice along the 'run' with a bit of lubricant ( warm soap water) to help. Corners are tricky as the bead is straight originally and tries to go back to that shape, so keep downwards pressure on it with your free hand whilst using the tool to lock it into the rubber channel. If that fails........give it a good thrashing !!!!</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r2NtKorVbA76-HZfzVQsVVfm9kn5FSO5BuKYDts0PJAQj-KMR5e5yus-c19jj2Fo_EqEM04mJqGTrZDT0VrIM-BW9VLdNIvq9_lVv2020KRSiVTLuchV_6NeNZ2t7ufiHciCDp48DxqN/s1600/Viva+rear+windscreen+rubber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r2NtKorVbA76-HZfzVQsVVfm9kn5FSO5BuKYDts0PJAQj-KMR5e5yus-c19jj2Fo_EqEM04mJqGTrZDT0VrIM-BW9VLdNIvq9_lVv2020KRSiVTLuchV_6NeNZ2t7ufiHciCDp48DxqN/s640/Viva+rear+windscreen+rubber.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a pretty sight................Original rear windscreen rubber before removal prior to car being resprayed. <br />
HC Viva Chris Hill copyright.</td></tr>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-29983839357568024622016-07-05T02:17:00.001-07:002016-07-06T11:48:39.517-07:00Get ahead - get a headlining................<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>After forty-two years, the interior 'headlining' was looking very sorry for itself. A large split had developed and the white vinyl material had turned yellow in parts with age..... a bit like me.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrj4h9q1TWSWOuwqIQKyN66h_m3-HAq6jVkQlXAPXUvLk6upPrtd1u6wGhv1-LvHeu5UIg4HbC9mLylsILLZ3lij3VCawX9j3UXYVD9DJ-nEp9JZ82R3oB5ff748STlYq1USdH72IOmI3/s1600/Viva+old+headlining3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrj4h9q1TWSWOuwqIQKyN66h_m3-HAq6jVkQlXAPXUvLk6upPrtd1u6wGhv1-LvHeu5UIg4HbC9mLylsILLZ3lij3VCawX9j3UXYVD9DJ-nEp9JZ82R3oB5ff748STlYq1USdH72IOmI3/s640/Viva+old+headlining3.jpg" title="Viva, headlining" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a new headlining.........sorry state of the original in my HC Viva</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aGVP3doqrJKPQvkElyOZhdWNcqXDbPTcT5zG60hUWH7Zhmc01Ej9ru5n1RKGsBW6Mg5BGdDcoLNA1m5k1Zjb3YIULZvDi9-pq79aPUpg44kG3Vvctk8w3FpjrgRx-hoPCQvDhnA_CNl2/s1600/Viva+old+headlining4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aGVP3doqrJKPQvkElyOZhdWNcqXDbPTcT5zG60hUWH7Zhmc01Ej9ru5n1RKGsBW6Mg5BGdDcoLNA1m5k1Zjb3YIULZvDi9-pq79aPUpg44kG3Vvctk8w3FpjrgRx-hoPCQvDhnA_CNl2/s640/Viva+old+headlining4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old headlining about to be removed........holes are where the right hand sun-visor is located.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>With all the glass removed for the re-spray this was a convenient time to renew. Like all the challenges that this restoration has thrown at me, I was about to attempt something I had no previous experience with. I was once again on unknown territory. In my professional life as a press photographer non of these skills had ever been required. Fitting a pre-1980,s traditional car headlining has become something akin to Zepplin building even if you <b>are</b> in the car trade!!!!!!!!! Cars now have pre-formed, press-fit interior roof lining which is a very easy job compared.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>So..........after plenty of research on YouTube, Google, etc, also surprisingly the official 'Vauxhall Viva Service Training manual ' titled 'Body- HC Viva' that for once had a very useful few pages on this.</i></span><br />
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<i style="font-size: x-large;">So ...............I first removed the old headlining. So far so good. Lining material is held in place by tensioned steel rods that are placed in sequence and it is important that you mark them somehow to enable them to return in that sequence.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>New headlining was sourced from Ebay and cut from an original pattern together with the 'pockets' for the loops. Place the rods into the pockets of the new lining in the same order as they came out...........I marked No1 as the one closest to the front windscreen.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt9-ZsR07YYZjBwRVU-JRlmChFBgQt0mpHL6OB8A-D69KFjn66Td7TIoxxvvGLo_oUiSe7qCgiKcTYqbMpXsUjOggrvjOBW-VP56so6HrrMGVGtG69OftKyQ4FRub_MUwjKpus3MiBo2b/s1600/Headlining2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt9-ZsR07YYZjBwRVU-JRlmChFBgQt0mpHL6OB8A-D69KFjn66Td7TIoxxvvGLo_oUiSe7qCgiKcTYqbMpXsUjOggrvjOBW-VP56so6HrrMGVGtG69OftKyQ4FRub_MUwjKpus3MiBo2b/s640/Headlining2.jpg" title="viva, headlining" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New headlining. Viva HC Copyright Chris Hill</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Rods are tensioned back into their nylon cups in holes on the side of the roof. I found that the considerable tension had split some of these nylon pockets and for a while progress stopped dead. I found similar nylon 'cups' on Ebay that were actually for a MK1 Ford Escort with a slightly larger (1mm) diameter and they fitted perfectly after drilling out the hole to size.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Using a tin of contact adhesive purchased from 'East Kent Trim' the edges are glued to the top window openings all around and then the waste cut off. I did this a bit at a time and found the adhesive actually very forgiving enabling me to occasionally to take the material off again and re-tension it if it seemed too slack.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Plastic clips were used to keep in place until the glue was dry.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaycGzdxcoQQmeV_NjiSQj0qMwnHmxT33zo3uqr9D7zlqaAp2mg_zmj9odDwvjasvkeJOqrZy3u0rmzbPrtfi1bdxRWFNySOYvyIeYCm2mDBFt6ROP_rLVl9ADKl_lj7FYP__ZkITUpBl/s1600/Headlining1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaycGzdxcoQQmeV_NjiSQj0qMwnHmxT33zo3uqr9D7zlqaAp2mg_zmj9odDwvjasvkeJOqrZy3u0rmzbPrtfi1bdxRWFNySOYvyIeYCm2mDBFt6ROP_rLVl9ADKl_lj7FYP__ZkITUpBl/s640/Headlining1.jpg" title="Viva headlining" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clips used to keep headlining in position whilst the contact adhesive drys. Pictured is the front windscreen opening and the wires are for the interior light/rear view mirror assembly. Viva HC blog. Copyright Chris Hill </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Altogether not an easy job especially putting the interior light/rear view mirror housing and sun-visors back onto the now pristine headlining.......you have to cut into your newly fitted headlining to fit all three items. I would not like to tackle this job with the front/rear windscreens and rear side windows in !!</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmCq-vJMe3tIQ2n2mI28I7os5pJenPLVoOE84orVQ0ypMBiu6WhGPl7MASBVGrtjTMEB8iuUZ18NsCKeBLFv8hrSNTFRahf6UzOCbbU5uwiqfuax4wJF-Y95RuJZ5i17GKlF9_w2q5lY7/s1600/Headlining+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmCq-vJMe3tIQ2n2mI28I7os5pJenPLVoOE84orVQ0ypMBiu6WhGPl7MASBVGrtjTMEB8iuUZ18NsCKeBLFv8hrSNTFRahf6UzOCbbU5uwiqfuax4wJF-Y95RuJZ5i17GKlF9_w2q5lY7/s640/Headlining+new.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New headlining fitted and awaiting fit of sun-visors. Viva HC blog copyright Chris Hill</td></tr>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-50377479870290225572016-07-03T03:18:00.000-07:002016-07-06T11:47:57.413-07:00Painting a Viva part 2.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Spraying a car in a small single garage is not the easiest things to do. I had removed most of the large panels ( doors, bonnet and boot lid ) and these were actually sprayed outside on a couple of those rare warm, windless days. Remainder of the body was a struggle because of the lack of space in the garage, but with some perseverance I eventually managed it.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegZACIQ4av03R5LlvzVWbsYI54ZjSbsJCt5yRrLrFHERc2IjDT5lyrFpCkPp_LPPxjnxhc6t_OQfd-G1mMgUvHCCsoxYpzwQlUyvYL_qy1QOH5RrmdB67MqSTIELt0n5gd5iRQAwE7j3W/s1600/Viva+paint+part2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegZACIQ4av03R5LlvzVWbsYI54ZjSbsJCt5yRrLrFHERc2IjDT5lyrFpCkPp_LPPxjnxhc6t_OQfd-G1mMgUvHCCsoxYpzwQlUyvYL_qy1QOH5RrmdB67MqSTIELt0n5gd5iRQAwE7j3W/s640/Viva+paint+part2.jpg" title="Vauxhall Viva, Farecla,cellulose, paint" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panels sprayed with cellulose 'Yellow Gold' and the paint ready for 'mopping' with Farecla finishing compounds. Glass front and rear and side were not re-fitted until after the paint polishing/compounding. Vauxhall Viva</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>After a couple of weeks to let the cellulose harden, I decided to 'colour sand' the already decent finish. This is done by wet flatting the paint again with fine 1500 grit and then using two grades of Farecla fine finishing compound ( Farecla G3 and Farecla G10)together with a 1200 watt heavy duty polisher. Polishing part is known as 'mopping' </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I used a Silverline polisher which takes M14 fit 150mm polishing sponges..........blue sponge for the first polishes and soft red for the fine finishing polishes. Silverline polisher is about £50 which is cheap compared to others, but I am not going to use it everyday like a commercial car body finishing company so I thought it was good value...and so far it has done the job. It starts slowly when first applied to the paint to avoid 'burn' and can be used a different speeds. Method I used is to spray water onto the sponge, add a small amount of compound to the centre of the sponge and then spread it around the area with the sponge without the polisher turning. Start polisher at a lower speed and then work to higher speeds with more Farecla compound applications. It is hard work to do a whole car, but well worth the effort. You will get some 'spray' from the water mixed paint/compound, so I cover any glass or rubber strip because it is a pain to clean off afterwards.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>One of the excellent uses for this polishing method is the ability to remove small paints runs from the sprayed cellulose. In my small garage I found that it was easy to knock my elbow on the wall behind when making a 'pass' with the spray gun.......this then slows the gun and a small run can develop. After the paint has hardened I flatted the 'run' with 1200/1500 grit paper and then polished using the Farecla compound. If you ever do this be very careful during the flatting and visually check continually against the light to ensure you are not going through the paint surface onto the primer. If you have big time runs through bad spray gun set-up and technique, it is often better to flat and paint the panel again.</i></span></div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-48470961145096229112015-09-02T08:11:00.003-07:002016-07-06T11:47:57.402-07:00Painting a Viva.............<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Some twenty years ago 'ANA' was re-finished in the original 'Yellow Gold' colour by a friend in the motor-trade. I had struck a deal with him to do this in return for my taking the photographs at his son's wedding. He did a reasonable job of the the body (he did not do the engine bay) but I noticed a couple of years ago that a rash of 'blisters' on the wing tops was starting to appear in the cellulose finish. These were not not caused by rust as the wings were replaced with new at the time and the car has been stored in a dry garage since then.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>After some research I have found that these can appear years after the paint was applied. Apparently water trapped in the paint layers can expand under cold or hot conditions causing these blisters to crack open the paint surface. Moisture in the paint at the time of spraying can lie dormant for years until it is exposed to temperature/humidity conditions where it expands ruining the otherwise good finish. A word of warning 'ANA' was stored outside during the winter whilst we rebuilt the engine and front suspension a couple of years ago and covered with a waterproof 'car cover' .....the cold moisture conditions under this 'cover' would seem responsible for the 'blisters'</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I had never been too happy with the finish of the roof which looked as if a 'rushed' job had been done with a poor gloss finish. This together with scratches on the doors and boot-lid acquired over the last twenty years I came to the conclusion to re-paint, despite looking cosmetically reasonable to a superficial glance...(the car I mean not me) :) </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>After some experience doing the inside of the boot and engine bay previously I decided to have a go at a re-paint with cellulose. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A word of warning if you are thinking of using 2 pack paint. Deadly </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>isocyanates in the paint are not really for the DIY enthusiast - it can kill you. Even the use of a full carbon-filter mask will be as much use as a chocolate fire-guard, as the professionals use an air-fed 'helmet' complete with gloves and overalls as isocyanate can enter the bloodstream via the eyes and skin.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>So cellulose was my paint of choice.....using a professional twin filter mask. I had previously used a cheap gun with reasonable results so I decided to invest in something around £60 and learn how to use it properly.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>As most people will tell you preparation is everything and I spent most of last winter flatting the paint work with wet and dry paper through various grades from 240 through to 1200 grit.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Both windscreens were taken out and all the removal panels such as doors, bonnet and boot-lid removed until I had a car shell on wheels. A thin (3mm) white coach-line was removed to be replaced eventually with an identical one as applied originally in the factory. </i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROv1SdeQbwsTtHvO0IA463WCEMEFtxVLjDZqAkW7cVfeYpyMJq4gpUhM2LYoW8VzBOCC4THDo218Z12cFCkDfyRP51NWTJ3aQNq6O3UNfjbLMTb0qi7YHi4UFwA5D1cUl-LZlfTWyio8z/s1600/bonnet+paint+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROv1SdeQbwsTtHvO0IA463WCEMEFtxVLjDZqAkW7cVfeYpyMJq4gpUhM2LYoW8VzBOCC4THDo218Z12cFCkDfyRP51NWTJ3aQNq6O3UNfjbLMTb0qi7YHi4UFwA5D1cUl-LZlfTWyio8z/s640/bonnet+paint+2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished bonnet moved to the conservatory for safety whilst the rest of the car is finished in the limited space of our single-car garage.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Armed with my new spray-gun I decided to make a start - I had fitted a pressure gauge between the airline and the gun to fine tune the pressure from the compressor. Compressor also has a pressure gauge but knowing the final pressure to the gun is useful to say the least. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I found that adjusting the pressure before spraying the best way to go........initial 'set-up' of the new gun showed that the 'material' (paint) adjustment screw was too far out (rich) giving a thick coat that started to 'run' immediately. With much a trial and error I experimented until the spray pattern and paint delivered seem to be just right and I proceeded to hone my non-existent spray-painting skills on the underneath of the bonnet. After the gun was set-up I left the adjustments as they were. If it is working - don't try to fix it - is always a good maxim I find.