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1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration and modification

PostPosted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:56 am
by Icedmunkie
After buying this about 2 years ago, I used it daily for about a year and half, it only cost £14 for it too pass then £400 too weld all the sills and floor after some poking revealed the pants fiberglass repairs previously. I felt at the time that I should have just called it quits but I didn't I carried on buying bits here and there till one day on the Fens my passenger rear wheel decided to part company with the axle on a cold dark rainy night about 160 miles from home, (I was loaded up with viva parts too, seats, 6wheels and alloys, etc you get the picture) luckily it happened where it happened as a couple of miles was a motorway and a few miles behind us were no verges just dykes either side, so after sliding to a grassy halt I got recovered to the garage I was working in atm the time. I then put one of the other wheels on and drove it too a friends, where it sat awating a back axle or studs, whichever came first, unfortunatly neither did and it sat there looking forlorn whilst life carried on around it but I knew i wanted too get it back on the road, but had nowhere really to do a good job. Then I moved away to Rutland which was a good 3 hours away so no more work but shortly after it arrived and this is how it is now:

So here are some pictures:

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Wedding duties as best man!

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One of the original pictures from the Ebay advert

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The sills after the MOT (it had passed at this point!!!)

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Out in Littlehampton, with a friend of mine in his Capri (this coincidentally is being rebuilt with a big Ford V8, fitted)

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After the wheel coming off, I think the bolt holding the drum on stopped things going even worse... as it skidded on this rather than the backplate and bodywork

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Engine out

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Different twist on Houses type 9 conversion (more bellhousing less plate)

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Opened out

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Adapter plate

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Ready to be welded

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Welded

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Close up of the cast welding (If anybody wants these made up, I can get it all done for you PM me)

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Bolted on the box

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Screens, Interior, and headling out (engine and box are out too at this point)

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Previous repairs to headlining

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State of doorcards

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Faithful helper, for once not getting under my feet, but I can't work with out him around

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Current state in the garage, being cleaned and prepped for welding

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Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:20 am
by bedfordbad
Good stuff, nice car and tax exempt too!! Forgive my ignorance but which gearbox have you converted to fit?, Is it a 5 speed?
Regards steve

Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:59 pm
by Icedmunkie
Yes, its the 5 speed Type 9 Ford gearbox, as fitted to Capri and sierras. Idea stolen and plenty of help from House on here with advice and even parts.

Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:34 pm
by jpsmit
Icedmunkie wrote:Yes, its the 5 speed Type 9 Ford gearbox, as fitted to Capri and sierras. Idea stolen and plenty of help from House on here with advice and even parts.


How much alteration will you have to do to the sheet metal of the car itself? and, is this the same conversion as would be required for a Viva GT?

Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:30 pm
by Icedmunkie
None that I have found so far, Will have to adjust the gearbox mount but that shouldnt be hard... I guess it would be the same mods but cannot say for sure.

Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:45 pm
by hbpeter
Icedmunkie, isnt yours a 1256? If so the converstion will be different for an OHC GT. Or have got the wrong end of the stick?

Peter

Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:17 pm
by Icedmunkie
No yours information is right... I have completely written the wrong information by not reading things correctly.
No clue what you would need to do it too an OHC engine, might be able to use the Type 9 bellhousing...

Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:33 am
by MattyE
was discussing with a few peeps on facebook the other day, for an OHC a good 5speed conversion is the Toyota W58 box - used in a lot of cars including the lotus Excel with the vauxhall derived lotus 907 engine, will bolt up to a vauxhall OHC with the lotus bellhousing - has hydraulic clutch so will have to transplant cylinders too
(read in the DSN that an attempt to convert to cable operated did not go well)

from Wikipedia : -

First Gear: 3.285:1
Second Gear: 1.894:1
Third Gear: 1.275:1
Fourth Gear: 1.00:1
Fifth Gear: 0.783:1

1982-1986 Toyota MK 2 Celica Supra
1986-1992 Toyota MK 3 non-turbo Supra
1993-1998 Toyota MK 4 non-turbo Supra
1986 Toyota Cressida
1986 Toyota Soarer
1982-1992 Lotus Excel
1992-1997 Lexus SC300
1998-2005 Lexus IS300 5 speed

Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:35 pm
by Icedmunkie
Been a bit busier cutting holes in the car and finding more rusty areas
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Re: 1972 Vauxhall Firenza Restoration

PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:10 pm
by pbottomley
Great to see progress, its always good to see things improve :D