Robert's 16v Conversion Project

[wils2795]

Hi all,

I have finally got some spare time to post my current winter project. My old 1.4sr nova has finally been defeated by rust and time to build a new toy. I fitted this with twin 40's and full respray and some minor cosmetic changes as shown below.(mirrors missing)

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/FirstNova.jpg

So as I said I began the search for a new donar shell to drop a 2.0L lump into. Came across a K-plate 1.2i swing in the autotrader about 3 years ago which seemed to be in good condition for the conversion. So travelled down to see it and brought it back home. However, it has been sat under cover until a couple of months ago when I have finally decided to do something with it. Over the past few years, I have been collecting all the bits and bobs I need which for the build. I think I have almost everything I need so below are a few photos of the donor car stripped and the engine as I bought it for the car etc.

The swing stripped:
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1494.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1496.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1497.jpg

New front panel area bad with rust so needs replacing:
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1495.jpg

Bought the engine from a guy who was planning to build a similar build but then got offered an turbo engine so after tdoing a total engine rebuild, sold the engine to me along with some other bits n pieces:

Engine Block:
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1458.jpg
Think I am right is saying the alternator pulley needs changing??

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1459.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1460.jpg

Other parts which came along with the engine:
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1462.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP1463.jpg

The photo's are slightly out of date just now as I have had the timing belt cover and rocker cover powder coated whits and painted up the rest of the engine. Will post some snaps when I take them.

So that's a quick introduction. I need to take more photo's and get them posted with all the parts I have.
Current sistuation with the car is as follows:

Folling a previous post on the forum, I found a guy though in fife (Scotland)who was able to stich weld the car and fit the strengthing kit. CHIZFAB which I found to be really good and helpful. Would recommend if anyone is needing the same done to their car in this area.

Picture of car heading through to be welded:
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/NovaonPick-up.jpg

Its now back and currently in the paint shop where it has been given a full new front end, 2 new front wings, both rear arches replaced and rolled for the 17's, all bodywork flattened, primed and will be sprayed in black just the same as my old nova.

As I said, I will post some more photo's hopefully next week to keep you updated. If anyone has anycomments or advice....please let me know.

Cheers

Robert

[novalicous]

Looks a gud lil project will be wacthing this and i like ur wheels :D

[craig green]

Again, nice project. Look forward to seeing the shell painted.

Keep us updated, no matter how small.

[Pistol Pete]

Original car looked good. My mate had those wheels on his first Nova. Rubbed like fook! 17's?

New project looks well under way. Cleanish shell to start with aswell. Probably already sorted it but, i'd straighten out the kink on that crankcase breather/dipstick holder hose.

[zeifer33]

That car was the engine? Kadett?

[wilson_sri]

Kyle from Chizfab was telling me about your motor so thought id dig up the thread! Coming along nicely, anymore updates?

[krobinson]

Nice project, hope you don't use that bonnet though!!

[matt_vaughan]

I like the bonnet and the wheels.

The wheels look "cosworth" style tasteful (kinda hard to work that out i know)

Just dont really like meshed grills.

[wils2795]

Hi Guys,

Been a while since I lasted gave an update on my build so here's a quick summary.
The car is all welded up and over the Christmas break....it was in the paint shop getting all the bodywork sorted out.


http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP3359.jpg
Picture of the car as work progressed in the paintshop - Sanding down the new arches!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP3356.jpg
New front wings fitted along with complete new front end.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP3355.jpg
Rear arches cut out and new ones welded in and filler applied.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP3357.jpg
Dents in bonnet smoothed out.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/IMGP3358.jpg
New rear drivers arch installed and filler applied.

The car is now all painted in black but the camrea batteries went dead as it was in the booth so I never got any photo's of this.

I will take some photo's at the weekend showing the new paint job and the current progress of the car.

Cheers

Robert

[Gibbo]

Looks Nice:thumb:

[kenny_afh]

hi robert, its kenny barbour here from oban. you may remember me from motocross years ago when i had my quad.

nice to see another nova popping up in town, im building one aswell albeit as a rally car. have you seen gary blacks red nova in appin?

[wils2795]

Alright Kenny,

Need to get the finger out and get mine on the road. Handy to know someone else who knows abit about building these. Might need a few parts if you have some! I heard you got Ewan's rear beam with the discs?

Haven't seen Gary blacks.

Cheers

Robert

[gary_126]

pretty sure ive passed you in it before robert? Maybe not. It only ventures out in the summer.

You may reckonise where the pic is taken:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc36/GaryVaux/nova%208th%20may%

hmm, isnt working, heres the link http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc36/GaryVaux/nova%208th%20may%

[kenny_afh]

yeah i have a few spare bits and i do have that beam too. only came with one caliper tho so i still need to source another. what parts are you needing as i plan on having a wee clearout in the garage soon.

you may even have bits im after. cant think off the top of my head but spare panels are always handy!

