1990 Vauxhall Nova SR

[oVerboost]

A fair few of you know this car, and have probably owned it too... But now it's my turn. lol

I grew up with novas, and my first, second and third cars were all novas followed by one in the early 00's. After buying a house and settling down I wanted a project/toy that put the smile back on my face so went in search of another nova.

Found this one that had a few problems, but nothing too drastic, knocked the seller down to a price I was happy with and bought it. Drove the car back from Bristol to Plymouth and then today was time to assess the car properly.

Had a good look underneath, at the repairs carried out and all seems fairly good. The car did have a problem with full throttle (see mechanical forum) but that all seems to be sorted now (hopefully).

This is the spec of the engine/car:

1990 Vauxhall Nova SR in very rare Laser blue metallic, ARP con-rod bolts, baffled sump, Anderson Racing 007 camshafts, uprated fuel pump, Courtney Group N ECU, Mantzel powercap, Magnex stainless steel full system, Magnecor leads, Cavalier GSI brake upgrade, Fully seam welded throughout, Front & Rear strut braces, 16" Alessio Speedline alloy wheels resprayed anthracite, Lowered all round, Up-rated bushes throughout, Recaro EVO front seats and plenty more that I cannot remember!

And as I am a detailer by trade, spent the day washing, claying and fully detailing the car and these are the results:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/29D65E06-6E22-49E4-B614-5795F8193A03-31530-00000E749E95A292_zps6f818b08.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/5D815D11-D039-405A-B1DF-96F16C85FE59-31530-00000E74AD6AF3DD_zpsd2bc52b2.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/D93C01EB-0063-48CC-9269-0BF64C124E33-31530-00000E74B263C709_zps173d8dcc.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/BB1B14E7-439D-4843-A8DD-6396D5E65A9A-31530-00000E74CAB7ABB4_zps99731234.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/B0AF3678-2874-483E-BF56-04B763B0CBD2-31530-00000E74CF408DC4_zps68aa4889.jpg

The car is booked in to have the plastic side skirts removed and the sills and side grey parts re-painted as they've not been fitted the best and I want it to look completely original exterior wise. :)

[kent14sr]

Great project and its a stunning colour!

Still looks the part! Have the rust issues been sorted?

[DAVIDKEDENS]

This is bloody stunning... apart from the gay colour scheme on the rocker cover. :thumb:

[oVerboost]

Great project and its a stunning colour!

Still looks the part! Have the rust issues been sorted?

Yes, the car was given a bare metal respray and all the bad bits cut out, repaired with new panels etc and replaced before being fully seam welded ready for the XE conversion. :)

And agree, the colour is the best part. Rarely do you see novas, but in laser blue - even rarer! ;) The rocker cover is okay, although I am going to probably colour code it if I am honest, or do it the same colour as the wheels are.

Will be getting the side skirts taken off and the sides re-done how they should.

[andyredtop83]

Really nice car mate, i reckon it would look better without the skirts to, they dont look right with the vinyl on the sr models

[bazzap8389]

Stunning car, nice purchase :thumb:

[Acerliam]

Looking really clean mate

[oVerboost]

Thanks guys :)

[John]

Sweeet!

[sport]

Always loved this Nova due to the colour.

[NOV4_SPORT]

Very nice mate, it's an Awsome little nova have always like the mk1 in the colour.

Iain

[istf]

Beautiful!

[boss]

Love this car same colour as mine aswell

[NathanKirkpatrick]

one word STUNNING

[oVerboost]

Here is an update from my mate's bodyshop who is doing the work, looking much better and now back to original (no skirts and grey sides not black paint!) side strips were re-fitted after this pic was taken:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/null_zps2afbcd22.jpg

[bazzap8389]

Looks much better without the skirts :thumb:

[Pulsar_stu]

Looks very nice in that colour!

[Nunnsy]

Lovely looking Nova

[kent14sr]

Look amazing with grey lowers and no skirts!!

[oVerboost]

Got it back from the bodyshop, original grey sides, no sideskirts and the side mouldings pressed flat and re-fitted straight. Looks a lot better! Tomorrow it will be getting detailed (again)...

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/null_zpsb21a5974.jpg

[Benn]

SAid it on Mig, lovely car. Looks great.

[oVerboost]

SAid it on Mig, lovely car. Looks great.

Thanks bud. :)

[oVerboost]

Here are a few from today now after spending the past few hours on it, sporting it's back to original grey sides etc:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/DSCN0204_zps7c464ede.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/DSCN0205_zps6a31aca3.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/DSCN0208_zps4aeee607.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/DSCN0210_zps5e18a802.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/DSCN0212_zpsaf44fdb5.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/DSCN0213_zps59c439f0.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/DSCN0219_zps545b1ac7.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/DSCN0221_zps3a1488ab.jpg

[Acerliam]

Looks clean mate +rep

[M Sutton]

Very very nice!!

