Nova 4x4

[C7LJN]

Hi there im building a 4x4 nova just for a change. Ive been looking on the net to try find others but cant find any just wondering if its been done already?????

[R1CH]

Been talked about 100's of times but nothings ever came of them, have a 'search' and you should find a bit of info.
Just out of interest what running gear ect ... you using ?

[adam c]

have you got any pics?

[BIGS]

Dam and i was hoping to be the first to do it

[Timmy]

well if i see one at pvs next year i will kiss all for wheels

[FUSION X16XE]

i 2nd that anybody who has the time/money to do that to a nova deserves huge respect!!

[Stuart]

Hi there im building a 4x4 nova just for a change.

actually building, or simply planning/dreaming at the moment?

sorry to sound pessamistic but as Rich said, its been talked up millions of times and never actually carried out.

plus I cant HONESTLY see a gain from putting 4wd into a nova, its not going to offer much on track, it might help on the launch at 1/4 miling but other than that its dead weight etc.

If you are indeed building it then good skills and I cant wait to see timmmmaahhh kissing the wheels lol

[Will F]

I know of one that is currentlt sat in a mate's garage (and has been for 3 years)

A calibra floorpan was used and wide arches welded on. It has never run and is looking sorry for itself!:(

So unless you are a sh*t hot fabricator and have plenty of resources/time dont bother!

[just vaux trev]

did'nt regal build one 695/795bhp 0-60 3secs ish

[BIGS]

your on about the boostbeast. it wasent 4x4

[Lee]

It was, but it was twin engined so therefore doesnt really count as it wanst running a 4x4 drivetrain.

[just vaux trev]

/\ ahhh i see, what items would you use to 4x4 one as iv'e got one i want do something different with i got three and they are all going the same way
a bit boring really i do'nt mind chopping it up to try things was just gonna do wide arch and stupid kit but 4x4 mmmmm

[Stoo]

FFS YAWN YAWN YAWN

Not again!

[just vaux trev]

..

[Lee]

FFS YAWN YAWN YAWN

Not again!

Indeed.

Ive said it before but you wouldnt believe the amount of people who have said theyre going to do it, and then nothing appears. Theres a few 'unfinished projects' about, but theres probably a very good reason why theyre unfinished!

[just vaux trev]

then look somewhere else

[Lee]

lol lol lol

[just vaux trev]

has there been any projects like that in projects on here??

[Lee]

No, thats the point. Its uncharted territiory, and if you use the search, you will find a load of threads where this has been discussed before about a thousand times!

If you do it, fair play to you, but im afraid you wont get much support until we see pics of it actually happening as its been mouthed off by many a dreamer in the past, and tbh its just getting boring now.

[Stoo]

not any 'projects'

many claims

[Stoo]

rwd has been done

Front engined Rear drive
Rear/mid engined rear drive

twin engine (effectively 4 wheel drive)

but no proper 4x4 as we know of

[just vaux trev]

if some one could point me in the right directon i would'nt mind putting it on projects even if it all want ti#s up anyone got any pics of caly 4x4 engine bay/ runnig gear might sound stupi which way would engine be mounted/
yes i know i sound like a dumb kid with dreams truth is iv never had anything to do with 4x4's

[Lee]

Let me break it down for you as in what would be involved.

Using a cally floorpan would be the best way to go. But heres the drawback. A cally is longer and wider than a nova. So pretty much everything would need to be modified, there would be a mammoth load of fabrication to do, you would need to make sure everything was straight so the thing doesnt crab, and once you had done all of that work, you would end up with a 4x4 nova that would be slower in a straight line than the equivilent engined nova with a normal setup, and a transfer box made of chocolate.

Basically, shed loads of work for a result that is pointless to say the least.

So basically its an excersise in fabrication, and something to pose about in a magazine. Thats fair enough, some people enjoy that and I can relate to it HOWEVER i imagine you think it will make a better car. It will infact make a much heavier car with a load more transmission loss.

Other things that have been mentioned are using running gear from other SWB 4x4 cars, such as a Justy or a panda 4x4 (lol) Then you open up another kettle of fish as to mounting a vaux engine to it, or mounting a justy engine in a nova.

