Flame red MK2 Nova Merit+ Daily

[joshy]

Well after having an off day in my 1.0 low milage A reg nova last year, that resulted in a bent chassis rail (all parts are available, PM me). I was seriously considering a ford. However, over the new year I started feeling pretty down and glum. Until I realised why....

I NEEDED MORE NOVA IN MY LIFE!!!!

Que drumrole and a MK2 with no T&T and located 50miles away in St. Albans. A fair few pictures were all that were needed to convince me it should be mine and I almost payed before seeing the car. Common sence prevailed and I jumped on the train last wednesday to go and look at it. One hell of a day insued resulting in me buying the car (and running 6 miles after leaving my phone behind :roll:) The next day I threw a battery in my rucksack and jumped back on the train to collect it. Booked an MOT at a nearby kwik fit (have a freindly tester there) Got the car out of its cover, fitted battery and thou and behold... it didnt start (no fuel) walked round the corner to the garage but they had gone home because of a power cut that morning. Damm

Phoned AA, £130 to the flexi plastic for the callout and becomeing a member. Guy was great, gave me some fuel and tinkered around with the contacts under the cap and 2 hours later it was running'ish. Worth pointing out that the guy could have gone as he didnt have to help me due to it not being a breakdown. great stuff!!

drove the car home with a sticking handbrake but missed my appointment for the MOT.

back to the house and i started to play.

Fitted my polybushes from Eli (the A reg)
started rubbing back and spraying her (cheap aerosol job for the time being)
stripped nearside rear brake and fixed the handbrake problem

will let the pictures tell you the rest :)

When Tinkerbell first got back
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/05012012823.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/05012012822.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/05012012821.jpg

First batch of spraying
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/08012012833.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/08012012831.jpg

Really cracking on now!!!
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012840.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012839.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012838.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012836.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012835.jpg
Only got the roof, tailgate, 1 door and bonnet to do now ;)

[joshy]

How the girl is looking at the moment (excuse some crappy phone pics, paint looks good in the flesh)
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012850.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012849.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012848.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012847.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012846.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012845.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012844.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012843.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/09012012842.jpg

Plans include;
get new cap, plugs and leads for engine (bit of a missfire atm)
fit my old coilovers
new khumo's on my GTE alloys and onto the nova with some subtle spacers (<10mm) to get it looking pretty

DRIVE HER LOTS!!!! lol

[chimp007_uk]

Josh, Car is looking good!! Everything ok? MOT sorted!? I saw a post about a hazard light switch, whats wrong there?

Hope you're happy with it! I wish I was as enthusiastic about getting one of the others sorted :(

[joshy]

Just didnt have one mate lol.

with the switch having the relay integrated on a mk2, its stopping the indicators from working as well. got one on order which should come tomorrow morning then down to kwik fit for MOT, then into town for tax :)

really happy with the car mate

cheers

J.

[should of bought a ford]

Much easier than letting your mate t cut it still think if u wet flatted it would of mopped the turd . like my user name :tard:lol:mad:

[christurboo]

i agree minw was the same really and mines got a good shine now

[joshy]

W****R :)

tried flatting and polishing the bonnet and it came up ok but the amount of effert it took was stupid without the rotary lol

[should of bought a ford]

I know a certain ford owner that has one just need some polishing pads and some cutting paste :P

[joshy]

nice of you to offer when i asked :p

give it a month and i'll mop it with the new paint on

[should of bought a ford]

And go through your halfords paint got it motd yet its still pinkerbell btw

[joshy]

Wont go through the paint you bell lol

hazard switch arrives today then its down to the garage :roll:

[ocdstigy]

Cool buy! I'd have wet sanded and machine polished it for free,just to see it saved back to glory,sorry the offer is a bit late,keep up the good work anyway :-)

[joshy]

Small update. Got some decent pics of the paint while I was bleeding the brakes

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/10012012851.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/10012012852.jpg

[should of bought a ford]

getting there slowly keep the base spec bumpers on it. sleeper look suits it i've got the fun of fitting proper rubber bushes this weekend and if i get time i mite take my rub strips off. btw your bonnet is dirty and give her a full service please

[gary_126]

I was sooo close to buying this (even though it was 450miles away) as its such a clean shell, but ive too many other projects and no space :(

also the std paint would have came up with a g3/g10/polish and a wax.

[joshy]

The paint would have come up. But as i said i'm more than happy with it as it stands

[should of bought a ford]

Josh u know you love me could you sort me some plates out for the xr with howies written on the bottom please. ill be a paying customer to your misses;)

[joshy]

E-bay mate lol, there cheaper :p

I just get mine from Halford's as i know there made with love ;)

[should of bought a ford]

Ha ha u girl

[chimp007_uk]

It is indeed a clean car, so clean I put 91 photos of it on photobucket. As said, the paint may have come back but it was a far better starting point for a project and a respray.

Apologies for not PM'ing you back Josh, I'll do it now lol.

[joshy]

No worries mate :)

passed its MOT today.

Its not going to be flame red forever anyway haha

[joshy]

Well finaly sorted some tax out and had 1 day of driving before the water pump shat itself. Que massive smokey mess sitting waiting for the engine to cool, and driving the last mile home with an air cooled engine.

Engine smells fine and oil looks good so all should be dandy.

Off to PMA for new water pump and a cam belt (should be changed really anyway so no real problem's)

Gonna speak to insurance today about adding my coilovers onto the new car :D

[should of bought a ford]

If not i can cut 60mm off them springs Lmao

[joshy]

Well an intesresting few days with the car.

went out to change the water pump, and tried to move the car to the back of the car park, wouldent start.....

lots of umming and arrring with a multimeter and when all the symptoms pointed to a faulty fuel pump, I was confronted with this;

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/17012012895.jpg

got bless non-interferance fit engines :)

cracked on with changing that and the water pump.

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/17012012894.jpg

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/17012012897.jpg

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/17012012898.jpg

And timed it all back in

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/17012012901.jpg

Runs like a champ :p

Problem was that after dumping its coolant due to the water pump. I only refilled it with strait water, didnt have any antifreeze and wasent getting any at 3am for love nor money. Block froze locking the water pump (didnt pop the core plugs thank god) And cam belt broke when I turned it over.

Anyway, with that done.

Got round to fitting my GTE alloys and blackening the rub strips,

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/16012012892.jpg

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/16012012893.jpg

And wiring in my head unit (vauxhall harness colours defy all logic, Black=Ignition live??? WTF???)

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/17012012902.jpg

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/17012012905.jpg

Testing it with cathrine jenkins FTW lol.

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/17012012906.jpg

So, list to do is;

Fit my coilovers
New tires on alloys.
sort paintwork

Then drive!!!

:D

[should of bought a ford]

a update would be good :P

[chimp007_uk]

Josh, just read about the cambelt... You do have to love the 8v's!

Hows she getting on now? I'm so glad the car's getting used! Sitting for 3 odd years in my lockup was a bit of a waste!

[joshy]

Running great mate :)

Removed the rub strips today so I can paint it red down the sides. will give it a wash tomorrow and get some pics now its been machine polished :)

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/joshypot/21012012916.jpg

[chimp007_uk]

I like the look of it with the black sides without the bump strips... BTW the black is stone guard, so should help the sills and doors.

[gary_126]

Did you manage to save the strips? im still after a drivers door one.

[joshy]

Well the cars been off the road for a bit with a change of job and most of my life for that matter.

But a new year and new plans bodes well.

Stand by for an update of epic proportions!!!!!