Nova 2.0 Turbo Conversion

[nistec]

Hello everyone, before i continue, i would just like to let you know that i am a technician for nissan, so have extensive technical knowledge, however i am looking for extensive advice from you guys, the enthusiasts of the nova.

In the past year i have built a 250bhp micra k10 with a sr20de lump from a sunny gti, and now i am lookign to make a nova track car.

After looking around, at corsas, clios, 106's and mk2 fiestas i decided on the nova.

I dont want a red top, i have gone down the N/A route with the micra and i want a turbo toy now.

However, before buying a shell, before buying an engine or doing ANYTHING i need some extensive background knowledge, which with nissan i had, however with vauxhall, i do not.



1.What engine? How easy does the lump fit? What mounts? What gearbox? What brakes?

2.Is there a way of converting to either rwd or awd? (calibre 4x4?)

3.As many links as possible to as many resources as possible

Basically just let me as much as possible about what shell, what engine, how to get it in, what wiring harness to use, where to mount things.

[nistec]

how bloody rude am i

i forgot to say thankyou, and i appreciate anyone and everyones help

[Paul]

C20 Let from a Cavalier or Calibra Turbo. 204bhp out the box. Fairly easily tuneable to 300 odd bhp. Then the bottom end starts to melt. Think they run 7psi as standard.

Brakes, weel you can either use Vectra V6, Calibra/Cav Turbo 288mm, calipers bolt straight onto hub, discs will either need re drilling to 4 stud or buy premade ones.

Then you can upgrade further to 4 pots or whatever but the you're talking more ?. Nova GSi/GTE/SRi/TD Servo too, unless you want to change to a pedal box.

Rears, Im assuming its a trackday weapon, so you won't have any weight over the rears, i would keep the standard drums, as the rear brake conversion, setup from an astra gte modified onto a nova beam. M tech seel this kit for around ?99. rear discs on a nova with no weight over the rear wheels tend to lock up quite easily and make the arse end twitch under heavy braking and in the wet. You could get a different bias control valve from a nova saloon, think the one youre after is prited 25/?? on it.

In car bias control valve, or cheap method i do beleive is a simple air bubble in the rear system to calm it down a bit.

Engine mounts, with a turbo i'd reccommend a Harry Hockley kit, which also strengthens the bay. If not stitch weld the seams, and buy a conversion kit from valvers.com

The gearbox as standard is a 6 speed f28, beleiv these can take up to around 300-350bhp before going on meltdown. The f20 as used in astra gte 16v's, cav gsi's, astra gsi's and claibra 16vs (c20xe) is good for around 200-230bhp I think. This is only a five speed. A lot easier to fit than the f28 but nowhere near as good. The f28 needs a blanking plate for the transfer box. Also I'm pretty sure some of the chassis has to be modified to fit this box in.

The manifold obviously has to be fabricated, to link up with the niova exhaust system. You will wnat either a 2 1/2 or 3" maybe bigger depending on power.

when building a big spec turbo, I have also heard that front panel gets in the way, as its so cramped down the front end. with an FMIC, Rad, Turbo, Fan, Manifold in a 50cm space or something! It makes life a hell of a lot easier to fabricate a removable front panel, so you can get to things at the front end.

Driveshafts are available from places like Cossvaux etc, they are one peice items, you will need these for a turbo.

Big radiator, Nova GSi, Slimline fan, pacet or kenlowe are my reccomendations, big FMIC for power, the standard kkk TURBO IS VERY RESTRICTIVE, AND CAN BE CHANGED FOR A T3 OR SIMILAR (CAPS). But then thats more work to modify the manifold to take it.

The standard injectors wont hack a lot fo power, so i think you source these from a cosworth or so.

You will want a Nova GTE'GSi ful tank with a good pertol pump, the spi novas came with an intank fuel pump, which you can use vctra or astra pumps in, but they will not give enough petrol for yours...

Realistically it will work out to be around the ?3k mark for parts alone to build a turbo nova from scratch, and thats the standard 200bhp ish mark.

Engines are approx ?800-1000, but are fairly rare to find, gearboxes, f28s with a transfer box are around the 250-400 region. Then the kits, will come in at around ?700 ish, decnt shell will cost ?600 or thereabouts.

You will probably be better buying calibra turbo and using that as a donor car, as then you have access to all the bits.

As for rwd, its ben done, but the whole front end was space framed, 4wd has also been done, but was with 2 engines. RWD can be done with mk2 escort stuff, but then youre really just cutting and shutting a kit car as such. lol

Anyway, hope this is the sort of information your after mate.

Paul

[Stuart]

the "best" c20let resource is www.max-boost.co.uk gives you lots of info about the engine.

Chip on mig (and passion ford etc) built a rear engine rwd 2.0 N/A a while back

austin nova has a rwd nova but due to the weight of the engineering in it its not massively faster in a straight line than its fwd counterpart lol, but obv a laugh in corners.

[nistec]

that was exactly the kind of info i was looking for

many many thanks

without such extensive background knowledge i could have jumped in not realising the cost, i may just get a turbo nova (already converted) and take the engine out for a few months and do what i want with something thats already been converted.


despite really wanting to do the job myself, i just dont wanna pay ?3k for parts alone!

the micra set me back no more than ?1500

shell - ?200
engine with box - ?350
custom driveshafts, and all that kinda stuff about ?250

the rest of the cash came from internal tuning parts, mostly second hand, things like z32 300zx mass air flow and gtir throttle bodies, all picked up cheaply.

the funniest thing about the car, is its an old old micra, its a grandma shitter, and it was the ULTIMATE sleeper

[Snowface]

for a lighter weight soloutino you could get yourself a snandard GSI/GTE engine and speak to matheus on Migweb about turbo conversions for it.

he sells loads of turbo kits for vx engines. He may even do turbo conversoin kits for the 1.6 16v not sure.

That would keep the front end weight down and see you 160-200bhp depending on how many valves and how 'properly' you do the conversion.

That way you don't need to change any mounts or gearboxes also.

Bit of welding in engine bay for strength perhaps.