Bit fed up

[carrie_girl_wonder]

My car has an epic history and I finally fixed everything that was wrong with it.

I've had George for 3 years. First year was fixing all the bodge jobs the previous owner had done. Second year was to enjoy it and look after him. Now it's the third year and everything is going wrong :( ...again.

The carboretor is going,the choke is sticking,it over runs,one panel needs re-spraying,it's not bad bubbling but still irriatating. It has an even worse oil leak and needs its break fluid pipe fixing As well as some random grinding noise. BUT I still love my car.

My mum said that cars grow on you so get a new one and you'll love it just as much. No. When I saw my car it was love at first sight!

It's just so depressing that more stuff is wrong with it and it's not just simple things. It may be to other people but you get told different information and don't know what advise to take and people assume as i'm a girl that i'm stupid and gullible,which I'm not.I want to learn and make up my own mind but no idea where to start!

Do i sell him and get a standard nova with a standard engine or do I fix the bodge engine that has 3 different types of shizzle in it?!! Some will say it won't take much work but I don't know many people that know what they're doing to fix it and I can't do it myself. But I couldn't bare to see George go off to a scarppy or to be sold to a boy racer only to re-boy racer it again and for it to end if a scarp yard anyways! Or should I get a 1.6 gte engine and put that in?? Some say red top it,well I would love that but it's just not practicle :(


Little bit of a rant from a person that loves her car very much :(

[draper]

welcome to nova ownership lol

get a list of the problems posted up on here and im sure folks will be more than happy to help

[craig green]

IME its fairly simple jobs such as replacing a brake pipe that are made difficult by seized threads etc. It's just a challenge & necessary to have the proper tools. The satisfaction after completing these jobs is great.

[--ToM--]

redtop not practicle? i had redtops as daily drivers for the last 2 1/2 years !!

[NOV4_SPORT]

The life of owning a nova is never simple lol.

Yeh iam sure some local users will be able to offer advice and guidance.

All the best

iain

[burgo]

you'll have to come over to me unit one weekend and ill see what i can do

[auzzy2000]

All these things seem easy fixes!!Dont take the car to someone you dont know.Do you need the car every day?

[Benn]

Where's the carb going?

[burgo]

All these things seem easy fixes!!Dont take the car to someone you dont know.Do you need the car every day?yes its her daily driver.

ill have a dig through the shed as im sure ive got everything you need to convert it to injection and the mix and match set up seems to be causing you the probs

[Bubba]

oil leak just a gasket (i expect) and the grinding...where does it sound like its coming from.

tbh doesnt sound like too much of a problem

^^ jus seen that. was it an injection before?

[auzzy2000]

Go on burgo sort her out!!lol

[auzzy2000]

new carb and setup would fix the over run. oil leak just a gasket (i expect) and the grinding...where does it sound like its coming from.

tbh £50 would probably fix it and which panel need a blowover?is the grinding coming from the backseat:p

[burgo]

i cant remember the combo off the top of my head but its got two looms for a start

[CP]

It all comes down to 2 key things:
1. Money
2. Attitude of mind.

Trust me anything automotive can be fixed- the limiting factors are time and money.

However if it gets you down you probably aren't the sort of person who should be falling in love and owning older cars.The only way forward is to see the setbacks as all part and parcel of the charm and treat them as a challenge to your igenuity and tenacity to deal with problems. A cheerful never say die approach is the way to go - if you can have a positive attitude things will always work out better. Make a list - get advice about whats most important and what it will cost and then make a start on that and worry about other stuff when you get to it.

Sorry if that sounded like your Dadlol

[hendrix]

well said charles :thumb:

[dj_wudgey]

i agree its all part off having a nova!!

[Rich]

tbh on a nova theres not really anything thats not simple (apart from maybe working out whats what on somone elses bodge)

Replacing parts would be the way to go, an engine will come up cheap im sure theres local people on here that would be happy to help out for petrol money.

A newer car unless its brand new and has warrenty will still go wrong, they just arent as simple/cheap to fix

[carrie_girl_wonder]

I think some people missed my point there :p It is simple to you,that probably know a lot more about cars than me, it's also just a bit daunting when you don't understand fully I guess. I need someone to teach me and not laugh too much when I make really girlie comments haha.


Oh no I love older cars. I felt such pride after having fixed it all before and having done some of the work myself. It's just because i'm torn between getting a new car or fixing the car I love. Also it's things I don't understand. Like the caroretor and bigger things than painting break calibres and fixing the interior.

But i'm sure burgo will come to my rescue :)

on the subject of old cars, I saw an awesome lancia delta last night,I couldn't stop drawling!:d

[Mike]

i cant remember the combo off the top of my head but its got two looms for a start

E16SE loom & ECU
14NV Carb & inlet
Big block 1600 engine

[burgo]

E16SE loom & ECU
14NV Carb & inlet
Big block 1600 engine

lmfao thats the one. love how the e16se management still controls the ignition even tho nothing else is connected

[carrie_girl_wonder]

Yeah the oil leak is from head gasket apprently.