So, to cut a long story (and probnably thread) short, we cant point you in a direction to get started, because there is nowhere to point you. Its never been done (to our knowledge) by an amateur in a shed. There ARE 4x4 rally corsas which have been built, to a massive budget and by hugely talented people, not guys like us in sheds lol

So, have a stab at it by all means, we'll give you all the help we can, but if you do it you will be re-inventing the wheel, so dont expect a user manual!!



You wouldnt believe how many times ive written that either lol

[Welsh Dan]

Insaneswede has a 4x4 mk1 astra using toyota celica gt4 transmission and a C20LET over on mig...

[BIGS]

if some one could point me in the right directon i would'nt mind putting it on projects even if it all want ti#s up anyone got any pics of caly 4x4 engine bay/ runnig gear might sound stupi which way would engine be mounted/
yes i know i sound like a dumb kid with dreams truth is iv never had anything to do with 4x4's

To be honsit when you got to ask questions like that i dont know where to start with it i wouldnt do it. As someone pointed out to me when i made this post but i do know how to. If i was you just do a rwd much easyer and cheeper to do. you need alot of money and time if you were to do this plus the amount of skill needed to the fabrication work

[Big_Chap]

i know colin (thread starter) and he could do it, the only thing i can see that will stop this happening is if he gets bored or see's a diferrent shell. (the running gear has seen 3 other road-going cars and almost a kadet but got bored) the last time i saw him was about 2 weeks ago, trailering a mint shell from my mates garage to cut the **** off it...

[JSeymour]

theres 2 4x4 novas being built round my way at the mo, one hasnt started yet and the other is being built in his garage, both are using chopped up cavvy running gear.
the whole nova world doenst come on here so there might be a few out there.
il try and get some info on the one being built.

[Ste L]

a corsa would be easier to do, as it's wider and the cali/cav floor will fit easier, and also shafts etc would fit too..

some pic's of one done..


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v286/philsutton/Photo-0040.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v286/philsutton/Photo-0038.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v286/philsutton/Photo-0044.jpg

[just vaux trev]

well i think mine has just took a big step back as someone just offered
me a handfull of ? notes that im happy with but still leaves me with
one spare shell tbh i thought it would make a better car but i belive and
can understand where lee is coming from so back to the drawing board
maybe rwd if i started with small block ie the 1.2 i got sitting round
and mounted it,would i need to chainge the mounting position if i put a big block in later for rwd

[Welsh Dan]

well i think mine has just took a big step back as someone just offered
me a handfull of ? notes that im happy with but still leaves me with
one spare shell tbh i thought it would make a better car but i belive and
can understand where lee is coming from so back to the drawing board
maybe rwd if i started with small block ie the 1.2 i got sitting round
and mounted it,would i need to chainge the mounting position if i put a big block in later for rwd

If you made chassis mounts that take the standard nova mounts, then no, you'd just need the normal big block conversion mounts.

[Lee]

Have a look at Austins RWD nova, the front end is completely spaceframed. Its a work of art!

[C7LJN]

Hi folks i aint been on for a fue days glad to see a good response i have just started the project the other day there the floor is being replaced as a fue have said but not with cavy it is sierra as it is going to be cosworth 4x4 i have some pics but not sue how to get them up on here

[C7LJN]

I have the floor cut out the car already just waiting to xmas now to get stuck into it should have the sierra floor in by the new year. Does anyone know of any other cosworth powered novas ive found corsa`s done on the net but no nova`s. Anyone got a clue as to what sort 1/4 mile times the fastet novas do????? just my engine has been dyno`d at 450 BHP and with the 4x4 im hopeing to be up there with the fastest nova in scotland

[R1CH]

Fair play, i've had a 4x4 Cossie idea kicking about in my head for a bit, just suprised know ones done it before tbh, its been done in just about everything else !!
Not sure what the fastest Nova in Scotland is, but theres a fair few in England getting in the low 12's / high 11's and they'll be kicking out about 400 bhp+, can't see it being any quicker than those to be honest.
You need 15 posts before you can put pics up, will be very interested in seeing some, good luck with it all.

