GTE REBUILD (quite a few pics)

[gtegary]

a while back i bought a GTE on a wim off ebay. This is my 14 nova but this is the only one ive stripped back down and have spent any serious money on.

I got the car fairly cheap after convincing the bloke to sell to me out side of ebay, i got the car back and on the first few glances the car looked pretty good.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/2-1.jpg

the wings looked bit rough
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1050.png

arches not to bad
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1052-1.png

The head gasket was knackered and it had cream in all the cylinders so pulled the engine out and started stripping it

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1060.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1061.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1063.jpg

fair bit of surface rust but nothing major was found, front panel needed replacing though due to front valance and other bits. inner wings seemed all good :)

ripped engine out and decided redtop was going to have to happen

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1128.jpg

grim surface rust
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1127.jpg

next day managed to source this little beaut :) and also bought a plating kit which coursed a bit of confusion as it came with no instructions
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1155.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1160.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1240.jpg

[gtegary]

next stage was to get it welded and strengthened so sent it to JLS autos in clacton where John has been rallying novas from new fitted the new front panel, all the plate kit, new sils and stitch welded the engine bay, inner wings bulk head and even through the floor.... its basically been strengthened to rally spec :)

stitch weld in progress
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1287.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1288.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1289.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1290.jpg

got the car back and this is its current state

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1538.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1539.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1540.jpg

heres some more of the strengthening that was done, i have quickly lashed it up with zinc primer just to stop the surface rust

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1660.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1661.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1662.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1666.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_1668.jpg

[gtegary]

Started a bit more of the strippin and found some interesting rust on the slash guard looks like some one has shot it with an air rifle lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_2176.jpg

the above is the next bit to be welded along with boot floor

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_2182.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_2180.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/lordbrown_2004/IMG_2178.jpg

Next step in a few weeks when i have finished the welding is its going to have the engine bay sand blasted along with the underneath of the whole car and then it will be fully under sealed, and the underneath painted as well as the engine bay.

the red top idea has now gone out of the window as i got a quality engine from BENHASH on here, its a 1.6 fully rebuilt, with blysteen head, over sized valves, gas flowed, kent cam, venineer pully etc etc everything that could have been done has been done.... :)

to go with the above i bought a set of twin 40's, just to make the engine extra special and to give it that grunt --- pics of these will be added soon :)

[brainsnova]

Nova GTE ftw :cool: looks solid now and I like your style with the sand blasting.

[bazil]

Nice project, Good to see it staying a 1600 :)

[LEWI007]

Looks good so far, Nova GTE The BEST !

[gtegary]

Nova GTE ftw :cool: looks solid now and I like your style with the sand blasting.

cheers dude, it is pretty much bomb proof now apart from a few little bits, went a bit over board with the strengthening but i wanted to know it was going to break!

there was no other way other than sand blasting, get all the crap off properly :)

[gtegary]

Nice project, Good to see it staying a 1600 :)

im pleased with my option to stay 1600 now, i think i got blinked when i first thought about red topping it. but ive been told my 1600 should be pushing at least 150bhp so redtop was out the window. will look better with 1600 and twin carbs i think :)

and yes you are all right the GTES are the best which is why im putting the effort into saving this one! only 92 on the road and the mo!

[LEWI007]

Mines just a rep of a GTE :( Maybe ill reshell one day..

[NOVABOY8]

nice project mate good work

[pie]

looking good buddy

[Rickyb]

me likes this project.

[Hydey36]

superb mate.... keep up the good work.... will be a beaut when its all done :thumb: