1992 merit + c20xe track/road project

[phil_griff20]

Hi, I’ve had my nova for a few years now and never got round to starting this thread, so here goes. It’s a 1992 merit + 1.2 8v in blue. However it came with a 1.6 GSI engine. I bought it for £250 of a boy I know, and it’s been garaged for about 10 years (ish) with us both. Overall the car was a barging and really clean for its age, so I was really happy.

The car didn’t run when I had it, and after getting it home, spending an hour or so trying to get life into it, I decoded to pull the engine out there and then. So now I was on to stripping it, and with a help form a few friends, the windows were out, doors were off, dash was out, and breaks were off. Everything that didn’t need to be there came off really. All I had left was a shell on its suspension and wheels (just for movement).

I started buying things for it ready. And soon as I could I had it ready for the chassis plating kit from Chris Astely Motorsport to be fitted.

The car as I had it came with:
30mm (ish) lowering springs
Peco stainless exhaust
Raceland Bucket seats

These were a few things I could make do with and replace in the future.


Please feel free rto comment orask questions. Once i find out how to upload pics off my pc i will ad some (help on that would be appreciated lol)

[phil_griff20]

These are some of the pics of things I’ve bought. I don’t have pics of the car yet as my computer crashed and I lost them all.

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093225707_zps4438878e.jpg

FK coilovers

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1358595015082_zpsd1813c15.jpg

OMP 6 Point cage

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093335382_zps51aeea09.jpg

Goodrige braided brake lines

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093365007_zpse152c7e8.jpg

Power cap (needs a lick of paint)

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093383682_zps65050b17.jpg

powr Boost valve

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093444216_zps6f6f7ba3.jpg

New headlights

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093400623_zpsccbcfea0.jpg

Snap off steering wheel boss

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093564805_zps7401a36f.jpg

MOMO wheel. (might change it tho, to a deep dish sparco one or something)

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093518572_zps3205d1f3.jpg

New lock set as the car was totaly de-locked

[phil_griff20]

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360093726905_zpscd83b887.jpg

Doors after being painted. Done by a mate and got an awesome finish

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/1360000974461_zps33d30408.jpg

Saab turbo calipers. Primered and painted. These are ready for 280mm discs.


The car has just had all the plating kit finshed fitting today. And a small repair where the N/S/R sill meets the arch. So itll be back in the house in a few days with more pics. These were taken on my phone so their not the best quality, ill take the rest with a camera.

[phil_griff20]

Had the car back from my mates today after having the welding done. so just need to get stuck in again now.

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/IMG_0101_zps826bcf73.jpg

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/IMG_0096_zpsbe30d702.jpg

thats how its looking at the minute, a bit sorry for itself.

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/IMG_0100_zps9384a610.jpg

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/IMG_0099_zpsa1743e11.jpg

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/IMG_0097_zpsc265ec19.jpg

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y392/phil_griff22/IMG_0098_zpsca84fe20.jpg

thats the chassis plating kit fitted. dont look the best but its the sealer making it look undity. the welding thtas been done is awesome. hes strengthend all the mountimgs for me as well and anywhere that he thought would help.

[_Jake]

Not being rude but i hope you didnt pay him to weld that kit on!

[kent14sr]

Great project! I would grind all of the welds back to see if they have penetrated the metal correctly.

There looks to be rot/rust showing through from beneath the primer/seam sealer - I would suggest sorting that out before going any further.

Keep at it - be great once finished!

[phil_griff20]

I can assure you that all the welding is of a very high standard. Its close to factory welds. And i can assure you they have penatrated correctly. Like i said the sealer makes it all look very untidy. Nothing a but of time wont sort.