SALVAGE VAUXHALL VIVA! SNAP, POP AND BANG. THE BUDGET RESTORATION CONTINUES

In this video I try to tune the carb and take a lot of test drives. I visit my other Viva to steal some parts and I win some and lose some!

[@thomaskidd1400]

Hi! Tom here, In my 60s, so been a while!?! Worked for DTV Dealer team Vauxhall back in the 70/80s. Loved these wee engines,so simple?! Just watched this video tonight,1st time on your vids, So I'll try to help!! Before you do anything, check/ sort ignition side because some of what you say can be caused by this!!!!??! Take off dist cap and check cap, Make sure centre point from coil ,carbon joint,( spring loaded) is free to move, up and down on its spring and there is not much carbon on cap where rotor passes contacts for plug leads. Check distributor is ok by checking shaft for rotor has minimum amount of play, Check that rotor can turn maybe 20/30 degrees, Delco and Lucas Bosch's distributor s are notorious for seizures of shaft causing mis/ backfire under load! If the shaft don't rotate, remove rotor,remove little sponge from centre and mix wd40/&light engine oil,and scoosh a little down centre of the shaft and start to free off distributor! Automatic replacement of points and condenser, setting gap ,make sure to grease cam pivot on points!!!!! Set dwell or use feeler guage to set points, Start car, wait till warm and set timing by factory method with strobe. Or read online how to static time as my fingers getting sore typing , Next, I can tell by listening to the car that the manifold is ok! So go to fuelling! By the way ,the part you removed from the air filter housing is for winter starting from cold!!! If it stays removed,which I don't advise,,,,make sure you block the pipe that goes to it from the carb/ manifold or you will cause an air leakage which in turn causes a weak mixture Which will also cause a backfire/ misfire under load,,,which you are getting! Carb diaphragm ou said is ok!?! Make sure dash pot has light oil in it Have CO set to 2.0/2.5 After this,,,,,, provided coil and leads are ok And valve clearance s are ok The car will run fine Cheers ,hope this helps,,,,sure it will!!! Tom

[@RetroRebuild]

Hi mate, thanks for the info 👍

[@ism671]

Just watched all your vids ...making great memories with your little lads..Brilliant 👌

[@RetroRebuild]

😃Thank you mate, appreciate it 👍

[@grrfy]

I forgot how cool the estate looked with all that glass area.

[@RetroRebuild]

Yeah they crazy seventies designs very cool, 👍

[@TheJackSampson]

Brilliant

[@RetroRebuild]

😃 thank you mate,appreciate it👍

[@jonboy9912]

I had alight blue 1000cc 1968 F Reg HB Viva 2 door for my first car back in 1973 when this HC model came out and my mate who had a rich Dad bought one new! Makes you feel your age when these motors come around as "Classics", wished I had the HB back today!

[@RetroRebuild]

Wow what a first car! I wish I had my first car back too mate, a vauxhall nova,wich is is also a classic now😃!

[@jonboy9912]

@@RetroRebuild It was nothing special at the time, my cousin had a panel shop and had done it up but couldn't sell it so I bought it for £250. I run it for 2 years and it never let me down, drove to Cornwall twice 10 hour journey then! The only money I spent on it was to buy two white nylon fake sheepskin seat covers for the front I couldn't afford one for the rear!!! The week before I sold it a lump of filler fell out under the rear bumper, I repaired it with the tin lid off of a box of Christmas biscuits - it actually looked okay once I had painted it! Lots of good memories - it actually had a broken spring on the first tappet all the time I had it! It just closed up on the split and the spring worked perfectly! The plunger that worked to windscreen washer never worked I spent hours driving pumping it! Still wished I had it! Loved the Nova's! My cousin had a VX490 estate in pink! We called it the Pink Panther, never moved for the 2 years he owned it! Good luck with the Channel!🚓

[@RetroRebuild]

@Jon Boy thank you mate, appreciate it, ooh sheep skin seat covers, ill have some of those or the zebra print if I can find some 😄👍

[@jonboy9912]

@@RetroRebuild White Nylon! Crackled with static! Ludicrous now but cool at the time!!

[@RetroRebuild]

@@jonboy9912 😄👍

[@nwoerad3806]

God I love them cars.😊

[@RetroRebuild]

Nice one mate, me too 😃👍

[@Rbourk252]

Getting closer and closer to packing a bucket n spade.

