nova convertible WIP

[comptoncj]

Thought it was about time that i started a WIP thread, had trouble deciding what nova to do up, i have a 83 hatch that was in good condition, or so i thought untill i looked under the arches n cills. So i have decided to do up the convertible, shouldnt be a big job bodywork wise, a lot of t cut and a quick visit to the bodyshop to sort out a dented door and rear 1/4, it needs to be put through an MOT but shouldnt be too bad as all it failed on 18 months ago were cv boots on both shafts and a brake light, i brought the car from a lad who just wanted rid of it so i paid peanuts for it and i want to make it into a nice looking but not in your face car, right for the spec,
at the moment the car has

sr front bumper and grille
full gte interior and electric windows
lowered 40mm on g max springs
clifford alarm
tigra 15" alloysnow the plans

1600 gte engine
twin 40s and ast2 out of nova hatch
f13 box
polybushes all round
16" corsa exclusiv alloys
lowered alot more than 40mm :Ppics will follow as soon as i can get it in the workshop,

also might need a hood if i wanted it to be perfect anyone know where i could get one?

:)

[LEWI007]

pics or gtfo lol

[brainsnova]

sounds like a nice project as for insperation and he might have sourced a new hood look here http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120051&highlight=nova+convertible

[comptoncj]

cheers, pics will be up tomorrow, :)

[davidfox280585]

saloon cab or hatch matey ive seen this on ebay before by the sounds of it

[comptoncj]

its a saloon mate, it was on ebay about 8 months ago i would think, i brought it once he had got annoyed with advertising it so much he said i could have it for £250, then £200, i held it off coz i didnt really have the space and then he said 100 or it gets scrapped so i went and picked it up hehe,

[ward]

be good to see how u get on fella, and brainsnova is kinda right in saying that im sourcing a new hood. he hood i have is in really good condition but is black. im changing it for a white one with red stitching so may have mine for sale

[dj_wudgey]

nice mate get some pictures up for us to have a gander!!

[ward]

click on geareads convertable project. got alot of pics for u there fella

[comptoncj]

just a couple to show you so far, more tomorrow, just got it fired up had to change the fuel pump and unstick the brakes :) http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1135.jpg

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1136.jpg

[brainsnova]

looks good so far and strange seing with the chrome window trims.

[comptoncj]

yeah i know, i think it will be one of the things coming off it

[GSI-TOMMY]

wish i had this let me know if you ever decide to sell it mate

[comptoncj]

soz chap dont think i will be selling it, gonna take more pics today :)

[scott.parker]

Adam might buy them window trims off you if you sell, as someone funked his trying to brake into it, looks a nice project mate, but one thing GET IT OF THAT GRASS! all the moisture will rot it faster then you can imagine...

Scott

[comptoncj]

Yeah i know chap i had to weld up the floor on my nova hatch after it had been stood on the bloody grass, slight issue at the moment though its the only place i can keep it :( should be inside soon though :)

more pics now :)


http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1243.jpg

Gave it a quick wash to get the dust and mud off it to find a supprisingly solid nova underneath :) just a few rust bubbles along the bottoms of the doors and rear arches, battery tray just needs cleaning up but is solid and also the otherside, getting impressed with the condition of this shell :)

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1228.jpg

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1229.jpg

Although there is always a bad point,,, its got this issue with the rear door and 1/4 panel, im going to get it sorted once all the mechanical work has been done shouldnt be an expensive repair though hopefully.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1233.jpg

It has brakes on it off a gsi astra i think, i will change the discs n pads before it goes on the road, when i had the wheel off the front i checked under the headlight on the inner wing and there was no rust there either, the welder is going to be most disapointed with this one :P

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1225.jpg

Got my polybushes to fit soon and also the irmscher air box to fit when the new engine is fitted with the webers :) could do with a refurb though.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1238.jpg

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/100_1240.jpg

I will put more pics up as and when im doing a bit on the car, the more i work on it the more i want it on the road but as winters coming i dont think it would be a good idea to have the convertible on the road hehe,

:)

[burgo]

your seriously gonna take the chrome window surrounds off!!! even tho they are probably one of the only sets left

[saloonwoody]

i really like that but i dont know why lol

[gunny]

Damn you, i had the cash and the trailer ready to go pick that up! lol I remember it dropping price and being re-advertised constantly, arranged to go get it then he rang me and said its gone!

Wondered what happened to it, best of luck mate.

