Vauxhall Viva Tappets

Paul has owned his Vauxhall Viva HC for a number of years now, and a splendid example of a Viva it is too. However ever since his replaced his Stromberg carburettor for a Webber and had the car on a rolling road for set up, the tappets have started to chatter. Paul has asked if I can come and sort this out for him

#VauxhallViva #classiccars

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Unicorn Heads - A Trip Around the Moon

[brianwillson]

So nice to see another HC getting the care it deserves.

[ronnie]

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👍

[adamsfamilydottwo]

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

[Darwenhypnotherapy]

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.

[kaiwaterfield]

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.

[markrl]

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.

[Tarkus]

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

[tiguanman]

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....

[philipashton]

Great video. Good explanation of the rule of 9.

[Tcyberdynesystems]

Nice straight forward job there Steve, great the way they adjust too 👍

[BigDave]

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

[johndavey]

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!

[TRAjim]

Nice job Steve. Worth a mention that some cars adjust tappets when the engine is cold, while others when the engine is hot.

[KJM.]

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…..

[johnnorth]

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.

[rogerfowles]

we used to call these 'floating tappets' best done running

[stuwhite]

I helped my brother do that many times on his viva gls.

[anthonyeverett]

What size is the engine? Is this engine better than the Ford escort mark 2? Is it more powerful? Is it more economical?

[eggy]

Why did i think it was 8 thou with engine warm and running, i remember the cleanup needed

[ianrussell]

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