- Thread Starter
- #51
i know and i started this ten years ago
hope they don’t see the gear box tunnel covered in carpet
Carmad Jr’s Rare Vauxhall Viva Ha SL
- Thread starter carmad.
- Start date
i know and i started this ten years ago
hope they don’t see the gear box tunnel covered in carpet
- Thread Starter
- #52
So after doing a bit of vauxhall homework i found out that i needed a prop shaft at 30 inches long with the suspension at ride height
turns out a 1970s Opel manta A automatic prop shaft with a 1.9 engine would fit
so after a few phone calls i have managed to locate one
wee rory gave it a quick rub down with some sand paper and a light spray off black paint as to not upset the balance
that enabled me to make up the rear suspension torque tube brackets in the original location that would suit a manta axel in a viva
also his new 4 branch ebay manifold arrived and it was time for a test fit
We also took a trip to car and color on boucher road and got them to mix up an aerosol can by scanning the front wing
i know this is just a rough spray with no prep but we are both indecisive do we get it shot blasted and painted once we have all the metal work done or do we leave the patina as is
at least for now that is the running gear and drive train finished and we can crack on with the engine mounts
just a few small welding patches on the rear chassis leg to repair
turns out a 1970s Opel manta A automatic prop shaft with a 1.9 engine would fit
so after a few phone calls i have managed to locate one
wee rory gave it a quick rub down with some sand paper and a light spray off black paint as to not upset the balance
that enabled me to make up the rear suspension torque tube brackets in the original location that would suit a manta axel in a viva
also his new 4 branch ebay manifold arrived and it was time for a test fit
We also took a trip to car and color on boucher road and got them to mix up an aerosol can by scanning the front wing
i know this is just a rough spray with no prep but we are both indecisive do we get it shot blasted and painted once we have all the metal work done or do we leave the patina as is
at least for now that is the running gear and drive train finished and we can crack on with the engine mounts
just a few small welding patches on the rear chassis leg to repair
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On this one, get the body cleaned up, rust proofed, and painted now that it's in the shell. Will be much easier than striping it all down again later. Looks too far gone?
Depends how much you want to put into it I guess. And how it will be used. If it's just for the odd sunny summer Sunday then it might be ok.
Depends how much you want to put into it I guess. And how it will be used. If it's just for the odd sunny summer Sunday then it might be ok.
- Thread Starter
- #55
it’s actually really solid the pictures don’t do it justice but i would hate to paint it and in six months it looks like a half assed resto
we will stew on it and come up with something
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It's the old you either go all in, or do as little as possible and just have fun.
Actually you're right, for what you two are doing just enjoy the ride and see where it takes you. So easy to get carried away with these things!
Actually you're right, for what you two are doing just enjoy the ride and see where it takes you. So easy to get carried away with these things!
southsky sunrise
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Not helping us move your family’s shed?this image does not justify the work or the cost involved lol
remember when you where a kid and the christmas lights would take an age to untangle
View attachment 346823
guess what we are doing today
- Thread Starter
- #59
Not helping us move your family’s shed?
well when i had a good old barn raising down here none off them showed up
- Thread Starter
- #61
we watched it last night
- Thread Starter
- #62
so we bit off a side project over the last week
as we are working our way around the car with the mk5 astra wiring loom we have to make some compromises
and one is the dash clocks and standard steering
so we started with the steering column in 1965 if you had a serious crash the steering column would go threw the steering wheel and in to your chest usually resulting in death and as i intend on letting him drive this when he gets old enough i would like to change this
here is a mk5 astra collapsable steering column sitting beside the standard viva one
a few hours later we now have a 1965 steering wheel with a chipped key sim module
the stalks are plastic and my immediate thought is to fabricate something later on that looks more traditional but i am really happy with the results
as we are working our way around the car with the mk5 astra wiring loom we have to make some compromises
and one is the dash clocks and standard steering
so we started with the steering column in 1965 if you had a serious crash the steering column would go threw the steering wheel and in to your chest usually resulting in death and as i intend on letting him drive this when he gets old enough i would like to change this
here is a mk5 astra collapsable steering column sitting beside the standard viva one
a few hours later we now have a 1965 steering wheel with a chipped key sim module
the stalks are plastic and my immediate thought is to fabricate something later on that looks more traditional but i am really happy with the results
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That original column looks like something you'd use to spear an elephant or something, lol 
Astra you say? Maybe after market Lotus stalks would fit? This is what I have in the Elise, the original was off some Vauxhall and looked like yours.
