985cc Turbocharged Nova Sprint Car

[novarally]

At long last I have managed to acquire a Nova that I've wanted for ages. It's a bit of a legend on the hillclimb and sprint scene, running in the up to 1400cc class, and built by Andrew Bradley of BTEC Racing.

Just some very quick photos from early this morning when I got back from collecting it;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/002-4.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/003-4.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/004-3.jpg

More details will follow later.

[Iain]

So that's what you were picking up yesterday! More pics required!

[MattBrown]

985? Bike engined?

Spec?

Pic whoring session needed!

[MattBrown]

AFIK thats a sport rear bumper?

As its all one piece?

[vaughanmc]

Aye mate, it's the exact same as a Sport rear bumper :)

Good purchase Colin, I look forward to seeing more pics

[MK999]

985? Bike engined?

Spec?

Pic whoring session needed!

It's a 1l pushrod turbo :d

edit: no, think it might be a destroked 1.2 acttually? It's not a bike engine though, it's a vaux smallblock

[MattBrown]

Hmmmm, Riggy sugested doing a turbo conversion on mine!

Is the engine coming up forsale colin?

[John]

Engine pics required Colin! lol

[Southie]

AFIK thats a sport rear bumper?

As its all one piece?

Same as my 1.2 bumper lol

We need some more spec on this little beastie. :d

[craig green]

OMG.
Boyo Bradley's hillclimber! Legend.

It's a sleeved down 1200 8v turbo

I want.

[edit] Thats a pre 87 rear bumper. Nothing Sport about it.

[brucer]

It's a 1l pushrod turbo :d

edit: no, think it might be a destroked 1.2 acttually? It's not a bike engine though, it's a vaux smallblock

How many pushrods would be bent on the first outing? Lol

[MattBrown]

Lol, them bumpers are the same as sport rears?

Im sure they are...

[vaughanmc]

Aye there the same mate...They came on all early Mk1 Nova's

[peester]

yeah i remember it ages from a total vauxhall rolling road feature, hasnt changed a bit..
top shopping col..
hope it stays.

[therealnovaboy]

yeah i remember it ages from a total vauxhall rolling road feature, hasnt changed a bit..
top shopping col..
hope it stays.

do you remember/ anyone know the power figures per chance?

[t45_ste]

Think its something like 180bhp

[Spudly]

Think its something like 180bhp




Sh!t the bed 180bhp:eek:


More pics please mister colin, i wanna see the engine on this little monster:thumb:

[L33 LEG]

That is VERY cool!

[therealnovaboy]

jesus wept! must have some size of turbo? laggy i suppose

[craig green]

Think its something like 180bhp

Yeah pretty sure I saw it putting 150bhp in CCC a few years ago. I have a few pics of this in my Nova scrapbooks. Always wanted to know more about it & see more pics.

I think me & Colin discussed it at the national weekend.

[hybridturbo]

Bet theres still plenty weight that can be taken out too :thumb:

[novarally]

It's making a shade under 160bhp from an IHI hybrid turbo, running at around 1.5bar.

And yes, it's a 1200cc OHC with liners to sleeve the bore size down to 985cc, using Metro van pistons.

The head and cam is from a 1600.

The engine has been moved lower in the engine bay, and a touch to the left to improve the weight distribution.

It runs a custom fuel injection system and full engine management via an OMEX 600 ECU with anti-lag.

At 595kg, it's a featherweight, there's really not much more weight that could come out of it and still remain legal for the 'Production' racing class.

Andrew Bradley and I have discussed future options for more power, and there are lots of ways forward. The turbo was specced for the car around 10 years ago, and turbo technology has come on dramatically in that time, so a more modern turbo would help.

Certainly 180+bhp is achievable.

[MattBrown]

My question is why?

Why sleeve it down? then run it with 1400's, surely a well specced turbo 1400 would be faster?

180bhp is serious power in something that light!

[therealnovaboy]

thats pretty cool, i like stuff like that. is it a custom conrod job then or is it a re ground crank with rover rods. i dont suppose there cast rods? whats the plans with it, is this a project or will it be sold. it would be a shame if you broke it to sell.

[therealnovaboy]

My question is why?

Why sleeve it down? then run it with 1400's, surely a well specced turbo 1400 would be faster?

180bhp is serious power in something that light!

because a 1400 turbo would be in the next class up and be up against 2000cc

[MK999]

My question is why?

Why sleeve it down? then run it with 1400's, surely a well specced turbo 1400 would be faster?

180bhp is serious power in something that light!

Turboing in the class it runs = your cc x 1.4 for the purposes of classification.

[novarally]

Turboing in the class it runs = your cc x 1.4 for the purposes of classification.

Absolutely correct, the 985cc capacity multiplied by the 1.4 'Equivalency Factor' allows it to run in the 'up to 1400cc' category, and it is ultra competitive with the Minis that still dominate that class.

If it had to run in the larger capacity class it would be totally outgunned.

This Nova holds records at lots of hillclimb and sprint courses.

It will certainly not be broken up! I am currently debating whether to keep this Nova and sell my Escort Cosworth race car, basically in an effort to reduce the costs of going racing.

However, the Escort is so incredibly fast it will be a hard decision to take. Watch this space......

More photos and spec. of the Nova will be published soon, I haven't even unloaded it from the trailer yet.

[Nova_Tek]

Legendary car there Colin nice buy. Nice power too.

Craig is right looks very much like a pre 87 rear bumper, exact same on my 1.2 which is an 85 (bar the red stripe). If it's the same as a Sport rear bumper then great, price increase when I replace mine with a GTE rear bumper lol

[tom_beverley]

Nice one Colin, tis an awesome car and one which I'll definately be keeping an eye on :)

Sell the Cossie lol

[Spudly]

It will certainly not be broken up! I am currently debating whether to keep this Nova and sell my Escort Cosworth race car, basically in an effort to reduce the costs of going racing.





Wow i never thought id see you write that about a nova:eek:


Ive never seen this car before so its all new to me but considering it was built 10 years ago that makes it all the more impressive, engine pics colin?

And isnt an IHI turbo from an izuzu TD?

[nova_saloon]

thats completely aawesome colin, cant wait to see pictures of this one. mad power that thing has, what plans you got, tank in the boot?(judgeing by the fuel hole being blocked more then likely is? hack the ends off every bolt to save precsious kilograms?

[MattBrown]

Wow i never thought id see you write that about a nova:eek:


Ive never seen this car before so its all new to me but considering it was built 10 years ago that makes it all the more impressive, engine pics colin?

And isnt an IHI turbo from an izuzu TD?

DO NOT tell baxter theres anything or any way he can make the taxi faster!

[novarally]

And isnt an IHI turbo from an izuzu TD?

IHI turbos are on all sorts of things as well as Turbo Diesels, including Imprezas and WRC Escorts. I know it was supplied by Owen Developments, but whether it bears any relation to the Isuzu unit I don't know. It's buried deep under the engine, so it's hard to see without taking out the huge intercooler.

[craig green]

And isnt an IHI turbo from an izuzu TD?