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EK65iJoT4xF4O-ByJOjqkVQoc-mdoA0yUrw9U0N0kPitlJB-1p3oFZzcdgSuzzktx95UdFXhZZUYjIyV3TbWnrPWI4VY1PN_kCYGOsgl9cNjImiNhPOPTB5HrnW7tbFb-if6n_bIgXZN/s1600/Viva+paint+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EK65iJoT4xF4O-ByJOjqkVQoc-mdoA0yUrw9U0N0kPitlJB-1p3oFZzcdgSuzzktx95UdFXhZZUYjIyV3TbWnrPWI4VY1PN_kCYGOsgl9cNjImiNhPOPTB5HrnW7tbFb-if6n_bIgXZN/s640/Viva+paint+2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re-paint for my HC Viva in the original 'Yellow Gold'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>One bit of advice I learnt the hard way, was to try the gun on a sheet of masking paper every time before starting on a new panel. I did not do this when starting on the all important top of the bonnet ( hood to any American readers) and the paint came out initially in 'globs' perhaps caused by not cleaning the gun properly between uses. A few trial runs over the paper had things back to normal much to my great relief. There are many articles and videos on Google and YouTube by experienced professionals that are worth watching to learn the basics of cellulose spraying, but like most things in life I find that actually 'doing it' teaches you more than any video. One thing I did learn from YouTube is that amongst the guys who know what they are doing there are a few who make a pig's ear of the job..........so be careful who you copy. </i></span><br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-74910460367764087522014-05-24T12:56:00.001-07:002016-07-06T11:47:57.418-07:00Putting the engine back............<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">After successfully marrying the gearbox to the engine it was just the simple matter of returning our dynamic duo to the car.</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1syzbKjsi0mT7xuGbG-srZZpl2PWiyFmy8sHwDJLG7sb4zZzHDj6afTWm1NVX_cNM7KhP3mZl8Gbg2dUY5cv8uiKkrdsEdPfzgzFTqsl5ke7BNiu5v4MUcrKlK55dUKcpWstemBWnjIU/s1600/Engine+and+gearbox+before+fitting+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1syzbKjsi0mT7xuGbG-srZZpl2PWiyFmy8sHwDJLG7sb4zZzHDj6afTWm1NVX_cNM7KhP3mZl8Gbg2dUY5cv8uiKkrdsEdPfzgzFTqsl5ke7BNiu5v4MUcrKlK55dUKcpWstemBWnjIU/s1600/Engine+and+gearbox+before+fitting+May+2014.jpg" height="320" title="Vauxhall Viva engine " width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engine and gearbox ready to be installed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Again part of the challenge was to wait for a nice day. This duly arrived and everything was hooked back onto the engine crane for the tricky journey down the drive and into the engine bay.......</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">With the engine and gearbox now bolted together we now had a very heavy item. This was within the lifting capabilities of the engine crane, but as soon as you started to move the whole assembly on it's supermarket trolley-like wheels, it swung like a pendulum and required a rope to steady the whole thing. Moving it down the drive was difficult within the space available and a wheel overran onto a flower bed and stuck fast.</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Lowering the engine down and then moving the crane eventually had things back on track and after a lot of tricky maneuvering we had the engine and gearbox pointing the right way to drop into position. </span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Engine and gearbox is required to slope downwards at an angle of some 45 degree to lower the whole assembly into the engine bay. We rested the engine sump on the front panel and then tilted everything downwards with the weight still taken by the engine crane whilst Andrew guided the gearbox with a rope towards the prop shaft. We had taken the precaution to have bits of old carpet to protect the engine bay but still manged a few scratches and naturally kept our hands well clear. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD7u9muVYamyBREBCSYPLOO2fHYA-G7b2AIkVrtWVDmXCnJ5yxDCb6U1aCQz2Shi_lxlJBgupVJOpnbQlsljhmDZ-WhjxxDMp-ZfDWlzvlDqnNGyfjOyCmBpvQfrSVUN7iVyx9EI_gVQW/s1600/WP_20140413_002_0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD7u9muVYamyBREBCSYPLOO2fHYA-G7b2AIkVrtWVDmXCnJ5yxDCb6U1aCQz2Shi_lxlJBgupVJOpnbQlsljhmDZ-WhjxxDMp-ZfDWlzvlDqnNGyfjOyCmBpvQfrSVUN7iVyx9EI_gVQW/s1600/WP_20140413_002_0195.jpg" height="358" title="Vauxhall Viva gearbox" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gearbox support bolted up and prop-shaft in place. Vauxhall Viva.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">It was decided to unbolt the prop shaft and feed it onto the gearbox splines after first bolting up the gearbox support to the car and resting the engine securely onto it's (new) bearers and after a lot of "down a bit " and occasionally "up a bit" we could transfer the weight from the engine crane and our rebuilt 1256cc unit was now sat safe and secure on the cross-member in the engine bay ......phew!</span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOQVCdLihh_NauXTocfYJ9WiaN__4uT1tImG99jPpQTtTt2lQRl6r6i7oa0iV9CtzwbJNS2aR7azuyH_eTisdvzyhcXHCJuMPdsV3irWdffRLTGjBqAL2DLA3IRRdR5doOms1ny7KNZnR/s1600/Installing+engine+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOQVCdLihh_NauXTocfYJ9WiaN__4uT1tImG99jPpQTtTt2lQRl6r6i7oa0iV9CtzwbJNS2aR7azuyH_eTisdvzyhcXHCJuMPdsV3irWdffRLTGjBqAL2DLA3IRRdR5doOms1ny7KNZnR/s1600/Installing+engine+May+2014.jpg" height="358" title="Vauxhall Viva HC engine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission Complete - engine back in Vauxhall Viva 'ANA'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Over the next week or so we started to re-connect the wiring which had been left like a bird's nest in the corner occasionally referring to a series of photographs previously taken to help ensure everything went back correctly. Alternator and various bits were put back and we were actually in a serious position to finish the job !!</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">One of the jobs required before first start-up was to join the exhaust manifold back onto the exhaust down-pipe. This proved difficult after putting the heat-proof sealing ring into position I started to tighten the four bolts. These are 40-year-old bolts and have been exposed to damp and high temperatures and were corroded.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Brass nuts are used in an attempt to minimize stripping the captive bolts but on this occasion one of the nuts refused to tighten down - I has a real problem as I realized the threads on the bolt had literally disintegrated with rust. </span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Incredibly I managed to source an identical set of bolts and brass nuts on Ebay. They are imperial 3/8" UNC and are threaded all the way along with a 'blank' area that fits into the holes on the manifold. We took off the manifold and drilled out the old bolt and cut a new UNC thread into the hole. This was a major hurdle but nothing worthwhile is easy- as they say.</span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQnf-euPs0O7eQh8uRHKCfS5sujfYhyGVn9CpsiWHiKO6w4T9JLpq3gey_UMhpBF-kw7smcagrnbSMfpUr5e8qQqp1ZgeVPYcJ_yZ5QsZSEo3pZw_Tm3Vp1PctNZXydlTwJrJYlAON_0z/s1600/Exhaust+manifold+bolt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQnf-euPs0O7eQh8uRHKCfS5sujfYhyGVn9CpsiWHiKO6w4T9JLpq3gey_UMhpBF-kw7smcagrnbSMfpUr5e8qQqp1ZgeVPYcJ_yZ5QsZSEo3pZw_Tm3Vp1PctNZXydlTwJrJYlAON_0z/s1600/Exhaust+manifold+bolt2.jpg" height="388" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhaust manifold bolt renewal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYOTPZoQH79FkzStb54F2ElcZ0rpCxYZEKqZsDw86xby_UJ2ytnb9MsiQRFgGOsTvIp4BYKGskQxwlW1XXnZrteAg-Absq3rUNgZjvXNAaS5w52jdutT1H8rmcYcqkNY46Xj7Vhctmvys/s1600/Exhaust+manifold+bolt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYOTPZoQH79FkzStb54F2ElcZ0rpCxYZEKqZsDw86xby_UJ2ytnb9MsiQRFgGOsTvIp4BYKGskQxwlW1XXnZrteAg-Absq3rUNgZjvXNAaS5w52jdutT1H8rmcYcqkNY46Xj7Vhctmvys/s1600/Exhaust+manifold+bolt.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New UNC thread cut for new bolts. Vauxhall Viva</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Before attempting to start our engine there was a still a few jobs to be done. I had noticed the flexible filler pipe to the petrol tank had started to rot. I managed to source a new fuel-proof (ordinary rubber will not do) pipe of the same diameter.</span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFrErY1PZNDEtwGqPkgTWgodKREIxOiD4L5P63aCp6XXngyKTaqjAJynUCIk5_7fa0dapgRSkDqQtTQuGgpsECtaAtwzUg-Pwo_8IUqiAXhzjyW7vPp_A04GfiM6BtBt0PzaOafhTjyMn/s1600/Fuel+tank+old+flexible+hose+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFrErY1PZNDEtwGqPkgTWgodKREIxOiD4L5P63aCp6XXngyKTaqjAJynUCIk5_7fa0dapgRSkDqQtTQuGgpsECtaAtwzUg-Pwo_8IUqiAXhzjyW7vPp_A04GfiM6BtBt0PzaOafhTjyMn/s1600/Fuel+tank+old+flexible+hose+May+2014.jpg" height="293" title="Vauxhall Viva fuel tank" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decomposing - 40 year old Viva fuel tank flexible filler hose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Removing the tank for inspection it was decided to throw away the old contents of dirty petrol and thoroughly clean the inside of the tank. This was done with a couple of gallons of warm water and a spoonful of washing powder and the whole thing shaken until all the rust bits were drained onto the drive.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">It was then rinsed with gallons of clean water about ten or twelve times until no rusty bits of residue appeared and the wire mesh filter inside looked nice and clean.</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">After leaving the tank to dry naturally for a few days I attached an old hair dryer and forced hot air through for about half an hour until I was confident everything was thoroughly dry. A word of warning do NOT do this if there are ANY petrol vapour left in the tank!!!!!!!!!!! </span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLcE3eHDNzYh7OU7689fp3wCRGCEDXZH4m0l41RJ_eYkmzl-q7X8AFnHtqEOx8nY97Z0EKaD9kbHUerZNuZTZtZJ9ICRJE1Ur3oqDOSoFbZbPbUA1b8syyA-lz1Iy4WlcJ-4anefywie9/s1600/Fuel+Tank+April+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLcE3eHDNzYh7OU7689fp3wCRGCEDXZH4m0l41RJ_eYkmzl-q7X8AFnHtqEOx8nY97Z0EKaD9kbHUerZNuZTZtZJ9ICRJE1Ur3oqDOSoFbZbPbUA1b8syyA-lz1Iy4WlcJ-4anefywie9/s1600/Fuel+Tank+April+2014.jpg" height="408" title="Viva fuel tank" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viva fuel tank cleaned both inside and out with new fuel-proof filler hose fitted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Tank and pipe replaced we were moving inexorably to the day when we would see if our engine rebuilding skills had born fruit </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">or a lemon that rattled into self-destruction.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Four gallons of petrol mixed with lead additive were poured into the tank and the battery was connected. I had watched an episode of 'Classic Car rescue' on T.V the night before and after spending several thousand pounds on a professional engine rebuild - they could not start it!!!! I was full of trepidation to say the least..........</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Oil light on........ check. Ignition light on.......check.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Key was turned, engine turned over - so far so good.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Engine was turned again - nothing. Not too worried as fuel had to fill the empty fuel line.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Engine turned again, this time with a slight tremble - a positive sign of wanting the start.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">A third attempt and the engine started to 'spin' with more speed - a sure sign of positive ignition attempt.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">A 'thumbs-up' worthy of an old biplane pilot shouting 'contact' and everything erupted into a healthy roar and settled into a steady fast idle as the oil light went out - signifying good oil pressure.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Huston - we have lift off !!!!!!!" </span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Even Huston has had it's heart stopping moments - and we had ours - a frantic 'cut' type wave from Andrew was accompanied with smoke from the engine bay. This turned out to be exhaust paste residue from the exhaust manifold/down pipe joint around the two sealing rings. After a few more starts this gradually disappeared.</span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxgt3wDWqcfo8BNUj77iug5zDCyqA1t20qhsNn1SJKQ5wjpxThKs_Khl4GAcnMZT6lXLJ5fZqWNYdysTK31b3JcLBQCBHDNWC_JHBmPc1OduvL09XhefunUbnrX1JHJaSDGhrN_d15kqI/s1600/Viva+engine+bay2+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxgt3wDWqcfo8BNUj77iug5zDCyqA1t20qhsNn1SJKQ5wjpxThKs_Khl4GAcnMZT6lXLJ5fZqWNYdysTK31b3JcLBQCBHDNWC_JHBmPc1OduvL09XhefunUbnrX1JHJaSDGhrN_d15kqI/s1600/Viva+engine+bay2+May+2014.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.........and it actually starts! Rebuilt engine back in place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span id="goog_538563024"></span><span id="goog_538563025"></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Our rebuilt engine seems to be smooth with no rattles,vibration or knocks,and good oil pressure. Let us hope it stays that way................. </span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKtBNjkB6wort8aFvUShPHElSh0GQw5QapuYzQUm4Cxv5yNdrg9omGtpzm0HdOvyIBMs78I57TW0kqQHweLLvjfqA5AA8PG41ilQLv20DMNLldbndCy8-XC8ruvvIriQJOOTflPAvm061/s1600/Viva+engine+bay1+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKtBNjkB6wort8aFvUShPHElSh0GQw5QapuYzQUm4Cxv5yNdrg9omGtpzm0HdOvyIBMs78I57TW0kqQHweLLvjfqA5AA8PG41ilQLv20DMNLldbndCy8-XC8ruvvIriQJOOTflPAvm061/s1600/Viva+engine+bay1+May+2014.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to Rock n' roll - rebuilt Viva 1256 engine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">My last job was to put the Vauxhall British Standard and model specification code plates back..............pop-riveted on as they were originally.</span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwKN90m8LDaB9uz1xEo2m4GlpuKhoUNco78uBI9nBse1RPmfV80UvW3ERlkBxm_c44j8v5-jPpYw9F3mANPk1CoGVvIj_dOZ5JUnL0kFl1IJhWOQ321rP60mf0fw6zh4ZXO39D1kKkzO2/s1600/Vauxhall+plate+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwKN90m8LDaB9uz1xEo2m4GlpuKhoUNco78uBI9nBse1RPmfV80UvW3ERlkBxm_c44j8v5-jPpYw9F3mANPk1CoGVvIj_dOZ5JUnL0kFl1IJhWOQ321rP60mf0fw6zh4ZXO39D1kKkzO2/s1600/Vauxhall+plate+May+2014.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-42971653736406342212014-04-08T02:04:00.001-07:002016-07-06T11:47:57.396-07:00Why is nothing easy....??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>With the engine bay finished in gleaming new paint, it was time to put the engine back.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This was knocking on the door of autumn last year (2013) and the British weather was preparing itself for the largest rainfall levels since records began. Together with high winds this was not good weather to be fighting the cold steel of an engine block as the car was exposed to the elements, trying to locate the splines of the in-situ gearbox.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We did try, oh yes, we tried - we tried for a week of nice days. We got maximum points for trying, but to no avail. During the occasional nice day of September I literally wrestled with the re-built engine. We had centred the clutch plate with a home-made mandrel and managed to mesh the splines but try as we might the engine would not locate the last 10mm onto the steel pegs on the gearbox housing.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I wish we had tried this a month earlier, but we were returning from the River Severn on our narrowboat 'San Serriffe' in glorious weather. Check out our narrowboat travels with this link:</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>click on link..........</i></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://sanserriffe1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/river-severntowards-gloucester-docks.html">Narrowboat 'San Serriffe' blog. River Severn to Gloucester.</a></span>
