Some years ago I worked as a fleet mechanic mainly Vauxhalls and this engine was fitted to the Mk2 Astra 1.2ohv. Although some differences they were basically the same and to adjust the tappets on these were done with the engine running. I was forever replacing feeler gauges. Top job Steve keep up the good work👍
Good video Steve.I have always had respect for these small Vauxhall engines despite not such good reports from the motor sport fraternity. The reason for my passion is that back in the 70,s and 80,s I rallied a modified HA Viva with Weber and Janspeed exhaust it revved quite happily up to 7500 RPM, and later had a 1256 Chevette, with the internals from HRO855N,a Vauxhall development car used by Gerry Marshall ,and later by Will Sparrow ,this revved up to 8000rpm easily I think it may have gone more but the revcounter didn't . This mated to a Quaffe straight cut gearbox gave 70mph in second gear but not terrific acceleration ,the rear diff ratio needed lowering but I didn't know how to. With this I was able to win my class in the ASEMC rally championship and came 4th overall against Escort RS2000s and Lotus Sunbeams, luckely I never wet off the road, good driving or good handling car ? not sure.One thing I had on both was an electric fan ,this stopped carburettor icing on the HA and seemed to stop the white sludge developing in the rocker cover,I was also told it was worth about 4to5 BHP. Ronnie is correct I used to do the tappets with the engine running and wore out many feeler gauges! Do I sound like Roy Croper? no comment
Great stuff, now that sounds like quite a beast you made up there. I know Paul has mentioned fitting an electronic fan to the Viva, and I think it is very much next on the list. I've always been impressed with how nippy the car is for a little 1300, cracking little motor really 👍
Did this job many times on Vivas and Chevettes back in the day,was always surprised at how quiet the engine became after performing this task - great video - thankyou.
Nice to see you working on a Viva mate. I cut my teeth on a hb, tuned it, niki carb, ported, ground all the steps off manifold interface, sl90 manifold, modified valves, chromed rocker and bits front spoiler etc. This was in 70s. I literally was setting tappets every other week used to advance her up at weekends and go out looking for fun. Just one tip mate once you have set gaps put a ring spanner on bottom nut and lock the top nut down against it, it's the correct way and they are more likely to stay put. However the rocker studs are a tolerance fit and are buggers for moving when you rev the living daylights out of it. Owned hb, two hc, 2.3 magnum, two nova, auto corsa and four astra. My son Kai is carrying on the tradition, new Viva, auto 1,4turbo astra and now gtc VXR. It's a beast. I'm Kai's dad John, keep up the good work mate.
Cheers John, glade to hear of all your fond memories of Viva's. you seem to remind me very much of Paul who has his Viva HC (in the Video) he also has an Omega and a HP Firenza Droot Snoot. And much like you but the other way around his dad work for Vauxhall, so there is a strong link in there family to Vauxhall. Before I knew them I'd never really got much into the history of Vauxhall, growing up with Fords. But over time Vauxhall has become another manufacturer that I've come to love 👍
I remember this being done with the engine running at a slow idle (with the throttle stop screw backed off). If you didn't turn the idle down it could get rather messy. I'm pretty sure Vauxhall had a special tool which was basically a plastic splash guard.
I did my apprenticeship for a vauxhall dealers 1979 to 1985 in Gants Hill Essex, Vivas, Chevettes and cavaliers wee so easy to work on and on all the 1057, 1159 and 1256 engines the tappets were set with the engine running and if mmory serves me correct the part number for a set of Delco points was 7953383 I think the oil filter was 7984297 but I could be wrong, nice video
It’s one of them, ask 10 people you have 10 answers. I’ve heard Vauxhall developed a special rocker cover so not to spill oil while doing them running too 👍
No mate as far as I am aware they never did but having said that I cant ever remember oil spilling over the oil pump wasnt powerful enough especially if you were unlucky enough to have an oil pump with an off set drive, the distributor which drove the oil pump used to snap the weakest lug off of the oil pump giving you an errative oil feed you only realised when you stripped the engne then you had to buy a distributor with a centre drive and an in line oil pump, job solved.@@SteveDentonClassics
I had a Bedford HA van that has a Viva HC engine fitted so that was a decent power increase. I remember doing the valve clearances on it with the engine running. I also remember that not much more than a flat blade screwdriver and a 1/2" ring spanner was needed to do most things on the van, including gearbox removal....
