Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: redelitev6 on 01 January 2010, 19:25:34

Title: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: redelitev6 on 01 January 2010, 19:25:34
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THE-one-and-only-scrap-scheme-chevette_W0QQitemZ270495970676QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item3efad0f574 . what the hell ?
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 01 January 2010, 19:31:56
Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Omegadoha, Desert Member on 01 January 2010, 19:32:07
Can it really only have 47,000 miles on it?
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Amigo on 01 January 2010, 19:42:06
I think he's being a tad optimistic...bit of a chancer! That said Shovitts are cracking little cars, nippy & handle surprisingly well considering the god awful HC Viva they were based on & you can adjust the tappets using the usual rule of 9 with the engine running. Ive had two as road cars & raced a few on the oval circuit back in the day!
    A good cheap starter classic but you can get a better one for less.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Amigo on 01 January 2010, 19:43:15
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Can it really only have 47,000 miles on it?
If it was family owned a a second car then it's quite possible. :y
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Amigo on 01 January 2010, 19:50:25
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Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
HS or Lotus sunbeam? That was the question years ago. Either would probably be quicker off the mark than most Migs...remember Pete's MX5 @ York?.
    90 or 100+ would see any 6 potter regaining the lead though. Happy 2010 to the LK clan, Guy. :y
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 01 January 2010, 20:05:08
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Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
HS or Lotus sunbeam? That was the question years ago. Either would probably be quicker off the mark than most Migs...remember Pete's MX5 @ York?.
    90 or 100+ would see any 6 potter regaining the lead though. Happy 2010 to the LK clan, Guy. :y

HS Chevette Albs had.
He claims 162 top speed but I think he has been chatting to Dundee ::)
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Bent valve on 01 January 2010, 22:22:08
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I think he's being a tad optimistic...bit of a chancer! That said Shovitts are cracking little cars, nippy & handle surprisingly well considering the god awful HC Viva they were based on & you can adjust the tappets using the usual rule of 9 with the engine running. Ive had two as road cars & raced a few on the oval circuit back in the day!
    A good cheap starter classic but you can get a better one for less.

Rule of 9 with the engine running? how do you do that then :-?
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: albitz on 02 January 2010, 09:02:53
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Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
Slower than Martins but a lot faster than yours. ;) :P ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Ghost on 02 January 2010, 12:22:29
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Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
HS or Lotus sunbeam? That was the question years ago. Either would probably be quicker off the mark than most Migs...remember Pete's MX5 @ York?.
    90 or 100+ would see any 6 potter regaining the lead though. Happy 2010 to the LK clan, Guy. :y

HS Chevette Albs had.
He claims 162 top speed but I think he has been chatting to Dundee ::)


I remamber my old chevette I had, a little 1,3. it was quite nippy and yes they do go that fast but in KMH not so in MPH, depends on what engine i would say.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: albitz on 02 January 2010, 12:27:00
pulled 7000 rpm in top - 18.9 mph per 1000 revs = 132 mph
Twin 48 dellortos,Blydenstein tubular manifold and lumenition electronic ignition.
Lotus Sunbeams for breakfast and RS2000,s for elevenses. ;) :P ::)
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: MaxV6 on 02 January 2010, 13:00:32
and utterly blown away by my Ford corsair....   with a Group A race prepped 3.2 essex V6 instead of a 2.0 V4... 
(car was used as a stage clearer for rallys.... )


i started my 6 pot career early....  ;-)

Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 January 2010, 20:25:29
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I think he's being a tad optimistic...bit of a chancer! That said Shovitts are cracking little cars, nippy & handle surprisingly well considering the god awful HC Viva they were based on & you can adjust the tappets using the usual rule of 9 with the engine running. Ive had two as road cars & raced a few on the oval circuit back in the day!
    A good cheap starter classic but you can get a better one for less.

Rule of 9 with the engine running? how do you do that then :-?

Only one I ever worked on it was a case of remove the "black margarine" until you could actually FIND the tappets, tighten them little by little until you could do without the ear defenders then once round them again to fine tune. ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: cam2502 on 02 January 2010, 20:30:35
ah a chevvy....takes me back, was my very 1st car......fond memories......mostly in the back seat ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Squealey on 02 January 2010, 21:06:26
My brothers first motor was a Chevette, spotless bodywork, had new front wings as these were a weak point. Saw it at the back of a forecourt for £95 on a Saturday night, had to wait till Monday before we could find out why it was so cheap. Turned out the engine was stuffed, but as chance would have it my future employer (although I didn't know that at the time) had one due in that morning as a p/x with stuffed bodywork but tip top mechanically. Got that for £20 and by the next morning the engine was swapped and my brother had his learner car. He bloody loved it.

I have a few memorys of certain things even at that tender age. Brilliant gearchange, brown chequered seat coverings with plastic bolsters and an Alba cassette player which was under the glovebox.