</span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sunshine of summer was rapidly disappearing as the great deluge of the 2013 winter started. I know when to give up - so the engine was left on blocks in the engine bay until </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>a time when it was not both freezing and raining.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This was not until late March 2014 and a few weeks ago we decided to have another go.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>With the problem of meshing the gearbox splines not resolved a different approach was decided. Engine was taken back out of 'ANA' and put carefully on blocks on the garage floor. Gearbox support bolts were taken off and after supporting the prop shaft I manged to remove the gearbox.</i></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH7F0_4aOM6aulQuDvKT4BN-C6I3D8PLz7zx1PvAx050447XyG1n0CHop8_bdgQFHxuFeDVESjsXRa56sVyJwj27BclGwoyByQUj6IQ3AP5XPaUZdW9jEagLBHDkmeSgny9s01LcdyrcQ/s1600/Gearbox+clutch+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH7F0_4aOM6aulQuDvKT4BN-C6I3D8PLz7zx1PvAx050447XyG1n0CHop8_bdgQFHxuFeDVESjsXRa56sVyJwj27BclGwoyByQUj6IQ3AP5XPaUZdW9jEagLBHDkmeSgny9s01LcdyrcQ/s1600/Gearbox+clutch+cover.jpg" height="544" title="Viva gearbox" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything checked and dead centre, but still had problems. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We now had both the engine and gearbox in the relevant warmth of the garage and could hopefully resolve why we could not mate one with the other. Supporting the gearbox bell-housing with the engine crane we tried again ,with the same result of the gearbox housing not locating on the engine dowels. We checked the clutch plate alignment, etc with our 'mandrel' several times, but the engine and gearbox remained stubbornly apart. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I began to worry we had some strange mis-match because the block was reconditioned and originally came from a Chevette. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>" O.K , let,s start at basics, remove the clutch cover and clutch plate and see if there are any problems locating the shaft without them" I suggested. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This was completed and the gearbox slid onto the dowels like butter, so there was no mis-match. I tried the clutch plate separately over the splines again with no problems.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Clutch cover was returned together with clutch plate and using our alignment tool everything we checked everything once again. Pushing the shaft onto the block produced the same result - 'clunk' as everything jammed before the bell housing would get onto the block dowels.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This was a real head scratcher....... </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Why is nothing easy ?" I muttered.......</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Any ideas ?" I asked in desperation of Andrew....</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Andrew DID have an idea. He loosened the bolts of the clutch cover allowing the clutch plate to 'float' slightly allowing the shaft and plate to centre.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWmwXswi1Hofi3NIN4cRIrbdb2_tF3OTKTyCFTpJZppAtKwhlUxH96A21H7gfv_6gM9s_rbA0WvcWgwrXXGjbZ_zhw7v7ZoZmNkd7BeOxXEnIajY1lGZl4eQ6TJXLNpQhIgt6nLC0K61D/s1600/Andrew+gearbox+April+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWmwXswi1Hofi3NIN4cRIrbdb2_tF3OTKTyCFTpJZppAtKwhlUxH96A21H7gfv_6gM9s_rbA0WvcWgwrXXGjbZ_zhw7v7ZoZmNkd7BeOxXEnIajY1lGZl4eQ6TJXLNpQhIgt6nLC0K61D/s1600/Andrew+gearbox+April+2014.jpg" height="498" title="Viva gearbox" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew solves the problem with a bit of lateral thinking...........</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>" If this works, how are you going to tighten the bolts again with bell-housing on? I cautioned.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>" With a socket extension through the starter-motor hole whilst you turn the engine over so that each bolt comes around to where I can get the socket into place" he replied with a display of what I thought was misplaced confidence.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Everything was centred again but with the clutch plate able to move slightly so that perhaps the splines could mesh a little easier. I was both amazed and relieved when the shaft mated and the gearbox went straight onto the dowels with no problem - job done!!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Each bolt on the clutch cover was then tightened as I turned the engine so the correct alignment could be achieved to get the socket extension through the starter motor hole in the gearbox housing.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ57IeoxI-IWwUVpaCn01l6BLh-vIzMd3n-3ukfEdwLrEQhtEheoZMPQSqH834dUhqtAhQWX9xabbCjC8OvvBeFMc2Ramz5hMYqVyUVbIOoUMmN9QVt7t5igaZTBmCsnbu9nOghpwM2VWr/s1600/Gearbox+sling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ57IeoxI-IWwUVpaCn01l6BLh-vIzMd3n-3ukfEdwLrEQhtEheoZMPQSqH834dUhqtAhQWX9xabbCjC8OvvBeFMc2Ramz5hMYqVyUVbIOoUMmN9QVt7t5igaZTBmCsnbu9nOghpwM2VWr/s1600/Gearbox+sling.jpg" height="640" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell housing supported as we mate it to the engine block</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcet6PDTw-LjrUrXJDspwwrldTp0R72v2g-SvsK371AfvYSc-okbecp81wERiV0uyzvtvyUDdjUIFC9ywPYIxE5HZwvLEKzxuR7LodSyYaEWws-a2pjtE9avMxU2DwXBwLbGBcsQGWdiF_/s1600/Gearbox+fitted+horizontal+April+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcet6PDTw-LjrUrXJDspwwrldTp0R72v2g-SvsK371AfvYSc-okbecp81wERiV0uyzvtvyUDdjUIFC9ywPYIxE5HZwvLEKzxuR7LodSyYaEWws-a2pjtE9avMxU2DwXBwLbGBcsQGWdiF_/s1600/Gearbox+fitted+horizontal+April+2014.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaned up and awaiting a dry day to put everything back in the car.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>So engine and gearbox sit mated together on the garage floor like the good pals they should be, waiting for a nice warm dry day to put them back into the Viva.......... </i></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-88006691671304375302014-04-02T09:54:00.001-07:002016-07-06T11:47:57.438-07:00Colour me 'Yellow Gold'......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>With the engine removed from the car I decided that this was the time to re-spray the engine bay. 'ANA' was re-sprayed during the late 1990s in the original 'Yellow Gold' colour but the boot interior and engine area was never done.</i> </span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I decided to invest in a compressor and spray-gun despite having no experience in the dark art of car finishing.......lack of experience never stopped me before.......I am a firm believer that you only become 'experienced' by actually doing it ( especially after making a few mistakes).</i></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Interior of the boot floor had some fabrication with new metal in the past and I was a little worried about the bottom of the spare wheel well that showed some corrosion. As mostly the case with a Vauxhall Viva, corrosion on the surface is always just the tip of the iceberg and on close inspection the whole wheel-well needed cutting out and replacing with new.</i></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<i> A Viva wheel-well is not surprisingly wheel shaped, with a radius and a concave curvature in the opposite direction. I find the best method of fabrication is to try and copy the original as close as possible. Original radius was copied and then tack welded into position allowing me to 'tin-bash' the concave curvature with a round mallet. After continuous welding the finished job I filled any surface indentations with a flexible filler and applied a white primer. I then prepared the whole of the boot area for re-finishing as the forty-year-old paint was showing it's age and re-sprayed it with the original 2YW code 'Yellow Gold' colour in cellulose. </i></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i></h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAU03AEGrzNAj85j9SFN8kWnK_k4f2ybrnjZftHH5YrXGo_95ewoPAtrvLTm7v6a46nU3WyPXQH149xM1ZSdxxTr9FqB5gdnYLnXiJ0MKvSau8HeNbtDr-EjPFAJC9C8X6ZOVmX5F_zIM/s1600/Vivaspray01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAU03AEGrzNAj85j9SFN8kWnK_k4f2ybrnjZftHH5YrXGo_95ewoPAtrvLTm7v6a46nU3WyPXQH149xM1ZSdxxTr9FqB5gdnYLnXiJ0MKvSau8HeNbtDr-EjPFAJC9C8X6ZOVmX5F_zIM/s1600/Vivaspray01.jpg" height="356" title="Vauxhall Viva boot" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boot area re-finished in the original 'Yellow Gold'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jZakiDV6zipkAM7q3FB74B71ZDEedS2oH8JPyss2qg36uDKOkMdvTqTlXBWAWQKuyWwrYglPGABFjLO8kbpfjOJ0pMoFKcqQV2jgAqawstjzfBNkWpTso9Qg7drAgYHyVzvbaJgsrJ-T/s1600/Viva+boot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jZakiDV6zipkAM7q3FB74B71ZDEedS2oH8JPyss2qg36uDKOkMdvTqTlXBWAWQKuyWwrYglPGABFjLO8kbpfjOJ0pMoFKcqQV2jgAqawstjzfBNkWpTso9Qg7drAgYHyVzvbaJgsrJ-T/s1600/Viva+boot.jpg" height="424" title="Vauxhall Viva boot" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Carpets and trim replaced on completion</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #e69138;">
</span><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Next job whilst the sun was shining towards the end of the fantastic summer of 2013 was to spray the engine-bay</span></i><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"> <i>whilst the re-built engine sat in the garage. Everything was moved out of the way , such as master cylinder, brake pipes, etc, ready for the old paint to be prepared with wet and dry paper and a lot of elbow grease.</i></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBECQH9WXp3zkOozLKd-7XyQJap_xCZwtERd3OkOZU26gy5x4bmQ1WJ9xYxgUVEq0ONGD2ug5aOe5Tl0Iz5WJWEP-EQiNhb4iPE78Qry6UzvfhbmI_2eOSWPIM4eMaBVNliOOY9mx-PebS/s1600/Vivaenginebay1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBECQH9WXp3zkOozLKd-7XyQJap_xCZwtERd3OkOZU26gy5x4bmQ1WJ9xYxgUVEq0ONGD2ug5aOe5Tl0Iz5WJWEP-EQiNhb4iPE78Qry6UzvfhbmI_2eOSWPIM4eMaBVNliOOY9mx-PebS/s1600/Vivaenginebay1.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruUXB_r0nGX9vaDAnpjIH9p-x6QSeQLGSaYVX06oXXQ3_LoIQRCQ80PYjElJ_l1H7DwbnijKRYOAUvuXeVk_ORfII3k-VrhyAgVFUWtMknYfRSMrTnAmsiG4SKL5xeDp1mPgy2ycWqtW8/s1600/Vivaenginebay2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruUXB_r0nGX9vaDAnpjIH9p-x6QSeQLGSaYVX06oXXQ3_LoIQRCQ80PYjElJ_l1H7DwbnijKRYOAUvuXeVk_ORfII3k-VrhyAgVFUWtMknYfRSMrTnAmsiG4SKL5xeDp1mPgy2ycWqtW8/s1600/Vivaenginebay2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
</h2>
<span style="color: yellow;">
</span>
<span style="color: #e69138;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TljW1FT2AKBoExI37Mh4gsTPiXTDPSzvpu9ahbBZiVGzzHZI-WO8IcJaNil082IQT4RVYes0bdwqRLZcBWOq4gbPuUsVi1rktFG6l_ZnWkfKN0Bw8_njiRWaOMhMhaYw0IBiTrcb9JWs/s1600/Vivaenginebay3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TljW1FT2AKBoExI37Mh4gsTPiXTDPSzvpu9ahbBZiVGzzHZI-WO8IcJaNil082IQT4RVYes0bdwqRLZcBWOq4gbPuUsVi1rktFG6l_ZnWkfKN0Bw8_njiRWaOMhMhaYw0IBiTrcb9JWs/s1600/Vivaenginebay3.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ready for the refurbished suspension,brakes and rebuilt engine</i>.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><i>Everything was now ready for the refurbished cross-member, brakes, steering and suspension</i> <i>to be bolted back into the car so</i> <i>that the engine could be replaced before winter.</i> <i>Summer was disappearing fast and without a running engine</i> <i>I could not get 'ANA' into the protection of the garage. Pushing it solo by hand up the steeply inclined drive was not an option.</i></span></h2>
</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-34941750401776145082013-04-19T01:57:00.001-07:002016-07-06T11:47:57.390-07:00Tax free !!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tax Free !!!!!!</i></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>There was good news for U.K classic car owners including this particular owner in the 2013 budget.
From 2014, the exemption from VED (road tax) will be extended to 1st January 1974 ( any car manufacture prior to that date) This means all cars manufactured in 1973 - previously liable for the
annual tax - will now qualify for the exemption. Also, SORNs (statutory off - road notice ) will no
longer be annual, but indefinite.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>ANA 78M was first registered on the 5th February 1974 and it was just possible that it had sat around in the Ellesmere Port factory/ distribution point / dealer for a few weeks prior to registration.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>I rang Vauxhall Motors Heritage at Luton and spoke to a press officer called Veronica who very kindly suggested that I put all the details of the car in an email and she would forward it to a guy called Andrew who had access to the manufacture date records.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Reply came back the same day confirming that 'ANA' was indeed manufactured during December of 1973.....so from 2014 'ANA' will be tax-free !!</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Good result.......many thanks to Vauxhall especially Veronica and Andrew :) </span></b></span></i><br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">N.B dated April 2014. </span></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">April 2014 budget brought the even better news that classic car tax will now be a 40 year 'rolling' exemption for this category. Therefore from 1 April 2015, vehicles constructed 40 years ago will be added to the scope of the exemption.</span></u></b></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></i></div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-81411228150058186192013-02-28T01:20:00.000-08:002017-08-15T15:01:39.587-07:00Suspended in time.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Take the engine out of
a Vauxhall Viva and you are left with a large black hole through which
a large oily chunk of metal that is the 'cross-member' can be
seen.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With the engine in
place it is largely forgotten...... being 'out of sight – out of
mind' . After gazing contemplatively at this dark study in oil and
rust for some while I began to realise how neglected it all was.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Most of the life-saving
bits of a car are hung onto this old bit of Vauxhall engineering.
Inconsequential parts like brakes, steering, and suspension are all to be found lurking here. Brake
pads and hoses had been replaced over the years together with the steering rack, but the shock
absorbers are original, so are the discs. Top ball-joints were the
same as they left the factory (a swine to replace in the car as they
are riveted into the wishbone) and the inner top wishbone bushes
looked very sad indeed.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amazingly the top
ball-joints still worked well after over forty years, but this was a sorry state
of affairs that obviously could not continue........</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Engine was out making
the job 'easy' and so I embarked on a re-build of the cross-member
with all it's important little bits. A rare sunny day had prompted a
start on this part of the restoration that was to prove more of a
challenge than the engine.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Over the next few days
I started to release bolts that had not been moved for nearly forty
years. My first problem was how to actually support the car whilst
the cross-member and suspension was dropped downwards. My drive has
an incline so the chance of introducing some instability as the car was put onto stands is always present so care was needed. Andrew
helped with a bit of psychological support and suggestions as I
supported the body shell and rested the (unbolted) cross-member on a
hydraulic jack.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With the shell firmly
supported on a variety of stands, I lowered the cross-member down
complete with brakes and suspension. Looking very sorry for itself
it now rested on the drive blinking in the sunshine. This luxury of
sun-bathing was not to last as I dragged this lump of rust into the
dark cold garage, dumping it unceremoniously onto the floor.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoL1qJs8QewFUEy9zO4hHEMyFMozkBkKV2xXKxTYcgliCtnGgiknuBzN0-ALpb0r9MSVZR4ZCoBzEGCpAHHkFA109mc9vn76yw0EgJ_uJz69maRseb0IzxVjJdISGtDQwwNXDTw1eqfu_/s1600/Cross+member+and+suspension+rebuild+Jan+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vauxhall viva cross-member" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoL1qJs8QewFUEy9zO4hHEMyFMozkBkKV2xXKxTYcgliCtnGgiknuBzN0-ALpb0r9MSVZR4ZCoBzEGCpAHHkFA109mc9vn76yw0EgJ_uJz69maRseb0IzxVjJdISGtDQwwNXDTw1eqfu_/s1600/Cross+member+and+suspension+rebuild+Jan+2013.jpg" height="640" title="Vauxhall Viva cross-member" width="483"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Sorry state of affairs'...........Viva cross-member </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
Right......where to start? Steering rack ? why not.......off with the track rod ends and bolts holding it to the cross-member, 'et voila!' steering rack is consigned to the corner of the garage, as if in disgrace ( it is actually in good condition, having been on the vehicle only 4000 miles )<br>
<br>
Brake pads out.....brake calipers off together with a mental note to replace the grooved brake discs with new ( I already have some new calipers) Spring compressors were used to keep the suspension springs from going 'Boing! whilst the lower wishbone arms and shock-absorbers were removed .<br>
<br>
Eventually the cross member became lighter and lighter as everything was taken off. Top wishbone arms still remained held onto the cross-member with a ten-inch long 'fulcrum bolt' which then goes through bushes in the arms of the wishbone. It was these bushes that were obviously 'cream-crackered' and would have failed an MOT test. So first replace the bushes.<br>
<br>
O.K ......hmmmmmm......what does the manual say ? oh yes.....remove the fulcrum bolt. Large nut holding it was removed after a lot of persuasion and a large extension on the arm of the socket wrench ( a piece of strong steel tube)<br>
<br>
Right......that is it then. Just remove the bolt, easy peasy. A slight tap with the 'Manchester Screwdriver'<br>
( hammer) did not move it. A<b> <u>large</u></b> smack with the hammer did not move it. <br>
<br>
" Pass the <u><b>BIG</b></u> hammer please" I asked Andrew<br>
<br>
A 2 1/2 lbs 'lump<b>'</b> hammer was passed over. This is a real 'persuader' and I took a real standing swing at this recalcitrant bolt. In fact I took at least a dozen full blooded swings before making a tactical retreat to consider further action.<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHd2iidPErlXpHdbtYpk2le7RfZxlbgrhvqN_AqgkpYml84mZ7-S0HHsK2u8p5pGmJkZgm0xMy1w1xE-075reYWvVKrNabdSXGi627ToLTsYLnvEk3uLN6dMoUhm-P3UZ6uf-F8UTNlYV/s1600/Upper+wishbone+original+bush+Viva+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva upper wishbone bush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHd2iidPErlXpHdbtYpk2le7RfZxlbgrhvqN_AqgkpYml84mZ7-S0HHsK2u8p5pGmJkZgm0xMy1w1xE-075reYWvVKrNabdSXGi627ToLTsYLnvEk3uLN6dMoUhm-P3UZ6uf-F8UTNlYV/s1600/Upper+wishbone+original+bush+Viva+2013.jpg" height="417" title="Vauxhall Viva upper wishbone bush" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lady was not for moving........stubborn upper wishbone pivot bolt. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
This lady was not for moving !!!!!<br>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfn4REmrkVgHrdseNhmkarPyFJ2W551bsfa0mNWzbXZZdcByzPGbc7zzRce5UiU56TBFxMvw7UoOx9T-Da_leg54uFvL7YHWb9tXBCRnlx5FucsMuZuWhlPKIDDk4RjoLSQZVV96Tt1jO/s1600/Viva+suspension+and+rebuilt+engine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhal;l Viva cross member" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfn4REmrkVgHrdseNhmkarPyFJ2W551bsfa0mNWzbXZZdcByzPGbc7zzRce5UiU56TBFxMvw7UoOx9T-Da_leg54uFvL7YHWb9tXBCRnlx5FucsMuZuWhlPKIDDk4RjoLSQZVV96Tt1jO/s1600/Viva+suspension+and+rebuilt+engine.jpg" height="436" title="Vauxhall viva cross member, suspension" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vauxhall Viva cross-member awaits sympathetic attention ( with a lump hammer). Re-built engine is pictured right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Both fulcrum bolts refused to move despite use of the 'big' hammer. Repeated attempts over the next few days produced no progress in moving the bolts. A neighbour who is a retired garage owner suggested heating it to a red heat heat with an Oxyacetylene torch......<br>
" I have never known that to fail " he suggested<br>
Not having the luxury of such equipment in my garage, I approached a local classic car restoration business called 'Merlin' and they agreed to have a go with their Oxy' gear.<br>
<br>
With the cross member on the bench and the outer tube heated to a red heat further attempts to free the bolts were made with a large hammer without success.<br>
<br>
Owner of 'Merlin' suggested that the tubes and pivot bolts were cut off and new ones made. He knew a local engineer called 'Sefton' who wrestled old traction engines for a hobby and was sure he could do the job. <br>
<br>
A phone call a week later brought the bad news that 'Sefton' was busy for a month. I waited a month and after a few phones calls I realized that for whatever reason their was no enthusiasm to take on the job. Wanting to move some progress I decided that my favourite old maxim stills holds true......<br>
<br>
'If you want a job doing....... do it yourself !'<br>
<br>
Whilst waiting to see if the Traction Engine enthusiast could do the job I filled in the time with removing both bottom and upper ball joints in readiness for new ones. I had replaced the bottom ones some years ago and after removing the circlips I found that I had the same problem as the pivot bolt.....they just would not move!<br>
<br>
Repeated smacks with the hammer was useless. Chatting with a friend who used to own a HB Viva many years go he offered to help by bringing his father's home made 'pullers' from his garage.<br>
<br>
His father like so many in the north of England had served apprenticeships in engineering during the 1940s <br>
and learned skills that have now sadly died with them. One of the skills was to make their own tools and this set of sixty-year-old 'pullers' was just one of them. A modern equivalent with cost you £60 - £70.<br>
<br>
It was almost with a sense of history that my mate 'Phil' put the claws of the puller around the wishbone and I realised that his father could not have foreseen that seventy years after he had skillfully made them that they would be still being used on a forty-year-old Vauxhall Viva !!!!<br>
<br>
Phil told me he had used these before for this exact same job on a friends car in the 1970s after the balljoints had refused to move after weeks of trying by his friend with sheer brute strength.<br>
<br>
He went into his garage and came out a few minutes late saying....<br>
<br>
" These just fell into my hand " he said with a mischievous smile .<br>
<br>
Back to the present day - a few taps with the a hammer - a few extra turns of the screw and one balljoint started to move. A five minutes or so later we had both joints on the floor and the job sorted. The hand-made pullers that were produced so many years ago will be put away and hopefully helping to repair Vauxhall Vivas in a hundred years time !!!!<br>
<br>
Top balljoints have to drilled out as they were riveted to the upper wishbone during manufacture. I took the upper rivet heads off with an angle-grinder and tried to drift the rivets out from the top. This did not produce any movement. I then tried drilling through the bottom 'head' and drifting it with a few hard smacks from the top, the drill-hole then gives you a guide to where the rivet is . It is important to drill dead centre as it is easy to carve up the original holes if you drill at an angle. Rivets are replaced by 5/16" bolts supplied with the new joints.<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl_ichhG_ZIE7amAglLZdsUbqHIgohPBBp2mSLNDXVr0o1D8Hheb1HSIb6GYvvoDinhqgyXQ69EmLJTTCKox9RZFp0PcKO_c5Syx8vpoIMriejWbfzYscvRPgSFyOZIf3JeosgqtMUFec/s1600/Upper+ball+joint+river+emoval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva balljoint removal" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl_ichhG_ZIE7amAglLZdsUbqHIgohPBBp2mSLNDXVr0o1D8Hheb1HSIb6GYvvoDinhqgyXQ69EmLJTTCKox9RZFp0PcKO_c5Syx8vpoIMriejWbfzYscvRPgSFyOZIf3JeosgqtMUFec/s1600/Upper+ball+joint+river+emoval.jpg" height="424" title="Vauxhall Viva balljoint removal" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vauxhall HC upper balljoint removal & replacement</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp397Cre0YoJxJxahqtZX5gHeN-vLNG44yRcDggl0AKVqlgBZsPLRweHjuYAGjE9Tdq4YsXO5FFCV7IJ121W_zdRUQ6GVnWBmjf2GsxMZs_xba7b-yaKS-ZE4mrV_vBZNRwDE9vv17QpLv/s1600/Upper+balljoint+removal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva balljoint removal" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp397Cre0YoJxJxahqtZX5gHeN-vLNG44yRcDggl0AKVqlgBZsPLRweHjuYAGjE9Tdq4YsXO5FFCV7IJ121W_zdRUQ6GVnWBmjf2GsxMZs_xba7b-yaKS-ZE4mrV_vBZNRwDE9vv17QpLv/s1600/Upper+balljoint+removal.jpg" height="444" title="Vauxhall Viva balljoint removal" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vauxhall Viva balljoint rivets drifted-out with a punch ( right) after drilling. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
Replacing the top ball joints had almost been a a diversion away from addressing the real problem.......how to remove the rusted in top fulcrum/pivot bolts. During an idle glance through 'Ebay' for Vauxhall Viva parts I noticed a a cross member or 'suspension cradle' as it was described for sale exactly the same as our problem one.......without the problems.....seek and you shall find !!!!!!!!!<br>
<br>
An email to the owner confirmed that it came complete with pivot bolts (removed) and had been grit blasted, primed and painted !!!!!! As these things are a heavy bit of metal it was naturally 'collect only' - 160 miles away in Sunderland!<br>
<br>
I mentioned the problem I had with the seized top wishbone pivot bolts and he related a story about another cross-member he was stripping down and found exactly the same problem. He used a power-hammer or something like that bending the tube !!!!! It seems these bolts either almost drop out or you have big time problems only cured by new tubes and bolts. ( I had bought some EN8 1/2" steel round bar to make new 10" bolts)<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWickK9BPtaQa5Ed_zDiHyMitLELVFBgg-UXkux5rzR526boGGWdUm8jUWojrDMMkV9I6_9kGWqyh6257S4tSEeFSjX_z3rhQlQEebaQDPbS18qcEUZtawv1dIM0Ya8vRmT8TuIadoQ57L/s1600/Wishbone+pivot+pin+problem2+Feb+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall HC Viva top wishbone pivot bolt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWickK9BPtaQa5Ed_zDiHyMitLELVFBgg-UXkux5rzR526boGGWdUm8jUWojrDMMkV9I6_9kGWqyh6257S4tSEeFSjX_z3rhQlQEebaQDPbS18qcEUZtawv1dIM0Ya8vRmT8TuIadoQ57L/s1600/Wishbone+pivot+pin+problem2+Feb+2013.jpg" height="444" title="Vauxhall HC Viva top wishbone pivot bolt" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original rust-seized HC Viva cross-member pivot bolt. I had even tried drilling holes into the outer tube to inject oil - this proving a waste of time.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
A day or so later saw Andrew and myself speeding over the snow-covered Yorkshire Moors to collect our rare find. It was as good as the owner had described being part of a project he had changed direction on and been restored to an almost new condition.<br>
<br>
After a day in sunny Sunderland we could not believe our luck as it sat gleaming on the garage floor...........................<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTj6eqN7MKsr9yfZI-NrtYnIEkLaFZtZI5oVV0BSUWWGbjIAONCxwWecGE6yH703oZ1c4wGmKdEbeFnZ6j0eCQs7HxqX1bSeLLfHbZofs4aMsysdVPqeZIj42yTbTcqSeKg377E1vhpth/s1600/Suspension+cradle+cross+member+(new+full).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTj6eqN7MKsr9yfZI-NrtYnIEkLaFZtZI5oVV0BSUWWGbjIAONCxwWecGE6yH703oZ1c4wGmKdEbeFnZ6j0eCQs7HxqX1bSeLLfHbZofs4aMsysdVPqeZIj42yTbTcqSeKg377E1vhpth/s1600/Suspension+cradle+cross+member+(new+full).jpg" height="418" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vauxhall HC Viva cross member / suspension cradle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
With both top and bottom wishbones off the cross-member I have replaced both top and bottom ball-joints and replaced the top wishbone bushes with 'Superpro' poly bushes. I had cut the original seized pivot bolt<br>
as it entered the bushes ( I had planned to drill out the old bolts) enabling me to remove wishbones from the cross member.<br>
<br>
I had purchased some poly-bushes from the Vauxhall Viva Owner's Club. These were half the price of 'Superpro' because they came without the outer tube and were designed to be used with the original outer steel tube that goes through the wishbone.<br>
<br>
On close inspection I realised that there was some serious corrosion on the original outer bush tubes and the purchase of 'Superpro' was the only way to go ( they come with new alloy outer and inner tubes)<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU8zjew5JxfvVoJSBRtbRW4USKXw_6I-cPGm3xatKpsNdttXkQ7gsr-GlyFBKyVkt9eV8Wv-i957oxTt4rcGrYaDmYJvhMzsbyKhQySYMSy06mqOB1wPYEkj2kqOsRS1fncKMcb9xdhkq/s1600/Wishbone+bush+removal+March+2013_1970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall HC Viva Superpro poly wishbone bush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU8zjew5JxfvVoJSBRtbRW4USKXw_6I-cPGm3xatKpsNdttXkQ7gsr-GlyFBKyVkt9eV8Wv-i957oxTt4rcGrYaDmYJvhMzsbyKhQySYMSy06mqOB1wPYEkj2kqOsRS1fncKMcb9xdhkq/s1600/Wishbone+bush+removal+March+2013_1970.jpg" height="404" title="Vauxhall HC Viva Superpro poly wishbone bush" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old and new.........Viva HC top wishbone 'Superpro' bush next to the cream-crackered outer steel tube of the original.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
