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View Full Version : The nova's upgrades for Le mans


TWAG
11-05-11, 09:48 PM
After 18 months without the nova seeing the road due to buying my first house, ive decided to dig it out and get it ready to take to Le mans for the 24HR Race.

Ive been concentrating on the cooling side of things, the last time i had it on the road it stuggled to keep cool when stuck in traffic. Originally i had one 10" fan mounted behind the rad pulling air through but this wasnt enough.

So my plan was to buy another fan and mount both of them on the front of the rad. To do this ive had to relocate the oil cooler to the wheel arch trim the bumper and move the intercooler forward.

Other jobs done include

- Replace single wiper with twin wipers
- replace heater/blower motor
- fix horn
- replace to front tyres

and a few more bits and pieces. Heres a few pics of work done.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04867.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04876.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04871.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04874.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04879.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04882.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04881.jpg


Ive also Had a result at silverlake scrap yard, whilst looking around the yard i spotted a white nova about to be crushed, i managed to stop it just in time and salvaged these litle beauties! Mine are starting to rust along the bottems and at £60 for the pair i couldnt resist.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04884.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04883.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04886.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/Nova%20Lemans%20prep/DSC04885.jpg
MattBrown
11-05-11, 09:52 PM
Love this car!

Always will.

Doors look awesomely mint!
MARTIN KELSON
11-05-11, 09:54 PM
You been to Le-Mans before?

Went in 2009 but took my Golf, planning on maybe going next year for my '40th' & taking the Nova this time.

Wicked few days out there, cant wait to do it again.
simonm
11-05-11, 09:56 PM
lucky on them doors mate clean ones are rare as rockin horse poo looks a nice motor to
thedjse
11-05-11, 09:59 PM
Brilliant Project thread and 24 hour Lemans sounds awesome
TWAG
11-05-11, 10:10 PM
I went to lemans every year between the age of 4 to 18, last year was the first time ive been back since then. I love it, and its the best value for money motor racing around.

It will be the first time ive taken the nova to france and i cant wait, the drive down should be great!!!!!

The doors are the best ive ever seen (excluding new ones)
Edd
11-05-11, 10:10 PM
Awesome nova !

I love Sprint C kits would love one of my own lol
Nova_Tek
11-05-11, 10:20 PM
Top project, will be nice to see how you prepare the car for Le Mans. Closest I've been to doing it is on Forza 3 lol
krobinson
12-05-11, 08:46 AM
Excellent stuff! Love the car and hope you have a great time at le mans!
garethcolley
12-05-11, 10:07 AM
How are you planning on getting air to that cooler? Are you assuming the wheel will circulate enough air through it? If so i would say thats unlikely and even if it did it would be very dirty from an aero point of view.

Reason i ask is i need a new location for mine, also what make is the cooler as it looks a nice compact size.

Gareth.
paul james
12-05-11, 10:16 AM
So are you going there to watch the race? Or to actually be in the race against stuff like this:

http://64.251.10.3/nimg/2007/03/thumbs/lrg_article_9663-img_0.jpg

I'm guessing its the former, but I would love it to be otherwise.
General Baxter
12-05-11, 10:54 AM
the diesel power will allways win lol
TWAG
12-05-11, 02:09 PM
So are you going there to watch the race? Or to actually be in the race against stuff like this:

http://64.251.10.3/nimg/2007/03/thumbs/lrg_article_9663-img_0.jpg

I'm guessing its the former, but I would love it to be otherwise.

lol, as much as i love to be part of the race, im afraid ill just be a spectator.

The reason ive got to get the car ready, is that i havnt driving it for 18 months and it had a few issues before i took it off the road.
TWAG
12-05-11, 02:12 PM
How are you planning on getting air to that cooler? Are you assuming the wheel will circulate enough air through it? If so i would say thats unlikely and even if it did it would be very dirty from an aero point of view.

Reason i ask is i need a new location for mine, also what make is the cooler as it looks a nice compact size.

Gareth.

There is quite a gap around the fog light, so there will be a reasonable amount of airflow there.

To be honest for normal road driving, i doubt the stat on the oil cooler will even be open and for track days i will remove the foglight to give it max cooling

I ordered the oil cooler from a local company called wessex radiators.

Craig
NOV4_SPORT
12-05-11, 03:25 PM
The car looks good I really like the Sprint kit, doors look mint nice find mate,


Iain
Dave.
12-05-11, 05:38 PM
Jammy barstard with them doors!! Minty mint! :thumb:

Allways been one of my favourite Nova's Twag, just love the way it looks, Be great to see it this year if i can in the flesh :thumb:
TWAG
13-05-11, 11:24 AM
Jammy barstard with them doors!! Minty mint! :thumb:

Allways been one of my favourite Nova's Twag, just love the way it looks, Be great to see it this year if i can in the flesh :thumb:

well seeing as its going to be mot'ed and back on the road next week, i think ill pop along to a few show's.
TWAG
13-05-11, 11:27 AM
Got all the front end back together last night.

I then tryed to get my LC-1 wide band AFR Gauge working, unfortunatly not very succesfully. I keep getting error 9 come up, which means low voltage but the voltage if fine.

So thats going to need some more investigation.
TWAG
16-05-11, 10:14 PM
well its MOT time tomorrow and its all ready to go.

fingers crossed it will fly through.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/bb69fe58.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/06b409b5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/twag/37435762.jpg
moffat
16-05-11, 10:35 PM
novas looking nice fella. liking the bimmer... that a sport or m3?
garethcolley
16-05-11, 10:37 PM
Looks fantastic mate, i credit to your work. One of my top three cars on here.

Gareth.
TWAG
16-05-11, 10:57 PM
novas looking nice fella. liking the bimmer... that a sport or m3?

its a just a 328, cant justify the running costs of an m3 unfortunatly.
TWAG
17-05-11, 07:14 PM
it passed :-)

ive forgotten how much fun it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Southie
17-05-11, 07:24 PM
Always loved this Nova, credit to you Mr TWAG :cool: and also :thumb: on the Mot pass.