Think of IHI as a manufacturer much like Garrett. :thumb:

[MattBrown]

So have you driven it yet?

Around and about the farm?

Or just tucked it away in the barn? lol

[novarally]

So have you driven it yet?

I drove it on a private road yesterday in the pouring rain on slicks. It's certainly quick in a straight line. It's not remotely road legal, so I shall have to book my local airfield and have a proper play.

And I might well take it to Santa Pod this weekend just for fun (as the Cosworth is broken again).

[Vausey_Nova_Knotla]

do a video

[MattBrown]

I drove it on a private road yesterday in the pouring rain on slicks. It's certainly quick in a straight line. It's not remotely road legal, so I shall have to book my local airfield and have a proper play.

And I might well take it to Santa Pod this weekend just for fun (as the Cosworth is broken again).

Fix Or Repair Daily:)

AFIK, it could be made legal? Just needs a speedo and a brake light?

[novarally]

Fix Or Repair Daily:)

AFIK, it could be made legal? Just needs a speedo and a brake light?

Fix Or Repair Daily and at enormous cost in the case of my one.

There's no handbrake system in the Nova either, so that would need doing.

Could be made road legal I suppose, but I'll just have a dig about in my paperwork collection for a Nova V5 and a current MoT......

[Sloth]

Fix Or Repair Daily and at enormous cost in the case of my one.

There's no handbrake system in the Nova either, so that would need doing.

Could be made road legal I suppose, but I'll just have a dig about in my paperwork collection for a Nova V5 and a current MoT......

i wouldnt admit to that on here mate, folks will lynch you for "ringing" it.......

(i personally dont care but its just a heads up):thumb:

[novarally]

The car literally as it arrived, no cleaning or anything done yet;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/002-5.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/003-6.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/004-4.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/005-2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/006-11.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/007-3.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/008-4.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/009-2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/010-6.jpg

[novarally]

The engine, 985cc OHC with IHI turbocharger;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/011-4.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/012-2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/013-1.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/014.jpg

[novarally]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/019-2.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/018-1.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/017-1.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/016.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/015-1.jpg

[John]

Wow! p0rn!

[bmw156]

looks lushhhhhhh

[vaughanmc]

Stunning! Some very nice fabrication work going on there :)

[Iain]

That cage is hardcore! Similar trick touches to that last hillclimb car you had (front engine mount etc), was it built by the same people?

[novarally]

That cage is hardcore! Similar trick touches to that last hillclimb car you had (front engine mount etc), was it built by the same people?

Yes, they were both the work of Andrew Bradley (BTEC Racing). This turbocharged one was the 'evolution' of the previous naturally aspirated one.

I will get some pictures of the underneath soon, where there are more interesting things like a rose-jointed adjustable rear anti-roll bar, alloy fuel tank, side-exit exhaust system etc.

[Spudly]

Thats not an engine that is a bloody work of art, i hope this one doesnt ever get broken colin:thumb:

[brucer]

agreed about that cage and loving that slam panel.

[novarally]

Full specification, I've probably forgotten some stuff, but will update anything I've missed;

Nova 985cc Turbo - Approx. 160 BHP
　
Bodyshell
Lightweight shell to ‘Modified Production’ hillclimb/sprint regulations
Full BTEC Racing roll cage with multipoints, X diagonals, X door bars, harness bar
Quick release bumpers
Modified inner wings
Steel front wings
Aluminium skinned doors
Fabricated front crossmember
Alloy slam panel
Fibreglass bonnet
Fibreglass tailgate aluminium Gurney flap
Alloy rear lamp blanks
Alloy headlamp blanks
Single wiper linkage
Polycarbonate windows, including windscreen

Engine
985cc Vauxhall OHC
Sleeved down from a 1200cc block
7.5 to 1 Compression Ratio
Metro van pistons
1600 cylinder head and camshaft
Engine lowered 1.5 inches and moved back and to the left
OMEX 600 ECU & aircraft spec. engine loom
Turbosmart boost controller
Anti-lag system
Vernier camshaft pulley
Remote oil filter
Total loss electrics (no alternator)
Solid engine mounts
IHI hybrid turbo
PACE PRODUCTS alloy intercooler with 3” pipes
PACE PRODUCTS alloy radiator
Alloy water swirl pot
Alloy water header tank
Alloy oil breather tank
Silicone coolant and boost hoses
2.5” stainless steel side exit exhaust system

Transmission
F10 five speed gearbox with 4.5 final drive
Quaife ATB LSD
Hydraulic clutch with AP master cylinder
Fabricated internal rose jointed gear linkage

Interior
ELLIOT rev counter
RACETECH boost gauge
Water and oil pressure gauges
FIA approved ignition cut offs
Push button starter
Suede steering wheel on SPA DESIGN quick release boss
CORBEAU REVOLUTION side-mounted seat
WILLANS 5 point harness
Lightweight steering column
VARLEY RED TOP 15 lightweight battery
Alloy battery tray
Lightweight wiring loom and switch panel

Fuel System
Alloy foam filled fuel tank underneath floor
FSE high pressuere fuel pump
Facet Red Top lifter pump
Alloy swirl pot
Aeroquipped throughout

Brakes
247mm 4 pot WILWOOD front brakes with EBC Green Stuff pads
Standard rear drums
Floor mounted pedal box with AP master cylinders, bias adjustable
Pressure limiting valve to rear brakes, adjustable
Handbrake removed
Aeroquipped throughout

Suspension
LEDA 2.5” front dampers with alloy top mounts, 375lb springs
SPAX coilover rear dampers 1.9“, 120lb springs
Rose jointed adjustable track control arms
Rose jointed tie bars
T45 steel tubular rose jointed front and rear anti-roll bars. Rear is remote adjustable.

Wheels and Tyres
4 x Compomotive MO 7” x 15”alloys with AVON A15 soft compound slicks
4 x Revolution RFX 6” x 13” with AVON cut wets

Other
All unstressed bolts replaced with aluminium lightweight fasteners
MSA logbook for hillclimb and sprint
Total weight 595kg

[Nova_Tek]

Pure racer, that engine just looks special and that slam panel is something else, quality!

[MK999]

Is that suspension setup for tarmac/track stuff? Low poundage rear springs is an unusual choice but makes sense in terms of weight distribution, is the back end not a bit sticky for a FWD though?

[Cle]

:eek: :d:d I love it lol

[Dirtydog1]

:) that looks the nuts! id love to hear it running.

[vxr_racing_2008]

:eek: tweeet twoooooooo:d :thumb:

[Steve]

Wicked car, one of the best project cars ive seen in a long time! Just goes to show you don't need a massive engine to make good power.

[peester]

tis the business that.
i remember the pic of the car on that t.v rolling road feature - first ide ever seen a slam panel like that..
engine does sit noticably lower in the bay. rare stuff.

[Nobby]

loving this matey videos??

