Getting a nova... (PICS)

[Welsh Dan]

Firstly, I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to cars, having not had the experience of owning one yet.

Secondly, this is mum's nova, she'll be replacing it soon-ish so I'll be given it:)

Since I got my license I've probably driven 20 odd thousand miles in it so I know which upgrades I'd like to do. Its a 1990 H reg 1.2 Nova Diamond. The engine is the carb fed OHC.

http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/car1.jpg
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/car2.jpg

I have a few questions, is this a mark I or a mark II, and what are the differences?

Currently I'm being quoted around ?600 for fully comp insurancem but most of the companies giving me those quotes won't insure modified cars. If I can afford to, I'm planning to put some better tyres on because the current ones are ****e in the wet, then fit some bigger discs and calipers. I'd like to firm the suspension up in terms of roll, what I've read here leads me to beleive that lowering it by about 40mm should do the job.

The tyres I can sort out, but roughly how much would the suspension and brake modifications cost me, are they jobs I can perform myself, and roughly how much should I expect my premium to go up by?

Will that rust by the rear arches be easy to fix?

Thanks :)

[Adam Moran]

Good Choice sir ;)

Dimonds were top of the range (except sr/gte's)

All i would do is clean it, polish it, clear indicators and lowwer it -80mm :D

My 1st nova:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/novaaj/A1.jpg

[Adam]

You could have new rear arches welded in. Probably cost aobut ?150-?200 per side including spraying.

Yours is a Mk1.
Look here for the differences:-
Razorjacks Nova guide (http://www.novaload.net/forum/../forums/viewtopic.php?p=520857&highlight=#520857)
I would do as Ad says, nice and clean, clear front indicators, and slammed is the way forward.

:)

Edit-Razorjacks thread aint working for some reason, shame, it was a good thread too,hmmm, wheres that gone to LOL

[Welsh Dan]

Thanks for the suggestions, I did a quick pair of photoshops to get an idea of what they'd look like:

http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/clearcirca40mm.jpg
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/clearcirca80mm.jpg

I tried to guess the 40mm and 80mm amounts, so they'll be wrong lol.

I don't want to lower it as much as the second pic would indicate(my guess at 80mm), I dont think it looks right, as it currently is though, it does look too high.

Excellent suggestion on the indicators, depending on the actual parts available of course :)

[Jack]

Second pic looks a little more like 60ish to me. Clear indicators are easy to get hold of, there's usually loads on ebay. Astra Mk4 side repeaters can also make a nice subtle touch too (they're that nice, I've also used them on my Celica lol)


Edit-Razorjacks thread aint working for some reason, shame, it was a good thread too,hmmm, wheres that gone to LOL
lol see my sig - prize for finding it! I could write another one but the pictures I nicked were from the features - which aren't back up yet.

Main differences between Mk1 and 2 are the interior (dash, seats, doorcards) and exterior (headlights, wings, bumpers, grille).

Here's a Mk1 GTE - Note the square headlights, long indicators, and grill sits right in the middle:
http://www.topbuzz.co.uk/mods/mesh_grille/after.jpg

Here's a Mk2 SRi - Note the rectangle headlights, shorter indicators, and grille sitting under the headlights:
http://www.topbuzz.co.uk/mods/mesh_grille/grille4.jpg

Here's a couple pics of the Mk2 dash - note its more roundy than the mk1 item, and has more rotary controls. Ignore the different steering wheel; and black glovebox, normally on a std Mk2 dash that'd be grey (GSi dash was all black however).
http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/gary_white/progress/DSCF0041.jpg

http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/gary_white/progress/DSCF0033.jpg


An alternative to lowering could be to fit Anti Roll Bars if they're not already there, sourced from a GTE/GSi (and SRi?). Wouldn't be as good as decent suspension, but better than standard.

[krobinson]

Firstly, its excellent to see a newbie talking sence, and not in chav chat.

Secondly. It looks like a good solid car you've got there. With some rear arch repair's and some subtle changes it should look fantastic.

I would lower it 50-60mm with a good suspension setup. You'll get the same ride quality as a -40mm drop, with a 60mm drop as long as you get a good setup.

I think some softstar alloys, in 16", 16v brakes, and a SR front bumper and grill would complete the look.

Good luck and keep us updated, and dont be afraid to ask questions, as we all started off like you.

Keith

[Welsh Dan]

Thanks guys.

I'd like to keep the look(and sound) subtle, so lowering by 40-50mm would be about my limit. I like the look of the standard alloys that are on it, to me they look "right" on that car, I've seen them on lots of novas/corsas/(and a few fords lol), but they tend to look out of place in my opinion. I was considering how they'd look in a black finish though to match the black "stripe" between the door windows and rear side windows. I'll see if I can knock up a pic.

It'll be a month or 3 before I actually own the car I expect, if all goes to plan.

When you say 16v brakes, do you mean the brakes off a 16v model, or are you referring to a specific brake model/set?

[Adam]

Lowered on a set of Cav GSi rims would look very tidy.

[Adam]

When you say 16v brakes, do you mean the brakes off a 16v model, or are you referring to a specific brake model/set?
You can get them off a 16 Astra GSI, GTE, Cavalier GSI, some Calibras.

They are bigger and vented, so brake a lot harder than the standard nova brakes.:thumb:

Should cost about ?30 for the calipers, then fit a new set of discs and pads.