[@RetroRebuild]

😄 definitely mate 👍

[@ronyardley3833]

Steve your have played a blinder so far, you need a 70 80s tuner to bring all your goodness together

[@RetroRebuild]

Thanks mate, I'll keep my eyes open for one at the auto jumbles 👍

[@oldjaaag9804]

Your explanation of the difference between side and down draught carbs made me laugh out loud - which is good going as i am a grumpy old sod..

[@RetroRebuild]

😆 brilliant mate👍

[@thodkats]

Damn the interior looks mint! :O

[@RetroRebuild]

Very good nick for the age mate, I havent even cleaned it yet 😄 👍

[@hoggmotorsport]

Alright mate 👍 I've not seen any of those inner wing repair panels for years!! 😮 Shampoo bar had me creased 🤣🤣🤣

[@RetroRebuild]

Hello mate, 👍😆

[@nadimatteeque4028]

I feel your pain my friend. Keep at it and you'll soon be there. Another great video, looking forward to seeing the next.

[@RetroRebuild]

😃thank you mate, appreciate it, more fun to be had 👍

[@DarrenBurnham]

Good work Steve. She sounded good on that last run.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thanks mate, she's getting there 👍

[@paultaylor9652]

Lovely Jubbly, another big 👍 from on this one.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate 👍

[@kins749]

Tuning a carb is a neverending cycle of adjustments where one counteracts the other, good luck!

[@RetroRebuild]

Well said mate that's exactly what it's like, thank you 👍

[@ronyardley3833]

Bring on the Hulk viva mate. We are with you mate. We're hooked steva

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, appreciate it 👍

[@kevinnye5132]

Steve fettling on classic cars is a never ending condition, glad to see you sought professional advice on car carburettors from your Mrs😁, I know my wife knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING 😉 or so she has told me for all these years 😂 and Ofc I am too frightened to disagree with her being just a simple man 😁.

[@RetroRebuild]

😆👍

[@doctorhugocat]

A few years back you could buy a little device called the Colourtune (Gunsons I think). It's like a spark plug with a little window and the idea is that you can adjust the mixture until the colour of the spark in the combustion chamber is correct. I liked mine a lot and had great results. They weren't expensive. Something I'd recommend if you're trying to get the mixture right. BTW I suspect your exhaust may be a bit restrictive.....

[@RetroRebuild]

Thanks mate, I'm going to look out for one of them colour tunes at the auto jumbles 👍

[@lucythemoggy1970]

have u checked the condenser? usually if it starts kangarooing it might be a condenser breaking down. it happened on my morris minor.

[@RetroRebuild]

I haven't but I'll replace anyway mate they're cheap enough, I think I have a new one laying around

[@mikeburnitt403]

Nice to see somebody showing a Viva HC some love, just one thing that clutch cable has got far too much free travel on it, there should be about an inch or so, have a look on the Estate to see if there is a sleeve (about 2 inches long) which fits between the clutch release arm and the adjusting nut, I seem to remember mine having one of them on, although that was 35 years ago.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, your right ill be looking into the clutch more when I'm off work next 👍

[@moxx064]

L had an hb viva for 4 years back in the early 80s . So she was an 1159. I put a 28/36 weber downdraft on, and the response was remarkable.I highly recommend this modification. I killed the car in a rollover but the engine lived on in a Chevette for a few more years. i still have it by the way.

[@smhorse]

I'd agree with the Weber conversion. My old man once converted his VW Jetta MK.2 from a not very good original Pierburg carb to a Weber. The result was a much more free-running, eager car which didn't need much encouragement to go over the ton!

[@RetroRebuild]

Ah class mate, all signs head towards a weber, you still have the chevette or the carb are you saying ?

[@moxx064]

@@RetroRebuild Just the engine. yeah , that wasn't real clear.

[@RetroRebuild]

@David Smith that's alright mate, I was just gonna try and buy a chevette off you if you still had it 😆👍

[@superseven220]

Surely the estate is much more of a rarity and should be the priority?

