Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,786
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Jan 11, 2010 11:52:10 GMT
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ive been secretly eyeing avengers for a while now. even though most of the roadworthy ones within my budget are moredoors (for more whores ), the fact the running gear is technically superior to an equivelent age ford appeals to me. that, and they cheap lol. ford bolt pattern too so easy to rim-up. but, the base spec 1.3 marina coupe that bircher1 is flogging on here has caught my eye. the body/paint combo is right up my street, but what puts me off is the rep for absolutely dire handling and general lacklustre performance compared to the rave reviews for the avenger. on the marina the fronts are torsion bar aint they, so is it just a case of twist-to-drop like most? and then block the back? what bolt pattern are they? anything else I should know about them (aside for the rep of terrible build quality!) any pros/cos for either whip? Cheers!
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Last Edit: Jan 11, 2010 11:53:53 GMT by Dez
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kee
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,991
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Jan 11, 2010 12:08:58 GMT
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avenger all the way, my next project will be an avenger with either a v8 or a rotary ;D
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Jan 11, 2010 12:11:32 GMT
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Never had a Marina but I had an Avenger 1600 about 30 years ago and TBH was the easiest car I've ever had to work on. Loads of space under the bonnet for engine/trans' upgrades and excellent handling for a 40 year old design. Certainly better than most of its contempary's that were around for the same kind of money in its day. Also..... having read your posts I know that you are not scared of getting the cutting gear out..... so.... if you have a weekend or two spare you could do this with it!! Got this off of retrowagon's thread. Mine's still in 2 halves whilst I'm waiting for him to post 'part 3'!! ;D
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'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Jan 11, 2010 12:24:14 GMT
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The 1500 and 1600 Avengers have quite good engines. Quite revvy and tunable. gearboxes can be a bit fragile, synchro on 1st can wear quickly. Post 73 front struts will take cut springs, but early ones like mine won't. They don't seem to tust as badly as Ford and BMC tin, but rusty rear arches and sills are to be expected, as are front floor pans.
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Jan 11, 2010 12:26:12 GMT
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I lowered my Marina pickup truck with by removing one leaf and fitting modified escort lowering blocks at the back (cut the locating nipple of them) and di the front by undoing the torsion bar adjusters a few turns and jumping up and down on the front bumper untill it looked low enough.
Personally i'm no fan of marinas, but i do like a pickup truck and no one else bothered to make one.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Jan 11, 2010 12:28:25 GMT
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Avenger is a simple car, more space everywhere,and I would prefer to for:)
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Jan 11, 2010 12:34:44 GMT
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IME, which may not be entirely representative:
Hillman Avenger is a nicer drive, better handling, revvier engines, no 1800 or 2.0 though (excpet Tiger) but all that changes if you swap the engine anyway. Avenger also uses common Ford pattern wheels. However, the Avenger is worse for rust and the metal seems thinner, slightly harder to weld nice solid repairs. Doesn't have quite the spares/tunign backup the Marina does through sharing parts with other common BMC and Austin-Rover cars. T-Series turbo Marina?
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Jan 11, 2010 12:38:57 GMT
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Akku, the Tiger was only a 1500, just with a big valve head, fruity cam and stupidly large webbers bolted to the side. Don't know what late avengers are like, but the steel on mine is pretty thick, much thicker than modern cars
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,786
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Jan 11, 2010 12:40:55 GMT
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engine/gearbox would be of no (great) consequence, it wouldnt be staying long. more structural integrity and suspension/brakes I'm interested in. i like that the avenger is ford pattern as this makes brakes and wheels dead easy, ive probably got all id need to sort em out. are they 2" struts too so easy to coilover?
i think i may just be better off waiting it out for a cheap half decent avenger rather than spending out on the marina. i am tempted though as it is a really nice fastback shape, and i love ratty white paint........but the suspension does put me off.
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Jan 11, 2010 12:58:09 GMT
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no front x member on a Marina, makes it easy to swop in whatever you like, but the sump scrapes if you go to low.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Jan 11, 2010 12:59:07 GMT
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I think they are 2" struts, from memory. There's a nice avenger estate on ebay at the moment
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Jan 11, 2010 13:00:31 GMT
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I had a Marina saloon it was terrible & I absolutely loved it Handling was genuinely awful & it was really slow, but that wasn't the point! Resprayed Flame Red (not very well), 2" blocks at the back, about 4" off the torsion bars at the front, 14" rear & 13" fronts (steels) painted silver with white letter tyres, 'custom' cherry bomb exhaust and the interior fully re-trimmed in furry cow print WIIIIIIIN !! Haven't got any pictures on this computer unfortunately, will need to get on the old one later.. I loved it but it was useless so I sold it so by an MG Maestro. Right decision? Probably not. Would I have another one? Hell No! (Unless it was cheap ) HTH! ;D HC.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,786
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Jan 11, 2010 13:03:11 GMT
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isnt it had to get marina low at all though, disregarding the sump issue??
is there dave? i cant find any avengers on there.....? link me please.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,786
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Jan 11, 2010 13:12:48 GMT
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would i be right in thinking that marinas have the entirely rubbish bolt pattern of 4x3.75"??
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Jan 11, 2010 13:13:15 GMT
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Just had a look, it's gone
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Jan 11, 2010 13:19:34 GMT
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Jan 11, 2010 16:00:40 GMT
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Avenger all day long - no contest
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Jan 11, 2010 16:14:38 GMT
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I thought the Avenger Tiger was 1800 or was that just works cars or did I dream that? Somethign about a "Brazilian" block or something? Meh.
The Marina is 3.75" PCD. Same as Formula Ford.
IME the Marina feels the more solid vehicle if you just want a tough shell and are going to bin all the mechanical stuff.
I prefer the Avenger as a car.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Jan 11, 2010 16:19:38 GMT
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That was just the works cars with the BRM 16v head fitted. What I wouldn't do for one of those engines ;D
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Jan 11, 2010 16:25:36 GMT
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theres two weights of Marina van and pickup i seem to remember, the heavier weight ones have a different stud pattern.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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