My Nova Merit/SRi project

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Thought i'd better start a project topic seeing as i've had the car for over 2 and a half years....

The car started out as a 1.2 merit, when i got it in october 2005, it had a 1300SR engine in it, and it looked like this-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/NovaJPlate15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/NovaJPlate7noplate.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/NovaJPlate8noplate.jpg

Then came the mk4 astra late sxi 16's-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/NovaWithSXi16snoplate.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/NovaWithSXi16s1.jpg

I then managed to get an SRi engine with wiring loom for £30, only problem was that there was a conrod through the block but i had a 1400SR engine sitting in bits, so the sri was rebuilt using the SR bottom end with new piston rings and big-end bearings, top end got valves re-seated, new valve stem oil seals and was all put together with new gaskets.

Engine nearly built-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/NovaSRienginenearlybuilt.jpg

Empty engine bay got a quick rub down and sprayed gloss black, i now regret not sorting the engine bay out totally before putting the engine in, so the engine will probably come out when i get a chance to.

Engine bay ready for the SRi engine-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/Novaenginebaytidiedup.jpg

In went the engine-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/NovaSRienginein.jpg

Doors were then swapped for cleaner ones with no vinyl along the bottom-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSCF0016noplate.jpg

Calibra leather steering wheel went in, and painted my dash black, using halfords vinyl paint-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSCF0013.jpg

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

engine all connected up and 4 branch manifold on, using mk1 SR (i think it was) centre pipe, sebring 6x4 back box and the front pipe my dad made up, with no catalytic converter :) -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSCF0009.jpg

Then managed to pick up a set of Compomotive MO's, badly need refurbed though, stuck a couple of them on to see what the car would look like with them on-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00040.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSCF0023.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00028noplate.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00036.jpg

More progress to come soon hopefully, hoping to get the car mot'd soon. then get it resprayed.

also got a GSi front bumper to go on-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/NovaGSifrontbumper.jpg

Standard gear linkage was worn, so i cut it up :D -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00203.jpg

Then rose jointed it-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00212.jpg

still go get the gear linkage taken apart and painted up, then get it on the car.

also managed to pick up a complete GSi interior for the car, dash is in, hoping to get the rest of it in before the weekend.

Plan is to get the car finished for when i get my license back in october:)

John.

[Rickyb]

looks good mate :thumb:

[burgo]

gonna be a proper pukka car once you get the bodywork sorted

[moffat]

getting there mate

[vaughanmc]

Will be really nice once its done mate :)

[draper]

did you shorten the gearlinkage aswell ?

car will be lovely once done, what colour you doing it ?

[DW-Nova]

Looks like a nice little car you have there mate, although i did prefer the looks of the astra sxi wheels imo, will look mint once it's all painted up.

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Draper- i've not shortened the linkage, YET ;) might do though, need to get measurements etc, will be resprayed glacier white, i wanted it yellow a while back and went and bought the paint, toyota super bright yellow, but changed my mind and going to go with glacier white again :)

DW- I still have the Astra SXi wheels, also got a set of mk3 astra sport steels in 15", will swap between the 3 sets when im bored.

John.

[Sync]

Nice car that one. Cant wait to see it done.

[DW-Nova]

good going, you'll be able to have a bit of variation with 3 sets of wheels hey, be able to keep a mint set an everyday set and a spare set hey.

[marS]

I well with white rims they are 14 or 15 ?

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

marS - the white rims are 15"

[AlexW]

Looks good, what else have you got to do to get it through the mot?

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

not alot hopefully, gooing to put my other set of 256mm brakes on, the calipers that are on are a bit stiff, and i've got a better set sitting anyway so i'll paint them and chuck them on, dont think theres anything else left for the mot apart from tighten the handbrake up a bit as i loosened it right off when there was no engine in the car, the back brakes were binding so made it difficult to push the car in & out the garage lol

got the GSi interior in today, i'll put pics up tomorrow. looks alot better now.

John.

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

small update-

GSi interior is now in, well most of it anyway-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00312.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00313.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00311.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00310.jpg

and a pic of what the car currently looks like-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00309.jpg

[moffat]

looking good mate

[vaughanmc]

GSi interior is the best by far

Be sure and keep that black dash for me! :)

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

small update for now, got a pair of front coilovers a few weeks ago, i had calibra leather seats that i wasn't going to use in the nova, so swapped them and a set of 256mm brakes for the coilovers, just needed a clean up.

when i got them they were like this-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/coilys.jpg

cleaned the threads up and painted the bottoms, and got a set of standard top mounts from a tigra at the scrappies, painted them up, will get a decent set of topmounts some time in the future, got the springs put on them today, the spring compressors i was going to use are too big, so a mate managed to pull the spring back, block of wood against his chest and pulled the spring in enough to get the nuts on a few threads lol anyway heres what they are like now-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00367.jpg

also i've been paint stripping the GSi front bumper, as the paint was cracked i thought it would be better to take it right back to plastic rather than paint over cracked paint, its taking a while to do it though, nitromors isnt taking alot off at a time although i've got a little more done since this pic was taken-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00334.jpg

will hopefully get my rear springs at some point next week, Gaz 5" 225lb springs, should lower it around 80mm which is what i want.

