Smooth nova

[skud52]

Thought i would start a build thread. Ive tried a couple of times over the last week but photobucket and internet explorer dont seam to get along on my computer. Anyway this is 3rd time lucky.

Ive had the car for around 4 or 5 years now, and got lucky when a mate rescued it from the scrap yard and offered it me for £100. Here are the only 2 photos i can find of it from back then.






I decided that this build, my 5th, would be hopefully my best, and consist of everything i think a nova should look like and also what would test my skills build wise. This has been built pretty much by myself, with the exception of my mates lending there expert help here and there. Anyway i dont have a great photo history of the build, but i'll show what i do have, then hopefully continue to update with progress as and when.

My initial plan was to have it as low as possible, this would later become a problem. Anyway i purchased some mk2 escort turrets and welded them into place.









Just a comparrision, here it is next to my mates nova, i havent even wound the coilovers all the way down!





Having built a number of cars (mainly novas) the only work i had never done was spray painting. This was something i would try and considering this is the 1 car i have done bodywork/paint on im pretty happy. I have learnt a lot whilst doing so and that was my main aim. Here are the pics of it at different stages of paint.

New wings so i could change from mk2 to mk1



Etch primer.





High build.

[skud52]

Vauxhall glacier white











My plan for the car was always going to be a 2.0 16v on r1 carbs. Mainly because i had the engine already but also because there probably the best looking engine. Also on the agenda was to make the bay as clean, simple and smooth as possible. Having taken inspiration from the vag scene here i had no idea how hard it would be to achieve. Hours and hours of welding and smoothing were put into the bay, as i wanted as little filler in there as possible. Im pretty happy with how it turned out, in the end i had to paint it a second time to get it better but as i wanted the car done this would have to do.

Here are a couple of pictures of my 1st attempt. This was never going to be good enough though.





I havent got any photos of it along the way, there stuck on a external hard drive that i cant power up? Anyway here are a couple of the finished bay







After that, it was a case of building it up and getting it running and ready for racing.

[skud52]

My main problem with this was that the car wasnt road legal so i was unable to do any road testing. My 1st outing was to santa pod where i blew the clutch up on the 1st run. These things happen tho and i didnt let that put me off.



Ready for pod



At pod



Total vauxhall even took a photo of me at The Retro Show



At curbourgh







I have a few videos of curbourgh and santa pod but im not sure how to get them from facebook yet.

Anyway fast forward to now and the cars been built for about a year and raced a few times since. I have decided that there are a number of jobs which need doing, and also a number of jobs which probably dont but will be 'cause this is my passion.

Ive made and fitted some perspex windows (thany you work)



I have fitted a quaife quick rack, however i havent any photos of that (quite a boring job)

I have modified the rocker cover





High build



Gloss black (didnt like the crackle black look any more)

[skud52]

I have stripped the interior out ready for painting again.



I have aso decided i want to add a corsa c power steering column. Here are a few pics of that fitted.





I have decided on black interior. Hopefully this will be smart enough to not require much in the form of interior trim. First job was to paint the roof. Im pretty chuffed with how it turned out considering the time (or lack of!) that i spent prepping it, and also how poor my effor was in refitting my roof lining last time.





Anyway while i wait for paint supplies and parts thats how ive left the interior for now.

I then moved on to the engine bay, although im really happy with the majority of it, there were a few bits i wanted to change to further add to the smooth look.





Welded



Bit of fiberglass filler



And thats pretty much how i left it tonight



Hope you all like it, and hopefully it will be finished and ready for the new year. Got quite a few races planned.

[M Sutton]

Wow,very impressive! Loving the smoothed engine bay!

Keep up the good work!!

[AndrewJenkins]

awesome build dude keep up the good work

[DAVIDKEDENS]

this is cool! love the smoothed engine bay.. look forward to progress

[skud52]

Cheers guys!

[Iain]

This looks awesome, the bay looks proper neat.

[skud52]

This looks awesome, the bay looks proper neat.

Thanks, hopefully it will be even better after the winter!