The weekends findings ....

[tom_beverley]

More rust...

After prodding some good ol' silicone sealant some tw@t had covered up a hole with I decided to investigate further and just strip the interior bar the dash (may be forced to take this out yet for access)

Drivers side footwell is just as bad, I managed to poke a couple of holes into the inner wing and one through the floor. Looks like rain over the years has got in from the top corner, is this a common problem on Nova's?

I'm planning to put wide arches on so I don't want a rusty wreck and spend money on it if its only going to last a couple of years! Could really do with some inner wings so they are nice clean panels, not patchwork ones.

Anyways here are the pics, I really must get my ar5e in gear and start a W.I.P thread as I did start off just putting my rebuilt engine in but have been bitten by the 'whilst its out, I'll get this done........ and then that done........ and this.........' bug lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/NovaBuildEndjune07020.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/NovaBuildEndjune07018.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/NovaBuildEndjune07033.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/NovaBuildEndjune07029.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/NovaBuildEndjune07027.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/NovaBuildEndjune07001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/NovaBuildEndjune07003.jpg

Engine is all done now anyway apart from I need a 1600 T40 inlet, got my cylinder head off Snowface (thanks!), finished the rose jointed gearlinkage (thanks Dar!), thinking about a cav/cally internal shifter now, fitted the solid rack mounts and stripped the car and did a FULL every nook and cranny rust check and lots of wire brushing lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/NovaBuildEndjune07013.jpg

Next jobs are get the rear turrets done for the coilovers, remove the firewall, and get all the bloody holes plated up nice and neatly. Oh and I've a plating kit somewhere so might get that on aswell.

Does anyone have a drawing of the locations for the plates as I didn't receive one?

[Mike]

gutted! thats some rust infestation chap!

[Adam]

Linkage looks cool.

Rust is looking nasty :( it never looks bad till you poke it,Lol.

[Mike]

it never looks bad till you poke it,Lol.

and then wake up the next morning next to it :thumb: lol lol

[Adam]

Too right :(
lol

[tom_beverley]

lol lol

Yeah gutted really, inner back arch is rotten aswell, right down at the bottom near the back end of the sill, and boot corner (just one hooray!) but apart from that........ dare I say she's one solid Nova, yeah right lol

[tom reid]

I'm sure you'll find more to weld than you are aware of just now, but hey, it's a nova...
Look forward to the updates.

[NovaLad]

That looks really bad... Good luck with it

[Ash C]

linkage looks minty! i might try that as mine popped off on my last track day. i got sold an 'apperntly' solid nova only to end up welding it in places. just make sure you get a good welder makes the job 100 times easyer/better.

[duick]

This rust problem begins at the inner arch and the water finds always its way!!!
http://www.opel-corsa-a.com/Spider_Resto/Spider_17_b.JPG

That's also why there is rust here:
http://www.opel-corsa-a.com/Spider_Resto/Spider_22.JPG

and here
http://www.opel-corsa-a.com/Spider_Resto/Spider_21.JPG

Cheers
Steve

[dave.gsi]

^^ a brief reminder of why i got sick of novas

do i really want anotherlol

[duick]

don't think that's that bad.
Tell me of one car of the beginning of the 80's that is not rusting after 25 years ...........

[craig green]

I think some shells are far worse than others. It just depends what state people are willing to take on & own them in the first place.

[Dar]

Top job on the linkage :thumb:
Shame about the rusty bits, but once they are done you will 'know' you have a good solid shell.

[tom_beverley]

Aye, should be solid once welded!

Gearlinkage was easy to make, enjoyed making it aswell, still have to see if it will catch on the box yet though.

I don't think there is any more rust, I've checked everywhere now but its going to be the access to the top of the footwells thats the problem. Just got some more wire brushes for the drill today as I wore the others out so will get more rust off now lol

[mikey14sr]

Thats nasty, even by my standards!

Then again, my rear towing eye tried to run away from me the other day.....


(there's no chassis leg left around it!)

[tom_beverley]

Even nastier now mate :(

After cleaning the area up a little more (got my new wire brush attachmentslol ) last night the drivers side footwell hole is even worse now after attcking the rust at the seam, most of that fell away :roll: Also the passenger footwell hole is bigger as there was loads of filler over more rust aswell.

