Nova GTE

[nova.mike]

Hi guys, managed to get myself a nova today, you will have probably have seen it on eBay, which is where I first saw the car and next day I drove up to Peterlee to view it. Fell in love with it straight away and put down my deposit that night.

A bit about myself; I own two corsa c's one which is bog standard 1L which I use for work and here is my other one which is now sorn'd.

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/4249/pem7.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/593/pem7.jpg/)

Z20let with m32 (6 speed box) you may have seen it in total vauxhall last year and a couple of recent PVS's...

Now onto the Nova, arrived at my house 10am this morning. Started cracking on with it straight away really by giving it a good wash and polish which helped me find little odds and sods which needed doing to it :)

Pre wash and polish:

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9357/laoo.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/laoo.jpg/)

Post wash and polish:

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9494/qn0l.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/qn0l.jpg/)

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2030/syvl.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/syvl.jpg/)

Paintwork comes up really well, the last owner said it had only done 500 miles since it was resprayed...

Underneath its still got the 1.6 engine; runs sweet as a nut :D Bilstein shocks, willwood 4 pot front brakes, astra gte rear beam with discs, rollcage, cobra bucket seats, battery relocated to boot etc. I'm really chuffed with it but as I said earlier little things need doing which I will sort over the next few months :)

Thanks for looking! Mike!

[8valve-craig]

Love this car.

Did the guy you bought it off buy it to make a profit on? or did he build it? I saw it for sale for half the price just a few months ago.

[mikey093]

Liking both the motors bud :thumb:

[nova.mike]

Love this car.

Did the guy you bought it off buy it to make a profit on? or did he build it? I saw it for sale for half the price just a few months ago.

Still needed alot of things doing to it I think mate, paint etc.


Liking both the motors bud :thumb:

Cheers :)

[peester]

This red GTE has become one of the top ones out there. A hint of old skool scene about it. (Early 2000's)

[bazil]

Good to see its found a home, the original build thread for this car is on here too,

[bazzap8389]

Really nice car that, is that mike b's old one?

[8valve-craig]

Apart from something as trivial as the rear plate there is genuinely not one thing I would change on it.

[_Jake]

Nicest GTE out there easily, please take the stickers off the rear windows though!

[Southie]

Really nice car that, is that mike b's old one?

That's the one, here's his old build thread:
http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?92513-New-Member-New-Project&

[NathanKirkpatrick]

that is one lovely nova buddy. make sure you look after it well :)

[Rickyb]

Ive always loved this car glad its now getting the use it deserves.
Rick

[Mike B GTE]

Still needed alot of things doing to it I think mate, paint etc.

Bollocks. It needed painted and the handbrake sorting out. The end.


Hope one of the things you have planned is to ditch that bloody tow strap!


Glad it's found a good home at last.

[nova.mike]

Bollocks. It needed painted and the handbrake sorting out. The end.


Hope one of the things you have planned is to ditch that bloody tow strap!


Glad it's found a good home at last.

It has found a good home, don't worry gonna really look after her im a big vauxhall fan :)

Got a few jobs which need doing:

Doesnt seem to have any side reps but looks like the wires are in the wing.
Speedo not working
No horn
Change rear 3 windows to polycarb which are scratches like the back window
Tidy up engine bay.

I seriously love this car, comes with lots of spares too like bike carbs etc, But dont think they'll go on.

[Mike B GTE]

Side rep wires are behind the wings, they were working when I sold it, probably just not been pulled through after being painted.

The horn was wired up to a button on the grey dash but I had no intention of putting a hole in my flocked one so the wires will need to be traced and connected back to the steering wheel button.


I miss that car! Hope you really enjoy it!

[Mazz]

I seriously hope you didn't pay the full asking price!! Real shame Mike B didn't finish it..

[nova.mike]

Side rep wires are behind the wings, they were working when I sold it, probably just not been pulled through after being painted.

The horn was wired up to a button on the grey dash but I had no intention of putting a hole in my flocked one so the wires will need to be traced and connected back to the steering wheel button.


I miss that car! Hope you really enjoy it!

Found no horn on the car just the old relay. Rewired this afternoon ready for a new horn coming in the post.

