Nova with Corsa VXR engine/gearbox

[Chris Astley]

Been trying to find something different to put in a nova for a while and rackin my brains what to do till i found this on ebay last week. Not sure of the exact spec the car will be but things will hopefully starts getting in motion before christmas. I have purchased the donor engine and gearbox complete with all ancillaries e.t.c. which i need to pick up.
Here are a few pics of the engine and gearbox as they are.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/150e_12.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/1e0c_12.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/1bcf_12.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/1188_12.jpg
Im hoping to get this out early next year for some track day action. Will get some more pics up when i pull the donor nova out of storage and get it into the workshop.
Chris

[Chris Astley]

Finally got the donor Nova in the workshop yesterday and started having a look at it this morning.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3122.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3121.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3120.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3119.jpg

First i started with removing all the redundant brackets and wiring which i wont be using. Then in order to make sure the engine is in the correct place we removed the M32 6 speed box and bolted on a F15 which will allow us to use the standard rear and front gearbox mounts to ensure we have the engine in the correct place.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3125.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3124.jpg
The engine is a little tight to th drivers side chassis leg so due to clearance problems around the water pump pulley we had to remove the orginal front engine mounting from the chassis leg( Wasnt going to be used either).
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3130.jpg
The engine and box will be fitted with some purpose made mounts which incorporate the same rubber mounts used in my competition mounts.
Will hopefully get some more done towards the weekend, got a busy day on tomorrow.
On another note, one thing i did notice is that the cylinder head has Z18XEL cast into the front of it!!!
Once the O/S engine mount is completed we will remove the F15 casing and refit the M32 box to the engine and continue to make the N/S mount and the rear stabiliser link which should still be able to utilise the captives under the rear floor where the original mounts fastens.
Due to how tight the inlet manifold is to the engine this has given loads of clearance around the back of the engine but space around the front of the engine is a little tight so some mods to the slam panel are looking like a necessity.

[Chris Astley]

Here are some more pics of how the engine sits in the engine bay.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3134.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3133.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3132.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3131.jpg

[MK1-GTE]

what a project ... read a link to this recently ,should be a mental nova when its all done ...
look forward to reading your progress:)

[Adam]

Very cool project indeed.
Does the engine/f15 not bolt up just like any other small block?
As far as i see, your mentioning having to sit the engine in the right place to make the mount etc??

[Chris Astley]

The engine does bolt straight up to the F15 but i have only installed it on this gearbox in order to make sure the engine is in the correct position, once i have done the engine mounting i will remove the gearbox and refit the 6 speed M32 and make the mounts for this.

[John]

Top stuff chris! I'll be watching this one with mucho interest. Are you intending to keep the equal length set up? Custom shafts with M32 inners and big block outers?
Iirc tms have one of these running about 240ish as a demo. John visited our dealership in it, awesome!

[Chris Astley]

Will be running equal length shafts still, the M32 from what i have worked out takes the same CV as all other big blocks so should take the normal short motorsport shaft and possibly the special shaft i do for the other side.

[craig green]

Cant wait to see this evolve. This will be my ultimate spec Nova quite possibly.

M32 box is same as in Astra VXR is it not? ...... They do a Quaiffe ATB now.

[dhdev (Oli)]

Will keep an eye on this, very :cool: indeed.

[peester]

my hero!

[L33 LEG]

this is going to be amazing!

[Chris Astley]

Cant wait to see this evolve. This will be my ultimate spec Nova quite possibly.

M32 box is same as in Astra VXR is it not? ...... They do a Quaiffe ATB now.

Yes quaife do a diff, waiting for them to come back into stock and then will be ordering one.

[Mazz]

Very cool project, but how are you going to get round the wiring as they are CANBUS things aren't they?

[vaughanmc]

Was waiting for this conversion :) Should be a topper

[Stuart]

please for the love of anything its just plain old CAN not CANBUS :wall:

[Adam]

Very cool project, but how are you going to get round the wiring as they are CANBUS things aren't they?
Bin the standard crap, and DTA'ing it :thumb:
(not use if hes posted that in this thread, but ive read it elsewhere)

[SKoob]

The ideal conversion me thinks, can't wait to see this done :D

[scott.parker]

Cant wait to see this come together..

[Riggy]

yep , this will be the "next step" in the nova scene anyhow lol

looks awsome

[Dan 130]

will be very cool indeed

[chrisnovaturbo]

that will be a rapid little car. is the engine the same weigh as 1600 16v ecotec?

[krobinson]

Cannot wait to see this complete!