[@RetroRebuild]

It's quite the project mate, I'm looking for a new place with more space, so I can get started on her👍

[@superseven220]

@@RetroRebuild Nice. Keep up the good work. Great videos

[@DarksideoftheSteve]

Nice one Steve, I admire your patience with the carb and the mixture setup. If it were me, I'd have given up by now. Might be worth trying the Zenith Carb though, just to see if it makes a difference. You can always change it back if it doesn't work out! Colour Tine might be the way to go, although they're not cheap and I believe you've got to make sure you get the right one for whatever car you're settling up (different size fitments) but, you'll get it sorted. Look forward to the day you can start working on the green one too ;-)

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, appreciate it, I might give the other carb a go and keep my eyes open for a carb tuner at the auto jumbles 👍

[@G7IQJUK]

Give zenith carb good clean & replace square diaphram on side . BE better than stromberg .

[@RetroRebuild]

Won't harm to give it a try mate 👍

[@roycosgrave7229]

Love the videos man cool estate always looking out for one of them couldn't get

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, yeah they're a rare site these days 👍

[@rickydub6950]

Nice to see you getting out and about in it now 👍pretty sure my 16v mk2 golf uses that alternator belt too . Not far off with the carb now, needs a gas analyser on it so you know exactly where you are at with mixture 👍 i faffed about with the Pierberg on my nova, got it going well but once CO set what else i had done had to be adjusted again lol

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, i know what you mean you get one thing right and it offsets something else, but it's all In good fun, learn by doing 👍

[@Marshal_6]

@1`19" is that you letting the clutch out....of the door :D

[@RetroRebuild]

😄

[@nickwarren9673]

Show me your Knoppers!! Great content as ever. Big bank holiday thank you sir

[@RetroRebuild]

😄 thank you mate, appreciate it 👍

[@terryatkinson899]

Forgot to comment but doing it now for the algorithm 🤗👍🇮🇪

[@geoffeastwood5352]

Yes- don't rule out a vacuum leak which can be confused with a weak mixture. It may be the inlet manifold or one of the hoses in the vacuum system eg brake servo, PCV. The connections need to be fully tight. A loose(ish) hose on the PCV in my 1300 caused a lot of frustration.

[@stevehill4615]

Agreed, you could also add the vacuum advance on the dizzy to that, come across that a couple of times.

[@RetroRebuild]

I'll check them mate, thanks 👍

[@davidswift2542]

Hi Steve I would fit a nice down draft webber all chevette police and cid were fitted with them better reliability running easier starting cheers dave 👍

[@RetroRebuild]

Hi mate, did they? Ah class I'm getting more and more tempted to buy one now 👍

[@secretanorak592]

As Norfolk on sea said check the accelerator pump on the carb.

[@lennyh500]

Memory's a bit hazy nowadays, but think the "float chamber overflow" is part of a cold start device when twin carbs are fitted. I'm old...🥺

[@RetroRebuild]

😄 hmmm thanks mate I'll check it out👍

[@Dragonblaster1]

The high spot of my Sunday mornings! Hallaw from a half-Geordie in Hertfordshire..

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, appreciate it 👍

[@AllThingsAlex]

My Allegro crunches in reverse. I think its just a incorrect adjustment or worn clutch, as is mine as it seems to engage fine at lower revs? oh, and coconut Knoppers? I was all for giving these a try until I saw your face!. Maybe I'll give them a wide berth lol.

[@RetroRebuild]

I think I may have loosened the clutch cable off too much mate 😆 you can get peanut knoppers as well as the hazelnut they're nice 👍

[@Rbourk252]

Sounds like the clutch is not fully disengaging before changing gear. Worth checking that adjustment.

[@RetroRebuild]

I'm going to mate, thanks 👍

[@richardhunter7363]

Used to have similar issues with a Fiat Regatta - the Weber carb was prone to getting flies drawn into the jets - could strip them down and rebuild like a commando and his rifle. Remember, everything you "borrow" off the green Viva will need to be replaced - if it's difficult to find bits now - just wait till you're doing the green one!!! Loved the design of the estate with the huge pillarless rear windows. Would love to see the car at Distington vintage rally, first Sunday in July if you're looking for a good run out.

[@RetroRebuild]

😄 I'll get to the estate eventually mate, got some fun plans for it, when I get a new place 👍

[@edwardmahony8160]

Good one today! Your so close now Won't be long...

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate 👍

[@radiationking9875]

Man id love to buy that estate, beautiful car

[@stevenjones19-m8i]

Hello,I would give the Zenith carb a go,see if that makes it any better,it ran alright towards the end of the video.