[C7LJN]

Perfect mate cheers. yes i have has a couple of sierras and just stripped me escort cossie there and thats why i have to build this 4x4 nova. it was said in the post there that someone didnt think the 4x4 would make a change to the handling and only be of aid on take off. If you are saying that you aint been in a hi powered 4x4 cossie they really do handle well the power split is very good. It doesnt even wheels spin with the 450 bhp it can be hammered and drift on corners but if you just want it to grip and go round it does it just powers round the corners. So a nova aint a bad handling car its just when the have a 2l in them they tend to be a but understeery and do alot of wheelspining so im thinking that giving it the wider track and making it the 4x4 should work well. I will find out i suppose :D anyone wanting some pics as i go just give me your email and i will send them as i go. Oh and i wasnt askin how to do it a was just asking if it had been done to start with as i do have alot of experience with welding and fabricating im also a mechanic to trade so i knew what i was taking on before i started. I did do this before to a proton i built 4x4 cossie. and also just finished a clio that has been cossied with a V6 kit and 600BHP that is just a race car not a road car

[Mike]

^ Not pish on your parade but.....you can have all the skills in the world, but things will still go wrong.

By the way, Ive measured a Es'Cos running gear up for a Nova conversion, and from memory, the prop will need to be around 4" shorter, and the track around 3/4" thinner. I do have all the measurements & undercarrige pics somewhere at home, ill dig them out again one day.

[R1CH]

^ Not pish on your parade but.....you can have all the skills in the world, but things will still go wrong.

Yeah, but then you have the skills to sort the problems out, i do 'Genuinely' beleive that it wouldn't be to difficult to do to be honest, folk do this kind of stuff all the time with Rally / Rally X cars its just that they never get built to go on the road and the folk who build them don't spend 1/2 their time posting pics on the net of them for everyone to see !!
Look forward to seeing some pics.

[JSeymour]

get a wip going in the project section buddy, sure loads of people will wunna see the progress.

[C7LJN]

Last Of The Nova SR'S Do you really think i aint measured up the 2 cars already at this stage????? a have and i know what needs done. And if you think having to shorten a prop is a problem and may stop the conversion you and i have way different ideas of problems i may undertake. Once i have my 15 posts i will get some pics up on here folks

[Mazz]

Be nice too see some WIP pics..

[Andy_L]

Perfect mate cheers. yes i have has a couple of sierras and just stripped me escort cossie there and thats why i have to build this 4x4 nova. it was said in the post there that someone didnt think the 4x4 would make a change to the handling and only be of aid on take off. If you are saying that you aint been in a hi powered 4x4 cossie they really do handle well the power split is very good. It doesnt even wheels spin with the 450 bhp it can be hammered and drift on corners but if you just want it to grip and go round it does it just powers round the corners. So a nova aint a bad handling car its just when the have a 2l in them they tend to be a but understeery and do alot of wheelspining so im thinking that giving it the wider track and making it the 4x4 should work well. I will find out i suppose :D anyone wanting some pics as i go just give me your email and i will send them as i go. Oh and i wasnt askin how to do it a was just asking if it had been done to start with as i do have alot of experience with welding and fabricating im also a mechanic to trade so i knew what i was taking on before i started. I did do this before to a proton i built 4x4 cossie. and also just finished a clio that has been cossied with a V6 kit and 600BHP that is just a race car not a road car

Pictures of these said cars???

I'd ask Dar, Spanishfly, trackdaynova and Lee (well maybe not Lee as his is always broken lol ) about big blocks as they have some very rapid big block track Novas.

Personally I think the 4x4 is a complete waste in a Nova, you can easily get enough traction with front or rear wheel drive.

Fastest FWD nova I believe runs a 12.4 quarter mile.

[C7LJN]

I have been told i cant put pics up till i have 15 posts. So give me your email and i will send you some OK

[LONG~BAR]

wheres the car??

