Kelly's beloved Miami Blue

[kellynovaaaa]

So as i'm fairly new on here i thought it would be a good idea to start a thread of the work that has been and will be done to my beloved nova fun, that way you can get to know me and my car a little bit better!

I first saw the car sat in my grandads yard (he's a mechanic and has his own garage). He had owned the car for several years but it had just sat around collecting dust, however when i turned 17 my grandad offered me the car and knowing that it would probably get scrapped if i didn't accept i decided to save this little nova.

She started out life like this:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/73773_1646947250650_4269221_n.jpg


And considering she had been sat around for several years she wasn't in too bad condition. Before putting her on the road she had to have some parts welded and treated but apart from that she was good to go:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/39856_1524548230751_6852850_n.jpg


The car is still standard at the moment apart from a noisy back box (which looks a bit chavy) but is only a temporary thing and it doesn't sound too bad :)

However i do have plans for her which i will try and document as best i can and will hopefully get a few things done over christmas :)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/427601_3348115538794_725741077_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/575085_3872917218508_959185144_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270110_4925086882092_1177851375_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/487067_4925113322753_1281130492_n.jpg

Thanks for reading and i'll try and keep this updated as best i can :thumb:

[waggygsi]

tidy wee shell really like miami blue

[DAVIDKEDENS]

As i've got you on facebook you know my thoughts but Miami Blue has to be one of my favorite colours for a nova!!

[peester]

cool so for christmas you want car bits? lol

[Hobbit]

Best colour for a nova, mine is also a fun. :)

[Murray]

Best colour for a nova

What he said and it looks to be a tidy enough base to start with.

[Spudly]

Best colour for a nova, mine is also a fun. :)




Fun, thats a fecking understatement if ever there was one lol




Looks a clean base youve got there, id keep your mods minimal for now if i were you as the insurance will be nailing your bank account if you do loads, looks like someone is a dab hand with their valeting skills though going on your pics :thumb:

[Danny mul]

Nice clean looking nova in a nice colour.
Best of luck with your new pride and joy

[millworm]

Good looking car, hope to see more of it in the future. :)

[novasrikev]

looks like a good starting point for future plans

[Balley]

So what are the plans then? I would personally just add a couple of subtle mods. Maybe lower it slightly and a nice set of 14-15inch gm wheels :) OE+ is the future, Have fun!

[kellynovaaaa]

well i've been driving a over a year now and insurance isn't too bad tbh. plans are to lower her 60mm, got a roll cage and bucket seats going in soon and cav slabs going on but will probably switch to speedlines some time next year, will have a straight through exhaust system rather than just a noisy back box and i'm on the lookout for GSI bumpers so will grab them where possible and then hopefully some time next year or the year after will put a 1.6 in her :) i know that might not to be to everyones taste as alot of you like to keep it original but meh :)

[nova_stee]

well i've been driving a over a year now and insurance isn't too bad tbh. plans are to lower her 60mm, got a roll cage and bucket seats going in soon and cav slabs going on but will probably switch to speedlines some time next year, will have a straight through exhaust system rather than just a noisy back box and i'm on the lookout for GSI bumpers so will grab them where possible and then hopefully some time next year or the year after will put a 1.6 in her :) i know that might not to be to everyones taste as alot of you like to keep it original but meh :)
Sounds a perfect plan to me

[kellynovaaaa]

thank you! :)

[DAVIDKEDENS]

thank you! :)

Plans sound good Kelly! Speedlines would set her off. :thumb:

[MK999]

well i've been driving a over a year now and insurance isn't too bad tbh. plans are to lower her 60mm, got a roll cage and bucket seats going in soon and cav slabs going on but will probably switch to speedlines some time next year, will have a straight through exhaust system rather than just a noisy back box and i'm on the lookout for GSI bumpers so will grab them where possible and then hopefully some time next year or the year after will put a 1.6 in her :) i know that might not to be to everyones taste as alot of you like to keep it original but meh :)

Pretty much exactly what I did with my first car :d

[Lewis.]

A good base, for what sounds like a good project. I shall keep an eye on this :thumb:

[Andy]

nice,like alot.

[Southie]

Tidy looking MK2, for a few variations and ideas have a look through Jays old thread CLICKYME (http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?101707-Jays-Miami-Blue-Project)

[mowgli]

Pretty much exactly what I did with my first car :d

was that the rusty ****ter?? or did that come later?? lol lol

[Danny mul]

http://photos3.pix.ie/1D/B5/1DB519A6701249798C2D104E01B5FD91-0000324179-0003094887-00640L-24A59A300A764FA78785B3694A78C363.jpg (http://pix.ie/dannyd/3094887)
Here is a pic of a mates Miami blue nova for some inspiration.
Done very nicely IMO.

