My Red 18E SR Rep

[Maka]

Bought this car about 6months ago from a lad up in Beverley.

Found it on ebay and couldnt resist going having a look at it, trailed up towards Hull and was met with this:-

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00126.jpg

Apparently it had been dry stored for between 6 and 7 years at some point, which seemed quite believable judging
by the condition of it. Both wings and arches are solid, legs are solid, sills looked good as did the whole underside
of the car. Generally looked like it hadnt ever been in the hands of gypsies...
Thought the red/black contrast between
either side of the rubstrips looks really well, especially with black gsi bumpers upfront and rear.
The lad seemed to know bits and bats about cars but then tried telling me that the F16 box fitted was a 4speed...
Turned out to be the linkage adjustment as you'd expect!

The shell was originally a 1400 Merit I, then has had the full red sr interior put in along with gsi black dash,
the black underneath the rubstrips on the doors have been painted in matt black.
After closer inspection I realised that the car has had plating jobs done on both front inner arches and the O/S/R arch
but has all been done in stainless steel and sealed properly, suggesting to me that whoever owned the car along the way
before me has nipped the problems in the bud and didnt do half a job at all. Also the nearside sill has been replaced at some point.

Shelled out a mere 600sheets for it in the end then got on the way home, removed the undesirable corsasport 3spokes
the next day and fitted some 50quid rims which actually came off l33 legs white sri after he sold it back to one of my
mates who broke it up. Much happier with the look of it now, even though they are only temporary-ish:-

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00144.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00146.jpg

I've had a couple of novas prior to buying this, one being K96 AGS which L33 Leg has recently made a monster of, which were
cleanish but this is my favourite. The bodywork is spot on bar a couple of small scratches on the N/S quarter and although
the paint is slightly faded, she turned out well after a t-cut and a polish:-

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00155.jpg

The only offending items looks-wise now IMO are the clear lights which i soon saw to, along with a fresh set of reg plates
leaving me with this:-

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00297.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00367-1.jpg

The 18E fitted is a superb engine IMO, I've run it now for about 6 months and it hasn't skipped a beat bar a loose connection
on the AFMS plug due to some incompetent fool placing the securing clip on from the topside instead of the bottom...
She's had oil and filter changes every 10k with a few other service parts, dizzy cap + arm, leads, plugs and cambelt.
I have no details in the slightest (apart from certain assumptions) about the conversion, the donor car, how long the engines
been in or anything, but was hoping there may be a possibilty that someone will already know this car from a member of the
previous novaload site as the window vinyls suggest...?

I've got loads more pics of the car / engine / progress on my laptop at home that I'll upload in the next few days

[craig green]

Nice looking car. I like the colour of the wheels especially.

Get some underbonnet pics up, the 18E is the conversion I first wanted in a Nova back when I got into them around 96. I'd still have one now if they were easily available.

[Maka]

cheers for the compliment pal, and yea plenty more pics including underbonnet are ready at home for uploading. also i'v found a couple of 18E's kicking about on mk1 astra forums after wanting another lump myself to tinker with...

[raymond]

nice project there maka whos is the 306 in the back ground

[Bubba]

hmm i like the bmw :P

looks pretty clean on the outside..i like :)

[L33 LEG]

good thread mate, iv never really asked about your car before. a few months ago i was reading a thread on corsasort and somebody used to own your car, cant remember what engine was in it but 95% it wasnt a 1.8 (think it was 2 years ago), something is telling me that it might of been a 2.0 8v, il try and find the thread again and see who it was.

glad my crappy wheels are still in use, cant believe the paint hasnt chipped off yet as i quickly sprayed them one night, only scotched the surface lol

whats the plans for it now? id colour code the mirrors and maybe get some gsi skirts for it.

[L33 LEG]

just found that thread again, not easy searching through pages when you're banned from the site and the search function lol

heres the pic:

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1009/63/61/1316763187/n1316763187_208771_6444.jpg

it was still a 1.8. dont know anything as it was just a thread showing all previous cars. the guy is from east yorkshire and said hes only been driving a year and a half, and was his 6th car from about 10 :eek: so my guess is that it was obviously a 1.8 when the guy in hull had it and then before him was this guy. so its probably over 2 years its been in there.

a shame i cant log in to see his email details to see if he knows anymore about it

[Steve]

Thats really cool , please don't change the engine for a redtop, the 1.8s are actually quite tuneable I believe. Plus its something a little different from the norm.

The only thing i'd change is the rear lights. Looks good aside from that.

