Vauxhall Wyvern, Velox and Cresta Model E 1952-1955 Shop Manual | PDF Download

This manual is all about Servicing, diagnosing, adjustments and rebuilding your Vauxhall Wyvern, Velox or Cresta. From the engine through to the body panels. Each section has a trouble diagnosis list, a specifications table with tolerances and torque wrench settings, and a list of the special tools.

Models Covered

• Vauxhall Wyvern de Luxe Saloon
• Vauxhall Velox de Luxe Saloon
• Vauxhall Cresta Special Saloon (1955)
  

Engines Covered

• 1507cc four-cylinder (Wyvern)
• 2262cc six-cylinder (Velox and Cresta)

Engine Mechanical
The engine section starts with engine tune: valve clearances, compression, ignition and carburettor checks. It then goes through the engine mounts, push rods, rocker gear, valve springs, valve tappets and cylinder head removal, overhaul and installation. Pistons, rings and connecting rods, crankshaft main bearings, crankshaft pulley, timing cover, timing chain and chain wheels, crankcase front plate and flywheel are each covered, together with complete engine removal, disassembly, inspection and reassembly. The performance figures and the torque wrench specifications are included.

Engine Lubrication System
Covers the forced-feed lubrication system, the oil pump removal, overhaul and installation, the oil pan and oil strainer, and renewing the A.C. oil filter element, with a trouble diagnosis list for low oil pressure.

Fuel and Exhaust Systems
Covers the Zenith downdraught carburettor, including removal, overhaul and reassembly, throttle control linkage adjustment, accelerator pump stroke, slow running adjustment, bowl fuel level and adjustments for temperature and altitude. Also covers fuel pump tests and overhaul, the fuel tap and fuel tank, the air cleaner and the intake and exhaust manifolds.

Cooling System
Covers draining and reverse flushing, the radiator flow test on the car, the pressure test on the radiator filler cap on the pressurised Velox system and the atmospheric Wyvern system, and anti-freeze. Includes the thermostat, water pump overhaul, fan belt adjustment, fan and radiator removal and overhaul.

Clutch
Covers the Borg and Beck single dry plate clutch, with clutch pedal free travel adjustment, clutch fork, clutch assembly removal, disassembly, overhaul and installation, and the trouble diagnosis for slip, drag and judder.

Gear Shift Controls
Describes the steering column gear shift, with the lever height adjustment, selector dog alignment, and overhaul and reassembly of the control linkage. The 1955 supplement covers the revised gear shift control.

Transmission and Propeller Shaft
Includes the three-speed transmission with synchromesh on second and top gears, the speedometer cable, driven gear and driving gear, and the transmission casing extension and oil seal. Also covers transmission removal, disassembly, inspection, overhaul and reassembly, and the propeller shaft and Hardy Spicer universal joints.

Rear Axle
Detailed procedures for the semi-floating rear axle with hypoid final drive, including the axle shaft assembly, pinion oil seal renewal, and removal and disassembly of the rear axle assembly. Covers the pinion location, differential side bearing spacer and shim assessment, and reassembly of the hypoid gear and differential.

Brakes
Covers the Lockheed hydraulic brakes on all four wheels and the mechanical handbrake, including bleeding the hydraulic system, footbrake and handbrake adjustment, the brake pedal, main cylinder and wheel cylinders. Includes the brake drums, brake shoes, handbrake lever, intermediate lever and handbrake cable.

Front Suspension and Front Hubs
Covers the independent coil spring suspension with wishbone arms, front end height check, shock absorbers and springs, steering knuckle and king pin, steering knuckle ball joint and trunnion, upper and lower arm shafts and bushes, the stabilizer bar and the front suspension crossmember.

Rear Suspension
Covers the long semi-elliptic rear springs, with shock absorbers, spring shackles, rubber bushes and grease sleeves.

Steering Gear and Connecting Rods
Covers the Burman worm and peg follower steering gear, including steering geometry (toe-in, camber, castor and king pin inclination), road wheel and tyre balance, and engagement of the peg follower in the worm. Includes tie rods and joints, connecting rods, drop arm, steering arms, relay lever, steering wheel and steering gear overhaul.

Electrical Equipment and Instruments
Covers the battery, with maintenance, testing and charging, the Lucas generator, including bench test and overhaul, the Lucas starter motor and starter switch, and the cut-out controller and distribution box, with the voltage regulator and cut-out electrical and mechanical settings. Also covers the fuse block, lighting, wiring and instruments.

Ignition System
Covers Lucas distributor removal, disassembly, overhaul and reassembly, contact breaker point adjustment, ignition timing and the distributor octane selector adjustment. Also covers vacuum advance checks, the coil, condenser, spark plugs, the synchroscope test and the ignition circuit tests.

Body
Includes service procedures for the front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, front and rear wings, bonnet, front and rear doors, windscreen, backlight and windscreen wiper, luggage trunk and roof headlining. Also covers body front end alignment and repair, with the underbody front side members and crossmember and the body dimensions for checking distortion.

1955 Supplement
A supplement covering the 1955 models adds the Cresta, with new styling, an improved electrical system and the updated gear shift and steering. It also adds the car heater, whitewall tyre care and service information for each system.

Recommended Lubricants and Special Tools
Each section ends with the recommended lubricants and the special tools, with a glossary of British and export part names.