should I repair this Nova? [Archive] - Performance Nova Group

marc69

06-07-12, 05:23 PM

I drove my 1.2i mk2 home yesterday, had I looked underneath first i wouldn't have!
This has not had a grinder near it yet.

Can this be repaired by a novice welder ie me or is it too far gone?

I realise it will be more than one day's work and also once a grinder goes near it the rot will grow and grow but basically can I reweld it all?

Here is the front drivers chassis leg
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo419.jpg

Passenger front leg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo420.jpg

Passenger rear leg
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo417.jpg

other rear leg
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo416.jpg

This is the reslutls of just a quick look by hand......a bit dissapointing to see this much actually gone.

Connor

06-07-12, 05:26 PM

Definately repairable imo, but for what you can pick up shells nowadays, id just reshell. Thats what i would do though, depends on your situation, storage funds and mechanical ability.

marc69

06-07-12, 05:33 PM

the car runs perfectly (although slowly as all 1.2s do) and interior etc is complete.

Up here in the north of scotland there are rarely shells or novas for sale or seen on the road!

I am just wary as I assume there is loads more than I can see with a 5 minute glimpse.

Connor

06-07-12, 05:50 PM

Personally then mate, i would strip and inspect further, then repair if possible. If you got the time then i would repair, then at the end of it you will know you will not have to worry about it. Perfect example is the quality work Dan (Balley) has done on his shell, and although that needed quite alot of work, he now knows his shell is good and should stay that way for a while.
Maybe this could be used as motivation
http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?127312-Dan-s-L-reg-Td-SX

marc69

06-07-12, 05:57 PM

Thanks for that, I wasn't sure if there was point beynd welding!

What thickness of steel should I use for body bits and what thickness for chassis? Or do i just double plate the body steel?

Benn

06-07-12, 05:59 PM

Anything is do able. It's how much you wanna spend/how much time you wanna input.

paul james

06-07-12, 06:32 PM

I would completely strip it down, interior out, engine out, down to the bare shell if you can. Then you can properly attack it with a grinder to see whats left of the shell. Thats some pretty serious rot though, so I can imagine other areas you haven't looked at yet will be quite bad too.

Chances are you'll be better off spending more on petrol to buy a decent Nova outisde of Scotland if need be, its all too easy to sink a lot of money (and time) into repairing a rusty car. I've always thought it was perfectly fine to travel long distances for the right car.

Did you buy the car to drive around in now, or was it going to be a project anyway?

marc69

06-07-12, 06:48 PM

I was given the car a few years ago I used it as a runaround and then it lay for one year so i thought....take it home and get started.......oops.

I don't need it or anything, just seems a shame to scrap it?

sport

06-07-12, 07:15 PM

If you can do it yourself go for it, would be a good learning curve for you and your welding skills but i wouldnt pay someone to do it for you, as its just a standard nova at the end of the day.

paul james

06-07-12, 07:17 PM

Well its different if you've had the car a good while and you've become attached to it. Definitely have a better look at it before making your mind up, doesn't take long at all to whip the bumpers off or take the seats out, lift the carpet and see whats lurking underneath.

novadave24

06-07-12, 07:22 PM

yeah get it fixed cant kill it lol

nova_saloon

06-07-12, 08:06 PM

Just tip it on its side, grind everything back, it really isnt hard when its easily accessable, just a hammer and some metal and you'll be fine.

novalew

06-07-12, 09:29 PM

repair them all, too many have been left to die

Southie

06-07-12, 09:39 PM

As ever this sort of thing is down to budget!
Get a quote from a garage first to give you a ballpark figure even if you can do it yourself... if you've got the skills then you know you'll save the labour at least ;)

marc69

08-07-12, 01:09 PM

I have just spent 2 hours taking the bumpers off and wings.

There is no point in taking it to a garage, at least £1000 I would expect.

Here is how it was before I started

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo421-1.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo423.jpg

and one wheel arch i could get the camera into

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo422.jpg

marc69

08-07-12, 01:22 PM

Now as it is,
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo426.jpg
and now I'll start with what I saw, just by hand and a screw driver, I got fed up and couldn't be bothered getting the grinder out.

Passenger inner wing, I pulled out all the fibreglass. The car was "restored" 10 years ago. Many random bolts and adaptations were made, removing the wings was particularoly frutrating, welded to the front panel.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo427.jpg

Passenger side where the missing chassis leg meets the cross member, the pic needs to be rotated, basicallt the light is the bottom. The thing lying is the remains of the charcoal canister.
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo428.jpg

Passenger outrigger

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo429.jpg

Bored yet?
Driver's inner wing
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo430.jpg

and driver's inner wing again
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo431.jpg

marc69

08-07-12, 01:25 PM

I suppose I am back to my original question, the chassis legs are pretty shot and it seesm so are a few areas.

