My long term Nova rebuild (started in 1999!)

[Old man Jimbo]

Thought I'd maybe show you my long term Nova rebuild. Some of you may of seen it on Migweb. I bought the car back in the last millenium/century lol

It looked like so...
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/4.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/3.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/2.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/1.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/5.jpg

It was a right shed but I got it for £850 after knocking them down from £3500! :eek:

[autoworksnovasport]

so whats it look like after 12 years??

[Old man Jimbo]

I drove it 8 miles home and then did this to it...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/6.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/7.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/9.jpg

I then chucked one of these into it. Now back then this was a bit special and not very easy like today. It took a whole heap of research and great expense for special parts like tapered drive shafts etc. Nobody knew about the inner CV's that let you use standard shafts etc. I was the first person to do a valver conversion in the area. :cool::thumb:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/8.jpg

Then I shamlessly copied that Mag featured one for the colour (65L Rio verde)

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/10.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/11.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/oldskoolnova/12.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

I drove it like that for about twelve months but I was never happy with it. The front end started to split so I started to collect some parts for a rebuild...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/1.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/2.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/3.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/4.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/5.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/6.jpg

It was real hard work to source all the parts from Vauxhall but I got them in the end!

My mates said it was a giant Air-fix kit! lol On then to the next stage...

[Mazz]

oooh, nice build - suppose back then you could get all the genuine panels without paying the NLS TAX!

[Old man Jimbo]

Next I sent the shell off to be shot blasted to see what the real condition was...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/7.jpg

As I suspected it was a little "soft" in some places :confused:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/8.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/9.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/10.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/11.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/12.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/13.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/14.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/15.jpg

It became apparent that as with all nearly novas they may look pretty on the outside but like so many women I've met they ain't so pretty with all the slap removed...

I was going to have to remove every panel and basically start again. Pfft give me something to do I suppose.

[Old man Jimbo]

So next a spit was cobbled together and the strip down began.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/16.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/17.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/18.jpg

The shot blaster couldn't get the stone guard off so the mint job of scraping it off by hand was done. :confused:

Then The removal of the rotten panels started..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/19.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/21.jpg

Then the standard issue boot floor was cut out...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/22.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/23.jpg

This pile was destined to become bigger, much much bigger!:roll:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/24.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

Now ripping cars apart is great fun. Cutting out huge chunks of rusty metal is very satisfying. But, alas, replacing the wanton destruction is a little more time consuming.

So started to replace the metal I'd cut out with great enthusiasm..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/25.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/26.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/28.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/29.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/30.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

More of the same...:(

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/31.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/32.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/33.jpg

Then made a new lip to weld the back panel on and replaced the bumper mounting brackets..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/34.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/35.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/36.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/37.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/38.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

A few pictures of the inner arches being repaired before the new quarters and back panel etc are fitted..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/39.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/40.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/41.jpg

Quick lick of primer..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/42.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/43.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

After all the hidden metal work was done it was a simple case of welding the panels on. Made all the difference using Vauxhall parts..:cool:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/44.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/45.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/46.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/47.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/48.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

A bit more of the same..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/49.jpg

When doing the sills I had to remove the bottom of the door piller section on both sides and replace the inner skins as it's a right old rot trap as the sunroof drains dump water and crud in there. Nice design work Mr Vauxhall..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/50.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/51.jpg

...and the other side..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/52.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/53.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/54.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/55.jpg

and the rear arch lip folded over..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/56.jpg

[shed-on-wheels]

wow bloody good work buddy!!!

[Old man Jimbo]

You can see on this picture how bad things can get! The car had had a replacement front screen at some point and it was a little on the small side. This caused a slight leak of water that got in between the bulkhead and dash panel. I removed it and I was glad I did!!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/57.jpg

[kevster]

amazing work there bud !!!! also likein the workshop setup

keep the udates comeing :)

[Rickyb]

i LOVE this project keep the great updates coming buddy

[Old man Jimbo]

Cheers for the comments! Lol don't worry there is another 10 years of picture yet! :eek:

Next took it off the spit for a bit of front end stripping.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/58.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/59.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/60.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/61.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/62.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/63.jpg

[shed-on-wheels]

wow totaly madness good bloody work fella!!!!

[Old man Jimbo]

Next came the unenviable task of drilling out all the sodding spotwelds for the front chassis legs etc. Funking time consuming to say the least!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/64.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/65.jpg

Removing spot welds for inner wings/strut tops...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/66.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/67.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/68.jpg

Damn rust is everywhere!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/69.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/70.jpg

More for the scrapman.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/71.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

So this is what a nova looks like minus front end...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/72.jpg

Side on view...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/73.jpg

Then the task of removing the rust that is hidden in between all the panel joins then a good dose of weldable zinc primer..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/74.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/75.jpg

[Peanut_119]

Great work.

rep+

[Old man Jimbo]

After the fun of removing comes the inevitable headache of replacing with new parts..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/76.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/77.jpg

and the other side..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/78.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/79.jpg

The short version is you line up the chassis legs by holding them in place with self tappers. This allows you to check everything is lined up correctly before you weld it up. Looks and sound a bit hard but it was surprisingly easy. But then that's what I used to do for a living so it should of been for me!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/80.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/81.jpg

So with the two main legs on and temporarily held in place with screws I can now use this collection of clamps and loads more screws to line the rest of the front end on!

Good times..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/82.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

Next step then. Lineing up the strut top/inner wings..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/83.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/84.jpg


The after some welding and grinding back.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/85.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/86.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/87.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/88.jpg

More to come..

[shed-on-wheels]

i think this is going to be the cleanest nova on earth!!!

[Old man Jimbo]

So a bit more welding and grinding..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/90.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/91.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/89.jpg

....and now I can start to weld the front panel on...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/92.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/93.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/94.jpg


Cool!

[scorge01]

Amazing work mate wish I hatd the time and energy to do a build of this scale good on ya :)

[Old man Jimbo]

i think this is going to be the cleanest nova on earth!!!

lol Cheers! Nah there is nicer novas out there than mine. Mine was/is a personal challenge and and exercise in what I can do and my battle with OCD :tard:

Anyhow earlier I showed a picture of what happens when a water leak goes unchecked so I had to fix it..