[Big_Chap]

I have been told i cant put pics up till i have 15 posts. So give me your email and i will send you some OK

colin, email them to me and i'll fire em up

nevermind the negative -ish comments, it just that alot of new folk come on here and ask questions cossie related etc by dreamers and it's hard to judge from 1 post someone who knows what they're talking about and a 16yr old spotty dreamer :thumb:

[Andy_L]

I have been told i cant put pics up till i have 15 posts. So give me your email and i will send you some OK

lol lol lol lol

that will teach me for not reading properly!!!

Sorry. please email to andrewsjlawrence at yahoo dot co dot uk

[Lee]

(well maybe not Lee as his is always broken lol )



How very rude lol

[Lee H]

Fastest FWD nova I believe runs a 12.4 quarter mile.

Nah, Turbo Gav on Mig and Vauxsport has ran an 11.9, few others have also beaten 12.4.

[Stoo]

sure theres a XE nos corsa doing 11s too??

[Lee H]

sure theres a XE nos corsa doing 11s too??

Yeah, 11.8, TB's with lots of nitrous.

[Mike]

Last Of The Nova SR'S Do you really think i aint measured up the 2 cars already at this stage?????

^ Yes.


a have and i know what needs done.

Please, enlighten me, what needs to be done then chief? As im sure someone with your skills would see no problems at all doing this conversion & therefore love to share your findings with others :thumb: and compare your findings/pictures to some of mine (http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showpost.php?p=723729&postcount=9)


And if you think having to shorten a prop is a problem and may stop the conversion you and i have way different ideas of problems i may undertake. Once i have my 15 posts i will get some pics up on here folks

Nowhere did i say that shortening the prop would stop the conversion, that is just ONE of several minor issues you'll come across doing this kind of work.

[R1CH]

Please, enlighten me, what needs to be done then chief? As im sure someone with your skills would see no problems at all doing this conversion & therefore love to share your findings with others :thumb: and compare your findings/pictures to some of mine (http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showpost.php?p=723729&postcount=9)

Give the guy some time and i'm sure he'll put some pics up, just because he's going down a different route to what you would do doesn't mean to say that it wont work, you also don't seem to have many pics / findings regarding a 4x4 Nova !!

[Mike]

it was said in the post there that someone didnt think the 4x4 would make a change to the handling and only be of aid on take off. If you are saying that you aint been in a hi powered 4x4 cossie they really do handle well the power split is very good. It doesnt even wheels spin with the 450 bhp it can be hammered and drift on corners but if you just want it to grip and go round it does it just powers round the corners.

Ok. Im not out to pish on your parade or owt, BUT, you cannot compare a well designed, rally inspired saloon nor hatchback car to a Nova. There two totally different cars, that will both respond different to a 4x4 setup.

One was designed & built with 4x4 in mind from the outset, whereas the other (Nova) was a budget disposable car for the masses.

Admittadly yes, they do handle very well, the Escort more so (one of the worlds fastest cornering road cars in standard form) but with that in mind, the Nova is not, nor will it ever be!

I can see your logic, yes. However you appear to be comparing Cosworth vehicle chariteristics into a Nova shell, and its just not going to go down like that! Not at all!

Im not saying its not possible, as it is, and is HAS been done before, many years ago, by professionals who build this kinda stuff for a living, not by a well trained or home knowledgable mechanic in a garage. Your titering on mucho uncharted territory, where you WILL face all kinds of negative comments, doubters, well wishers and pish takers.

If you some how manage to pull this off, then fiar play. However, in the invent of catostrophic failure, dont say we didnt tell you.

[Mike]

you also don't seem to have many pics / findings regarding a 4x4 Nova !!

That is where you'd be wrong, all at home in a nice big notebook next to my laptop :thumb:

EDIT: Where the theory is sound, the parts used are more then adeqaute, however putting all that into reality is yet to be tested. The biggest issue being obtaining another shell & the room its going to take up along with the parts to do it.

[Lee]

Mike is right. Basically what he's saying is its a very in depth, expensive and time consuming way to take 1 escoss, 1 nova, and make them into something that isnt as good as the cossy, and probably isnt as good as a well sorted Fwd nova.