[burgo]

it can run low poundage rear springs as its running a proper anti-roll bar

[novasportc550]

great wee nova, that must go like sh1t off a shovel..:thumb:

[stevei]

great find there colin. i think it would be rude not to get the old girl racing again. if you do any sprint or hillclimb events up my way i'll be there with my car and will love to watch you race.

what does it sound like on full chat?

ste

[novarally]

yeah i remember it ages from a total vauxhall rolling road feature, hasnt changed a bit..
top shopping col..
hope it stays.

Do you by any chance know which issue of TV it was in?

I found a rolling road test in an old copy of 'Retro Cars', but it would be nice to get hold of any other features.

I already have the 4 page test they did on the car in 'CCC' way back in February 1999, although the car has changed a fair bit since then.

[GRUNT 16V]

this nova looks fantastic what a rip snorter!!!!!!

[craig green]

Utter engine p0rn.

Inlet looks different since I last saw it. ME WANT!

[craig green]

Do you by any chance know which issue of TV it was in?



Colin I'm 99% sure it's never been in TV. ;)

[Cle]

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk90/nova18e/img241.jpg

Same car yeah ?

[novarally]

Utter engine p0rn.

Inlet looks different since I last saw it. ME WANT!

When it was featured in CCC it was blowing through a Renault 5 GT carburettor, and making 130bhp.

Since then it has been converted to an injection set-up, which was where +30bhp was found, along with full engine management via the OMEX.

[novarally]

Colin I'm 99% sure it's never been in TV. ;)

I couldn't recall seeing it in there either, and I think I've seen every issue.

[novarally]

Same car yeah ?

Yes, it is the same one. Your photo (which Craig posted originally!) is from the CCC magazine test session, when it was using a carburettor still.

[craig green]

/\ Oh yeah my scanned pic. Funny how some people can access my pics better than I can!

I want to see the rear engine mount & how the engine has been dropped down. I always noticed the rocker cover looked way down in the bay, but figured it was down to the bore/stroke when I heard about that aspect. The interior looks really well thought out & created, unlike a lot of the stripped out Novas you see.

[021-bennettt]

I LOVE small engined rockets like this!
I want to own something like this some day...tomorrow would be nice but that wont happen haha
How much did you pay for it if you dont mind me asking?
MINT car

[Count Vaux Alot]

I've gone all weak at the knees that looks the absolute business! Great attention to detail, i can see why its so competitive top job!

[dj_wudgey]

nice mate awsome car!! im glad to hear its not getting borken up! but we must see some vids off thsi in action!!

[novarally]

As promised, a few photos of the underside, plus the breather tank, turbocharger and remote oil filter detail;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/014-1.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/015-2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/016-2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/017-4.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/018-2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/020-2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/019-3.jpg

[burgo]

is that rear anti roll bar adjustable from inside the car?

[Andy]

That is a serious weapon.

[Iain]

Was having a snoop at this car the other day, every time you look at it you notice more trick touches! Fantastic car.

[novarally]

is that rear anti roll bar adjustable from inside the car?

It most certainly is.

[John]

Wow, rear arb is stunning stuff!

[MK999]

Is the front ARB a sort of 100% anti roll set up as well, or can it twist? How does the rear adjust too? Can see something by the side of it but not clear enough to see how, liking the bladed setup though :d

[burgo]

Is the front ARB a sort of 100% anti roll set up as well, or can it twist? How does the rear adjust too? Can see something by the side of it but not clear enough to see how, liking the bladed setup though :dit adjusts by twisting the arm from uprite to flat. whilst flat it can flex obvisouly and whilst uprite it doesnt

[MK999]

it adjusts by twisting the arm from uprite to flat. whilst flat it can flex obvisouly and whilst uprite it doesnt

Probably should have mentioned I know how a bladed anti roll bar works, just don't see the actual mechanism it uses to adjust from in the car lol

[burgo]

can be seen here

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/007-3.jpg

the black lever

[vxr_racing_2008]

:eek: what a machine:thumb:

[MK999]

Hmm, guess it's just sprung and works like pretty much any kind of cabled lever then.


Just noticed actually, is it just me or is the clutch and the brakes the opposite way round? Looks like the left hand pedal has 2 master cylinders on it and the middle just the one? lol Could just be the way the bias works though

[burgo]

bear in mind the middle two have to be either side of the pedal to allow the ballence bar to be fitted

[MK999]

bear in mind the middle two have to be either side of the pedal to allow the ballence bar to be fitted

Yeah they are exactly the same distance from the far left pedal though, look at the blue bits, pedal sizes also seem more suited to being the 'wrong' way round lol Sure there's either a good reason for it, or it's just the way it's set up and they're as normal, looks odd though lol

[burgo]

i dont quite get what your on about

this pic might help you

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/003-6.jpg

[MK999]

ahhh, figures, just the angle it was taken at making it look odd :thumb:

[Rick Draper]

Can i have first refusal on the shell and roll bar setup.

[Olly755]

Work of art. Loving all the little touches and lovely fabrication.

What are your plans for it Colin? Would make an interesting rally car.

[novarally]

Work of art. Loving all the little touches and lovely fabrication.

What are your plans for it Colin? Would make an interesting rally car.

It is a beautifully thought our car. At this stage I have no specific plans, it's all dependent on what I decide to do with my Escort Cosworth race car.

The ECU from that is currently with Cosworth for diagnosis, as there's a burnt out bit on the circuit board. I am waiting to hear if it's repairable or not. If it isn't I'm looking at £1000 or more for a secondhand ECU, or a whole load more than that to upgrade it to the latest spec ECU and loom.

I'd like to do a hillclimb or sprint in the Nova just to see what it can do. No point doing a track day with it as the fuel tank holds less than a gallon!

[L14MNP]

Now there's a well thought out Nova! As soon as I saw your pics Colin I remembered seeing images of it way back when.

Awesome machine! It's a lot easier to appreciate the finer aspects of the engineering and fabrication than it was when I was a bit younger lol.

[ben doodar]

thats some work of art there goes to show there is some very clever people out there. also i cant believe how low the engine is sittitng in the bay, very cool car! awesome!

[t45_ste]

Hi Colin

Very nice purchase. Have you any pics of what angle's the shafts are at due to the engine sitting lower.

[hybridturbo]

Can i have first refusal on the shell and roll bar setup.

Its been built to race, not to be set on fire and lavished with money for no reason

get a Thai Bride

[craig green]

every time you look at it you notice more trick touches! Fantastic car.

Amen. I keep looking back & seeing more trick stuff. Mental wee car!

[Edd]

Its been built to race, not to be set on fire and lavished with money for no reason

get a Thai Bride
Well said, and it made me chuckle.

Why is it that when something different/unique appears Rick Draper suddenly wants to buy it? ....

Just had a look thru the pictures, what a amazing creation.

Please don't ever break this nova looks really special.

Edd

[novarally]

Hi Colin

Very nice purchase. Have you any pics of what angle's the shafts are at due to the engine sitting lower.

Hi Steve.

It's hard to get a photo head on of the driveshafts, here's my attempts;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/0023-1.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/0033-2.jpg

Whereas on a standard Nova the driveshafts have to go uphill from the gearbox to the uprights, on this one their journey is downhill!

