The Counts 1.7 TD GSI nova

[Count Vaux Alot]

So here we go again

After much house related saving and being sensible I decided i was fed up of not having a nova to actually drive around in as my track car project is at a stand still for one reason or another so here is the latest project.

Some of you will recognise Craig Greens shell others wont but he decided to part company with it and i decided i could do something with it.

So the plans are to fit a 1.7td engine out of a cavalier, add a front mounted intercooler, up the fuel up the boost and have some reasonably priced fun so here goes:

Up to now i have a 1.5td donor car that i have owned since 2004 that my brother has been borrowing for too long. He has now brought it to the end of its life body work wise, so i will be using a selection of parts from that to fit the cav td lump. Again i have already acquired the engine and several other parts.

Pics...


Collecting the car from CG





CG himself



All ready to go





Reasonably clean underneath



And its current resting place on the drive with the addition of a white bonnet to keep the engine bay a little less moist!








Some pre td engine bay shots

[Count Vaux Alot]

This o/s chassis leg will be changing a little to accept the td engine mount



I think im going to repair this boost pipe hole with bits from the donor



A very annoying dent



A heavily faded boot that needs some attention



I'm going to have the inside stripped out so the sound deadening had to go



Here are some goodies ready to go including a new gsi velo radiator and a frontera intercooler



One cavalier 1.7td donor car looking very sorry for its self



And the 1.7td engine out and ready to be stripped and rebuilt - turbo removed ready for an upgrade as the original IHI unit is tiny more details to follow!

[Count Vaux Alot]

As the shell has already had the rear arches turreted (see pics below)





I had no other option other than to fit a set of coil overs (thats my excuse anyway ) so when a set of Gaz came up at a reasonable price locally i was more than pleased to take them off the guy.

The fronts have seen some use but the rears are almost new, apparently the rears had only been on the car in the body shop when it was being painted as they fouled the tyres so he removed them - bonus!

Here is how they looked when i collected them



Grubby but serviceable fronts



VGC rears





Me being me i wasn't happy with the state of the fronts so they came apart for a clean up.
One side came to bits with little hassle the bottom spring seat was a stiff but turned the other side was sized to fook!

Most bits dissembled



The one offender that wouldn't move for sh!t



So out came the saw - ha ha now it was off







Ready to be cleaned



In the degreaser then the hot was (the bodies didn't go in the hot was before anyone starts!)

[craig green]

Ooh hello, good to see a start James! Very interesting project IMO. So glad she will live on.

[Count Vaux Alot]

Once the bits were dry and free of grease it was time to tape them up ready for blasting!



The bodies were done by hand in the hand shot (very fine sand)



They came out rather well - one done one to go for comparison







Both sorted



The rest of the bits went in the big shot blaster (stainless steel shot)







Then it was time to get everything masked, primed (with acid etch) and painted.





I did all the bits and bobs in black





And the bodies in red as thats what was on offer for free

[Count Vaux Alot]

Only the beginning CG much more to follow when i get some more time on the net

[John]

wow! Top project! I'm sure, knowing you, it'll be excellent!

[Connor]

1.7td Gsi
Now thats what i am talking about

[craig green]

1.7td Gsi
Now thats what i am talking about

DSi

[comptoncj]

looks like an interesting project chap, gimme a shout when your working on it and il pop round and have a look