Nova GTE Rally Car

[xxspudxx]

So then heres where we start. Ebay Gte Rally car, cammed, 4 branch, group a exhaust

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/novie.jpg

pick her up, get her back to my yard

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Image008.jpg

when you look closely they painted her a minging purple colour, but when you look under bonnet at turrets it was originally Grey

Anyway Time to start stripping her down so into the workshop she goes (sorry **** pics)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/P1010082.jpghttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/P1010083.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/P1010084.jpg

Fog lights lol think of the weight they are carrying, waste of time, rip it all off http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/P1010087.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/P1010088.jpg

Its a fairly solid shell, few bits of welding need doing but nothing major

Now inside the car

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Image003.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/P1010085.jpg

[xxspudxx]

Get it all out http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Image012.jpg

Rear Windows out, sun roof off, ready to be welded
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Image015.jpg


Heres a picture of the Fuel Lines / Brake Pipes all routed inside the car, they are flopping about at moment as drilled rivets out so can paint.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Image017.jpg

Now im at a bit of a stand still while i wait for sun roof metal to be cut so can weld it and metal to turn up to feel every sinlge hole on this car, and wait for my seat mounts to turn up to weld in, got to stop dust gettin in some how!

So while we wait i started prepping inside the car, started on rear arch

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Image018.jpg#

Then primered it to see what looked like and was feeling bored

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Image019.jpg

and thats where i stopped, plans next are to weld sun roof and all holes inside car, paint everything inside (metal of course not dash etc etc) Bright White and the roof black, obviously only painting places that dont need welding!!!

[greg1.4]

nice to see another rally car being built!

i was watching this on ebay..

good luck and keep us posted how you are getting on with it!

[Will F]

How come its 3 different colours?

I can see black, grey and blue....?!

[xxspudxx]

just different lighting, outside is purple, inside is half blue half white, will all be changing colour soon, not decided on paint job out exterior yet though

[xxspudxx]

Not a lot changed, havent had time, got this weekend on the car but here couple new pics of body work being seen too
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image022.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image021.jpg

This weekend will see the fitting of set of Bilstein B6's i picked up this week, clean up tank guard i bought and fit that ,carry on the body work, and get it shipped off to get roof welded up and for the full respray

[matt_vaughan]

Looks quite tidy. You're getting along OK by the looks of it. I was watchin this car on ebay, looks a good buy!

[xxspudxx]

not a lot to say or show but got hold a tank guard, granted looks a bit of a mess.....

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image029.jpg

but its under the car, but i set about cleaning it up, heres a before and after as such on the mounts for the guard

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image030.jpg

nothing special really lol

and set about tidying the bay up

here what it looks like at the moment

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image028.jpg

big mess at the moment, bosch injection system....lovely, cant decide what want to do with the engine, everywhere seem to read everyone goes on about twin 40's, so i might be going down that road, leave that til the end though

[Ash]

Looks well, engine wise, if I was building again, I'd probably stick with the standard injection. Have a search for -bruce- on here, he ran a group A 150bhp 1.6 8v :thumb:

What are the pipes p-cliped to the bulkhead? PAS?

[chimp007_uk]

looks like the fuel pipes!?!

[xxspudxx]

yeah fuel lines running inside car, car is a big dusty mess at moment, waiting on mate to take it away to get paint and welding done (inc seat mounts welded in) then i can paint inside, put it all back together and go trash it about, not alot to do really but there still plenty to do (if that makes sense)

[xxspudxx]

lil update, still nothing major really,

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image034.jpg

Getting ready to have gear box out

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image039.jpg
Looks lil sorry for her self

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image037.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image036.jpg

and there we go one gear box http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Image038.jpg

its off having its tran x diff fitted at the moment, while there i also ordered an AP Racing Paddle Clutch.

