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View Full Version : Vauxhall Nova Merit 1.2 - Updates Thread.



DuBsZ
10-02-12, 03:11 PM
Thought i'd start my own little thread just to show my car as it came and how its going to change over the period of time i have it.
Firstly would like to just state that for insurance purposes, these modifications and changes will not be vast as im only 17, just overall trying to improve the car visually and mechanically as far as insurable-y possible to basically make it mine!

So, with that out the way..
Brought the car last December ready for the passing of my test. Slight detour and now won't be on the road until april.
Brought it from a guy named Lewis who lives local to me. £600 for a good solid car, checked all usual areas and looked well maintained.

How she came;
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/385878_248060911923726_100001594584483_713131_1864 963792_n-1-2.jpg
And the engine;
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/388165_245448855518265_100001594584483_707359_1384 011240_n-1.jpg

And the interior;
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/378748_245449068851577_100001594584483_707361_2976 77628_n-1.jpg

As you can see, it came with twin 40 Dellorto carbs which i thought was a bonus, until i realized i was un-insurable with them on..Other modifications include a 4-1 exhaust manifold, straight through exhaust system and have been told a possibility of uprated cams, but haven't looked into it yet.
Fiberglass rear arches and wide-arch steel wings on the front of her too, which makes her look pretty sweet in my opinion!
Also has a Cobra alarm and remote locking installed so saves me some cash on that part.
So anyway, car was put in the garage for a while just to tidy her up basically. Went down to looms' scrappy and fetched 4 steels and put 185/14 tyres all round for now to get the car sitting right instead of the 4 different wheels it came with lol.

Basically over the next month i'd stripped out all of the parts that were putting my insurance up to ridiculous numbers such as the strut braces that were sold on here.
Removed the tints out the windows and gave her a good polish, she came up well;

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/426492_105937806201678_100003563766465_19244_15019 56438_n-1.jpg

Almost looks see through!
First thing i had to replace was the rear struts, the threads were butchered where the struct brace had been so ordered some and got them in..sitting a inch lower at the back now too.
Brought some Cavalier trims to save myself the insurance hassles, a ram cold air feed pipe and a full wheel steering lock.
Then decided that i would like to match the mirror covers up to the bonnet, so sprayed them black and also moved on the door handles too..was going to do the spoiler but needs to be sanded, filled and primed up first!

Got it out the garage after a few weeks, and gave her another quick polish over.

Had a whip over to a garage (were it currently still is) my dads' mate owns to get it it all road legal, there was a whining noise i couldn't put my finger on which turned out the be the water pump, luckily so saved myself a whole lot of trouble in the future.

Furthermore to add worries, i checked the oil to notice a creamy substance on the cap, check coolant as well but no signs of head gasket problems..got a compression check done and all is running well, bar the right cylinder being a little lower than the rest on pressure but well within tolerance.
Basically its now there for a few weeks so that the carbs' can be converted back to factory with the 1200 inlet and carb, and all required parts i brought from Colin (Novarally) on here.

A picture of how she is sitting now, just before we took her to the garage;
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/394425_271844132878737_100001594584483_782758_1967 678049_n.jpg

So far the parts that needed to be replaced were;
Battery - Wasn't holding charge.
Water pump - Bearings in the pump were close to failing.
Cambelt change and tensioner along with the water pump change.

So overall im pretty happy that nothing major has unfolded, hopefully it wont!
Will keep the thread updated when my baby returns! :d.

NOV4_SPORT
10-02-12, 04:59 PM
Looks pretty tidy buddy, shame you couldnt have left on the cabs as they make such adiffernce to the way the car performes and sounds.

+ rep

DuBsZ
11-02-12, 09:32 PM
Cheers dude!
I know, i had a quick blast in it before it went to the garage around the block and bloody hell it pulls for a 1.2!
Keeping the whole setup for next year when im able to get insured legally with them and then bolting all back on :).

DuBsZ
14-02-12, 10:30 AM
Little update:
- Cars now up and running again, all the parts are on including carb and inlet ect. Hopefully getting the car back at the weekend as theres a few minor things left and thats when im next available.

Also, if anyone could help me on this..basically on the fuse box, a 30 amp fuse keeps popping with minimal use of any of the things on that relay.
Its the relay that has electric windows, head unit power, interior light ect..any help?
SOLVED
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DuBsZ
01-04-12, 06:42 PM
Havent done an update in a few months so thought i would get it sorted!

Car came back from the garage running a bit rough, which will be sorted once i get it setup..but for the time being, ive fitted a K&N Filter onto the carb and after a bit of modifying, resolved a fitment problem, thus the newly drilled holes..
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1108.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1107.jpg

Sounds great overall in my opinion.

Next, i ripped out the tatty carpeting in the back and sanded down all the boot, but got too addicted and eventually stripped the whole of the rear out.

After some prep work the back was ready for spraying, so got the old man to sort that out for me with some rattle can magic! ;).

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1093.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1083.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1084.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1085.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1088.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1095.jpg

After a good day spraying the boot;

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1098.jpg

Harnesses got dummy fitted today aswell to see how they looked.
Red chin for the win!

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1081.jpg

So overall just tidied up the car with the pops and had a laugh doing it too!

More updates will be coming soon :).
Comments appreciated!

DuBsZ
06-04-12, 12:36 PM
As i type, just having a quick dinner break after me and the old man have bolted in the harnesses, just needing to bolt the last two eye bolts into place..
Took a few pictures in progress but you get the idea..

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1109.jpg

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1110.jpg

Comments welcome :)!

DuBsZ
23-04-12, 05:44 PM
Not really an update car wise, but had my first day on the road after paying insurance off..friday 20th till now ive done near on 200 miles which has only been limited to the amount of money i have (which is now none lol)
Really enjoying it being on the road and generally having the freedom to get in and drive pointlessly!

Markd89
23-04-12, 06:00 PM
i bidded on this car on ebay, i turned up and walked away as it wasnt as described on ebay. Looks a good project mate glad its on the road again and making you smile !

DuBsZ
26-04-12, 10:52 PM
How much was it up for at the time, i heard he wanted a grand and half at first, offered 600 and he snapped it off me haha.
Cheers bud, really is!

calibra-keith
26-04-12, 11:02 PM
i fitted a K&N Filter same as that years ago (probably 8 ish years) and was worst thing i ever did terrible in cold weather, not a bad little car for first car tho

DuBsZ
07-05-12, 12:35 PM
Decided to go for a bonnet pin recently, so after a little mess about it was done..

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/DSCF1182.jpg

Next step, saving for alloys :(!

Mike
07-05-12, 12:52 PM
And the engine;
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/DubsDesignz/Vauxhall%20Nova/388165_245448855518265_100001594584483_707359_1384 011240_n-1.jpg


That is my old Irmscher air box lol altho now painted red.

DuBsZ
07-05-12, 12:59 PM
lol really?
Now been paintstripped, and back up for sale!

Mike
07-05-12, 01:21 PM
lol really?
Now been paintstripped, and back up for sale!

Yep, sold it in 2004/5 ish on eBay with a matched set of Sport 40's, Irmscher inlet manifold with centre linkage & a brand new K&N filter. It the only Irmscher airbox Ive seen with the inlet trumpet part cut off as I had a GRP under bonnet ram inlet for it too.

DuBsZ
14-05-12, 12:52 PM
Ha! good to know a bit of history on them then as ive got the 40's aswell!