I ran weld over the water damaged area and ground back the fresh metal..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/95.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/97.jpg

Then I cut out and replaced the lip..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/96.jpg

..and cut out and replaced the rot on the dashboard panel..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/98.jpg

..Then welded the dash panel back in. Jobs a gud 'un as they say..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/99.jpg

[nova_saloon]

oh wow, all those precious bit of formed metal.. this is so impressive so nice to see full legs being done as nobody can get hold of those types of parts anymore! top stuff well done.

[Old man Jimbo]

As I'd mentioned earlier about the bottom of the A piller where it meets the sill etc needed a lot of work and replaceing inner skins etc another area is behind the lower dash panels (**** sheilds) behind this area where sill meets door piller meets chassisleg out rigger meets floor.

Well you get the idea! You can see some of the multilayers of metal in this picture..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/100.jpg

Then much more replacing and repairing of shatsheilds..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/101.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/102.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/103.jpg

Then some strut top plates..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/104.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/105.jpg

...and some finishedish front end pics..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/106.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/107.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/108.jpg

[nova_saloon]

oh you going to have it dipped. if you gone through all this effort its really pennies, as it will last a hell of a lot longer, even galvanized it'll be a first for a nova probably!. as its definitely all metal no filler!

[Pistol Pete]

I remember this build from migweb. Good to see it on here. You must keep it updated though. Will be a minter when finished.

[Old man Jimbo]

oh you going to have it dipped. if you gone through all this effort its really pennies, as it will last a hell of a lot longer, even galvanized it'll be a first for a nova probably!. as its definitely all metal no filler!

No mate I didn't have it dipped. Didn't know such things could be done back then! lol

These pictures are some 9 or 10 years old...

Even back then I was unable to get my hands on any rear chassis legs. So I just unpicked the rears and freshened them up. Basicaly I would weld from the inside. I'd weld a bit then move and weld a bit I had to keep moving so I didn't warp them. I'll let the pictures show what I mean..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/109.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/110.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/111.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/112.jpg

You can see how this method work on the outside..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/113.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

..more of the same..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/114.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/115.jpg

..then a quick clean up with the belt sander..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/116.jpg

A good dose of zinc/etch primer..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/117.jpg

Re weld the spring platform back on..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/118.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/119.jpg

Then weld on a new lip..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/120.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/121.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/122.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/123.jpg

and weld the H.H. strengthening plate on..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/124.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

Then it was a simple case of welding them back in.. I had to remake the last four inches or so of the chassis legs but I was to engrossed in what I was doing to take pictures :roll: never mind you get the idea..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/125.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/126.jpg


Then I remade the lower section of the inner wings making sure I replicated the multi layers around the suspension turret etc (I think it was three layers can't remember) starting to look like a car again..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/127.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/128.jpg

Would you believe the axle still fits and everything..lol

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/129.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

So nextI welded the H.H. kit and did a bit of stitch welding..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/130.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/131.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/132.jpg

[MattBrown]

Best thread on here in years IMO!

[Old man Jimbo]

Best thread on here in years IMO!

Cheers mate but there is many a better car then mine matey..;)

Any how as this is a build over many a year things in life often change as you go and usually without warning!

I was doing my rebuild at my good mates house as he lived in the sticks and had a pretty cool workshop etc. But due to cut backs at the local college (he was a tutor) He was laid off. He then set up his own business as a painter and decorator.

I had to move house to be nearer my work. So work slowed up a bit on the nova. I even got married! But alas after a while my boss was downsizing and going into semi-retirement I was made redundant! ****!

For a while my mate gave me a job to keep the wolves from the door and then I bought a few milk rounds of all things and set up in business myself! The upside of this was I got a nice big shiny unit to play with so the nova moved house..

Didn't do much bar stitch weld the whole car and fit a roll cage..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%202/000_0101.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%202/000_0102.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%202/000_0104.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%202/000_0108.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%202/000_0109.jpg

and the other side..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%202/000_0119.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

So it carried on for a few years doing little bits and bobs. Then I became a Daddy when the wife and I had a little girl. Some six months later my mate was having a check up for something unrelated and they discovered he had lung cancer and within three months he was dead! After three years of doing the milk I sacked it off due to funked knees and got a crap factory job. Kept the unit on though. Started to do a bit more as I now had some spare time...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0209.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0210.jpg


Scrapped all the crud off the inner arches and cleaned them up with some stuff I got off the local galvanizing place in a unit near me..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0222.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0223.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0216.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0218.jpg

Then some rust preventing primer/under coat..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0220.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

Then I continued with the rest of the car on my super duper new 360 degree spit...
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0315.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0316.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0321.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0322.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0324.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0326.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0345.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/unit%201/unit%204/000_0350.jpg

[shed-on-wheels]

wow rep added!!!

[twin40s]

Did that stuff you used underneath strip it? if so what was it ?

[Old man Jimbo]

So as I mentioned I had a factory fodder job and I had kept my unit. So to help make it pay for itself I had a side line in polished engine parts on the go..

Examples..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/ebay%20polished/000_0860.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/ebay%20polished/000_0872.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/ebay%20polished/000_0875.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/ebay%20polished/000_0813.jpg

Nice.

The only downside was this seemed to attract some unwanted attention...:(

So I got the phone call. My unit had been robbed. They made a right funking mess and trashed the place... Sad times..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/05032008032.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/05032008033.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/05032008036.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/05032008039.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

wow rep added!!!

What is a rep?? But thanks!


Did that stuff you used underneath strip it? if so what was it ?

It was a chemical I got off a galvanising place. A alkaline or something. I wasn't really meant to have it. But it fizzed when you put it on it was cool stuff then you washed it off with a neutralizing solution and a scotch brite pad. Did the trick...

[Pete]

Simply amazing buddy, well done.

(rep - reputation. See the green blobs under people's names)

[Old man Jimbo]

So needles to say I was sick. I couldn't bring myself to go round for months. I'd had all my tools nicked and anyone who has been a mechanic or a bodywork man will know that hurts! :( A lifetime of tools gone some from family and friends who are long gone and obscure tools that can never be replaced! Then to top it off I was laid off again! lol

But onwards and upward as they say. I was offered a barn at a farm and the use of a trailer etc to move everything so as the wife was expecting our second child. I put my notice in on the unit and got busy at home for the latest arrival.

[Old man Jimbo]

Simply amazing buddy, well done.

(rep - reputation. See the green blobs under people's names)

Ahh cool! Cheers!

[shed-on-wheels]

yeah i had all my tools pinched what a bum that was all my wages ect went on them and some thieving cooooonts stole them

[LEWI007]

Epic thread mate keep putting the photos up.

+REP

Where the hell have you been all these years building a Nova and not being a member of PNG !!!!! Welcome in though mate.

[Balley]

Truely amazing work..

[Calamity Josh]

So needles to say I was sick. I couldn't bring myself to go round for months. I'd had all my tools nicked and anyone who has been a mechanic or a bodywork man will know that hurts! :( A lifetime of tools gone some from family and friends who are long gone and obscure tools that can never be replaced! Then to top it off I was laid off again! lol

But onwards and upward as they say. I was offered a barn at a farm and the use of a trailer etc to move everything so as the wife was expecting our second child. I put my notice in on the unit and got busy at home for the latest arrival.

we had our workshop broken into last year the day before christmas! we lost everything... tools, welders, 50+alloy wheels, batterys, radiators, you get the picture! it's amazing how you've kept with it after all this time and all the problems. can't wait to see what happens with this project

[Will F]

Eeek - nice thread! This is almost like a barn find from a thread perspective! lol
Epic build - so are we up to speed in terms of your progress?

[Benn]

Here we go showing off the shiney stuff again...lol


Hope to see you cracking on soon Jim.

[Old man Jimbo]

Thanks for the comments!

Hello @ Benn! lol

Sooooo back to it then. As I'd mentioned I'd been offered a barn. But with less than 2 weeks until the end of the month I was told it was no longer available!:(

So I had to have a major rethink my wife was about to drop with our second child so I needed to have a fooking big clear out so skips were ordered and the clean out began. I wont go into to much detail but needless to say enough tasty nova parts went in the skip to make most of you lot have kittens. But when needs must!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/20032008047.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/13032008044.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/13032008045.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/13032008043.jpg

It's amazing what you find in you shed :tard:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/05042008101.jpg

[scott.parker]

Oh my god, did you really chuck all that out?
And as for the nova rebuild, you my friend have to win an award for restoration, lots have bought the part, but never seen anyone do it yet.

Well done.

Scott

[Old man Jimbo]

Well I ended up with one nova that needed fully prepped and painted and a big bench full of stuff to do it with....

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/20032008049.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/20032008050-1.jpg

Then on the 21st my wife gave birth to my son. Women being women I had to hang about the hospital and do "Dad" stuff....

Women eh?lol

[Edd]

A seriously epic restoration

A nice write up as well mate

Keep the pics coming

Edd

[Old man Jimbo]

So it's march the 24th I've got to have the nova fully done painted and out by the 30th March because I'm back at work on monday 31st!

Funking no chance lol

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/24032008070.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/24032008071.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/24032008072.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/24032008073.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/24032008074.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/24032008076.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

Serious hours getting banged in now but after a little less than 24hrs the little man isn't feeding so the wife is back in hospital on the 25th.

He's back home on th 26th but you'd have to be some kind of ultracoont to leave them both! My ever understanding wife kicks me out on the 27th with the word "You'd better pull your finger out!"

So long days follow..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/27032008080.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/27032008079.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/27032008077.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/27032008078.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

28th straight back out again. I'm at this point throwing up as I'm that exhausted :wtf: but got to keep going...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/28032008083.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/28032008082.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/28032008081.jpg

Ready for some wet on wet etch primer and normal primer.. God I'm knackered! lol

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/28032008084.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/28032008085.jpg

[Nova_Tek]

Holy sheet! (dunno how I missed this on Mig!)

What a thread... I don't think Vauxhall spent this much time and effort in building them!

This has to be the most thorough resto/build I have seen. I am deeply interested in this thread now and the outcome. You have much skills mate. If only I had the same skills together with the space.

A big +rep from me... keep up the amazing work :thumb:

[scott.parker]

I am deeply interested in this thread now and the outcome. You have much skills mate. If only I had the same skills together with the space.



Ditto..

[Old man Jimbo]

So after some sarnies and alot of coffee the primer had flashed off enough to let rip with the stone-guard. I needed this and some colour on the inside of some of the panels before I can go home.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/28032008086.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/28032008087.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/28032008088.jpg

Late nights again!

[nova gsi ian]

looking good bud

[Nova_Tek]

I hope you pump all the cavities with as much guard as possible... especially after doing such a kick ass job and removing all the sh*t and rust.

The more I look at those pics the fresher and fresher that Nova looks lol

[Old man Jimbo]

Again many thanks for your kind comments chaps!

Back to the story so far....

March 29th I have to have the whole car fully rubbed down, blown down, panel wiped, tack ragged, and seam sealed. I then have to give the seam sealer enough time to skin over and fully paint the car inside, outside and underneath.. Today. End of. No funk ups it's like make or break day! :tard:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/29032008090.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/29032008091.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/29032008089.jpg

I got there but by the time I was done I was dead I threw the paint gun etc in the bin and crawled home. No pictures that night. I just spewed (again) fell into bed...lol

[scott.parker]

Where about do you live? i could do with your skills on my cars...

[Edd]

Where about do you live? i could do with your skills on my cars...

I was thinking that lol when the Sport rots out ill need someone to fit the replacement panels I have lol

[NOV4_SPORT]

EPIC thread mate, i have seen some of the pics before, like the ones of all the new panels layed out, like you said giant airfix model style.

Iam really eager to see the finished car all built up, as the pics and story unfolks

despite all the set backs over the years you have seemed to over come them and kept on going, well fooking done mate !

On the whole well fooking done jim !

iain

[Old man Jimbo]

Well good morning it's the 30th of March 2008. AKA D-day lol I lost another hour sleep as the clocks went forward and I am utterly exhausted and very close to snapping. :roll:

But as I open up the unit doors on a very bright and sunny day a sight kind of makes it almost worth while.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008092.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008093.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008094.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008095.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008096.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008097.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008098.jpg

I was over the moon with how it looked! I spent the morning carefully bubble wrapping the panels and taking them home. Getting the car off the spit ready to go.

I rang the guy who was moving it for me but his mobile kept ringing out and I had the sickening realisation that at this late stage I was funked! It's Sunday and I've got no way of moving the shell!

But eventually he turned up. He'd had a monster night out!
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008238.jpg

..and last of all the fruits of the last few years labour finally tucked up at home safe and sound...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Nova%20respray/30032008100.jpg

all that was left to do was pack my van to the roof with what was left in the unit go home have a beer and get a bit of kip before I went back to work in the morning!

[scorge01]

This is an amazing build mate can't wait to see the outcome either :) amazing

[Old man Jimbo]

Where about do you live? i could do with your skills on my cars...

I live in Cumbria mate lol


I was thinking that lol when the Sport rots out ill need someone to fit the replacement panels I have lol

I'm more then happy to give pointers etc. :thumb:


EPIC thread mate, i have seen some of the pics before, like the ones of all the new panels layed out, like you said giant airfix model style.

Iam really eager to see the finished car all built up, as the pics and story unfolks

despite all the set backs over the years you have seemed to over come them and kept on going, well fooking done mate !

On the whole well fooking done jim !

iain

Thanks mate! People find it strange how attached I am to my nova but It has many many memories for me and that is why I couldn't just give up on it or scrap it..

But not much has happened car wise since. Being a Daddy takes up most of my spare time. But I've been buying bits and bobs..

Got a new Daddy wagon..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/Jamesphonepictures008.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/029.jpg

Got some real bargains that make me moist..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/14112008448.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/14112008449.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/14112008450.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

But the last three years all that happened was I moved house. I got a nice big double garage. The removal men where a bit lack luster mind..


Just dumped on the floor! A nice painted floor though. :roll:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/01052010573.jpg

That was 18 months ago. But after finally getting the new house up to the wifes spec. I've took a new interest in my nova because I miss it so!

I spent three days sorting the chuffing huge pile of stuff that is my garage into a more organised "mancave"

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111030_001.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111030_002.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111030_003.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111030_005.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111030_006.jpg

Checkout the overloaded benches lol
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111030_004.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

Then I finally started to bolt it back together. I need to try and get it a rolling shell at least this winter to get a realistic idea of what parts I need etc. So I hope to do bits and bobs every couple of weeks..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111108_001.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111108_002.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111108_003.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111108_004.jpg

I'll probably have dozens of wanted ads for obscure grommets and parts and "How does this go" threads lol hope you've enjoyed it so far. :thumb:

[Edd]

You should be seriously proud of your work

[Nova_Tek]

That carbon bonnet looks quality... what brand, where from and how much?

[scorge01]

I haven't fully read this that's tomorrows job as watching children in need. But what spec is this going completelly standard or what's the plans would love to see this at some of the shows at some point when it's done :)

[Vlietje]

Stunning build mate. Keep the pics coming.

[NOV4_SPORT]

lol, at all the boxes and parts mate,

iam looking forward as to how it progresses and hope to see it at some shows next year.

iain

[Old man Jimbo]

You should be seriously proud of your work

I am mate!


That carbon bonnet looks quality... what brand, where from and how much?

Performance trim. Ebay bargain they'd forgot to put the safety catch part in so £650 bonnet for £250. Nice.


I haven't fully read this that's tomorrows job as watching children in need. But what spec is this going completelly standard or what's the plans would love to see this at some of the shows at some point when it's done :)

I'm going stripped out with (so far) Jenvey tapered bodies, pulsar plenum, turbo, F28 steel rods and pistons blah blah


Stunning build mate. Keep the pics coming.

Yeah I'll try but bits and bobs now mate. Kids cost more than the chuffing wife!


lol, at all the boxes and parts mate,

iam looking forward as to how it progresses and hope to see it at some shows next year.

iain

No shows next year fella not got the spare cash. Maybe in another couple of years! lol

[Benn]

Miss seeing you updates, they where always awesome.

[scorge01]

For trac of road use and what wheels suspension you going for?

[Old man Jimbo]

1/4 mile slag and general abuse of expensive cars on the road TBH...

Just a play thing that will spend more time being cuddled in the garage then doing any real work...

[Old man Jimbo]

Miss seeing you updates, they where always awesome.

Not as awesome as your polished sexy goodness Benn..

[gary_126]

Jimbo you do realise you are going to get HOUNDED for updates now lol

[steviegsi]

Absolutely fantastic. You have a lot of skill.... And patience!


I think this wip was linked to on here a year or 2 ago Alot of it looks very familiar .

[blue_peg_16v]

Awsome build mate think me personally would of just got another shell back in 1999 they were peanuts but fair play to ya for saving it had my first valver in 1998 they did turn heads back then front engine mount looks like an asw or carquip one, did ya use shafts from Martin tinker originally? I had the tapered from him went through 3 sets snappin the short in the outer cv before I found out about the 22 spline shafts keep up the good work hope to see it finished in a few years

[wwmnw]

:eek:http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd220/lostboy_014/fap.gif fan****ingtastic!

[Connor]

What a project! Hats off to you, some top work has been made.
Will be looking forward to seeing you finish it sure it'll be amazing :d

[Spudly]

This is an awesome thread, i think i remember following your thread for a while on mig a few years back, as im sure it was your thread i read about vauxkhalls shocking build tolerances of about 5-6mm either way:eek:

And how you had managed to get your rebuild tolerances back down to about 1mm either way:thumb:


I shall definately be keeping up with this thread however, as i had forgotten just how good it was, excellent write up aswell despite your losses and inconvenient child productions (LOL) :d

[Old man Jimbo]

Awsome build mate think me personally would of just got another shell back in 1999 they were peanuts but fair play to ya for saving it had my first valver in 1998 they did turn heads back then front engine mount looks like an asw or carquip one, did ya use shafts from Martin tinker originally? I had the tapered from him went through 3 sets snappin the short in the outer cv before I found out about the 22 spline shafts keep up the good work hope to see it finished in a few years


Yeah it was a carquip one I had the exhaust off them aswell which was a dire fit! I never had any trouble with the tapered shafts TBF in fact the shafts went onto a couple of big powered motors. An XE on twin carbs etc 185ishbhp then a phase 3.5 turbo what where they 315bhp? Never snapped. If only I knew then what I know now.. But you're right back then they were a bit of a weapon and complete strangers would ask to go for a spin.

[G-nova]

Epic thread plus rep mate

[Rickyb]

like i said on page 2 i absolutly love this car, i cant wait to see it done.
awsome work have some more rep.

[16v Nova Kev]

awesome work.

