MK1 1.2 Vauxhall Nova tips/advice

[Ryan89Nova]

Okay so this is my 1989 5dr Nova it's been extremely reliable since I've had it and required little work (new front tyre and brake pads) I've been half tempted to sell it but at the same time tempted to put money into it since its done me so well - my main issue is rust as you will see from the pics below around the bottom of the front doors and the front skirt especially have a few patches of rust - I was looking for some tips on fixing this and if its fairly basic to do myself?

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/1BF99DB1-C1A1-4AF4-820B-EF2E38F9FB77-8614-00000952592B19FA_zps80bf3bee.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/F748CBD0-5744-48AC-A50A-7F5528C160D0-8614-00000951DF1DE79B_zpsfc0c3da1.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/B321EC84-D5E8-4404-AB46-07E012D687E5-8614-00000956DE70C500_zps76d20131.jpg

The runners also have a fair bit of rust.

Also tips of getting the horn working again/fuel guage working would be also appreciated. I realise it's a 5dr Merit which isn't the most desirable model but its served me well so far and only 52k on the clock at the moment.

[meritlover]

if your O/S/F chassis is rotten so badly that the toe eye has fallen off then a horn and fuel gauge is the least of your worries.

[Andy]

my sentiments exactly mr meritlover

[Ryan89Nova]

The toe eye was damaged during an accident/collision with a dog a couple of months ago hence the replacement front bumper and number plate

[meritlover]

i take it the dog walked away unharmed then?

coliding with a dog should not break a towing eye off a sound chassis leg.

that aside, hiding brown rust on a white car is tricky. A good cutting compound and some decent wax polish should help take out some of the yellow stains and give a decent finish. 2 new front wings and a quick spray will tidy the front. The doors are ticky as the bubbles are likely to be supporting the remainder of the paint. new skins, replacement frame sections and a spray is the right way to do it, or wire brush, P45, mesh and a rattle can if you are looking for a bodge/tidy-up/hash-up.

an SR/GTE bumper will tidy up the valance if you dont want to cut/patch/weld.

ML
xxx

[Andy]

This must be a wind up surely??
A dog clattered ya tow eye off??

[Ryan89Nova]

After hitting it at 55mph the front end was in worse condition than it currently is. Although I'm sure the age of the car and condition of the front end probably played a part too, the garage fully checked the car over and didn't raise any concerns considering the age, just looking for advice on rust repair and the other bits listed above.

[meritlover]

..... just looking for advice on rust repair and the other bits listed above.

see my earlier post then

[mowgli]

the only way to fix rust is to remove it & put new non rusty metal in its place. sorry.

[Nova00]

I wish it was that simple


the only way to fix rust is to remove it & put new non rusty metal in its place. sorry.

[mowgli]

it is, but sadly its rather expensive.

[Ryan89Nova]

I've now finished my amateur rust repair job on the Nova..

Before:

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/1C3FF1F4-C196-42EA-BB5A-74F3A40F9EE9-8818-000006A9105C0965_zpse1042948.jpg


After:
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/458A0F0B-A1E1-4358-875D-53FEF398B797-8818-000006A5FC2B3BC9_zpse889e2b4.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/5F8AB7EF-D741-4798-9DF8-6C0C5AECAF58-8818-000006A6F7E42A76_zps17e808a2.jpg

This runner was pretty bad before but didn't get a pic
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/DB36BEC3-A155-4F98-9D1B-6271C4153837-8818-000006A9FE825E74_zps7537a6d9.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/7C60D02D-FAF6-46A4-A204-9315A3275810-8818-000006AA761212A8_zps44e959ba.jpg


I did my own amateur job on it anyway, sanded down to bare metal given rust treatment then two layers of primer followed by two layers of vauxhall glacier white paint. It'll do it wasnt too expensive and looks a bit better than it did