Ah, those were the days (it was only 1990)
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2010, 21:15:15
My little bros first cars was a Shitvette. Bright yellow.  Like most British cars of the era, didn't like damp mornings - would start off (eventually) on 2, run on 3 when warm, might even get all 4 cylinders after a 40 mile run ;D

Decent little car, easy to work on, sort of did corners, but blimey did they rust - made the Fords and Austens of the time seem almost rustproof!
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 January 2010, 21:30:18
My mate had one as a first car and I think we had the gearbox out of it about 5 times.

1. Clutch failure
2. Gearbox failure
3. 2nd hand gearbox his dad bought from pikeys. Also shot
4. Made decent gearbox out of 2 knackered ones.
5. Propshaft UJ let go and smashed gearbox rear casting, made another working gearbox out of bits.

 :o

Kevin
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2010, 21:33:43
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My mate had one as a first car and I think we had the gearbox out of it about 5 times.

1. Clutch failure
2. Gearbox failure
3. 2nd hand gearbox his dad bought from pikeys. Also shot
4. Made decent gearbox out of 2 knackered ones.
5. Propshaft UJ let go and smashed gearbox rear casting, made another working gearbox out of bits.

 :o

Kevin
Seem to remember my bro's gearbox whining. Think he ignored it. Never let go.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Elite Pete on 02 January 2010, 22:16:32
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Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
HS or Lotus sunbeam? That was the question years ago. Either would probably be quicker off the mark than most Migs...remember Pete's MX5 @ York?.
    90 or 100+ would see any 6 potter regaining the lead though. Happy 2010 to the LK clan, Guy. :y

HS Chevette Albs had.
He claims 162 top speed but I think he has been chatting to Dundee ::)
Thats still not as fast as Martin Imbers Omega and his Talbot would eat the both of them ;) ;D ;D
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: STMO999 on 02 January 2010, 22:17:15
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Quote
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Quote
Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
HS or Lotus sunbeam? That was the question years ago. Either would probably be quicker off the mark than most Migs...remember Pete's MX5 @ York?.
    90 or 100+ would see any 6 potter regaining the lead though. Happy 2010 to the LK clan, Guy. :y

HS Chevette Albs had.
He claims 162 top speed but I think he has been chatting to Dundee ::)
Thats still not as fast as Martin Imbers Omega and his Talbot would eat the both of them ;) ;D ;D


Castle. Head.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Elite Pete on 02 January 2010, 22:22:23
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Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
HS or Lotus sunbeam? That was the question years ago. Either would probably be quicker off the mark than most Migs...remember Pete's MX5 @ York?.
    90 or 100+ would see any 6 potter regaining the lead though. Happy 2010 to the LK clan, Guy. :y

HS Chevette Albs had.
He claims 162 top speed but I think he has been chatting to Dundee ::)
Thats still not as fast as Martin Imbers Omega and his Talbot would eat the both of them ;) ;D ;D


Castle. Head.
Uh ::)
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Elite Pete on 02 January 2010, 22:28:33
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Oh please no, you will get the Ode Albi going on about his HS that would beat Martin Imbers Omega or so he told me  :o
HS or Lotus sunbeam? That was the question years ago. Either would probably be quicker off the mark than most Migs...remember Pete's MX5 @ York?.
    90 or 100+ would see any 6 potter regaining the lead though. Happy 2010 to the LK clan, Guy. :y

HS Chevette Albs had.
He claims 162 top speed but I think he has been chatting to Dundee ::)
Thats still not as fast as Martin Imbers Omega and his Talbot would eat the both of them ;) ;D ;D


Castle. Head.
Uh ::)
Ahhhhh, Castle. Head. :y ;D ;D
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: MaxV6 on 02 January 2010, 22:32:49
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My little bros first cars was a Shitvette.

no, the proper name was a vauxhall Shoveit
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2010, 22:35:06
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My little bros first cars was a Shitvette.

no, the proper name was a vauxhall Shoveit
yup, but bros was always called the shitvette. Very rarely did it need a shove to start the bugger.

Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: ChevetteNick on 02 January 2010, 23:22:42
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Can it really only have 47,000 miles on it?
I'm the 4th owner of one with less than a genuine 31k on the clock and it's 19 years old now [smiley=wink.gif]

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That said Shovitts are cracking little cars, nippy & handle surprisingly well considering the god awful HC Viva they were based on

They were based on the Opel Kadett C (identical in fact apart from the nosecone, wings and slam panel). The only thing in common with the Viva was the wheezy engine. I wish they used the OHC engines as well then they would have rivalled Ford for sales and we would have a much better spares availability right now  :'(
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 02 January 2010, 23:27:27
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Can it really only have 47,000 miles on it?
I'm the 4th owner of one with less than a genuine 31k on the clock and it's 19 years old now [smiley=wink.gif]

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That said Shovitts are cracking little cars, nippy & handle surprisingly well considering the god awful HC Viva they were based on

They were based on the Opel Kadett C (identical in fact apart from the nosecone, wings and slam panel). The only thing in common with the Viva was the wheezy engine. I wish they used the OHC engines as well then they would have rivalled Ford for sales and we would have a much better spares availability right now  :'(

