KVA Type C, Re-build / Restore / Finish

[Ross]

Hopefully this is a story with a start, middle and fruitful end..

My wife currently does not know of the cars existence and when she does will be told ''yes love, about 5 or 6 hundred pounds''

GT40 kva type C was collected from England from the previous owners who had bought it many years before in a partially built state but never had the time to get it sorted. Previous owner and his wife were lovely people very open, honest and helpful. Second photo shows the sellers international harvester lifting the half built V8 into the back of the amarok.

GT40 was trailered from near Kidderminster to Liverpool for the ferry to Belfast the to Co. Tyrone.

Great reception from all who seen it, cop at the ferry terminal said ''mate, you realise you'll never fit in it'' which, albeit with no seat i proved him wrong. Sitting on the partial floorplan the reality hit home as to how mad it must have been to blast a GT40 in the 60s at over 200mph, insane!

Background is the following

1. The KVA type C kit was mostly built but never finished so most of the kit is new, just a bit old and dirty
2. Engine appears to have been partially built with new pistons etc but never finished
3. Gearbox is renault but not in great shape
4. Frame is solid with a little scale but no rot
5. Engine came with 3 heads and a box of valves and springs but these had got damp at some stage
6. All clocks present and as new
7. vented discs at front and solid discs at rear, no rear calipers, shafts present
8. All plastic glass present and fuel tanks
9. Carbs and trumpets present
10. No seats, or ''frontal floorpan'', no front shocks or springs
11. Came with modern (2011) V5 which says 1967 Ford Cortina 4.95litre
12. Yes, the cop was correct i am far too fat

Plan going forward please feel free to give opinions or point out if there is a better way

1. Remove the fibre glass and give the components to local company who are very good at fixing, restoring and painting all things fibreglass.
2. Remove the aluminium from the steel frame possibly have it blasted and powder coated?
3. Remove hubs and brakes to replace with modern / better?
4. Remove radiators / oil coolers to replace with modern / better?
5. Get plans for floorpan and get fabricated
6. Make full list of anything missing by comparing to plans, does anyone have full set of KVA type C plans here?
7. Not sure what to do about renault gearbox, perhaps replace with audi system?
8. Get liposuction or a corset!

Unsure of how much of the old components to replace and where to get seats, could really do with more leg room

 

[Ian Anderson]

Congratulations on the purchase…. Great price

Sure you will fit fine…..just have to build it to work for you……Chris Edwards used to have a KVA and was a larg 6’5” and fitted no gurney bubble and even track days with helmet.

Have fun with the build and get it on the road to enjoy it.

Ian

 

[Mike Pass]

You should end up with a good useable car. The KVA C type is a decent chassis and KVA bodies are also well made.
If you can take pics of everything that will help forum members to identify exactly what you have and the best way to proceed.
The best way forward is to decide what you want to do with it when finished. Road, Road and a bit of track or a lot of track?
There are no plans that I know of for KVA but I have some pics and info. If you have a need for more space then consider a dropped floor pan and a Gurney bubble. If you are short of legroom a change of pedal box might be in order.
If you are improving the fibreglass bodywork it is worth upgrading the nostril panel to a deep one as this will improve cooling and help with front end downforce.
The C type KVA used Ford Granada Mk2 front uprights, hubs and brakes. The uprights are strong and are OK for most purposes. The geometry is not ideal but in practice is OK. If not vented they can be easily upgraded to vented Ford or there are aftermarket 4 pot upgrades available. Changing the uprights will involve new wishbones, brakes and possible wheels which will be expensive or very expensive. Remember also that front of the C type tapers in and the wishbones have unequal sides.
The rear suspension is by two long trailing arms, a top link and a reversed bottom wishbone which sets the toe in. The upright is fabricated steel with Ford Granada Mk3 hubs and brakes which have integral handbrake mechanism inside the piston. Most of these Ford parts are available from Burton Power or Ebay etc.
The Renault box can be identified. There should be a round metal tag on the very end of the box which has numbers stamped into it. They can be rebuilt and upgraded. They are reliable at sensible power up to 450ish hp.
I have sent you a private message so you can contact me and I can send you pics and information. We have a new member in the NW group of the GT40 Enthusiasts Club who has just bought a KVA C type and is in a similar position to yourself.
Cheers
Mike

 

[Ross]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the PM I have replied.

Your information is phenomenal, you're a top guy.

I think a bit of road and a bit of track, i would love to be able to do a european road trip in it so moderate comfort and drivability is key for me. A couple of friends who are into building racing buggies and have a radical race car looked at the frame and concluded its well built, strong (heavier gauge than used by radical) and in generally decent condition.

The engine is split and has been partially built with new pistons (B736- Possibly high compression?)

Front brakes are vented discs, rear are small solid discs, calipers missing from rear. Happy with the granada uprights and hubs but the brakes will get investment.

General consensus is to get the engine built, have gearbox restored or buy another, temporarily fit engine, running gear, brakes etc and then strip for bodywork and paint after mechanicals are sorted.

Plan for incoming week.

1. Clear out and prepare shed down yard for nothing but gt40
2. Move car from ''hidden from wife location'' to prepared shed at home
3. Find someone to properly build the engine
4. Take gearbox to specialist for refurb, possibly Gardiner transmissions in Ballymena or Garvagh precision engineering