Nova GSi Rally Car Build...16 years and counting...

[AndrewC]

Gutted...took the car out for a spin late afternoon today. A good blast down the lanes west of Cambridge but 2 mins from home thought I heard a noisy belt. Slowed right down, dipped the clutch to listen and the engine died. Rolled to a stop but wouldn't restart. Managed to push it the few hundred yards to home. Rolled her into the garage but no time to start looking to see what's happened. Was already pissed off which is why I'd fine out for a blast...now really depressed!


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[Jonesfach]

[totalnova]

Hopefully something simple to fix.

[Iain]

Better to happen on road than track

[AndrewC]

Started to investigate the problem...before it died I thought I heard a binding noise like a rubbing belt. Looking at the cam pulley I think that may be what I heard. The belt cover is worn, the pulley paint has rubbed off in place and the bolt loose. The belt is intact so hopefully nothing catastrophic internally.





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[TallDave]

Started to investigate the problem...before it died I thought I heard a binding noise like a rubbing belt. Looking at the cam pulley I think that may be what I heard. The belt cover is worn, the pulley paint has rubbed off in place and the bolt loose. The belt is intact so hopefully nothing catastrophic internally.

OUCH, feeling your pain Andrew, I just hope that things are not as bad as they sound like they might be...

That loose bolt doesn't sound good, just how long is the locating dowel in the cam, just hoping for your sake that it remained engaged, otherwise it could be nasty and expensive....! Fingers crossed that it won't be.

[AndrewC]

OUCH, feeling your pain Andrew, I just hope that things are not as bad as they sound like they might be...

That loose bolt doesn't sound good, just how long is the locating dowel in the cam, just hoping for your sake that it remained engaged, otherwise it could be nasty and expensive....! Fingers crossed that it won't be.

Yep confirmed it's not good. Dowel was not the proper job. Leak down test shows all 4 down 25%. Looks like new valves neededat least...


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[totalnova]

Hope it's salvageable mate, great excuse for some tuning if you ask me. Silver clouds and all that.

[Benn]

Ouch, bad luck.

[Jonlem]

Well I can post an update. The "dowel" was just a roll pin, not sure if that's normal on these engine bits it's now a machined dowel.

We used the leak down tester on another engine and got some interesting results pointing towards the guage not reading correctly. Retested the nova on another tester and it was 5-6% on 1-3 and 10-12 on 4. This was tested cold and the leak was actually past the rings ok number 4.

Anyway turned up a dowel, timed it back up and hey presto the cars back up and running nicely. It does need Cambelt front and rear covers but otherwise it appears ok, bloody lucky for sure. If anyone has the Cambelt covers laying about I can get it back together and back to Andrew