*HOW TO* Fit Cav / Calibra clocks into a Nova

[R1CH]

Finally got my clocks fitted & wired up today !!
Seen there was a few people asking how to fit them the other week when General Baxter posted some pics up of his, so for anyone whos interested this is a rough guide for fitting them.

Right then ... wiring is dead simple its just a case of matching up the wire colours, similar to wiring up a digi dash (maybe a bit easier ?)
Getting them to fit is another thing !!
I done mine with the dash out, you'll struggle if you leave the dash in.

To start with your gonna have to chop alot of the metal away from the back of the dash & the 2 L shaped supports that sit either side of the origional clocks.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00164.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00165.jpg

You've gotta chop bit out of the plastic ducting out so the clocks can sit back enough.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00498.jpg

Remove this from the back of the clocks, its not needed & gives you a bit more room. also remove the mounting tab on the top of the clocks.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00506.jpg

You've also got chop some of the dash away behind the clocks, this leaves a hole in the ducting, i stuck a load of duck tape on to cover it over, not ideal but it'll do !
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00497.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00499.jpg

Then its just a case of fitting the clocks in (its a tight squeeze!) be carefull with the speedo cable as well as it sits really close to the bulkhead !
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00501.jpg

I also put 2 bolts thru the dash (silver bolts either side of steerering column) that go thru the 2 mounting tabs on the bottom of the clocks, there fairly wedged in anyway, but thought i may as well bolt them in.

This is all you've chop off the surround, just enough so you can see the 70 / 80 / 90 numbers
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00505.jpg

Then just refit the surround & jobs agood'un !!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00503.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00853.jpg

Good Luck !!
Rich

[craig green]

Is there any further wiring changes to be done?

CG

[dan23]

there are two plugs on back of cally dials is do any of the wires on the plugs need to be joined together /not used

[R1CH]

Is there any further wiring changes to be done?

Shouldn't be, all the Nova wires connect up ok, you'll end up with a couple of spare wires on the Cav / Calibra loom but there not needed.


there are two plugs on back of cally dials is do any of the wires on the plugs need to be joined together /not used

I think the only wire on the smaller plug you'll need to join is a brown/blue which is for the ecu warning light, all the others aren't needed.

To be honest i'm no expert with wires, alot of it was just trial & error and luck !!

Rich

[General Baxter]

Looks Cool Wonder If I Could Chop Some Into My Old Shape Dash

if you mean, mk1 dash then you have no chance lol

[D8NNO1471]

i had a look at my clock but only have the one wire plug behind it will the rev counter work with it or do i need extra plugs had a look at the pick u got more then one plug on it and i didnt have a rev guague on my as its was a 1.2 shell will it still work

[eoinnova]

what about the speedo cable wheres that go? and if i put a mk2 dash into my mk1 nova will the cavalier clock still fit?

tanx
eoin

[R1CH]

what about the speedo cable wheres that go? and if i put a mk2 dash into my mk1 nova will the cavalier clock still fit?

tanx
eoin

Speedo cable just fits as normal, its a bit tight against the bulkhead but it goes in ok. Mines a MK2 Dash in a MK1 so you won't have any probs.

Rich

[gazza20]

will they still work in a 1.2 nova m8 which had no rev counter?

[D87SWM]

I just put some of these in myself on my 1.2 and this is how i wired it and it all seems to work (some may be missing)

Calibra - Nova
white - white = Full Beam indicator
Blue/White - Blue/white = Charge Light
Brown - Brown = Earth
Black - Black = Possitive (also volt meter)
Blue/Black - Blue/Black = Fuel Gauge
Black/Grey - Grey/Green = Instument back lights
Blue - Blue = Engine temperature
Black - Green/Black = Turn indicator
White/Black - White/Black = Turn indicator
N/A - Yellow/Brown = Choke
Green/Blue - Green/Blue = Oil light
Brown/Red - Brown/Red = Handbrake light
N/A - Yellow/Blue = Oil pressure
Green - Green = Rev counter

There are others not sure what is what but there is seat belt indicator, air bag, system managment light ect which I don't have
Hope this is of some help to everyone :thumb:
Luke

[draper]

do you need mechanical or electronic clocks ?? or am i just being stupid :confused:

[Adam]

Was thinking of doing this myself, but was wondering if the speedo is accurate?
And, the fuel guage? Thats going to be way off as its calibrated for a astra/cavalier fuel tank/sender?