Oh nice one, yeah a number of people in the comments have said about doing them while running. That is the beauty of old cars, you don't need much kit to work on them 👍
The viva was meant to have the valve clearances done Hot running. Although this often chewed up your feeler gauges. I was told a method used by vauxhall mechanics which works a treat. Get the engine hot tighten the rocker till you hear the revs drop then undo slightly untill the revs come back, works a treat on cam in head Mk1 cavs aswell
Yes, someone else in the comments box did mention this. The engine on the car was warmed up prior to doing the tappets, however I don't think it's right to do tappets with a running engine due to the reason you stated, it chews up feeler gauges, and that's the reason I do them static. That said, you mention a very interesting different way of doing them, and I'm always open to suggestion, and will give it a try 👍
Easy when you know how ! I'm no mechanic Steve but even l could probably manage this . Your narrative gives confidence to the most ham fisted ! Thanks Steve . And l 'm sure Paul was a very happy chappie!
Good luck to you and Paul. My late father used to spend hours setting the tappets on his Viva. Once set they sounded good but a week later they were back to being a bag of nails. Made his later Hillman Hunter sound positively silky in comparison. The tappets were never a major issue however - the tin worm did far more damage.
I think it's like anything, sometimes you get a good car, sometimes you get a bad one. Pauls Viva has only done around 20-30 thousand miles from new, and has had a gentle life 👍
@@SteveDentonClassics thought i wasn't going mad... i remember all the feeler guages with 8 thou being destroyed lol.... years later when i had a viva i got a second rocker cover and cut the top off to stop the splashing of the oil while it was running making a mess
@@eggy1962 - That would do the job. It was also best to back off the throttle stop screw to set a low idle speed otherwise things could get rather messy. Very first car was a Vauxhall Viva.
Nice post could kick myself just went through so photos of my mates from donnington classic think your car was in photo would have had a chat ps car looks good
So nice to see another HC getting the care it deserves.
It’s a really good original one too 👍🏻
Some years ago I worked as a fleet mechanic mainly Vauxhalls and this engine was fitted to the Mk2 Astra 1.2ohv. Although some differences they were basically the same and to adjust the tappets on these were done with the engine running. I was forever replacing feeler gauges. Top job Steve keep up the good work👍
Cheers Ronnie, I can't get over how basic they are to work on at times👍
@@SteveDentonClassics Yes was a time when you could repair these old machines with a knife and fork. How things have changed.
Good video Steve.I have always had respect for these small Vauxhall engines despite not such good reports from the motor sport fraternity. The reason for my passion is that back in the 70,s and 80,s I rallied a modified HA Viva with Weber and Janspeed exhaust it revved quite happily up to 7500 RPM, and later had a 1256 Chevette, with the internals from HRO855N,a Vauxhall development car used by Gerry Marshall ,and later by Will Sparrow ,this revved up to 8000rpm easily I think it may have gone more but the revcounter didn't . This mated to a Quaffe straight cut gearbox gave 70mph in second gear but not terrific acceleration ,the rear diff ratio needed lowering but I didn't know how to. With this I was able to win my class in the ASEMC rally championship and came 4th overall against Escort RS2000s and Lotus Sunbeams, luckely I never wet off the road, good driving or good handling car ? not sure.One thing I had on both was an electric fan ,this stopped carburettor icing on the HA and seemed to stop the white sludge developing in the rocker cover,I was also told it was worth about 4to5 BHP. Ronnie is correct I used to do the tappets with the engine running and wore out many feeler gauges! Do I sound like Roy Croper? no comment
Great stuff, now that sounds like quite a beast you made up there. I know Paul has mentioned fitting an electronic fan to the Viva, and I think it is very much next on the list. I've always been impressed with how nippy the car is for a little 1300, cracking little motor really 👍
Great story... Tim would you have any pictures of the car and engine?
Did this job many times on Vivas and Chevettes back in the day,was always surprised at how quiet the engine became after performing this task - great video - thankyou.
You're welcome, glade you enjoyed the video 👍
Nice to see you working on a Viva mate. I cut my teeth on a hb, tuned it, niki carb, ported, ground all the steps off manifold interface, sl90 manifold, modified valves, chromed rocker and bits front spoiler etc. This was in 70s. I literally was setting tappets every other week used to advance her up at weekends and go out looking for fun.
Just one tip mate once you have set gaps put a ring spanner on bottom nut and lock the top nut down against it, it's the correct way and they are more likely to stay put. However the rocker studs are a tolerance fit and are buggers for moving when you rev the living daylights out of it.
Owned hb, two hc, 2.3 magnum, two nova, auto corsa and four astra.
My son Kai is carrying on the tradition, new Viva, auto 1,4turbo astra and now gtc VXR. It's a beast.
I'm Kai's dad John, keep up the good work mate.
Cheers John, glade to hear of all your fond memories of Viva's. you seem to remind me very much of Paul who has his Viva HC (in the Video) he also has an Omega and a HP Firenza Droot Snoot. And much like you but the other way around his dad work for Vauxhall, so there is a strong link in there family to Vauxhall. Before I knew them I'd never really got much into the history of Vauxhall, growing up with Fords. But over time Vauxhall has become another manufacturer that I've come to love 👍
I remember this being done with the engine running at a slow idle (with the throttle stop screw backed off). If you didn't turn the idle down it could get rather messy. I'm pretty sure Vauxhall had a special tool which was basically a plastic splash guard.