[@RetroRebuild]

Hello mate, iThink I will give the zenith a try, all in good fun, yeah she was sounding sweet 👍

[@DanDoge-wp7uj]

If it was mine and I plan to keep it for ten years. I would get a holley sniper fuel injected fitted. Perfect air fuel mix. No hassle. Especially with modern fuel. You could always take it off if you sell it. Put it on the next project. Bite the bullet. Spend the money. Electronic ignition Also. Good luck.

[@RetroRebuild]

Sounds very cool mate, also sounds very expensive😆 the channel doesn't really have much of a budget yet, but I'm looking forward to doing a lot more with it, I have an electronic ignition to go on thank you 👍

[@mickspencer4171]

Was never a fan of Zenith or Stromberg carbs, if you have access to a Weber Id seriously give that a go, the difference can be amazing, great vid Steve, keep em coming mate.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate,will do , I keep saying I'm getting more and more tempted by a weber 😃👍

[@stevehill4615]

Hi Steve, have you checked the vacuum advance on the distributor is working (easy check open top of distributor remove rotor arm, suck on vacuum advance tube and checks points plate moves when sucking) as the stuttering & backfiring seems to happen in rev range just above idle where this system mainly works.

[@RetroRebuild]

Hi mate ,I did check vacuum advance not that long ago, but I will be double checking everything, thanks 👍

[@OldspeedJDM]

Carbs 🤔 I have SU and Mikuni 40PHH & 44PHH, never worked on them 😂 that’s gonna be interesting when the time comes, you’ll see. Air/fuel mixture and idling adjustments, seen many vids but I’m sure you’re doing a much better job than I’ll do when it happens 😅😅 but watching yours provides good info cause I don’t know anything either 😆 looks like fun 🤩

[@RetroRebuild]

😆 all in good good fun mate, learn by doing! 👍

[@kevinjekyll1521]

Yeah I remember my dad cursing the strongburg, just like the SU very hard to get perfect in all situations, you are lucky only having to do a single carb setup... I would definitely try the Zenith, if it ran okay on the green car, being fixed jet it should be okay on the yellow one. I tried a colour tune, problem is you can only look at idle a light throttle speeds. I must look and see if I still have mine, probably do... I would have thought n estate viva would be getting a little collectable by now?

[@RetroRebuild]

It won't harm, to try other carb mate, And yeah you don't see many viva estates these days can't wait to get moved and get started on her 👍

[@johngaskell68]

Great vid as always Steve , your Lucas comes out with some right one-liners “Watch out for that old Granddad!” 😂😂 Think I’m looking forward to the first long run out more than you are! And don’t forget to make a list of the parts “borrowed” from the estate , it’ll make the eventual resto a little easier when the time comes..! Looking forward to the next instalment as always mate ❤👍🏻

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, appreciate it, ah yeah lucas is a cracker has us in stitches most days 😆👍

[@duggy788]

i would take the bowl off the carb and check for dirt also check the float valve for dirt not sure but there might a small filter at the feed to the carb, sounds like the clutch pressure plate might be warped .

[@RetroRebuild]

I cleaned the float bowl and filter out not so long ago but I will double check👍

[@barryjackson8512]

Toss a Weber on. Always great out of the box.

[@RetroRebuild]

I'm very tempted it's heading that way mate 👍

[@johnwilkinson4782]

Great video, it seemed to me you may have too much free play on the clutch when you was moving it with your hand. That could be the reason for it not going in to reverse easily, in that the clutch is not traveling far enough to disengage properly 👍

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate,I think your right I'll check and adjust👍

[@garyl5128]

Silly question - have you put oil in the dash pot? If there's no oil the piston will rise too quick when you accelerate and cause the engine to bog down. Is that what's happening? Nikki used to make a twin choke carb for the 1256, but they will probably be hard to find now.