[craig green]

And, the fuel guage? Thats going to be way off as its calibrated for a astra/cavalier fuel tank/sender?

Like its accurate anyway. You never know it might be accurate with Cav dials?

[Adam]

Lol, well the standard clocks are accurate-ish.
I mean, they dont read 45mph when your doing 30mph.

Altho today i went past one of those "SLOW 30" light up LED signs, and it didn't light up even when i was doing about 39 on nova clocks lmao lol
Yet it goes off at about 34mph in my corsa(eletronically driven clocks)

[R1CH]

Petrol guage is fine, can't see you having any probs with the speedo either, can't be any worse than the std speedo !!

Rich

[Adam]

So does a full nova tank(42L) just take it to about that on the guage? obviously it will never read full due to a smaller tank.

[R1CH]

So does a full nova tank(42L) just take it to about that on the guage? obviously it will never read full due to a smaller tank.

Nah, reads full when the tanks full, 1/2 when 1/2 a tank ect ... only thing is that it states 60l when full and 30l on 1/2, no big deal tho.

[Adam]

Ah right.

Shall go the scrappy and find a set of cable astra/cav clocks. :)

[R1CH]

Speedo should be ok to, as long as there the 140mph ones.
Have fun !!!

[asscona78]

Have any one put electric cav/calibra v6/turbo clocks on Nova?

They take speed signal in ABS, correct?
Does it work if take speed signal in digidash sensor?
Or is it have to put the ABS as well lol

[bobby p]

seen your post and pics and just had to get me some of them dials. had the digi dials in but looked bit dated so put some cav ones in 2day.

digi
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s277/bobbyp_03/53cc64f1.jpg

cav 160 clocks alot better
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s277/bobbyp_03/n.jpg

haveing afew teething problems with the rev counter and indicators but sure ill sort it. look really good.

[R1CH]

Speedo should be ok to, as long as there the 140mph ones.

Should've maybe posted this before hand, but the 160mph clocks over read (a fair bit), i used them as i was fitting an F28 as well but still over read (due to small wheels?) Not sure what they'll be like if fitted with a F20 / F13 ect ... ? to get round it i had to swap the speedo face for the 140mph one, seems pretty much bang now.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/ricmetcalf/Nova%20build%20pics/DSC00852.jpg
I just borrowed one from the local scrappy, just un-clips !

Hope you don't have any probs, Looks to be a top job anyway, Bit of a tight squeeze eh !!

[bobby p]

haveing few probs i carnt get the indicators to work and the rev counter. ive put a cav turbo speedo cable in like my mate told me but its far to long so goin change it for standard nova one. any ideas pls. im running a let engine with the 6speed box will that make any difference.

[mikeoxford]

haveing few probs i carnt get the indicators to work and the rev counter. ive put a cav turbo speedo cable in like my mate told me but its far to long so goin change it for standard nova one. any ideas pls. im running a let engine with the 6speed box will that make any difference.

rev counter will be a single green wire to your coil.
use your nova speedo cable.

as far as petrol goes guys id suggest the sender that sits in your tank is either off with no fuel and on with a full tank kind of thing. it measures resistance between 0 and 12v so i would imagine it dosent matter on the size of tank as long as the fuel sender reads 12v at full and 0 at off (or vice versa!)

[CoupeUK]

Considering this in my dashless XE'd Nova. Will I need to buy a set of Cav/Cali 140mph clocks AND the plug(s) that fit into the back of them and splice them in to the Nova loom or will the Nova plug fit?

[R1CH]

Aye, you'll need the plugs with a small amount of loom left on so you connect them up.

Rich

[Mboasty]

haveing few probs i carnt get the indicators to work and the rev counter. ive put a cav turbo speedo cable in like my mate told me but its far to long so goin change it for standard nova one. any ideas pls. im running a let engine with the 6speed box will that make any difference.

Did you get the indcators wired up in the end im having the same problem?

