Newbie Crossflow Engine Swap Advise

[garethlloyd]

Hi guys,

Hope you all are well.

Been wanting a Viva for some time now and I've just become the owner of this wee beastie.





Overall I'm pretty happy with it but have been looking at engine swap options. Unfortunately I don't have the skills or equipment to fit an XE or a Zetec and as this would be my first transplant I thought I would start small.

I've been reading (mainly on here) about the possibility of fitting a ford crossflow engine and have a few questions if anyone can help?

1.Does the engine bolt straight to the viva cross member or will it need custom engine mounts?

2.Does the sump need modding to clear the cross member?

3.Will the bulkhead need cutting and welding to fit the engine?

4.Will a ford 4-speed gearbox fit in the tunnel without cutting and welding?

5.Does the gearbox mount need modifying?

I think that's about it, if anyone has any advise on any aspect of the above I would be most grateful.

Cheers,

Gareth

[pbottomley]

Not that I have done one but form other that have poisoned there cars with a ford engine :

1.Does the engine bolt straight to the viva cross member or will it need custom engine mounts?
CUSTOM MOUNTS

2.Does the sump need modding to clear the cross member?
SUMP NEEDS MODDING

3.Will the bulkhead need cutting and welding to fit the engine?
SHOULD BE OKAY

4.Will a ford 4-speed gearbox fit in the tunnel without cutting and welding?
PROB CUT TUNNEL FOR GEAR LEAVER

5.Does the gearbox mount need modifying?
YES

Then its custom exhaust, custom propshaft, speedo cables, wiring, fuel system, linkages and pedals etc , this is not a bolt 5 minute job.

Do ask as some have done this swap, but as a crossflow is a) not a Vauxhall unit and b) getting old these days, advice might be limited .... Personally I would look at an 8V astra unit onto a type nine box, same issues custom everything but at least its Vauxhall and more modern (90's technology).

Basically dependant on your skills, space and abilities this could be easy and or the end of the world...

[garethlloyd]

I read somewhere that crossflow mounts bolt straight on. I guess this isn't the case then

[pbottomley]

Go find that somewhere, and let us see this

Everyone i have seen was via custom made engine mounts.

[dann01]

Nice looking car... Not sure I'd want replace 70's Vauxhall technology with Ford 70's tech, but heah ho.

And with all the brewhaha over the modding of bulkheads and tunnels and stuff, not so sure I'd go that route either, but that's just me.

Dan

[simon cummings]

Crossflow mounts will not bolt straight on.
If you had a front suspension set up from an ohc car then you would be able to unpick the welds holding the mounts to the crossmember, bolt on the crossflow engine mounts,and weld them back in place,after a bit of trimming,if I remember right.
The ohv mounts are angled back and will position the engine too far back in the engine bay.
Easy enough to fold some new ones from 3mm or so plate though.
Beware of the steering rubber joint fouling on the mounts though.
Sump will only need notching to clear the anti roll bar on an ohc crossmember, nothing in the way on an ohv.
If you limit tuning to a stage that will work ok with a normal twinchoke Weber,then it is a fairly easy swap.
If you end up using twin dcoe carbs, then you will find the servo and master cylinder in the way.
Bulkhead is fine, gearbox tunnel not bad, just needs some adjustment with a hammer!
Gearstick will end up about 3" too far back and foul on the handbrake.
There is a lot to be said for the Kent engine, and ford have reproduced the block now!,but to keep up with power figures for modern engines takes very deep pockets.
In all honesty the best way of having a bigger engined viva is to buy a bigger engined viva in the first place.

[yoeddynz]

I put one in my HB and I wish I had kept it in there as it worked and I would be driving my car rather than looking for engine parts to get my Mazda going again.



I think Scott's xflo'd HB looks surperb- the engine looks like it was meant to be...

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=10242&start=110

Mine went really well with just 90 bhp and didn't suffer the big heavy boat anchor weight up front of the OHC cars (discuss.. I'm just guessing at that comment regarding OHC Vivas as I the only OHCs cars I have owned were my 2.3 chevette and an FD victor..both pushed badly in corners and I don't think were well balanced)

Anyway- I just built new engine mounts using the escort ones chopped and re-welded to suit. Was easy. No Bulkhead mods unless you insist on using a janspeed manifold as I did- it touched the bulkhead and I had to 'clearence' the area with a hammer. This in hindsight was a stupid thing to do- I should have just modified the manifold.

My gear stick did come out in an ok place ergonomically but as stated I did bend my hand brake lever across to one side just a touch as in forth it would have fouled.

But yeah it is tricky to find good xflos now days for cheap. Another great option are the datsun engines! My friend in NZ has done many Viva and chevette conversions with them. They fit straight in and look just like a stock standard engine (which helps here in NZ at MOT time), rev well, bombproof, lightweight, cheap to run, easy to mod and nice gearboxes. The only major thing to do would be getting a prop shaft made. See the Datman in Surrey for advice.

alex

[garethlloyd]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the advice. It's really helpful and has given me some food for thought for the moment.

Regards,

Gareth

[yoeddynz]

No wucking forries there fella- but please stay in touch and keep us all posted with what ever you do to your lovely Viva! I love seeing Vivas getting modded!

[black8driver]

if you use cortina mk 3/4/5 crossflow or pinto mounts they will bolt strait up and crowwflow will drop in with no sump mods and no bulkhead mods..
the 4 speed will also fit with no tunel mods (although may need slight gearlever hole tweeks?)
a five speed will go in to with gentle hammer massage

just to note that the pinto will also go in on same mounts..
needs a slight sump bashing fo clearance and the downpipe is aimed directly at the stearing colem.. but an s bend welded in wil sort that.. otherwise quite easy afternoons work..
(and yes i have done both myself before not just internet advise)

go for it...

si