[@RetroRebuild]

Yes mate there's oil in the dash pot, someone sent me a link for a nikki carb for the viva not so long ago but I missed out on it 👍

[@snellingjam1]

Back in 1988 my viva had a similar issue and it ended up it was down to a pin hole in the carb diaphragm which allowed petrol into the vacuum side and stopped it running completely eventually as it filled with petrol, my dad knew exactly what the problem was and we put a new diaphragm in it and it was never a problem ever again but I honestly can't remember if it was the same carb as yours...... Well it was 35 years ago! Lol 😂 😂😂

[@RetroRebuild]

😄 the diaphragm is canny new mate, but I will double check it thanks 👍

[@pal555]

Wind the mixture screw fully in then unscrew it two and half revolutions make sure the carb is clean inside as they tend to get carbon on and make sure to top it up with oil you should find a difference

[@RetroRebuild]

I did all that mate, in an earlier vid I rebuilt the carb,put it back together with dealer workshop manual instructions stripped it back down a few times while trying to sort another issue 😆 I'll double check everything tho thanks 👍

[@pal555]

@@RetroRebuild ok no problems just found your channel tonight

[@RetroRebuild]

@@pal555 👍

[@lucythemoggy1970]

your clutch might need slight adjustment steve

[@RetroRebuild]

Yeah I think so too mate 👍

[@richardhaywood4123]

The clutch cable has too much slack in it,hold the adjuster nut and pull the clutch fork forward, there should be 6mm slack in the cable. Your clutch isn't disengaging fully.

[@RetroRebuild]

I'm going to check and adjust mate thanks 👍

[@andyarmstrong1493]

Very enjoyable, sounds like weak fuel mixture or perhaps poor fuel delivery to the carb. Can't be many Viva estates still surviving.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, yeah the viva estates are a rare beast 👍

[@lucythemoggy1970]

as long as you can push down slightly with ur thumb it's fine, too tight and it will wear the alternator bearings out :)

[@RetroRebuild]

👍

[@MartinWeedon-c7x]

Hi. Back in the day I switched from the zenith carb to a weber, good improvement. However nether down draught gave as good a drive as the side draught. One problem with the down draught is the economy diaphragm which if not perfect, gives poor power and misfires (common failure). Even if the diaphragm looks good replace it on any carb, cheap enough. You seem to be having poor performance as the revs rise, are the centrifugal and vacuum advance working in the distributor, need both to work 100% to have a free revving Viva engine. I had a advance spring come off in the distributor once and took ages to find why the thing ran so badly. Keep smiling !!!

[@RetroRebuild]

Hi! Thanks for the info mate, I'll check it out,a few people have mentioned return spring so that's gonna be the first thing I look at on my next day's off👍

[@MartinWeedon-c7x]

@@RetroRebuildHi. Double check for vacuum lacks. I don't know how many miles your engine has done but after the third engine rebuild about 160,000 miles mine had a similar problem. It would start and tick over fine but the more power you required the more it would protest, turned out to be the drive from the oil pump to the distributor had fractured and one side of the offset drive had fallen off. This is most unlikely but easy to check, mark and lift out the distributor and look down to the drive shaft below. If you see two fingers it is fine, one, you have a challenge. Once my old Viva was working well it took me all around the UK, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, over loaded with camping kit. Looks like you are getting loads of great advice from those how have suffered with that engine, I wish you well with yours and keep the videos going.

[@RetroRebuild]

@@MartinWeedon-c7x 👍

[@robwebber1217]

The engine runs on the idle jet on low revs until the throttle valve opens and the main jet kicks in, if the main jet is hesitant it may be the diaphragm.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thanks for the info mate, I'll check it out 👍

[@tyroneharris2790]

Sounds like a good idea with the Webber down draft if you can get one to fit, and the Zenith down draft version was common on the MK 1 Viva's & early MK 2 but they did make a side draft the same as the Stromberg you originally have. Anyway no harm trying that Zenith all good fun, and the hot air control flap I wouldn't worry about that since you don't have the hot air mounting plate which bolts on the exhaust manifold, besides it's only cold weather start up performance. They rust away like crazy, but the little thin pipe that connects to the diaphragm of the flap which runs up the side of the air box connects to the side of the carb, so block that nozzle off on the carb. I take it the vacuum advance pipe is not leaking on the dizzy thus vacuum advance unit itself, but the diaphragm on the carb looks ok, I think you renewed it in the past. It would be fun to see a twin choke Webber run on that💪 The clutch cable may need more tension or a faulty pressure plate, could be a worn out Borg & Beck but a Lux clutch kit is top end. All the best and keep on rocking 🚗🔧

[@RetroRebuild]

Thanks for the info mate, I might try the zenith for now, but I'm very tempted by a weber and now you mention it I'm going to check the vacuum advance pipe 👍

[@tyroneharris2790]