[peester]

god works in mysterious ways lol

[dhdev (Oli)]

Very nice and always been a favourite of mine. I reckon there is between 10-20kgs to be saved by changing wheels though! :d

[novarally]

Very nice and always been a favourite of mine. I reckon there is between 10-20kgs to be saved by changing wheels though! :d

It runs 15" Compomotive MO's on the front which are a heavy wheel. But on the back it uses 13" RFX's, which are pretty light.

If I keep it, I would get a set of Image split rims made to suit, but I don't think it would even save as much as 10kg.

[novarally]

Took the little 1 litre Nova to a local airfield last week for a bit of testing, and it is very, very quick. The handling and traction is also impressive.

Unfortunately it lost some power towards the end of the morning, and subsequent investigations show a serious lack of compression on 2 and 3.

Hopefully it's just the head gasket, and nothing more serious!

I have now replaced the polycarbonate windscreen with a standard laminated one, as the plastic one was nigh on impossible to see through when the sun was shining.

As mentioned in my post in 'Sportzone', I am considering a colour change to turn this Nova into a 'Sport' replica (and maybe fitting a wide arch kit as well).

[vaughanmc]

Would be very nice as a Sport replica Colin - Go for it mate :thumb:

[Nova_Tek]

That would be cool Colin, Sport replica with a twist. that wide arch kit on the Nova you asked about actally look quite nice, not normally a huge fan of wide arches but that looks sensible.

I say go for it.

[peester]

wow, that would make it your own..end of an era for the red/yellow/black scheme.

[novarally]

Looking a bit better with a glass windscreen now (albeit rather dusty);

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/009-5.jpg

[t45_ste]

looking awesome colin.

Is that a compomotive CXR that i spy in the background? Is it for sale?

[Edd]

Would that then require a custom cylinder head gasket ?

[novarally]

looking awesome colin.

Is that a compomotive CXR that i spy in the background? Is it for sale?

It is a CXR.......but it's a very bent one, which is only fit for use as an axle stand!

[novarally]

Would that then require a custom cylinder head gasket ?

I'm not 100% sure, Andrew Bradley (the original builder of this car) has offered to sort out the problem for me, so I'm taking it to him at the weekend for him to cast an expert eye over.

[Rich]

looks like the engines fallen out in that pic lol

[Edd]

I'm not 100% sure, Andrew Bradley (the original builder of this car) has offered to sort out the problem for me, so I'm taking it to him at the weekend for him to cast an expert eye over.

Ahh right.

think your idea for a wide arch sport replica would look awesome !!!

DOOOOOOO IT.

[nova_saloon]

serious stuff

[dhdev (Oli)]

It runs 15" Compomotive MO's on the front which are a heavy wheel. But on the back it uses 13" RFX's, which are pretty light.

If I keep it, I would get a set of Image split rims made to suit, but I don't think it would even save as much as 10kg.
Your 4 wheels weigh in at 27.4kgs (assuming that the fronts are 15''x7'')

a set of 4 15''x6.5" Desmond rega masters would weigh in at 15.6kgs.

They're hard to get hold of, but on a no limits car like this it'd be worth it!

Check here for other wheel options http://wheelweights.net/ :thumb:

P.s. They were always on the cards for mine before breaking it as they look rather tasty as a bonus!
http://icbmotorsport.com/Wheels4/Desmond_Regamaster_178_179_.jpg

[peester]

^^ jeeez! on the rega tip. niiice.

[novarally]

Your 4 wheels weigh in at 27.4kgs (assuming that the fronts are 15''x7'')

a set of 4 15''x6.5" Desmond rega masters would weigh in at 15.6kgs.

They're hard to get hold of, but on a no limits car like this it'd be worth it!

Check here for other wheel options http://wheelweights.net/ :thumb:

P.s. They were always on the cards for mine before breaking it as they look rather tasty as a bonus

Thanks Oli, that is really interesting. I have never seen those Regamasters before, under 4kg each is incredible. You have to wonder how strong they are, and there have been a few broken wheel incidents at race meetings I've attended.

What has your research revealed about durability, and prices?

I'd be tempted by a set for my Escort.......

[dhdev (Oli)]

Thanks Oli, that is really interesting. I have never seen those Regamasters before, under 4kg each is incredible. You have to wonder how strong they are, and there have been a few broken wheel incidents at race meetings I've attended.

What has your research revealed about durability, and prices?

I'd be tempted by a set for my Escort.......
On a rally escort I'd suggest they'd be a no-no, but on a featherweight track car they'd be more than strong enough I'm sure. As far as I can make out they are used by Spoon and re-branded with their own logo, and if a well-known tuner like that backs them, then they must be ok at least!
Prices are a tricky one, they tend to only come up second hand on Ebay in the UK and even that is rarely, I don't think anyone here sells new ones (that's if they're still made).
For weight/availability and cost you can't go much wrong with OZ superleggera's. As chav as they sound, they're actually a pretty light wheel coming in at 5.2kgs in a 15x7 (the same as your 13" revolutions), compared to your MO's at 8.5kgs.

Edit: there is a set of regamasters on Ebay at the moment, they are the wrong PCD and no. of bolts, but are at least a 15" and with 45 offset, they come in at £650 with tyres http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REGAMASTER-EVO-SPOON-SW388-5X114-CIVIC-TYPE-R-EK9-DC2_W0QQitemZ230389684940QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Car Parts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET?hash=item 35a44b9acc

[Bubba]

awwwsome :D im now wondering what to do with my IHI turbo i got sat in a bucket

[novarally]

For weight/availability and cost you can't go much wrong with OZ superleggera's. As chav as they sound, they're actually a pretty light wheel coming in at 5.2kgs in a 15x7 (the same as your 13" revolutions), compared to your MO's at 8.5kgs

Thanks for the extra info. Olly.

I shall do some more research on these Regamasters.

I already use a set of OZ Superleggera's (17") for the spare wet weather tyres on my Escort Cosworth, and they are very light. As you say, not so keen on the styling though....

A set of 9" x 17" Regamasters would come in at around 6.5kg each by my calculations, which would be a healthy saving of 3.5kg per wheel compared to the OZ magnesium wheels I'm using at the moment in 8" x 17".

Definitely will be worth seeking out a set for the Nova as well, and they're cheaper than Image split rims.

Let the searching begin.

[scott.parker]

Wow amazing car, makes the ones most of own/build look quite poor really..

[The Simps]

How does that anti roll bar and its adjustment effect the feel of the car?

[novarally]

How does that anti roll bar and its adjustment effect the feel of the car?

It's amazing how much difference it makes, just driving the car round in circles you can really feel the effect of moving the bar from soft to hard. It definitely feels nicer with the bar set more stiffly, for me anyway. I've only tested it in the wide open spaces of an airfield, so on a tight and twisty hillclimb with trees and other things to hit, it will need more experimentation.

[The Simps]

How does it change the characteristics?

[BRoadGhost]

As trick as the in car adjustment seems there's a simpler, cheaper & more effective solution out there ;)

Not to poo poo things too much as some bits look really good

[craig green]

As trick as the in car adjustment seems there's a simpler, cheaper & more effective solution out there ;)



Come on then! Enlighten us, you always brag about what you would do differently or know something that no one else does, then hold your cards close to your chest. :confused: Spill the beans or STFU.