Got the front end stripped now, really want to put new inner wings on. Front panel and crossmember are OK (suprisingly), had little bubbles on but soon brushed them off. Also light holders are fine, starting to go but hopefully I've saved them. Really thought about scrapping the car last night and just removing all the parts and find a clean (if there is such a thing) one, but shes 'my baby' and I couldn't see her go out without a fight lol

Will get some more pics up later...

[craig green]

It often looks bad when you stare at the mess in poor light conditions for 10 minutes or more.

Some of the finest Novas out there have been rescued from bad states. Karl Rowntree's being one.

So long as the person repairing it is meticulous & a good welder you should be fine repairing it, just ensure the new panels are up to it, ie new pattern panels or well cut (correct shape) peices of sheet steel etc. It'll be worth it in the end.

[tom_beverley]

Some more updated pics, got the front wings off and finished prepping ready for the welding. Depending how much it is going to cost and if it is too far gone I may end up just finding a better/cleaner starting point :cry:

N/S Sill
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07025.jpg

N/S Sill from inside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07024.jpg

Extent of rust...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07021.jpg

Even this bit was rusted thin
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07018.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07016.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07013.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07011.jpg

[tom_beverley]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/tom_beverley/Nova29thJune07003.jpg

:cry: Preeety bad unfortunately

[Adam]

Fooook me :(

Were you planning on repairing it yourself?

[Mike]

dang! aint that a bastid lol its saveable tho ;)

[NovaLad]

Sell the good half to baxter to put on his drive ... If their is a good half?

[Mike]

Hell, i saved this:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j181/mikenova/PICT0060.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j181/mikenova/PICT0066.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j181/mikenova/PICT0069-1.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j181/mikenova/PICT0072.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j181/mikenova/PICT0075.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j181/mikenova/PICT0074.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j181/mikenova/PICT0083.jpg

[Welsh Dan]

It'll T-Cut out! :D

[tom_beverley]

If it wasn't so bad I was going to have a go and weld it up but now I want it done 100% as good as possible.

I'm really tempted to get another shell and just have it right in the first place but at the same time I don't want to scrap mine as I'm quite attached and would probably cry lol

I went to see the shell on ebay and its very solid but again its the likely chance of previous dodgy work as it was a turbo. I'd love just to strip that to see how it is in these places! If only...

I just don't want to waste time and money on this shell if it is too far gone and wind up having to reshell in another year or so. Plus all the welding needed isn't going to be cheap, unless anyone fancies a few beers! :)

I'm stuck which way to go, scrap or save

[Mike]

get a new shell Tom, i though like you, as in it'll kill me to get rid of K570 SJX (RIP as she was an ace car :() but on the other side of things it was the best possible thing i could have ever done to save her lol

I say her, as she was lurvly :) now shes a fridge freezer lol lol

[Adam]

I'd look for another shell tbh.

[tom_beverley]

What I should be thinking tbh.

Think I will go for a 2nd look at the shell and double check I haven't missed anything and take a torch this time!

[tom reid]

Tom, why are you messing about with a drill and a little wire brush on the end?
Get yourself a 4 1/2 grinder and a cup brush, they are a bit vicious, but they do a great job of cleaning rusty panels.
Repair the car, you will at least know that it's done, and possibly get some satisfaction from doing it yourself, if you can;t weld, learn to.
If I can help, don't hesitate to ask.

[tom_beverley]

Cheers Tom, I was just using the drill and brush for the hard to reach places!

I got a local welder to view the car today, if I can hold of some inner wings he will do it all for ?300.

Anyone know where I can get some? Vauxhall don't sell them anymore do they or is it worth ringing round a few to see if they have any old stock?

[Adam]

Its probably a DIY fabrication job.

[Mike]

Yep, will be a DIY job, i tried to source some ages ago

[tom reid]

I have a pair of decent second hand inners if you want them.

[pul16v]

you can get passenger innner wings from autovaux drivers side just never arrives from spain if they put one on back order for you think mine set me back ?54

phil