[Mboasty]

Sussed indcators

green/white/black to green/white/black

The other black wire on nova plug (pin 14) also needs conecting to ignition +

I was told originaly neither of these needed conecting hence confusion!


Still not sure if pin3 (Cav plug) speedo, needs conecting if so what to?

[Jack]

Been looking at wiring on the saloon recently so thought I'd draw up a diagram for this whilst I had my head in the Haynes diagrams.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a266/razorjack/Cars/cav-nova.gif

Thats for a Mk1 - note the Mk2 has a slightly different plug to the Mk1. I'll knock one up for that at some point, or you can figure it out for yourself by looking at the dash swap article.


[edit] This is using a 1987 Mk1 Nova diagram, and "1992 onwards" Cav diagram. Some of the wires may not be present, I know my cav dials are missing one or two.

[Jack]

Mk2 is a lot easier as all the wires match up it seems lol

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a266/razorjack/Cars/cav-nova2.gif

[gillahouse]

Will it fit my 1.5D nova? Or there is something else?

[General Baxter]

Will it fit my 1.5D nova? Or there is something else?

you will need some from a cavalier diesel for the rev counter to work :thumb:

[gillahouse]

Have any one a Nova 1,5D wiring diagram?

[General Baxter]

it will be the same as the petrols!

[brainsnova]

ive got a set of cav/ calibra plasma dials speedo for sale while its up here lol

[gillahouse]

Is it metrical or imperial?

[Jack]

Do you mean the speed, in km/h or mph?


ive got a set of cav/ calibra plasma dials speedo for sale while its up here lol
Pic? :D

[brainsnova]

white during the day, neon blue or green at night and carbonfibre look sticker on the needles :thumb: night pics to be added ;) only thing is i popped the screen of for my digi dash one but i can source another from the scrappys.


http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u331/Brain_missing/calibra16v012.jpg

[Steve]

Hmm I suppose no-ones been brave enough to try and fit these in a mk1 dash yet then?
Think it would look cool but a right pain to get them in properly!

[brainsnova]

Hmm I suppose no-ones been brave enough to try and fit these in a mk1 dash yet then?
Think it would look cool but a right pain to get them in properly!

i would of for fun if i had a mk1 dash

[novalicous]

has any one got any more pictures of these fitted as im serisoly(sp) thinking about fitting some

[Nova_Sean]

Fitting some Diesel clocks to my petrol car at the moment... Will they work ok?

Also, what a **** of a job! my hands are shreaded. I cant seem to get them to go back enough either which is annoying.

[novalicous]

did you trim the heater ducting ?

[Nova_Sean]

yeh, quite a bit aswell. ive also had to cut the bottom tabs off the cav dials.

[novalicous]

is it catching on the speedo cable?

maybe try re ruiting it

wiring in the way?

[Nova_Sean]

Anyway i can pull the speedo cable from the engine bay so its not as slack?

Could be the wires aswell, ran out of light today!

And the rev counter under reads by around 1000 rpm is this because its a diesel clock? Could i get a new face for it from a petrol and put it on, or is it to do with the way its wired?

[novalicous]

not so sure on re wiring the clocks but personaly i would have got a full set from a petrol model

[Steve]

iirc its because they're diesel clocks, would be better off selling them and getting petrol clocks

[Jack]

I had to make a few small cuts into the metal brackets for the steering column

[2.0 nova paul]

i have just done this ant the fuel gage reads diffent to the nova gages could it be te sender from the tank or should i fit the calibra sender

[Nova_Sean]

I think its because that the callys have bigger petrol tanks so a larger scale. A nova has a small tank and a smaller scale on the petrol gauge. Should make it more accurate in theory... I THINK! lol

[2.0 nova paul]

because i put 25 in from when the car ran out n it onlu just went a little bit over red lol

[Jack]

Your sender is screwed, the gauge should read fine on a Nova tank. The numbers on the gauge mean nothing, the sender still sends the same signal

[Benn]

I was thinking the same.^

[Shaun]

i fitted an astra clock set into mine today, no pics until tomorow but i much prefer the look of it.

hopefully my engine will stop being silly buggers tomorow and start lol

[Balley]

I've got a set of Astra Td clocks, There the same aren't they ? Bar the fuel gauge going to 50litres rather than 60litres..