[88ESR]

Lovely..

Great colour..:thumb::thumb:

[oVerboost]

I am toying with the idea of either twin carbs or throttle bodies. :)

[oVerboost]

Washed and waxed the car, then went for a drive and took a few pictures. Here they are...

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/HDRside_zps171f544a.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/HDRlow_zps85e01ea2.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/HDRtop_zps3fa7de2a.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/cossiecris/HDRback_zps81ecc820.jpg

[bazil]

I hate this thread lol,

I had my build planned out, now I've seen this I want to copy it lol

Looks cracking, really stunning motor you have there :)

[paulyb]

Wow, beautiful colour Nova you have there, great subtle mods:)

[ledgendnov]

Sick ! What coulor the wheels painted ?

[Novaload_Nick]

Love this, what's it lowered on mate?

[oVerboost]

Sick ! What coulor the wheels painted ?

Random anthracite, sorry that answer doesn't help much I know :)

[oVerboost]

Love this, what's it lowered on mate?

Spax shocks and springs -60mm

[oVerboost]

I hate this thread lol,

I had my build planned out, now I've seen this I want to copy it lol

Looks cracking, really stunning motor you have there :)

Thanks bud :)

[Spudly]

Only just seen this thread, have to say its looking way better than it did when the lad round here had it about six or so years back, good to see the old 'rotbox' being looked after lol




Here's what it looked like back then if youre interested...


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/spudly01/Events%20Piccies/DSC00909.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/spudly01/DSC00225.jpg

[oVerboost]

Agreed, it does look a thousand times better now lol. Even the water effect rear plate in those pics make it look terrible! At least it's now in safe hands ;)

[gary_126]

stunning!

[oVerboost]

Well I have ditched the idea of throttle bodies for the time being, now that it is running correctly I am more than happy with the power it's got. Going to get it dyno tested to see what it is actually putting out, as with the cams and other uprated bits it certainly feels lively for an N/A engine, albeit in a light car! lol

[therealnovaboy]

looks ace.

Anthracite rocker cover
Remove the stickers in the bay
Clean the water/fluid bottles
move that earth crimped to the distributor
and fit the corsa 1.2 throttle cable

Please dont take that as a criticism but with that done i think it would be near perfect.

[oVerboost]

looks ace.

Anthracite rocker cover
Remove the stickers in the bay
Clean the water/fluid bottles
move that earth crimped to the distributor
and fit the corsa 1.2 throttle cable

Please dont take that as a criticism but with that done i think it would be near perfect.

Agreed about the rocker cover, the washer bottle has been replaced with a brand new one, the earth was only a temp fix for the fan as the switch had broken so that is now sorted. Stickers in the engine bay have also been removed, and what does the Corsa 1.2 throttle cable do? :)

[bazil]

Hides the throttle cable so it doesn't loop over the rocker cover

[oVerboost]

Ah I see, okay I may swap it over although personally, it doesn't bother me. lol

[Southie]

This is Spudly's with the throttle cable mod ;)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a36/spudly01/4702128B-34D2-40A0-BCBA-5F6D4309DE11-639-0000006E0A447FDB_zps6aad41b0.jpg

[maddogdaz666]

Very clean, nice looking SR! I love the colour too, A friend of mine had a laser blue GTE and it was awesome, till a lorry pulled out on us :(

[oVerboost]

Very clean, nice looking SR! I love the colour too, A friend of mine had a laser blue GTE and it was awesome, till a lorry pulled out on us :(

Nasty! :( Hopefully I have better luck than that...

[Benn]

TB cable mod is a must. Did mine years ago and never understood when everyone doesn't...

[skud52]

lovely looking car this mate

[zeifer33]

Are you sure that you drive these cars??? alls are in perfects conditions.... fantastic car:thumb:

[jonnyd61]

does the bulk head have to be pushed far back so the sfi boxes fit ??

[oVerboost]

Are you sure that you drive these cars??? alls are in perfects conditions.... fantastic car:thumb:

Mine is my daily! :)

[zeifer33]

Mine is my daily! :)

:eek:OMG:eek:

When i rebuilt my first GTE, i use it as a daily car and after the first year did not look anything like what it was.lol

I must said again that is a beutiful machine:thumb:

[oVerboost]

Thanks bud, but it is washed every other day and detailed at least twice a week so it is well cared for :)