Side reps pulled through the wings and found ford units :L Looking for a nova breaking for replacements now.


I seriously hope you didn't pay the full asking price!! Real shame Mike B didn't finish it..

No I didn't payed a bit under :)

[nova.mike]

As mentioned above spent the afternoon on the car, got some jobs done.

Speedo sorted, turned out it wasn't plugged into the back of the clocks.

Rewired the horn relay to the centre button on the steering wheel, ordered a new horn today should come middle of next week.

As mentioned above managed to pull the side repeaters out from the wing to find a ford fitment bulb holder, so messaged a couple of people on eBay who are breaking nova's; fingers crossed should have something sorted next week :)

Couple of pics today:

Clipped horn relay under engine bay seal, nicely hidden.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4305/sxm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/89/sxm1.jpg/)

Side rep cables out of wing and wrapped in tissue ready for replacements

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/6489/lk50.JPG (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/lk50.JPG/)


Cheers guys! :)

[NathanKirkpatrick]

Thats a mean looking nova ;)

[Mike B GTE]

Awesome!!

Keep us updated!

[Copie]

Love the car nobby, will pop over and see it before work quickly 1 time

[nova.mike]

Love the car nobby, will pop over and see it before work quickly 1 time

Tuesday?

[nova.mike]

Starting cleaning the engine bay with the old brake cleaner this morning, grease was baked onto the rocker cover but I managed to get it all off, gave the silicon hoses a wipe down etc etc. Looking alot cleaner afterwards :) Last owner forgot to send carbon scuttle cover with the car so should receive that end of this week/beginning of next hopefully which will tidy it up further :)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/157/oxe5.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/oxe5.jpg/)

Next I moved onto the passenger side aero catch which didn't sit properly. Removed the pin, hacksaw'd the top off as the plastic cover was hitting it and replaced it

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/421/o9ma.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13/o9ma.jpg/)

Dab of paint for the top

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/5967/5ecn.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/5ecn.jpg/)

bonet shut and catch working properly :)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/6517/5dqv.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/577/5dqv.jpg/)


Cheers guys :)

[nova.mike]

Couple of little bits done over last couple of days while the forum has been down.

Popped to scrappy and sourced a bonet holder off a corsa c. Cut a couple of tabs off and fits perfect :)

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/716/nveg.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/839/nveg.jpg/)

Side reps came, wired in and fitted

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/9213/sll9.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/694/sll9.jpg/)

[nova.mike]

More updates :)

Horn came and wired in. Its a high pitched one :p

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9537/uiq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/uiq8.jpg/)

Black wheel nutts also came along with vauxhall valves caps, couple of nice little touches! :)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5416/qy0y.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/qy0y.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7219/kj3z.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/kj3z.jpg/)

Cheers guys!

[lee 16v]

The horn is meant to be in the wheel arch, i think it bolts to the car with the bolt that holds the bumper on, or there should be wires at the front on the gear box, I think its on the fan wires, might look better out of the way.

[_Jake]

The horn is meant to be in the wheel arch, i think it bolts to the car with the bolt that holds the bumper on, or there should be wires at the front on the gear box, I think its on the fan wires, might look better out of the way.
Both the horns on my mk1 and mk2 were off of the gearbox mount

[Andy]

Bolts to the front gearbox mount does the horn!

[lee 16v]

Did some not come with two horns? I am 99% My old SR had one in the wheel arch!

Also why would the wires be at that side of the engine bay if I am wrong?

[bazil]

Your both right, twin tones on a gte had a horn on the box mount and one on the bumper bolt holes under the n/s wing

[lee 16v]

Your both right, twin tones on a gte had a horn on the box mount and one on the bumper bolt holes under the n/s wing

Thank you, that's what I said to start with.
Here is a photo of the horn that would have been in the wheel arch
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c170/lee216v/photo-81.jpg (http://s27.photobucket.com/user/lee216v/media/photo-81.jpg.html)

[nova.mike]

Place for horn is temporary, however I quite like it there.