I removed the old rubber bush material which was in surprisingly good condition although cracked and rotten on the surface. Drilling through the material and then prizing out of the tube with a large screwdriver. Removal of the outer tube from the wishbone looked problematic as it was seriously rusted in. I decided to cut the bush tube wall from top to bottom with a small hacksaw and them bent the tube inwards away from the wishbone with a cold chisel.<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwrPa9kjSnIssebvzEugTni6cLS4sBNnreCRCe57dEocdQ4xCmcqop_F35UBqUPb2LL-jXEq2sj7P7xqzTlwTkkmyxm7bdegnKZsuNwNZ6-cY_De-6681kuiuwULQEMXUQpTaCNjz3fvj/s1600/Wishbone+bush+removal+March+2013_1977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhal;l Viva wishbone bush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwrPa9kjSnIssebvzEugTni6cLS4sBNnreCRCe57dEocdQ4xCmcqop_F35UBqUPb2LL-jXEq2sj7P7xqzTlwTkkmyxm7bdegnKZsuNwNZ6-cY_De-6681kuiuwULQEMXUQpTaCNjz3fvj/s1600/Wishbone+bush+removal+March+2013_1977.jpg" height="508" title="Vauxhall Viva wishbone bush" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing original top wishbone bush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b-pNPV1br6dNKyixpx26pG_p83MqzaJOrdZkuATo-KWRBziSGxByFfqo4Lb-sUb6NQEiMyJIgsi-cEhAmDnd8KzZOnaBWoNK2icADhQGRE2ESPJr5qBBWX0Eo6ByTqyH6silz9dcJ8q_/s1600/Wishbone+bush+removal+March+2013_1969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva top wishbone bush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b-pNPV1br6dNKyixpx26pG_p83MqzaJOrdZkuATo-KWRBziSGxByFfqo4Lb-sUb6NQEiMyJIgsi-cEhAmDnd8KzZOnaBWoNK2icADhQGRE2ESPJr5qBBWX0Eo6ByTqyH6silz9dcJ8q_/s1600/Wishbone+bush+removal+March+2013_1969.jpg" height="482" title="Vauxhall Viva top wishbone bush" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing HC Viva top wishbone bush. Outer 'tube' has been cut with small hacksaw and bent inwards with a chisel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
New bushes are an interference fit and really need to be pressed in with a bush press. I do not posses such a luxury so a vice and hammer ( protecting the bush with a piece of wood) eventually found them in place.<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8KbpRkRuXjm6tXpRgV7-t6977Tmrf2oO0dYqPwZO41DuyTj_JmLfEc-RWfWZzjXtpDlCPC1l60SWqPz5F76W1VQM3thrnU2NuN_bgma6UIW4KoN7NCdG-K0S1ns4osOc6Nn6HjCgrXAe/s1600/wishbone+bush+fitted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Superpro Vauxhall Viva wishbone bush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8KbpRkRuXjm6tXpRgV7-t6977Tmrf2oO0dYqPwZO41DuyTj_JmLfEc-RWfWZzjXtpDlCPC1l60SWqPz5F76W1VQM3thrnU2NuN_bgma6UIW4KoN7NCdG-K0S1ns4osOc6Nn6HjCgrXAe/s1600/wishbone+bush+fitted.jpg" height="478" title="Superpro vauxhall viva wishbone bush" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Superpro' bush eventually fitted to my Vauxhall HC Viva top wishbone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UUBTolfV2-wwpzipEMMcB3sL_7lzFf6suSaNRvpv6RXkZzvR4qRjM6q60TahT1S9RLIwq53PD0XhB0j0nShx62U-bRNlilM1uwFdWQBvdV5V97PfcSsL8hpJvQubzuhEZK0ncZ7GperU/s1600/Completed+bushed+upper+wishbones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall HC Viva top wishbone Superpro bushes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UUBTolfV2-wwpzipEMMcB3sL_7lzFf6suSaNRvpv6RXkZzvR4qRjM6q60TahT1S9RLIwq53PD0XhB0j0nShx62U-bRNlilM1uwFdWQBvdV5V97PfcSsL8hpJvQubzuhEZK0ncZ7GperU/s1600/Completed+bushed+upper+wishbones.jpg" height="430" title="Vauxhall HC Viva top wishbone Superpro bushes" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completed top wishbones with new 'Superpro' Poly' bushes and ball joints on my 1974 Vauxhall HC Viva.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBsjE4ZM1DgUWe7dnzta4dPpLu7yjBqSA-SR39MF3r-rak7H8GYVi-JVR30_JxgyUUNuzBGRqHV79YSJ1rPbp9hc0l1nBkJqGavV27u5scGcAg74ZSltRVENtrJPBFF69T4VP1dv5ROk5/s1600/Pivot+bolts+upper+wishbone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBsjE4ZM1DgUWe7dnzta4dPpLu7yjBqSA-SR39MF3r-rak7H8GYVi-JVR30_JxgyUUNuzBGRqHV79YSJ1rPbp9hc0l1nBkJqGavV27u5scGcAg74ZSltRVENtrJPBFF69T4VP1dv5ROk5/s1600/Pivot+bolts+upper+wishbone.jpg" height="308" title="Vauxhall Viva cross-member pivot bolts" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pivot bolts that came with the 'new' cross-member/suspension cradle. I have not gold-plated them..........they have been blasted with copper anti-seize grease prior to fitting. Vauxhall HC Viva </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
Progress was now actually being made :) New bottom wishbone ball joints were now fitted being fairly straightforward apart from the circlips. I had bought new ones from 'Vauxhall greenparts' as the old ones were rusty and possibly brittle. Even using circlip pliers you seem to need four pairs of hands to snap them in. It is important that the joint is pressed well and truly 'home' or the groove for the ring is not fully exposed and the all-important circlip will not fit.<br>
<br>
I had bought some Quinton Hazel new 'old stock' ball-joints. Quinton Hazell was once a large successful company founded in 1947 by a Mr Eric Quinton Hazell. A U.K company based in North Wales selling quality automotive parts to 160 countries in their 1950s/60s heyday, but they went into administration last year.<br>
Obviously there are many economic factors for their demise, but certainly one of them is that modern cars <br>
are just so reliable compared to those of the 60s and 70s. A retired motor mechanic acquaintance recently made this observation to me .....<br>
<br>
" They don,t make cars like they used to........ thank God! "<br>
<br>
Certainly in the 1960s and 70s many car owners worth their salt could be found every Sunday morning on drives in front of houses replacing water-pumps/ ball-joints/suspension parts, etc. Ask a local motor accessory shop if he sells many parts like that anymore and he will reply with a wistful negative.<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfrjryHnsRPz_K1Mahwp3NiFfe8VZtxlD9hwscvYDLYRXK94A9JVm01AaYgFI5ClYOghuRVWHDMtUoFQBXQJg5305-ilUFP4StTRDsnrVLAaS2OtEaBZ0r979M8U5T9_zMoEucDfHaBDH/s1600/Lower+wishbone+ball+joint+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfrjryHnsRPz_K1Mahwp3NiFfe8VZtxlD9hwscvYDLYRXK94A9JVm01AaYgFI5ClYOghuRVWHDMtUoFQBXQJg5305-ilUFP4StTRDsnrVLAaS2OtEaBZ0r979M8U5T9_zMoEucDfHaBDH/s1600/Lower+wishbone+ball+joint+close+up.jpg" height="468" title="Vauxhall Viva bottom ball-joint" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New bottom ball-joint fitted. Lower wishbone. HC Viva</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXiUfegTVO2dOt6WvoOriuVM97WSQ5byQQ6qNaE3lQGz1ItKKY8vwySmUCX67mKuLz7yvjAsDiDCRZ3YFWeZul1LH9RrbN9gki2cumoQ6cY7lqH9Ys-tr0IIXdo4odfGubyWvY4Ea2fpB/s1600/Quinton+Hazel+packet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXiUfegTVO2dOt6WvoOriuVM97WSQ5byQQ6qNaE3lQGz1ItKKY8vwySmUCX67mKuLz7yvjAsDiDCRZ3YFWeZul1LH9RrbN9gki2cumoQ6cY7lqH9Ys-tr0IIXdo4odfGubyWvY4Ea2fpB/s1600/Quinton+Hazel+packet.jpg" height="452" title="Quinton Hazell ball joint" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quinton Hazell - went into administration during 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrrlyHL56rY1eWFfvu6DRzIZuxU_Efz8vuIWAwt6YOug3-g4S-7e99XzMjEcBvLeXPvznCt43aYy0joz55FxhRVuTMlqnsgHCYu5z5hZe7Ce9haI29tPfkhKKvZGn2KG65uDL9nY1-EcL/s1600/Made+in+Great+Britain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrrlyHL56rY1eWFfvu6DRzIZuxU_Efz8vuIWAwt6YOug3-g4S-7e99XzMjEcBvLeXPvznCt43aYy0joz55FxhRVuTMlqnsgHCYu5z5hZe7Ce9haI29tPfkhKKvZGn2KG65uDL9nY1-EcL/s1600/Made+in+Great+Britain.jpg" height="312" title="Quinton Hazell Vauxhall Viva ball-joint" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Made in Great Britain ' A proud boast stamped on old Quinton Hazell parts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
With the 'new' cross-member we were starting to make some real progress as we could now start to reassemble everything. We began to swap the old control-arms over onto the outriggers and realised that it would be sensible to replace the original rubber bushes at this point as one of the bushes was looking tired and brittle. Finding a new set of original rubber bushes is like searching for rocking-horse droppings and a new set of Polyurethane bushes is the only way to go.<br>
<br>
Searching for the correct Poly' bush set is not easy either. 'Superpro' who make them are an Australian company and like our American cousins we seem to separated by a common language! Australian automotive descriptions certainly seem to differ from the U.K and sometimes the only way to find the correct bush is to compare photographs in their on-line parts lists visually with your original.........<br>
<br>
Suppliers are not much help either as they have just 'copy and paste' from the original Australian text.<br>
I spotted a 'possible' match on an Ebay supplier shop site and managed to actually phone the supplier who was as uncertain as myself if this was the correct bush as it was described by 'Superpro' as.......'Front strut bar to chassis mount bush'<br>
<br>
Vauxhall described the 'front strut' as a 'control arm' and 'chassis mount' could be misunderstood for a separate bush that is used to connect the cross-member to er......well....would you believe the chassis !<br>
So buyer beware !!!! I mentioned that it seemed to visually match the original, being four separate bushes and two tubes..... it should read " Control arm to outrigger" in my humble opinion.<br>
<br>
" Not always the case as sometimes 'Superpro' change the design into one single bush " replied Mr Supplier.<br>
<br>
He promised to change it if it was not the correct one, fortunately it was. So in conclusion if you are doing this job 'Superpro' SPF1429K bush set is the correct one !!!!!!!!!<br>
<br>
see pic............<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxoC5bIBAr8ec77Tvg8_OqPsKhfcb3CJEJGNgYDAyxmI6oJbq-_cvqcENG_xMXBhM0CVu5xa7avob_LyoWvb4_xo7qwmECA7I1T-lhyphenhyphen8QgrmDacfUXxQ708k_KmUfGJiKs3fvcX_qXrEH/s1600/Cross+member003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="viva poly bush superpro" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxoC5bIBAr8ec77Tvg8_OqPsKhfcb3CJEJGNgYDAyxmI6oJbq-_cvqcENG_xMXBhM0CVu5xa7avob_LyoWvb4_xo7qwmECA7I1T-lhyphenhyphen8QgrmDacfUXxQ708k_KmUfGJiKs3fvcX_qXrEH/s1600/Cross+member003.jpg" height="472" title="Viva Poly bush superpro" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vauxhall HC Viva outrigger bush set compared to originals</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtMZn_nBf6J8MIQliLabnvVRVGfvhWZqtC40FD4vupBtsQomAz3dZohhJOwK5trnvVX8PeNjK_GXzIjDBtrQCz_JNvUqUmfcesv5U4zxa0wENdlu0BSRXRsYnTRewI-UuOrO33gqkHBuh/s1600/Cross+member007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtMZn_nBf6J8MIQliLabnvVRVGfvhWZqtC40FD4vupBtsQomAz3dZohhJOwK5trnvVX8PeNjK_GXzIjDBtrQCz_JNvUqUmfcesv5U4zxa0wENdlu0BSRXRsYnTRewI-UuOrO33gqkHBuh/s1600/Cross+member007.jpg" height="432" title="Vauxhall Viva poly bush superpro" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">......and fitted to the cross-member outrigger. Second mating bush is hidden in the outrigger arm. HC Viva</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
Time had come to replace the front suspension springs and new shock absorbers. This proved to be.......er, well awkward........is perhaps the most polite description. Spring compressors were used, but it seemed much more difficult than when we removed them. Perseverance, as with most things in life eventually won the day as we moved closer to a completely restored front suspension/ brakes and steering assembly.<br>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFD8QkpWGo4NLIY4vAivgXyUrVFKAIR8JshIVaLX-YBlSzo7niTwrdn1XITM2xSW_vU7EP1XhyphenhyphendzsgPoCBFW0zp1o_jap8Qr1leIdev0TbGGSp97QLg24OgjdWd4VNJ_nnjk39PpU2641/s1600/Cross+member005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva front suspension" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFD8QkpWGo4NLIY4vAivgXyUrVFKAIR8JshIVaLX-YBlSzo7niTwrdn1XITM2xSW_vU7EP1XhyphenhyphendzsgPoCBFW0zp1o_jap8Qr1leIdev0TbGGSp97QLg24OgjdWd4VNJ_nnjk39PpU2641/s1600/Cross+member005.jpg" height="640" title="Vauxhall Viva front suspension" width="432"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring compressors used during front suspension reassembly. HC Viva</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTYC7MHIYYChQ7o9WRF7uuUuAZSBGUPc9V1RzEhxxXMGv0vOEpRdaH4EA-2G9eDJCBkkelHHc15Hw-zVGHsmJ6qlEmRr4ZfAIGnIDuOdOGtbKh7xTL6EZcuBzezMN2I-JYCM6t6SsN3sf/s1600/Cross+member008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTYC7MHIYYChQ7o9WRF7uuUuAZSBGUPc9V1RzEhxxXMGv0vOEpRdaH4EA-2G9eDJCBkkelHHc15Hw-zVGHsmJ6qlEmRr4ZfAIGnIDuOdOGtbKh7xTL6EZcuBzezMN2I-JYCM6t6SsN3sf/s1600/Cross+member008.jpg" height="466" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearing completion .....Vauxhall Viva front suspension restoration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
More to follow........... <br>
<br>
Like many Google 'blogspot' users I am having problems with the 'comments' form appearing.....if you have a suggestion to resolve this or just comment on the blog <u><b>click on 'No comments' below</b></u> and the form will appear like magic !!..........illogical, but it works! :)<br>
Remember if you want to be totally confused you need a computer!<br>
<br>
<br>
<br></div>
</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-84425367486239816012013-02-25T07:00:00.002-08:002016-07-06T11:47:57.433-07:00A winter's tale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">A seized engine <span style="font-size: large;">is</span> no good to anyone ( read <span style="font-size: large;">' problems, problems') <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">so I <span style="font-size: large;">psyched</span> myself up for some heavy work.</span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last <span style="font-size: large;">time I had removed <span style="font-size: large;">an engine on this car was twenty years ago</span></span> </span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><i>and I use<span style="font-size: large;">d <span style="font-size: large;">some chain lifting gear hung from an RSJ girder in the comfort of the garage.</span></span></i></span> <i><span style="font-size: large;">This was<span style="font-size: large;"> different as poor ol<span style="font-size: large;">d 'ANA' was now stuck out in the open</span></span></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: large;">and try as I might I could not purchase a 'sky-hook' </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">to help with lifting the engine out of the car.</span></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJmd26mum5EnqhONQ3-JRA9ORpM3Vfhl7QG3oh6g_bQJtPKOP2pZCab0XuD80RXjGxj6Xcm1c1mf8M_UiRnexo17H5XDbZOY4wKiXNLE8IuvYDw0rJ7fPAcjKYYHVuMubr3j3s4oWf9Yk/s1600/2012+prior+to+engine+removal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva Engine" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJmd26mum5EnqhONQ3-JRA9ORpM3Vfhl7QG3oh6g_bQJtPKOP2pZCab0XuD80RXjGxj6Xcm1c1mf8M_UiRnexo17H5XDbZOY4wKiXNLE8IuvYDw0rJ7fPAcjKYYHVuMubr3j3s4oWf9Yk/s1600/2012+prior+to+engine+removal2.jpg" height="424" title="Vauxhall Viva engine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Pist 'n broke'......sorry cheap old joke. Viva 'ANA' engine before removal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">An engine crane was the only answer <span style="font-size: large;">to the alternative of selling 'ANA<span style="font-size: large;">' as a failed 'project' :( <span style="font-size: large;">Hiring one was con<span style="font-size: large;">sidered bu<span style="font-size: large;">t the engine removal was now very weather dependent and the U.K weather is almost guaranteed .......guaranteed to rain followed by more rain together with rain showers <span style="font-size: large;">in between. Hire charges at different times was much the same as buying one outright with the added hassle of collecting and returning to the hire base.