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Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:07 pm
by droopsnoot
I've just had a look on eBay and you're right, £10.99 for the cheap copy one and £25+ for a nice shiny Kent-Moore one. So yes, perhaps a ball-ended allen key is the way forward.

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 6:22 am
by jpsmit
droopsnoot wrote:I've just had a look on eBay and you're right, £10.99 for the cheap copy one and £25+ for a nice shiny Kent-Moore one. So yes, perhaps a ball-ended allen key is the way forward.


When I heard one pound I got excited.too. unfortunately even 10 pounds becomes 50 Canadian dollars with shipping. For that I can try an Allen wrench.

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:00 am
by jpsmit
Tonight's update - peace and contentment.

Had a busy day - and some chores and daughter too and from work - then about 1 1/2 hours in the garage. I typically listen to a jazz radio station and Sunday night is Big Band night - I always feel in a particular way that I am part of history, puttering in the garage while listening to Glenn Miller. Tonight was cleaning - cam shaft housing and oil pan. not a lot to show but, there is something unbelievably wonderful about contentedly working without a deadline or any particular worries.

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cheers all!

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - simple math

PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 2:52 am
by jpsmit
Christmas update:

Managed to get some time in and, the weather cooperated some.

Here is the math:

Take these:

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add elbow grease, for at least 18 months (it is after all the most boring job ever)

equals:

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plus:

Image

discard the above and add:

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and you get:

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finally we can begin hanging pieces back on.

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:24 pm
by Colin
Don't give up, JP! Your Viva GT is going to be great! :respekt:

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 3:43 pm
by jpsmit
Colin wrote:Don't give up, JP! Your Viva GT is going to be great! :respekt:



Thanks - getting this done is a huge milestone! Shortly I can begin reattaching things - a little touch up here and there in the spring but that will be easy.

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:25 am
by jpsmit
So, not quite fully assembled, but, here are a couple of engine shots - I am pleased so far.

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cheers all!

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:52 pm
by pbottomley
OHHH very sweet.... :D

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 6:38 pm
by Colin
Looking great, JP!

Wow, a genuine Canadian Viva GT! Rare as unicorn sh*t! :D

Apart from the divided front grille, what were the differences between the Epic GT and Viva GT?

Re: Viva GT - resto thread - recap and restart

PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:01 am
by jpsmit
Rare indeed! I have seen an ad for one for sale in Alberta - and partly own a parts car a few hours aways, and that may very well be it.

I truly don't know the differences - and, can't really seem to find out. However, it generally seems to have been a bit of a hodgepodge of SL and GT and ???

1. Yes, the centre insert in the grill for the Epic.

2. There do seem to have been Canadian Cars that had the hood with the scoops but a 1600 engine - I part stripped one (though the engine was gone - yet the owner assured me it had been a 1600)

3. The centre console is different here. Look at the picture in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20216 - and I have two exactly like it.

4. The LHD cars had a Vacuum servo for the brakes which I don't think they had in the UK

5. This is what the Viva Outlaws site says about Canadian cars: For the Canadian market it was known as the 'EPIC GT'. Basically this was half a Deluxe and half a Viva GT. The Deluxe parts being the trim and lack of bright work. Canada was one of the main importers of the Viva GT.

6. I have two different sets of front seats - the ones that came out of the parts GT look like what you would see in an SL.

So, to come back to the original question - other than the grill and the "epic" name badges, I am not sure.

Oh, and, if you read the Viva Outlaws site, all the cars that came to Canada were Envoy Epics, (which were sold at I think Chevrolet dealers) but somehow there were also Vauxhall Viva cars (sold in Pontiac dealers.)

But, coming back to the original question, beyond