chevette hatch,things tochange replace or modify??

[lockie1994]

i have got an engine (just a 1256)for my chevette project but would like to know if there are any must do things before i go ahead and spray engine bay and install engine eg, i have seen people twin layering the top shock mounts, welding the inner guard pannel to the chassis, just things like this? any info/pics on what you others have done would be great ...thanks,

[friendlyfire]

theres a bit you can do to strengthen the front end, shows it all in the vauxhall sportspart manual, think gordo had a PDF file of it? have a look at my chevette, have done everything in the book, whats your plans with the car? with the standard engine theres not much point, have only done mine because everything is already stripped out and for further down the track when my car gets more serious and start attending track days

[gordo]

Depends what you're going to do with it.
The only problem I recall having with the body - apart from rust, of course - was cracking of the top rear damper mounts. However, while that was a mild1256, I did give them a hard time in various events and it was probably a mix of full suspension compression, firm rear dampers and hard rubbers which didn't allow much deflection.
Even big engined cars should be fine, unmodified, for fast road use.

[yammies]

I can second that... I had to rebuild my upper shock mounts, probably from a combination of too heavy a shock absorber mine had what looked like commodore shocks in it,) and towing with fairly heavy loads on the drawbar...... they are a lot more robust now and I'm running smaller shocks

[lockie1994]

thaks for the advice guys will just throw the engine in and see what its like,