Someone else has already mentioned this in the comments, and it's really interesting to know. As they say everyday is a school day 👍
I used to work on these engine your right the valves were always adjusted with the engine running for best results
I did my apprenticeship for a vauxhall dealers 1979 to 1985 in Gants Hill Essex, Vivas, Chevettes and cavaliers wee so easy to work on and on all the 1057, 1159 and 1256 engines the tappets were set with the engine running and if mmory serves me correct the part number for a set of Delco points was 7953383 I think the oil filter was 7984297 but I could be wrong, nice video
It’s one of them, ask 10 people you have 10 answers. I’ve heard Vauxhall developed a special rocker cover so not to spill oil while doing them running too 👍
No mate as far as I am aware they never did but having said that I cant ever remember oil spilling over the oil pump wasnt powerful enough especially if you were unlucky enough to have an oil pump with an off set drive, the distributor which drove the oil pump used to snap the weakest lug off of the oil pump giving you an errative oil feed you only realised when you stripped the engne then you had to buy a distributor with a centre drive and an in line oil pump, job solved.@@SteveDentonClassics
I had a Bedford HA van that has a Viva HC engine fitted so that was a decent power increase. I remember doing the valve clearances on it with the engine running. I also remember that not much more than a flat blade screwdriver and a 1/2" ring spanner was needed to do most things on the van, including gearbox removal....
Oh nice one, yeah a number of people in the comments have said about doing them while running. That is the beauty of old cars, you don't need much kit to work on them 👍
Nice straight forward job there Steve, great the way they adjust too 👍
Much easier than a Triumph or an MG, but still the same principle 👍
Great video. Good explanation of the rule of 9.
Cheers mate 👍
The viva was meant to have the valve clearances done Hot running. Although this often chewed up your feeler gauges. I was told a method used by vauxhall mechanics which works a treat. Get the engine hot tighten the rocker till you hear the revs drop then undo slightly untill the revs come back, works a treat on cam in head Mk1 cavs aswell
Yes, someone else in the comments box did mention this. The engine on the car was warmed up prior to doing the tappets, however I don't think it's right to do tappets with a running engine due to the reason you stated, it chews up feeler gauges, and that's the reason I do them static. That said, you mention a very interesting different way of doing them, and I'm always open to suggestion, and will give it a try 👍
Easy when you know how ! I'm no mechanic Steve but even l could probably manage this . Your narrative gives confidence to the most ham fisted ! Thanks Steve . And l 'm sure Paul was a very happy chappie!
Cheers John, it's such an easy little motor to work on 👍
Nice job Steve. Worth a mention that some cars adjust tappets when the engine is cold, while others when the engine is hot.
Yeah, this is true 👍
And some have different clearances for exhaust and inlet valves…
Very true, as this one has a Webber carb we set it to what an engine builder recommended 👍
Good informative vlog as always Steve Paul’s viva looks a cracking motor the colour really suits it keep the vlogs coming all the best…..
Cheers Kev, it's probably one of the best Vivas in the UK 👍
Good luck to you and Paul. My late father used to spend hours setting the tappets on his Viva. Once set they sounded good but a week later they were back to being a bag of nails. Made his later Hillman Hunter sound positively silky in comparison. The tappets were never a major issue however - the tin worm did far more damage.
I think it's like anything, sometimes you get a good car, sometimes you get a bad one. Pauls Viva has only done around 20-30 thousand miles from new, and has had a gentle life 👍
we used to call these 'floating tappets' best done running
You learn a new thing everyday 👍
I helped my brother do that many times on his viva gls.
Oh nice one 👍
What size is the engine? Is this engine better than the Ford escort mark 2? Is it more powerful? Is it more economical?
Its a little 1300, engine, compared to the Escort mk2, it depends what engine you have in the Escort 👍
1.300
Why did i think it was 8 thou with engine warm and running, i remember the cleanup needed
It’s running a Weber carb, and therefore to get the best from it, it isn’t as per the factory manual
@@SteveDentonClassics thought i wasn't going mad... i remember all the feeler guages with 8 thou being destroyed lol.... years later when i had a viva i got a second rocker cover and cut the top off to stop the splashing of the oil while it was running making a mess
@@eggy1962 - Im pretty sure Vauxhall had a special tool which was basically a plastic splash guard.
@@markrl75 the guy i learned from cut the top off a rocker cover and just sat it in position.
@@eggy1962 - That would do the job. It was also best to back off the throttle stop screw to set a low idle speed otherwise things could get rather messy. Very first car was a Vauxhall Viva.
Nice post could kick myself just went through so photos of my mates from donnington classic think your car was in photo would have had a chat ps car looks good
Cheers Ian, I try to go to the Donnington Classic every year 👍