1988 1.0 budget track car. [Archive] - Performance Nova Group

Matt GTE

23-03-07, 02:57 PM

I posted pics of this car just after I bought it in November but there hasn't been a lot in the way of progress since. I've now sold my Mk3 Astra GSi LET and had a tidy up in the workshop so thought it was about time I started a project thread as there may actually be something to post in the next few weeks!! The basic plan is to build it into a track car on the cheap, nothing overly serious just to have a bit of fun with.

This is the car as it was bought, a completely bog standard absolute base spec 1988 1.0 which cost cost a whole ?100.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Nova-002b.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Nova-003b.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Nova-007a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Nova-006a.jpg

When I say this thing is base spec I mean BASE spec, no rear wiper, no cigarette lighter socket and it has never had a radio (note the blanking plate and lack of aerial hole on the offside wing) and didn't even have the parcel shelf supports in the boot... I'm surprised it had 2 door mirrors to be honest!!

Now skip to 4 months later and the car is currently in this sorry looking state and has turned into somewhat of a 4 wheeled storage shed.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSC00267a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSC00260a.jpg

Upon stripping it down the general condition is amazing for a car that's nearly 19 years old, let alone a Nova. I've seen photos of J plate cars in MUCH worse condition. There are a couple of places that need small plates welding in which is being done in a couple of weekends time but the vast majority of the corrosion that you can see is only surface and not beyond being dealt with by the wire brush and rust treatment method. Both of the doors and the nearside wing were knackered but a pair of doors was picked up off here for a good price.

The original intention was to get it stripped down with new arches (they're not that bad but are starting to go) and resprayed but the current plan is to do whatever is necessary to get it through a MOT and get it out this summer before all interest is lost and then attack the bodywork next winter. Various bits and bobs have already been sourced, GTE front bumper and skirts, GSi engine with tank and pump etc etc and the Cavalier Cesaro alloys that were picked up off a mate for ?40 and some Mk2 astra GTE bits. Still needed are a nearside wing, Mk2 dash, GTE rear bumper and a pair of buckets and harnesses.

Thanks for looking.
Matt.

Martin

23-03-07, 03:08 PM

Looks a good project mate, what engines going in it? 20xe?

Ernie

23-03-07, 03:08 PM

looking good mate thats what mine started out as. mine has only got 1 door pocket aswell and has never had 1 fitted to the passengers side..

Matt GTE

23-03-07, 03:18 PM

It's getting a Nova GSi lump for the time being, mostly due to low price and ease of fitment. As and when the bodywork is all sorted next winter I'll look into fitting twin 40's or going down the C16XE route.

I hadn't even noticed it only had 1 door pocket, shows how much attention I pay!!!

Ernie

23-03-07, 03:20 PM

same as mine there much better like this as you get to save 1 that would of been scrapped if not saved by the like's of yourself or me. Keep up the good work.
Here is mine.
http://www.novaload.net/forum/showthread.php?t=76874

SRlew

23-03-07, 04:32 PM

does look a good project. good luck and keep us posted mate

Matt GTE

31-03-07, 06:51 PM

**CONTENT WARNING** - there has actually been some progress on the Nova lol.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0782a.jpg

It may not look a lot but the engine is nearly out (I love Novas, they're SOOO easy to work on), just the exhaust, 1 driveshaft, 2 wires and the 3 engine mounts to do. I'm collecting the new engine tomorrow morning along with the necessary fuel tank and pipes needed when converting from carb to fuel injection so hopefully it should be well on the way soon.

Matt GTE

06-04-07, 08:24 PM

Some more progress to report after today's efforts. Thsi is how the Nova looked this morning (well, more like lunchtime actually by the time I'd managed to drag myself out of bed).

Hmm, nice door!!
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0785a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0786a.jpg

Filth, at a guess nearly 19 years worth...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0789a.jpg

See previous comments about it being a 4 wheeled storage shed...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0787a.jpg

...I wasn't joking...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0788a.jpg

Matt GTE

06-04-07, 08:25 PM

By the end of the day when it was looking like this.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0794a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0793a.jpg

Not going to win any prizes but a big improvement...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0792a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0795a.jpg

We found a few more rusty bits that will need dealing with but that was half the reason for stripping it down and it's still by no means bad. Hopefully the welding will be done soon then we can get on with putting it back together. James also got all of the vinyl stripped off the new doors (came from a Mk2 SR) so as soon as they're stripped out they can go to the bodyshop. As for it's previous 4 wheeled storage she status there is now nothing in the car which doesn't belong to it, the rest of the crap has been temporarily rehomed until it's photographed, listed on eBay and then binned when it doesn't sell!!