+rep

[matthew172]

ahhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaa my mate jim has appeared on png!!! top work on getting the thread up, ill have to pop over soon for a brew and a catch up mate

[shed-on-wheels]

still cant get over the amount of work thats ben put into this!!!

[Gibbo]

very nice work mate. rep+

[twin40s]

We need an update rep added

[therealnovaboy]

good effort. some work gone into that and the best thing is you wouldnt know it looking at it.

just shows you why people are willing to spend £7000 on novas when you see the work people are willing to take on to have one.

no offence, But do you think its worth all the effort? or are you not worried as youd just spend all your time doing somthing else?

[Old man Jimbo]

ahhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaa my mate jim has appeared on png!!! top work on getting the thread up, ill have to pop over soon for a brew and a catch up mate

Hello sexy boy! Loving your work xxx lol


good effort. some work gone into that and the best thing is you wouldnt know it looking at it.

just shows you why people are willing to spend £7000 on novas when you see the work people are willing to take on to have one.

no offence, But do you think its worth all the effort? or are you not worried as youd just spend all your time doing somthing else?

In no shape or form is it worth it mate! lol But it was/is just a personal project to see just how far I can go with a car. I've done some in depth restoration jobs on the usual stuff when I did bodywork for a living. My pet hate and a personal curse is I've seen a thousand times what rust "lies beneath" and, on my car, I just had to dig it all out!

So for me this isn't just about the nova it's also a bodywork challenge. I'll never make back anything close to what it owes me in time or money. But then I've no intention of ever selling it. :thumb:

[ECO16V]

Awesome thread mate, if onl Vauxhall had put so much effort in when they designed them!

[ben doodar]

Best project I've read for such a long time. Boy you have skills!! I guess you used to do some sort of accident repair work or vehicle restoration? What other restorations have you done in the past?

Really look forward to more progress on this!!

[Andy]

Utterly incredible,best build thread ive ever seen.

[josh-sri]

Such a good read Jim, great to see you stuck with it through all the ups and downs too! Plans sound great for it and i really cant wait to see it coming together. I hope all the encouragement in this thread motivates you to get stuck in again mate

[Nova_Tek]

Wow... 650 quid but it does look quality. Bargain for 250.

[nova_niek]

Halfway this thread I got a little soppy... so much dedication defies belief. Amazing.

This man deserves a free lifetime supply of his favourite brew for going the lengths he has gone to save a Nova. No wonder you're keeping it for life, and as well you should! :thumb::thumb::thumb:

Here's to lengthen your line of green blobs... +rep! :d

Cheers,
Niek

[Old man Jimbo]

Halfway this thread I got a little soppy... so much dedication defies belief. Amazing.

This man deserves a free lifetime supply of his favourite brew for going the lengths he has gone to save a Nova. No wonder you're keeping it for life, and as well you should! :thumb::thumb::thumb:

Here's to lengthen your line of green blobs... +rep! :d

Cheers,
Niek

****ing lol!

Don't think anyone can afford that much Carlsberg as I'm a borderline alcoholic lol

Getting some gear together to rust proof the old girl...

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20111120_001.jpg

[Nova_Tek]

^ Good call

[krobinson]

Love this! Really looking forward to future updates!

[Novasport]

Ahh, the Mig 'Airfix kit' thread, I had that listed in my favourites on my old laptop.
Glad you have brought it on here to continue with the progress.

I know what you mean about wanting every bit of rust out of the shell, I took the easy route and had my new shell dipped(Even though it did not really need it) but I wish I had not bothered as it created more issues that I had to sort :( Never again!

Glad you took the correct route and corrected it all by had, its made a cracking thread aswell.
Its nice to see the methods behind panel & chassis member replacement, I have all four chassis legs & nearly every replacement panel bar the roof & main floor so it is nice to know I have an excellent guide in this thread if I ever need it.

You deserve a medal the size of a dustbin lid for tackling it and getting this far with the setbacks & new additions in your life. I sadly let my freshly painted brand new shell go(To a deserving member on here) after I vowed never to sell it but the car I had been waiting to buy for over ten years came up for sale and it was one or the other.
Not sure if I would have ever got mine finished but I am glad to see it being completed elsewhere on here to a fantastic standard.

Just a note regarding Waxoyl, it is still good stuff and does its job to a certain degree but there are better products out there which the shell deserves.
Dinitrol is a better product, Bilt Hamber is also supposedly very good but the best product by far is 'Mike Sanders Grease', well worth a look.

Good luck with the rest of the build and I look forward to seeing the latest pdates.

[Novasport]

The link for 'Mike Sanders Grease'.....

http://www.mike-sander.de/

Click on the 'English version' at the top right then click on 'Mike Sanders rust prevention grease' link on the left hand side.

[Old man Jimbo]

Ahh, the Mig 'Airfix kit' thread, I had that listed in my favourites on my old laptop.
Glad you have brought it on here to continue with the progress.

I know what you mean about wanting every bit of rust out of the shell, I took the easy route and had my new shell dipped(Even though it did not really need it) but I wish I had not bothered as it created more issues that I had to sort :( Never again!

Glad you took the correct route and corrected it all by had, its made a cracking thread aswell.
Its nice to see the methods behind panel & chassis member replacement, I have all four chassis legs & nearly every replacement panel bar the roof & main floor so it is nice to know I have an excellent guide in this thread if I ever need it.

You deserve a medal the size of a dustbin lid for tackling it and getting this far with the setbacks & new additions in your life. I sadly let my freshly painted brand new shell go(To a deserving member on here) after I vowed never to sell it but the car I had been waiting to buy for over ten years came up for sale and it was one or the other.
Not sure if I would have ever got mine finished but I am glad to see it being completed elsewhere on here to a fantastic standard.

Just a note regarding Waxoyl, it is still good stuff and does its job to a certain degree but there are better products out there which the shell deserves.
Dinitrol is a better product, Bilt Hamber is also supposedly very good but the best product by far is 'Mike Sanders Grease', well worth a look.

Good luck with the rest of the build and I look forward to seeing the latest pdates.

I'm pleased you like. I remember a link to your new shell. I was so jealous! lol

Off topic perhaps but what regrets and proplems did you have with dipping? I'd be very very interested to here from someone who has been down that route rather than hear say. Also what car could make you give up a brand spanking new nova shell? :eek:

Thanks for the link to Mike Sanders grease. TBH that stuff I've seen before and it scares the **** out of me! ****ing about under a car with hot wax/grease at 20 deg above boiling point with a little vat bubbling away in the corner of the workshop fills me with a genuine fear! lol Imagine that dripping down the back of your neck or in your ear. Ouchtastic.

