PDA

View Full Version : nova to track star in 30 days



corsakid
03-05-07, 07:55 PM
well i am going to attempt to turn a nova 1983 1.0 swing into a 2.0 track star within 30 days as i have a trackday at the end of may at llandow!
well its slightly easier than i make out but only slightly the car is a base model 1983 nova its been fitted with later mk 2 bumpers but previously the car had been fitted with a redtop but from wot i can gather the engine let go in a big way judging by the amount of oil thats on the bonnet and chassis legs and form wot the guy said, i bought if of a guy in bristol who had bought it to put back to gether but it never materialised and its been standing for a few months so this is where i come in i picked it up today for a sum of 300 english pounds, first impressions werent great as the exterior has a few war wounds lol and the roof looks like someones gone iceskating onit lol but once we started looking at the shell it is incredible for a 24 year old shell no rust anywhere underneath chassis legs sills arches are all mint and innner fornt wings and arches aound the suspension turrets are perfect!
the guy who i boiught it off said the car had lowering springs but as it turnbs out it has been fitted with brand new proper spax big piston shocks and springs! the guy said it had an exhaust turns out its a group n exhaust, the engine he said was a ''nice motor'' but it has been fitted with a recon box a new clucth and all new timing belt waterpump tensioner and rollers etc not sure if he knew this, the engine he said had done 80k ish and is a dis model
the nova is stripped out o the max to the extent of having th eheater matrix removed lol
well i gues its time to show some pics
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/P5250031.jpg
shows the fully seam welded engine bay and alternetor hole cut
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/P5250032.jpg
this shows the uber cool old skool tailgate and the retro rally exhaust :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/P5250033.jpg
shows the boot floor not a sign of rust
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/P5250037.jpg
and the new bargin engine that has everyhting new on it that i was gunna change so this little beauty has saved me a few hundred quid

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/P5250036.jpg

coochiSR
03-05-07, 07:56 PM
Good Luck...........

corsakid
03-05-07, 08:02 PM
well today i thought i would make a crack on the nova as i am runing on a tight deadline so anyways i went to my mums where i had assembled some stuff so i loaded in the back of the calibra :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/1.jpg
for the picture a fair amount of stuff well i first tackled the brakes the brakes on there were valver brakes and in my experiance as about as good as a chocolate teapot :) so i changed them
shows the comparison of the brake discs
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/2-1.jpg
one side nearly done just a note i forgot my brake pipe spanner its in work :doh: so i had to use the rubber ones for now will be done tomorrow
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/3.jpg
i then fitted a nova gte master cylinder and brake servo setup
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/4.jpg
hes the brakes behind the new wheels one word FAT! :eek:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/5.jpg

corsakid
03-05-07, 08:02 PM
i then fitted the a wheel to the back i had to modify the lip on the arch as it sat on the tyre all is done now plenty of clearance
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/6.jpg
proper m tech conversion shafts :cool:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/7.jpg
gsi/gte antiroolbar and tie bars 22mm thick i believe the ones fitted are like twiglets lmao
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/8.jpg
i said i wanted the car stripped well this wasnt goign to cut it so it went form this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/10.jpg
to this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/11.jpg
then to this lmao look how mint the floors are no signs of tin worm anywhere
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/13.jpg
the calibra was emptied now full of the stuff i stripped form the nova
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/12.jpg
and this is how she finished for today quite a bit of progress i am just waiting on engine mounts and a gear linkage then the engine can be fitted
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/14.jpg

corsakid
03-05-07, 08:03 PM
havent done much on the car this week i went to collect some bucket seats off mongo (cheers mate) oin saturday and my mate foy bacer dropped hs head off at gary pooles so by the time i got back it was bit late to do much so i started nice an early and the engine was still in the boot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/FIRSTTHING.jpg
so i had to get the engine out and round to the front of the car after a bit of struggling i managed to get the engine and box round to the front of the car, i then had to remove the cavalier mounts and shafts and fit the nova mounts i had to modify the f20 casing on the back off the box where the rear gearbox mount bolts to as i didnt want to use the spacers etc as i have found it affects the gear linkage quality, so after i modified it i then had to install the engine
(foy bacer) let a hand ;) so this made things a little easier i was to busy and getting excited atthe propesct of the engine actually running so i forgot to take many pics :doh:
but hes the nextone i took as the engine has just beeen installed
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/enginein-1.jpg

