1975 Viva DeLuxe - What Have I Done?

[oli8925]

Bits of the dash have come out. Didn't get much done and lost motivation by the time I got to the heater and dash top etc. Some pics of the awful wiring I've done in the past. It's all solid and safe, just looks nasty, so I'll be redoing all this and incorporating it properly into the loom. Along with properly wiring and mounting the relays for the headlights, fog lights, flashers and hazards and fitting the alarm. So I'll do all this with it fully stripped with the loom left in place.





I might also make some panels to replace the dash trays with speaker, switch and gauge mounting all there, and one to replace the ashtray with a clock.

[Paul Dawson]

I hate taking dashboards out - the more photos you can take the better. On other projects I've done the one bit that seems to get the most feedback is detailed pictures of how to get a dashboard to bits.

The real trick with modern ones is how to get them all back again without breaking anything.

[droopsnoot]

The real trick with modern ones is how to get them all back again without breaking anything.

Or having them squeak afterwards.

On the HC, there's a row of small nuts along the bottom of the inside of the dash. Now you've taken all the lower panels out, you can get to all of them and remove them. Just feel up into the lower edge of the dash pad from behind and you'll find them. Ocne you think you've got them all out, have another feel all the way along to make sure rather than forcing it and risking damage.

Once you've done that, the only other thing holding it in is friction and the speedo cable, which might be easier to undo after you've started pulling the dash forwards. I haven't done a non-seven-dial dash for a long time, so I'm not that familiar with that bit.

[shamm]

There are six bolts holding the dash, make sure you get them all.

Speedo drive on 7 dial can be removed before dash pulled or you can pull forward a bit to get better access.
Don't forget the oil pressure gauge pipe!

[droopsnoot]

Speedo drive on 7 dial can be removed before dash pulled or you can pull forward a bit to get better access.
Don't forget the oil pressure gauge pipe!

Strip dash, Steve, no oil pressure gauge pipe as far as I can see.

[shamm]

Oh yes

Speedo is bayonet type then, pull dash forward unless you like bloody knuckles

[oli8925]

Some progress of sorts
Dash out


Heater unit out


The leaky culprit


And does anyone know where this little square bit fits in?


Now I'm getting the valves modified and put in the head (should I go for steel seats?), will be getting one of the radiators and the heater matrix to be refurbished, also picking up a Mk2 Escort boot and RS2000 spoiler that I won on ebay for a very good price. Going to see how well the spoiler fits, and tidy up the boot lid to flog it for a profit. Arrange the trip to Nuneaton to see Paul and get the block and bottom end done, could have been this week Paul but I've been messed around by someone on Ebay won't be long I promise! Deciding where to put the relays and the alarm unit and tidying up/modifying/redoing the wiring - need to map it out, order some wire, connectors and loom wrap and get on with it. Will be making arrangements for an engine hoist to get the old lump out of there. Chasing up Adams Gas for my big cylinder to start the welding again and chasing up my dad's friend with the compressor. Hopefully I'll then be able to get on with some proper work, weather permitting (unless I can blag moving it to the nice big garage of my Grandad's I used last time it came off the road). So a fair bit coming up.

These are the two radiators I have, one on the right from the white car, one on the left from the red. They're slightly different, is one genuine and the other aftermarket? Or one early and the other late? Is either better than the other? I doubt there's any difference but though I'd ask before one goes back to being new and shiny.

[oli8925]

Just dropped the matrix and radiator off at Bryans & Son Car Radiator Repairs in Tunbridge Wells. A proper old school little place, down an alleyway between two old shops. Really nice guy and very helpful. Said he'd find out what he can do and to call him in a week to see if they've been done and how much it was. Needs doing so it's fine by me. He was also telling me tales of a regular customer he had 20+ years ago that owned a really battered old Viva with a patchwork of paint, but this guy also ran a Machining and Fabrication shop in Maidstone and had dropped a Mustang engine in the Viva. Said his hobby was pulling up behind Porsches and all the top motors and flashing his lights so they'd put their foot down, then not letting them get away.

Any ideas on the best place to stick the relays and alarm unit? Needs to be water tight, and ideally ot too hard to get to. Not sure where there'll be enough space when the dash is all back together.

[droopsnoot]

I've always thought there's quite a lot of room to mount relays and the like underneath the glove compartment - have the baseplate fixed to the bottom of the glovebox insert, so they're accessible from the tray, all you have to do is look upwards. Of course, this only works if the relays are reasonable height, and assuming the alarm box is the trickery, not the actual siren thing. And you can't pile so much up on the tray. Of course, loads more room if you ditch the glovebox and put a HPF-style grab handle there. Another place would be under the bottom lip of the dash itself, have some kind of base that hinges down for access, need to protect from peoples feet though.

There's a modern Renault heater matrix that's very similar in shape and size, I'm not sure what it's off but I think some kind of Clio. I am looking at using one in the hatch - although the matrix from that is OK (I think....) I suspect the modern one will give out more heat.

[oli8925]

That's a good idea, I'll look into that. The alarm box is about 6"x3" from memory, but I should just be able to bolt that to the bulkhead somewhere beneath the dash. I was also thinking of making plates to cover the holes instead of the tray so I could mount the front speakers, gauges, switches etc in them, which would create a bit more space around the back, but it depends on how well I can fabricate something. If I do do this I'll probably keep the glovebox because it will be the only cubbyhole I have left.

Thanks, I'll see what I can find for the heater matrix, annoyingly I didn't take any measurements before I dropped it off.

There are days when the thought of a shiney rebuilt engine in a shiney rebuilt car really excite me, I need to use these days to distract me from the days of fear of welding and painting.