[projectcoshanova]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/projectcoshanova/novaproject006.jpg sprayed dashboard black n red with a nice sporty steering wheel also fitting silver dtm mirrors which will match some parts of the car..was gonna change dashboard to mark 2 stylee but thought why bother if u have to change connectors if it needs it?? <removing dashboards is murder im sure someone will back me up on that one > erm and i know it sounds rather lazy but just rub ya arches down and get rid of all rust and sharp bits.then cover mesh in filler then bend the mesh where it needs to go and then let it dry then sand down to the level of the paint then primer then match ya paint up with a can of your cars original colour im sure it will save u money as it as me good luck very nice car too...will follow up with the front view of my car http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/projectcoshanova/novaproject003.jpg

[projectcoshanova]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/projectcoshanova/novaproject006.jpg sprayed dashboard black n red with a nice sporty steering wheel also fitting silver dtm mirrors which will match some parts of the car..was gonna change dashboard to mark 2 stylee but thought why bother if u have to change connectors if it needs it?? <removing dashboards is murder im sure someone will back me up on that one > erm and i know it sounds rather lazy but just rub ya arches down and get rid of all rust and sharp bits.then cover mesh in filler then bend the mesh where it needs to go and then let it dry then sand down to the level of the paint then primer then match ya paint up with a can of your cars original colour im sure it will save u money as it as me good luck very nice car too...will follow up with the front view of my car http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/projectcoshanova/novaproject003.jpgweak spots are found near the battery tray and around it and also rust underneath the doors and bottom of boot lid and corners of boot inside and check your sills whci is underneath at the sides check all your floor cos in my experience with a 1989 mark 1 nova they seem to rust very quick and in the same places...

[Welsh Dan]

You can get them off a 16 Astra GSI, GTE, Cavalier GSI, some Calibras.

They are bigger and vented, so brake a lot harder than the standard nova brakes.:thumb:

Should cost about ?30 for the calipers, then fit a new set of discs and pads.

Will they fit inside those 14" alloys?

I knocked up a pair of pics, i did the black alloys;
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/40mmblack.jpg

...then I was wondering what it'd look like if all of the plastic trim was black:
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/40mmallblack.jpg

I cant decide whether I love or hate it.

[Adam]

Remove the bump strips off the sides.
Then spray the bumper, grill etc black like that pic above.
That would look tidy.

Some people say the 16v brakes will fit behind the 3spoke 14s, but mine wouldn't fit.

A set of these wheels, in black, with black bumpers/trim, thats what i would do. And the brakes fit behind them.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/skud52/09122005.jpg

[Riggy]

no the brakes wont fit behind them wheels fella

i have seen it done but they ground alot of the caliper and i wouldnt do that lol

car looks sound , as said lower it slightly and stick to your plans and you will have a great little enjoyable car

[Jack]

was gonna change dashboard to mark 2 stylee but thought why bother if u have to change connectors if it needs it?? <removing dashboards is murder im sure someone will back me up on that one >
Its not a hard job at all, quite easy really. Connectors are all the same except the heater RW/blower control which needs a couple wires moving round.

[Welsh Dan]

What can I do with the brakes if I kept those alloys then? I know right now that the discs and pads are just generic ones, so at the very least I'd get the proper GM parts or better if possible. Does anyone have an idea of the diameter of the discs that will be in there now, and the max that will fit without butchering the calipers?

I think I read somewhere in the Mechanical Forum, that someone had replaced their 200mm master cylinder for a larger one, I understand that that would provide more force, would that be likely to damage anything on the standard size brakes?

One thing I forgot to mention, is that I tend to do a lot of dusk/night driving, and in sunnry Wales that usually means its raining or foggy :) Are front spots/fogs easy to fit and do a good job so they look nice?

Here's a (very)quick image with no bump strip:
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/40mmallblacknostrip.jpg

[projectcoshanova]

lol id check your bodywork first mate b4 u start gettin your hopes high unless its had a service recently or something but if its been sitting about then id best check

[Welsh Dan]

Its currently in regular use. It had ?250 spent on welding in the early feb for its mot. Its got a bit of rust here and there, but nothing serious since it was all fixed. We havent had it from new, But we've had it at least a decade by now.

[projectcoshanova]

yep i bought mine off a driveway it was sittin there for a conciderable amount of time had to have it welded too which cost nearly the same now the car stands me in at ?500 and i aint even started yet lol nice to see people sharing ideas tho thatll get ya brain going lol

[Riggy]

the brakes that are on there now will be 236x10mm
your best bet if you wanted to keep them wheels would be later sri/gsi calipers and discs 236x20mm as these are vented it will aloow better cooling of them

if you need any help just drop us a pm as wales is only like an hour away lol

[Welsh Dan]

the brakes that are on there now will be 236x10mm
your best bet if you wanted to keep them wheels would be later sri/gsi calipers and discs 236x20mm as these are vented it will aloow better cooling of them

if you need any help just drop us a pm as wales is only like an hour away lol

Thanks. :)

[Give it some rev]

welcome to Novaload mate, nice project car you got their. all i can say is just get it so its a rust free shell and then lower it 40mm and put the wheels of your choice on (Cav GSI, wink wink). also its in a nice colour, looks like Silk Violet to me.

[jbowman]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/585000-585999/585696_189_full.jpg

Quick photoshop in Paint - dont mind the cardomain logo - only way I can get pics on here.