[vaughanmc]

Good update mate, coilovers look awsome as well

Might need to invest in a set :)

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

another small update, coilovers are on the car now, need to alter the way the drivers side one is sitting though, has major toe out on drivers side, think its because of they way the top holes have been opened up for the camber adjustment, and i've just not got it sitting quite right.

pic to show difference from standard strut with lowering springs and coilovers-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00377.jpg

this is how bad the wheel sits, with the passenger one straight-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00379.jpg

also bought half red/half clear rear lights, need some attention but shouldnt be too bad once i've put a bit of work into them-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00381.jpg

and i have now recieved my GAZ 5" 225lb rear springs, just need to get uprated rear shocks now-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00383.jpg

[vaughanmc]

Nice work mate, can't wait to see how it sits with those rear springs :)

[7ova]

i like the astra sxi alloys the best
they suit the nova well :thumb:

[Matt]

I ordered those exact springs from Vsport on Tuesday (I rang GAZ but they said to ring Vsport). How much did thay quote you for them if you don't mind me asking, and how long did they take to come?

:thumb:

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

the springs cost just under £60 including postage, and it took around a couple of weeks for them to come, but GAZ only had one so had to order more, so thats why it took so long.

[Matt]

Feck me, thats less than what I was charged!

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Forgot i had these pics until i found them on my computer earlier today, got these quad lights a while back, believed to be mk2 morettes-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00088.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00087.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00086.jpg

not too sure whether i'll put them on the car or not, i'll see what they look like when the car is painted and with the GSi front bumper on.

also if the weather is good tomorrow, im going to try and get it ready for an mot, just got to adjust the handbrake, put the front end back together, put the rest of the rear bumper bolts in and tighten up the wiper linkage. then i can get the car up to my garage instead of my grans, and i can then start prepping the bodywork for being sprayed :thumb:

[vaughanmc]

Get them fitted or sell the kit to me lol

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Thought it was about time i put an update in here.

Got my grommets put in for my electric windows/central locking the other week-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00407.jpg

Slam panel needed replaced, so the old one was cut off, then the fronts of the inner wings were a bit shot, so these were cut off too-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00433.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00436.jpg

The slam panel i had sitting wouldnt sit quite right, the grill was going to stick out from the bonnet, so me and my dad eventually decided to replace the whole front panel, upon taking the radiator out, we found this split in the front crossmember-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00437.jpg

underneath on this side had a split too, and the drivers side was split the same on the top.

Inner wings were replaced with bits cut off a car at the scrappies, which i had got to repair the inner wings on my first nova, but it was scrapped before these were put on-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00453.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00455.jpg

Complete front panel/crossmember on the car all welded up-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00456.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00457.jpg

Thanks goes to my dad for the cutting/welding of the panels, seeing as i cant weld yet, not done it since i was at college a few years ago, need to have a go again, seeing as i do own a Nova i'll have to be able to weld lol

[vaughanmc]

Looks mint now John :)

Slap loads and loads of Body Schutz on that front panel then get it painted white!

Keep the updates coming

[NovaBoi92]

any more updates? looking alright mate

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Slight update, all brake lines have now been renewed, rear drums swapped for near new ones painted with black enamel-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00482.jpg

Front calipers have been replaced with the ones i took off the 2.0 ecotec cavalier i broke, and then painted them yellow, dont have a pic of them at the moment though. Also used the near new discs and pads off the Cavalier

Also rubbed down the driver side rear 1/4 today and gave it a blast with white primer, needs rubbed down at bits again though, but looks better for now, just tyring t get the car all sorted out for being painted soon!-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00544.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00546.jpg

Next job is for to get new bits of metal welded underneath for to hold the fuel lines up, as the old ones fell to bits when the old fuel lines were removed, think my dad's going to do that next weekend. then its ready to go for an mot :D

[vaughanmc]

Nice to see an update

Sits about perfect at the back mate, will be good to see it painted

Roll on 2009: Meets & shows :D

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Thats on 40mm springs i think lol with the back of the car full of stuff,

Should sit like that again once i get the 5" springs on though i hope! :thumb: Think i'll have to get shorter shocks before i put the 5" springs on.

[vaughanmc]

Nice one it will be tidy once its all sorted out mate, good luck with it all :)

[adamz]

good project matey , ive always been a fan of white sr's/sri's

[Pistol Pete]

Those wheels really suit your car. Whats left to do now?

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

After the fuel line clips are done, that should be it ready for the mot hopefully :thumb:

Then there's the respray which my dad will be doing, not sure where its going to be sprayed yet, need to try and sort something out for that :)

Also got a few other bits and pieces i want done which can be done once i get it on the road.