Matt GTE

07-04-07, 05:34 PM

This is becoming a regular occurance, the Nova might be in danger of seeing the road again sometime before Christmas at this rate :lmao:.

I've stripped out both of the new doors so that they can go to the bodyshop for painting. Just going to get them done in blue for the time being, mainly so the car doesn't look like a complete shed when we do get it on the road but also because we haven't decided whether it's staying blue or going white.

The offside door had a bit of rust hiding under the vinyl at the bottom so I rubbed it back, treated with Kurust and then filled with chemical metal (you can see it on the back edge if the door). Neither door is what you could call mint but they're a vast improvement over the old ones and they came up reasonably locally and at the right price so were snapped with good doors being like hens' teeth. The door is resting on the old 1.0 lawnmower engine and you can just make out the car (back in it's usual buried state) through the glass of the Cavalier bootlid behind that.
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/osdoora.jpg

Nearside door in the back of my Vectra, no work required on this one. I'm having to bring them home in the Vectra one at a time as my works van has a tracker so I can't move it at the weekend but I'll use it to take the doors up to the bodyshop on a lunchbreak in the week (if I get one).
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/nsdoora.jpg

draper

07-04-07, 06:49 PM

looking good matey, im really liking cesaros aswell, might have to invest in some

Matt GTE

11-04-07, 07:53 PM

Thanks.

I dropped the doors off at the bodyshop yesterday to be sprayed in the current Nordic Blue just so the car looks vaguely respectable and not a total shed. I need to get hold of a new pair of wings for it now so they can go up for painting too. We were originally intending to get the car resprayed white but in the interest of saving money and getting the car out sometime before next Easter it's staying blue at least for this year.

Today I've ordered a 60mm System 2 suspension kit from Proven Products (www.proven-products.co.uk) to get us on the road for now (as I don't have ?550 to spend on AVO coilovers) although I imagine it will still look like a 4x4 at the back as it's light enough to be able to pick a corner up by the wheelarch and there's not an awful lot of weight going back in. While I was on the phone I also ordered a Scorpion stainless steel exhaust as he new engine came with a nearly new standard centre section but no backbox and I doubt the standard 1.0 part will be any good. I was just going to get a cheap mild steel backbox (probably Sportex) but got a very good discount on the full stanless system.

I was told that the exhaust and suspension will be here on Friday so expect a lot of progress over the weekend.

Ernie

12-04-07, 01:36 AM

good work fella. keep up the good work and pic's.

Matt GTE

14-04-07, 07:01 PM

Today's efforts...

Take 1 stripped Nova (and 1 ugly ******* :D)...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0817a.jpg

...add this...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0825a.jpg

...and a little bit of this...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0823a.jpg

...job done.
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0827a.jpg

It's not plumbed or wired in but the hardest (but still easy) bit is done. I've got to call Proven Products on Monday morning as they've sent me the wrong backbox for my Scorpion exhaust and I still need to buy a few odds and sods but hopefully it'll be up and running in the next week or so.

Just been told I'm going out tonight which pretty much guarantees nothing will be done tomorrow so more updates next weekend.

NovaLad

14-04-07, 07:24 PM

coming along well ... can't wait to see the end of this

Ernie

15-04-07, 03:59 PM

i use to have 1 of them in mine.

Lee

15-04-07, 04:05 PM

I dunno, all this effort and you go and drop a tiny engine in it! lol

Still, keep it up, looking good mate!

Matt GTE

21-04-07, 11:53 PM

Thanks for the replies :D.

I dunno, all this effort and you go and drop a tiny engine in it! lol

Still, keep it up, looking good mate!
It might get a proper engine one day lol, for now the game plan is keep it fairly cheap and easy although it's probably still a 100%+ power increase over the old steam driven pile of crap.

Time for the next weekly update. I got the new rear shocks and springs fitted this afternoon and then set about removing the old peashooter exhaust and carb fueltank which will be replaced with a stainless Scorpion exhaust and injection fueltank.

The old and the new, you'll be able to work out which is which...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0840a.jpg

Arch gap before...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Image013a.jpg

Arch gap after...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Image015a.jpg
...obviously that hasn't settled so will probably come down a bit but that's what 60mm springs look like on a gutted Nova.