this shows the chassis leg and the clearance thanks to it being cut and boxed
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/chassisclearance.jpg
as the car doesnt have a heater matrix it took five mins or so to work out the coolant system routing but all is done had touse some pipes form the cav sri i am breaking for another project as the nova didnt come with any coolant pipes at all
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/enginein-1.jpg

corsakid
03-05-07, 08:03 PM
i then robbed the oil cooler of the cavi and fitted it as it will be driven hard i figured the oil could do with a cooler so i fixed it around where the grill will be
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/oilcool.jpg
then this it is when i had finished the coolant system connect the loom etc and starter motor wire etc and gave it a clean
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/bay.jpg
i then fitted the exhaust :D fitted with the cavi manifold perfectly which was a shock but a good one as it made things a lot more stright forward
i then went to start the car the ecu wasnt getting an igniton live but it was wired in form the previous conversion but wasnt getting voltage so i had to quickly add an igniton live and this is woit happened :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/th_firststartup.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/?action=view&current=firststartup.flv)
and the exhaust is ace cant get over it the engine has been standing for months and didnt tap no smoke nothing which was anoither bonus and i am happry with the exhaust note but not sure if it will pass the decibellimit on most tracks but hey ill deal with that nearer the time
i also fitted my cobra bucket seats and my sparco harnesses but forgot to take a pic but not bad for a days work all i am waiting on now is the maching of my cavi hubs to take thenova bearings should be done monday or tuesday so ill be able to drive it then
in the video the sub isnt staying there i just used theback end as a bit of a shed the last week lol

corsakid
03-05-07, 08:04 PM
i have just spent an hour or so on the nova fitted the machined bottom pulley so i could fit alternator belt
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/belton.jpg
had a few problems with the engine positon angle etc i have been playing with it and i have got it spot on i think! engine is sitting straight and it seems level what dso you think
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/enginelevel.jpg
i didnt want to use the converison mounts as in the past i have had problems with the linkage and it affects the gear change quality so i have used some spacer they are basically solid bits of tube steel drill then tapped and a thread is loctited in the one end i have hit a couple of welds on there to! :) and the other end screws onto the nova rubber mount i made them 35mm but i need to drop it another 5-10mm to allow the bonnet to close i will be making new spacers tomorrow in work i have lowered it on the threads to measure the new spacer height needed
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/mountspacers.jpg
and this one shows that the bonnet shuts perfectly lol thas a lot better and now i am pleased!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/bonnetshuts.jpg
my digi dash registered 3/4 of tank the engien ran then cut out so i checked everything turns out no fuel is in there and the pump ran dry :doh: stupid digidash and i now need another one no to worry have about 100 in the garage, so another thing to fix is the level sender or the digi dash is fuk'd only lights up some times as well a bit annoying to say the least bring on the analogue dials! :D

aniothher thing does anyone know if the corsa and nova rear gearbox mounts are the same i have a corsa one on there but just interesed to know

corsakid
03-05-07, 08:06 PM
could someone move this i have put it in wrong section

Nova_Tek
03-05-07, 09:13 PM
Looking good mate, plenty of work getting done. You've done more mods to the car in a couple days then I have done in a few years lol

Could be a sender fault, as my one which is a C reg has a dodgy one too. very hard to get hold of as vaux stop doing em and I cant find a replacement part :cry:

Car looks pretty good for a B plate :thumb:

corsakid
03-05-07, 10:05 PM
the shell has cover 36k got mots etc to prove ill get picture up soon,no rust anywhere under neath its immaculate lol makes a change for a nova! yeah 2 1/2 days in total i fitted bucket seats and harnesses to day aswell but forgot to take pics will get pics up tomorrow i have had my cavi hubs machined down they are done bought bearings today so will fit shafts and have her rolling on saturday hopefully

Ernie
03-05-07, 11:33 PM
This is making quick progress. keep it up fella and see you at llandow.