[wils2795]

Finally got some work done on the car over the weekend with a break in the weather so I thought I would pop up some photo's of current progress. These photo's were taken over the weekend and show how the car is looking after it came out of the paintshop.

View of the car in finished colour
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3389.jpg

Engine bay from the front
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3391.jpg

Engine bay showing the mod for the alternator on the O/S front inner wing
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3398.jpg

Engine bay showing N/S Front inner wing
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3397.jpg

O/S View
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3394.jpg

O/S rear arch
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3395.jpg

N/S view
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3393.jpg

N/S rear arch
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3392.jpg

Drivers front wing
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3396.jpg

View from top
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP1.jpg

Passenger door front electric window installed
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3401.jpg

Drivers door electric window installed
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3402.jpg

Electric window and central locking harness stripped from old nova and ready to be installed into new car
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/IMGP3403.jpg

Thats about it for now.....getting there slowly but surely. I will keep this thread updated once I get further on with the build!
Any comments welcome.

Cheers
Robert

[scott.parker]

Look's really nice mate, well done.
Thought you might have sprayed all the inside, though guess it dont matter if it's running full interiour.

Scott

[twin40s]

Very nice i do like black novas alot. Good luck mate looks like a good build so far.

[krobinson]

Paint work looks excellent

[kenny_afh]

paint looks lovely! i'll be in touch in the next few weeks after i clearout my garage, will let you know what ive got and see if any of it is of use to you.

im in 2 minds about selling the disc rear beam aswell...

[vaughanmc]

Paint work looks awsome on this man

[7ova]

nice job mate, keep the photos coming :thumb:

[dj_wudgey]

nice mate looks good in that paint!!

[boats 16v]

yer the paint looks shiney and when's the engine going in

[gary_126]

Any updates robert?

[wils2795]

UPDATES:::

Well after doing nothing to the car for years.....apart from the oddweekend, I decided to get my finger out and get this project finished. Most ofthe jobs are now finished and the car is ready for the engine to go in. Which will hopefully be happening this weekend. Some photo's of the car below:

1) Wing mirrors still to be fitted:
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01913.jpg

2) Front wiper to get fitted
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01912.jpg

3)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01910.jpg

4)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01921.jpg

5)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01920.jpg

6)Rear wiper to be fitted plus exhaust
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01916.jpg

8)Digital dash and interior fitted
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01915.jpg

9)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01914.jpg

10)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01903.jpg

11)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/DSC01906.jpg

Will post some more photo's over the next couple of days of the engine.

Cheers

[blue_peg_16v]

Looking good mate

[Benn]

Still looks great, cant believe you've just had it sat some where for years...

[wils2795]

Bit of work done last night on the engine...tried fitting the clutch but I think the wrong one has been supplied. Fitted it in with the alignment tool and tightened all the bolts. Removed the tool and the clutch plate fell down. It doesn't seem to be thick enough or the wrong clutch. The flywheel has a slight indent between the face where the friction plate sits and the outer edge wherethe clutch bolts onto. Anyone know where the best place is to order a new clutch?

Did manage to fit the gearbox onto the engine and it all went together ok but just not sure if the clutch will work. Any suggestions?

Anyhow, here are some pictures of the engine taken last night:

1)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01929.jpg

2)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01930.jpg

3)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01931.jpg

4)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01932.jpg

5)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01933.jpg

[DAVIDKEDENS]

Can't wait for this to be finished, looks like a right 90s Nova :)

[kenny_afh]

is this more or less as your old one was back in the day? looking good tho, quite nice to see it coming together. i had wondered why there was only 1 nova sitting out there lately... had secretly hoped it would sit there long enough that it would come up for sale! better to see it used tho.

i have a full set of red roose hoses brand new for the c20xe and will only ever be needing the main water hoses, if youre interested get in touch.

kenny

[wils2795]

is this more or less as your old one was back in the day? looking good tho, quite nice to see it coming together. i had wondered why there was only 1 nova sitting out there lately... had secretly hoped it would sit there long enough that it would come up for sale! better to see it used tho.

i have a full set of red roose hoses brand new for the c20xe and will only ever be needing the main water hoses, if youre interested get in touch.



kenny

Aye Kenny, will look similar to the old nova. Might take a couple of hoses from you but I will wait until I get the engine in to see what I need. Think I will need the one from the header tank to the top of the rad.

Cheers

[kenny_afh]

thats one that i'll need tho. its really all the little hoses around the inlet etc that are going spare as i'll be fitting my carbs. give me a shout if you want some tho. be good to see a nova out and about in the area again.