Vaguely interesting pic from behind, old suspension still fitted on the left...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Image014a.jpg

Just to finish, no day's work on the nova would be complete without finding yet MORE rot...
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Image016a.jpg
...nothing a few plates won't sort out though, I still don't think it's bad for a Nova that's pushing 19 years old.

Matt GTE

22-04-07, 12:39 AM

I meant to post this before but forgot, just a Photoshop that somebody on VxON did and I thought it looked pretty good.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Nova-PS.jpg

Wilson

22-04-07, 09:55 AM

good progress mate, and the photoshop looks ace :thumb:

SRlew

22-04-07, 11:40 AM

good work mate!
and yeh that shop picture looks good

Matt GTE

25-04-07, 09:47 PM

Things are starting to come together now. I've been told that the new wings I ordered from Beevers Auto Panels (www.beeversautopanels.co.uk) have been delivered to the bodyshop and a pair of new radiator hoses are on their way from Germany along with a euro rear light cluster from ebay.de (?17.80 delivered compared to the ?35 they're being sold for over here!!). I also picked up a GTE rear bumper at the weekend and have received the right Scorpion backbox from Proven Products and a GTE grille through the post.

Aside from the inevitable little odds and sods that will be needed when it's all being put back together pretty much the only things I need now are seats and harnesses. Front suspension is being attacked at the weekend so expect more pics then.

RJM25R

27-04-07, 04:53 PM

I meant to post this before but forgot, just a Photoshop that somebody on VxON did and I thought it looked pretty good.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Nova-PS.jpg

Is that the plan for the general "look" of the car? Obviously, you ain't gonna put 18" wheels on it?

Matt GTE

28-04-07, 12:19 PM

Is that the plan for the general "look" of the car? Obviously, you ain't gonna put 18" wheels on it?
I'm not really sure although I am now half regretting throwing the original front bumper and grille in the bin as I think that looks pretty good. I've got a pair of GTE bumpers which will be painted satin black or anthracite along with the grille. The Cesaro rims that are on it now are staying put but I think they might look pretty good refurbed in white so might do that.

RJM25R

29-04-07, 11:21 PM

Those wheels look HUGE!

Matt GTE

30-04-07, 05:08 PM

Those wheels look HUGE!

I'm not going for anything that big, mostly because I want it to handle but also because of cost. It's on 15" Cavalier Cesaro rims which I may get refurbed white at some point in the future and then leave the centre caps off...

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0794a.jpg

This weeks slightly pathetic update (weather was too nice to bury myself in the workshop this weekend so it hardly got touched):

This has just arrived from Germany...

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Image000.jpg

Aside from that I spent all of about an hour on the Nova this weekend and most of that was sorting out the birds nest of wiring that was the Clifford alarm removed from an Astra GTE I broke so it can be fitted to the Nova.

Matt GTE

30-04-07, 09:50 PM

Just been up to the farm to pick up some bits I've sold and I really can't see this being done in time for PVS which was the aim. I basically have a rolling shell (see above pic) that needs a load of welding with a half fitted engine that isn't quite the easy swap I thought it was going to be as I have absolutely no wiring for the fuel pump on the car side and no obvious means of mounting the new fuel pipes underneath. Can't see it being done.

Adam Moran

02-05-07, 10:06 AM

Excellent project Matt.

Love that photoshop photo but in reality those wheels would never fit (shame tho)

What i would say is.... If you want that look get your 15' wheels done in white and fit some coilovers, drop it on its **** and stay mk1 at the front.

For some reason i really love this color with the clear indicators, it looks proper mean.

Keep up the excellent work chap :)

Matt GTE

02-05-07, 04:32 PM

Thanks Adam :D.

The photoshop was just somebody on VxON messing about when he was bored rather than specific plans for how it might look, certainly there were never any intentions of using anything bigger than 15" rims. I just posted it as I thought it was pretty cool.

It is definitely staying Mk1, I have a new pair of Mk1 wings currently at the bodyshop being painted and also a GTE bumper and grille which I will be painting satin black. I've also got a GTE rear bumper and skirts and a new pair of clear front indicators. The only Mk2 thing on the car will be the dash.