[Mike]

Mike is right. Basically what he's saying is its a very in depth, expensive and time consuming way to take 1 escoss, 1 nova, and make them into something that isnt as good as the cossy, and probably isnt as good as a well sorted Fwd nova.

Nail. Head. Thank you for that input Lee.

On another note, Im not coming across as @unt, im just being a realist that is all. Nothing less, nothing more.

However, if I manage to pick up another mint for shell for ?50 again, I WILL try this, over a period of years, and see just what happens (much like my home made 1600T engine at present) and try and prove myself & everyone else wrong lol

[R1CH]

No reason to chop a Cossie up at all imo, fair enough nick all the running gear from one but you could easily knock up a rear diff cradle / sub frame then fabricate some trailing arms to sort the back end, front end wise you could always just keep the Nova set up - maybe just tweek it slightly ?? Soon make some engine / box mounts and stick a tunnel in.

[Big_Chap]

last of the sr's:

your being abit presumptious, like i said earlier, colin knows what he's talking about, he's also owned many nova's and cosworth's so he probably got better knowledge than most. as for the nova handling, it'll be basically a short wheel base cosworth with nova skin

lets not turn this into an arguement :thumb:

[Lee]

this isnt an arguement, its a discussion. :)

I for one would love to see something like this built, but pound for pound, i would bet my back teeth its sh*t compared to the std cossy lol

It would be a great engineering excersise though.

[dan23]

suzuki swift engine can be fitted in the nova
the suzuki swift also comes in 4 x 4
might be worth a look

[greg1.4]

4x4 swift??

that not an suzuki sj/samurai or whatever it is..

would be alot of work imo!

[Welsh Dan]

A Suzuki vitara has a track about 140mm wider than a nova, and a wheelbase about 140mm longer. I very much doubt that the running gear would take 400bhp though lol.

[dan23]

there is a 4x4 swift it s limited /special edition model

[C7LJN]

Right well lots of mixed views here so i will just get some wip pics up of what i get done over xmas and new year as they say proof is in the pudding.

Remember in the first place i was just wanting to do something that hasnt been done that i know off nova cossied with 4x4

If i wanted to build something quickly that was fast yeah sure 20let but how many are there about now. And the last one i was in when it was slightly damp was able to spin in 5th and that was only 270 bhp and i tend to get a bit fed up wheel spinning 24/7

Dont get me wrong i aint dissing the (20let novas) they are still verry fast cars and i have had loads of novas now. Not had a 20let but a fue xe`s and 2l8v

As i said i will get some pics up on here soon. ANDY L did you get the pics of the clio i sent you last night????

[Matt2107]

All the best to yah mate.
Just use this place as somewhere to throw around some ideas and maybe get a different look on some of the fabrication issues you might come across.

[C7LJN]

Cheers mate i will do :thumb:

[fjc]

well i was round looking at this project the nite, and its coming along nicely ........ all the floor/bulkhead is out ...... just to tidy up the edges now........ next on the cards it to get the sierra shell in and get it cut up ready for putting into place....... ive been involved in a few projects with colin, and being a welder/fabricator myself i like to finish things i start...... i was involved in the clio he was talking about and thats finished.... ill help colin in every way i can to get this `NOVAWORTH` on the road to prove all the people on here that think its just fairytale...........

cheers

[tom reid]

Have you thought about a spaceframe?

[_JH_]

You may be full of **** or a god of fabrication. I don't know.

The doubters on here won't listen until you put some pics up, and it starts to look finished.

Very few people on here have ventured outside the xe conversion guide norm, and don't believe anything else is possible, you have to bear this in mind whenever you post anything.

LLTN isn't being a ****, he's just fed up of afore-mentioned dreamers, as are we all.

People are offering to post the pics up for you, but it appears you haven't taken this up. This doesn't help your case [again, I'm not judging, just observing lol] so post up some crap in the Temporary Testing forum (http://www.pngclub.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=28) until your post count gets to 15 or whatever it is and post some up. [As a forum owner myself, I'm guessing the post count thing is an Anti-Spam measure to stop any URLs being posted by spam bots, so I'm sure no-one will mind as you're clearly a human.]