I don't mind having a ago myself but I will not be paying anyone as it will escalate to massive amount.

The car is not really an important car to me, but still, it's a Nova.

So for a very novice welder, is it likely that i will manage to repair this or do i just bite the bullet and phone the scrap yard?

Jon_nova1

08-07-12, 01:30 PM

ok, when repairing for an MOT you can only use equal or greater than manufacturers quality, you can go 1/2MM on the body but 1mm will do too and i'd suggest going 2MM on anything that suffers excessive corrosion, 3mm if you want to make sure you never have holes again, but the thicker it is, the harder it is to work with lol

edit, upon looking at the pics, your best getting as many new panels as you can and even then by the time you've finished repairing it you'll be a master welder

marc69

08-07-12, 01:32 PM

Thanks, what thickness for chassis legs etc, is 2mm acceptable for this too?

Jon_nova1

08-07-12, 01:39 PM

it is more than adequate and will last a good few years with zinc rich paint/red oxide

marc69

08-07-12, 01:40 PM

Thanks, still have to decide though if I am capable and also if I can be bothered!

scorge01

08-07-12, 06:22 PM

Iv got a mint shell forsale of intrested? Only in Stonehaven aswell

marc69

08-07-12, 09:07 PM

Iv got a mint shell forsale of intrested? Only in Stonehaven aswell

Let me know the price please.

novadave24

09-07-12, 11:22 AM

just take it banger racing looks like best place for it to be in tho.

marc69

09-07-12, 11:26 AM

just take it banger racing looks like best place for it to be in tho.

I am tending to agree with what I did this morning!

marc69

09-07-12, 11:32 AM

Went out with the grinder this morning, ground the engine bay bits front panel etc. Then decided I'd better jack it up and start grinding under.

I tried 6 times to jack it and 6 times the leg collapsed going into the floor....

Here is where the chassis leg meets the tiebar mounting, oops sorry, here is where the chassis leg USED to meet the tie bar mount.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo435.jpg

and here is the remains of the leg where I tried several times to jack it. (yes the car lay on top of grass the last year).
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo434.jpg

So, as it would be clearly pointless trying to kack it up on the sills, is there anywhere that i can jack it up? (whetehr for repair or striping) and for folk who have repaired Nova shells, is this really repairable?

turbojolt

09-07-12, 11:50 AM

marc69

09-07-12, 11:55 AM

i really dont get this whole re shell your nova crap, its not sat on a chassis so its not re shelling its just bolting bits from one car to another, and doing it to a gte/gsi is just making a rep its bollocks

That wasn't what I was asking anyway, I have no intention of making it a gte/gsi rep, just wondering if there is any pont in me repairing this vehicle or not. It's a 1.2i.

novadave24

09-07-12, 12:18 PM

If it was mine mate i would do
1. I would iver strip it for parts
2. I would try sell it on
3. I would banger race it
4. if you really love your nova then get it all fixed but that looks like a lot of work to be done there mate .

marc69

09-07-12, 12:35 PM

Thanks, I don't really love a 1.2i in all honesty.

I don't think I could sell it on.
I wouldn't feel safe even banger racing in it (can't believe I drove 250 miles in it on thurs!)
so......looks like a strip down, what fun.

novadave24

09-07-12, 12:42 PM

lol yeah propley only last maybe a few laps lol good luck with striping it can be fun tho .:)

GRUNT 16V

09-07-12, 12:54 PM

Its not a question of should you ?? Its do you want to ??

8valve-craig

09-07-12, 12:59 PM

Why do so many people say "take it banger racing" when talking of a rusty Nova?

Do they not realise that most banger racing is a full contact sport and that Nova's are not even allowed? Besides the point that even if they were it would be incredibly foolish to use one.

Grasstrack, speedworth. rookie rods maybe. But they are all very different formula's

Southie

09-07-12, 01:01 PM

How the hell has this got an MOT :eek:

paul james

09-07-12, 01:11 PM

Alex J

09-07-12, 02:28 PM

How the hell has this got an MOT :eek:from the local pub lol

novadave24

09-07-12, 03:00 PM

put it in banger racing would be the best way if it was ok because thats one way to kill it quck i was thinking .

marc69

09-07-12, 03:21 PM

Strip it for parts. If you didn't have enough love for the car to store it properly for a year, then do you really want to be putting a few hundred hours into repairing it? Given how much rot is there, its not going to be a case of patching in new small sections as theres probably not enough good metal to weld to. You'd have to fabricate a whole load of metal work, or cut it from another nova which would be pointless.