[novarally]

As trick as the in car adjustment seems there's a simpler, cheaper & more effective solution out there ;)

Not to poo poo things too much as some bits look really good

Strange then that huge-budget BTCC and WRC teams went to the trouble of having adjustable anti-roll bars when there was a simpler answer.......

[MK999]

Strange then that huge-budget BTCC and WRC teams went to the trouble of having adjustable anti-roll bars when there was a simpler answer.......

If ONLY they had thought of welding the dampers on, et voila 100% anti roll, damn :(

[The Simps]

Colin, how does it affect the feel of the car?

[boffer8]

whats this doing on ebay already? thought you was keeping this one colin?

[novarally]

whats this doing on ebay already? thought you was keeping this one colin?

Just testing the water to see what interest it gets. I've got no need to sell it, although I have committed myself to the 21010 season of racing in my Cosworth, so if the Nova will make the right sort of money, I will let it go.

[BRoadGhost]

You could try welding the piston that goes into the strut body, though I'm not sure how long it would hold ~ If you wanted to go that route then bolt a bit of billet or box in place instead.

As Colin said ~ the stiffer the better and I'ud have to agree; even in the wet for a FF nova. ……I'm merely trying to promote theory from other members.

Where's the fun in someone saying do this & that for the best results?

[MK999]

You could try welding the piston that goes into the strut body, though I'm not sure how long it would hold ~ If you wanted to go that route then bolt a bit of billet or box in place instead.

As Colin said ~ the stiffer the better and I'ud have to agree; even in the wet for a FF nova. ……I'm merely trying to promote theory from other members.

Where's the fun in someone saying do this & that for the best results?

Are you really quite serious? There's a reason competition cars have evolved from solid wheels without any kind of spring or damper, in fact, even in x BC they knew to use wheels that flexed slightly!

[novarally]

For anyone with a serious sum of money burning a hole in their pockets, here is the EBAY listing for the car;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150388628103&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

[Sloth]

just seen this, bay pics look nice, shame your selling it. id sell the cossie tbh.

[novarally]

For anyone with a serious sum of money burning a hole in their pockets, here is the EBAY listing for the car;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150388628103&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Now advertised on Piston Heads.

SERIOUS enquiries can be directed to me at;

colinesmith@aol.com

[Edd]

Shame your selling it, I really hope it don't fall in to the wrong hands and be ruined.

IMO needs to be kept together as it is very special.

What happended to the plans for a wide arch sport replica ? That would of been awesome.

Does it still have engine problems ?

Edd

[Iain]

I can't find it on PH, link us up!

[novarally]

Shame your selling it, I really hope it don't fall in to the wrong hands and be ruined.

IMO needs to be kept together as it is very special.

What happended to the plans for a wide arch sport replica ? That would of been awesome.

Does it still have engine problems ?

Edd

Andrew Bradley kindly had the car back to his workshops, and has replaced the head gasket as that had failed. So it is now back to perfect, ready to win status. He's also running it up again on his rolling road and will no doubt find a few more BHP.

I'd love to keep it, but long overdue renovation work on our house has started this week, so priorities have changed (common problem).

[novarally]

I can't find it on PH, link us up!

Are you looking in the 'Motorsport' section?

Try this;
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1368478.htm

[novarally]

Another link;
http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1642513#post1642513

[novarally]

Now back on EBAY;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150392704555&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

[novarally]

Still for sale, please see this link for full details;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150403584309&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

[MJS]

Just answered my own question 600kg and 150bhp

[novarally]

Just answered my own question 600kg and 150bhp

Actually 595kg and 162bhp, but you're close.

[novarally]

This car is now back on EBAY with a massively reduced reserve price. It's got to go now as I've bought a Westfield to race.

Full details can be found here;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150410296076&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

If you want to race a Nova and win, this is the answer.

[novarally]

After being plagued by people who thought they could buy this Nova for £2k, I''ve had a change of plans.

I've sold the Westfield that I was going to race this season, and instead I'm going to take the Nova out hillclimbing and sprinting.

The first event is at Gurston Down on the 17th and 18th April, if anyone wants to come along and spectate, it's a fabulous venue, with some incredible cars to see on the track and in the paddock.

www.gurstondown.org (http://www.gurstondown.org)

[craig green]

Might have to Colin, Salisbury isnt all that far.

[muzzy]

Would love to be able to see this car competing, hopefully someone gets a video of it sometime.

[Edd]

Glad you've decided to keep it and use it for what it was built for.

I would think that the people that wanted it for £2k would have ruined it anyway had they got it.

[blue_peg_16v]

nice to see its going to get used and the increased usage and people seeing it in action might make it easier to sell in the future

[Plug]

may have to join you craig to come up and watch it. Not been to a hill climb in ages

[Edd]

may have to join you craig to come up and watch it. Not been to a hill climb in ages

i was thinking the same

[Count Vaux Alot]

Very close to me i could be very tempted!

[Plug]

right its 2h 22m from me so im on for it :)

what day everyone else going up?

[discoinferno]

i might pop along see it in action

[peester]

wow.. maybe it not selling was a good thing then lol

[novarally]

Time for a quick update. I'm just doing some minor things in readiness for the first racing of the season. A couple of photos with the front bumper removed;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/007-2.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/?action=view&current=007-2.jpg)

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/008-7.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/?action=view&current=008-7.jpg)

[novarally]

With the front wing removed, just doing some cleaning and a little bit of weight saving;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/009-4.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/?action=view&current=009-4.jpg)

[novarally]

And with the seat removed, you can see where the body has been modified to allow the seat to sit as low as possible;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/010-7.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/?action=view&current=010-7.jpg)

[muzzy]

Fantastic car, everytime I look at it I notice more modifications that have been carried out.

[novarally]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/011-2.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/?action=view&current=011-2.jpg)

I'm not happy with the gearknob, which is machined out of a piece of billet aluminium. I want to replace it with a Quaife nylon one, but haven't plucked up the courage to cut the gearlever up yet!;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/012-3.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/?action=view&current=012-3.jpg)

And this is the STACK dash display I've acquired which will reduce the number of gauges needed;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/036-2.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/?action=view&current=036-2.jpg)

[craig green]

It is astounding the amount of modification carried out on this thing, short of being 4wd its pretty much a Grp-B Nova if ever there was one! lol

[dhdev (Oli)]

17/18 April is smack bang in between my pre-season shakedowns, so I'll come down and point my paedo lens at the mighty Nova! :d

[farmertom]

where about are these hillclimb events?
And dates?
sorry if im being dumb and its already been posted up would be intresting to see this car!

[dj_wudgey]

yea will you be enetering this in any competitions??

[novarally]

Original grey SR bumpers, or red GTE ones?..........

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/026-1.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/027.jpg

I can't decide, and I'm still thinking about wide arching it and changing the colour if it's competitive and I enjoy driving it.