Now while box is off going to replace crank oil seal and have bit of a tidy up

[xxspudxx]

Some Goodies have started to arrive :D

Long way off fitting but always nice to see an end point http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Fire.jpg

Helix PAddle Clutch
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Clutch.jpg

Old Dif Removed
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/OldDif.jpg

and the tran x has been fitted (no pics)

Bit of bodging

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Boding.jpg

and had a quick polish on the engine
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Shiny.jpg

time to start putting it back together soon

[xxspudxx]

Just quick one, bay all but ready to be painted tomorrow (so long as not much work on)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Bayprimer.jpg

And more goodies arrived today :D

Bias Pedal Box, didnt really need it but just seemed like a cool idea at the time, something to mess about with, looking out for quick rack now and then thats most the parts i wanted
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Pedalbox.jpg

[xxspudxx]

will do update soon, roof been welded up, new brake lines, engine bay all painted and nice and shiny, cut out loads more weight, and welded seat mounts in :)

[craig green]

I'd love to have a feel of the Tran-X diff when its in & running. Toying with the idea of getting one for mine. From AC by any chance?

[xxspudxx]

Yeah, ac is top man, and mark bloke who helps him out, resealed gear box and fitted the tran-x, sposed to be better than a quaiffe as cuts in quicker because its plates and not gears. Aiming for it all to be built in 4 weeks, when its done i'll let you have a play if you want mate?

[craig green]

Thanks chap. I spoke to AC about them, I think Quaiffe is suited to road & moderate use wheras the Tran-X is the better if using it seriously & obviously it has that adjustability factor.

[xxspudxx]

bit of an udate then but still looks like not a lot been done but it will all take shape now soon

i painted the engine bay all nice and white as is just easy colour to see everything then

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/baywhite.jpg


welded plate in the roof (im no welder)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Roofweld.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Sunroof.jpg

and just got to plaster tonnes of filler over now to get some sort of shape back now

bought a quaiffe quick rack kit so....

rack on work bench
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Steering.jpg

big boy was needed to get steering arms off
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Spanner.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Steeringarm.jpg

seal and circlip and what not was removed and with a bit of tugging and smacking about the pinion comes out
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Oldpinion.jpg

difference between standard and the kit
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Pinion.jpg

stick it all back together, and back on the car

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Steeringrack.jpg

[xxspudxx]

while i had been waiting for parts i thought i would have a bit of a test on my painting skills and to see what i thought of the colour, not sure on final design of whole car yet though
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Shine.jpg

and a 50/50 shot of flatting off/mopping back up for those of you that care

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/5050.jpg

seat mounts have been all measured up and tacked in place for now

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Seatmounts.jpg

getting a mate to come and weld it in fully though as i really dont want those welds to break!!!

pedal box fitted and rear breaks have been bled just to see if all works ok, and see no problems as of yet!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/biasPedalbox.jpg

now this week i plan on having this back in

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Enginebox.jpg

but not sure where these go

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Bolts.jpg

lol!!!!!

[Ash]

Good work James, some tasty bits going in here. Rack wasn't too bad I trust?

ps. unfortunatly I do know where all those bolts go - but never again! lol

[xxspudxx]

rack wasnt to bad, managed to crack alloy casing on one though so had to get hold of another but all in, steering wheel all lined up and never coming off again now! lol.

Hows your motor going mate?

im sposed to be out racing in her in um 8 weeks think it is now :|

[Ash]

havnt got round to lining anything up on the steering yet :opps:

I started it for the first time today, needed jump starting tho as the brand new battery is crap and I used cheap cabling. Running rough but running :)

I think PV is only 6 weeks away if your going to that, be good to see another member reper-centin' da SW, innit lol

[xxspudxx]

cant say pv gonna be on the list as within the 8 weeks i have to get it out to AC for him to have a look over and fit a kill switch, got a few late nights coming up!

why your running rough? just need setting up now?

[Ash]

It's purely down to the carbs, or rather one of them. Fuels going in, but not coming out all that well. should be just a simple strip and rebuild. After that its just setup but I don't think its far off, the one carb that is running right seems very smooth. Going out to Sigma, out Gillingham way for the setup, highly recommend from everyone I speak to. Saw one of his mini's racing at Wiscombe yesterday, sounded emmense.

