By popular demand ....

[steelcityuk]

Hi Peter,

Yes good point, it's one of those things you don't think about unless you have to deal with it.

I notice that inlet butterflys have made an appearance as part of the EGR/emissions system. My C5 had one, though it was control by the ECU using a vacuum solenoid.

More please!

Steve.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Steve

I am running out of recollections now, how about my easiest conversion?

This was, believe it or not on a Vauxhall Viva, partly I suppose because I was using a Vauxhall gearbox, although being the smallest car I had converted the engine fitted a treat, everything was in the right place, to make the longer overdrive box fit all I had to do was turn the gearbox crossmember round the other way and it fitted exactly.

I had to shorten the prop shaft but that was the case with practically all of them, it drove really well in fact it was probably my best conversion, my wife loved driving it and has never forgiven me for selling it, she mentioned it only the other day, I don't think she would like to go back to driving it now though!

Peter

[steelcityuk]

Hi Peter,

Would that be a HA?

Steve.

[Peter.N.]

No, they were dreadful things to work on or at least the vans were. HB I think

[Dieselman]

Hi Steve

Well there was one mod I made that I should have patented Diesels having no natural vacuum supply caused a bit of a problem when servo assisted brakes arrived - no, they didn't always have them The diesel as you will know has no throttle, the power being controlled purely by the fuel delivery, hence no vacuum, the pumps that are used now were not of course available then, so I had to cobble something up.

What I did was to incorporate a butterfly valve in the air inlet to the manifold, this was linked to the throttle in such a way that immediatly you put your foot down the air supply was open wide, I now had a vacuum supply when the throttle was closed, which it usually is when you brake, it worked very well and had the bonus effect of slightly lowering the compression on tickover which reduced vibration and considerably ruducing the air intake roar, an annoying source of noise on early diesels.

The reason I say I should have patented it is that shortly after I did this British Leyland brought out the diesel Sherpa van which used exactly the same system It had a few embellishments but principle was the same.
http://www.club-xm.co.uk/forum/posting. ... =2&p=19490#
Peter.

That's a very innovative adaptation Peter, you obviously remember thumping the windscreen to get the vacuum operated wipers to sweep when cruising, but Bosch were using vacuum governors for diesel pump control a long time before your system..

Like you I had an idea I wish I had kept quiet about and patented...heated steering wheels.. Seriously, they were my idea, but I didn't know how to further it and let it slip to someone who was already in talks with Ford USA to supply seat heating material.....
...Only years later did I find out my cousin is a high ranking Director in Ford Worldwide...

[Peter.N.]

"That's a very innovative adaptation Peter, you obviously remember thumping the windscreen to get the vacuum operated wipers to sweep when cruising, but Bosch were using vacuum governors for diesel pump control a long time before your system"


That was the old Fords, the Vauxhalls had mechanically driven wipers that went manic if you pushed it in low gear, I don't know which was worse

Peter

[Jan-hendrik]

This was, believe it or not on a Vauxhall Viva

A recollection of mine: My dad had a thing with Vauxhalls. Before owning his own car he used to rent Velox and Cresta models in the 1950s. Actually my very first car was a Wyvern (1952?).
Anyway dad owned several Vivas in succession. He used to buy a new one every two years. They were interesting little screamers that were loaded up and driven across Germany into the Swiss Alps!
When the dealership changed he lost interest (dad) and switched to Audis - remember that 5-cylinder beast?, which were followed by Toyotas. He once bought a Celica Sport something because my kid brother got one, but he changed it within a week for another Toyota - forgot what it was called but it was more sedate. The Toyotas were superseded by Mazdas and his driving experiences ended with those vehicles . . .
Sorry for the rant

[Jan-hendrik]

the Vauxhalls had mechanically driven wipers that went manic if you pushed it in low gear

Oh yes, I remember those driving in the English rain! I loved those wipers

[Peter.N.]

I never had a 'foreign' vehicle until I drove my first CX, I have only had Citroens since then, apart from the BMW

My cars went: Ford Prefect, Hillman minx, Austin A70, Vauxhall Velox and cresta 'E' Velox and Cresta PA, Morris Oxford, Wolsely 15/60, Humber Hawk, Humber Super Snipe, Cortina, Viva, Super Minx, Vauxhall Victor, Granada, Citroen, Citroen, Citroen....... several of each of some of the foregoing.

Peter

[steelcityuk]

I've got fond memories of a HA van my brother bought. I think he paid £25 for it in the mid 80s. Ex BT I think, very basic but easy to fix and cheap to run. As cars I've never been that interested in Vivas, maybe if I could have afforded a Magnum, Firenza or Droop Snoot it may have been different. In fact I don't think I've ever owned a Vauxhall, driven lots and fixed some. I really like the Nova, great little hatch but killed by rust eventually.

Steve.