Edit: just noticed thats my old airbox lol

[comptoncj]

hehe :P is it really :P small world ey got the weekend off work so hopefully i am gonna be in the workshop for some of it tinkering about with the nova, need to take my engine out of the hatch to fit into the convertible :P

[comptoncj]

Did a bit more tinkering today on the nova :) took the front bumper off to find a nice front panel with no rust, not sure whether to pit a base model front bumper on it or stick with the sr one or even a snow plough??
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P181009_1734.jpg

Then set to work on my next decision, hmm bought a courtenay turbo kit off of Edd couple of weeks back and the last sunday my e16se engine arrived courtesy of Sturge, but i am thinking im going to take my time building the turbo lump and put it in my nova hatch because i want something a little more reliable in the convertible. so i took my twin 40s off my other engine and began cleaning them up and then wire brushed my airbox back to bare ali and then primed it, not too sure what colour i want it yet, might go yellow as i am going to get yellow samco hoses.
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P181009_1735.jpg
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P181009_1735_02.jpg

I also cleaned up the rear brakes today as the handbrake was siezed got it all working and it passed the handbrake turn test so cant be bad :P also painted my anti roll bar, should look good with flo flex bushes :) http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P181009_1736.jpg

[Edd]

get the turbo set up in this mate, not the hatch.

it will be VERY reliable was it all set ok.

[comptoncj]

hehe, im still not sure what to do about it mate i think im going to put the 1300 engine in it for a start and then build up the turbo motor ready for when i can insure the thing. i dont think 19 with 2 years no claims will be good enough :(

[Edd]

Ahh right insurance might be a problem.

Would be good to see it in the convertible tho.

[scott.parker]

I agree with Edd, and the Turbo conversion should be as reliable as any engine mate, if it's not then it's put together right.

Scott

[comptoncj]

yeah :), just been doing quotes on a standard gte and theyre coming out at like £1700 but hey ho, just gives me more time to build it. I'm getting some 1600 steel rods so might put them into it and go for a re bore to 1650 maybe. The engine is on an engine stand with the head off so i think im just going to buy bits as and when and build it up to a high spec, might put mega squirt managment on it too :)

[comptoncj]

Done a bit more to the nova today, for a start i put its new wheels on it and i think they make the car :) opionions welcome.
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P251009_1610.jpg

I also painted the front bumper and grille satin black and took a few pics with me mates orion hehe.
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P251009_1609.jpg

I also rebuilt a set of clocks as the ones i had the wiring on the back was damaged so when i turned the engine off it kept running :s so i put the white dials out of those clocks into another outer casing and wiring board, i will get pics of that at a later date, was just searching through my phone and i found an old pic of me other nova and my mate old redtop mk2 hehe.
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P13-04-09_160301.jpg

More to come this week as i am going to be attempting the engine conversion in the evenings after work.

[Andy]

That orion looks well
Looks a good project but ive heard those orange polybushes are an awful fit

[comptoncj]

I will let you know in about a weeks time, they sent out the wrong ARB ones so i couldnt fit that back on the other day :( hope at least a few are right hehe.

[KSRY]

Looking good fella!

[comptoncj]

thanks chap :) ordering my silicone hoses this week in yellow :P

[Edd]

Look good mate, you putting the e16se in then?

[comptoncj]

Not yet mate, for a start i am going down the 1300 route, basically because its there doing nothing, i took the sump of the e16se yesturday and it needs big ends and an oil pump so i am going to take my time and build it up properly with no expence spared i think thats the best way to go, but dont worry Edd the convertible will be e16se turbo powered soon :P

[comptoncj]

Done a few more bits in the evenings this week :) sprayed up some parts satin black, sideskirts and the back panel, looks smart now, i fitted them on the car and it's amazing the difference smart bumpers make :)
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P261009_2023_01.jpg
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P261009_2023.jpg

Next was to paint the airbox, im going with a red and yellow theme to the engine so the airbox was painted yellow :P
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P261009_2144_01.jpg

I then set to removing the 1200 lump, it's internals might come in usefull one day though, about and hour later the engine was out, being closely guarded by eric hehe.
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P271009_2238.jpg

apologies for the rubbish pics only had my phone camera at hand at the time :(

[gunny]

:eek: my eric aint allowed near any dirt, he's pimping in my room at the minute with some kanye west style glasses on :cool:

[comptoncj]

:P haha i was thinking about playing spot eric in my pics i add up to see if anyone notices hehe.

[gunny]

I'd notice him anywhere lol

[comptoncj]

hehe game on :)

[ward]

have u changed any of ur plans for this? or still going by wat uve said on the first page mate? just out of interest

[Nova-rich]

Nice car! got some real potential, ive noticed you've changed the wheels,any interest in selling the old ones?

[comptoncj]

well the final plan is going to be a courtenay turbo e16se running megasquirt management but at the moment soon to be 19 the insurance doesnt really like that idea :( should be on the road with its other powerplant around jan/feb :)

Nova-rich those alloys were pretty battered to be honest mate i only put them on there as a stop gap so it would roll as i soild the team dynamics alloys it came with.