[saloonwoody]

spares ... you allways get those lol i worry if i dont have anything left over?lol

[xxspudxx]

having spares left over means the car will be lighter? :D

just found a picture of my dads car when he rallied back in the 80's, turn up in jeans, drive the car there, rally drive it back home, hardcore ****!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/dadmk1.jpg

wish he had kept it :(

[craig green]

Nice to meet a fellow Nova builder at the weekend mate. Hope the progress goes to plan.... late nights etc all part of the fun!

Pretty sure I have a GTE starter motor. (re your wanted ad)

[xxspudxx]

dig it out then fella, got a radiator lying about anywhere? engine will be in place this week :)

[Ash]

Re: 1.6 Rad - I got a brand new one from Raysons for about £40 I think, would have to go through me to get that price tho.

[xxspudxx]

pm'd you ash, let me know what you can do please mate

[xxspudxx]

had a spare 10 mins earlier so thought id do this quickly

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/enginein.jpg

now the fun begins, gear linkage, remember where all electrics go etc etc :( help?

[xxspudxx]

few more pics, not alot happened lately, got all engine bay built back up
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/allwhite.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Rad.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/frontshine.jpg

but bloody thing not running yet, sparks and everything but got a leaky fuel tank and dodgy wiring going to fuel pump, so trying to sort all that out at the moment, but painted up a front wing other day to see what body colour was going to look like and was happy with outcome

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/Red.jpg

and sprayed up underside of bonet http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/underbonet.jpg

car is all built up now sitting on 4 wheels :D will get pics of bilsteins and etc when get time, wasnt in mood for pictures while was building it.

[craig green]

Does the engine run yet?

[xxspudxx]

nope, think wires to fuel pump ****ed or fuel pump dont wanna work under load, cant be bothered to work it out so putting a facet fuel pump in and hooking it up to a switch

[craig green]

FACET wont be any use on fuel injection bud. Check for voltage after the pump relay, if none its likely the relay is dicky (not unusual if the motor has been stood). If theres voltage in the pump wiring but still no fuel,, the pump has likely had it.

[castanhas_15td]

nice work on it!

[xxspudxx]

well i just stuck battery on the pump and it worked, and put fuels line back on hooked battery back onto pump to push fuel up to engine, turned key fired up with out any trouble but died straight away (fuel starvation i guess) so i think another pump is needed?

[craig green]

If the pump is capable of shooting fuel accross the workshop out of the lines its prolly OK. A lesser amount running from the lines would indicate a bad pump IMO....

Sures there no air leaks after the filter/upto the throttle?

[xxspudxx]

dont know, i'll check it out tomorrow, think will re-do the wiring to it aswell, probably quite simply really

[xxspudxx]

got it all up and running (with a few lil problems which i'll ask else where) sounds great, been about 2 months since last started and went with out any trouble. Just went round and cleaned and made sure all earths were ok (at expense of my fresh paint :()

[bullseye]

I did a similar thing a couple of years ago, rebuilding a rally nova,
Does it have an MSA log book?
I notice you still have the original glass, not sure if you are aware but to rally this year you must have either Plastic or fit a plastic film inside to the hatch, rear quarters and doors to get through scrutineering.
As for injection or 40's I went with the 40's but its purely whatever floats your boat.
it's looking good, Keep it up

[chimp007_uk]

Good build! I wish i could have a bash at proper stage rallying, but too many things i want to do and not enough time! Manta would make a beast of a stage car!

What was the shell originally? I noticed that it doesnl't have the strut top plates. Maybe a good idea to fit? they're cheap from Chris Astley.