[gary_126]

Good to see this is being finnished, nice work!

[Mieran]

I've got throttle cable, pm me if you want it mate

[wils2795]

Engine fitted to the car on Friday night.....what a mission. Seemed to struggle to get all three engine mounts to line up. Thisnk the O/S mount I was supplied is wrong so I need to source a replacement to allow the engine to sit in the right location. Anyone got one for sale?

Also the wiring is not happening.....very few of the plugs on the loom connect up with the engine. I am not sure if the loom I have got is the right one for this engine. Can anybody help identify what type of engine this is. For exapmle, the Air Flow Mass Meter has a 7 pin plug but the loom does not have a 7 pin connection plug to marry the two together.

Anyhow, some progress photos:

1)Engine ready to go in
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/220320131269.jpg

2)Car lowered down and engine lifted up into place
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/220320131271.jpg

3)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/220320131272.jpg

4)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/220320131273.jpg

5)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01934.jpg

6)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01935.jpg

7)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01950.jpg

8)Engine not sitting right due to the mount being wrong......
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01951.jpg

9)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01952.jpg

10)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01953.jpg

[Count Vaux Alot]

Good work - well done for getting back on with it, i feel your pain lol

[Mieran]

I've replied to your thread about the loom mate, I'm sure its from a coilpack model.

And that metal engine mount from a Corsa by the looks of it.

[wils2795]

Got a bit more done to the car over the Easter break....mainly getting the side skirts fitted onto the car and a good coat of polish.

Still looking for a Ecu and loom (early Dizzy) plus o/s engine mount if anybody has kicking around.

Cheers

1)Plastic clips fixed to car
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova%20Parts/DSC01986.jpg

2)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01995.jpg

3)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01994.jpg

4)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01993.jpg

5)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01992.jpg

6)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01991.jpg

7)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01990.jpg

8)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01989.jpg

9)
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC01988.jpg

[bazil]

Looks superb mate :)

Can you not re-drill the mount to suit?

[wils2795]

Looks superb mate :)

Can you not re-drill the mount to suit?

I probably could but I am not too sure where the new holes would need to be to ensure the engine was sitting in the correct position....If I had some dimensions to work with then yes.

[Iain]

Well if the gearbox side is right then just get the rocker gasket sitting level against the slam panel. Looks mint though nice work

[murph-gsi]

That looks really cool. Plain and simple, proper oldskool :cool:

[novadave24]

this looks really clean good work mate :)

[kenny_afh]

robert i have a mount here, you can either have it now and replace it after, or use it for copying? if you have access to any decent 3-5mm steel sheet i could probably make you one...

[wils2795]

robert i have a mount here, you can either have it now and replace it after, or use it for copying? if you have access to any decent 3-5mm steel sheet i could probably make you one...

That would be brilliant...my friend Campbell is a welder and said he could make a copy of it for me. Any chance I could get it for this wkend?
Thanks, Robert

[kenny_afh]

You have pm

[bazil]

Any chance of throwing one together for me aswell mate lol

[wils2795]

Any chance of throwing one together for me aswell mate lol

I can ask my friend how much it would cost in time and material and let you know.

[bazil]

Cheers mate :)

[wils2795]

Small update:
Not posted for a while but I have still been working away on my nova. It's almost finished now, few teething problems to sort and hopefully get it out on the road for a test drive soon.

Got the engine all plumbed up and put some fresh petrol in the tank and it fired into life....happy with that as I was sure I would have missed something when doing the wiring etc. Engine been sitting in the garage for 6 years now but it seems to run great. High idle when warm but I think I have traced this to the ICV being faulty. Need to source a new one of these.

Anyway, a few photo's taken yesterday:

1.http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC02367.jpg

2.http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC02368.jpg

3.http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC02369.jpg

4.http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC02370.jpg

5.http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC02371.jpg

6.http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC02372.jpg

7.http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC02373.jpg

8.http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/DSC02374.jpg

[bazil]

Looking good :)

[BRoadGhost]

You could make the off side pipe line up with the near side one.

They do stand high without a lot of work.

[Benn]

I do agree with the above^ but the rest is stunning. Are the wheels huge? Or do they just look it?

[blue_peg_16v]

17in dares by the looks of it

[wils2795]

Ha ha....I know mate. I will get the two pipes lining up with easch other. I still need to make a support bracket for the O/S exit pipe.(at the moment it is held up with some string.

You could make the off side pipe line up with the near side one.

They do stand high without a lot of work.

[wils2795]

17" Dare wheels....worked fine on my old nova with no rubbing issues but the coilovers are creating problems and having to use wheel spacers to sit the wheel further away from the spring.


I do agree with the above^ but the rest is stunning. Are the wheels huge? Or do they just look it?