[comptoncj]

Right, update on the nova is that upon taking the pistons out I have found that 2 and 3 have massive chunks missing out of them think ive cracked the smoking mystery. When I took the sump off I was greeted with lumps of piston not only laying in the bottom but tiny fragments where the oil pump pick up bolts to the oil pump. So ive took the oil pump of and im waiting for a repair kit and i suppose i might as well purchase some ARP rod bolts as well. I was bored so as I am waiting for the neccisary components I though I would do a bit more tidying, I took the front hubs and struts off to find manky Gmax so they will be thrown away and i started the polish up the brake caliper carriers.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P221109_1804.jpg

Then I got the old grey primer out and gave them a dose ready for the top coat, im not sure what colour to go with I think I will do them Satin Black as the hubs are going yellow :).

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P221109_1807_01.jpg

So now the convertible is in this state waiting for money and my bank ballance to go up a bit.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P221109_1829jpg.jpg

More updates soon :)

[Connor]

looking good
Keep up the good work :thumb:
You getting it ready for next summer then :lol:

[comptoncj]

looking good
Keep up the good work :thumb:
You getting it ready for next summer then :lol:

Haha well hopefully MOT in March and yeah i desperatly need a new roof!!

[Connor]

Haha well hopefully MOT in March and yeah i desperatly need a new roof!!

Yes you will need a roof as you are in the UKlol
Even in the summerlol

[gunny]

Excuse me, where was Eric lol

[comptoncj]

Excuse me, where was Eric lol

He refused to sign the release form :P

nah to be honest i forgot but don't you worry eric will appear in some pics so keep an eye out :P

[comptoncj]

Bit more of an update, not much has happened since the piston failure and then a cam finger breaking. The engine is in bits awaiting a new head gasket as I dont think it would be a good idea to torque the head down for the 3rd time with that gasket hehe. I painted the water pipe that runs behind the block which i hope will look quite good against the red samcos.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P301109_2029_01.jpg

To keep me company in the workshop Eric was catching up on his nova skills I think i will give him the task of replacing the handbrake cables :P
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P301109_2029.jpg

More updates soon :)

[gunny]

Wahey glad to see he's back lol

[comptoncj]

Wahey glad to see he's back lol

You know that ;) hehe

[gunny]

Makes me want to put eric in my update pics but as said, he's not going anywhere near anything dirty lol

[comptoncj]

Haha, buy him some overalls

[gunny]

lmao eric in vaux overalls

[comptoncj]

Just a quick update, after buying some new kent valve springs ive cured the snapping fingers problem :) now another issue has come to light :( got the head built up christmas eve and today I put the head on and got it running but its got a missfire on cylinder 1, I think its fuel related as the plug on number 1 is white where as the other three are chocolate brown, running lean? I also had an oil leak from the breather box under the carbs so they had to come off anyway, Ive fixed the leak from the breather and had a look at the carbs I cant see any muck in them, had the chokes and jets out and blown them out with an air line just gotta put it back together to see if it was a blocked jet :S really puzzling, hey ho one day it will run properly :)

More updates soon :)

[comptoncj]

Bit of an update :) As i wasn't sure what engine to put in this project to begin with I will outline the spec now as ive had a bit of luck with insurance. I was going to put the 1300 motor in out of the hatch but The temptation of a e16se engine in the workshop was too much so I was gambling that by the time I will have completed this project I will be able to insure a 1600 without breaking the bank. Luckily My boss has put me on the trade policy, I'm limited to 1600cc but fortunatly my gamble has paid off, and more good news, the thing runs :P replaced the dizzy and coil with a spare and it fired up on 4 cylinders and then my uncle set the carbs up :) So I'm a happy bunny now :) . Next on the agenda is the suspension as its got Gmax springs on it, they say theyre -30mm but they done even sit in the spring cups properly so I don't think theyre nova springs.

Heres a pic of the engine and the samco hoses :) wanted yellow ones but the red ones were on offer so being on a budget I thought it made sense :)

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P041209_1732.jpg

More updates soon :)

I love the sound of 40s :) hehe.

[comptoncj]

Well, I woke up today and was supposed to go to college but I looked out my bedroom window, saw snow falling and I thought meh. So I went and did a bit more to the nova :)

I started off by fitting my bonnet and gas struts :) unfortunatly one of them broke which annoyed me :( . So the bonnet is only being held up by one at the moment.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P080110_1440.jpg

Then i set to the job I've been meaning to do for ages, fitting the polybushes :) So I cut the old tie bar bush out ...

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P080110_1544.jpg

Then cleaned where the new bush is going .....

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P080110_1536.jpg

Then I Hey presto its fitted :) went easier than i thought it would.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P080110_1544_01.jpg

After that I cleaned up one of the tie bars ready for spraying, i was going to paint them yellow but I've decided to paint them gloss black instead. Heres one cleaned up ready for primer...

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P080110_1558_01.jpg

Until next time (which will probs be tomorrow) :) ...