Coilovers would be nice but I can't stretch to that at the moment so have just gone for a 60mm kit, the original idea was something cheap and cheerful to have a bit of fun with and take on a few trackdays but in reality (and I really ought to have learned this by now lol) there is no such thing as cheap!! I'll get somebody to photoshop the wheels in white once the car is all back together but I hink they should look pretty good.

On a slight update front, a pair of black Cobra Monaco S buckets with subframes and blue 3 point Cobra harnesses should be arriving tomorrow which, in theory at least, should be the last big expenditure just leaving the little odds and sods that I'll no doubt need when putting it back together.

Matt GTE

03-05-07, 05:58 PM

Seats, subframes and harnesses are here.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Cobra.jpg
(obviously there are 2 of these)

My neighbour had to take it in as nobody was home, I don't think she was very impressed with the size of the box that they came in lol.

Matt GTE

05-05-07, 10:42 PM

I had quite a productive afternoon today bearing in mind I only intended going up to the farm to take the seats because my Dad was moaning about them. Pics aren't great as I only had my phone and it's rubbish.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/05052a.jpg
The Cobra subframes are absolute crap, I had to remove the spacers that sit between the runners and fram as the seats sat too high and the driver's seat sits a long way over to the right so the steering wheel is above your left knee. I'm going to have a go a redrilling the frame and moving the runners over and then go from there.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/05053a.jpg
New 'carpet', a pair of mats I took out of an Astra GTE I broke. I know the Nova isn't a GTE but they were free and fit the shape of the floor really well (and I do have an E16SE and GTE skirts, grill and bumper even if they are going to be black).

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/05054a.jpg
Rear bumper fitted although I have a horrible feeling I may have binned the numberplate light when we took the original bumper off as I can't find it anywhere. The bumper will be going satin black at some point but for now it's fitted so I'm not tripping over it every 5 minutes.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/05056a.jpg
Front suspension... how long is that old spring!!!!!

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/05057a.jpg
New brakes, 256mm discs taken from my mates Cavalier Sri 16V after he wrapped it round a lamp post. I wouldn't normally touch second hand brakes but these had been fitted less than 7 days and 250 miles before the accident so are basically new... and they were free.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/050510a.jpg
How I left it this evening, new suspension and bottom ball joint, GSi tie bar. I've got to replace both of the CV boots on the GSi driveshaft before I can fit that and then I've got to somehow get the track rod end off (oh that's going to be fun!!) so I can fit a new one. Then I've got to do the other side.

Lee

05-05-07, 10:53 PM

Track rod ends are easy to remove if you have a replacement!

Big hammer!!

Matt GTE

05-05-07, 11:17 PM

I've got a new pair, these ones look like they've been on since dinosaurs were still around so I expect the hammer will be needed.

Matt GTE

19-05-07, 08:38 PM

Quite a lot of progress to report from today.

All of the welding that I knew about has been done (thanks Si)... unfortunately I didn't know that the back of the passenger side sill was as bad as it is and that a large amount of the inner sill doesn't exist anymore. The car was left with the bottom of the rear quarter opened up like a bean can so we can go back for round 2 tomorrow.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Image006.jpg

I got both of the driveshafts built up with new CV boots, both of the track rod ends replaced (nowhere near as bad a job as I was expecting it to be) and the passenger side front suspension all put back together with the 256mm brakes and braided hose fitted. All that remains on that is to fit the drivers side driveshaft and get it all put back together and the brakes fitted.

Unfortunately it's almost certain that the car won't be on the road for PVS regardless of whether it's finished and MOTed or not as due to being owed not inconsiderable amounts of money by more than one person and the tax on my Vectra expiring at the end of the month I don't have the funds to tax or insure the Nova. Hopefully it'll be out for Billing.

Matt GTE

20-05-07, 09:25 PM

The welding is now 99% done, there are just a couple of bits needed where the chassis rails meet the back panel which are a bitch for access.

True to form, after the arch was finished Si noticed a bit more rot and proceded to put a screwdriver through the passenger side chassis rail by the spring cup so that all had to be cut out and replaced as well. I'll try and get some pics up but I didn't have my camera and my phone is crap so they're on Si's phone.

Matt GTE

22-05-07, 12:09 AM

Collected the new doors and wings from the bodyshop this morning, they make the rest of the bodywork look ****! Also got most of the back end undersealed so hopefully it'll last a while.