Brilliant engines!! I snapped a cambelt and didn't do any damage! It used to get some proper stick through the lanes of west wales :)

[xxspudxx]

I did a similar thing a couple of years ago, rebuilding a rally nova,
Does it have an MSA log book?
I notice you still have the original glass, not sure if you are aware but to rally this year you must have either Plastic or fit a plastic film inside to the hatch, rear quarters and doors to get through scrutineering.
As for injection or 40's I went with the 40's but its purely whatever floats your boat.
it's looking good, Keep it up

Not msa log booked yet but a local rally builder (also scruitineer) can do the log book, so can do that when all built.

as for the glass i did know about the film that needed to be put on the glass, but the back windows are all going to be poly carb and then front windows will have the plastic film, for now anyway.

Shell originally was a gte and mate of mine built a manta rally car once, xe etc etc, said it was best car he ever rallied in, just good fun and would float over jumps

[chimp007_uk]

Shell originally was a gte and mate of mine built a manta rally car once, xe etc etc, said it was best car he ever rallied in, just good fun and would float over jumps

How come it doesn't have the strengthening plates?!? random... I've wanted to XE the manta for a while... but conversion parts (1.8 manta parts) are expensive... So thinking about the true manta power lump 2.4 CIH... :) just need need to sell me the one out of his frontera now lol Mines been built for track, although, it was then used as drifty toy, but the ratios are all wrong! :(

[xxspudxx]

well here is the front end built up...nothing exciting, no time to give good clean/paint it (anyway paint would be extra weight wouldnt it?

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008084.jpg

mate came round and helped me to get car to start and run, we checked earth coming off the gearbox, thread was all **** so instead of tapping thread out do the next best thing, scrap metal away drill through
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008082.jpg

and to make sure got a good earth paintwork got a little damaged
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008081.jpg
its a race car so it doesnt matter (suprising how often say that)

now on to the wiring, there were lots of connectors and bodged up bits in it so just cut it out and soldered it up and once everything is clipped up and taped up should look roughly like
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008088.jpg

on another note got 1 lil wire left over, dangles under altenator roughly
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008085.jpg

any ideas anyone?

now to tidy this up and paint inside
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008090.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008091.jpg

and then have a clean up and secure pump up next (cable tied at the moment)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008093.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20052008095.jpg

[xxspudxx]

seems ages since posted here, (camera died so not been able to take pics) but got camera again, and got some new pics (even though it looks like ive doen **** all i promise quite a bit has been done)

So over bank holiday weekend i painted the inside (now that was a long time ago and i have been doing lots of work inside the car since so it was once clean and shiny.......and then the next day i put the cage in (didnt even scratch the paint :thumb:)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/doorbar.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/cage.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/rearpainted.jpg

also got hold of a front strut brace from member off here
(not properly fitted yet)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/strut.jpg


cut this off quick now as got work to do but also got to find somewhere to fit this bad boy
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/airhorn.jpg

[dan23]

the blue an white wire could be for the temp gauge it connects to manifold ?

[xxspudxx]

Starting to look like a car again now!

Painted inside of doors and painted seat mounts and the welds etc to try and make it look half decent?
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/12062008117.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/12062008116.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/12062008118.jpg

quickly did the tracking the technical way??? tie a bit of string around all wheels and adjust til roughly right

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/12062008119.jpg

then there is always one job never look forward to....had to sand the roof by hand to make sunroof look half decent (which it doesnt look to bad so worth the hard work)


http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20062008132.jpg
bit of dust, rest already blown away
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/20062008131.jpg

then few lil pics of a painted shell, just got to flatten it and mop it back up now

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/22062008135.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/23062008137.jpg
and again with some daylight
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/23062008136.jpg

[craig green]

Getting there mate. Looks like quite a bit has been done since I last saw you.

[edit] That loose wire is the IND wire for the alternator. It goes to the small bolt terminal on the alt. The larger one is from the starter motor

[vaughanmc]

Will be nice once its all built back up :)

[xxspudxx]

its getting there slowly, not had much chance to work on it lately, only the odd bit here and there, not even looked at wiring in ages yet, need to as on the dash everything works (i think) except revs (and speedo which aint ever gonna work).