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Got a bit more done today, cleaned up any rust on the inner wings with the wire brush on the grinder, then sprayed gloss black, and finally underseal.

Dont think these bits will be rusting again in a hurry lol -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00555.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00556.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00557.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00558.jpg

Got some more bits down the bottom of the inner arches to sort out yet, but managed to get the wings on with a couple of bolts-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00561noplate.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00563.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00564.jpg

Looks better now that the vinyl is off the wings!

And an arty shot to end this post-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00562.jpg

[belly257]

looks smart mate, like the wheels:thumb:

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Nearly ready for mot no, just need to pick up a couple of headlight clips from vauxhall so i can get the drivers headlight put in, then i need to work out why the side repeaters aint working.

Heres how it sits at the moment-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00589.jpg

Bumper needs to come up slightly too.

Just saving up for insurance deposit now!

[brainsnova]

hammer the bracket ups that hold the bumper the ones under the headlights.

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

I'll just loosen off the side mounts, and the chassis leg mounts and push the bumper up a bit :thumb:

[vaughanmc]

Looking good mate, not much more work to do now

You got the MOT booked ?

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

MOT aint booked yet, i'll have to wait until i get it insured, shouldn't have to wait too long to get it mot'd though as i'll get my wee brother to book it in at the garage he's doing his apprenticeship at :thumb:

Had it booked in for last friday but had to cancel it when the bank wouldn't give me an overdraft, so couldn't get insurance lol

Just trying to save up for insurance at the moment, not good having no job though!!

[scott.parker]

Any updates? or is this car dead?

[AlexW]

Its been resprayed, belive its still alive, think he was using it.

Dont think he gets on here much anymore though.

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

As has been mentioned, i don't get on here much now as i'm hardly ever in the house, just thought it was about time for an update ;)

Had the car looking like this at the scottish modified car show last year-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC00970.jpg

It then went off the road at the end of august last year as i wanted the engine out to get the engine bay painted, which never happened.

Since it came off the road i've had a few cars,

Astra 1.6 expression, had this for a month and couldnt tax it without v5 so got shot of it-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC01061.jpg

Only thing it got was different plates with bike sized letters-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC01078.jpg

Then came the Skoda Felicia 1.6 :lol: Kicked it about for 2 weeks then decided i wanted something else-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSC01105.jpg

Then came the Corsa 12v LS which i still have, was standard bar a set of alloys that didnt fit properly, since then it's been lowered, vectra alloys, sport spoiler & interior-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSCF0033.jpg

Back to the Nova which has been back on the road a few weeks and is now on Gaz 5" 225lb springs and avo adjustables at the back, and on the 16's again-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSCF0030.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSCF0031.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/DSCF0032.jpg

Failed it's mot on a bottom balljoint this year, last year it needed a foglight bulb so it's doing pretty good for an 18 year old car 8)

[vaughanmc]

Nova's looking brilliant mate, hope you can make it along to the PNG meet and TV Show :)

Nice wheels on the Corsa as well ;)

[Cle]

Nova looks smart as mate

[Connor]

The looks very tidy mate,
Liking the lime green strips and details,
its different but in a good way :thumb:

[scott.parker]

Wow, well impressed with the overall finish of this mate, looks lovely, really like it! well done.

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Thanks for the positive replies :cool: makes it all the more worthwhile.

couple of issues to sort out with the bodywork but its not too bad considering my dad painted the car in the garage on the side of the house and i did the bumpers, spoiler, mirrors, grill & boot handle!

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Thought i'd better update this one last time!

The nova was hit by some idiot in an astra flying onto a roundabout at around 60mph on saturday night/sunday morning at 2.15, the astra then drove round me & drove off but the police have since caught the driver and he is being prosecuted, police also cant give me his details for my insurance so going to have to wait & see what happens.

Just put the MO's on it last week too & a was out in the rain until 9pm thursday night putting a gearbox in then working on it driday to get it finished.

Some pics with the mo's on -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0421.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0422.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0423.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0424.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0425.jpg

How it looks now passenger arch had to be folded up away from the wheel so it could be driven home -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0432.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0433.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0434.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0435.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0436.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0437.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/rcracer/IMG_0438.jpg

[Plug]

Unlucky mate looked like a tidy nova until the incident(sp?)

[swedge]

sorry to see what happened dude looked good as well

whats the damage like inside?

[moffat]

was looking good with the mo's on john. unluky about the accident

[NovaGuy1400SRi]

Cheers guys, boot floor is twisted, i'd like to think the towbar & spare wheel helped it keep shape a little better, drivers door has an uneven gap at the back , gap at the top & bottom but no gap at the middle! drivers seat backrest doesn't go back or forward now...

[Cle]

****ing **** looks very smart real shame :(

[scott.parker]

Could it be rejigged? i can see from the rear shot how twisted it is, but maybe savable if you know anyone who's got the right knowledge?

Shame was smart looking car too..

[Connor]

Ahh thats a big shame matey, loved this car. Hope you can get something sorted