I'll give it some waxoil for now and maybe when my sweetbreads grow a bit bigger, or I find someone much braver than me I may look into the Mike Sanders methods.

But many thanks for the input.:thumb:

[CorsaBBoomer]

This leaves me speechless... :eek::eek::eek:

Cracking job! :thumb:

[Novasport]

I'm pleased you like. I remember a link to your new shell. I was so jealous! lol

Off topic perhaps but what regrets and proplems did you have with dipping? I'd be very very interested to here from someone who has been down that route rather than hear say. Also what car could make you give up a brand spanking new nova shell? :eek:

Thanks for the link to Mike Sanders grease. TBH that stuff I've seen before and it scares the **** out of me! ****ing about under a car with hot wax/grease at 20 deg above boiling point with a little vat bubbling away in the corner of the workshop fills me with a genuine fear! lol Imagine that dripping down the back of your neck or in your ear. Ouchtastic.

I'll give it some waxoil for now and maybe when my sweetbreads grow a bit bigger, or I find someone much braver than me I may look into the Mike Sanders methods.

But many thanks for the input.:thumb:

The list was endless, the guys that run the company are a buch of cowboys IMO and have no respect for your property.
They dipped mine but I could not afford the dip prime so had to go for the etch priming. When I went to collect there was rusty water bleeding from the seems, not good when there was no rust to start with! I left the shell there & demanded they re-dipped it & I scraped the money together for the E-Coat(Dip priming).
Once ready I went to collect and they had managed to damage the front panel with a fork lift which they failed to pay for to be rectified.
After having it painted I noticed the E-Coat on the inside of the roof skin was lifting, I cleaned it back to find the inside of the skin covered in corrosion :(
I rang them & spoke to them at the NEC and they said that they had a problem with air pockets in roofs and were now drilling roof skins to sort the problem. Thy did not seem interested and again offered no money toward having it rectified.
I did the hard work & got it back to shiny steel with a flap disc & treated it then painted it with a resin based paint to stop any further issues.
Kieth on here also had his dipped by SPL, they drilled his roof skin(Not an acceptable fix IMO) and damaged his doors beyond repair. I don't think they compensated him either for the damage.
Hard to believe these guys are trusted with Porsches, E-Types, Mk1 Escorts etc that are worth considerably more. I would not trust them to dip a biscuit in tea, F***in w****rs.
Read about the issues in here....
http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?68132-Just-picked-up-my-new-bodyshell-D

Anyway, the reason I sold it is partly due to this.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/DSCF1671.jpg

Get signed up as a member and have a look at my thread on it here.....

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?144276-The-new-Sport-has-arrived!

[Balley]

Thanks for the link to Mike Sanders grease. TBH that stuff I've seen before and it scares the **** out of me! ****ing about under a car with hot wax/grease at 20 deg above boiling point with a little vat bubbling away in the corner of the workshop fills me with a genuine fear! lol Imagine that dripping down the back of your neck or in your ear. Ouchtastic.

I'll give it some waxoil for now and maybe when my sweetbreads grow a bit bigger, or I find someone much braver than me I may look into the Mike Sanders methods.

But many thanks for the input.:thumb:


Now what I always do is put the wax oil in a sink of boiling water first.. works loads better :)

[Andy]

Waxoyl is only good for the inside of cavities,it is useless as a proper underseal

[Novasport]

The underside is already stone guarded from what I have seen so I assume he only needs Waxoyl for the cavities

[Old man Jimbo]

The list was endless, the guys that run the company are a buch of cowboys IMO and have no respect for your property.
They dipped mine but I could not afford the dip prime so had to go for the etch priming. When I went to collect there was rusty water bleeding from the seems, not good when there was no rust to start with! I left the shell there & demanded they re-dipped it & I scraped the money together for the E-Coat(Dip priming).
Once ready I went to collect and they had managed to damage the front panel with a fork lift which they failed to pay for to be rectified.
After having it painted I noticed the E-Coat on the inside of the roof skin was lifting, I cleaned it back to find the inside of the skin covered in corrosion :(
I rang them & spoke to them at the NEC and they said that they had a problem with air pockets in roofs and were now drilling roof skins to sort the problem. Thy did not seem interested and again offered no money toward having it rectified.
I did the hard work & got it back to shiny steel with a flap disc & treated it then painted it with a resin based paint to stop any further issues.
Kieth on here also had his dipped by SPL, they drilled his roof skin(Not an acceptable fix IMO) and damaged his doors beyond repair. I don't think they compensated him either for the damage.
Hard to believe these guys are trusted with Porsches, E-Types, Mk1 Escorts etc that are worth considerably more. I would not trust them to dip a biscuit in tea, F***in w****rs.
Read about the issues in here....
http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?68132-Just-picked-up-my-new-bodyshell-D

Anyway, the reason I sold it is partly due to this.....


Get signed up as a member and have a look at my thread on it here.....

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?144276-The-new-Sport-has-arrived!

Cheers for the info! Bit of a surprise that!


Now what I always do is put the wax oil in a sink of boiling water first.. works loads better :)

That's what I always do also plus a drop of thinners. Plus my car is sat in a garage with the heating on full blast to get it up to temperature for the next three days. This stops moisture getting trapped as the car is nice and toasty warm the waxoil flows better. Wife will have a fit when the next electric bill comes in but hey-ho...

[Old man Jimbo]

Waxoyl is only good for the inside of cavities,it is useless as a proper underseal


The underside is already stone guarded from what I have seen so I assume he only needs Waxoyl for the cavities

What he said...

Cars already fully undersealed..