That's what I thought but I am new to welding but assumed that with the amount of rot I have found, basically it is beyond repair.
A shame to kill a Nova but when I got it a few years ago it was a rot box and has continued to go down that route.

novadave24

09-07-12, 04:10 PM

do what you think is best for it mate :)

scorge01

09-07-12, 04:51 PM

350 and probs best coming to see it since your local?

bazil

09-07-12, 05:01 PM

I wouldn't attempt that,

turbojolt

09-07-12, 05:05 PM

I wouldn't attempt that,

what not even own it and just buy parts for it and let it rust more? lol

i also wouldn't ever bother with a car that far gone far easier to buy a better one to start off with, strip it,sell parts,scrap shell

vauxluva

09-07-12, 05:06 PM

Depends on how much you are willing to do your self. It can be costly at local garages.

bazil

09-07-12, 05:27 PM

lol TJ

I have a dream lol

Basically 90% of my shell will be new panels the cost and work involed is so extreme not many folk can justify it, it's taken me years and a good few grand to get to the point I'm at. But I have the spare time and enough space to allow me to do it. Also I trained as a panel beater and my brother was my tradesman, my mate is a panel beater and thatcham approved in the repair methods of new vehicles so plenty of skill around me to do mine.

The level of work and money required to repair that 1.2 just isn't justifiable

marc69

09-07-12, 05:37 PM

raf24

09-07-12, 05:57 PM

Strip it of all useable parts & keep them if you have the space,be a shame to junk all of that (apart from the shell obviously) jeez that rot has been busy on that wee motor mate :eek: i did hear that mk2 novas rust even worse than mk1's,never knew if it was true or not

sport

09-07-12, 09:15 PM

I wouldn't attempt that,

Enough said lol

Jeff16v

09-07-12, 09:31 PM

Honestly, that's got more rust than the Bismarck! Cut out salvageable bits for repairing a better shell and bin it.

Nick J

09-07-12, 10:08 PM

Defnately not worth It Im afraid fella.

Nick.

marc69

09-07-12, 10:47 PM

Thanks everyone for the advice which will be followed, tomorrow if it's not raining I'll start taking out the interior.

marc69

10-07-12, 09:30 PM

I started stripping it today, rear interior, windows etc.

Is it worth keeping the 1.2i engine and 4 speed box? Can I use bits from it on other engines if needed (1.0/1.2/1.3/1.4) all carb.

I assume no-one actually wants the 1.2i engine so just wondering if there is any point in removing it fro m the shell or just take the anciliaries before I give the scrap a ring.

8valve-craig

10-07-12, 09:36 PM

Easy to sell for £100 to the rookie rod boys.

marc69

10-07-12, 09:40 PM

Easy to sell for £100 to the rookie rod boys.

The 1.2i? they are slow engines. I'll have a go at flogging it though!

8valve-craig

10-07-12, 10:06 PM

Yeah certain classes have strict rules.

marc69

19-07-12, 11:34 PM

Here is the car two weeks after I drove it, not the best advert for my doing a car up skills!

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo439.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo441.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo440.jpg

waggygsi

19-07-12, 11:54 PM

looks like its coming along .Stick in there bud

turbojolt

20-07-12, 12:00 AM

ive obtained a 0800-dial-a-mot-1471 for worse before.

marc69

20-07-12, 12:06 AM

I think a wee tcut would just finish it off!

Hoping to get rid of it next week but at least i have plenty spares and once I sort through it all some stuff to sell.

marc69

24-07-12, 12:33 PM

Car broke down, I had to get a recovery truck.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo445.jpg
After he repaired it, it went flying.
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo444.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/Photo443.jpg
More space on the drive now, that's one out of 3 mk2s I have gone, blue one next..........................

gordy81

29-07-12, 03:21 AM

i'm

greene94

01-08-12, 09:04 PM

if you can get it sanblasted and take it from there

marc69

01-08-12, 09:09 PM

if you can get it sanblasted and take it from there

Sorry, the last pictures of the "breakdown and car flying" were actually it being picked up by the scrappy. It is now dead.

marc69

07-08-12, 10:47 AM

here's some of the bits being tidied in my mates lock up, Engine/gearbox etc are in my own garage. Eventually (probably years from now) I'll sort it all out properly and get it organsied for flogging.
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/DSC02084.jpg