SRlew
04-05-07, 09:50 AM
looking good mate. good luck with the rest of it.

greg1.4
04-05-07, 10:07 AM
thats quite impressive work there. and as said before, good luck with it!:thumb:

big gra
04-05-07, 10:08 AM
pretty good for a 24 year old car, thats 7 years older than me!

corsakid
07-05-07, 07:28 PM
heres the flanges that i got machined
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/flange.jpg
a lot cheaper a set of hubs with the flanges from a vectra ?10 and machining was free ha ha :cool:
here are the bucket seats i finally got them bolted down and the harnesses on as well gave them a clean came up mint not bad for ?70 with subframes and 30 quid for harnesses :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/bucketseat.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/bucket1.jpg
well did a lot to day fitted the shafts tie bars did gearlinkage and a few probs as i am using a corsa rear gearbox mount not a nova one and the lankage fouled on the mount so the linkagae was modified all good now though! put wheels on etc all ready to take for a spin but couldnt find a god dam castle nut so could take it for a spin was annoying as hell
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/nearlydone.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/mintbay.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/onwheels.jpg
one thing i havce noticed id that the wheels i have are 6j and they are fitted with 7 inch wide tyres so gunna get some 185's see how they look on the wheel but i am pleased with the stance and how low it is its really low due to the 15's but isnt silly so should be good on the track!
things left to do are top gearbox oil up
engine oil change
tidy up wiring fuse box etc as i have remoived unnessciary wiring
fitted analogue clocks not a fan of the digidash!
then the car can go in for a respray as soon as i have done that possibly before the track day as its 95% done bar thiungs like strut braces etc
hope you like!

Will F
07-05-07, 07:35 PM
Things to do:
Change chip fat for brake fluid....

corsakid
07-05-07, 07:36 PM
lol your a D"$%

ad4m
07-05-07, 08:05 PM
looking good m8 ill put around and see it sometime

corsakid
10-05-07, 09:30 PM
well the nova is on the road and driving took her for ther first test drive about 20 mile round trip and she performed faultlessly apart from the windows steaming up as theres no heater matrix! its quick i was suprised at how quick it is!

took some pics of the nova up my mums hows the weathers not great been raingin all day and i have been out in it all day lol worth it though

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/NOVA1.jpg

one form the back

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/novarear.jpg

gunna tidy the wiring up tomorrow and then drill the spot welds and removeall the brakets and stuff for the dash and the rear seats

Tomm
11-05-07, 01:45 AM
Very tast mate! well impresed! that note was pretty tasty aswell!

Hopefully mine turns out similar!

burgo
11-05-07, 01:48 AM
very nice indeed

corsakid
11-05-07, 06:40 AM
cheers guys more pics to follow tomorrow as the wiring is tidied up atc and all the brackets removed cheers

Will F
11-05-07, 08:35 AM
This car is ACE... keep your eyes out for it on the strip at PV!

Its gotta be a low 14!

;)

chris gsi
11-05-07, 01:25 PM
i am sure i had a chat to the chap who use to own the car last year after a bit of a mess about nice clean shell but as we were chatting his car boiled over

discoinferno
11-05-07, 07:09 PM
this engine dont boil over lol, tidied up a few things to fdya after work like the engine bay wiring removed some of the unused wires just littering the place, made brakets for the fan and oil cooler, bled the brakes properly as they were a bit sponge they are 100 times better know and work a treat stops on a six pence, goty a lot more planned for the car hopefully before pv so will keep the updatesd coming

corsakid
15-05-07, 09:37 PM
bit of an update fitted poly bushes to my gte/gsi tie bars got a sparco alloy strut brace to go the fornt and trying to find a weld in rear one as i have been told that bolt in ones are just pointless
i have also fitted my braided lines front and back and confirmed my place on the track day at llandow on june the 9th


pics to follow

Will F
08-06-07, 10:11 AM
Right its been on the road a few weeks now and hasnt missed a beat!