[Benn]

The list was endless, the guys that run the company are a buch of cowboys IMO and have no respect for your property.
They dipped mine but I could not afford the dip prime so had to go for the etch priming. When I went to collect there was rusty water bleeding from the seems, not good when there was no rust to start with! I left the shell there & demanded they re-dipped it & I scraped the money together for the E-Coat(Dip priming).
Once ready I went to collect and they had managed to damage the front panel with a fork lift which they failed to pay for to be rectified.
After having it painted I noticed the E-Coat on the inside of the roof skin was lifting, I cleaned it back to find the inside of the skin covered in corrosion :(
I rang them & spoke to them at the NEC and they said that they had a problem with air pockets in roofs and were now drilling roof skins to sort the problem. Thy did not seem interested and again offered no money toward having it rectified.
I did the hard work & got it back to shiny steel with a flap disc & treated it then painted it with a resin based paint to stop any further issues.
Kieth on here also had his dipped by SPL, they drilled his roof skin(Not an acceptable fix IMO) and damaged his doors beyond repair. I don't think they compensated him either for the damage.
Hard to believe these guys are trusted with Porsches, E-Types, Mk1 Escorts etc that are worth considerably more. I would not trust them to dip a biscuit in tea, F***in w****rs.




Never knew you had all those probs. Sounds a bit sh*t tbh. When you say they drill the roof skin... Where?

I've heard/seen a few classic cars who have had probs with damage on them after the dipping (by slp)

[Graeme]

Speechless mate, great work and +rep

[Novasport]

Never knew you had all those probs. Sounds a bit sh*t tbh. When you say they drill the roof skin... Where?

I've heard/seen a few classic cars who have had probs with damage on them after the dipping (by slp)

Centre of the roof afaik.

Few more issues here...

http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?145235-Surface-Processing-Ltd.

Oh, and another thing.
One of the guys told me when I was thinking of booking it that they give a 25 year guarentee against the return of any corrosion.
I had it done then queried what paperwork I got for the guarentee, the reply from them was 'what guarentee?'
I explained what I had been told and this other guy said 'Nah, get nothing like that. souldn't have mentioned that'.
As I said, cowboys!
I think they set this company up from a lottery win.

[Edd]

I have since found more evidence of cowboy work :(

[Novasport]

Oh no, what now?

[Benn]

Centre of the roof afaik.

So you get a hole in the roof skin?

I had hear of sill damage on two old MBG's that went there.

[Edd]

The box section at the front of the roof, underneath the sunvisors, has a section about 30cm long that can only really be described as bubbles in the the e coat :(

When I fit my new headlining im going to have to use a dremmel with cord extension to clear it all out, fill with etch prime, then most likely hammerite, then waxoyl, think thats the best way to sort it tbh

I am almost 100% sure the roof issues have something to do with them as well tbh

[Novasport]

Oh FFS. This makes me so mad after I spent so much money with them, bastids!!
I cleaned down to the bracing and the metal was clean under the paint around the edges of the roof, I thought this was sorted.

[L14MNP]

Absoutley ****ing stunning Jimbo mate!

I am in awe, and were I wearing a hat, then it would be off to you sir!

I can't imagine how many hours you have put into this shell. I am on with a restoration atm (non Nova) and it pisses me off no end to see the rust trapped between panels. Areas like the chassis legs etc I have just had to clean up as best I can though - as I do not have the skills you do!

I second, or is that third? The recommendation of Bilt Hamber cavity wax over Waxoil. I guess your car will see limited fair weather use though? So it should be fine even with nowt!

Keep it up fella! :cool:

[bazil]

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT lol

I read your thread on mig around 3 years ago, then started buying parts and panels,and I'm still buying them! even drove to Germany with Iain ( nov4-sport ) to collect parts, but it was this thread that made me beleive I too could restore my GSI and eradicate the rot from every single area on the shell.


Cracking skills and defo a inspirational build :)

[Old man Jimbo]

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT lol

I read your thread on mig around 3 years ago, then started buying parts and panels,and I'm still buying them! even drove to Germany with Iain ( nov4-sport ) to collect parts, but it was this thread that made me beleive I too could restore my GSI and eradicate the rot from every single area on the shell.


Cracking skills and defo a inspirational build :)

lol How did you get on then? lol

I just wish my wife was so easily led I'd be happy then...;)

[pikey1986]

he's not started yet lol

[Novasport]

He's not even built his garage yet I dont think :wtf:lol

[bazil]

Rome wasn't built in a day lol

[nova_niek]

The recommendation of Bilt Hamber cavity wax over Waxoil.

You might want to do a search for Mike Sander's Fett. This is a greasy substance from Germany which has won an extensive corrosion test held by German car mag "Auto Bild". Apparently horrible to apply but beats Waxoyl (and others) by a mile!

Cheers,
Niek

p.s. speaking of Waxoyl, back in 2002 I when did "project Snap" (had the shell shot blasted to bare metal - horror!) I had it Waxoyled throughout right after the respray. One year on, rust appeared in the bottom of one of the brand new doors... go figure.

[mk1nova_rich]

Wow, absolutely amazing work there mate...a real credit to your skills, patience and determination to finish it.

Never been an overly huge fan of GSi's, so its nice to see some well chosen modifications, rather than it being totally standard. Best of luck with completing it, the work so far has been mind blowing!!

More reputation given, well done :thumb:

[scorge01]

Any idea when progress will continue on this mate?

[craig green]

Really good to see this live on since I followed over on MIGweb.

[richz_nova]

Awesome build mate keep up the gud
Wrk nice daddy wagon LoL

[Old man Jimbo]

Well as you'll all know I had to quite literally throw paint at my Nova to get it done in time so I thought I'd make a start at some paint rectification work (read that as try to sort out the **** paint finish :roll:)

So as white doesn't take a good photo you'll have to bear with me.

So I started with the f/n/s wing that was orange peel to say the least..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_001.jpg

A quick buff with a DA sander with a 1500 disc..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_002.jpg

Then finished with a block and 1500 wet and dry..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_003.jpg

Then a buff over with some 3m finesse it and a rotary polisher..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_004.jpg

[Old man Jimbo]

So I whipped the wing off and started on the door. I was a bit gutted to find the door had a bit of bad solvent popping so I may have to repaint at a later date...
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_005.jpg

Some close ups of the popping..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_006.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_007.jpg

So same as before a quick buff with DA and 1500 disc.
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_008.jpg

Then a quick block with 1500 wet and dry. Here is a close up again of the solvent pops after a flat down..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_009.jpg

Then a going over with the rotary polisher..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_010.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_011.jpg

...and what happens when you are a nob and you catch the sponge on an edge....:roll:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_012.jpg

Some close ups of the solvent pops after a flat and polish from different angles..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_013.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_014.jpg

and lastly a polished door and an unpolished quarter panel..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/20120213_015.jpg

Not much of an update but a little is better than nothing at all!