Just been flattening the paint off, think may give another coat as bit **** in couple places, and also had bit of over spray go on the white on inside the doors :'(

[craig green]

If you can get the engine running, you will find that the charging light on dash wont go out without that wire hooked up. It will also fail to charge the battery IIRC.

So get that sorted.

[xxspudxx]

battery charges fine, car starts on half a turn, not sure about light on the dash never really looked. Hows your motor anyway cg? i need to come and have a look at it

[xxspudxx]

Right so where are we, have had a serious lack of pics as camera went tits up, and before anyone says about paint job, still needs a good ol mop but not got round to it yet and the car is filthy but will save all that til the very end!

New windscreen as managed to crack mine and fitted the rest of the glass myself.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/02072008154.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/02072008155.jpg

grill and bumpers sprayed up and fitted
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008005.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008006.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008009.jpghttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008008.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008010.jpg

Got the tank guard fitted
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/02072008157.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008013.jpg

and quickly bodged up the dash to mount brake bias and couple switches, doesnt it look pretty???..........
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008011.jpg

[xxspudxx]

and today i finally got round to sanding bonnet down and painting the outside of it! got it fitted tonight
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008016.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008017.jpg

seats are mounted back in
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008007.jpg

and some random shots of where the sunroof used to be
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008015.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/31072008014.jpg

in theory i could bleed the brakes and drive away now but still quite a bit to do and all seems to take forever!!!!

[xxspudxx]

Almost finished! well for now, still plenty to do and change when ive had it on the road!

bodged a new plate up so had somewhere to mount master kill switch

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05092008054.jpg

and then set about taking the ignition wiring to bits, just need to get barrel off and steering lock and i'll be happy but got ignition switch and push start
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05092008055.jpg

then i set about doing some of my master wiring
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05092008056.jpg

then screw it all together
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05092008062.jpg

and somehow it actually all worked first time!

just need to get my head round this bloody thing now
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05092008058.jpg

everything under here is all done and not being touched again (seem to be doing jobs 2 or more times)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05092008059.jpg

and random front shot
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05092008060.jpg

[strcnova]

Hi spud

Looks like you are doing exactly the same thing as me. Bought a gte rally car in Wales and have run for two years but due to an accident last year and a bad fix i now have to reshell the whole car. IN 20 WEEKS!!

Keep going you will get there it just takes al lot of time.
Will be doing a full pic story of the rebuild so keep an eye out for it through the projects thread.

Also if you need any advice just ask.

[Ash]

Thats looking really good James :)

IIRC if you look through Olly H's build theres instructions on wiring up the kill switch

[xxspudxx]

cheers ash mate, whats happening with yours now then?

Got the thing on the ground and took it for a lil drive round our yard today, engine pulls well, steering heavy as hell, brakes are hardest thing to get used to, feels like nothing is there so you just have to stamp as hard as you possibly can and then you get everything at once! few things still to do though. Few **** phone cam pics of it on all 4 though,

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/07092008063.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/07092008064.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/07092008065.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/07092008066.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/07092008069.jpg

[Ash]

Mines still in the same state, haven't got the money to repair it ATM. Liking the wheels, wouldn't mind some myself.

RE: the brakes - I told you the bais box was hard work ;) lol

Whys the steering heavy? Is the pretensioner too tight?

[xxspudxx]

hard work aint even close, is weird, all or nothing! which i suppose makes you drive on the limit which cant be a bad thing?

steering not sure will get car back up in the air and check over everything and try winding it back a bit, wasnt expecting everything to be perfect straight off.

What you doing with yours? just rebuilding it or replacing?

[xxspudxx]

Been ages since i updated this, i managed to drive it the other day, and no matter what i messed about with the steering it was undriveable was just so heavy!! so a trip to the scrap yard and i eneded up with corsa b EPAS

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/12102008098.jpg

ripped dash out and got all wiring out of the way
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/13102008101.jpg

and set about bashing steering colum upper mount off the car

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/13102008102.jpg

note breifly i wasnt feeling in the mood to do a clean job of it so took a big hammer to it!!