[Mike]

lmfao thats the one. love how the e16se management still controls the ignition even tho nothing else is connected

Luke, i am in awe at how it all works TBH

Oh yea, not forgetting E16 distributor lol

[carrie_girl_wonder]

E16SE loom & ECU
14NV Carb & inlet
Big block 1600 engine

you know more about my car from seeing it once than me uh oh!

[Mike]

Yeah the oil leak is from head gasket apprently.

Says who?

Bet its the sump gasket.

[burgo]

and it wont be head gasket, would be rocker if not the sump as mike has said

[carrie_girl_wonder]

the garage people said,i thought that once your head gasket leaked it was tits up and a big job,would have thoguht it would have died after 3 years of habving a head gasket leak to but what do I know :p

[Mike]

^ +1

[djshaggeh]

Carrie, just get stuck in. It's the only way you'll learn tbh.

[Mike]

the garage people said,i thought that once your head gasket leaked it was tits up and a big job,would have thoguht it would have died after 3 years of habving a head gasket leak to but what do I know :p

Well they will say that, as most women are gullible when it comes to motors an will pay any old amount just to get there car apparently fixed from a non existant problem.

They charge you say £200+ for a head gasket, yet all they replace is a £4 rocker gasket & make £196+ profit.

[carrie_girl_wonder]

I am getting stuck in :wtf: but I am a girl as well so my car doesn't like rule my life,even though I would cry for weeks if it got scrapped :d All I want is some advise :thumb:

[carrie_girl_wonder]

Well they will say that, as most women are gullible when it comes to motors an will pay any old amount just to get there car apparently fixed from a non existant problem.

They charge you say £200+ for a head gasket, yet all they replace is a £4 rocker gasket & make £196+ profit.

well i helped do my last rocker,might be why its leaking haha

[Balley]

I have rep'd you because I felt very sad this morning when I found a hole in my inner arch, striped it now though and I will weld tomorrow!
Novas suck some days, I know how you feel :D

I feel better for doing it though rather than worrying!

[carrie_girl_wonder]

I have rep'd you because I felt very sad this morning when I found a hole in my inner arch, striped it now though and I will weld tomorrow!
Novas suck some days, I know how you feel :D

I feel better for doing it though rather than worrying!

Oh yeah,i'm still showing up my electric windows that burgo fitted for me a month ago :d

just seems a bit much when you're not a proper petrol head lol

[Mike]

well i helped do my last rocker,might be why its leaking haha

Well theres ya problem :p ;)

[carrie_girl_wonder]

Well theres ya problem :p ;)

you cheeky monkey!

[that farmer]

im only up the road from aylesbury so i could come have a look at it for you if want? pm me

[Aragorn]

The Jetronic systems EFI and Igntion systems are seperate, hence why its still running without the Airflow meter or injection parts.

The AFM does signal the ECU and allow it to make ignition advance adjustments based on load, so the timing curve wont be correct.

Its also not a big block 1600 motor with a carb inlet... They wouldnt bolt together, so its presumably a smallblock 1600...

I'd try to get it running all the EFI parts, even if that means installing a GTE cylinder head.

Carbs have no place in 2009.

[burgo]

The Jetronic systems EFI and Igntion systems are seperate, hence why its still running without the Airflow meter or injection parts.

The AFM does signal the ECU and allow it to make ignition advance adjustments based on load, so the timing curve wont be correct.

Its also not a big block 1600 motor with a carb inlet... They wouldnt bolt together, so its presumably a smallblock 1600...

I'd try to get it running all the EFI parts, even if that means installing a GTE cylinder head.

Carbs have no place in 2009.

its the 16sv bottom end i beleave so still crap lol. converting it to run the efi injection is the plan :)

[Aragorn]

If its a square port head then you'll need to change it, if its a cathedral port one the ports should match up well enough just to mash it on.

Given you said your using a 14nv inlet though, it does sound like a square port.

Guess that gives you a chance to fix the oil leak!

The other option would be to use a SPI manifold from a 1.4, 1.8 Throttle body and a 1.6 SPi injector (scrappy raiding time!), that way you can keep the square port cylinder head.

You'll need an SPI wiring loom and a 1.6 ECU though.

[djshaggeh]

I have a c16se block, head, inlet and exhaust manifold that may be some use

[burgo]

If its a square port head then you'll need to change it, if its a cathedral port one the ports should match up well enough just to mash it on.

Given you said your using a 14nv inlet though, it does sound like a square port.

Guess that gives you a chance to fix the oil leak!

The other option would be to use a SPI manifold from a 1.4, 1.8 Throttle body and a 1.6 SPi injector (scrappy raiding time!), that way you can keep the square port cylinder head.

You'll need an SPI wiring loom and a 1.6 ECU though.

im sure i remember it having a 1.6 head, if not i have a spare round port head though so all good

[Aragorn]

ye, there were square port 1.6's as well though...

[Adam]

1.6 spi's and small block 1.6 8v carb engines had square ported heads

[Mike]

Well, im not overly sure what engine it actually is or ment to be, BUT...

Its a 1600 block, with carb inlet & obviouisly a carb (2E3 IIRC?), E16SE ECU & Dizzy, big block OHC rocker cover & a SR dust bin lid style air box lol lol

Havent activly checked the head for any particular markings though as i was more amazed at the mega wicked twin engine loom concoshun lol