4x4 NOVA

[munchie]

Hi, ive recently bought a Greg Nova GTE thats been laid up for the past 8-9 years, it has only 16000 miles from new, so i thought it would make an ideal car to do a 2.0 16v conversion on. ive recently sold my calibra turbo 4x4 which i love because of the 4x4, ive never seen or heard of a nova being converted to 4x4 so i just wondered if anyone can give me any info on how it could be done. Thanks Alan

[neiloakley]

can be done mate. you would use the same engine and box as what you had in you calibra. As for how it's done, aint got a clue i'm affraid. Soz

Performance Car Audio - http://customize.9f.com

[Doddy]

This is a problem I have been trying to figure out for months now. The main problems i have come up with are, not enough room for transfer box, where do you route the exhaust (main prop will be in its way), total redesign of boot area floor to allow for rear running gear, redesign of rear suspension components to suit rear drive..

Still interested, it would be a well hard job but not impossible.

I don?t know if it would be possible, some how try and us as much of the rear of the calibra as possible, but narrowing the track as you build i.e. cut out nova rear floor pan and suspension turrets, weld in cut up calibra floor pan??

The rear is where the hard work is, front is just a 2L 16v conversion plus the transfer box..

This was not so much an answer but me emptying my brain of this confusion.

[Stuart]

here we go again, this is brought up every 6 or so months then you realise its jsut far far far far too much money and hassle for a nova!

BEng (hons) just isnt enough, i need a Msc too!

[srboy]

its all ready being done as u speak! the bloke is from totton it is a 3door shell then he has cut an engine bay out from a nova td and welded it into the boot it is running two 2l 16vs front n rear obviously but he is having real problems with the gear shifting as he cant get both engines to change symetricaly. got to admit it looks totaly bodged tho!

[cornish]

You could use a wide arch kit to keep the track of the original donor car - this along with a shortened prop shaft would solve alot of problems.

[CP]

I've heard of one being done but ain't never seen it. I was told it wasn't too difficult but I don't know the details. I believe a properly done twin engined Nova is on its way but not for a bit

[?Marty?]

A 4x4 Renault five has been done. A 4x4 Golf has been done. A 4x4 Escort has been done. Why not a Nova? Though, all these car's use two engines, one in the front, one in the boot/inplace of the rear seats.
It would only be worth it if you did the labour, or have someone who will do it for next-to-nothing.

[Stuart]

using 2 engines is technically cheating :p

anyway wasnt the escort cossie 4x4 (or atleast a few) out of the factory??

BEng (hons) just isnt enough, i need a Msc too!

[Doddy]

some golfs where 4x4 out of the factory as well (golf rallye)

[?Marty?]

Yeah that's true. I just ment i've seen all those cars with two engines. Though i've seen a MK1 Golf with all the golf rallye running gear on, and that couldn't have been too easy.

[Rich Dale]

There was a white MKIII Astra converted a few years back using a Calibra rear floor etc etc......

The best way might be to forget the Calibra floor-pan set-up all together and build a custom tubular chassis from scratch, then bolt the nova shell and Calibra gear to it.

In the Custom Car world, this kind of thing is common.....building things totally from scratch.

You might be able to use an independent rear-diff and suspension from another car....the Jag rear set-up is common on hot rods and quite easy to narrow to fit. You could forget independent rear suspension altogether which would make things easier.
Props can be custom made for the job so not a prob.

Just some ideas to consider :)

[Anonymous]

if i was doign a 4*4 converison ona nova i wouldnt want to use the calibra transfer box, id probably just fit a cossie lump and running gear, you are looking at a MASSIVE job whatever way you do it, the whole back floor of the car is goign to have to be cut out and remanfucatered.

Also 4*4 handlign benefits are not as apparent on a short wheel base car.

Chip

[Ste_Nova]

nova limo 4x4?

[Ste_Nova]

nova limo 4x4?

[Anonymous]

lmfao @ nova limo, that would be hilarious!

Chip

[Ste_Nova]

nova limo with cav length and tas track wideing kit

[Anonymous]

why not just buy a cav 4*4 and put nova wings and grill on it :P

Chip

[Ste_Nova]

cause it would look sh1t?

[Anonymous]

ive often thought for a laugh of bolting calibra wings etc onto a cav to see what it would look like as tehy look like they would be fairly easy to swap over.

Woudl get some right funny looks I reckon!

Chip

[Anonymous]

Got any pics?

Cant believe some nutter actaully done it before me :(

Chip

[barnes]

nothing is too difficult, all you need is money and time.

it has been done before coz ive seen a few(ie 2) in motoring news as rolling shells using cav running gear

[Ben (lurk75)]

There is a guy in somerset who has done this! What he has got is... a shed of a nova with a 2.5 V6 non ecotec Cavalier engine in it, but i dont think he is using the vauxhall running gear. The engine is rear mounted (obviously) and runs the transfer box and that under the bonnet???? He is a very odd man that dosent like giving to much away. I delivered to a neighbour of his and seen it and went over to chat to him. He said it handles like a bag of shit, and is far to powerful to control, i think he has basically put the nova shell on to a bodged up base, he is thinking of going to PV2002 to race it, he looks like a biker and there is no way that thing has got an MOT and you wouldnt catch me in it!

