1989 MK1 Vauxhall Nova 5dr Merit - 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. It's a work in progress I've owned it since November 2012 it had 12 monts MOT with no advisories and still seems fairly solid underneath.

[cossienova]

It doesn't look to bad in my opinion iv seen worst! The doors are always rusting bad on 5 doors yours look like their just starting. I'd use a wire wheel on a grinder to attack them and depending what happens then either fibreglass if not too bad or weld. It shouldn't take much White always shows up worst than it is!

[christurboo]

that dont look bad, doors and wings are only bolt on so you could just change them, as for front panel take it back to bare metal and make sure you treat the rust

[Calamity Josh]

as the other guys said, personally i'd wire wheel or rub down any rust sections, so long as they don't become holes the best thing to do it rust treat them, i usually use genolite, then sand it back down again, primer and paint yourself, should be a reasonably good job with a rattle can as it's only white
personally wouldn't really want to put fiberglass into my car, maybe if theres a slight roughness because of the rust after treating and before paint apply a small skim of filler

[John]

Seen this on Instagram, leave it as it is and enjoy the more door! :)

[DAVIDKEDENS]

Seen it on Insta**** too.

[millworm]

seen this in instagram aswell nice car mate looks sweet for a more door

[Asa-James]

from this:
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/E801%20GCG/IMGP1344.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/asa_037/media/E801%20GCG/IMGP1344.jpg.html)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/E801%20GCG/IMGP1343.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/asa_037/media/E801%20GCG/IMGP1343.jpg.html)

to this:
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/VBOA%202009/IMGP2371.jpg (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/asa_037/media/VBOA%202009/IMGP2371.jpg.html)

in a few hours, as has been said, grind as much out as possible. i ended up patching three of the four doors with fiberglass as the holes were pretty big, and i'm useless with a welder. worked well, and the doors were still pretty solid when it went 18 months later.

viva la 5 door

[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

[jimbob-mcgrew]

nice ride :thumb:

what suspension you got ?

[kent14sr]

Looking good!

Did I see you had it up for sale?

[Ryan89Nova]

Yeah put it on eBay to see what offers it picked up in its old rust state. But decided to do the work on te rust myself and keep her.

Can anyone tell me how/where I would get access to the car horn or what it might need doing to get it working again? Obviously will need this for its MOT in November

[kent14sr]

It will need a working horn to pass the MOT

If you look under the bonnet to the lower right - look for the gearbox to inner wing mounting bracket. The horn is mounted under this bracket (to the bracket). You may find it easier to jack the car up or put it on ramps to see it from underneath.

You can check the operation of the unit by removing the two wires and attach a multimeter or bulb. Turn on ignition and press the horn - see if bulb lights or meter shows 12v. If so, replace the unit. If not check wiring, button on steering wheel and contact ring on back of steering wheel.

[Asa-James]

liking this. tidy little motor :)

[Ryan89Nova]

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/D9E5A260-0CC4-4762-BEB7-C4EADF4EDB1C-1329-0000017D1CFDCB44_zps42ae9e40.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/554059A7-B6D1-4C1F-923C-0C3A1F630917-1329-0000017D15C66800_zpse854301a.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/FB4EFD53-BEA4-43DC-8EB4-1A9732ABF582-1329-0000017D2754955D_zps545ae636.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/485D29D7-0E37-4305-A745-39D25C55E0B8-1329-0000017D2E5ACDEF_zps707c7724.jpg

Interior cleaned up very nicely

[Ryan89Nova]

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/058A6123-E558-4C18-A404-EA551DAE469B-1329-00000184350EE483_zps0f16664b.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/12191868-AB62-4D82-9832-21EB4D2C1002-1329-00000183DCE08AAF_zps14b32aee.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/34425434-9D75-425C-BB1D-D5B6E6DC4ACD-1329-000001847B5367B4_zps48988a44.jpg


Definite improvements from when I first bought her

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/itsryansparrow/2EFCD363-0DFB-4CA2-B727-C97DD0C87825-8818-000006A7AD6E45B6_zpsd7330c62.jpg

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

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

[kent14sr]

Where has the front tow hook gone?? Its there is first photos.

[Graeme]

GTE trims work well

[cossienova]

Looks good nice work.

[BlakeFourTwenty]

I have the same car man, weirdly my horn doesnt work, and for a while the fuel gauge stopped, only to randomly start working again for no reason. Looking clean! keep up the good work.