[Iain]

Fitting polybushes is dead easy isn't it! Hardest part is removing the old one.

[comptoncj]

Yeah was stupidly simple compared to getting the old one out. It took about 15 mins to get the old one out and about 5 mins to put the new one in :)

[comptoncj]

Bit of an update, I put the front suspension back together, wheels on, jump pack, it fired up and moved under its own steam for the first time since the project started hehe :) and i couldn't belive my near enough gear linkage setting it is spot on. So ive done something right, now I'm moving on to the bodywork side of things not sure if i should keep the SR front end on it or change it to a pov spec front bumper and a snow plough hmmm...

[Novasport]

Fitting polybushes is dead easy isn't it! Hardest part is removing the old one.

2 piece bushes yes, 1 piece no!

[comptoncj]

Bit of an update...

Got the car out of storage to finish off the bits that need doing to get it though an mot :) covered in dust bless it but it will soon wash off hehe!

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P240410_1331.jpg

Had it running and it developed a misfire which woried me a bit but then it cut out so i put some petrol in it lol was sweet after that.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P240410_1327.jpg

Bits to do:

Fit two new track rod ends
Fit GTE manifold and stainless system (mod it to fit the loon)
N/S CV boot
Front bumper back on
Make the brakes work lol
Get it set up on a rolling road once ive fitted a vernier pulley
Clean it up
Sort the passenger side damage out
Fit central lockingAnother pic of the bay lol

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx311/compton251/P240410_1327_01.jpg

Untill next time...

[dj_wudgey]

one thing to say 40's are the bomb i use sh*t loads off fuel in my sr when its out to play but i love it to death!!

[comptoncj]

lol yeah its just and awsome noise, only problem with this one though is the sound deadening in the engine bay makes the 40s sound really quiet compared to when they were on my sr lol

[Dave.]

Really like this, looks uber retro!

One thing though, please remove them rear lights lol, will fail its MOT with them in as they have no red reflector, get some euro twin fogs in there :thumb:

Edit:- oh yeah, and secure that backbox lol

[MattBrown]

Really like this, looks uber retro!

One thing though, please remove them rear lights lol, will fail its MOT with them in as they have no red reflector, get some euro twin fogs in there :thumb:

Edit:- oh yeah, and secure that backbox lol

Twin fogs are illegal too, unless you remove the reverse light, and wire both as fogs:thumb:

[Dave.]

Twin fogs are illegal too, unless you remove the reverse light, and wire both as fogs:thumb:

Incorrect, you only have to remove the reverse bulb and they are legal

Ford Escort Mk6's have 2 fog lights, however only 1 works, the others bulb hole is blanked off for over-sea's use

So MEHHH! :d

[comptoncj]

lol yeah I will get some euro rear lights set up in it eventually ta for the comments

[djbrowney]

all looking good buddy !

[comptoncj]

Cheers mate Im not workin late in the evenings now so hopefully i will get 3 or 4 evenings a weeks working on it :)

[comptoncj]

Major convertible fail today :( started it up and drove it back into the workshop, warmed it up cooling fan cut in, happy days, then some people came to collect some bits so i left it running, came back 10 minutes later to steam everywhere, coolant all over the floor. Hmmm maybe its a sign to build the turbo up and save the webers for the mk2 escort lol

[Benn]

Surely if the fan came on it shouldn't have over heated...

[comptoncj]

I know i dont know what happened the temp on the dash was only at just over half as well, but its well and truly cooked the engine :S

[88ESR]

Major convertible fail today :( started it up and drove it back into the workshop, warmed it up cooling fan cut in, happy days, then some people came to collect some bits so i left it running, came back 10 minutes later to steam everywhere, coolant all over the floor. Hmmm maybe its a sign to build the turbo up and save the webers for the mk2 escort lol

:( Was the expansion tank top on or off when it was warming up?

Left on, then maybe you could have had a big lump of air in there...

[stupot89]

sounds like a split water pipe to me mate

[comptoncj]

The expansion tank had the lid on as its been ran up before loads so i just shunted it into the workshop and left it running :s well lets hope its a pipe burst but the was water p**sing out from below the carbs and when i took the lid off the expansion tank water shot out of it all over the workshop lol Im going to have another look at it in a minute and see if it will start up

[comptoncj]

Had a closer look, due to getting a bit warm it had popped the pipe off the inlet manifold lol, put that back on added a bit of coolant and it fired up straight away and seems to be behaving itself, i dont trust the fan though so I am going to run it perminantly might make it take longer to get to operating temp but saves cooking it up when the fan doesnt come in when i should.

[djbrowney]

you get about as much luck as me lol

[comptoncj]

I know mate well I just hope it hasnt blown the head gasket, havnt really drove this one but i drove it round the farm yard and it seems to move quite well lol bit lumpy below 2k though but its running a 290 degree cam.