wilsonc001 `n` Icey!

[Shellysowner]

waiting for steve to envourage him to rally it - even i'm not broaching this recommendation - it would be like finding an immaculate SD1 that had the registration plate Doive or Ralph and scrapping it and not retaining the reg!

Surely even you can see the retro-cool in this fully accessoried-out little Chevette Tim, it's a rolling timewarp and personally I don't think it looks too shabby with it (although I am surprised neily hasn't suggested rear window louvres yet!).

[ChevetteCharlie]

I had 155's on steelies and they were very slippy-slidey compared to 175's on Wolfraces.

The Chevvy would corner on those as well as anything else on the road. Coming home from work none of my workmates could keep up on the bendy bits, though they would nearly catch up opn the straights! (Especially my mate's Morris Traveller with skimmed head, double valve springs and overdrive) And my Dad was always 'borrowing' it "to help keep the mileage down" on his 320i...
But there no chance of any wheelspin when pulling away unless on gravel or a wet road!

The stock brakes would always stop the wheels, but it needed sticky rubber touching the road to stop the car!

[Neilyman]

Just for Ralph...........Get a rear window louvre for it!
If you find one, tell me, `cos I want one & they don`t make `em anymore

[wilsonc001]

Wah! Its all moved about!
Neily .....Yep, it`s in the right place now

Anyway, the tyres on there are 175, so a switch to some form of alloy wheel possible wouldn't increase the tyre size, well, I wouldn't want it to, its pretty much that thats governing what type of wheel I would put on it (that and it has to suit the car obviously).

As for different tyre sizes altering grip levels...its an odd on. Excesssively (sp) wide wheels/tyres will reduce grip in most environments simple because they reduce the pressure on the road surface (pressure = force/area etc..etc..). The only time hugely wide tyres would be an advantage would be in extreme conditions i.e under heavy brakeing, heavy acceleration or anything which would increase the force on tyre above and beyond 'normal' conditions. From how this Chevette feels on the road, I think the 175 tyre width is about as wide as I'd want to go.

All that aside, possible the most important thing about tyres is the quality, slap a set of £20 'Ditch Finder Pros' on and you'll be sideways into a ditch before you know whats happend! Thankfully that one came with almost new 'Kumhos' on each corner, not the best brand but I've had them on other cars and they've performed fairly well!

While I think of it, I also got a set of what look like rim covers, crome things which clip to the outter of the wheel, I can only assume these are designed to go on the rostyles rather than the standard steelies?

[shuvit-tim]

Surely even you can see the retro-cool in this fully accessoried-out little Chevette Tim, it's a rolling timewarp and personally I don't think it looks too shabby with it (although I am surprised neily hasn't sugested rear window louvres yet!).

oh hell yeah, i think it looks awesome and i for one on this occasion would hate to see it rallied. that said it does look like a wonderfully conditioned shell.......

[Tortron]

slightly off topic, i saw a henna red 5 door with a rear window louver thing, couldnt get the camera out quick enough tho

[Shoveitpusher]

a very fine example of the genre

if it had been around when i got my shelli fear it would most definately be sitting in a barn in Cromer being converted (still waiting as the guys main customer managed to roll his mk1 escort bda end over end in a 5th gear whoopsie)

ignoring what i just said, i'd keep it looking very standard, for bigger brakes use the cavalier/manta setup since they look about the same, straight swap of bits - use solid disks not vented and go for 2 pot calipers not the more modern sliding. if your feeling really serious about brakes do the drums as well.

i know it's not popular with many but 'the' period wheel is the minilite, revos are a good second option if they are 4 spoke. you could also consider the 5 spoke ats alloy as fitted to asconas etc. with 175/70's it should be good.

bit of subtle engine tuning as well? cam and head, again keeping it looking standard.

[shuvit-tim]

slightly off topic, i saw a henna red 5 door with a rear window louver thing, couldnt get the camera out quick enough tho

forget the camera - you should have peeled the louvre off for neily!

[Neilyman]

slightly off topic, i saw a henna red 5 door with a rear window louver thing, couldnt get the camera out quick enough tho

forget the camera - you should have peeled the louvre off for neily!

Wouldn`t fit a 3 door hatch Tim!

[shuvit-tim]

bah - a little fettling and some imagination....

[Tortron]

those chrome trim/beauty rings can go on both the standard steelies and the rostyles i believe (i could go chevk but its raining and im lazy)

also id like to add that everyone has failed to notice that it is an L chevette with the coverted farside door mirror!! all hail the far side mirror

id say that the "driving lights"/ indicator lights have been switched around due to the spotlights up front, so they are more visible

(those reversing lights remind me of a yugo)

are those door protector/reflector deelies on the doors?

whats the 2nd switch with the lights one on the dash? (you lucky buggers have speedos with miles and kms)

[Shellysowner]

also id like to add that everyone has failed to notice that it is an L chevette with the coverted farside door mirror!! all hail the far side mirror

Actually I had noticed, its also got a centre console that it wouldn't've had as new.

(those reversing lights remind me of a yugo)

You mean the rear fogs - lots of Chevettes had twin rear fogs of that type.

whats the 2nd switch with the lights one on the dash? (you lucky buggers have speedos with miles and kms)

??? One is headlights and one is fogs.

[Herbie_Flowers]

you lucky buggers have speedos with miles and kms

i've got a spare speedo if you want it mate. remember the odometer will be in miles and not kilometres.

[Tortron]

for the "aftermarket" ones? ie the spotlights and rear ones
makes sense

[Shellysowner]

for the "aftermarket" ones? ie the spotlights and rear ones
makes sense

Only one of the rear fogs is 'aftermarket'. Chevettes already have the wiring for two in place, its just a matter of installing the second one so the bottom switch is probably just for those two. I guess Wilson will have to clear up how the spotlamps are wired in.

[Neilyman]

My foglight switch is a 2 position one, off is at the top, then it has 2 clicks down, ...maybe to fit fronts to the same switch?
The rear fog comes on with the first click, & stays on for the second click. Are they all like that?

[wilsonc001]

Mine is, I thought it was just GM being cheap and using the same switch as the headlight just with a different badge on it!

[Shuvit-pinto]

Mine is too Neil and Wilson01.

[Tortron]

iv got the one switch on the side dit there, one down turns on the lights in the indicator bit, two down turns lights on

[Shellysowner]

Ohoow, whats that out of Miss Icey?? Looks good. We use Willans Harnesses in our aircraft too.

[Miss Icey]

At the moment they're in a Chevette Saloon (Pinto powered aswell)

Won't be getting the harnesses - however much I'd like them - but if someone does want them they're only £50! (and I can pick them up when I get the seats)

Mmmm recaro's

[Shuvit-pinto]

I will have the harnesse for that Miss Icey. Could you collect them and I will pop over and see you staright.

Why is he breaking the Pinto Saloon then??

[Miss Icey]

He's not breaking it - he just has other seats/harnesses to go in Greedy bugger!

I will get those harnesses for you then - I think we're heading over around the 10th Dec?

[Shuvit-pinto]

Cool, thanks for that. Do you want the money up front?

[Miss Icey]

Should be okay - can sort it out when you come and pick them up