[Maka]

Damo- the 306 hdi is my old car, nice looking thing but a cumbersome tank all in all haha.
Lee- cheers for that pal, must have taken a bit of effort trawling through! that was the pic that the lad I bought it off used for selling it so presume it was him on the cs site.
As she stands now the only plans I have really are to fit the gsi skirts I'v got in the unit, gsi interior which I picked up yesterday, take the pikey leccy tape off the bumpers (hehe), give them a fresh spray of black and put some proper tape on.
After that it's find a spare engine time and see about how far these things can go power-wise! Should be great fun.
Oh and Steve- this motor will always run an 8valve fella!

[L33 LEG]

i was just thinking that it must be the same guy. hull is sort of east yorkshire, kind of!

i thought you would of kept it sr style rather than gsi it, but it will look better. if you want to sell me those red doorcards il buy them, and also the red switches. iv also got some red pinstripe spare if you want some, even though its only a few quid from A1.

[7ova]

tidy looking nova mate

[Maka]

I did think long and hard about keeping it sr style but at the end of the day its not an sr shell or sr powered so thought theres no point really when she could look a hell of a lot better. yea you can have the door cards buddy, they have speaker holes cut in the front, rough job but look fine with speakers in. no red switches though sorry pal as she came with gsi dash anyhow. picking some gsi cards up tonight or tomorrow so I'll give you a bell and drop those red cards off for you one night this week mateo

[L33 LEG]

theres no rush mate, iv just always wanted some to go with your old red interior. doubt il ever use them but itl go nicely with all my other random crap lol

and ye, it will look better being a gsi. are you taking off the black stuff on the doors?

[Maka]

its all painted on so it'l be staying for a good while yet, the doors have started to rust slightly at the bottom so will most probably leave it how it is until they become an eyesore then either put the bottom side back to red or just spray the new doors up the same, i quite like the contrast of red/black as it is at a constant level round the car with the bumpers. see how it pans out eh! as if you've still got that red interior lmao haha, do you still have the sr donkey out of ags or did ya weigh it in?

[Maka]

As promised more pics of the nova plus underbonnet pics:-

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00459.jpg

One of my favourite pics:-
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00461.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00462.jpg

Before anyone has the crack for the 'misplaced' red bull can, my coils not
large enough to accomodate it and hey, wiper motors need wings too haha!
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00497.jpg

In Settle at the Kilns with one of my misguided best mate's vts:-
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00498.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00504.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00505.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00506.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00507.jpg

Whilst fitting new coilovers:-
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00544.jpg

Sitting much happier! :thumb:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00548.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00607.jpg

Baby last week after a coat of pink detox then high definition wax. Yeaahh!!
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00613.jpg

Before setting off for Wigan cruise last Sunday
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00618.jpg

[Dod]

You really need to do something with that front bumper, all that aside it looks A1.

[Maka]

cheers pal, and yea she's long overdue a respray. this weeks task i reckon!

[Pillar]

very nice looking nova mate a bit of a tidy up and it will be fantastic! look forward to seeing some work done on this beauty

[Graeme]

A few of my mates went down to that Wigan cruise and then ended up at Woolston grange, What was the turn out like? 18e looks ace

[raymond]

maka do you want to sell the hdi mate im after one you see

or do you not have any more

[vaughanmc]

Looks absolutely quality! I think from the dirt/spray on the car that you really use it ? :D

[mdunnxe2b]

great car fella and great to see a 1.8 for change :D

[Spudly]

Cars looking good now bud, last time i saw anything of this was when the lad from beverly posted up a "stolen" thread!

He said it was recovered and glad its stayed on here too, Lol at the first pic, KFC carpark methinks lol

[Sloth]

hey maka, hows it going? hows your mate getting on with my old nova? good to see the 1.8 for once, fats little lump, really revvy..

rob

[Benn]

Very nice, i was thinking of the 1.8e engine too..

[L33 LEG]

is that white mk1 henrys new one? looks nice.

what coilovers are you using?

and what you mean sr donkey? lol

[dj_wudgey]

looks quite good imo pal!!

[Maka]

Spudly- I had suspicions that it had been stolen at some point due to slight bends in the outer covers of two of the lock barrels, must never have been reported officially though as it showed nothing on a hpi check I ran shortly after buying it. you know anything about previous owners before the fella in beverley by chance?
And yea, hull kfc... wat a dive that place was! Some real unclean fella served us and I vow never to return..!
Sloth- progress will be steady away on that shell as he's yet to build his LET lump up yet, should be going for paint after having the arches done in a coupla weeks
Lee- the mk1's henrys yea, tis an absolute gem. untouched by anyone with just 40k on and every mot. 2lady owners one for 12months then other for 19years before part exd to a dealership he got it from. very clean motor.
Im currently using fk adjustables with -40 fixed rears, going to be changing the front springs soonish tho as Im after it being a little harder still, not enough compression acting on the spring whilst at the ride height im after to keep it hard enough for my liking

[L33 LEG]

iv heard its very clean, hopefully he'l keep it standard.

do you know anyone selling some shocks or coilovers? if you want something harsh then get some springs like mine, theyre 80mm at the front but are a higher poundage, problem is though its not low enough cos theyre so stiff

who bought the shell from sloth?