[nova.mike]

Window rubbers arrived in the post this afternoon, Fitted and decided to give her a wash and polish :)

Doesnt give the car justice :(

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3600/b5eu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/b5eu.jpg/)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3511/jzc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/401/jzc6.jpg/)

[BRoadGhost]

You could loose the vinyl on the b pilars to clean it up a bit.

[lee 16v]

Look old skool cool, looks like what you would see bazzing about down saaath-end 10 years ago

Its also nice to see a GTE that didnt end up with a face lift, jap body kit and flip paint

[Mike B GTE]

Is it missing the rubber under the front quarter windows now?? Every time I look in this thread I notice more bits missing.

What's the plan for the b-pillar vinyls?

[bazil]

Is it missing the rubber under the front quarter windows now?? Every time I look in this thread I notice more bits missing.

What's the plan for the b-pillar vinyls?

it has the rubber designed for the window frames on the quarter window but the main window has a standard rubber, that's why it looks missing,

Imo fit front frames and fit vinyl on the door,

[nova.mike]

I quite like the carbon b-pillars so their staying. A small weep has just begun on the fuel tank, but managed to get one for £30 delivered with sender. Ball ache of a job but has to be done. Least I know its another part which I won't have to bother with in the future :)

[bazil]

Didn't realise it was carbon on the pillars, hope you get the door done to match.

[nova.mike]

Didn't realise it was carbon on the pillars, hope you get the door done to match.

Got some in my bedroom wardrobe actually, so quite possibly could :)

[Benn]

FUNK ME! I love this car, looks fantastic, if fitting the front window trims will help with the pillar stickering... Wont look a lil out of place that way..

[pie]

oooo I thought this GTE was in hiding lol lol

nice to see it all painted :)

[16v]

I love this Car just how a gte should look

[nova.mike]

Had a piss about these last few days, got a second hand tank painted up and fitted filled with petrol to find the new tank leaking the following morning.

Decided im gonna a lightweight race tank which will sit in the boot. Will look at buying one next couple of days :)

[nova.mike]

plumbed in the fuel lines today ready for new tank coming end of next week. Looking forward to it :)

[ocdstigy]

I love this car <3

[nova.mike]

I love this car <3

Thanks pal :)



Couple more updates today, old owner finally sent my carbon scuttle.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/2507/y65w.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/y65w.jpg/)


http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/3204/fopf.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/fopf.jpg/)



Wind deflectors on!

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/8839/w9h3.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/545/w9h3.jpg/)



Little inside door vents on!

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2144/o81q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/138/o81q.jpg/)



Cheers!

[nova.mike]

New fuel tank in and runs fine, took it for a little spin today and all was good. Tried to reverse it into the garage afterwards and couldn't find reverse.... Think the exhaust is fouling the gear selector, Need to take it to a garage and get it up on a ramp, its far too much of a pain with a jack and axle stands.

[Pistol Pete]

Looking good. Edges of the scuttle are meant to sit under the wings by the way.

[nova.mike]

Looking good. Edges of the scuttle are meant to sit under the wings by the way.

Okay thanks!

Fuel pump packed in sunday during a test drive down my road (good job I wasn't far from my house) Pushed car back :L

Fitted new one this afternoon and running again :)

Touch wood more or less finished now :)

[Mike B GTE]

Any joy with the exhaust / linkage issue??

[nova.mike]

Any joy with the exhaust / linkage issue??

Yeah all sorted now :)

[Mike B GTE]

Any updates on this???

[nova.mike]

Any updates on this???

Polycarbonate windows are here, I fitted the fronts a couple of days ago. Havn't really driven the car much since a 300 mile round trip along the north Yorkshire coast line last month. Will be taking car off road for winter, taxing it around march time. Generally do love this car its so cool.

On the other hand sold my Corsa turbo this morning and also my little works corsa will go. Going to look at a clio 182 trophy on wednesday as a new daily :)

[NathanKirkpatrick]

Get some more pics up :)

[nova.mike]

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/594/9o5l.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/gi9o5lj)

I posted this on the facebook page a couple of days ago a few of you may have seen it...

Wired in a battery isolation switch near the handbrake onto a carbon fibre mount, Wired the horn to its factory place using a little red button (looks pretty cool) and the Racing fuel tank all done now. Just a tiny little jobs to do before summer. I love my Nova!!!!