[L14MNP]

Grey bumpers and leave the arches as they are I say. Perfect as it is. Unless you are feeling the need to put your own stamp on the car?

[novarally]

I'll get some new photos up soon, I've been doing a few little jobs on the car ready for hillclimbing at Gurston Down this coming weekend......

[hybridturbo]

Yeh keep the bumpers as they are :d

Not sure on the black fake headlights, the yellow looked far better

[Olly755]

I'll get some new photos up soon, I've been doing a few little jobs on the car ready for hillclimbing at Gurston Down this coming weekend......

Having seen this car in the flesh, I can confirm that it is dribblesome.

Have a good run at the weekend Colin.

[novarally]

Yeh keep the bumpers as they are :d

Not sure on the black fake headlights, the yellow looked far better

Proper headlamp covers coming soon.........

[Edd]

Are you looking into putting that Sprint wide arch kit that Duick has forsale on it ?
Or would that add too much weight ?

That would look awesome IMO

[novarally]

Are you looking into putting that Sprint wide arch kit that Duick has forsale on it ?
Or would that add too much weight ?

That would look awesome IMO

I was giving it some thought, but I think it will be way too heavy for what I need, unfortunately.

I had a Nova years ago with the Sprint kit on it (and a Mk.2 Astra GTE As well), and always liked the styling of it.

[novarally]

A few photos of the Nova now, not a lot has changed really, just some minor weight saving (door check straps removed, bonnet and tailgate lightened further).

I've also added weight by putting in a glass windscreen to replace the heavily scratched polycarbonate one.

And the steering wheel and harness have been changed for something nicer.

I am also clearly incapable of putting on the number '9' straight...............

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/017-7.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/018-4.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/019-7.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/020-7.jpg

[scott.parker]

Didn't know you had kept it Colin, as last time i saw it, it was up for sale on ebay, glad you did keep it though, as it's an amazing car, and should be interesting to see any action vids of it.

Scott

[blue_peg_16v]

he couldnt get what he needed for it so sold the 2 kit cars

[turnipheed]

sleeved 1.2 i think:d

[Angus Closier]

sleeved 1.2 i think:d

You not seen the rest of the wip?? lol

Looks really nice as per. Dont worry about the "9" function over form i think!!!

[dj_wudgey]

looks top this mate a right bit off kit!!

[novarally]

Update to follow in full, but the hillclimb debut of this Nova in my hands was not an auspicious one...........

Far too much braking at the rear end (basically due to the front brakes hardly working at all!) caused a 90mph lock-up and slide, which ended with me going over an earth banking.

The impact sheared the steering rack in half, putting me out for the rest of the weekend.

So the car is now in pieces, I'm waiting for a quick rack to arrive from Quaife, and the front calipers are being rebuilt, as the pistons were sticking in the bores.

The only other damage was to the oil catch tank which was wrecked, but I have found another one which my neighbour has modified to fit neatly, and which will now be less vulnerable to off-track excursions.

Whilst waiting on parts I've done a bit more weight saving work, but there's not a lot more that can come out of it.

I do have a plan to save 7 or 8kg by ditching the rear drum brakes, but I will post up more information on that when the parts turn up, and I've investigated how much of an engineering challenge it will be.

The only other area where I can reduce the cars weight is with different wheels, and this is being looked into.

Watch this space!

[craig green]

How did you break the steering rack FFS?

[novarally]

How did you break the steering rack FFS?

Very easily, drivers side wheel clouts a big earth bank at a decent speed, the result is this;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/010-9.jpg

[16v Nova Kev]

yikes

[L14MNP]

Glad the damage is minimal considering mate! A 90mph lock up and off can't be nice!

lol @ your foot in the above pic. It reminds me of a giant dirty thumb.

[novarally]

Wilwood 4 pot front calipers in the process of strip and rebuild;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/006-10.jpg

Weight saving on the tailgate, every little helps! ;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/009-7.jpg

New catch tank in place (borrowed from an ex-works Escort Cosworth rally car and modified slightly);

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/011-3.jpg

Gear lever now modified to get rid of the alloy gearknob, which was very uncomfortable. The new Quaife nylon gearknob is far nicer (and lighter);

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/012-4.jpg

[Ben]

Ouch thats some force to snap that cleanly! At least you were ok!

[mowgli]

what are you going to fit, moped brakes?

surely a handbrake would be of use on some courses.

[novarally]

what are you going to fit, moped brakes?

surely a handbrake would be of use on some courses.

There are plenty of people who've used motorcycle and even mountain bike brakes on the back end of really lightweight cars, but that is not the route I'm taking.

It doesn't have a handbrake at the moment, I've not been to any hillclimb track where it would be of any benefit.

[mowgli]

a load of fiesta challenge racers once got done for disconnecting their rear brakes, so tbh, they don't do that much on a light car

[novarally]

Quick experiment with some low offset 7" x 13" Minilite alloy wheels, which are a possible option if I go for the wide arch kit;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/013-2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/012-5.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/022.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/023-1.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/024.jpg

Unfortunately the wheels won't go over my current calipers though.......

[Cle]

Wider front archs with them wheels looks amazing :thumb:

[Count Vaux Alot]

Very nice Colin i like the look of the wideness!

[dj_wudgey]

looks bang on bud when are you planing to race it?

[dhdev (Oli)]

What about KAD rear discs http://www.kad-uk.com/minibraking.htm#reardisc
I'm sure a man of your talents could make them fit ;)

[wwmnw]

Actually 595kg and 162bhp, but you're close.

Just had a flick through this thread, 595KG and 162BHP must make it a hoot to drive, I noticed you said you were plagued by people who thought they could buy this car for £2000, how much in your eyes is it worth? I've never come across a Nova this crazy myself.

[dj_wudgey]

i bet its a hoot to drive i wouldent mind it only problem is id want to ramp it around the roads lol and it wouldnt be very legal lol

[novarally]

What about KAD rear discs http://www.kad-uk.com/minibraking.htm#reardisc
I'm sure a man of your talents could make them fit ;)

I'm ahead of you there Oli, that's exactly the kit I am hoping to make work on the back of the Nova! Managed to find a brand new kit on EBAY at a good price.

Apparently the parcel of bits has just arrived at home, so I will be having a play with mocking it all up next week.

2.8kg for each hub and disc assembly will be a huge saving over the Nova rear drums.

[toymex]

Here is mine with 10,s on it Colin i had to extend the arches a bit thoughlol
http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo114/toymex/nova14309009640x480.jpg
I would be interested to see how you get on fitting the mini rear discs if you could let me know how easy it is

[dhdev (Oli)]

I'm ahead of you there Oli, that's exactly the kit I am hoping to make work on the back of the Nova! Managed to find a brand new kit on EBAY at a good price.

Apparently the parcel of bits has just arrived at home, so I will be having a play with mocking it all up next week.

2.8kg for each hub and disc assembly will be a huge saving over the Nova rear drums.
:cool:

[novarally]

This is the contents of the box of goodies;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/004-6.jpg

Now just have to make it all fit a Nova...........

if anyone has anything to do with Minis (classic Mini, not BMW!) I could do with a pair of rear stub axles, or even a complete rear beam please.