@@RetroRebuild...Going back in the early 90s I had Chevette after the Viva and I put a twin choke Pierberg carb on the Chevette, I worked in a factory where they had a separate sheet metal workshop. I managed to sweet talk someone into making a mounting block to fit on the inlet manifold to compensate the carb. I got the carb off a 1.3 litre OHC MK 2 Astra which was in the scrap yard, and I got a top end speed of 93MPH on the Chevette 1256 OHV, but it was stable around 80MPH. mind you the Chevette is lighter car than the Viva, imagine what it would of been like with a five speed gearbox, the gearbox really let's the engine down a lot which is what I really hate about Vauxhall. Just to add...I got a SRI 130 Cav after the Chevette and went to all the rave parties in it, and it was a beast...I drove all over the country in it, and it NEVER let me down... those were the days. Anyway all the best and keep on rocking 🏁🔧🪛🔨

[@Taz6688]

Load the car with some Redex or STP fuel additive, then give it a bit longer run, so close to sorted, well done all that work and struggle seems to be paying off.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, I've got some redex additive in👍

[@daveswarbrick5576]

Work your way back to what you did to the carb last time as the car was running well until you adjusted the fuelling , a crude way to tell if you think the car is running lean, is to pull the choke out, say half way, if the car picks up, you know the mixture is lean. The exhaust won't effect anything unless it's blocked, then you would get a hissing noise from the joints and the car wouldn't pull , very sluggish.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thanks for the info mate I'll give it a try 👍

[@malcolmbutler8451]

i went from the stromburg to correct zenith (downdraft) it ran rubbish with it on (massive flatspots) so went back to stromburg. try getting a rebuild kit for your stromburg they are way better and easier to tune. not going in reverse might be idle speed to fast. the outlet you thought might be petrol overflow is probably part of the vacuum system.

[@RetroRebuild]

I'll try all options 👍

[@smhorse]

How did we all cope without headrests back then?

[@micktuck5377]

Great video as always Steve. Put a twin choke Weber in her, she’ll go like s**t of a shovel 😂

[@RetroRebuild]

😆thank you mate, stay tuned, we'll have her doing burn outs in no time!😆

[@vandervecken2577]

Great vid, Could well be the idle jet is set too high, and the mixture with the throttle jet is too weak causing a stall when you go to pull away. Properly adjusting these beauties is an art form in itself, I remember spending about 3 days getting an escort (I think) carb perfectly adjusted, a Carb wizard can do it next to no time at all though, good luck👍🏻

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, very true, every adjustment I make offsets another adjustment, we'l get there in the end tho 😃👍

[@oldgeezer3269]

Hello bud enjoyed this one ta Did you see that very attractive lady when you turned around first time? Good job on the carb mate I can remember my Dad having a Viva,We use to say it had kangaroo petrol because it use to leap and bounce as you accelerate as you pulled away

[@RetroRebuild]

😄 thanks mate, I'm not finished yet might try fitting the zenith carb 👍

[@oldgeezer3269]

@@RetroRebuild Yeah mate give it a go it might fix it 👍👍

[@RetroRebuild]

@@oldgeezer3269 👍

[@mikenewman137]

I am not a fan of the stromberg carb but most people say its easy, it doesnt run right on mine, and i rebuilt it ! have you got a friendly mot garage who could put it on an exhaust gas analyser for you ? i think you will need to adjust the timing a bit if its popping ? i am no expert either.

[@RetroRebuild]

I'm heading towards fitting a weber carb mate, but it's fun battling with these old ones for now 😄👍

[@globalengineering]

The weights in distributor popular for systems not carb vac advance not working properly. First car was viva hence knowledge your Piddington in wind changing carbs

[@RetroRebuild]

Tha vacuum advance was fine I checked it not so long ago mate, but there's more I'm going to try I've had a few lightbulb moments 😆👍

[@colinwest5294]

Stick with the original carb they weren’t so bad. The new diaphragm will help - and does it have a throttle pump? If so change the diaphragm on that they go rock hard and split would give the symptoms you are getting.

