View Full Version : Ph3 c20let in unwelded shell.
MattBrown
12-02-11, 11:40 PM
How long will that mint shell of mine last with a 280 to 300 bhp c20let in it?
It's one of the best shells, with 0 rust anywhere.
I know people running mk2 astras with 350bhp unwelded.
Isn't there a saloon on here on ph3 unwelded?
A Bowyer 1400 8v put paid to my SR shell, so make what you will of that...
MattBrown
12-02-11, 11:46 PM
A Bowyer 1400 8v put paid to my SR shell, so make what you will of that...
Put paid?
Meaning it killed it?
Bearing in mind it's a 10k shell?
its a nova...its made of soft cheese and string...
Meaning it killed it??
Detached the strut tops from the chassis & sheared the cross member where the tie bars mount :)
MattBrown
12-02-11, 11:50 PM
Detached the strut tops from the chassis & sheared the cross member where the tie bars mount :)
Fair enough lol
its a nova...its made of soft cheese and string...
Strange really though isnt it....
I mean, here in the 21st century we have these things called fridges where the doors make noises like a Nova clutch pedal, an people hactually put soft cheese & also cheese "strings" in said fridges?
Maybe GM Motors did hatch a master plan all those years ago after all.......
steviegsi
12-02-11, 11:53 PM
Surely if you have to do a bit of welding for the let to go in, then it would be silly not to strengthen the bay up a bit anyway regardless of how clean it is.
MattBrown
12-02-11, 11:54 PM
Surely if you have to do a bit of welding for the let to go in, then it would be silly not to strengthen the bay up a bit anyway regardless of how clean it is.
I haven't done any welding, the shell is the best you will get lol
I have nothing against people using mint shells for conversions BUT if you're going to do it, do it properly
Isn't there a saloon on here on ph3 unwelded?
Yup, blue_pegs shell aint welded, was a 48'd xe for many years (and many engines as he constantly killed them nailing it down york dragway) and has been a let going on two years and is fine:thumb:
I haven't done any welding, the shell is the best you will get lol
What about a brand new one ? :d lol
Why not plate and seem weld the mint shell ?
Done properly will last alot longer that not doing it
MattBrown
13-02-11, 10:34 AM
What about a brand new one ? :d lol
Why not plate and seem weld the mint shell ?
Done properly will last alot longer that not doing it
Yeah, I would say it's not far off your shell edd.
As yours has been sat for a long time, same as mine.
Anyway, cheers spud. I think I may try it without.
I like the factory bay look, and don't really want to paint the car, or strip it to a shell if I can help it:)
Does look very clean from the pics Matt, at 10k probably is like new
Why not just strip down the front end seem weld/plate kit the bay and have just the bay painted ? Then put back together
Why not sell it and use a shell that isn't so good?
MattBrown
13-02-11, 10:51 AM
Does look very clean from the pics Matt, at 10k probably is like new
Why not just strip down the front end seem weld/plate kit the bay and have just the bay painted ? Then put back together
In all honesty, I'm nervous too.
I do the mechanical side, and have welded up cars, and done mot jobs etc, am happy ripping an engine apart, but I fooking hate bodywork! X1000!
I want this on to be perfect. Like I always saw in the magazines. Time and money isn't important, but the finish is.
General Baxter
13-02-11, 10:52 AM
Time and money isn't important, but the finish is.
so weld it up then :roll:
Why not sell it and use a shell that isn't so good?
because he wont get the £6000 he whats for it lol
LEWI007
13-02-11, 10:52 AM
IMO, If your going as far as having a nice tuned up LET Engine and a nice example of a shell, youd be daft to not spend the extra few quid on a plating kit and stitch weld it.
Well if your in no rush to get it built, do a bit at a time like, spend the winter months buying the parts & building the motor & trans up, spend the summer months chassis strengthening & bolting all things together.
I want this on to be perfect. Like I always saw in the magazines. Time and money isn't important, but the finish is.
Spend the time and money and do it right and once first time.
Get it stitch welded and plated is you want. Then get it sealed and painted.
MattBrown
13-02-11, 10:58 AM
Spend the time and money and do it right and once first time.
Get it stitch welded and plated is you want. Then get it sealed and painted.
Can anyone recommend anyone?
Chris Ashley was going to be used, but obviously not now! As he has done a lovelly job on Leehs shell, stitched, strngthened, plated and 2 brand new gm turrets!
Not for a bad price either.
I'm not sure now, as I feel I want to paint it White aswell, but that's stripping it even further, as I hate it when people leave the bay and door shuts the origional colour lol
If you can, do the metal work yourself Matt.
Save yourself some pound notes in the process.
Southie
13-02-11, 11:03 AM
Just weld it up, if your thinking "ooo I better not spoil my mK1 10'000 mile minter" then why put a ph3 LET in then.
By doing it properly will save you time and money in the future Matt.
The last thing you want to do is build it all up good & pukka & then eventually have to take it apart to fit a new crossmember all because you cut a few corners during the build. IMO anyway.
Does look very clean from the pics Matt, at 10k probably is like new
Why not just strip down the front end seem weld/plate kit the bay and have just the bay painted ? Then put back together
yeah edd thats the way i would do it as well, tbf once youve got a let in there all the plates and most of the stitching wouldnt be seen anyway tbh, and benn put it as it is, do it once right then you know that it perfect for life, its a no brainer if you ask me, so go and get that front end stripped :p
Be stupid not to weld it up imo
Can anyone recommend anyone?
