Thread: New father son project

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Just thought I'd say hi. A few years back when my son was only 11 he used the money he'd been saving (not a lot) to buy himself a rock solid 2 door 1971 Vauxhall Firenza. It's a very rare car here in Canada, since GM imported very few here. Rare is pretty cool, but it has made this a difficult project.
The plan originally was to swap in a SBC, but since fuel prices shot up, and the insurance company said theres no way they'd insure it, he decided to go another route. He recently purchased (again, with his own money) a Merkur XR4Ti with a new turbo and engine, as a donor.
Some health issues sidelined the project for a few years, but I'm still alive, so it's time to try again .
So far he's collected.
-Professionally rebuilt Ford 2.3T with rebuilt turbo
-spare complete engine for parts
-few used turbos for spares
-T-bird intercooler
-adjustable boost regulator
-C4 tranny from a Pinto (correct bellhousing)
-Pinto flexplate & good convertor
-wiring harness & computer
-Pinto driveshaft
-B&M shifter (missing cover and cable)
-Grant steering wheel
-nice welded aluminum racing seat (expired) and cover
-nice Simpson camlock 5 point harness (expired)
-quality gauges (volt, mech oil pressure, mechanical water temp, boost)
-nice 5" sun tach with shift light
-extinguisher and bracket
-custom stainless turbo exhaust manifold
-5 point cage to adapt (out of XR4Ti)
-4' of .065" - 3" t304 stainless to build a turbo down tube
-enough 2 1/2" stainless to finish exhaust
-new "ricer" style stainless muffler (2 1/2" inlet)
- good rad (if it'll fit ?)
-big aftermarket electric fan
-and some other bits I can't remember right now
Next we need to find a posi rear end with a descent gear out of a 2wd S10 (perfect length). And a front crossmember/steering/brakes from a Fiero. We're going to look at an 85 Fiero this weekend. We need the crossmember asap, since we can't fit the engine until it's in. Our first post will be about these Fiero IFS swaps, since the info we found so far is a little sketchy.
Anyway, Nice to be here .

pinto parts !! lots of pintos sacrificed themselves to make hot rods .. post pics when you can

Originally Posted by HOSS429

pinto parts !! lots of pintos sacrificed themselves to make hot rods .. post pics when you can

Don't worry The '71 Pinto wagon that donated these parts is still alive and well. Owner just went to a 4 speed.

Not a good picture, but hey, at least it's a pic. Gotta love the original baby blue

sounds like a great project. always enjoy working on projects more when i am with my son.

Originally Posted by turbovauxhall

Not a good picture, but hey, at least it's a pic. Gotta love the original baby blue

Interesting...the Firenzas we got down in NZ,were a fastback coupe,and very few of them got here..possibly private imports..That little car you have is known as a Vauxhall Viva,HC series,we got them as two door or four door,and a few of them ended up doing dragstrip duty with SBC or the occasional BBC stuffed into them,,a big engine bay,for a 1300 or up to 1800 cc four cylinder.NZ had thousands of them..Dont know where they all went..Probably the crusher when our shores were flooded with cheap Jappa imports..
Excuse my manners..Welcome to CHR..kool place to hang out..

Greetings Turbovauxhall!!!

Father and son projects are great, did a 48 Chev 5 window with a 235 six in ti with my son about 9 years ago. Best project I have ever had!!!

Take pictures and keep them of the two of you together, I look at mine every week!

Welcome to the zoo! Lots of very good advice hanging around at times!

Should be a neat little project, but making it a father and son project turns it into a really great project!!!! Sounds like your son has the determination to search for parts and do some work so the battle is half done already!!!! Welcome to CHR to both you and your son, good luck with the project and there's always folks on here willing to offer a ton of good advice on a project!

Welcome to CHR and very cool project in store for you both. Sounds like your well on your way. I found this old picture of the Vauxhall Firenza. The Merkur power plant should be cool too! Nice power there!

Originally Posted by stovens

Welcome to CHR and very cool project in store for you both. Sounds like your well on your way. I found this old picture of the Vauxhall Firenza. The Merkur power plant should be cool too! Nice power there!

that picture screams Opel Kadet all over it.
I wonder if an Opel front suspension would fit???....joe

Originally Posted by TooMany2count

that picture screams Opel Kadet all over it.
I wonder if an Opel front suspension would fit???....joe

Heres the suspension out of a Droopsnoot. His Firenza looks the same as this, but NOT as pretty. This droopsnoot front looks to have aftermarket parts as well, but still the same design. I don't know if Opel parts are more common than the Viva HC/Fierenza stuff. I'll check it out. I looked at a Fiero this morning, but the front crossmember was rotted. Even the wheels were almost rotted through. Man I hate road salt 4 hrs of driving for nothing.