Matt GTE

07-07-07, 11:22 PM

The Nova has seen the outside World today for the first time in I don't know how long as my corner of the workshop had turned into a complete tip (again) and needed clearing up.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0884a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0882a.jpg

The fit of the front wings is crap but they're only held on by 2 bolts along the top at the moment so it's probably not quite as crap as it looks in the pics. Also the bonnet is not shut as we had to remove the release cable when the welding was done and I haven't put it back on yet. The GTE rear bumper will be repainted satin black at some point along with the boot handle. The alloys will be run without centre caps and may well be refurbed white at some point.

I am slightly concerned about the rear ride height and think that custom springs are probably going to be needed as that is sitting on -60's in those pics (yes really!!). Due to the back being completely stripped out there isn't the weight to compress them so either shorter or softer springs or a combination of both are needed.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/DSCF0888a.jpg

Just a quick shot of the interior if you can call it that. I still need to drill holes for the back of the seats as they're only bolted in at the front for now and also need to sort out some harness mounts in between them. Then I've got to change all of the dash wiring plugs so I can get the Mk2 dash fitted properly as it's just resting there at the moment. The driver's door is now fully fitted up with glass, rubbers and window winder, the passenger door still needs to be fitted.

Still along way to go but it's getting there slowly.

big gra

08-07-07, 02:08 AM

how much is the front lowered by? get the back done asap, haha

Ernie

08-07-07, 05:43 AM

I think it has been . Its just that there is no waight in the back.

Matt GTE

08-07-07, 08:56 AM

It's on -60mm springs... front AND rear :(. The back end is so light you can lift it off the ground by the wheelarches.

Ernie

09-07-07, 11:13 AM

I have the same prob with mine but it has settled a bit now.
First time out last year.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/chunny01/med_gallery_131_16_66317.jpg
And at combe in june this year.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/chunny01/20070609_ActionDay_143.jpg

Matt GTE

10-07-07, 07:39 PM

I guess I'll have to see what happens when (if) it's finished and out on the road/track, hopefully it will settle a bit. I can see it being a bit of a handful being so light at the back. Hoping to do Eurofest at Combe in September, got a lot to do in the meantime and very little time in which to do it at the moment.

Lee

10-07-07, 07:41 PM

EdnovaScooby

15-07-07, 04:23 PM

those rims rule!

Matt GTE

29-07-07, 06:48 PM

Join the club and get on the club stand then :thumb:
If it is ready (unlikely but stranger things have happened) I'll be with VxON although I'll probably join the club anyway.

A small update but an update none the less, I've treated all of the light surface rust on the passenger side inner wing area and undersealed the whole lot including the inside of the new wing so that can be fitted properly now and then I can do the same on the other side. No pics of this though as I only had my phone with me they didn't come out.

Finally I've ordered a set of bonnet pins (as I can't be bothered to refit the release cable) and a set of Roose coolant hoses (as the bottom rad hose has been on back order from Vauxhall for the last 3 months) from Chris Astley Motorsport.

Hopefully there will be some more to report next weekend, I don't think it will be done in time for Eurofest though but you never know.

Ernie

29-07-07, 10:17 PM

mine was built over a week get on with it lol

Matt GTE

30-07-07, 05:52 PM

You're obviously not as lazy as I am then lol.

Hopefully getting the remainder of the parts I need to get it back together and running next weekend so then it should be plain sailing... in theory.

Ernie

30-07-07, 06:44 PM

good luck fella

Matt GTE

20-01-08, 10:54 PM

I haven't posted any updates for a while, mainly because there has been absolutely no progress apart from the Nova becoming a 4 wheeled skip... again. Due to the recent arrival of a new project (unplanned but was offered it at a price I couldn't refuse) it's now living outside having been emptied and put back together to a degree.

The new project... snapped it's cambelt (we think) on Boxing Day and my mate had neither the time, space nor inclination to fix it so sold it to me for the enormous sum of ?750.
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/BlackGSi/Image131a.jpg

The Nova as it stands and looking rather sorry for itself.
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Image119a.jpg

http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Nova/Image124a.jpg

Nova with my other Vectra GSi.
http://premium1.uploadit.org/MattGSi/Vectra/Image126a.jpg

I'm not sure what to do with the Nova to be honest (the thought of selling any bits that are worth anything and then scrapping it has crossed my mind more than once), certainly nothing is likely to be done with it before the black Vectra is sorted and then there's the matter of finances as I've decided it's about time I grew up and bought a house so I guess only time will tell.