[burgo]

This is the contents of the box of goodies;



Now just have to make it all fit a Nova...........

if anyone has anything to do with Minis (classic Mini, not BMW!) I could do with a pair of rear stub axles, or even a complete rear beam please.

minis run subframes and swing arms not a beam and theres no such thing as a mini stub axle in the same sense as a nova.

http://www.somerford-mini.co.uk/pdfs/Catalogues/Run-Gear-Subframes/08-RearSuspension-Hydrolastic.pdf

[mowgli]

colin, check out your local car trailer place, a lot of the old indespension stuff was the same size as mini ones.... what is the pcd like?

[novarally]

colin, check out your local car trailer place, a lot of the old indespension stuff was the same size as mini ones.... what is the pcd like?

Good thinking, thanks for that.

The PCD is 4", which I believe is 101.4mm, so it's very close to Vauxhall.

I can either use 'wobble' nuts with Vauxhall wheels, or I have some 13" Mini alloys available.

[novarally]

minis run subframes and swing arms not a beam and theres no such thing as a mini stub axle in the same sense as a nova.

http://www.somerford-mini.co.uk/pdfs/Catalogues/Run-Gear-Subframes/08-RearSuspension-Hydrolastic.pdf

I did mean swing arm, not beam, sorry. A lot of race car Minis converted to a rear beam set-up which is where my confusion comes from.

Thanks for the PDF file, that will be useful.

[dj_wudgey]

some nice bits you got there!!

[craig green]

101.4mm PCD sounds familiar. I think 4stud Hyundai's might use that figure.

[Harvey]

Nice work all round Colin, keep it up. Hoping to attend some hill climb events this year as spectators as we did Jersey a couple of years ago and throughly enjoyed it.

[novarally]

Nice work all round Colin, keep it up. Hoping to attend some hill climb events this year as spectators as we did Jersey a couple of years ago and throughly enjoyed it.

Thanks Harvey. I trust you are well. I've always fancied going over to the Channel Islands for a hillclimb, or even better into Europe. One day......

[novarally]

I will be taking this Nova to the PNG National Weekend, so anyone who wants to have a nose around it will be welcome to do so.

[craig green]

I will be taking this Nova to the PNG National Weekend, so anyone who wants to have a nose around it will be welcome to do so.

I was thinking of asking you. Try & keep me off it. Can I sit in it & make noises? lol

[MK999]

Can I sit in it & make noises? lol

Clarification needed on these noises before you're let within 100m I think lol

[craig green]

Just hissing,spooling, wastegate type noises.

[mowgli]

i now have visions of you in a toad of toad hall outfit, yelling toot toot etc...

[craig green]

toot toot, parp parp.

I've wanted to know more about this Nova for probably 10 years, now I know who owns it & I'll get to see it. Think I'll bring a memory card just for this one!!

[scott.parker]

Oh dear...... i can here the missis sighing now as im with you lot poking round this for a few hrs! lol

Cant wait to see it tbh, as it's something very special really.

Scott

[chrisnovaturbo]

shame im on holiday so wont see it :(

[dj_wudgey]

I will be taking this Nova to the PNG National Weekend, so anyone who wants to have a nose around it will be welcome to do so.

gutted im not going i wanted to have a nosy round this!!

[AlexW]

With this sat there, Nothing will get done on rysee's nova conversion lol

Great nova anyhow, Loving the steering rack snapping lol

[mowgli]

With this sat there, Nothing will get done on rysee's nova conversion lol

Great nova anyhow, Loving the steering rack snapping lol

if its raining, then rysee's nova will be done in no time at all...

[novarally]

Not taking any chances on the brakes after the last time, so now with rebuilt calipers, plus brand new discs and pads (X-drilled discs to save weight, naturally);

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/014-4.jpg

You will see I have also converted to studs and nuts instead of the oh so annoying standard wheel bolts.

And for the moment I have fitted a standard steering rack just to get it mobile again, as there don't appear to be any quick racks for sale anywhere currently.

[novarally]

Bumping this thread just in case anyone has, or knows of someone with a spare quick steering rack (2.5 turns lock to lock ideally)?

I am racing again soon and don't really want to use it with a standard steering rack.

[dhdev (Oli)]

I'm surprised you have vented discs on there, I would have thought that was overkill on a sprint/hillclimb car of such lightweight.

[mowgli]

oddly enough, we discussed that very thing at the nats day.

[dhdev (Oli)]

Also passenger door bars on the rollcage could be removed (certainly one of the crosses is redundant from a stiffness point of view) got to be couple of kgs there, door seals, rear quarter plastic vents, lighten the door handles (200g there!), the firewall panel at the back of the bay could be removed along with the motor and linkage and replaced with an Uno direct drive motor, and what about removing the front wheel arch splash-guards and venting the front wings at the rear, may draw out some heat and also reduce lift as well as saving weight.

[mowgli]

looking at this car close up, i can vouch that it is seriously light. there really isn't much more to remove. apart from colin going on a diet, cough cough.....

[dhdev (Oli)]

looking at this car close up, i can vouch that it is seriously light. there really isn't much more to remove. apart from colin going on a diet, cough cough.....

Plenty to be saved ;) My list above is just the tip of the iceberg!

[mowgli]

his class has a lot of restrictions on chopping stuff out, i believe

[dhdev (Oli)]

I'd be surprised if anything I've listed contravenes the regulations. There are already non-structural parts of the car cut-out and replaced with aluminium so non-structural mods are obviously permitted, and nothing I've listed affects the silhouette (normally a restriction in hillclimb regs). I obviously haven't read the specific regs for his class, so you may well be right of course :)

[mowgli]

he was toying with making a lighter rear beam.

[novarally]

I'd be surprised if anything I've listed contravenes the regulations. There are already non-structural parts of the car cut-out and replaced with aluminium so non-structural mods are obviously permitted, and nothing I've listed affects the silhouette (normally a restriction in hillclimb regs). I obviously haven't read the specific regs for his class, so you may well be right of course :)

We're not allowed to do any lightening of the bodyshell between the hub centres (excluding the doors).

So I can't cut away the splash guards, the bulkhead or anything like that.

The list of (legal) things I have on the list do is;

1. Remove more metalwork outside of the hub centres, including some from the doors

2. Fit lighter wheels (13" split rims on the cards)

3. I have some oversize polycarbonate windows on order so I will be bonding those in and losing the rubber seals

4. Polycarbonate windscreen also ordered

5. Fabricated rear beam. I wanted to talk to Austin Nova16 about the one he made, but I'm not getting any reply from him

6. Fit the lightweight KAD Mini rear discs in place of the Nova drums

7. There's also a lot of tiny areas where weight can be saved, such as shortening bolts, and replacing even more fastenings with alloy/titanium

8. Go on a diet myself, as so rightly identified by Mowgli!

[MattBrown]

Could you loose the bumper irons?

gotta save 5kg there.

[MattBrown]

Could you loose the bumper irons?

gotta save 5kg there.