After a big of boding to the bracket i tacked it back in place roughly where should be

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/17102008115.jpg

which was spot on

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/17102008116.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/17102008117.jpg

Not gonna lie, after id taken colum mount off and seen wiring all there in a big mess i thought id gone in a bit deep but wasnt to bad!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/19102008129.jpg

Sprayed dash board black while it was out
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/14102008105.jpg

and then back in the car with power steering in ready to be wired up
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/19102008130.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/19102008132.jpg

[xxspudxx]

also while trying to sort brakes out i changed one of the master cylinders on the bias pedal box, so i was left with a master cylinder, so i decided to try and bodge a hydraulic handbrake, got the master cylinder mounting bracket

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/10092008071.jpg

and bolted into the car

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/13092008072.jpg

i drilled the lil catch that locks the handbrake up when you pull it up so will need to make a stay to hold handbrake on but then i was able to have handbrake up at a higher angle

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/15092008075.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/15092008074.jpg

and note breifly dont know who is eagle eyed enough but as it is in that picture is wrong, brake lines should be other way round which is all changed now!

[Spudly]

You might wanna rig some kind of support bracket up for the epas motor there bud as there will be a lot of force trying to twist that thing so bracing would probably be a good idea as you wouldnt want it to part from the bulkhead at speed!

[xxspudxx]

There is a bracket a bit lower down which i forgot to take a pic of which bolts it to the bulkhead, its in there solid, but one round the motor wouldnt hurt, better safe then sorry!

[craig green]

Dude, hold the camera still when you take the pics!

Nice update though, where did you get the Epas from & how much out of interest. Knowing our local scrapyards it was either £20 or £200!! LOL

[xxspudxx]

Dude, hold the camera still when you take the pics!

Nice update though, where did you get the Epas from & how much out of interest. Knowing our local scrapyards it was either £20 or £200!! LOL

Phone camera bit ****, take picture move phone then it blurs photo, can get rough idea lol. As for scrap yard, dans didnt have anything (luckily as would of been about 500 quid) so put my bullet proof vest on and went out hamp and there was a lovely t reg corsa sat there. Told the bloke to rip it out for me and asked how much he wanted, he said 75 quid plus 20 quid for taking it out, went back 2 hours later and gave him 80 quid and he was fine!

hows yours going cg?

[xxspudxx]

Its almost done!!!! For now anyway.

Epas is all in and working
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/04122008330.jpg

bit of wiring needed to be hiden away and the box on the right is the simulator (thanks Iain)

where the brains of the pump will be tucked away http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/04122008331.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05122008343.jpg

Willwood proportioning valve to try and stop rear brakes locking up before the fronts!!

And a slight problem with steering wheel.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05122008349.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05122008348.jpg

Bit tight, hand keeps catching dash, so have got a spacer on its way to make life easier!

Mudflaps.....
Alloy brackets
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/04122008332.jpg
Flaps
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/04122008333.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05122008353.jpg

and the car now sits like this, can see the end of it all at last!!!!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/05122008354.jpg

[xxspudxx]

Steering wheel extension thingy came in local supplier today so went picked it out and stuck it straight on.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/06122008366.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/06122008367.jpg

anmd there is now plenty of room, steering wheel is in quite a nice position actually, maybe a lil to high but will get used to it.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/06122008368.jpg

and thought id actually let her see some daylight and get a couple pics (car is dusty as hell)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/06122008361.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/06122008362.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/06122008360.jpg

Blasted it with the jet wash, then stuck it straight back inside to dry and will give a good clean and polish inside and out, just the rear breaks to sort out....still

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/06122008369.jpg

[offplot]

Looking really nice fella - saw this when it was on ebay but missed out.
Are you going to use it for rallying again or for something else ?
Makes me want to go in the garage and finish mine but its too bloody cold here !