[shy witness]

looking forward to tuning in on thge progress on this bad boy

mental suff

[Lee]

Chris, you are an abject nutter and i cant think of a better man to do this first.

Just hurry the hell up!

[paddy138]

cant wait for this, best of luck with it

[EUROTURBO]

yea good luck with the project sure you'l do a pukka job cant wait to see this in 2008 should be a good showcase for things to come, out with the old in with the new as they say lol

[dhdev (Oli)]

that will be a rapid little car. is the engine the same weigh as 1600 16v ecotec?
The bare engine would be a similar weight i'd imagine, but then you have to add the turbo/pipework/intercooler, and i'm guessing the 6-speed box is a fair bit heavier as well.

[novacrazy2006]

this is gonna be a beast mmmm

[raymond]

if its anything like the orange one this will be one amazng tool:thumb:

[gammienov16v]

carn't wait fella this, i don't think i need to say anymore the other lads have said it mate, its should be somethink special, its the future of the nova turbo's, good luck and make it happen:thumb:

are the vxr engines 220bhp or 240bhp?????

[Adam]

are the vxr engines 220bhp or 240bhp?????
190 iirc
Remember its the 1.6 vxr.

Not the bigger Astra vxr engine....

[Andy_L]

190 iirc
Remember its the 1.6 vxr.

Not the bigger Astra vxr engine....

192PS isn't it so around 187-189 BHP??

[Lee]

If chris is running standalone management, im guessing it will be seeing well over 200bhp anyway with a wee tweek on the map here and there :)

[craig green]

He mentions a bigger throttle body too. Lose the precat & centre cat, add in a better intercooler than the std Corsa uses & its likely the power will be pretty massive tbh.

Seeing as the cyl head is the 1.8 small block version & I know from Lee He****y's findings that the inlet ports on them are substantially bigger than the old C20XE/LET's ports.

In the future when hybrids or tubular manifolds & Garret GT's are fitted. Scope for big power should be awesome.

[elgan]

240 bhp for a corsa vxr with a cooler, remap and away with the pre cat and a sports cat etc..

plenty of scope i bet

[gammienov16v]

baseicly it going to be fookin quick then lol

[gammienov16v]

190 iirc
Remember its the 1.6 vxr.

Not the bigger Astra vxr engine.... cheers for that fella:thumb:

[Steve]

Love the idea behind this, thats the only part of the new corsa thats worth salvaging!

Sounds like a good project, not sure how easy wiring etc will be but very interesting.

[Chris Astley]

will hopefully get some more work done on monday or tuesday next week, got a hectic week leading up to christmas. Want to get the shell finished and painted by middle of january if all goes well, got my weld in cage ready and waiting too.

Chris.

[gammienov16v]

good luck fella,

oh and if you still have that 1.6 rad fan im still intrested, i haven't had the chance to email you due to me puttin a gsi engine in me nova 2day, i will be in touch tomorrow though defo.

thanks and hurry up and get that vxr nova builtlol

[raymond]

will hopefully get some more work done on monday or tuesday next week, got a hectic week leading up to christmas. Want to get the shell finished and painted by middle of january if all goes well, got my weld in cage ready and waiting too.

Chris.

have you got a painter lined up chris

are kid maybe interested in doing it if you aint

[Chris Astley]

will probably do it myself mate, always painted my own stuff so far, plus i hate paying people to do something i can.

[RJM25R]

Hasn't Robert Mitchum already done 74 of these conversions??? LOL!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris Astley]

Finally got some more done on the nova, completed the engine mount on the drivers side which has included some strengthening to the inner wing.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3166mini.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3163mini.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3162mini.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/RSreplica/Nova%20vxr/IMG_3160mini.jpg
Next job is to remove the F15 gearbox and fit the M32 6 speed then fabricate the 2 gearbox mounts.
Progress can also be followed here on my own forum
http://www.chrisastleymotorsport.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25#post25
Chris.

[burgo]

im sure, in fact i know you know what your doing but that mount looks a little weedy lol

[Paul]

I dont see no easy mount kit being able to be bought for this engine!

Ah well tough **** for those that cant weld!

[fjc]

looking realy nice....... is this gonna be the first ever nova with this engine convertion ??

[Chris Astley]

looking realy nice....... is this gonna be the first ever nova with this engine convertion ??