[kellynovaaaa]

Thanks for the feedback everyone :thumb:

Just a small update today.. My morning consisted of putting the cav slabs on and fitting the bucket seats. As soon as the roll cage has been sprayed it will be ready to go in too.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/734321_10200149541638373_840987165_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/528624_10200149547278514_772351987_n.jpg

Now all i'm waiting on is the suspension which should be arriving soon :)

[16v Nova Kev]

Looking good

[brainsnova]

Nice work, now I know what the tray above the glovebox is for lol

[DAVIDKEDENS]

Looking good kelly! Can't wait to see some photos once its lowered but your making my want for a Miami Blue Nova really bad :(

[Jack]

Have you checked with insurance about the roll cage? A lot of insurance companies get funny about them.

[kellynovaaaa]

Thanks guys!


Nice work, now I know what the tray above the glovebox is for lol

you've gotta have a mascot lol


Have you checked with insurance about the roll cage? A lot of insurance companies get funny about them.

yeah everything is declared and legal and was surprisingly cheap considering my age. thought it would have been alot more expensive!

[Balley]

Nice work :)

[kellynovaaaa]

just a small update:

lowered the nova this weekend, looks so much better for it!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/226715_10200248128342979_1978230239_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/734946_10200248131383055_1814431282_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426849_10200243293062100_1525882719_n.jpg

:thumb:

[skud52]

Always look better lowered!

[bazzap8389]

Looks good nice work

[kellynovaaaa]

Thank you :)

[AndrewJenkins]

nice car youve got there keep up the good work

[Yorkie]

Wow! I cant wait to see it at the shows its really tidy :)

[brainsnova]

Looks a lot better lowered but tyre wear may result

[Simon 1867]

Very nice, agree, much better lower.

[Hobbit]

Wow! I cant wait to see it at the shows its really tidy :)

Bring yours along and we can have a Miami blue threesome. :wisewood:

[kellynovaaaa]

Thanks everyone :)


Bring yours along and we can have a Miami blue threesome. :wisewood:

This would be a beautiful thing..

[mr day]

Looks nice,reminds me of my 1st car/Nova,miami blue slammed on Cav slabs.

[shaunboy84]

cheeky wee monkey ahahhah
Bring yours along and we can have a Miami blue threesome. :wisewood:

[kellynovaaaa]

Haven't updated this in a while so here's some of the work that's been carried out since last time :)

First we stripped the nova out ready for the roll cage to be fitted

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1017461_10201315765473240_1253134668_n.jpg

Once we had pulled everything out we found a rust hole in the passenger side foot well.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1185776_10201666676485796_147189651_n.jpg

Between my boyfriend and grandad they cleaned it up and started to cut plates to weld in to repair the hole.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/999196_10201666675405769_58997936_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1176253_10201666675805779_1693513456_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1170890_10201666675605774_1538187714_n.jpg

The areas for the plates for the roll cage were then cleaned up and welded in ready for the roll cage to go in :) we then bolted the roll cage in place to see where it needed to be drilled to bolt it down.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1234128_10201666715846780_2140553324_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1185931_10201666715366768_592852736_n.jpg

We then had to unbolt it and remove it to drill the holes and paint the plates before putting it all back together again properly and fitting the harnesses.

The finished product :)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1010690_10201353333852426_1976457247_n.jpg

We finally put the strut brace in last week which finishes it off nicely :)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1231176_10201666676645800_49781658_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/581765_10201555922957027_2142627901_n.jpg

Thanks :thumb:

[kellynovaaaa]

I also got a OMP WRC steering wheel and boss for my birthday which still needs to be fitted.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1017294_10201257184008740_438653772_n.jpg

Does anyone have any tips for getting the original steering wheel off as its being pretty stubborn :mad:

Thanks :thumb:

[mowgli]

click on this [linky] (http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?114852-*HOW-TO*-Remove-a-gm-steering-wheel-properly&)


as much as i'm not a mk2 fan, for some reason, i like the modified mk2 miami blue stripped down look...


keep up the good work

[mk1nova_rich]

Looking good, white cage suits the car well :) regarding the rotten footwell, which side has it rotted from?

[pie]

looking good :)

love this colour nova :)

[Benn]

Looks great, nice cage. The rear brace will do alot more bolted to the turrets tho...

[jimbob-mcgrew]

nice job with the welding Kelly.
you do the work yourself ?