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">A trip to the local '<span style="font-size: large;">M</span>achine-Mart' and I was the owner of a bright red <span style="font-size: large;">hydraulic engine crane. Unfortunately even the best engine crane will not undo the all the <span style="font-size: large;">engine <span style="font-size: large;">bearers/exhaust/gearbox bolts and seemingly endless bits <span style="font-size: large;">needing</span> remov<span style="font-size: large;">ing</span> before actua<span style="font-size: large;">lly lifting the engine.</span></span></span></span></span></i>.....<span style="font-size: large;"><i>w<span style="font-size: large;">ish I could</span> watch day-time TV like <span style="font-size: large;">some other (sensible)</span> retire<span style="font-size: large;">es </span></i></span>.........<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Acz7Zr2OBLwRP6fELJKcc1PgJ5UseTDpAMh-nUtvPt55norbrc0taAldZ0w-JEPzbNBI62ZEALpaXQbB4q9MFUa5Jy7bZyXWe4hNhsz4zQTgbBzV0QgN0PyGwMFoPbqCiFBgiIk2t2Zu/s1600/Engine+removal+October+4+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva engine" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Acz7Zr2OBLwRP6fELJKcc1PgJ5UseTDpAMh-nUtvPt55norbrc0taAldZ0w-JEPzbNBI62ZEALpaXQbB4q9MFUa5Jy7bZyXWe4hNhsz4zQTgbBzV0QgN0PyGwMFoPbqCiFBgiIk2t2Zu/s1600/Engine+removal+October+4+2012.jpg" height="424" title="Vauxhall Viva engine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engine removal..........</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUp1ITW28WrZpO6UCSdc5_ORXUk0MF2lV1nJLVN-YtJTvE9ouJoMc4LzfFssRVGNyVK8kx54MCCJOPMzvkXJg99dP1wxI9RD3glmy2uP745UVd_oDqDB-MeshsDZ_KyYlqK_RZx8hmV_X/s1600/Engine+removal+October+2+Chris+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva engine removal" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUp1ITW28WrZpO6UCSdc5_ORXUk0MF2lV1nJLVN-YtJTvE9ouJoMc4LzfFssRVGNyVK8kx54MCCJOPMzvkXJg99dP1wxI9RD3glmy2uP745UVd_oDqDB-MeshsDZ_KyYlqK_RZx8hmV_X/s1600/Engine+removal+October+2+Chris+2012.jpg" height="640" title="Vauxhall Viva engine removal" width="464" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>After engine removal<span style="font-size: large;"> we decided on our next move. A chance search on Ebay found a 'new' reconditioned <span style="font-size: large;">re-bored engine block </span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">with new (oversized) pistons and </span></span></span>crankshaft<span style="font-size: large;"> and even a new <span style="font-size: large;">oil pump</span>. </span>This seemed like a good way to <span style="font-size: large;">go.<span style="font-size: large;"> A<span style="font-size: large;">n examination of the old block seemed to indicate a jammed ring in one of the pistons so we replaced all the rings with new. We had removed the main bearings for inspection and as they seemed O<span style="font-size: large;">.K we <span style="font-size: large;">put everything back</span> and found that the engine would not move easily when on<span style="font-size: large;">e of the connecting rods was tightened to the correct torque on the shells</span></span></span></span></span>....just below torque was O.K<span style="font-size: large;">....every<span style="font-size: large;">th</span>ing moved</span></i></span>. <i><span style="font-size: large;">Tightened to the correct torque and it <span style="font-size: large;">seized solid.</span></span></i> <br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">As we had a 'new' block we de<span style="font-size: large;">cided to abandon the old one to puzzle over for another time and rebuild the engi<span style="font-size: large;">ne based <span style="font-size: large;">on the 'new' one.</span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9KhcQARFAlsov2_L15QmQT5kaGirvXhYKElBtuTvhPVxUKA4bEXw9T8QXPa3-yOVhPPngSvtkDrhiYWA67PuNy3FrcVzwwF6DMfJV4leAoHS7XOktpVz-m2B_XhYFj9u0CGRpabrAc_M/s1600/CVH_1000_1690120611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva engine" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9KhcQARFAlsov2_L15QmQT5kaGirvXhYKElBtuTvhPVxUKA4bEXw9T8QXPa3-yOVhPPngSvtkDrhiYWA67PuNy3FrcVzwwF6DMfJV4leAoHS7XOktpVz-m2B_XhYFj9u0CGRpabrAc_M/s1600/CVH_1000_1690120611.jpg" height="424" title="Vauxhall Viva engine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old 1256 Viva block.......abandoned for reconditioning at a later time</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhS_ROTQmJUBhKEAPxdWAzgqR73JN5e3iGfUdRrsoVqfBZW8e3LP09RosKz4atC4cX6LtamZgG4ciSiC0t3ahuoNFuuR4duAoRWmfBI8nRKe6K-7cKZ49-02aPnvpiGYzJPFjMSDp94Vo/s1600/CVH_1001_1691120611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vauxhall Viva engine" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhS_ROTQmJUBhKEAPxdWAzgqR73JN5e3iGfUdRrsoVqfBZW8e3LP09RosKz4atC4cX6LtamZgG4ciSiC0t3ahuoNFuuR4duAoRWmfBI8nRKe6K-7cKZ49-02aPnvpiGYzJPFjMSDp94Vo/s1600/CVH_1001_1691120611.jpg" height="424" title="Vauxhall Viva engine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old cylinder head..........about to be married up with a reconditioned block.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">A small blower heater was installed in the garage as this was becoming a very cold <span style="font-size: large;">winter up i<span style="font-size: large;">n</span> t'north of Eng<span style="font-size: large;">land</span></span>.<span style="font-size: large;"> T</span>hick jumpers<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">padded</span> <span style="font-size: large;">out my</span> overalls as I rapidly bec<span style="font-size: large;">ame</span> a<span style="font-size: large;"> cross between <span style="font-size: large;">Michelin man and 'Wesley' from the old TV <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">series</span> 'Last of the Summer Wine</span></span>.</span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had manged to smash the <span style="font-size: large;">(plastic<span style="font-size: large;">)</span> oil pic<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>up <span style="font-size: large;">when moving the old block. This is a difficult p<span style="font-size: large;">art to replace so we were glad we had the new block complete with oil pipe and pic-up connected to a new oil <span style="font-size: large;">pump. Everything went to<span style="font-size: large;">gether O.K apart from putting on the timing chain assembly incorrectly. We <span style="font-size: large;">realized <span style="font-size: large;">our</span> mistake</span> after looking at the pictures in the 1970s 'Haynes Manual' more closely <span style="font-size: large;">and</span> a sort of mechanical 'spot the difference' competition began with the pictures differing from our clumsy effort. </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">That sorted, we checked everything and made sure <span style="font-size: large;">pistons,</span> camshaft<span style="font-size: large;">, etc </span>was moving f<span style="font-size: large;">r</span>eely before fitting the cylinder head. Head to<span style="font-size: large;">rqued down with with my <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">newly acquired torque wrench</span> and things began to progress.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hav<span style="font-size: large;">e naturally glossed over all the little problems we amat<span style="font-size: large;">eur <span style="font-size: large;">grease monkeys </span></span>had. Problems like shearing a bolt on <span style="font-size: large;">the fly-wheel after fitting a new clutc<span style="font-size: large;">h plate. I actually used the torque wrenc<span style="font-size: large;">h on the small bolts and was just fitting the last one<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a<span style="font-size: large;">s</span> my son Andrew shouted ....</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span>Careful ..<span style="font-size: large;">n</span>ot too much<span style="font-size: large;">!</span>......<span style="font-size: large;">did you not here t<span style="font-size: large;">he click?</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>" </span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had indeed heard the tell-tale 'click' from the torque wrench, but of course added a <span style="font-size: large;">soupcon more '<span style="font-size: large;">N</span>ewton metres' of my own and 'snap' the small bolt sheared lea<span style="font-size: large;">ving the body flush in the hole.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"oh, bums<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">...</span>damn, damn and double damn !!"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">were j<span style="font-size: large;">ust a few of <span style="font-size: large;">my</span> utterances. </span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Andrew just shook is head and <span style="font-size: large;">said</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I don,t believe you have just done that"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We bo<span style="font-size: large;">th looked at the shear<span style="font-size: large;">ed</span> bolt, shook our heads again as a tap on the window announced that 'tea' was ready<span style="font-size: large;">.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">S</span>o like good British workers we left things as they were to ponder what to do next. Tomorrow was another day and </span></span>as night had fallen the garage was like an ice-box.</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">" Let's jack it in for to-day" I announced as I did not feel like giving battle with bolt extractors after 'tea'</span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my experience removing a sheared bolt is always a <span style="font-size: large;">tricky</span> job<span style="font-size: large;">. <span style="font-size: large;">Drilling the bolt <span style="font-size: large;">and u</span>sing bolt extractors</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">is <span style="font-size: large;">better</span></span> when rested, so off we w<span style="font-size: large;">ent to clean-up for <span style="font-size: large;">a welcome hot meal.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following day we dr<span style="font-size: large;">illed the centre of the bolt and a small ex<span style="font-size: large;">tractor was struggling to move it. Snapping the extractor is always a potential di<span style="font-size: large;">s<span style="font-size: large;">aster waiting to happen - they are hardened steel and are impossible to drill<span style="font-size: large;">-o<span style="font-size: large;">ut. So we were being extra careful. </span></span></span></span>It is possible to <span style="font-size: large;">'collapse' the walls of the bolt after drilling, but this assumes you are drilling dead<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>centre with a</span></span></span> bench drill. No<span style="font-size: large;">, this not 'Wheeler Dealers' on Discovery channel with<span style="font-size: large;"> a<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">fully equipped workshop and unlimited funds<span style="font-size: large;">...this is <span style="font-size: large;">just me using <span style="font-size: large;">my trusty</span> hand-drill.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Andrew<span style="font-size: large;"> tried <span style="font-size: large;">turning the end of a screwdriver in the drilled hole and <span style="font-size: large;">the bolt</span> started to move.....phew !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We decided to fit everything onto the engine<span style="font-size: large;">, manifold<span style="font-size: large;">;</span> distributor<span style="font-size: large;">;</span> carburettor<span style="font-size: large;">;</span> fuel pump, etc. They can be a fiddle <span style="font-size: large;">to fit when the engine in the engine bay. So we will just have to be very careful that the lifting shackles do not damage anything when lifting the engine into the car<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFsCS82Bs3zLPrcgFWO7BHZAdiXpZqEV2QtbQZLcrt9QygCbrpVC8G5DuJR1PnkM_0Z_zCGz4EJcHu1ybJLU28tXzJWUXdvy-NF4E0YtF6LRdgQP5pgkA2Mxzrf5i6P_1GrRdOGi8q8jT/s1600/Rebuilt+engine+Jan+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vauxhall viva engine" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFsCS82Bs3zLPrcgFWO7BHZAdiXpZqEV2QtbQZLcrt9QygCbrpVC8G5DuJR1PnkM_0Z_zCGz4EJcHu1ybJLU28tXzJWUXdvy-NF4E0YtF6LRdgQP5pgkA2Mxzrf5i6P_1GrRdOGi8q8jT/s1600/Rebuilt+engine+Jan+2013.jpg" height="446" title="Vauxhall Viva engine classic car restoration" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking good...........but will it run????</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will it actually r<span style="font-size: large;">un<span style="font-size: large;"> ?</span> <span style="font-size: large;">W</span>e will have <span style="font-size: large;">to see<span style="font-size: large;">............</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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Like many Google 'blogspot' users I am having problems with
the 'comments' form appearing.....if you have a suggestion to resolve
this or just comment on the blog click on 'No comments' and the form
will appear like magic !!..........clever huh? :)<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-81406386653334694382013-02-23T07:50:00.001-08:002016-07-06T11:47:57.424-07:00Problems, problems<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLgGdnKrXHibsgbV8NxOsXK4ocKl-FNwxLfYDQKUwevY-HWT5SBVgB6wS1N3VXqYwae-KPeuJh2LN23edFrhxjaeci11mynt2QrfAx2QRem8f0pMv3o4Z3XjtyIghjVK0B75BpE7reeTV/s1600/Viva+name+cutout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vauxhall viva" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLgGdnKrXHibsgbV8NxOsXK4ocKl-FNwxLfYDQKUwevY-HWT5SBVgB6wS1N3VXqYwae-KPeuJh2LN23edFrhxjaeci11mynt2QrfAx2QRem8f0pMv3o4Z3XjtyIghjVK0B75BpE7reeTV/s1600/Viva+name+cutout.jpg" height="274" title="vauxhall viva" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>After nearly twenty years sat in the garage it really was time to finish the project !!!!!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A blowing exhaus<span style="font-size: large;">t<span style="font-size: large;">-box<span style="font-size: large;"> became a problem difficult to re<span style="font-size: large;">solve. Original syste<span style="font-size: large;">m had been fitted many years ago by '<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kw</span>i<span style="font-size: large;">k-Fit' <span style="font-size: large;">together with a 'life-time' <span style="font-size: large;">guarantee and it would have been something of a laugh<span style="font-size: large;"> to try and hold them to th<span style="font-size: large;">e </span>g<span style="font-size: large;">ua</span>rantee after some twenty years !!! Without a<span style="font-size: large;">n MOT certificate <span style="font-size: large;">it</span> would have <span style="font-size: large;">been <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">physically</span> difficult </span>getting the car to the nearest <span style="font-size: large;">depot and I am sure that there would have been some small print <span style="font-size: large;">for them to get out of the promise as most people sell the car before claiming ( had to be in the same ownership to claim)<span style="font-size: large;"> but it would have been a hoot to try after all that time :)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">This had to resolved <span style="font-size: large;">and I really did not fancy try<span style="font-size: large;">ing to source a mild steel system and fit it myself so I decided to <span style="font-size: large;">'give the cat a gold-fish' and get a loca<span style="font-size: large;">l company to design and fit a <span style="font-size: large;">s</span>tainless steel system. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">A <span style="font-size: large;">car-transp<span style="font-size: large;">orter had to hired to t<span style="font-size: large;">ake 'ANA' the three miles<span style="font-size: large;"> or so<span style="font-size: large;"> becoming a milesto<span style="font-size: large;">n</span>e mom<span style="font-size: large;">ent </span></span></span>as she actually moved<span style="font-size: large;"> to another location for the first time since 1994 !!!!!</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8VqNlY3IWg80a5kT01MLHGBdK-YSWWcWZpLLS9b6UdDOxHJnRrg_sSoYeK6mZEON7kkXjCBd09k9pQS3YwBSa3O8OtTgoo25K0Zxq8ed50vhe_Zrn8YcMdgsuVSMMFIFMyC-6r_oKySB/s1600/Motor+move2+to+Brinnington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vauxhall viva" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8VqNlY3IWg80a5kT01MLHGBdK-YSWWcWZpLLS9b6UdDOxHJnRrg_sSoYeK6mZEON7kkXjCBd09k9pQS3YwBSa3O8OtTgoo25K0Zxq8ed50vhe_Zrn8YcMdgsuVSMMFIFMyC-6r_oKySB/s1600/Motor+move2+to+Brinnington.jpg" height="444" title="vauxhall viva" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving for the first time in nearly twenty years.......Vauxhall Viva 'ANA 78M'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a8vN_m3ga08vnSteZukJr6EF_rDHkgWSfduLVACz4shrhFm9Ws2jQCVEAS4udGz-wcren0Nrj8rQb9452UJ5KPo0fuTVRz-yI4EL6TwQeZHn3tH1vyDI-8dtizG1GfMEPJuhdzVrKxoB/s1600/Motor+move+to+Brinnington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vauxhall viva" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a8vN_m3ga08vnSteZukJr6EF_rDHkgWSfduLVACz4shrhFm9Ws2jQCVEAS4udGz-wcren0Nrj8rQb9452UJ5KPo0fuTVRz-yI4EL6TwQeZHn3tH1vyDI-8dtizG1GfMEPJuhdzVrKxoB/s1600/Motor+move+to+Brinnington.jpg" height="434" title="vauxhall viva" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving .....if only by 'Motor Move'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3CWYwR-fcCMF7PHdjB39p-ZH0fegtM-wziTj7rZmBpr-9tj5rB5tRXZNa115LxOuu4DEy61lgXLUsoey2XwvYujQp1OVVU7oDimnLzBDg8ChcCWwSfimpCUKF-Re7_ulHjnJ9NAnsyA4/s1600/Stainless+steel+exhaust+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vauxhall viva" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3CWYwR-fcCMF7PHdjB39p-ZH0fegtM-wziTj7rZmBpr-9tj5rB5tRXZNa115LxOuu4DEy61lgXLUsoey2XwvYujQp1OVVU7oDimnLzBDg8ChcCWwSfimpCUKF-Re7_ulHjnJ9NAnsyA4/s1600/Stainless+steel+exhaust+2011.jpg" height="424" title="vauxhall viva" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiny new stainless steel exhaust.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mission completed and exhaust fitted this was at least some progress towards 'ANA' <span style="font-size: large;">passing an MOT test and the long-winded restoration moving towards <span style="font-size: large;">being fin<span style="font-size: large;">ished<span style="font-size: large;">. As with most things <span style="font-size: large;">in life ( at leas<span style="font-size: large;">t mine) this early c<span style="font-size: large;">o</span>nfidence </span></span></span></span></span></span>was to prove ill-founded. Current engine (fitte<span style="font-size: large;">d in 1994) </span>had only done some 4000 miles and I had recently added a<span style="font-size: large;">n electronic ignition converted distributor together with a new coil.....what could go wrong<span style="font-size: large;"> ???</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnocS2yCz9HoAqNDw_cR4wmslyMVz6sL7CXbMGbmtUUdvACFHLmEhB0xWjvMWkVq8fSCSdPXhC_DmzxpaWMws6Vwqr4SZEJqP_GEd5CKUSIf508q9L9iYx0tAbKZ-IY5Y8cLRgUFkLuc1/s1600/Andy+&+Chris+27+Aug+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vauxhall viva" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnocS2yCz9HoAqNDw_cR4wmslyMVz6sL7CXbMGbmtUUdvACFHLmEhB0xWjvMWkVq8fSCSdPXhC_DmzxpaWMws6Vwqr4SZEJqP_GEd5CKUSIf508q9L9iYx0tAbKZ-IY5Y8cLRgUFkLuc1/s1600/Andy+&+Chris+27+Aug+2012.jpg" height="560" title="vauxhall viva" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full of confidence........Vauxhall Viva 'ANA' restoration team........what could go wrong?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">We had started 'ANA's engine many times after the fitting of the new distributor and everything seemed to be O.K apart from a ma<span style="font-size: large;">rked <span style="font-size: large;">reluctance</span> to start again after reaching operation <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">temperature</span>. We adjusted the timing without much success and decided that it must be the Stromberg 150 <span style="font-size: large;">Carburetor</span>.</span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">After moving it from the garage to the drive on one occasion<span style="font-size: large;"> without problem<span style="font-size: large;">,</span> she <span style="font-size: large;">just r<span style="font-size: large;">efused to start agai<span style="font-size: large;">n. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We</span> began to suspect the carb' and after checking the diaphragm, etc, <span style="font-size: large;">I</span> made <span style="font-size: large;">the</span> classic mistake <span style="font-size: large;">of</span> dropping the m<span style="font-size: large;">etering needle which naturally bent like a banana. After attempting to fix this fuel started to leak from the bottom of the carb'</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span>Damn, damn, and double damn<span style="font-size: large;">"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> .... were just a few of the expletives expressed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I managed to <span style="font-size: large;">source a re-built unit and we tried again. <span style="font-size: large;">Nothing.........<span style="font-size: large;">well worse than nothing, something <span style="font-size: large;">additionally</span> seemed <span style="font-size: large;">be</span> wrong as the 1256 engine now stated to tur<span style="font-size: large;">n</span> over very,very slowly on the starter moto<span style="font-size: large;">r. Battery was fully charged so why<span style="font-size: large;">?..........why indeed<span style="font-size: large;">?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I tried to turn the engine over by hand with a socket wrench<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">after taking </span>the plugs <span style="font-size: large;">out to try and get a clue to the problem. The 'clue' was that the engine had all but seized<span style="font-size: large;">,</span> despite the fact that without the plugs it should have been easy <span style="font-size: large;">to turn with</span> no compression to act against<span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh dear" as they say..........what to do now????</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">'This looks like an engine rebuild' was the <span style="font-size: large;">annoying dark whisper from deep in my thought processes....and the dark whisper is always right <span style="font-size: large;">!!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">F<span style="font-size: large;">ollow our next</span> blog post.......A winter's tale<span style="font-size: large;"> ( rebuilding <span style="font-size: large;">an engine in a freezing garage)</span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<br />
Like many Google 'blogspot' users I am having problems with
the 'comments' form appearing.....if you have a suggestion to resolve
this or just comment on the blog click on 'No comments' and the form
will appear like magic !!..........clever huh? :)<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0Stockport, UK53.406754 -2.158842999999933553.331047 -2.3202044999999334 53.482461 -1.9974814999999335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735518937685972012.post-50163005910844504502013-02-12T08:02:00.000-08:002019-09-09T11:28:29.928-07:00Viva La Viva.......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrpTfl6f4Z8dZ0_cvSx4hrRo1IJz2ko8vN4i_mWeuQKMSBBZaScwvSazFmjWyL0jcTBEkArm8FHAcPpAVyvARm1pAuk1qMA84jUxN370gdhnpwnHoEQoa8r9Nh0HV0hEaK-Mqfz3audeZ/s1600/Front+Grill+%27V%27+emblem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrpTfl6f4Z8dZ0_cvSx4hrRo1IJz2ko8vN4i_mWeuQKMSBBZaScwvSazFmjWyL0jcTBEkArm8FHAcPpAVyvARm1pAuk1qMA84jUxN370gdhnpwnHoEQoa8r9Nh0HV0hEaK-Mqfz3audeZ/s1600/Front+Grill+'V'+emblem.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Surprisingly
for a Vauxhall Viva enthusiast and owner, my first car was a
Ford - a Ford Consul Mk1. We all make mistakes during youthful car
purchase exuberance and many cars of the 1950,s and 60,s had so many
inherent 'mistakes' in their design, especially the amazing ability
to return to their original state of iron oxide particles within a
remarkably short period of time. Many young innocents on a limited
budget bought into this era of rust buckets and I was certainly no
exception.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Fifteen
pounds in cash money was handed over in 1963 and I was the proud
owner of 'KDM 158' - a light blue 1954 Mk1 Ford Consul complete with
American design influences like front bench seat and column gear
change. Perfect from this particular child of the sixties.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Fifteen
pounds? I here you think. Not a lot of money...true, even in 1963
when this particular Consul was nine years old. After a few days of
ownership a closer inspection of this Ford product of the brave new
world of 1954 revealed serious corrosion in the floor beneath the
bench seat. Yes, oh yes, I know I hear you all say, “why did you
not check before buying?”</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Youth
is often impetuous and I certainly fell into that category with my
rushed ambition to be a car owner which was still a big deal ( for me
at least )in the early sixties.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>A
local garage welded the worst of the rot so that I (and any
passengers) would not collapse through the floor complete with that
front bench seat onto road. Price for the job? More than the car
cost me....I was learning fast !</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>This
rapidly became my first attempt with car 'restoration' but there is
only so much can you do with a newfangled idea called 'fibre-glass'
and my efforts were nothing more than cosmetic. Poor old Mk1 Consul
showed other serious nasty traits other than rusting before my
eyes.......... it held the road like a drunken sailor on its
cross-ply tyres. If you tried any country bend with something beyond
'sedate' she would bite you big time and go into a blood curling
sideways slide with your knuckles showing pure white as you hung onto
opposite lock, showing a religious fervour you never thought you
had by praying for the bonnet to return to a straight and level
direction parallel with the road, not at ninety degrees to the
hedgerow flashing past (like my short life) the chromed 'rocket'
bonnet emblem.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
have had other Fords...Anglia; Sierra; Fiesta and Escort for example,so I am
certainly not anti-Ford, despite my early inexperienced adventures
with the Mk1 Consul.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Everything
of that period seemed to have serious tin-worm. I bought a
second-hand 1962 VW Caravanette and that was just a nightmare of rust
( I wish I had kept it they are worth £20 – £30.000 now!!!</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>So
you seem there is a common factor here – RUST – and a convenient
link to the our main subject …. the Vauxhall Viva.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
had owned a couple of Vauxhall 'HA' Viva vans and they were fairly
problem free actually lasting a reasonable time before the tin-worm
began to show. So in 1978 I invested £1100 in a 1974 Viva HC saloon
in bright 'Yellow-Gold' … a Vauxhall colour of the 1970,s that I
liked – and still do !!!!!</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJY0twpM7rtqpS3zvoofyhEp5FbLGxw7Tt0x1hfmHk1cDs8KbVqFHdRi5z2IrRWr1AkFhxqS7WTQhXyex27yTkFsVRr7hDl9JH64DeFmBh47Vj4iLEbYq6OQamwZoY0uvO54s2zG6J2Z-Q/s1600/27+Aug+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJY0twpM7rtqpS3zvoofyhEp5FbLGxw7Tt0x1hfmHk1cDs8KbVqFHdRi5z2IrRWr1AkFhxqS7WTQhXyex27yTkFsVRr7hDl9JH64DeFmBh47Vj4iLEbYq6OQamwZoY0uvO54s2zG6J2Z-Q/s1600/27+Aug+2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'ANA'....... summer 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>'ANA
78M' had been well prepared by the car dealer and highly polished
both inside and out, with the interior exuding a pleasant
furniture-wax aroma. A careful mechanical 'once-over' and test drive
showed no obvious problems, so the deal was struck and a relationship
with this particular Vauxhall Viva started that still exists. </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>The
dreaded 'tin-worm' began to show after a year or so.....like most
Vivas. Vauxhall had included some protection inside the wheel arch
half-way up the wing, but the rust bug chomped inside this and the
dreaded corrosion line eventually showed on the exterior of both
wings.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>'ANA'
was very much a working girl during the late 1970s and early 1980s transporting me on assignments as a press
photographer. Family holidays to the Scottish Highlands and even the
South of France were all taken in her stride. Driving from the north
of England via the French Autoroutes with two young children in a
Vauxhall Viva could have been problematic. Thankfully 'ANA' never
missed a beat with her brand new yellow tinted headlamp covers ( then
required sur la continent ) and was the cause of much puzzled stares
and glances when parked near St Tropez harbour overlooking the
super-yachts of the uber-rich.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Vauxhall
Vivas are a rarity in St Tropez (even then).......if you want a
'head-turner' in that beautiful sun-kissed locality, forget your
Lamborghini or Ferrari .....cruise the sea-front in a bright golden
yellow Vauxhall Viva !</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrsJi_LY6x6IWb7KPltsKcG2HfVRgzYWBNGbHfNhlnpvYOUPYDnufIwATuDyXH-1N62NSdoW3iDsDiTpd6hynAAwBFzGTxtB3bKuV5y0_EuNwRsTwaLhxYRAuptM_ZaerbjzB-2K_6YCw/s1600/Viva+ANA+78M++Frejus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrsJi_LY6x6IWb7KPltsKcG2HfVRgzYWBNGbHfNhlnpvYOUPYDnufIwATuDyXH-1N62NSdoW3iDsDiTpd6hynAAwBFzGTxtB3bKuV5y0_EuNwRsTwaLhxYRAuptM_ZaerbjzB-2K_6YCw/s1600/Viva+ANA+78M++Frejus1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Face to Face with a Citroen GS Club.........South of France 1979</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEbwC2a93iEo_5CtTcJGyFxeWyg3c7Z20QJ9UcVzjNqKKpQQOYjAc6owwqpxf28gNy7F-XYLNsJ_bGADBBQfYGeF5C1X1HyzpOEhpOXX_JStTLlVobEUskOha7qagylkJrkhfHfHu5foE/s1600/Lochness+circa+1980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEbwC2a93iEo_5CtTcJGyFxeWyg3c7Z20QJ9UcVzjNqKKpQQOYjAc6owwqpxf28gNy7F-XYLNsJ_bGADBBQfYGeF5C1X1HyzpOEhpOXX_JStTLlVobEUskOha7qagylkJrkhfHfHu5foE/s1600/Lochness+circa+1980.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Ness..........1980</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Surviving
into the late 1980s 'ANA' had been relegated to a second-car role</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>with
upstart Fords taking pole position. Commuting a few miles everyday
with my wife Denise became the norm and even becoming a hack
transport for my teenage children was now fast becoming her last
duties before she went to the scrapyard to rust in peace.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Serious
structural problems were now beginning to show in sills and inner
wings. The brave little 1256cc engine was very tired so it was decision time and a heartbreaking last drive
to the nearest car-breaker seemed to be the only way to go.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYZiD5QuaXi16dK7txbZ-Z6t6phZrYy1zL5CdqdXQgGTdbkugPXGkYCgcBlza9vbkVpKqPq5qYFN9alNv0jOrZVdjEmNKV00uDw4DkPAUrOaoWJsG7ywsucWB8Z9Jf4HDL_itAlmJMipP/s1600/Viva+before+1990s+restoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYZiD5QuaXi16dK7txbZ-Z6t6phZrYy1zL5CdqdXQgGTdbkugPXGkYCgcBlza9vbkVpKqPq5qYFN9alNv0jOrZVdjEmNKV00uDw4DkPAUrOaoWJsG7ywsucWB8Z9Jf4HDL_itAlmJMipP/s1600/Viva+before+1990s+restoration.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Early 19<span style="font-size: x-large;">90s before restoration..........</span></i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Cars
do not have a soul, they are just made of metal by people to
transport other people for a few years and then melted down to make
more cars that transport people, etc and so on........</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Cars
may not have a soul, but it is suggested that humans do. I hesitated
from turning the ignition key for the last time and a family
conference decided that she should stay and be re-built. Rebuild a
humble Vauxhall Viva ? Why? I am not sure why. Perhaps it was all
the memories that were invested in her now rusting body.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
am still not really sure 'why' some twenty years later. </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>A
Vauxhall Viva that has seen many years of British weather and winter
salted roads is not a pretty thing. 'ANA' was certainly not one of
those cars that was purchased from new and then left in a garage to
be found many years later with 5,000 miles on the clock and an
auction price to match. Poor old ANA had seen much better days as she
sat forlorn in our single garage with almost every panel and
structural component tainted by serious rust.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
did not have any of the required skills to take on this challenge. My
world had been newspapers and my mechanical ability hardly stretched
to changing a type-writer ribbon ( remember those?) I went to a
secondary school that seemed to have only one ambition for it's
pupils who lived near local heavy-engineering companies (remember
those) and that was to join these companies with some basic knowledge
of metal-work and engineering science. I actually had an O-level GCE
in 'Engineering workshop theory and practice' but making a steel
fire-poker or brass tankard was not sufficient skills for the job at
hand. I must have been away when they covered 'how to build a car
from the ground up with a MIG welder'</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Right......where
to start ?.......buy a MIG welder ! An acquaintance who was actually
a real welder taught me how to write my name with the 'MIG' . An easy
exercise if your name is 'HILL' </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>A
trip to a steel stockist to purchase ( oh, yes, you guessed it
)........steel sheets suitable for car repair use. I naturally
over-ordered and still have one sheet propped up in the garage with
bits of 'new' Viva shapes cut from it. </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuuBu6koa4bHVfPGNWxavb6gAQROKXIXmTyJTBdirCkt6VRRL9DT3s2V2XJ1Rc-HYMgqZU88OsWq4sNju8G_7-vjkY_KAvpnoAYipxmyDB3WcbMjSp8_M57GxUa3QLWWDrO89nJ1ADa5j/s1600/Front+wing+rot+1990s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuuBu6koa4bHVfPGNWxavb6gAQROKXIXmTyJTBdirCkt6VRRL9DT3s2V2XJ1Rc-HYMgqZU88OsWq4sNju8G_7-vjkY_KAvpnoAYipxmyDB3WcbMjSp8_M57GxUa3QLWWDrO89nJ1ADa5j/s1600/Front+wing+rot+1990s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the rot found after removal of the front wings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HhefIrkOoHGCmLClrHyTskjtVOcku34JProdWbRGFAOsfOpNSIDUHvivLOgjtlUJoG-DelfLlklUaR1vPygexw-MCVPhanebnHmD57fT7X95KpOMEscEqoRkalezyEiDp2_2pAWu1H6c/s1600/Flich+panel+repair2+Viva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HhefIrkOoHGCmLClrHyTskjtVOcku34JProdWbRGFAOsfOpNSIDUHvivLOgjtlUJoG-DelfLlklUaR1vPygexw-MCVPhanebnHmD57fT7X95KpOMEscEqoRkalezyEiDp2_2pAWu1H6c/s1600/Flich+panel+repair2+Viva.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serious corrosion in the inner wing had to cut be out and a repair panel welded in.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Car
restoration seems to be influenced by a strange natural law. This
manifests itself as work undertaken reveals even more work to be
done. Repairing one part reveals another rotten part. This is cut out
and reveals even more problems.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>'Why
did I start this?' must be muttered by most people faced with
attempting restore an old car that has near terminal corrosion.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Old
rotten wings were taken off to reveal old rotten inner wings. Old
rotten outer sills were taken off to reveal old rotten inner sills,
and so on. </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRHyIk0JsR31toNQjKZEx3c0giWI8NSJilq8OO72xEbke2gxLtESXmkjDxxwR8KCif0qnBj8y7MB8BLHk4UAiQ-p-j1GwMmTRqBv4gZvtKjf115a6lpguVh-PGR3JP0Z1LqbI4uiGKJxn/s1600/1990's+wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRHyIk0JsR31toNQjKZEx3c0giWI8NSJilq8OO72xEbke2gxLtESXmkjDxxwR8KCif0qnBj8y7MB8BLHk4UAiQ-p-j1GwMmTRqBv4gZvtKjf115a6lpguVh-PGR3JP0Z1LqbI4uiGKJxn/s1600/1990's+wing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driver's side new wing is spot welded on as original on the upper flange. Inner wing ( flitch ) repair panel can also be seen in background </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99GQnVXxfpmXBWGtPWZ0bhqS6fUdaNVF1iAclFk-SJV36Xpn-Th_rNuDAEWrYdb2POpzWDyQHJmGnbAC2d9ERGiYvc4hQ3zG3ABDRNHo7HXcRySL5algb81MTps3e9SBOHCQ2W1u-4q-K/s1600/Wheel+arch+new+metal2+Viva+1990s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99GQnVXxfpmXBWGtPWZ0bhqS6fUdaNVF1iAclFk-SJV36Xpn-Th_rNuDAEWrYdb2POpzWDyQHJmGnbAC2d9ERGiYvc4hQ3zG3ABDRNHo7HXcRySL5algb81MTps3e9SBOHCQ2W1u-4q-K/s1600/Wheel+arch+new+metal2+Viva+1990s.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rusted rear wheel arch is cut-out and a repair panel fitted. 1993.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Confidence
began to grow as metal cutting and welding skills were improving and
I managed to replace rotten metal on the inner sills and replace the
outer ones with new parts. This revealed some rot in both front
floor-pans. A few pokes with a 'Manchester Screwdriver' (hammer)
found that 'some rot' was actually 'all rot' This nearly defeated me
as my heart sank, realising that I would have to fabricate these
intricate shapes. It is easy to think that the bit you put your feet
on in a car is just a flat bit of metal – it certainly is not!!!!!
</i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
used to think that - until I cut them out and realised that the
angles changed constantly together complicated by strengthening
corrugations stamped into the metal. I set too with a wooden
metal-working mallet and did some real 'tin-bashing' checking
progress at intervals with the originals. This was a long job which
fortunately I could do outside during one sunny summer ( remember
those ?)</i></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJE3oZ7iZyAPM3Hu4HEF_UtPM_o7WUHnsCk06__s7CBcHR5nKTW1heUV002quD33mWjxb9xHOrW995voJt1wrJ7r8UYT2_ZVyX0_MKwAtNrJimhN1JVnJeT0PiCMbxncZRlnd2JE81gWPQ/s1600/Rear+skirt+welding+old+and+new+parts1990s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJE3oZ7iZyAPM3Hu4HEF_UtPM_o7WUHnsCk06__s7CBcHR5nKTW1heUV002quD33mWjxb9xHOrW995voJt1wrJ7r8UYT2_ZVyX0_MKwAtNrJimhN1JVnJeT0PiCMbxncZRlnd2JE81gWPQ/s1600/Rear+skirt+welding+old+and+new+parts1990s.jpg" width="409" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rotten rear valance chopped out and a new panel ready for welding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBs6iqgkdHoI89QR-9oWYM9mz7YejLaO4PmPfQMgGWulFdq4VWyr1Q7fjyF9mz6q4749KLDxMfveCKnVbfAQPb6seErLg29BcxRHNguit-JFufHHSJmrkGi8iPBFQn9lwZUL4qGU3N2ESm/s1600/Rear+skirt+strike+welding+1990s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBs6iqgkdHoI89QR-9oWYM9mz7YejLaO4PmPfQMgGWulFdq4VWyr1Q7fjyF9mz6q4749KLDxMfveCKnVbfAQPb6seErLg29BcxRHNguit-JFufHHSJmrkGi8iPBFQn9lwZUL4qGU3N2ESm/s1600/Rear+skirt+strike+welding+1990s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New rear valance panel being welded in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>'ANA'
almost became a 'new' Viva as most things were slowly replaced with
newly purchased body parts or fabricated bits of metal. Rotten
box-sections, wheel arches,etc, were all repaired. During the 1990,s
scrap-yards were full of old Vauxhall Vivas and health and safety
rules in these yards were a thing for the future. I would spend my
days off wandering these glorious palaces of fallen metal.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Any
Viva,s ?” I would ask ?</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Sure,
what yer after ?”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Oh
just about everything” I would truthfully reply.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Help
yourself, just bring 'em to the office after”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
was happy as a pig in muck as I wandered through these old cars piled
three or even four high. Morris 1000,s, Jaguar Saloons, Ford Capri,s
etc. You name it they were all here together in one large automotive
geriatric old folks club, swapping yarns of former glory years whilst
awaiting their turn to be recycled into something shiny bright and
new.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>For
some reason old Viva,s were always at the top of the pile and I would
have to climb up to see what was worth saving. Doors, bumpers,
seats, lights, etc were all detached and lowered down until a pile
of Viva treasure trove was ready to taken to the 'office' to haggle a
good price.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Sometimes
entering the 'office' was more of a dangerous task than climbing to
the top of the car-pile. They always had the proverbial 'junk-yard
dog' chained nearby who would rush to the end of the chain and become
a blur of fangs and noise.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Come
in.....he's O.K” said the scrap-yard man.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>All
bark and no trousers” he quipped</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>What
yer got ? He asked casting an experienced eye glance at the pile of
Viva bits.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Give
me twenty quid for that lot and yer can 'ave the rest for free” he
suggested a deal I could not refuse.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“ <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>O.K.....I've
only 18 quid in cash, will that do?” I asked stroking the junk-yard
mutt who really only wanted to be loved.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“ <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Cheeky
sod.....O.K....... nobody wants Viva stuff any more. I got one o 'dem
silver droop snooty things coming tomorrow if you are interested?</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Nobody
wants 'em and nothing really fits my Viva” said the guy who sold a
1962 VW Caravanette for 100 quid and restored a Vauxhall Viva
instead.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>So,
my dear reader the lesson is now crystal clear ….... always view
the future with perfect 20/20 vision and buy the modern equivalent of
Split-screen VW Caravanettes (and HPF Droop snoot Viva,s) by the
dozen and your old age is financially secure. A few modern E-type
equivalents will not go amiss either. A note of caution here the
'Classic car' press always seems to be full of pictures of old barns
chock full of old cars that are beyond saving and only worth the
scrap value. Investing in old motors is not without many cautionary
tales of woe.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>So
I would go back to work with my new found Viva bits. Most ended in
the wooden frame-work at the top of my garage 'just in case'. Tons of
'spares' that threatened to fall on my 'project' below were stored
until the invention of E-bay and a lot of the surplus was sold off. </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Cars
sold as 'spares only' always amuse me, as the 'spares' everybody
wants are the ones that always fall to bits and you are only left
with the parts on an old motor that everybody has, and nobody wants.
I recently saw an interior light cover for a Viva on Ebay. They were
made of a special Vauxhall plastic that were designed to
self-destruct after 10 years and fall to bits. It was possible to buy
these as a spare during production for about £1.20p ….....the Ebay
example was surprisingly pristine and must have been stored on cotton
wool in a dark cupboard for forty years and it sold for £50 - all
for a piece of plastic about three inches long!!!! </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>So
when I was removing Viva spares I never realised that if I had
slipped a few dozen of these in my pocket I would be up by a few
thousand by now. I would of course be very careful and not to flood
the Ebay market all at one time :)</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
did have plans to put these back into production but after a few
hundred sales the price will obviously come back down to £1.20 with
production costs at £2.00 so perhaps it would be better to invest in
my old favourite - brewery products. I always lose money on my
brewery investments, but for some strange reason I am always happy
with the dividends.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
digress.........'ANA' restoration progressed through the early 1990,s
and all the body panels were replaced including the bonnet that had
been bent by exuberant No1 son </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>has
he tried to 'help' </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>A
refurbished engine replaced the original and 'ANA' was re-sprayed in
her original 'Yellow Gold' As the project neared completion in the
mid-1990s I started to lose </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>interest,
mainly because most of the serious challenges had been overcome. </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVWDbJRPDqyCE9Z_dLqLIxaSlwtqdO7hxqWHuTPEA-B5d3phKFerlcoqbj7tBmwm_s1tk-Pa6erWsppIenveCooa-OF3HEnMOECnmihMRgoAqmcKYrKRyR_-ZAalD_UXPgmbYKqlMmq1V/s1600/Viva+1990s+engine+going+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVWDbJRPDqyCE9Z_dLqLIxaSlwtqdO7hxqWHuTPEA-B5d3phKFerlcoqbj7tBmwm_s1tk-Pa6erWsppIenveCooa-OF3HEnMOECnmihMRgoAqmcKYrKRyR_-ZAalD_UXPgmbYKqlMmq1V/s1600/Viva+1990s+engine+going+in.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re-conditioned 1256cc engine being fitted as part of the 1993 restoraion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Without
the challenge I turned to other interests and she languished in the
garage until recently buried in bits of wood and things in a house
that need a convenient home just in case you need them. New Vauxhall
products came and went …..several Astra,s and a brand new company
Vectra for example, until disaster struck and I was made redundant.
Gleaming new Vectra was taken back by the remains of the company and
I was left with old faithful.......a Vauxhall Viva that seemed to
say..........</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>New
girl gone then?” In a patient sort of way.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>I
was now 'retired' with time on my hands and no excuses to finish the
project I had started many years ago.......more to follow........soon ! :)</i></span><br />
<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04275999265036000994noreply@blogger.com0