First WIP and a slow one.

[NathanPrince]

Hi there, as promised I've taken pics of my Nova Merit 1.2, before we get started I want to just say a few things.

1) I know the paint is bad previous owners decided to rattle can over red paint with no primer/lacquer/ or even sanding.
2) There will be no LET's/turbos/jet engines or w/e as its a first car and I want to have some cheapish insurance.
3) As said in the title it will be slow, perhaps painful to some of you guys but I got to college mon-thurs 9-4 and by the time I get home and get around to doing the car I have about 1-2 hours of light left MAX. I don't have a unit/garage so all work will have to be done on the driveway.
4) Im here for advice and to share my project with you. Not slatings or bad comments. Constructive/Supported or don't bother posting at all. Im on a budget about as tight as a nun's moo moo so I can't be flashing the cash about and buying things left right and centre.

OK now we have that done... PIC TIME! :

Excuse the shoddy primer this was again done before the car was in my possession. Purple stuff is rust treatment comming through as they only decided to put on 1 coat of primer by the looks of things. Both bumpers are being smoothed out but ran out of filler on the front :wtf:


http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova014.jpg

In the process on de-wiper/de-handling (Any advice on flushing the boot off completely, taking out number plate recess?) Back bumper smooth as a baby's bum. :thumb:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova013.jpg



First signs of rust OH NOES!

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova010.jpg

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova007.jpg

Inner arches look clean at the mo (same kinda story all round), will need cleaning up and a proper inspection though :thumb:

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova008.jpg




OK moving on to engine bay

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova003.jpg

Worst bit of rust spotted so far (Advice on what to do here?) It's on the X member

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova001.jpg

Bit more rust

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova002.jpg

Underneath the car

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova006.jpg

De-locked passenger door, driver side to be done awaiting solenoids first though

Would get interior pics but as you can see here, I cant get in :wtf:

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz121/NathanPrince/Nova004.jpg




So... What you think, plans are finish off bodywork (Including rusty bits), get new set of GTE skirts as you can see mine were ripped off :wtf:. Resprayed back to red like it says on the logbook (and i like red Novas) set of alloys and other bits and bobs.

Thanks for looking

[let_nova]

looks not bad, seen worse. replace the x member pal. become a member on here (paid up) and you will get a discount at beavers

[Benn]

Where you apply filler it should be on bare metal, when filling anything you really wanna weld in a plate first. Then use a little filler as poss.

[NathanPrince]

Only filled the bumpers and they were sanded right back. Trying to get hold of a new lower front panel with X member but have no idea of how to replace tbh. Any help or poitns in the right direction to buy one/fit one?

[vaughanmc]

Good project you have yourself there fella, I was in that sort of state with my red Nova

Take your time with it and cut out all rot and replace or plate where needed :)

[NathanPrince]

Well again never welded etc this is my first project of this scale (usually do motorbikes) but any advice/tutorials etc on how to do these kinds of things would be a great help.

[vaughanmc]

Have a wee look through my WIP thread - Not very well documented but I tried my best:

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87376

[NathanPrince]

Thanks but how much did all your welding cost if you dont mind me asking.

[vaughanmc]

It was done by my mate's Dad who done it on the cheap - I think it worked out to be about £150 all in

Full front panel replaced, front inner wings tidied up, passenger sill replaced, back beam replaced

[NathanPrince]

Cool, well my sills are still fine, back beam is ok isnt it? should just be the front lower panel and x member or is it better to replace the whole front. God I hate not knowing any welders/body finishers.

[vaughanmc]

Back beam looks fine mate but check where the springs sit and round about where the hub is as well - I'm onto my 3rd back beam on my Nova and it's only done 74k miles...

Depends what the top corners of your slam panel and round about your headlights are like

If there rotten I'd replace everything mate, it's easier :)

[NovaBoi92]

smooth bumpers look the nuts on mk1s in my opinion. have a look at my mates nova, he had smoothed gte bumpers
http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119645
just phone about for some prices from garages. alot do welding. or make a thread up on here and ask if anybody wants to earn abit of money doing some welding, who are in bristol. as for the front panel, this is how to replace one, doesnt say about the x member though http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131040

[Southie]

Is this finished yet lol

Just take your time with it and ask as much as you can for advice, there's plenty of people who know there stuff.

Good luck and enjoy :thumb:

[NathanPrince]

Thanks for the help guys, I know a few people with garages and an MOT tester so gonna get him to look over it and get his opinion, then get down to buisness and get things done.

[vaughanmc]

If that's all you can pick out the now then it doesn't seem too bad a shell

My Nova Sport is in worse nick and it's going to be sorted :)

Good luck mate

[NathanPrince]

Thanks mate, gonna take the wings off on friday and have a good look/poke about underneath and possibly clean up the inner arches and look for rot patches (looks ok at the moment but you never know what a bit of dirt can hide.)

[vaughanmc]

Your right mate :)

[LEWI007]

I would just get the grinder on that front panel and weld it up.

i like my mk1'ss and it looks a good project, not keen on the smooth bumpers though keep us updated on it mate.

[NathanPrince]

I was going to just grind it back a bit and weld it back up, but better to be safe than sorry IMO. Could work out cheaper in the long run.

[vaughanmc]

Could just crack again dude, I'd personally change it

[LEWI007]

Up to you man, but i reckon if you clean it up well enough and do a proper job on the welding it will be alright.

you are better off replacing it, but like you say your on a mega budget.

[NathanPrince]

Indeed I am (30quid a week from the college - petrol for bike) hence why I said this project could be a long one. Hey ho can't even start learning til march 26th anyways so got enough time.

[LEWI007]

I knew you would of been on 30 quid a week, because i was once on the same, you should tell them you get the bus there and back and you get an extra tenner to pay for it lol

[vaughanmc]

Fair play mate - I made a start on my Nova when I was 14 with £30 quid a week as well lol

[LEWI007]

I made a start on my nova when i was 13 with 0 pounds a week, ended up getting stolen :( got another and scrapped it, but the one ive got now is gonna be finished !

[bmw156]

you not got a LET in this yet (sarcasim)

look in the how to guides for helpful information on everything nova lol

check the link in my sig for the guide on the front panel.

do i spy a mk2 grill with a gte bumper. please dont lol.

my crossmember was bad, probably worse then yours. and i did the whole front panel. i would say do the whole front panel, its only gonna get worse.

the inner wing looks bad and i suspect thats a bitch to repair lol.

other then that, looks ok, and im sure your gonna learn loads.

feel free to add me on msn:)

o and i was gonna say, there will probably be rust further down the rear shock absorber, mine was gone there

[NathanPrince]

Well, gonna jack her up next week as i have 2 weeks off college (Mechanics yay!) Drop out the beam axle, clean it up/hammerite etc. While thats off give the springs/dampers a good clean up at the same time then do inner arches. 3 birds with 1 stone.

[NathanPrince]

Should have an MOT tester friend of my brothers giving it a once over to tell me exactly what needs doing soon hopefully. Then I can crack on with the necessary work.

[bmw156]

Well, gonna jack her up next week as i have 2 weeks off college (Mechanics yay!) Drop out the beam axle, clean it up/hammerite etc. While thats off give the springs/dampers a good clean up at the same time then do inner arches. 3 birds with 1 stone.

lol your optimistic :d:d

[LEWI007]

Ive just done my back axle, my advice is to use a wirewheel on a grinder, took mine back to shiny bare metal in seconds.

[NathanPrince]

Got grinder in hand ready mate. So far the grinder seems to be my favoured tool and is gonna see a lot more action with this Nova. But she will be done!