View Full Version : Mild track car
In early January I went to look at three redtops, I wasn't impressed by two but, I thought this one had great potential so a deal was struck and I took it home.
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/T2eC16dwsE9suwywJ2BQ31j3YOMQ48_80_zps45d2532d.jpg
The test drive was interesting, the seller demonstrated how easly it went to 140mph (filled my pants) and how great it was for overtaking.....seriously though he seemed like a decent helpful guy.
next was a bit testing, due to poor traction the acceleration was pretty poor as was the cornering...time to change suspension and wheels.
FK coilovers for the front, FK dampers and lowered spings for the back. Here is the suspension from the car, the lowered one from my 1.4 track car and the black ones are the ones from this car (Isuspect they are just corsa b parts)
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0146_zpsf31bb34c.jpg
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0148_zps679b502f.jpg
Just took the wheels and tyres of the track car for the moment.
bazzap8389
18-02-13, 11:42 PM
Looks good bud. What you going to be doing to it ?
Body work is amazing, ok signs still in wheelarches etc. I found two tiny holes at the bottom of front wheelarches and the passenger rear bottom arch so a few patches were put on, not pretty but the rear one can be tidied later in better weather and the front ones can't be seen anyway and are solid. No pics yet sorry. Other wise a small scab on the passenger door, other wise completely solid. I'm quite impressed for a Mk2.
Did some more driving with the new suspension etc, a bit better but still wheelspinning whenever my foot goes down. Some advice was to upgrade the front springs to 325 lbs. £50 later (including postage) and ebay for a spanner to do the change, some adjusting to get a good ride hieght and then fitted.
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0167_zpsa746038e.jpg
Realised the bit above the spring is moving and needs to go at the right angle, eventually found it in haynes.
At this point I haven't been able to do any more testing till I get to a track.
Looks good bud. What you going to be doing to it ?
Thanks, it's for a track car but, need it to be useable on the road as it has to drive 125 plus miles each way there and back too.
Whilst setting all this up I got some good advice from Iain and he was almost online to help at the camber stage, much appreciated.
After putting the suspension together I noticed that the angle of both front wheels was different....closer look.
The top hub hole on the struts has some adjustment for camber..aha!
Got the tool for angle adjustment and spent some time setting this.
Then c hecked the tracking with my drive over thing, it said they were toeing in by miles. Didn't want to adjust this until I got it double checked.
Off down to National who got it as toed in by 5 degrees on each wheel, confirmation that I was right, came home and adjusted it.
At this point was hoping to get to the end of January track day before any more money is invested. Of course it was heavy snow so no go.
So another month to wait, yawn.
Bored on the computer....came across a half cage at a reasonable price locally so drove in small country roads in heavy snow to collect it, put it in my swing (tight squeeze) and drove back home with my face almost pressed hard against the screen!
bought some 3mm steel and started trying to cut it and drill holes for the feet and shaping for the step for the central feet.
Didn't realise the front seats etc have to come out.....was very fed up by this point.
Anyway after a lot of work and forcefull manouvering it is in.
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0168_zps96aed5e3.jpg
Decided as the seats were out to put in the drivers bucket and harnesses when putting it all back together. One issue I need to address is the passenger seatbelt isn't moving back and forth freely due to the angle it sits against the cage in the door pillar.
Here it sits at this point.
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0172_zps70632070.jpg
Next was fit a new thermostat, rev counter, the GSi oil pressure gauge (tooks kevs advice and had to break the oil light sender to remove it) voltmeter etc. I decided to fit the clock, get all the display/dash lights working as it was all in bits anyway.
As it's such a noisey car....a parcel shelf with big pioneers to compete.
Last weekend as it was actually sunny, T cut (took forever) wax etc. It's still not a proper deep red but it's not really important. It made a big visual difference though.
from this
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/KGrHqVp0FCydwG3OGBQ31kYtNvw48_80_zps52c26756.jpg
to this
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0176_zps36a1f9a0.jpg
So that's how it stands for the moment, as i said a mild track car. Not much to do until I get some proper driving and testing. There are always a few wee bits of tidying up but it's a Nova!
NoVaBoOt26
19-02-13, 02:16 AM
Looks like a clean mk2 you've got yourself :cool:
Like the look of this mate, are we going to be seeing this at knockhill:thumb:
David.
Nice to finally get to see this new addition mate, looks pretty straight and clean enough anyway. Will be interesting to see what you do with it and how you get on at Knockhill with it :thumb:
Is it just me or is there a bit missing from your coilovers, the bit the seats the spring?
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0167_zpsa746038e.jpg
Nice to finally get to see this new addition mate, looks pretty straight and clean enough anyway. Will be interesting to see what you do with it and how you get on at Knockhill with it :thumb:
Is it just me or is there a bit missing from your coilovers, the bit the seats the spring?
Dunno, that's how they were.
Like the look of this mate, are we going to be seeing this at knockhill:thumb:
David.
Thanks, all being well and weather dependant...Sunday hopefully, will you be there and what car?