[Rich Dale]

Just going back to the Cavalibra thing again, there was a red one in Max Power (or was it fast car?) years ago.....it had the Calibra front, but also the rear bumper fitted.

I'll have a dig through my old mags and try and find it.

Oh, and "they" called it a Cavalibra...in the mag.

[cassinova]

i now this isnt helping anyone but i have been to quite a few rallies where there were rear wheel drive corsas and novas so perhaps you should forget about a 4*4 nova and just make a rwd one instead - power slides and donuts cum as standard!!!! :wink: :lol: :twisted:

[brian]

novas are too short for rwd. i kno of a few rally cars or autocross cars with running rwd and the guys themselves will tell ya its no good. a long rwd car can be controlled and drifted and thrown about but a nova gets a little sideways and just snaps out of control.
Sidney Meeke (the man behind Bertie Fisher's rally preparations) once built a 4x4 nova with impreza runin gear! don't kno how he did it but he did! :mrgreen:

[mowgli]

Sid Meeke once did a Corsa (previous shape) with a cav. 4x4 running gear fitted. the back wheels were almost sticking out the back dragster style.

P.s if you are bored some time and are in a scrapyard, you should measure a nova saloon and a mk2 escort they have the same track & wheelbase. and as far as I know, the saloon & hatch are the same underneath. food for thought.......... sorry about mentioning a ford, but caterham do a bellhousing to fit 1.6 gm engines to ford gboxes.


cheers mowgli

[Rich Dale]

Reading through Classic Ford yesterday (sorry....I love classic Fords as well as Novas.....since I have my 'tina) and there's a 4x4 Capri that was developed for use in rallycross by Fergusson.....as in Massey Ferguson the tractor peeps.

They built them to beet the 4x4 Minis that were dominant at the time and it worked.....they whipped the minis ass, but got banded in the process! (typical!)

They apparently built various 4x4 cars over the years "including a single Austin 1800, two Triumph Stags, four Mustangs plus a variety of American iron."
They also built 27 4x4 Zephyr6 MKIV's and the 1966 Jensen FF supercar!

Anyway, my whole point in that "any" car can be converted to 4-wheel-drive with the know-how and the cash.
If Minis can be done, then Novas can't be that hard to do surely!

[carltoncrazy]

right,
slowly doing a kit car,
and kit cars work on a tubler chassis,if you desighn a tublar chassis on say,cav turbo 4x4,then bolted nova body panel to it,it would be as light as f***.strong,and you could desighn it so that the orst off the cav could be used,
buy a kit car mag and hav alook at some of the ac cobra replica and some of the sports car(not 7 replcia).get some ideas.but it would take yrs to build,
just food for thought but i would build it on the idea that its a kit car,
i.e its gonna be Q reg

[Rich Dale]

I know...get an old Land Rover chassis and chuck the Nova shell on that!

lol

It's been done on loads of other cars before....problem is you have the same ride height as the Landy!

Ok, getting back to being serious.....

The Tubular Chassis idea that you mention hayzsr, is exactly what I suggested......seams the best option to me too :)

[carltoncrazy]

did you see that festia xr2 on a range rover chassis,coz of the shor wheel base it was a beast off road.
got to be honest,is there really a point of making a 4wd nova
think the answer no,

[carltoncrazy]

hey if you did build one with a dubla chssis then do what the kit cars do,
a twin motor cycle engine nova.
that would fly

[Rich Dale]

I've suggest motor-bike power before too......I'm sure someone told be it's been done....maybe I dreamt it?

I was watching some old episodes of Top Gear the other day and there was this nutter bloke who builds 4x4 Citroen 2CV's lol

That's almost as funny as a Saxo lmao!

[carltoncrazy]

though sadly we can say all these ideas,but they want to cut and shut a nova,
if it was going to be a decent job,it would have to be tubla chassis,kevlar/fibra glass/carbon fiber,twin hybosa engines,running 6 box,and serria axles.
and to be honest i think they have the idea that you can just weld a few mounts in,
imagian a kevlar nova,0-60,that b fast

[Rich Dale]

Weld a few mounts in...lol

It'd be a bit more complicated than that.....that's for sure!

If only we had millions sat in a bank not doing anything.....what could be done.....like you say, Nova replica body (Carbon fibre/kevlar etc) over tubular chassis fitted with any engine/drive-train combo you care to think of.

Why stick with a 4-pot....chuck in a V8 :D Northstar anyone?

[carltoncrazy]

5.7 chevy,lol
no if it was gonna be done it would have to be bike engines.
because a v8 blocks jus to dam heavy and also with bike engine the gears a quicker to change.

