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1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 9:27 pm
by GeorgeG93
Thought it was about time to finally start a thread on this, my 1976 1256cc Viva, AKA Otis.

Back in January of this year I spotted something yellow opposite where I work and went to have a look at what it was. I had never really known about Vivas before, being used to Fords, owning a MK1 Fiesta as my daily at the moment. The car looked straight enough, but hadn't been run in some time, and the gearbox was in the boot with about 3 different clutch kits in there! We dragged it back the next weekend and progress was slow until recently when we moved it into the workshop to play around with it. I reassembled the gearbox and clutch and fitted it, the only problem being there was no crossmember so I've had to make one up out of steel at the moment, I'm arranging getting another one currently.
Anyway since then it's been mostly cleaning stuff up and working out the priorities, the first of which being brakes, which are half done at the moment, requiring one more caliper seal kit, all round pads, nearside wheel cylinder and the discs either skimming or replacing. All round arches need replacing as well which is a real pain as I'm no good at bodywork and I don't know where to find new ones! IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ARCHES PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
Anyway enough talk, pictures:

Midnight gearbox installation sesh:
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Fixing knackered starter motor earth:
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With my daily, 1100cc Mk1 Fiesta:
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Ran the bugger out of fuel yesteday testing it on the roads, brakes definitely need sorting!

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Plans for this other that getting it mechanically sound and everything are probably;
Lowering 30mm or so, not too much
Rostyles (Have a powdercoated set lined up)
Sound system needs reworking, the outdated speakers just won't do
Spotlights if they look alright
Maybe a quad headlamp grill
Undersealing the thing right up
Spraying along front and rear valances and just above the chrome trim line below the door in stone chip black because I don't have enough money to get a decent paint job which I'd love
And other stuff I can't think of right now!

To be continued!

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 9:43 pm
by hbpeter
Car known to the club, heres a picture from 2006 at Bromley Pagent.
Peter

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 10:12 pm
by hbpeter
Just my personel opinion, keep it standard, looks fine as it is, Ok, I can understand the better sound system!

Peter

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 7:14 am
by magnumsteve
Looks nice and solid. But what could be better than an 8 track? :lol:

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2012 1:20 pm
by GeorgeG93
Heh solid except for those damn arches, inner and outer has dissapeared in the usual places for all of them :(. Not sure whether I'll go ahead with a lot of the mods I was contemplating as my alternative plan is to use this as my daily whilst taking the Fiesta off the road and doing that up. The Viva's cool but I'm not as attatched to it as I am to the little Fiesta! Anyway, just put a seal kit in the offside caliper, one pad down to bear metal, one brand new, would seem as though it was seized since the picture taken at the Bromley pageant!

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2012 4:18 pm
by bluemoontezza
Nice looking viva,re the arches try petes panels 01375 891789 evenings his site is http://www.oldpanels.com I just had some off him in the last month for my viva--give him a try.or midland panels find them on the net. Terry

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2012 4:25 pm
by hbpeter
Link not working, at least for me it dont!

Peter

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2012 4:51 pm
by bluemoontezza
Just tried it and link ok,also from what i understand his stock changes day by day he buys all old stock from motor factors

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2012 5:12 pm
by hbpeter
Typical, it works now! :angrywife:

Peter

Re: 1976 1300 SL - Otis

PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2012 1:30 pm
by GeorgeG93
Thanks for the link will give it a go soon and see what I can find!