Chris Ashley was going to be used, but obviously not now! As he has done a lovelly job on Leehs shell, stitched, strngthened, plated and 2 brand new gm turrets!
Not for a bad price either.
I'm not sure now, as I feel I want to paint it White aswell, but that's stripping it even further, as I hate it when people leave the bay and door shuts the origional colour lol
dont knw how far you are (im fae scotland lol)from user countvauxalot i think hes called, id be getting him round or trailer it to him as going by his project threads he seems a fairly handy guy with a welder and could prob do it in a few hours if you prepped it ready to weld
Mint shells are so much easier to get welded up and strengthened anyway, so its win all round.
Get the welder out.
MattBrown
13-02-11, 05:13 PM
I'm not welding it.
I can weld now, been doing loads in work, and can tig fairly well.
However I want it perfect.
Track car is due to be finished by the summer, so I'll crack on with the booster over winter.
Southie
13-02-11, 05:17 PM
I'm not welding it.
I can weld now, been doing loads in work, and can tig fairly well.
However I want it perfect.
Track car is due to be finished by the summer, so I'll crack on with the booster over winter.
Perfect until it rips itself to bits, then you'll be ripping it all apart to weld it up.
Sorry Matt but I think your doing this wrong, and making it look perfect would be to make it safe IMO.
mk1nova_rich
13-02-11, 05:50 PM
Yes its a clean shell, but its only a Mk2 pov spec Nova... The REALISTIC value of it as a standard car IMO is around the grand mark. As soon as you start stripping it, it becomes just a shell and people can't shift fairly tidy shells for love nor money. Get it welded and just appreciate the fact you had a decent base to start with and enjoy it for longer than if you hadn't welded it :thumb:
mk1nova_rich
13-02-11, 05:52 PM
From the previous posts, I'm assuming the main argument for not welding it is to retain the originality of the shell so it could theoretically be returned to standard?! Just out of interest...how are you going about the inner wing mod?
MattBrown
13-02-11, 06:41 PM
No, it's purely to retain the origional seam sealer and factory paint in the bay.
I may strip it, clean all the seams then pay to have it welded, then have it painted professionally.
MattBrown
13-02-11, 06:41 PM
No, it's purely to retain the origional seam sealer and factory paint in the bay.
I may strip it, clean all the seams then pay to have it welded, then have it painted professionally.
blue_peg_16v
13-02-11, 07:06 PM
as spud has said mine hasent been welded and it gets abuse went through 6 xes when i was running 48s and cans and a few other bits (196bhp) then put the let in and its still fine, when i do a full rebuild though it will get welded just to be on the safe side, the saloon has had a big block in it for about 8 or 9 years cant remember to be exact and its all still intact but the shell was like new when i built it no rot anywere
MattBrown
13-02-11, 11:56 PM
as spud has said mine hasent been welded and it gets abuse went through 6 xes when i was running 48s and cans and a few other bits (196bhp) then put the let in and its still fine, when i do a full rebuild though it will get welded just to be on the safe side, the saloon has had a big block in it for about 8 or 9 years cant remember to be exact and its all still intact but the shell was like new when i built it no rot anywere
Same as mine then.
My mates running 290bhp and 320ibft of torque though a standard 30k mk2 astra, and that's been fine.
50/50 what to do about it.
Think of it a different way, 300 bhp in a nova, if you ever crash it would rip open like wet paper,
Look up the pictures of STE PORTER's crash from years ago, the stich welding held the front together pretty well IMO
My mate crashed his 1.2 nova into a sign post at 40 mph ( I saw it myself ) near killed him as it ripped the front panel in half and the N/S leg and strutt seperated ripping the full engine out of the car!
That was in 1995 in a 2 year old nova!
I'd be welding every seam inside and outside the bay for that sort of power,
and iirc Paul broke his track car as it was getting ripped apart too
With it being a mk2 Matt the seams are covered in sealer as you know so your not going to see any damage at first IMO
That seriously looks a keeper, alot of people would love to have such a decent base to start from
If I were you I'd get a welder you trust weld/plate the bay, and get the whole front end painted professionally, and sealed so it looks factory as it can cause you'll have to do the chassis leg for a LET, job done, last for years
Weld it front to back, every seam on it.
Send it my way lol
MattBrown
14-02-11, 07:10 AM
Hmm.
Maybe it is worth welding then.
Just don't fancy such a mint car being torn apart to nothing.
On a knife edge now.
Well it's going to have to be in bits if your fitting a LET lol
I dont understand. You dont want to weld it, to keep a tidy car original. But your converting it to a LET?
Anyway, get over it, it's only a Nova. Peope buy Escorts and rip them apart on a daily basis.
Really, like others said, you compromising your safety, for an 80's hatchback.
SR-Rally
14-02-11, 09:30 AM
get it welded.
theres a few mint welders down here who do alot of foreigners building rally cars etc. one bloke is almost finished making his second s2000 chevette and he fabricates everything himself. hes also about to start welding in a cage on a hill climb mini. if you want to come see his work and talk a price let me know.
few fantastic painters down this way to.
be daft not to weld it imo
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