Been discussing the Vitesse with Dad tonight. Looks like it's a got a list of things that need doing for the MoT (more than I expected), namely: Front windscreen Rear bumper Welding Brakes Front and rear shocks Suspension bushes Rear wheel bearing Exhaust
First 4 I knew about, but wasn't counting on the last 4. Still, I reckon it's gonna be saveable and I can't pas up the opportunity to own a Vitesse TP. Unfortunately this means the SE is gonna have to go to fund it. So if anyone wants some BL legendary-ness please get in contact.
i'd SOOOO love that but i'm halfway through a deal on a motor at work now D'oh and i need newish low millege and reliable i'd of loved the SD1 for a play thing. hope it sells dude!
Certainly a few quid there. I can help you out with a good rear bumper - only thing is it has four holes for reversing sensors. Chrome and end caps fine.
The Nivomats might be a problem - ones for the standard height car are easier. Changing to ordinary shocks ruins what little ride comfort it has ;-)
I may take you up on the Dave, as I'm in Epsom in a few weeks time - is that anywhere near you?
I need to check what the car currently has on it, but I'll be changing back to ordinary springs and shocks whatever happens as I can't afford Nivomats. I'll probably take the rear Gaz adjustables off the SE and replace them with some new standard shocks. Eventually I'd like to get adjustables all round on the Vitesse, but standard front shocks and a new strut itself is only £47 from Rimmers so that will do for now.
I figure I need to spend around £300 at Rimmers to start off with. But that'll still leave me with the exhaust, windscreen and welding to sort. I might be regretting this decision ;)
It's on the right side of London and within about 10 miles.
I did fit a standard set up on the EFI when Nivomats simply weren't to be had and didn't like it. Harder ride when running light and not enough damping when loaded. Of course if you tie it down hard it will handle - but is a real pain - literally - for normal use. So it depends on your priorities. Personally I think the most important mod is fitting XJS front brakes.
Well the TP is the most valuable of the lot so at least you can work out if it's worth it, as it were. Although who knows what the current financial state will do to their value.
Well i'm used to the springs-all-round ride with the SE and I get on with it fine (once I adjusted the rear shocks a bit). I don't use the car often, and I'm used to cars with a fairly harsh ride anyway so it's not a major issue. XJS brakes is something I'd like to do in the future though. The SE brakes are shocking (2-piston jobbies), but I assume the Vitesse will have the 4-pots so might be better.
Well I paid £550 for it. If I can get it on the road for the same again I figure I'll be doing well. And it's a car I'd like to keep long term and spend a bit of money on, so I'm not overally fussed about what it'll be worth at the end of it. What's going to be the deciding factor is what the SE is worth - I'd like to think at least £1k but who knows at the moment. Got it for sale on a few forums for now so we'll see what happens.
Around 1980, Vitesse Nivomats were £174.00 each, when std ones could be picked up for about £70.00. Vitesse Nivomats are about
2" shorter than std ones.
My Vitesse has adjustable shocks front and rear. Spax on the front, and Konis on the rear, IIRC.
I replaced the fronts because one was leaking and did a conversion with Konis and new springs on the rear, after I found one of the Nivomats needed replacing. I could have bought one at £174, but I've always preferred fitting shocks and springs in pairs. £348 for a pair of Nivomats was just too expensive for me at the time.
The front shocks were easily replaced. The rear conversion was more of a hassle. The Vitesse rides about 2" lower than a std SD1 and I had trouble getting the right springs. The first set supplied were too long. Sent those back, but the second set, although being shorter were still too long. The supplier finally got it right with third set.
After that it was simply a question of getting the right setting for the Konis. After about a week of experimenting, I finished up with a setting which I was happy with. The car has little roll, and on all but the roughest roads is quite comfortable. At speed and on m/ways it's it's as comfortabe as any car IMO.
By many peoples stds it does give a hard ride, but that is what I prefer. One shouldn't forget that it is supposed to be a sports saloon.
The feedback through the steering and seat, is so much better than a couple of std SD1 2600's I had before getting the Vitesse. You can feel the road and how much grip the tyres have. And I much prefer the Vitesse front seats which are much more supportive than the std ones. Mike.
What's the easiest way of identifying if you have Nivomats? - you say they're 2" shorter, can I assume this means the car looks slightly low at the back when parked up?
I ask, because I noticed that my 156 Wagon seems a bit low at the back and that Nivomats were an option on them.
The Vitesse std ride hight is lower, which is why the Nivomat's fitted have to be shorter. Unlike conventional shocks, Nivomat's have a built in spring, so off the car are always extended. Quite a bit of effort is required to compress them.
I don't know anything specifically about your car, but on SD1's, the Nivomats have special springs. The section varies from top to bottom. Imagine a rod that is say 5/8" diameter at one end, that tapers to 3/8" diameter at the other end, which is then coiled into a spring. When fitted the thinner section is at the top. Maybe that type of spring is fitted to your car. If it is, I'd suspect it has SL suspension.
Apart from that info I can't help, bearing in mind that 'Nivomat' seems to be a generic term for that type of self levelling shock absorber. SD1's were fitted with Boge Nivomats, but several manufacturers appear to make similar products, so appearances could vary. Mike.
I wouldn't touch Spax again - thats what my current SD1 had when I bought it and both front inserts were shot with less than 20k miles on them. Konis or Gaz is were my money will go eventually.
Heh, they're £175 each now. Or a complete conversion kit (to Vitesse spec) is £97 - that's new springs and conventional dampers.
not final yet so don't wanna bang on bout it but pics will be up if all goes ok, taking some finance but not the stupid amount i took for the BMW! and only for 2 years this time as well
The easiest way on the SD1 is by looking at the springs - they're variable rate with Nivomats, and the diameter of the 'wire' changes as does the spacing between the coils. Non Nivomat plain coils. Nivomats also have a rubber gaiter over the piston rod.
Just check you can fit it in your car first heh. I went with my mate to buy a set of side skirts for his Nova many years and it was bloody uncomfortable with them jabbing the back of my head all the way home, in the only possible position they would go into the car.
Pah... years ago I managed to move a double sofa bed up to London in one of the Nova hatchbacks I had.
It's fair to say second gear was a challenge, and shifting back across to the left hand lanes on the motorway was more an act of faith than one of checking the mirrors. ;-)
Hehe nice! The bloke also mentioned he had a bonnet spare now that had vents properly smoothed in and was just awaiting painting. At 17, vented bonnets on Novas were cool of course, so we were toying with buying it, fitting it, and then chucking the old one in a hedge or something. I'd actually spotted a skip that had council markings on, and was gonna suggest that was the target, as then it would be disposed of correctly hehe! Thankfully, in the end we decided not too as the guy wanted like, £140 and that Nova died spectaculary of engine failure, and then was so shit he sold it for £300. Thankfully the boot no longer opened, so the huge holes that you could see the floor through, weren't spotted by the really big guy, who was with his mum, and was buying it for her...
My mate was terrified that he'd be back for a 'full refund'...
Oh my god, an advert on here that has pictures, and not "I'll bung some pics up tmrw"! Nice dude, hope it's a quick sale, and goes as easily as mine did for the 197 :-) 19 year old kid + dad drive here from Swansea. Kid sees car for first time and almost has a baby he's that excited. Rather large was of cash is handed over after 30 seconds of viewing, papers are signed and all is done! They only stayed as long as they did because their tea was still too hot...
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