Its off to Llandow tomorrow, and its currently having some paintwork done (namely a new GM front panel)

Here are some pics... New GM front bumper from PVS and a GM front panel from ebay!:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/Foy/DSCF1491.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/Foy/DSCF1490.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/Foy/DSCF1489.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/Foy/DSCF1496.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/Foy/DSCF1494.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/Foy/DSCF1493.jpg

kevster
08-06-07, 10:23 AM
nicely done mate really need to get round to doing the blue one now :(

twin40s
08-06-07, 11:25 PM
i like the boot on the older nova with mo handle just lock might do that on my nova

Will F
09-06-07, 09:07 PM
Check out the fun we had today at Llandow!

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?p=697429#post697429

corsakid
14-10-07, 09:01 AM
right little update the nova now has spax rsx coilovers with 250 lb springs gunna order some 300lb springs asap but feels much much better that the old set up, fitted a sparco alloy strut brace, also i fitted a full poly bush set yesterday will take some pics to day, got mot next week so hopefully fingers crossed it should pass, pics to follow later

20SEHnova
14-10-07, 02:13 PM
**** hot that

carls nova sri
14-10-07, 04:08 PM
just read this from the start looks mint

corsakid
17-10-07, 08:59 PM
thanks for all the positive coments cheers 'trackdaynova' really appriciate that will get on the phone asap can i ask y you decided to go for the 313's instead of the 342's

pics to follow very very soon

Will F
18-10-07, 12:01 PM
thanks for all the positive coments cheers 'trackdaynova' really appriciate that will get on the phone asap can i ask y you decided to go for the 313's instead of the 342's

pics to follow very very soon

I am guessing cos 300lbs is the norm for an XE.

340 is prob a bit overkill

corsakid
03-11-07, 05:22 PM
thought i would do abit of an update on the nova havent dne one for a while mainly dwn to me being lazy :roll:

anyways the nva is now fitted with a full poly bush kit even the exhaust got treat to a bit of polybushing love lol

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff66/kristan_hurn/POLYBUSH.jpg

the nova has had a suspension change and is now wearing spax rsx coilovers fully adjustable height and damping etc
the nova has had a wheel change aswell the mos were the wrong offset et 38 or 35's not to bad but rear tyre would catch on the arch so i had a donor cavi sri with fanblades i have never been a big fan of the wheels but being the perfect offset et 49 and a narrow width rim i thought i would give them a shot i gt new tyres ready and i set about refurbing the wheels i went for matt black, they were in a really bad way with corosion etc but after a few nights sanding and filling and priming the result was worth it i am really happy with hw they turned out te wheels suit the old skool kool look!
the nova and the dreaded mot on it yesterday and i am pleased to say that she passed with flying colours had an advise on the n/s headlamp reflector because it is slightly faded/black! the tester said that the nova shouldn't be on the road being a 24 year old car especially being a 24 yr old nova lol and he couldnt understand how the car was so mint and how there wasnt any rust on it,
so i have sorted insurance on the beast now just trying to find my logook to get tax and waiting on my insurance cover note!

anyway the car is a bit dirty but i thought i would take a few pics never been gd at picture taking so.........

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff66/kristan_hurn/NOVAOS.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff66/kristan_hurn/DRIVERSSIDE.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff66/kristan_hurn/CARS023.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff66/kristan_hurn/CARS026.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff66/kristan_hurn/NOVABAY.jpg

corsakid
03-11-07, 05:28 PM
this one shows the clearance or lack of between the brakes caliper and the wheel

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff66/kristan_hurn/BRAKES.jpg

Will F
07-11-07, 11:43 AM
Wheels look much better.

You can tell that they were refurbed by me.

