Murph's Nova Merit

[JoshyNova]

I never really had interest in cars throughout my youth. Other than looking forward to being able to go where i wanted when i wanted... i just thought some were nice and others weren't.
Having past my test not long before turning 19, My girlfriends dad offered me for no charge a nova merit 1.2 (carburetor) which had been sat in his garage for the best part of 8 years or so.
At first i stupidly brushed off the idea... but a few google images later and reading through some forum threads. i was HOOKED!.


Here she is in her original state. March 2011
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0676.jpg

Very tidy shell for her day bar a couple of dents and a fair chunk of the NS rear arch missing (which remains today)... a very exciting start.

Ignoring the typical teenage behavior of wanting to put fat rims on it and make everything as tinted as possible, the idea of a respray really appealed to me (despite my lack of interest in cars at the time, something id always wanted to do).
Upon telling people i wanted to spray it matt black and do it myself, not one bit of faith was shown to me from anyone. But i grabbed a crate of rattle tins and whatever grade wet and dry i could get my hands on and off i went.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0679.jpg
Badges were off and front bonnet holes filled.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0681.jpg

She had some defects in the paint on the roof also. Fair bit of flatting.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0683.jpg

Masked up and ready to go!

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0685.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0689.jpg

All faith was restored as i rolled her out the gf's garage and suddenly her old man didn't think it was such a bad idea after all and several people stopped taking the piss out of me.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0691.jpg

it took me all of 3 days to realise my mistake... WHY did i leave those crappy strips on!

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0790.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0794.jpg

[paul080803]

Welcome! Where are you located?

Great to see you giving it a go yourself and learning from mistakes!

You can post more than 15 pictures, just not in one post. So do a post with the first 15 and then post the next lot etc.

[JoshyNova]

Thanks! From birmingham.
Ah that would make sense! best go back on myself now then haha

[JoshyNova]

and despite what i said earlier, i had in fact bought lowering springs before the logbook had even returned in my name and i couldn't take the stance much longer.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0802.jpg

and of course an unnecessary back box and fusion 6x9's are in order.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0881.jpg


Then i did manage to bag myself some calibra wheels for a bargain price of £63 off a nice chap in Coventry. All the tyres were scrap mind you

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0916.jpg

The not so exciting blue was still bothering me from the interior so i finally made the effort to get rid of it (or what was in my view atleast)

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_1120.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_1191.jpg

Not the mention the grey bumpers...

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_1126.jpg


http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_1135.jpg

[JoshyNova]

Now after a few months i did have a few paint problems. in tight areas around window seals and the bonnet grill it was obvious i hadn't created a sufficient key for the paint and removed the gloss.. it was forever peeling. Nothing major, just more noticeable to myself.

Wiper off

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_1190.jpg

Finally got some tyres!
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_1639.jpg

Wasnt long before they were off for a new colour, good opportunity for an oil change too.
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_1791.jpg

Not the colour i actually wanted, but i was happy with them.
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0595.jpg

New petrol cap doesnt blend in too well but at least you cant open it with a teaspoon
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_2364.jpg
She remained like this for a while, in the meantime i relentlessly searched eBay for decent smooth boot, GTE Side skirts and a possible 2.0 lump.

I did in fact find all of those things not all at the time same time but i forgot to photograph my progress at the time.

Then the winter hit
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/379928_10151171270530486_667350485_22855373_846195 713_n.jpg

If id had the money she would of definitely been off the road for it. But being my daily and work is sparse... i had no choice. Getting clattered with grit and ice on a daily basis her un lacquered body work did NOT take lightly to the conditions.

The doors flared up in rust and my barrels which were already delicate were ready to drop out.
Im also still suffering from flaky bumper paint at this point that Im guessing was from previous greasy fluids like "back to black" and whatever else was still sat in the plastic. Lesson - paint prep better in future.
So over a weekend i decided to have a bit of a marathon and sanded the doors and arches down to bare metal, coat of rust protection (probably a load of **** gimmick but hey) and a new layer of paint.

Also took some 60 grade paper to my rear bumper!

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0584.jpg

Absolute state
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0588.jpg

Did the job.
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0589.jpg

[JoshyNova]

Having sorted out all the body work to some novice standard i was fairly happy with myself being a complete beginner to all of this. The only help ive had at this point was with the lowering springs and back box.
First car and all that... best way to learn.

Here she is in her prime 1 year on!

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0599.jpg
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0601.jpg
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0605.jpg
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0610.jpg
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0617.jpg
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0618.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0592.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0590.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0593.jpg

[pikey1986]

should of kept it blue IMO, other than that you look like you got a decent shell as a base :thumb:

[JoshyNova]

the blue wouldn't have been bad but it was far worse in person than portrayed in the pictures. scratched all over and the roof was a state.
Otherwise i probably would of left it :)

[Balley]

Looks good mate. Do you still have the bump strips by any chance?

[JoshyNova]

Thanks mate. Unfortunately not, didn't think anyone would ever want them haha. One was ready for the bin anyway.

[Mieran]

This would look so much nicer with a GSI front bumper and some cesaros

Back box lets it down imo though, too big and sits at the wrong angle

[JoshyNova]

couldn't agree with you more pal :P only reason i haven't done anything about is because of the new lump going in. Will be changing after that.

[JoshyNova]

Sometime over the winter i manage to get hold of a 20SEH Sri which supposedly belonged to Dougie from Total Vauxhall at some point.

Upon arrival it was literally moldy and didnt looking promising but cams look sweet and can turn it over manually no trouble so im assuming for now everything's probably alright.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_2690.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_2688.jpg

Covered in water and oil remains i cleaned it off and left it dwelling in its own mess for a while.

This week i started stripping some bits off of it and cleaning it up :)

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0874.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0906.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0907.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0876_2.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0877_2.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0894.jpg

Just a visual checkup for moral boost.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0908.jpg

Guess i better order some core plugs :(

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s363/JTMurphy92/IMG_0909.jpg