Chevette was 1256cc
I believe the Kadett was only 1200 tho.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: mars on 02 January 2010, 23:34:58
My dad had a 1981 X reg (3 door hatch) brand new as a company car. He wrecked the clutch at 3 months old in the snow but cost nowt to repair as it was a company car!! Lol. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: albitz on 03 January 2010, 08:34:36
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Can it really only have 47,000 miles on it?
I'm the 4th owner of one with less than a genuine 31k on the clock and it's 19 years old now [smiley=wink.gif]

Quote
That said Shovitts are cracking little cars, nippy & handle surprisingly well considering the god awful HC Viva they were based on

They were based on the Opel Kadett C (identical in fact apart from the nosecone, wings and slam panel). The only thing in common with the Viva was the wheezy engine. I wish they used the OHC engines as well then they would have rivalled Ford for sales and we would have a much better spares availability right now  :'(
Drop an old slant four engine in it (if you can find one these days) a bit of fairly mild tuning and you will have 120bhp making it a quick little car - although a bit nose heavy. ;)
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 03 January 2010, 10:27:20
I think the engine was related to the Ashtray 1200 and Nogo 1000

It was a 3 bearing lump and not that easy to work on.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: albitz on 03 January 2010, 10:46:10
Dont think so Martin, it was the 1256 engine from the HC Viva which iirc was a bored out version of the 1159 engine from the HB Viva. A crap engine,even Bill Blydenstein said it was virtually impossible to tune.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 03 January 2010, 12:34:33
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Dont think so Martin, it was the 1256 engine from the HC Viva which iirc was a bored out version of the 1159 engine from the HB Viva. A crap engine,even Bill Blydenstein said it was virtually impossible to tune.


Didnt do too bad with mine.

Stage 3 head, HD Valve springs and HD Competition clucth (was either up or down on the pedal) and updated stromberg 175 carb and a standard oil pump.


Bought the as an ex demo (Local Dealer - Kirkby Central) with all the above fitted plus lumention, car had 20k on when I bought it plus all the HS spoilers and DTV stripes.  Engine lasted to 32k and started to burn oil.  So had a brand new Vx short motor fitted with all the above plus a high pressure oil pump.

Ran it all in carefully and the new lump showed a vast improvement.  Took it to Noble Mellors in Chesterfield to have my tracking done and Gavin Cox thier rally driver took it out for a test drive and commented on quick it was compared to his 100 bhp Astra powered chevette but said mine was a bit fluffy on pickup.

My girlfriends Dad had a garage and reckoned he used to work on race cars (dint quite believe ) but let him have a twiddle on mine.  He ripped the lumention out and put standard points back in, and some plugs that the dealers wanted me to test (as they considered fitting them in the plods panda cars) with mine being a stage 3 big valve head I think they said these ran hotter and wanted to see how they performed in thier old demo.

Well impressed, wheelspin in 1st and 2nd gear and a squeak in 3rd.  Car had never managed to maintain more than 102mph whatever I had done, that day it went on and maxed at 112mph (indicated on speedo) so I was well chuffed (even more so for the length of private test track I was on)


Few years later when I had my sylvia turbo I went to buy a rally prepared HS.

Twin 48's, big bore exhaust routed inside the car etc, fire ex kit, R/C plus all the usual.  The guy selling it reckoned it had 240bhp and took me for a spin, he thought he would impress me down some twisty country roads where we could see for miles.  He hit speeds of 70/80 mph pushing it all the way.  I passed on the deal as I thought the car was tame, and proved it by taking him in the sylvia on the same route at nearly 110.  His car was fooked


There's good and bad in all, and is surprising how many low mileage chevettes are actually tucked away.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 03 January 2010, 12:37:23
Was a Bill Blydenstein but had the CHR2 cam rather than the full race CHR3 that would have needed the new inlet and Dellorto 45, plus the 4 branch manifold and big bore exhaust.

I also removed the resonator boxes from my exhaust and fitted straight through pipes, made quite a difference.
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: albitz on 03 January 2010, 12:49:03
The HS with twin 48,s etc were normally around 175bhp (on a newish engine) The works rally cars were 240 at best,but that required bigger valves, much higher lift cams, different pistons etc, so he was probably a bullshitter as you suspected.
I think old Billys point about the 1256 was that the time effort and money required wasnt really worth the bother as the head design was restrictive and after a certain point it didnt really matter what you did, there was no more performance to be had. :y
Title: Re: anybody fancy a change?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 03 January 2010, 14:04:38
One of the family who owbed the factory where I worked rebuilt his HS from the standard 135 to the 240 bhp works spec.

When he wrote the shell off on one of the rallys he had the engine rebiult from the 240 bhp twin cam 2.3 to the 2.6 stroker kit with the new crank and single cam head, they recked that what approx.

He had a never ending supply of engine as the block was the same as the Bedford CF230 vans, and we ran a fleet of them at work.

Once heard them setting the timing in the garage. they just revved it to 7000 rpm and and adjusted the timing.  Sounded awsome.

I have a couple of pics some where, will scan them and post them when I find them.

Also have a pic of his brothers escort BDG works car, he won his class in the Lombard RAC with that, cant remeber what year it was tho.