Does anyone have any tips for getting the original steering wheel off as its being pretty stubborn

from what ive noticed, if they don't crack off straight after loosening the nut, there normally set on pretty solid and don't want to break free without the aid of a puller.
I haven't tried mowgli's hot water and towels trick tho... if its just the once your doing this, you could give that a shot before you fork out £18 on a puller. altho a puller is recommended ideally.
if you do buy one tho, when you use it, make sure the 2 probing arms are properly engaged in the holes of the wheel, as you can take chunks of aluminium out the boss if there not twisted round 90 degrees and locked into place properly (I usually mark the tops of the arms with arrows, so I can tell exactly which way there positioned)

http://www.alltoolsdirect.co.uk/ekmps/shops/alltoolsdirect/images/draper-expert-gm-vauxhall-or-opel-steering-wheel-puller-31488-2385-p.jpg

[mowgli]

the hot water trick is if the puller doesn't do it 1st go.. i took my current wheel off a calibra column that way.... the calibra had been nearly stolen & the garage repairing it couldn't get it off the loose column, so binned it... my mate rescued it for me..

[MattBrown]

Kelly you have missed a huge point of your project!

The crash and Matt being a hero and having some brand new doors tucked away for you to fix Nora!

[kellynovaaaa]

Thanks for all the comments and advice guys :thumb:


nice job with the welding Kelly.
you do the work yourself ?

Noooo, i'm no welder, my wonderful grandad can take the credit for that, I just chip in where I can :)


Kelly you have missed a huge point of your project!

The crash and Matt being a hero and having some brand new doors tucked away for you to fix Nora!

Haha to be fair that crash happened before i'd began to modify her. And yes Matt, you were the hero even though I did have to stray in to northern territory to get it.

[Tanya.]

Lovely little car. Looking forward to seeing it at shows next year! :)

[craig green]

I'm not sure I've seen rot like that in the footwell on a Nova before.

Great colour miami Blue.

[kellynovaaaa]

Not too much to update with this but as I'm now working I've been saving up for the engine conversion which hopefully I'll be able to afford to do at some point year! I've also decided that I'll being going for a C20LET engine when the time comes so will be updating this as the work get carried out so keep an eye out :thumb:

A few recent pictures of Nora the Nova..

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1238100_10202714641444265_943449472_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1476553_10202464245944534_1172143818_n.jpg


https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/1450189_10202136154702458_465575579_n.jpg

Thanks for looking :thumb:

[Benn]

Everyone loves a turbo! Not a fan of stuff hanging from the towing eye tho.

[kellynovaaaa]

Indeed :D Yeah I'm not either tbh but I really don't like my exhaust so it's there to draw peoples eyes away from that lol

[nova.mike]

Looking good, I'm sure you know one of my mates, Luke P...

[Connor]

Lovely looking miami blue you have there, use to hate the colour but now i love it! Love what you have done to it so far, ps keep it small block ;)

[kellynovaaaa]

Thanks guys, Yes I do Mike! I used to be the same about the colour but now I wouldn't change it for the world. I was planning on doing a small block conversion but now I can afford to go bigger I might as well :)

[M Sutton]

Awesome little Nova Kelly! C20LET will make it even better ;)

[kellynovaaaa]

Thank you, she looks the part, I just need the power to match now :)

[kellynovaaaa]

So yesterday I put my new wheels on and I think they look awesome! Love how they colour coordinate with the cage too :thumb:

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10255190_10203402778967273_5754344470882787117_n.j pg

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1.0-9/10334461_10203404829618538_5445629983703912892_n.j pg

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10177315_10203404830098550_2118659669257814482_n.j pg

Also as I'm now buying a house this year the C20LET plans have been put on hold. But I have recently purchased a 1.6 8v to drop in which will give me a bit more power for now but is still cheap to run and do the conversion.

Is there anything simple I can do to get a few more ponies out of the 1.6 engine without spending silly money as this is only a temporary thing while I save for a big block conversion?

Thanks :)

[dgbnova#1]

Are you running injection on it ? Not realy worth spending money on it if you changing it just spend on good oil and service and save the money for your house and later conversion plus keep the 1.6 sweet and it will sell on to help later on there getting harder to find

[dgbnova#1]

Wheels look nice ment to add that Also lol

[Benn]

Love the last photo, background works great.

[ABoresta]

This has made me want a mk2 again! love the colour and cesaros are always my first choice! Great work!

Any more plans on the LET?

[Kickingriffin]

Loving this Kelly! Looks lush!