NotoriousREV

Dad got 5 Avon safety wheels now. Yours for £120 if your interested?

Jonathan

 

Do they? *ugger when I had my snoot couldn't get them anywhere, nor the glass lamp covers, guess that's a good thing about Ebay eh, brings all these obscure parts to the market..

Got any updated pics of the project Rev?

 

Updated pics tomorrow. Brought the shell home from it's previous resting place today (scary experience - small pick up truck, big trailer!) and will be moving into the garage in the morning.

Currently at that panicky "omigod what have I done" stage. Currently convinced that it has more holes than a seive and isn't fixable. When the panic wears off, I'll start putting my action plan together

 

Looking forward to pics!

 

You should hold a Mig Welding Party....

 

Well, only 6 weeks later than promised, here are the pics!

As she arrived home on the trailer, loaded to the gunwhales with many of her own spare parts. My next door neighbour asked me where I got the "burnt out Mk2 Escort" from





The worst part for rot is definately where the chassis rail meets the bulkhead on the drivers side:



The arches and sills are as you'd expect from a 70's Vauxhall:













The inner wings are tidy except where the driver's side wing meets the bulkhead:



The back end needs some work, the bottom of the (new-ish) rear valance is starting go but looks saveable and there's a small hole above the light clusters that the previous owner started to repair:





The trickiest bit of repair work is going to be the A pillars. Both are well rotted in an awkward place. A mate suggested scouring the breakers for a Viva to cut out the appropriate metal from as there's no way to recreate the shape from sheet metal:





Finally, the roof is pretty shot. It used to have a vinyl roof and full length Webasto sun-roof (how 70's?). Unfortunately, there's a lot of pitting on the C-pillars and because the sunroof frame has been taken off, the roof has buckled:





So there's lot of work. Still not sure if the shell is saveable (opinions on a postcard, please).

I have 4 x rear arches and all the sill sections. The front wings are pretty good. The doors are also savable as is the boot lid (one corner is slightly bent) and the bonnet.

Who's up for the MIG party?

 

i remember the windscreen panels rotting like that on my magnum....... vauxhall corrosion protection has improved a bit since then...

 

I just don't know how you will rescue all that.
My 911 was in similar shape (!) and it took 8 months of gas welding to restore and a fortune way back in 1988 (diy)

I fitted a fabric sunroof from an MGB as my roof had distorted after the glass thing was removed.

I really wish you well, and we will see you again about September 2006?

Mind you, it turned out well:
Every panel and the floor on both sides you can see needed replacing/cut and shut etc..
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=rm7mvs

Graham.

 

Looks like youve got your work cut out!!

 

I see young rev-let iching to get on with it there!!!!!

 

rev i have built a firenza to a similar spec to your project it can be done my spec includes 350 cin chevy all fancy bits internals old nail kit roll cage etc if you get stuck on any mods please feel free to ask me any questions as i can help

 

i think your in for a lot of welding, and I would consider getting it bead blasted

 

In the USA, and now here I think, you can get a shell acid dipped. This removes the crud, the paint anf the rust.
This can be depressing too as you can see where ALL the rust holes are.

You really need to enjoy welding/panel work to do this level of work.

Good luck with it all (been there on my 1973 911)

 

acid dipping isnt the best idea on shells I have been informed as it can make them rust more due to no corrosion protection. Im not sure it removes the rust either.

 

The 'goop' I have read about is very effective at ridding everything off the shell but it does leave it very very vulnerable, but most places after dipping (overnight) wash and phosphour (?) spray everything exposed, but the chassis channels etc are still 'open'
Graham.

 

MAy be worth looking out for a Viva E or magnum coupe shell, you will save a wad. The wings for these cars are fetching over £120 each alone! Rear arches just dont exist and valances are the same.

I'm working on a magnum now, http://www.magnum.fx4.com or http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~lynsand

The five speed stuff may interest you as might the injection system as it's also suitable for V8 lumps.

Jon S

 

OMG, I'm a scoobie newbie.... How embarrasing.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys, but I think it's too far gone to save. The shell has sagged (due to big hole in the roof and non-existent sills) and I don't have the skills to save it.

There's about to be a glut of Firenza parts on eBay...

 

That's sad, but at least realistic.

Look for another shell?
Graham

 

As Graham said, new shell?

 

Almost certainly. After a full reassessment of my skills I've decided to look for a car that is already in good condition so I can concentrate on the mechanical bits and not worry about bodywork.

It ain't over yet...

 

Good man!
Graham

 

Glad to hear it!

 

I found an old panel catalogue in the cupboard (from my RWD Ford/mig welding days) and ebven back then, there were not a lot of panels for the Magnum/Viva/Firenza body.

So probably a good move.

Have you tried asking Ron Kiddell (RK Tuning) of Skyline fame for advice on parts/shells?. I think he used to race a modified firenza and might have some parts or know of some. Just a thought

 

Classic car shows?
Viva's cant cost too much, and you will find one with a straight body??
Graham

 

Just seen this on good ole flea bay for sale.

Jonathan

 

Hi.
I just bought a Chev Firenza Can Am replica, and thought I'd share my bit.
The Can Am was built in South Africa for homologation purposes, hence only 100 cars were made. It used a 302 Chev Camaro racing engine, coupled to a four speed muncie box. Don't have rear axle details, but I know the brakes up front was upgraded to Tyrrell disks. Drums at the back.
Body was a two door Firenza 2.5 coupe, very similar to the Viva pic posted earlier, but with single flat headlamps instead of the two round ones.
My own car is a Chevy 283 powered motor, coupled to a Toyota 21R five speed box and a Ford 9-inch rear. Rear brakes are Golf GTI and front is BMW.
Flywheel is a custom aluminium, and clutch plate is also custom, with a Ford Fairmont GT pressure plate, and a Opel Corsa brake booster and master cylinder.
Watch the exhaust manifold. You don't have a lot of space, and the pipes run right next to the clutch slave cylinder.
As I said, just bought mine, and have to fix a few things that was engineered wrong.
Till later
Pieter