[carltoncrazy]

right get ready for this.
chatting to g.f bro.
and we got a 2dr saloon with a rusty chassis.
so we are looking at making it a 4x4.
buts its going to be very very rough inside
the main things are 2 bucket seat and were going try and get a nova dash in but we dont know,
but i need help
i need the wheel base/width etc specs of the car.1.2 f plate
also to blade engines,with looms.
if we do it ,it wont be pretty.welded dorrs and full rollcage,so its get in tho the window job,so no MOT.never stop me b4,hehehehehehe
so basical if any one has any info then say.
we not 100% sure,but what the hell if not,lets go banger racing.
mean we looking at knocking to together out of tublar chassis like we sed,but we gonna make it simple so its jus going to be a rectangle,as much as we can.
my other though was to cut the top off and my it a rag top,save weight+then it could get a MOT.
standard steel body,at the moment.
so any info/inputs/ideas welcome,
also how much u reckeon it would be worth if it look like pro job.
as i said if we fail then we can pass on what we learnt to some who wants to try again.
so help guys

[Ben (lurk75)]

Right thought would bring this back to life....

I saw a car today that made me thin :idea: :idea: :idea:

A J reg 91/92 Subaru Justy now this is a 4x4 car and is about the same size as a nova. anybody got any reasons why this wouldnt work?

[carltoncrazy]

they have no power,and really trying to make that drive chain do n e thing over 60,u have a death wish.
its a good idea but it really aint worth it,you would have one laim laim nova,which would get beaten by tank on all preforance specs,
if its gonna be done,do it from scatch

[dave.gsi]

this thread is three pages long and i haven't bothered reading the first two so if i say anything thats allready been said then sorry. :roll:

any1 remember an old fastcar cover car.........a blue widearch turbo 4x4 mk3 fiesta? it used all cossie stuff for the conversion........including engine :o

also....any1 remember a certain black renault 5 turbo.......black, widearch cossie power and 4x4.

it just shows if you want it done someone out there will do it for you......(2.5 v6 nova any1??).
hell...i was even watching a tvr powered golf at the weekend (4.0ltr rwd anyone :o ) standard body but look inside and its got the biggest transmission tunnel known to man lol.

[?Marty?]

I know someone (Dave France, built Brett Warburton's Minty Nova - Cover of Total Vauxhall/Max Power feature car) and he's building a rear engined Nova Van at the moment (2litre rear wheel drive), and then will be fitting the same in the front. ie twin engined 4 wheel drive nova!

[kieronharrop]

could be done- wide arched, 4 x 4, limo- with cossie engine and mini bar.

LMAO

[Fester]

the general consensus is separate custom chassis and then nova shell on top

however

at what point is a Nova not a Nova?

u see the dragster funnycars that claim to be chevy camaros etc when it actaul fact its a scratch built car with a camaro shaped shell on, mould up a different shell whack in and its a different car

how far is too far before u cant claim its a certain type of car, or is there no limit?

im not sure either way just interested in seeing what people think

[carltoncrazy]

no your right it wouldnt be a nova,
having 4wd wont do much for the handling as it aint long enough.
it really is people think 4wd is brillent in any car etc,
i can be assed to do it any more manly as i gota family shit now.
but really it aint worth doing as who would own it?who would pay the amount that the insuance would be>?
who`d pay for the tires?
it`s a f***** hassle init aint worth doing

[Aragorn]

how exactly would a twin engined car work then?

i can see the point and it would prolly be quite hard to get round all the mechanical problems of it

but say one engine is running at a slightly lower output that the other

if u boot it constantly your applying lots of extra stress to the chassis and more powerfull engine as it tries to push/pull the slower one along

is this not an issue? or am i just being obtuse :/

[carltoncrazy]

if ya doing it with motorcycles eninge then just get all westfield gear box as they get it right,
but yeh ya have a point it is easyer to do it one engine.but most people take the easy route by doing one engine in the boot and one under the bonnect but it aint really a 4wd,not proper,and it will handle sh**

[munchie]

Bare with me peeps, it WILL be done, ive been ill lately so ive not had the chance to see the people who i'll get to help me do it, im off there tomorrow. they just built a Tigra over a tubular frame with a suzuki hiabussa engine in the rear. looks the dogs. they used to rally a 1.3 sport that kicked my calibra turbo's ass to 120mph. i'll tru n get back here and let you all know what was decided tomorrow.

Tiz comming though.


Alan
P.S. I can't belive anyone would even think of using a F*rd engine in a Vaux....... Bloody mad............must of been jokeing...........surely..........Bloody F*rds

[Chris LR]

WWW.DUBSPORT.COM, THEY HAD A MK 3 GOLF VR6, THEN PUT ANOTHER VR6 IN THE BOOT, THEY CLAIM 800BHP AND 200MPH+

I SUPPOSE THIS IS POSSIBLE WITH A NOVA, BUT WHY NOT CUT 2 IN HALF AND STICK EM BACK TOGEHTER, 4WD AND 4 WHEEL STEERING!

THIS WAS DONE WITH 2 JAGS AGES AGO, I NEVER SAW IT, I'VE HAERD IT WAS 'FUNNY'

[Stuart]

ahem caps lock is next to the 'A' key