Oh, and good luck with the project :thumb:

[C7LJN]

I did sent pics last night to (andy l) but he aint even got back to me or put them up here. So what more can you do eh.

Keep talking on this and i will be up to the 15 posts soon;)

[krobinson]

Looking forward to seeing photos. I'd love to build a 4x4 C20LET nova. But it would just have to run standard arches etc.

I'd say with a bit of work, a simaliar job could be done to a nova, that was done to the Silver MK1 astra GTE. Its just a matter of good engineering.

[steviet293]

where u from bud ivgot a 4x4 nova am bilding aswell but im stiking to calibra runinggear.

[Mike]

Looking forward to seeing photos. I'd love to build a 4x4 C20LET nova. But it would just have to run standard arches etc.

Exactly how im going about it come Christmas 2008. Standard arch's. all GM running gear, albeit not Cav stuff :D and for insurance & cost purpose's, it'll be an XE with a non converted F28.

[C7LJN]

Yeah i remember the astra that was in TV mag hit was well nice to look at in the mag anyway never seen it in the flesh

[C7LJN]

Im in scotland mate

Dunfermline (Fife) just down the road from knockhill

[C7LJN]

Ive almost got the 15 posts now and i can put some pics up

[db_1.2]

Woooooo come on pics!:)

[C7LJN]

And this the last one now.

[C7LJN]

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/30112007202.jpg The van the night i picked it up

[C7LJN]

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/5072277700a6393126982l.jpg Half way through day 1

[C7LJN]

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/5072277700a6393127207l.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/5072277700a6393127139l.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/5072277700a6393127077l.jpg
This was it the end of day one. I had a fue hours at it today and got the rest cut out bulkhead and inner wings and stuff

[C7LJN]

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth145.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth149.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth136.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth130.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth129.jpg

This is the clio i was telling you about. It has the sierra rear floor section and a tunnel fitted front end is just been modded to suit

Are we happy now people??????
Im not a 16 year old spotty wee boy that is just pulling your leg:wtf:

[Stoo]

i hold my hands up, spank me silly

nuff said

thread subscribed!

[C7LJN]

Cheers mate. As i said it was the posts that was holding me back

[Stoo]

im sure you can understand our pessimism

it happens alot on here

I iz 4x4in ma nova innit, gonna use a hummers weelllzz n sh1t innit

[NovaLad]

In what?

LAUGH OUT LOUD

[C7LJN]

Aye i didnt really think about it that way. If anyone wants to see pics of it let me know and a will start the WIP thread

[Welsh Dan]

I'd love to see a WIP thread in the projects section :thumb:.

[James P]

my friend is in the process of doing a 4w4 nova at the mo.
he has no money but he is the smartist bloke you'd ever meet. he could tell you anything about any vauxhall. he's got a 2ltr turbo and all the running gear off a calibra. he said to me he's dropping the engine in just like if you did a normal turbo conversion then cutting the section out of the middle of the car where the hand brake is and gear changer. and welding the complete rear swinging arm onto the bottom of the nova. re-inforcing everything. and wide arching the back. with 17's

i here by pledge to post up as many photo's of it when he finishes it. i recon he'll have it done by the summer time. watch this space

[twin40s]

c7ljn make wip thead mate everyone is very interested in this.

[Mike]

You got any completed pictures of the undercarrige of the Clio?

[C7LJN]

I will get some pics of the underside for you i have some with no drive train on it when i had the car on its side

[hybridturbo]

Will be a cool project! Should you have not braced up the shell before removing the underside?

[brucer]

id have assumed that too.stop the shell from bending outa shape.lmao.that would be funny.

[stevenf]

i should be up that way early next year so might pop in and see how you are getting on if thats ok with you? :thumb: hope it all works out well:thumb:

[C7LJN]

Once the floor is out you would be surprised how strong it still is most of the cars strenth is in the sills and they are still there. And there are 4 axle stands on the sills to keep it good for now.

[C7LJN]

You got any completed pictures of the undercarrige of the Clio?

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth84.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth83.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth78.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj152/C7LJN/clioworth81.jpg

[C7LJN]

Is that what you wanted to see bud?????