richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
|
|
|
|
|
Toptaff and I were thinking about an engine swap for the HA van to make it faster on long journeys.
We'd like to keep it period (eventually it'll be repainted in dark blue with a matt black bonnet and HB Brabham Viva wheels), and fit something around 1500cc-size.
I thought Ford 1500GT, but any other suggestions please?
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One of the Nitemares has a Zetec in hers...it looks like quite a squeeze, but is a great choice.
Any thoughts/advice Nitemares?
Otherwise how about Racer86's (Chevette) 1256...according to his post in the Reader's Rides thread, he's taking it out soon!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
HA van engine swapBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
|
Aug 30, 2004 13:34:27 GMT
|
|
An XE would be a neat conversion. Or how about a J 4 pot of some description? ;D
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 30, 2004 16:23:22 GMT
|
I kind of like the idea of the Vauxhall XE or Ecotec if you can find a suitable gearbox (keepin' it in the family  ). And if you want a rear axle that can handle some serious power go for Volvo 960, but it might be a little on the wide side. |
| |
"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
|
|
SkoCan
Posted a lot
Quando omni flunkus, mortati
Posts: 1,916
|
|
Aug 30, 2004 17:13:38 GMT
|
I kind of like the idea of the Vauxhall XE or Ecotec if you can find a suitable gearbox (keepin' it in the family ). And if you want a rear axle that can handle some serious power go for Volvo 960, but it might be a little on the wide side. And the Almighty said "Let them have wide fenders" And it was so ;D |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 30, 2004 17:17:32 GMT
|
A rally look van, I'm interested! Although it might not need to come to a Volvo axle if you want a 1500cc engine. (the Ecotec has a 1600 version, which in a light HA van is adequate for good performance, although if you want a real beast what about a 2 litre model, with or without a turbo. Finding one could be an issue though. |
| |
"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
|
|
SkoCan
Posted a lot
Quando omni flunkus, mortati
Posts: 1,916
|
|
Aug 30, 2004 17:20:54 GMT
|
With bush bars and Hellas. Painted to match of course  (must find pic of van) |
| |
|
|
|
|
HA van engine swapBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
|
Aug 30, 2004 18:52:59 GMT
|
|
Or if you wanted to go retro engine, how about a 2.3 slant-four? Not very up on my Vauxhall engines. Would be nice to keep it all Griffin stuff though!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 30, 2004 20:10:22 GMT
|
|
I would go for a 1600 Vauxhall OHC (Cavalier/Astra/Nova) engine and carlton 5-speed box. To fit the box onto the Nova GTE engine in the Sceptre I had to fit a Carlton pilot bearing, shorten the input shaft a little and use a Carlton clutch centre plate and release bearing with the Nova cover plate.
|
| |
... the only injury I sustained was a bumped head when I let the seatbelt of without realizing the car was upside down  and that's not really the car's fault. |
|
|
|
|
Aug 30, 2004 20:56:27 GMT
|
|
That sounds practical, and we know it's possible. Maybe that's the best idea. That's the XE engine you're talking about, yes?
|
| |
"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I would go for a 1600 Vauxhall OHC (Cavalier/Astra/Nova) engine and carlton 5-speed box. To fit the box onto the Nova GTE engine in the Sceptre I had to fit a Carlton pilot bearing, shorten the input shaft a little and use a Carlton clutch centre plate and release bearing with the Nova cover plate. You'd have to do some serious fiddling with the 1600 though to get real go out of it. We've got a 1600 Astra (98 model) as the family car and while it's nice and relaxed on the motorway, acceleration is best described as "leisurely". Definetely a cruiser, not a screamer. Nothing seems to happen above 3500 rpm apart from more noise! Maybe this would work in the van though: It's surely got to be alot lighter than the Astra crammed full of electrical gubbins and "safety" features, and sort out the gearing too..... |
| |
|
|
richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
|
|
Aug 31, 2004 12:14:51 GMT
|
|
Thanks everyone!
I think I'm buying an HC Viva 1256cc lump and box for £40 - that'll get the speed up a little!
Richy
ps: Wellers? No way - got a set of gennie Brabham Viva HB wheels for that late '60s modified look!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 31, 2004 16:19:57 GMT
|
ps: Wellers? No way - got a set of gennie Brabham Viva HB wheels for that late '60s modified look! what no Wellers?  I hadn't even suggested it yet, am I that predictable?! ;D ;D |
| |
"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 31, 2004 19:55:49 GMT
|
You'd have to do some serious fiddling with the 1600 though to get real go out of it. We've got a 1600 Astra (98 model) as the family car and while it's nice and relaxed on the motorway, acceleration is best described as "leisurely". Definetely a cruiser, not a screamer. Nothing seems to happen above 3500 rpm apart from more noise! Maybe this would work in the van though: It's surely got to be alot lighter than the Astra crammed full of electrical gubbins and "safety" features, and sort out the gearing too..... Well, the Haynes manual quotes 100 BHP for the Nova GTE, and I would guess a HA van has a looooowww diff ratio, so it should perk things up a bit.....  |
| |
... the only injury I sustained was a bumped head when I let the seatbelt of without realizing the car was upside down and that's not really the car's fault. |
|
Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
|
HA van engine swapDavenger
@dminifreak
Club Retro Rides Member 140
|
Aug 31, 2004 23:20:17 GMT
|
what no Wellers? I hadn't even suggested it yet, am I that predictable?! ;D ;D Do you really want an answer to that? ;D |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 1, 2004 16:22:30 GMT
|
Aaaww! You're mean!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D |
| |
"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
|
|
Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
|
HA van engine swapDavenger
@dminifreak
Club Retro Rides Member 140
|
Sept 1, 2004 22:15:20 GMT
|
|
One does ones best ;D
|
| |
|
|
). And if you want a rear axle that can handle some serious power go for Volvo 960, but it might be a little on the wide side.
and that's not really the car's fault.