[Maka]

parkers got that shell now, and no dont think henrys plannin on keepin the mk1 standard at all. mk2ing all the front end and putting gsi interior I think he said. valvers on the way to being built for it apparently
as for shocks or coilovers floatin about I dont know really bud

[L33 LEG]

he cant mark 2 it, what an idiot :(

didnt think parker was getting back into novas. then again, i havnt heard anything about his evo lately.

looks like theres going to be a fair few novas around clitheroe again then, and most of them being valvers. wish i kept mine 8v now to be different. aslong as mine is the only black one though then im happy :)

[Sloth]

maka, tell him if he ever sells it i want first dibs mate. tell him to get pics up of it in a wip!!! ta bud!

[Maka]

thats why im quite happy about the clitheroe valver evolution period, coz I'v got an 8v that'll keep up with most of them n smoke the rest (dependin on driver obviously!)
parkers evo's pretty much ready now with the 400bhp motor he bought off farnell, just having finishing touches sorted out. all his projects have always been steady away though as he likes doin things properly, most of the time lol
sloth- after the money he's ploughin into that thing he's probably not gona want to let go of it but I'll pass your request on haha

[L33 LEG]

id be happy if i was you aswell, iv always said id stick with the 8v.shame danny fcuked my engine up cos i would of kept it in!

itl be good to see parkers cars back out then by the sounds of it. hes kept himself quiet lately.

anyway il stop spamming your thread now lol

[Maka]

he needed to keep himself quiet for a bit though truth be told after he nearly lost his licence in that old stickered up white redtop he had. ended up toying with an elise up to about 130, elise pulled over after and it was an unmarked copper... section59 an that lot and car blacklisted...

[Maka]

Snap off wheel and boss kit to stop the TWOCing tea leaves getting any where near my motor :D i like the general look of this too its pretty cool, just needs some new galv or black bolts in the front to complete the look
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00621.jpg


s
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00623.jpg

s
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00622.jpg

Gsi seats in! Really like these too, best thing was their mint condition and cost nothing... :thumb:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00625.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00626.jpg

Also sprayed front bumper up yesterday, looked 100times cleaner. Sacked off pikey leccy tape aswell for some proper 12mm pinstripe. Great choice haha
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00627.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00628.jpg

Shiney shiney slam panel :thumb:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00629.jpg

Treated her to some new headlights aswell as I had some lying about
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00630.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00632.jpg

Looking miles better!

[Maka]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00633.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00634.jpg

Really happy with this weeks progress on the old girl! :)
Going to match the back bumper up to the front today and give
her a thorough clean! Will most prob put more pics up tomorrow :thumb:

[Cle]

:thumb: front bumper looks miles better

[L33 LEG]

looking a lot cleaner now. those seats look in mint condition aswell!

whats with the holes in the bumper?

[Steve]

Assuming thats for a cold air feed? Bumper does look alot better, good work mate.

[Maka]

not a clue what the holes in the bumper are for... presumed must just be to get more air in. slam panel is sprayed black behind the holes so nothing must have been occupying them. yea the seats are mint :)

[Maka]

Back bumper sprayed up... Much tidier
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00642.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/DSC00644.jpg

[Cle]

Looks like someone might try steeling your car in the last pic.

[vaughanmc]

Looks awsome mate! I'm really into these Mk2 SR Nova's atm lol

Perfect example :) Just needs shiney shiney silver wheels but thats a tiny flaw

[Maka]

Yea Cle there certainly is some unknown gyppo eyein my motor up in the last pic!
and Vaughan, cheers mate much appreciated! And you never know about the shiney shiney rims, your ideals may become a reality one day haha!

[Southie]

Stop driving at night with your sidelights on and hovering behind fellow nova's. ;)

Looks far better with the bumpers done black. :thumb:

[Maka]

Big thanks to L33LEG for exchanging these wheels for a few hours of my humble services...

Makes a huge difference to how she looks, and shes stopped scrubbing thanks to these being correct offset :thumb:

Relatively soonish plans stand at-
getting some new skirts
spaying new doors up ready for to go on after her respray
fitting new steering rack and track rod ends
changing ball joints and tie-bar to chassis mount bushes.

