Vauxhall Viva HC Deluxe - now 16v

One new Sierra radiator, fits perfectly between the chassis rails





Custom propshaft



Then the problems started.

When I had painted the engine, POR15 had spilt down two of the spark plug gulleys and wrecked the threads. Instead of helicoiling the head I found a complete 2.1 c20seh for £50 on eBay.

so out with the old



& in with the new



However the new 2.1 wouldn't start up. Eventually I bought a compression tester and found out that for some reason I had zero compression on ALL cylinders. As it turns out, the cam was the wrong profile for the head and caused the valves to open all of the time when it was torqued down.

So instead of sticking with it and sorting out the problem, I sold up and bought this ecotec



after cleaning and painting



More to follow.

Cutting the Viva lower engine mounts off





Then I changed my mind again and bought this. Had to drive from Sussex to Great Yarmouth to collect it. So that's 4 engines in less than a year and its barely even moved on my drive, let alone driven! ;D






There was reason for my madness, for starters several companies already make RWD c20xe exhaust manifolds, meaning I don't have to fork out a small fortune for a custom manifold to be made for the Ecotec. Then there's the availability of tuning parts and the strength of the engine. Finally it was a bargain!

I started stripping down the Red Top; removed the inlet manifold and cam cover, then decided it was in such a good condition I wouldn't remove the head, I'd just put it all back together. ;D

Here's the pictures..




So all I'm going to do to it is replace the cam belt, tensioners and water pump.

Then I got very lucky. After test fitting the XE into the Viva, I realised that I really needed a Manta 1.8 big wing sump. The alloy XE sump was far too large and was proving very resilient to hammer blows.

I tried several scrap yards and forums I had no luck at all. Not one scrappy even had a Manta, let alone a Manta sump! Then I remembered seeing three Manta 1.8s at a local mechanics garage about a year ago, ten minutes later I arrived at the garage and luckily the Mantas were all still there. When I asked the owner if he had a spare sump he said yeah follow me, and walked out to one of the Mantas where we found a complete but seized 1.8 engine sitting on the back seat. He told me that I could have what I liked because it was all going to be weighed in. In the end I gave him £10 for his troubles and took the sump, oil pick up pipe, mounts, prop and a few other little bits. ;D

So after a quick clean up:



The rest of the bits:



My nicely refurbished engine mounts:


Altogether:


;D ;D ;D

I test fitted the engine again this evening and the sump fits perfectly.

That brings us up to last weekend, when I spent Saturday handing my brother Michael tools and cold drinks whilst he did all the hard work and maths. Not being particularly engineering'ly minded his help was awesome, I couldn't have done it without him.

Right hand mount welded in position:



Left hand mount fabrication:







Final positioning:











Engine back out for final welding, grinding and general tidying:





Heater box modifications:






On Sunday a mate of mine came over to inspect the Viva's engine mounts and decided to go back over some bits of the welds to make sure they were good. Afterwards I tried my best to grind down his welds, degreased the cross member and gave it a protective coat of hammerite. Then I dropped the engine back in onto its new mounts and trial fitted the exhaust and inlet manifolds. Here are the pictures:



















Retro Rides show seems a long way off!











Sump clearance:



Exhaust manifold fits nicely:



Unfortunately the Inlet manifold doesn't:






So this threw up yet more problems. I had intended to use the standard injection setup to get the car running for the Retro Rides show.

Unfortunately, the inlet manifold not fitting means I either have to use another method of fuelling, I do have a set of bike carbs, or I have to change or reposition the brake master cylinder/servo unit. It also means that the likelihood of having the old gal at this weekends Retro Rides show is pretty much over.

Oh and just ordered a lambda sensor boss to weld into my manifold and an inertia switch for safety.

Awesome build dude. Just excellent work. The temptation do ditch the v8 ideas for a DOHC solution are proving harder and harder to resist. So whats the plan so far with the brake servo side of things?

Yeah that should work. So do you mean retain the standard pedal box and just use a smaller master cylinder on its own?

Amazing how many big changes you (we) can get through on a project. you're still on the job which is the important thing, and arrived at a top notch powering solution

yeah it happens, going full circle on my projects. hopefully soon they can progress.

Should be ace when its done this!