P.S You can see the poly carb windows too :)

[dgbnova#1]

Love this car well smart

[Mike B GTE]

Looking awesome! such a shame its lost its Engelmanns though.

Keep up the good work AND GET THOSE DOOR PILLARS DONE! :)

[NathanKirkpatrick]

What's your Facebook name?

[Benn]

Looks fan frigging tastic! Love this to bits.

[nova.mike]

Cheers guys :) Facebook name is my name lol: Michael Douglas (not the film actor ;))

[NathanKirkpatrick]

Cheers guys :) Facebook name is my name lol: Michael Douglas (not the film actor ;))

cant find you man :L

[scott.parker]

Nice to see its still getting tlc.

[nova.mike]

cant find you man :L

try

michael_douglas_2@hotmail.co.uk

[istf]

Looks ace! I love it!

[nova.mike]

Finally got some time on the car this past week as I've been off from work...

Bought a few things, including front window surrounds with seals and a rose quick shift gear linkage with money from items which I've sold (bike carbs, spare mirrors etc)...

Cars been on a bit of a diet/tidy up to. I do love a lightweight stripped out car :)

Firstly: removed the front tow strap finally and painted the tow eye black

http://s29.postimg.org/jgo0vcepf/IMG_1332.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/jgo0vcepf/)

Added pull straps to the doors

http://s29.postimg.org/uy8z0jk37/IMG_1331.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/uy8z0jk37/)

Removed the fill neck as it was doing nothing, covered with a bit of carbon fibre which I cut out of a old bit laying around in my garage, looks cool.

http://s29.postimg.org/fqszg6s8j/IMG_1349.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/fqszg6s8j/)

Removed the old boot catch thingy

http://s29.postimg.org/mjtccgj1v/IMG_1380.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/mjtccgj1v/)

Covered with another bit of carbon

http://s4.postimg.org/q7loizy3d/IMG_1406.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/q7loizy3d/)

Also removed the heater and some other bits behind the dash including sound deadening.

http://s4.postimg.org/twfyw7xi1/IMG_1402.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/twfyw7xi1/)

http://s4.postimg.org/qn1jpr9eh/IMG_1404.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/qn1jpr9eh/)

Just a couple of jobs to do before I get it on the road main one being fitted the gear linkage :)

Cheers guys

[mr sri]

As said in a previous post its nice to see a standard gte in a standard colour, looks like a real head turner :-)

[nova.mike]

So its a long time since I've updated this thread but the car is going strong and I'm really enjoying driving it :)

Concentrating now on lightening the car as much as possible now...

Jobs for winter:

I have removed the Heater matrix, rest of the heating system will come out once its off the road in winter.
Grind out spare wheel well, weld plate and make a flat floor for my fuel tank and battery to sit on, will then be able to remove the false floor saving more weight.
Stripping down the dash, cutting down wiring loom and remove sound deadening.
Possibly looking at removing my sunroof, anyone had any experience of this? Will save a fair chunk of weight and will bring the centre of gravity down also.

I have also fitted my performance cam pulley which looks cool too:D

Love this pic; if you look closely you can see my custom GTE centre caps :D

http://i60.tinypic.com/28iq3b9.jpg

[Benn]

Looking good. Nice plans.

[nova.mike]

I have the front surrounds but not keen on them whatsoever, what do people think about removing the rear ones too?

[Benn]

Looks great in the photo above, so id say keep the rears.

[nova.mike]

Yeah I think I will :)

[peester]

I have the front surrounds but not keen on them whatsoever, what do people think about removing the rear ones too?

I say no keep the window surrounds; it'll look more 'fake GTE' - keeps some originality and breaks up the sea of red. The B pillar vinyl and the rear boot deck vinyl compliment it. Also the way the surrounds at the back go to a coupe-like point is far nicer than the rounded, corner-cutting rubber window seal only look.
Just my opinion. But you'll have to be keep on them yourself - these days they're often in such tatty condition; temperamental to fit and stay fitted - I had moments where I wanted to give up with mine.
But yes; fit the fronts too.