SRF
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If you want any measurements or photos just ask, I have the rear tub off so access is good.
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I have just fitted Halogen lights to my Mk1 Vitesse, outer ones. They do stick out a bit more than the originals. I don't think my chrome rings are as wide as yours. The fitting procedure is, fit the black bowl first, if you are replacing the originals make sure the wire inside the bowl to attach the new lights is the correct one. Then position the glass level and the correct way up, the chrome ring fits over three small screws. The screws are different distances apart so the ring only goes one way only. When in position turn the chrome ring to lock it into place and tighten the small screws. The steel surround is a bit tight to fit over the new lamps. If you are after originality you will be disappointed, but the light is far superior than the old headlights. I'll post a picture later today.
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Thanks for this very valuable information, 15" wheels don't seem to be a good idea. My next plan is to change the diff. Again some 3.63 ones are advertised around the £100 mark, so with the cost of a rebuild it becomes rather expensive. I have managed to get the innards of a 3.63 diff and I wondered if it was a practical to change the gears in my diff. I am not sure if this is a job I can do or whether an expert would carry out such a conversion. Again any advice is gratefully received.
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Quite often I have seen 15 inch alloy wheels advertised, They are supposed to be the same PCD as my vitesse. It is my intention to replace my wheels with alloys soon. Has anyone any experience of these bigger wheels, the increase in size would help with the vitesse low gearing.
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That does sound expensive. I stripped down a Viva engine once with an unidentified noise. I was beginning to despair at finding it when it was found to be a partially seized small end bush and gudgeon pin. Having heard the noise my first suspect would be the cam shaft or timing chain areas. I could be wrong but it seems slower than big ends or pistons.
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I don't intend hi jacking this post, but I also intend changing to a 3.63 diff and will use the original rear housing. I have managed to get part of a 3.63 diff. I have removed the crown wheel and pinion and if I have the nerve I will swap them over in the spring. If I see sense over Christmas I may take my own diff and the 3.63 Crown Wheel and Pinion and have it re conditioned by an expert with the 3,63 ratio. Has anybody ever done a differential????
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I don't want to go too far off topic, but for penetrating fluid a brand called Plus Gas is very good. Also I find Automatic transmission fluid or power steering fluid are excellent as well.
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I decided to swap the pinions over. As I said I don't have a tool to compress the large spring, so before I made one I tried a couple of carefully placed vice grips on the old one the pinion then came off quite easily. There are couple of ways the spring is retained I have seen pins used and a key hole type washer. On mine it is held on with a snap ring which is held in place by a recess in the end washer. It was a bit fiddly but it came off. If anyone attempts this be aware the snap rings can fly. One of mine did and I still haven't found it. The pinions are a straight swap and when I refitted the starter it worked perfectly. One little tip is when I removed the gearbox to replace it I reversed the bolts in the starter so the nuts are on the engine side. It is still a bit of a fiddle but it saves having to remove the cover inside the car to refit the starter.
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I have the option of sending it back and having a 10 tooth pinion fitted, but because all the records they have show that the correct pinion for my vitesse should have 9 teeth, I will have to pay for the pinion and carriage both ways. I was just wondering which pinion is correct, before I decide what to do. The one on the old motor is in very good condition so I may consider changing it over if I can rig a spring compressor.
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i have just bought a replacement starter motor. the new one has 9 teeth on the pinion and is very noisy. my old one has 10 teeth on the pinion. The supplier ssys either 9 or 10 teeth both fit, is he right
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I have decided to upgrade my diff. Is there any way I can tell which diff I have at present. I have looked at James web site but for some reason mcafee won,t let me go there again. I am considering a 3.63 because the 3.27 are hard to find. Can anyone tell which models had the 3.63 please.
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Cheers both, from your site James it's about 5mph. Which differential has a 3.27 Nick. I don't intend doing a lot of open road driving and certainly no motorway stuff I am not going down the O/D or 5 speed route. My mates Spartan has 1500 Spit running gear and he rarely uses his O/D.
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The downside of having a non overdrive Vitesse as everyone knows is the high revs at cruising speed. Can anyone tell me whether changing to a 3.63 diff would make much difference. Also it is a long time since I rebuilt a diff, my Haynes manual has no information. Has anyone any experience of a rebuild and any advice, especially how to set the pre load.
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From information gleaned from this forum I have sorted the non cancelling indicators. The clip on the column was 180 degrees out.. with the steering wheel off it was easy to see. It was just a matter of disconnecting thr joint at the steering rack. Then turning the shaft that goes through the steering so that the bump on the clip is in line with the indicator switch. Reconnect the rack line up the steering wheel. Job done.
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It passed with flying colours, just scraping through on the handbrake though. I haven't replaced the cables yet and the rear lever is not quite at the right angle. I might consider fitting longer levers at the brake back plate. My only other minor problem is the indicators don't cancel. I am fired up for the next stage if it would only stop raining. I want to have the bonnet, boot and doors blasted, but I need to have a good dry day to get them home on my trailer before they have a chance to rust again.