[mowgli]

matt, there are none...... there is hardly any plastic left in the front one

unless you've been up close, you just can't appreciate how much work there is in this car

[MK999]

5. Fabricated rear beam. I wanted to talk to Austin Nova16 about the one he made, but I'm not getting any reply from him


Try and find his saloon WIP on mig, as he's normally on there more often I believe.

[dhdev (Oli)]

I stand well and truely corrected then! My point about the passenger side door bars still stands though, as that is obviously not part of the original chassis! :)

[MK999]

I stand well and truely corrected then! My point about the passenger side door bars still stands though, as that is obviously not part of the original chassis! :)

Both of them brace into the strut tops from what I can see?

[SR-Rally]

i don't no if cars need to be logbooked for hillclimb? but on my rally cars msa log book it list's the cage configuration. it states it only has one door bar per side and extra diagonal bar and harness bar etc. would it be a problem if something is listed to be there but isn't?

[dhdev (Oli)]

Both of them brace into the strut tops from what I can see? The one that goes diagonally down at the front terminates very close to the floor, so the the moment from the floor to the mount point would be minimal. So this one could definately be removed IMO. I'd imagine the tube stiffness would make the top one redundant also IMO.

The shell has been lightened already by the removal of seat mounting brackets, so are the regs slightly flexible, or is it a matter of what goes unoticed is ok? Also door/boot seals aren't technically the shell, so they could be ejected.

[MK999]

I'd say they both contribute stiffness to a very beneficial part of the car myself, and they could be removed but the weight gain against what you may lose in camber stability (which on a mac strut is obviously far more important than double wishbone) would make it a step backwards. Couldn't say for sure either way without a load of telemetry gear or at least an FEA setup though lol

Me and Colin were talking about removing stuff off of the doors at nats, pretty sure the seals came up, as did replacing the lock mechanism with suitable magnetic catches :d

[novarally]

The one that goes diagonally down at the front terminates very close to the floor, so the the moment from the floor to the mount point would be minimal. So this one could definately be removed IMO. I'd imagine the tube stiffness would make the top one redundant also IMO.

The shell has been lightened already by the removal of seat mounting brackets, so are the regs slightly flexible, or is it a matter of what goes unoticed is ok? Also door/boot seals aren't technically the shell, so they could be ejected.

Yes, I could remove some tubes from the rollcage, if I get to the desperation phase.

Strictly speaking, by my interpretation of the rules, the seat brackets should not have been removed (except where they are in the way of correctly mounting a seat).

I will check that point with an MSA Scrutineer at the next meeting, as I might have to reinstate those. You can guarantee someone will start protesting if (when!) I start winning with it.

[dhdev (Oli)]

I'd say they both contribute stiffness to a very beneficial part of the car myself, and they could be removed but the weight gain against what you may lose in camber stability
Camber stability? Possibly via some form of castor change reduction, as they only brace in the longitudinal direction, but I'd wager that the deflection even without forward triangulation would be less than a couple of mm, and you'd be hard pressed to notice the tiny affect on castor and subsequently smaller variation in dynamic camber. To be honest I'd imagine the only benefit of having the forward triangulation is during a heavy dead-stop crash, as you'd get in rallying.


Me and Colin were talking about removing stuff off of the doors at nats, pretty sure the seals came up, as did replacing the lock mechanism with suitable magnetic catches :d Liking the lateral thinking on the catches :thumb::d

[novarally]

Try and find his saloon WIP on mig, as he's normally on there more often I believe.

I've already put up a couple of posts on his 'Project' thread on PNG, but no response from that.

If anyone knows Austin Nova16, perhaps they could ask him to contact me?

I hadn't realised he had a thread on MIG, that will be worth a try, thanks.

[MK999]

Camber stability? Possibly via some form of castor change reduction, as they only brace in the longitudinal direction, but I'd wager that the deflection even without forward triangulation would be less than a couple of mm, and you'd be hard pressed to notice the tiny affect on castor and subsequently smaller variation in dynamic camber. To be honest I'd imagine the only benefit of having the forward triangulation is during a heavy dead-stop crash, as you'd get in rallying.

It's surprising how much it all affects it, I've just spent quite a while on FEA developing simps chassis, and believe me those bars will add to the camber stability, and a couple of mm is the size of your average camber shim.

[dhdev (Oli)]

It's surprising how much it all affects it, I've just spent quite a while on FEA developing simps chassis, and believe me those bars will add to the camber stability, and a couple of mm is the size of your average camber shim.

But those bars brace in the longitudinal direction, so castor. This would obviously help dynamic camber, but 2mm (arbitary number) of castor at the top of the strut, would be a negligible increase in castor angle and hence virtually un-measurable dynamic camber change.

[MK999]

CDS bars don't have a negligible strength across their cross section though, it doesn't 'just' brace in the direction of caster change.

[dhdev (Oli)]

CDS bars don't have a negligible strength across their cross section though, it doesn't 'just' brace in the direction of caster change.

But at a length of 50cm (ish) from the main-hoop mounting, the moment at the strut will surely be large enough to make the stiffening minimal. Not only is there the bending of the forward protrusion, but also the torsion on the cage front leg.

[MK999]

But at a length of 50cm (ish) from the main-hoop mounting, the moment at the strut will surely be large enough to make the stiffening minimal. Not only is there the bending of the forward protrusion, but also the torsion on the cage front leg.

True, but it all adds something, and once you get down to the kinda minute deflections a car like this has, those tiny additions mean a lot.

There's an area on simps chassis which is braced entirely in the wrong directions due to where the gearbox sits being in the way of proper bracing, and 2 bars loaded in a very similar way to these dropped the deflection from 5mm to 1.2 purely by repositioning them.

It's not the best way to brace that point, and the strut brace may well render it near useless due to its 'actual' stiffness being much higher, but it's not something you can just look at and say that can be chopped out imo. I think it has more benefit in being there than you're implying, just my opinion and I can see where you're coming from in suggesting it's removal :)

[novarally]

Small update, all on a weight saving theme.

I acquired these for £2 plus postage off EBAY;
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/002-8.jpg

A set of lightweight door catch pins! Now fitted, after a bit more lightening was done to them, they work very nicely and save 250g!;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/003-9.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/004-8.jpg

I've also replaced the plastic vents in the door pillar with carbon fibre sheet to save a little bit more.

I am now gradually working round the car and replacing any non-stressed nut or bolt I can find with alloy or titanium, after buying a bumper box (another EBAY find);

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/005-9.jpg

I'd already replaced just about every bolt on the car with aluminium, but most of the nuts were still steel until these came along.

Next week I'm off to see an engineering company who can make me a rear beam in titanium (!serious!), which they reckon will be around 4kg.

The standard bare rear beam, (i.e. WITHOUT the brake drums, anti-roll bar and stub axles) weighs in at 14.5kg, so that would be a really significant saving.

And the same engineering firm can also make me some 8" x 13" split rim wheels which weigh in at 3.6kg each, which is a massive reduction on the 8kg or so of a Compomotive MO. And I love the look of them too;
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/hillclimbescort/13-wheels-red.jpg

Must check my lottery numbers..........