Anyhow, pic-

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/Photo0341.jpg

Comments welcome! Hope you like them as much as I do :thumb:

Cheers
Maka

[brainsnova]

its looking good mate and there probaly used to be front spot light in those holes in the bumper.

[Maka]

Thanks buddy :thumb:

Dont think there was any spots as the slam panel is sprayed black behind...

Someones idea of increased airflow evidently :roll: lol

[Steve]

Looking good, not so sure on that splitter but still, very nice. :thumb:

[Graeme]

White wheels look a lot better imo

[L33 LEG]

that looks miles better mate, and im sure its going to look even nicer when i see it in life.

[Novaboi_1991]

whoa. i missed this!

That looks amazing mate, im looking for some white wheels next, lol, they jus stand out so well :)

keep it up :)

[lewisvalver]

the white wheels make a huge difference!looks very nice mate

[J4MES]

Like it...however Gsi skirts with 'vinyl' I'm not a fan of..

[Spudly]

Looks really good mate, im liking the skirts and rubstrips and its good to see its being loved after it so very nearly died at the hands of twoccers:cry:

[Maka]

Cheers for all the comments fellas, much appreciated!

Spud... You seem to know more about this car than me, I knew it was unofficially stolen and recovered the lad I got it off told me that.

Never official reported though as it showed clean as a whistle on HPi check.

Did you know the car before the lad who I bought it off had it?
Always wanted to know more history about this car and havent found it yet!

Mr Legg, you'll see her in the flesh soon enough lad!

[Spudly]

I dont know very much tbh other than it was bought from ebay by a lad who lives in the next town from me, he signed up on here but wasnt very active, he was originally from corsasport i think, then he posted it up for sale and it promptly got stolen, was missing for a few days then turned up dumped down some side street or track or something, it looked like it had just run out of fuel and been left!

He wired in some form of homemade ignition and starter switch and put it back up for sale, which is where you come in iirc:thumb:

[Maka]

HAHA yea homemade to say the very least... He'd wired a 3amp switch in the manual choke position on the left hand side of the steering column shroud with a push-button start switch in the cig lighter space.

Must say I was a little apprehensive to say the very least when I went to look at it, then seeing the cleanliness of the shell it didnt bother me so much!

The 3amp switch soon melted itself to pieces lol, coincidentally as I was late for work already... Grrr 20minutes at the side of the road with some wire twisting and insulation tape bodgery and I was soon on my way haha.

Got a new steering column off Loggyboy off here at PVS along with a full set of locks and now have that fitted but kept the push-button start as I kinda like it haha lol :thumb: Cheers for the info anyhow bud!

[Southie]

The wheels suit it fella. :thumb:

We will have to have a catch up again. ;)

[Maka]

Few more pics of the nova showing off her new shoes-

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/Photo0343.jpg



http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/Photo0344.jpg


http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/Photo0345.jpg

[Maka]

Yea NBC deffo lad. Hows your bus running? Happy days?

[L33 LEG]

that looks fcuking ace now :eek: :thumb: i said id be jealous yesterday Lol. wish i kept them now, ur making ur nova nicer than mine lol

good to hear that you're getting some history about the car aswell!

[Benn]

Do look nice.

[Southie]

Yea NBC deffo lad. Hows your bus running? Happy days?
It's back on the road after a cam pulley issue but all is good now :)

Do you fancy meeting for a drive on bank holiday Sunday to Scarborough. ;)

[Cle]

that look really nice mate :thumb:

[mk3-fezza]

looks a real nice motor mate:thumb:

[Gibbo]

looks very nice top work

[scott.parker]

Looks well nice mate, doing a good job, not ever seen this car before.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p252/maka_dturbo/Photo0344.jpg

PS: Who's your mate getin on the shot?









lol

[Maka]

Haha, he popped up as I was taking the first picture so thought it'd be a grin to include him in the next one. lol Worth a giggle eh!

Cheers for all the comments fellas much appreciated! :thumb: :thumb:

[Markd89]

My old car, im the one from beverley you bought it from.
Glad your looking after her

[Rickyb]

looks spot on i like the new wheels mate look loads better
rick

[Rickyb]

what ever happend to this???

[Sloth]

got sodl to a lad to be made into a grasser. it was rotten apparently.

[Rickyb]

lol

[Maka]

sold the bare shell to my birds dad mate. stripped it for a respray and found fairly extesive rot behind the nearside strup top, both inner wings, front chassis legs and arches. got offered a 36k black mk1 and couldnt turn it down. could have been saved but shes done 165k miles on british roads and she'll do plenty more on the grass before shes done with :-)

[dj_wudgey]

looks well nice matey loving its nice white shoes lol