Hi all,
started my build the build last night, put the chassis up on a pair of stands and then decided the powder coat finish is rubbish! (I bought the kit as an unstarted project on ebay last year)
Its now at the blasters to be blasted, hot zinc sprayed then powder coat.
2nd start next week!
Kenton

Keep the faith, they ARE worth it in the end, it just sometimes seems like you are never making progress. So what power plant will you be using, or is that undecided at the mo. Oh and where abouts are you located.

That was a common problem with early Viento's
A shot / sandblast and new powder cost is the way to go. Its easier to do now rather than later.

Do a little every day or couple of days, it will soon get done.
ie little and often.

Viento is well worth it. It cries out for a V8, or even a straight 6 like a BMW or Merc, as they are 200Bhp out of the box.
And more if turbo'd (300bhp+??).
My Rover V8 has a few mods, and only gives me 180Bhp, possibly a bit more with some professional setting up.

Plenty of room under the bonnet, so its not that hard.

Take plenty of photos and stick them in your archive. Look in mine as there are a load of the Viento Demonstrator, they may help with your build, ie where they put bits on the car. Saves a bit of time, thinking, and bad locating

Good luck, and ask questions if you dont know!... Also use the Search facility on here as most things have been done to death!


Edit:
when you do the suspension bushes, the bolt should be dead tight. Some of the early crush tubes are a few thou short, causing binding of the bushes.
Pop the bush in a lathe (use the crush tube in the bush as a support, and skim a FEW thou off the outside face edges of the bush (equally on both sides). Take it slowly and check by refitting. Then lube with rubber gease, and you will have nice smooth suspension and good handling.


[Edited on 27/2/2007 by wilkingj]

twin plenum, flowed head, rv8, what else.
Im in east sussex.

1st question already, the build dvd has gaps in it, eg body panel fitting is this normal? The kit came from the old luego.

I am in Kent and have been slowly building mine for too many years and have started to see the powder coat lift. I now wish it had happened at the biggining as I could have done something about it but such is life.
I spent all of Saturday grinding off the old, priming and painting and that was only the mounting area for the steering rack so YES DO IT WHILE YOU CAN.
Mine, when done is running a Cosworth V6 so all I can say is good luck and don't lose motivation like I did.

quote:

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Originally posted by kenton
1st question already, the build dvd has gaps in it, eg body panel fitting is this normal? The kit came from the old luego.

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Hi, glad to see another viento builder!

Most of the Velocity build manual is correct for the viento but there are a few parts that aren't

i.e: don't follow the velocity build manual wrt to placing of the brake master cylinder if you are building a V8 powered viento as the exhausts will run too close to it, I'm going to have to relocated mine up onto the engine bay shelf.

Theres plenty of threads in this section with tips that aren't mentioned in the build manual.

HTH

I think Dan P might be referring to the master cylinder reservoir as the brake master cylinders are forward of the pedal box and bolted to the lower bulkead and thus nowhere near the exhaust manifold on the V8. I have mounted my reservoir on the bulkhead shelf above the brake M/C's using a homemade bracket and connected via rubber tubing (SVA compliant) to the reservoir. Make sure you have plenty of clearance being quite close to the steering column.

Anyway, best of luck with the build. Don't be afraid to ask loads of questions even if you think they are a bit daft (I'm the master of daft questions!). I've had a load of tear stain moments with my build and if I or any of the guys can help you keep yours to a minimum, then all the better.

all the best,

Dave

WOW been there! This seems spooky! I bought a Velocity off e-bay as an unstarted project... got it home and found that the powder coating was crap.... I then sent it for 50u hot zinc spray and two pack epoxy Ral 7024.

I am now trying to fit the suspension bushes which are very tight (not helped by the thicker coating. Found out now though that the steel tubes are too short which is apparently a problem with the old Luego bushes.

Some advice... I two packed mine and some overspray got into the inside of the tubes where the bushes go. If you are going to powder coat the there is even more of a chance that the powder with be attracted to the inside of the tubes due to the charge so make sure you plug the ends......

Dave B