Any coilovers ive had through the years had little alloy cups that seated the top of the spring so it wasnt resting against the bearing/original top mount. Just a though mate, not sure if its that important!
She came up well after a quick T-cut though. Might pop up on Sunday to see how your getting on if im free!
Any coilovers ive had through the years had little alloy cups that seated the top of the spring so it wasnt resting against the bearing/original top mount. Just a though mate, not sure if its that important!
She came up well after a quick T-cut though. Might pop up on Sunday to see how your getting on if im free!
You could be right? It would be good if you can make it on Sunday, although I'm not sure how well I'll do but hopefully we can have a laugh anyway!
You could be right? It would be good if you can make it on Sunday, although I'm not sure how well I'll do but hopefully we can have a laugh anyway!
I'll see what the Mrs is doing and if shes not using the car i may well be up there!
You got a passenger seat in with belt OR harnesses?
Heres a pic of my coilovers with said bit, as said im not sure how important it is but maybe someone else could clarify!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/TurboKev_2006/2013-02-19192809.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/TurboKev_2006/2013-02-19192746.jpg
Unfortunately I won't make it as I open my garage on a Sunday.
A few lads I know should be there, scott in the blue nova and Dean in a black corsa b with blue Clio sport wheels.
I hope to make viva Vauxhall at crawl if the weather is decent.
When your on track just go at your own pace mate, it will take a few track days to get used to how the car takes each bend etc as I'm sure kev will agree with since he is a seasoned pro at knockhill.
Your Nova went well today mate, handles and brakes very well and the shell looks a good one so well worth looking after! A few wee tweeks to work on and it il be spot on for a road/mild track car :thumb:
Nice to catch up with you though & thanks for the passenger ride, inspiration for me to get mines finished :d
Thanks kev, was good to see you too and thanks for all the redtop advice...completely new field for me. I hope it's inspiration for you, I want to see and drive your let.
Did you get any pics mate?
Did you get any pics mate?
I didn't think about it and should have asked Kev as he watched from the other side of the track at one point. Maybe someone else took one? Annoyed with myself but I was a bit preoccupied trying to get through the day.
What group were you in mate? Group 1 normally had most of the novas etc
Was Scott up in the nova saloon mate?
yes, i never spoke to him but, his car really handles the corners well, a good set up.
Never got any pics, i was going to get some to as there was a few novas on track but by the time i'd spoken to folks i knew and then got a passenger ride round the track that was pretty much the afternoon over!
I will see if Dean or Scott put any videos on YouTube
matthew172
25-02-13, 08:16 PM
you deffo need to get a propper spring top cap/ seat on there
you deffo need to get a propper spring top cap/ seat on there
Where do you get these from and what happens without? I ran it all year the same as it is just now.
My views on how it went at Knockhill yesterday......
A few running issues to sort, one being new oil!
I would say as far as it goes a pretty average standard track car (kev may disagree lol ), not terrible and not an evo beater!
Engine pulls pretty well on straights, did a few overtakes and got cross behind people who don't pull in but there was a GSi Cavalier whom I took once but never caught him again, I don't know whether he has done anything with it but despite being heavier he pulled well.
Handling....surprisingly it wasn't bad, completely different to every Nova I have driven (all smallblocks). It seemed quite settled and held despite the track being damp. Didn't feel as nimble as my 1.4 and there was a 1.6 there which was better on the corners. However, my tyres being cheapos, are rubbish in damp so perhaps other tyres (or dry weather in Scotland?) will give me more grip.
Just for interest for people, i got it weighed. 122 kilos heavier. 857kg
Half a tank of fuel, it's only a half cage and the suspension/wheels won't be much heavier so most of that is on the front axle, explains why it feels completely different to small blocks. I could strip rear seats and stuff (not going down the fully stripped route) but as it's in the back, not sure that'll help handling much?
Race lines, took similar ones as the 1.4, as it was damp and a lot more power there were a few issues with loosing traction coming out of corners and the odd twitch but only once at the hairpin did I think I would loose it, slowed down and stopped momentarily, just managed to stay on the black stuff, my bad judgement for braking.
Brakes seemed to hold up, a bt of wobble once or twice meaning a little over heating, but they still worked.
Overall? Not bad, faster than the 1.4 but as yet, not quite as much fun. I think when it was the underdog, any overtake felt amazing and had to constantly redline it, in time I'm sure I'll adjust, and it is good to overtake more cars.
Na i thought it went well for your first time out in it. Seems a good strong engine, thought it felt quite firm and planted on track, tyres seemed good considering what they were but it was dry by the time i got there so dont know what you were dealing with in the morning and the brakes felt pretty good too. Get some braces, a rear arb, better tyres, possibly some better discs and pads and ofcourse a bloody oil change is all i'd recommend for now mate. Driving wise i would use the revs more than you did and also use more of the track to get straighter lines through some of the corners, ofcourse thats just my opinion and everyone has their own driving styles but then like you said its a totally different car on track to the 1.4 which you are used to.
You made it back up the road allright then?
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