[@RetroRebuild]

I'll check it out mate, thanks 👍

[@Roverturbo]

Sticky gears when hot can be low, old or wrong gearbox oil,

[@RetroRebuild]

It's the right oil just changed it mate, I probably loosened clutch off too much or maybe return spring is a but past it 👍

[@Norfolkonsea]

Has the carb got an accelerator pump on it? If it has a rubber diaphragm, that might be faulty causing the hesitation as you rev. 🤔

[@RetroRebuild]

I'll check it out thanks mate, 👍

[@lawrencelaidler]

are you ok no videos i hope all is well with you and family kind regards law

[@brianwillson9567]

You used the term ‘green machine’. DNR 503K has always been ‘the green machine’ in our family. Vauxhall described it as ‘conifer’.

[@RetroRebuild]

😄👍

[@jaggass]

One day it will be close to producing close to 56bhp. It seems fairly quick as it's light.

[@RetroRebuild]

👍 I'll have to get it on a rolling road, it would be a fun vid 👍

[@jaggass]

@@RetroRebuild It's probably lost a few horses. I'd say it produces 40-45bhp.

[@DanDoge-wp7uj]

Shampoo bar. Funny. Check you have a good seal from the intake to the block. It can be sucking air there. Advance and retarde is working good.. That can cause it. Valve adjustment. Correct sparkplugs and gap. Timing correct. Could be a burnt valve. Compression check. Modern fuel in these old cars don't help. Drain the system. Remove ethanol from the fuel. Plenty videos on that. See if it runs better. Shouldn't run ethanol in these classics. Eats up the rubbers. Some times you got to find a good carb rebuilder . Sonic dipped. Butterfly shaft redone. Jet's etc . These are old cars not racing cars. Saab900 have a problem with second gear when warm. Change out your oil. Saab people add lucus heavy duty oil stabiliser. They say it works. Adjust clutch. . It's just a old car. Don't drive like modern cars. And I always thought my mom was a ruff driver. Lmao. I forgive her fifty years later. LoL. Good luck mate. Keep um coming. You will fix it. PS cool interior. Adios.

[@RetroRebuild]

Thank you mate, thanks for the info 👍

[@dave.harmon]

I don't think your clutch is disengaging properly, and that's why it's grinding

[@RetroRebuild]

Neither do I mate thanks, I'll be checking it in next vid 👍

[@AlexBLindsay]

Far too much free play on clutch. Needs to be only 6mm. Slacken 7/16 nut and tighten 9/16 nut whilst holding the clutch cable until within spec. Then tighten lock nut. If that doesn’t fix gear selection problems, replace clutch. Could be a broken diaphragm spring in the clutch cover.

[@paulrak]

HOW many classics DO you have hidden at your dad's?

[@RetroRebuild]

Just the viva estate mate, the wolseley and the rover are his

[@robc5955]

Ooo did I see a P5…….

[@RetroRebuild]

Yes mate, my dad's car 👍

[@terryatkinson899]

I can't see you doing anything wrong, just carbs are finicky sometimes. Bit of a dark art they are. When you've 2 old carbs of unknown history, it's hard to know whether they're worn out or leaking or dirty. Really stabbing I'm the dark tinkering with them.

[@RetroRebuild]

Very true mate, I'm heading closer to buying a weber 😄

[@thebarleymow]

Treat the carb to a new diaphragm then you can eliminate that from your list of possible problems!

[@RetroRebuild]

It's fairly new the one that's in but I do have another,there's no harm in trying 👍

[@robertmartin7525]

Surely every Vauxhall Viva on Gods Earth would have crumbled into mounds of rust by now?

[@RetroRebuild]

Like every other 70s cars some crumbled away some survived.

[@keithvers569]

Try lubricating the advance retard weights on the distributor

[@RetroRebuild]

Will do mate, thanks 👍

[@johnmorrow7080]

I'll never forget when I worked at A&G we had this old HC come in wanted a the damaged front replaced I opened the bonnet and the inner wing hinge panel collapsed , we ended up contacting the insurance company who authorised paying for a patch panel for the inner wing the stores gave me the wrong wing a late style wing foreman said stick it on he will not notice Oh yes he did it came back a couple of weeks later ended up having a matching wing fitted along with the other nackered hinge panel . One a different note we had a HC Viva come in talking to the owner he said worst car he had ever owned he won it in a competition always breaking down .

[@RetroRebuild]

😆 class mate, yeah I've heard loads of story's about viva's half good half bad, everyone remembers things differently, I just love old motors 👍

[@TheJackSampson]

Brilliant

[@TheJackSampson]

Brilliant