Nova Novices First Project

[s25ale]

After some frantic bidding on ebay we are now the proud owners of our very first little Nova 1.2 Merrit. Having no mechanical experience this is going to be a very steep learning cerve! All went well with the collection however we found a few niggles on the drive home. The brakes didnt seem to brake and there is a wobble on the front wheels after 40mph. We've spent 6 hours today taking the front wheels off and replacing the discs and pads (with the help of the old faithful Haynes manual which we found on the shelf under the glovebox). Unfortunately the new pads seem really tight on the passenger side and are preventing the wheel going round. It looks like another early start tomorrow followed by lots of swearing as we try to free the calliper or look at replacing it.

Anyway enough of the rambling, heres the photos!

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/s25ale/nova1.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/s25ale/nova7.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/s25ale/nova6.jpg

[Markd89]

That steering wheel is awesome, theres only one way to learn things... get stuck right in !

[s25ale]

That steering wheel is awesome, theres only one way to learn things... get stuck right in !

Thanks Mark, we think the steering wheel is from a Morris Miner!!!! lol

[John]

Nice to see some more door action! Looks like a good base to start with, welcome to the madhouse btw :)

[s25ale]

Nice to see some more door action! Looks like a good base to start with, welcome to the madhouse btw :)

Thanks John, hope your ready for all our questions.

[John]

Ask away dude. We're a helpful bunch on here. If the calipers are the old slide type I'd look to replace them with some ate ones as they'll only seize again. Seeing as you have 14" cav alloys the 256mm vented set up should fit fine.

[burgo]

if only you had signed up before going and buying new brakes, we could have told you to not even entertain more standard ones. 256mm ate's should be the first mod to every nova. also add your location, you might find theres some members close that could help you as 6 hours to change the brakes is 5 and 1/2 hours to long lol.

[Nobby]

I saw this on ebay! welcome by the way! ask around for help theres enought people on here that should be able to give advice etc

[DuBsZ]

Another Nova to the Nottingham area!
Ill be watching this thread to see how it cracks on, but looks a good base for your learning!
As previously said..something you need answering, heres the best bet!

[s25ale]

We've decided to take your advise and look into changing the brakes to the 256mm ate's, i've had a look on ebay but where else would these be availiable from? I best get a week booked off work with the amount of time it took us just to change the discs and pads!

[mowgli]

just go to a scrappy & take a set from a cav/vectra/astra. but measure the disc to make sure...

also give the back brakes a good servicing, using the haynes as a guide, as rears out of advustment cause tons of brake problems...

ps. welcome to png.

[s25ale]

Well it's been a busy few days, went out to the car a few days back to find muddy footprints on the bonet and accross the roof - yes someone had literally walked over our car :cry:In an attempt to stop this happening again we have now knocked down part of our front wall and our little Nova now has pride of place on the front garden. Luckily the garden was already gravel but there wasnt enough room to swing it on.

We have also spent yet more hours trying to free up the seized calliper without success. We plan on changing the brakes to 256mm ate's as suggested but as we have just forked out on new discs and pads so we have ordered a refurblished calliper for now.


The car is MOT'd but there are a few things which need addressing before we can use it.

left calliper needs replacing
wheels need balancing
hazard warning light doesnt work
ignition could do with replacing.
The grand plan

256mm ate brakes
digital dash
spoiler
GTE seats
GTE bumpers and skirts
Re-spray Royal blue with white go faster stripes
white wheels
scorpian exhaust
A very long well deserved drive

Any other ideas welcome :)

[staggy_gsi]

Do NOT put go faster stripes on your car please :)

[chambers1984]

got a set of brakes here you can have mate if you collect if that helps you out

[s25ale]

got a set of brakes here you can have mate if you collect if that helps you out

Thanks for the offer mate, where abouts are you please?

[s25ale]

Do NOT put go faster stripes on your car please :)

Oh dear, are these a Nova no no?

[mowgli]

re mot list, just get 256mm brakes
swap the wheels front for back
get hazard bulb swapped
just what is up with the ignition, the coils go wrong with age, the dizzy advance retard vacuum diaphragm can split & the balance weights can wear out, what did he say was up with it?

i'm not overly keen on the stripes, but its your car, so why not??

[chambers1984]

Thanks for the offer mate, where abouts are you please?
cannock

[mowgli]

midlands region are meeting up at the plank & leggit at sawley on sunday... maybe you should come along if you dare

[s25ale]

re mot list, just get 256mm brakes
swap the wheels front for back
get hazard bulb swapped
just what is up with the ignition, the coils go wrong with age, the dizzy advance retard vacuum diaphragm can split & the balance weights can wear out, what did he say was up with it?

i'm not overly keen on the stripes, but its your car, so why not??

I dont think the hazard button is even connected, will have to do a little more investigation.
The ignitions a funny one, the previous owner has rewired the ignition from the steering wheel to the dash for some reason, it works but we want to move it back.

Will pass on the meet this time thanks, dont think the poor little nova could cope with a 95 mile trip there and another 95 back just yet. It would be something to look forward to in the future when its running a little better though :)

[mowgli]

sorry, but sawley is near the nottingham power station.. there is no part of nottinghamshire more than 30 miles in a straight line from there....


if the hazard switch wasn't fitted, then the indicators wouldn't work, but mk2 isn't my area of expertise.

[s25ale]

After a grand total of 12 hours (including time going to the shop for tools and spares) the front brakes are done. Just need to nip up to the tyre shop and get the wheels balanced now. Had a quick look at the hazard warning light, nothing happens when you press it but all the indicators work so i'm wondering if we need to go behind the dash and look at the wiring?

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/s25ale/d9c8c0db.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/s25ale/329830c1.jpg

[DuBsZ]

Hazard lights are renown for going..try pulling the center peice of the switch out and pushing it in softly, until its partially in and see if it works then, if not just get a replacement.

[s25ale]

Hi Dubsz, i've just seen your thread and subscribed. Nice to see someone local with similar ideas. Thanks for the advice on the hazard switch, off to ebay we go.

[John]

Hi chap, if you look in the articles section there's a how to on repairing the mk2 hazard switch. :)

[John]

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?139957-*HOW-TO*-repair-a-MK2-Hazard-Switch

[s25ale]

Thanks John, that will be a big help.