;)

macc nova
07-11-07, 12:46 PM
/\ whats that dint on the top left then lol

L33 LEG
07-11-07, 01:18 PM
looks ace, looks miles better with the new bumper and grille :)

Adam
07-11-07, 07:29 PM
Awesome, the number bumper/grill look miles better than the old mk2 one.
Proper old skool, nice.

corsakid
07-11-07, 08:52 PM
what is every ones thoughts on spraying the bumpers matt black to match the wheels, and will you preped 2 and spray one and i preped 2 and sprayed 3, dwn to the spraying see lol, gunna do the inside of the car next looking at a cage, but i can just drive it nw which is nice only dne around 500 miles since engine was put in!


future plans

fit correct poundage springs on order from spax!
underseal car to keep in mint condition
remount bucket seats
atb diff
lower springs for the back!

paul james
07-11-07, 09:05 PM
I think the bumpers look great as they are, I don't think they would look better black

corsakid
11-11-07, 09:04 PM
had the nova on the rollers to day and the nva pulled 166 bhp and 140 ft lbs torque very very happy graphs to follow

Will F
12-11-07, 10:01 AM
lol

I have more torque than you

Ben
12-11-07, 11:50 AM
Should hope so!

Will F
13-11-07, 10:04 AM
lol

Only just though!

the rollers were rubbish and callibrated to sh*t... apparently my peak power was at 9200 rpm! lol

Ben
13-11-07, 10:30 AM
lol

corsakid
28-01-08, 07:34 AM
well i have decided to go for webber twin 45's i originally wanted carbs as the nova is old skool and i think carbs with go with the feel and look of the car so this is what i picked up today
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00120.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00121.jpg
not sure what inlet it is was told sbd but then i found this?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00123.jpg

was told sbd type a exhaust but again dont think it is its definatley substantially bigger than the standard item!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00118.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00114.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00116.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00117.jpg

the engine is coscast has cams not sure wot else! i will either sell the engine with out the carbs or will keep as a spare! and fit the 45 setup to the current low mileage xe inthe nova with some arps!

NovaLad
31-01-08, 12:31 AM
i want a set of them wheels now lol!!!

belly257
31-01-08, 12:55 AM
nice that mate

clarke frazer
31-01-08, 01:11 AM
omg do you fancy doin mine now im so confused bout driveshafts etc got the engin in an all just need shafs or how to make them

corsakid
31-01-08, 07:36 AM
well yesterday me and will foy went to brands hatch for a track day organised by javelin trackdays the weather was sunny with blue skys all day! we rented a garage in the pit lane as we thought it might rain so changing wheels would not be fun in the rain! the nova was faultless again it was open pit so took till mid morning my second stint to find my feet and get comfortable with the track but by mid morning was flying making scoobys move over new bmw m3s some little westfields and the usual golf gtis and peugeot gti's we were using slicks though but the car was doing 1min 1's to 1min flat a lap not great but ok with no diff!
pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00131.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00128.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00129.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00137.jpg..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00139.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00140.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00141.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00144.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/DSC00150.jpg

corsakid
31-01-08, 07:37 AM
some videos aswell
qualies not great was done on phone

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/th_MOV00133.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/?action=view&current=MOV00133.flv)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/th_MOV00138-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v227/RSGBodystylingska/?action=view&current=MOV00138-1.flv)

madjim
26-03-08, 12:16 AM
omg just read thread from start how fast do you work, like your vids from brands in the first one your following my mate jeff in his tr7/8

just aquick question for ya when you had your front hubs machined did you have to have any extra spacers between joints and wheel bearings?

corsakid
28-03-08, 07:00 PM
yeah betweent the cv joint ands the wheel bearing and the back of the hub to space the cv joint back

Adam
28-03-08, 07:05 PM
Sounds nice in that 2nd vid mate :cool:

corsakid
29-03-08, 10:59 AM
cheers sounds even better with the twin 45's and the exhaust manifold on!

16v Nova Kev
29-03-08, 11:57 AM
quality well done :)

madjim
31-03-08, 09:56 PM
yeah betweent the cv joint ands the wheel bearing and the back of the hub to space the cv joint back

sorry new to this why is that do they catch somewhere with out them? How big would they need to be?

corsakid
01-04-08, 09:20 AM
i havent encountered the problem before really but my other 3 vavaler novas didnt need them but this mk1 did for some reason the cv when tighten with the hub nut would catch on the inner face of the hub! so i made spacers to slide over the cv joint splines and would sit againts the race fo the bearing so bearing would be ok and this spacer the cv joint face away fromt he hub enough to stop contact and its been like it for 8 months with no problems and numerous track days

novait
01-04-08, 12:47 PM
that is very nice..very clean and well done..nice one.