I hope so, there isnt any others about that im aware of mate

[fjc]

soooperb.......... its best that way, atleast you can say ` i done it first` lol and should be very quick aswell,

[Mike]

All it leaves now is someone to cobble together a Zafira GSi powered Nova

[7ova]

tidy bit of welding there mate!
keep up the good work

[bigbened]

hopefully i will be the one lol the money and car is coming together now, nothing major but i will let you know when i know i can squeeze it into the bay, ps it will be a euro subject. (no tacky shat)

dont hold me to it as i want to know it will fit first

[Dave.]

this is going to be a beast when finished :thumb:

[lee02]

awesome project mate it should be great when finished

[vaughanmc]

Will be some weapon once its done, some good fabrication work there as well

[Lee]

All it leaves now is someone to cobble together a Zafira GSi powered Nova

Thats only running a Z20LET lol

[M17BLH]

WOW! Amazing project!

[abbott]

Best of luck with this project buddy im sure there has and will be blood sweat n tears involved but GOD DAMN its gonna be worth it !!

ya should source some corsa VXR seats for the chariot too dude !

[Ste L]

Thats only running a Z20LET lol


how about an Astra VXR or a Vectra VXR engine :thumb:

[Lee]

Isnt the Vectra VXR lump pretty much the same size as a lotus carlton lump?

See other thread lol lol

[C7LJN]

Isnt the Vectra VXR lump pretty much the same size as a lotus carlton lump?

See other thread lol lol
Na the carlton engine was a strait 6 3.0 twin turbo and measured up about the same lenth as a nova lol and the vectra vxr engine is a V6 2.8 turbo so there would be more chance of getting that in the nova than the carlton engine

[C7LJN]

sorry make that 3.6 not 3.0 silly me

[Lee]

Good point lol

[DW-Nova]

What about a Nova with a 1.9cdti? they put these in the new vectra and astra and are 150bhp standard, with loads of torque and tuning potential, would be brilliant in a nova i reckon, only problem is that i'm guessing it'd be pretty heavy and a pain to get in there and running.

[Courtnova16v]

In one of your pics I notice a white nova in the background. Just wondering if you would consider selling it?

[Chris Astley]

In one of your pics I notice a white nova in the background. Just wondering if you would consider selling it?

Hiya mate, the white one is sold awaiting collection.

[Rick Draper]

So chris you will be going for a hydraulic clutch pedal setup on this at a guess. Can you let me know what you do at the pedal end.

[Courtnova16v]

Hiya mate, the white one is sold awaiting collection.

If the deal doesn't go through or you come across another suitable for a xe give me shout, cheers.

[DTR-DEVIL]

Good Luck mate. I Wish you a Easy, Swift Conversion. (PMSL lol)

[Riggy]

anymore progress on this chris ?

[craig green]

Yeah it posted a 9 sec 1/4 at POD on Sunday....

Well perhaps not, however on MIGweb it appears the drivers side mount has now ben welded to the chassis leg/inner wing & Chris is looking to mount the M32 6 spd box up next.

[Riggy]

lol yeah think that where he left it here a few pages back lol , oh well was hoping someone had the "get up and go" to do some work on there cars lol


i know i havent at the min lol

[craig green]

Me neither. cant be bothered with it since about 2 weeks ago.

Sorry Rallyman (off topic)

[edit] not much to report here either.

http://www.chrisastleymotorsport.com/forums/showthread.php?p=756#post756

[Chris Astley]

Havent had time to get much done at the minute cause since wednesday i have become a dad, have done some work since the last update and got some more pics which i will try and get up next week.

[Sturge]

Dammit I knew I wouldn't be the only one to think about doing this one lol

although I was (probably very naively) expecting the engine mounts to be the same as the old small blocks. What mounts does the 1.8 use?

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out I must say

[dan_cf40]

i had this planned about 6 months ago put a post in here somewhere even had an engine an box, wiring put me off gone for a v6 now

[Ben]

Got to say that engine and box was an absoloute bargain, i was watching it too.

nice work going on.

[Chris Astley]

Got the shell stripped last week and almost finished removing all the sealer now so will hopefully be getting blasted towards end of next week then i can finish the fabrication on the front and fit the weld in cage

[Courtnova16v]

Anymore progress on this?

[Adam]

Think its been broken?
The engine and stuff was all up for sale a few week back

[novacabrio]

Yes my mate now has the engine

[chrisnovaturbo]

i wanted to see this all done. would of been good

[craig green]

i wanted to see this all done. would of been good

No better than any other turbo'd 16v Nova tbh. I expect the lump weighs the same as a C20lET + it probably doesnt have the shove in the powerband that older turbo engines have which is what makes them feel fast.

Still a shame though.

[Courtnova16v]

Seen it when I was down at Chris's with my car, same he did finish it. Novacabrio, what are your mates plans for the engine?