[nova_niek]

Oooh much nicer! Before and after pics look well impressive. :thumb::thumb:

[Benn]

Told you before to stay away from edges and swage lines!

Looks much much better peel is almost gone, good work dude.

[Balley]

Very nice finish!

[krobinson]

Looking good! When's the engine going in?

[Nova_Tek]

Great work on the paint job :thumb:

[Old man Jimbo]

Well it's been quite a while since I was last on here last. About seven years or so! :eek:

The other day it dawned on me that my boy starts secondary school in September and would be getting himself to and from school. This means my days off will actually be days off *yehye* it also suddenly hit me that it was over ten years since I painted my nova! Plus it was twenty years this year that I took it off the road to rebuild it. I have to admit this has shocked me a bit.

I wandered off and thought I should have a looksie at what is left of the old girl...

https://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190115_151232_zpswfn7z5sd.jpg (https://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190115_151232_zpswfn7z5sd.jpg.html)
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190115_152822_zps7lswzmer.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190115_152822_zps7lswzmer.jpg.html)
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190115_152832_zpsnosthvdm.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190115_152832_zpsnosthvdm.jpg.html)
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190115_152849_zpsb73yrqp3.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190115_152849_zpsb73yrqp3.jpg.html)

I kind of wished I hadn't!

So I suppose I'm going to try and start cleaning out the garage to make space to make a start again. So watch this space over the next few weeks and months... :thumb:

PS missed you lol

[torquey]

Looks mint still. Wish I had a big garage like that.

[Iain]

Garage is massive but full of unacceptable things. Get it out and you'll soon get motivated, 20 years is mad

[House]

Excellent!!! Get this sorted!!

[scott.parker]

Obviously I had forgotten about this, just skipped back and skimmed the thread, wow £850! 20 years in the garage has made you some money!lol:eek:

[johnd]

just had a read through the whole tread gread work jim

[Old man Jimbo]

Had a wee tidy out of one side of the garage today. Spent most of the day tbh. Swept it out and it looks just as bad but slightly rearranged lol!

Dunno if these pictures will work trying this on my phone...

https://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190116_163815_zpsehknoshi.jpg (https://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190116_163815_zpsehknoshi.jpg.html)

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG-20190116-WA0019_zpszzwja0pp.jpeg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG-20190116-WA0019_zpszzwja0pp.jpeg.html)

[Iain]

Decent amount of space!

[Benn]

Cant believe you've still got it just sat there...

[torquey]

I'd be in my element in there building this up lol.

[Old man Jimbo]

So I've continued chipping away at tidying up the garage so one night after work....

https://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190118_205700_zpsyw1kwu4n.jpg (https://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190118_205700_zpsyw1kwu4n.jpg.html)

to this....

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190118_213626_zpscaqtksxd.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190118_213626_zpscaqtksxd.jpg.html)

It's amazing what you find that you've forgotten about! I found some solid lifters and double valves springs and several boxes and and bags of stainless hose clips lol

[Old man Jimbo]

Also ordered a few wee bits and bobs....

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190117_184815_zpsqbxxbxzi.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190117_184815_zpsqbxxbxzi.jpg.html)http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG-20190119-WA0006_zps260ez7ik.jpeg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG-20190119-WA0006_zps260ez7ik.jpeg.html)http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG-20190119-WA0008_zpsan6scvca.jpeg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG-20190119-WA0008_zpsan6scvca.jpeg.html)

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG-20190119-WA0012_zpsyxgu4dwo.jpeg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG-20190119-WA0012_zpsyxgu4dwo.jpeg.html)

[Old man Jimbo]

Finished work this morning, had a quick kip and continued with the "remodeling" of the shit tip....

Started with this..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190115_152832_zpsnosthvdm.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190115_152832_zpsnosthvdm.jpg.html)

During....

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190121_171322_zpswe3pfudm.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190121_171322_zpswe3pfudm.jpg.html)

Then how I left it..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190121_172705_zpsh9u136jk.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190121_172705_zpsh9u136jk.jpg.html)http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190121_172839_zpsqgbqz4nq.jpg (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190121_172839_zpsqgbqz4nq.jpg.html)

[Jonesfach]

You will have it MOTd by Easter at this ratelol

[Iain]

I was surprised to see so much reproduction stuff available. Was looking at those vinyls and stickers the other day. There's repro GSI grille badges available too?!

[totalnova]

Just need to get all the crap off the roof now, glad your cracking on with it at last. Nick

[Old man Jimbo]

I was surprised to see so much reproduction stuff available. Was looking at those vinyls and stickers the other day. There's repro GSI grille badges available too?!

Yeah I spied them too! My biggest shock has been how expensive bits are nowadays.

Anyhow had a little adventure this week...

https://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190122_151737_zpsemawqwyk.jpg (https://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190122_151737_zpsemawqwyk.jpg.html)https://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190122_220653_196_zpssel47mbb.jpg (https://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190122_220653_196_zpssel47mbb.jpg.html)
https://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190122_220653_193_zpsrnwb7cic.jpg (https://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190122_220653_193_zpsrnwb7cic.jpg.html)https ://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r18/jimbo_090/IMG_20190122_220653_191_zpscvx2n4bs.jpg (https://s140.photobucket.com/user/jimbo_090/media/IMG_20190122_220653_191_zpscvx2n4bs.jpg.html)

So bought an engine and gearbox. You'll find this hard to believe but it was a 70k one with a chipped ECU etc etc lol I'm not surprised that even now after all these years the mileage never changes and it seems there's never been any other kind of ECU but a chipped one.

But to be fair the lad was good to his word it was a good runner because it was still sat in the car when we got there to prove it. This was a slight surprise as I thought I was just going to pick it up. I'd chucked the engine crane it the van because I'm to old and busted up to be picking motors up anymore and my Halfrauds professional tool kit just in case, so an impromptu trip down memory lane ensued of getting hands dirty removing an engine.

It was an absolute laugh me and my mate and this gaggle of young 'uns ripping the car to bits. It saddened me a little when I asked them if they used any forums and they stared blankly back at us wondering WTF this old muppet was on about.

So now I have an old banger motor to get it moving....

[totalnova]

What engine is it? I can't make it out from the pictures.
Edit scratch that I can see it's a c20xe

[Will F]

Shame you're not sticking with a 1600!

[ben doodar]

Great to see your on with this again. Great project.