Funnily enough, was just talking to someone today about the 1972 Volvo experimental safety car which had things like crumple zones, three point reel belts, collapsible steering column, pedestrian protection, etc. Even in the seventies most of that was still experimental. As kids we sat in the boot of the family estate
We all like to moan about us having become too safety conscious and risk averse but not everything was better in the olden days.
Astra you say? Maybe after market Lotus stalks would fit? This is what I have in the Elise, the original was off some Vauxhall and looked like yours.
Funnily enough, was just talking to someone today about the 1972 Volvo experimental safety car which had things like crumple zones, three point reel belts, collapsible steering column, pedestrian protection, etc. Even in the seventies most of that was still experimental. As kids we sat in the boot of the family estate
We all like to moan about us having become too safety conscious and risk averse but not everything was better in the olden days.
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Like these:
www.eliseparts.com
I know they're probably not the cheapest with a Lotus tax, but they're really good quality metal items.
Maybe too modern but I'm sure there are other options like that.
Satin Black Indicator Stalks | EliseParts
Satin Black Indicator Stalks for sale on EliseParts
I know they're probably not the cheapest with a Lotus tax, but they're really good quality metal items.
Maybe too modern but I'm sure there are other options like that.
- Thread Starter
- #65
Like these:
Satin Black Indicator Stalks | EliseParts
Satin Black Indicator Stalks for sale on EliseParts
I know they're probably not the cheapest with a Lotus tax, but they're really good quality metal items.
Maybe too modern but I'm sure there are other options like that.
yeah i see what your thinking there
we are along the same lines- Thread Starter
- #66
so got up to the shed today for an hour or two
i had to mount the original pedal box in the car to make sure it clears the new steering column but also the other problem i have is the fly by wire pedal that needs mounted here is the mk5 astra pedal as you can see it has a staggered mount for the floor off the astra . and since the body is plastic
i cut the step off so that i now have a flat mounting plate to work with
so a few bends ect later i have a mount made for the accelerator pedal
so when i get a chance i’ll get it welded to the driver floor
i had to mount the original pedal box in the car to make sure it clears the new steering column but also the other problem i have is the fly by wire pedal that needs mounted here is the mk5 astra pedal as you can see it has a staggered mount for the floor off the astra . and since the body is plastic
i cut the step off so that i now have a flat mounting plate to work with
so a few bends ect later i have a mount made for the accelerator pedal
so when i get a chance i’ll get it welded to the driver floor
- Thread Starter
- #68
i have and it’s pretty straight forward tho this thing is so light and with the standard steering wheel it should be fine and less complicated
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Good exercise, keeps you fit Nicer steering feel too without power steering.
Nicer steering feel too without power steering.- Thread Starter
- #71
Well we are up at the shed today and he gave me a ball chewing here is the side off the wee car before
and then after i cleans the side off it with thinners he gave off at me because he lost some off the rust runs down the side off it
but you cannot lacquer it with the oil and grease on it
so the decision is to keep the look but get it covered with lacquer and have it mint underneath and under the bonnet ect
so he got to cleaning the oil i sprayed it with years ago
and got the rear lights / number plate / and bumper fitted
here is the side off the wee car before and then after i cleans the side off it with thinners he gave off at me because he lost some off the rust runs down the side off it
but you cannot lacquer it with the oil and grease on it
so the decision is to keep the look but get it covered with lacquer and have it mint underneath and under the bonnet ect
so he got to cleaning the oil i sprayed it with years ago
and got the rear lights / number plate / and bumper fitted
- Thread Starter
- #73
no it’s all very light surface rust even look at the boot floor there isn’t even a patch there
- Thread Starter
- #75
that means a lot
i have actually enjoyed spending time with him over the holidays ect i hope to let him drive it up and down the lanes beside our shed when we get it going even if it’s not finished as a moral booster for both off us