vauxhallviva.com

Hi I'm just after abit of advice. I have a viva with a 1600ohc and just want to ask if anyone know any mods to make it better for driving on motorways. Just got back from Isle of Wight and will be going back next year,so I have a full year to work on it

Thank you
Simon Deakin

You could fit an 1800 or better still a 2300 OHC axle, you will also need the top arms and prop shaft as well as the handbrake cables.

Or you could fit an overdrive gearbox. You will need an OD gear lever or wire in a separate switch, a longer speedo cable, a bespoke prop shaft and enlarge the lever hole in the floor. You may also want to consider fitting a centre console to hide the mods around the lever and carpet.

You could also look at fitting larger diameter wheels. Various Morris Minor specialists, East Susses Morris Minors, Bull Motif Spares are 2 that come to mind, can supply 14 or 15" Minilight style wheels in 4" PCD.

With the engine swap would I have to do any engine bay mod because I want to keep the engine that's in it as it was tuned my a classic vauxhall guy

Thank you

BLYDENSTEIN Bill was the name of the tuner

Would the LOTUS 2.2 NON TURBO ENGINE fit in easier then messing round with changing drive shafts and everything

Thank you

Deakin1988 wrote:With the engine swap would I have to do any engine bay mod because I want to keep the engine that's in it as it was tuned my a classic vauxhall guy

Thank you

No-one mentioned an engine swap - David was talking about using the 1800 or 2300 rear axle as it has ratios more suitable for motorway cruising, I'd think of the two the 2300 would be better.

I have no experience of the Lotus twin-cam engine, but I can't imagine that fitting one of those and getting it all working will be less work than swapping a rear axle,propshaft and trailing arms. And it won't help, because you'll still have the relatively low-ratio rear axle that's giving you the problem now.

Yes, I was suggesting the axle swap only. The 1600 is 4.1 I think but he 1800 is 3.7 and the 2300 is 3.44.

I have no experience of the Lotus twin-cam engine, but I can't imagine that fitting one of those and getting it all working will be less work than swapping a rear axle,propshaft and trailing arms. And it won't help, because you'll still have the relatively low-ratio rear axle that's giving you the problem now.

It is not an easy fit no matter who says it is...


as to the owner question, just stick bigger back wheels on mate, keep it simple....

Don't grasp what the problem is, I've got a Viva with 1159cc engine in, and I do lots of Motorway driving...never had a problem.

The problem is I just want to be about to sit on the motorway at 70mph with out it being loud in the cab