[adam c]

looks good!is the epas coloumn and ecu alot heavier than the standard nova column?have you got an adjuster to determine how much assist there is?

bet you carnt wait to get it out for a blast up and down the lanes!:thumb:

[xxspudxx]

Yeah can adjust how much assistance is needed, is fair bit heavier, should of weighed it, but its so easy to steer and steering wheel is in a better position now, i would recomend it.

Car will be used for rallying indeed, few bits needing to do still, and cant decide what to do engine wise but just want to get it out. I had been finding it hard to get inspiration to finish the thing off but just had one last go at it and seemed to get quite far lol. Just wear gloves!

[Jonezy]

Done anything else to it now? Whens your first rally?

[greg1.4]

looking good mate..

what events are you planning on doing?

[Leeboo]

Great... a Nova being used in the correct way :D !!

Good luck with it.

[xxspudxx]

Not alot changed on this apart from things going backwards??? Had to move workshops, and while driving the car to new workshop, there was a clunk coming from gearbox, gearbox started leaking, steering was washy, engine ran like a dog, and so on and so on, so only just really managed to get time to look at the car tonight and pics will say all i think.

We have gone from it looking like this....
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/12122008389.jpg
to...
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/14022009530.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/14022009532.jpg
new air filter lol
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/11022009527.jpg

Dash out, to sort wiring out/tidy it up/need to move the fuse box somewhere else as the original location is now the home for EPAS pump/Roll cage

and with a pissed off night the bloody thing tried to eat me
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/22012009484.jpg

got another engine which have painted and made look pretty, and going to send the head off for some work sooooon
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%20Rally/12022009529.jpg

[xxspudxx]

Finally slowly slowly gettin somewhere, took day off work today to service the daily ****ter and work on this, and i got wiring and dash sorted (all but) got gearbox in but just need to put rear mount on, doing an all nighter on it friday and intend to be having it down driving around by sunday. Bloody thing doing my head in.

[novadoneitthistime]

Good luck mate! making good progress, stick with it!! you'll get there! Just think of Sunday!!

[Ash]

Bloody thing doing my head in.

Sounds like a nova! lol From doing some research on repairing my blydenstien head, you want to send yours to Ivor Searle, they took on Bill's work near the end. If you want some local drop me a PM.

I see you've seen the light and purchase a Seat! lol good lad.

[xxspudxx]

Sounds like a nova indeed!!! lol, just gotta bang it back together and go for another test drive! rear mount, gear linkage, loom, steering colum, dash wiring, shafts, hubs, tie bars, roll bar, all to go back on, hours work tops yeah? or maybe not lol

[Nova VXR190]

Awesome to see from start to finish!! Some long nights put in to her mate!!

A credit to you for getting it all done though.

When are you out competing?

[xxspudxx]

Was hoping to do bovington but think may skip it, was hoping to get few single venues in this year and then do wyedean and somerset next year, whether that happens or not who knows?

I'll take your car out for an event if you like? :D Hows the new engine going? Any chance of bit more power yet?

[xxspudxx]

Had a quiet day at Work today so over the warehouse i dug out another nova i had lying around and took it into my workshop. And then took half hour to strip it out.

In its hiding place
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/19122008414.jpg
Let there be light!
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/19122008422.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/21102008134.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/21102008135.jpg
Paint work is all minging and faded so the other day i set about it with my mop and went from this
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/22102008142.jpg
and ended something like this
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/22102008144.jpg

So then back in the workshop.....
pretty much all stripped out
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/27022009546.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/27022009554.jpg

I even struck gold!!!
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/27022009553.jpg

[xxspudxx]

seems to be a fairly straight solid shell,
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/27022009555.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/17102008120.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/19122008415.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/xxspudxx/Nova%203/17102008124.jpg

and as for rally car, its all bolted back together now bar few minor things :thumb:

[Jonezy]

What stuff did you use to get the car looking that red mate? You use a air buffer? Also what polish? Thanks