Bad news....

[Jcb]

Finally got the new bottom arm and tie bar etc fitted to my Nova after the knock. So assumed everything would be fine after as that's all that we could see that was bent and the tracking was set. Tested it down the road and it still pulls like a bitch to the nearside and to drive straight you have to have the wheel turned quater right.

Figured out the problem is the suspension top mount. Looks sort of like a balloon. It been pushed out and the two bots coming through at the in the front and rear half respectively lean forwards and backwards. As opposed to vertical as they should.

I am told they write cars off for things like this, is there any reasonable way to save it? The shell is mint and with all the work i've put into it it would break my heart to see it go. Apparently putting everything right would require a chassis jig or something, as the "thing" the tie bar attatches to (opposite end to hub) could be bent too...

Any ideas? Or am I going to have to look for a new Nova?

Thanks

[16v Nova Kev]

i feel you pain m8 i crashed my first nova into a post and had to fit a new crosmember it was never the same again

[Welsh Dan]

Can you post pics of the strut top from the top and bottom, and pics of the front panel and TCA mount from directly underneath (and IN FOCUS, use macro mode), please?

[Matt2107]

If you need some inner wings including strut tops then Project Aspirin's arent in too bad nick.

You'd have to let me know quick though as it's going soon.

[Jcb]

How much work is it to change an inner wing Matt?

And I will certainly try to get pictures asap Dan.

Thank you.

[Big_Chap]

1st thing i'd do is buy a new top mount then look at replacing the shock absorber

[Jcb]

How can you buy a new top mount? It's part of the body.

[16v Nova Kev]

think he means
strut top mount

[Jcb]

On that, do we think the strut top will be knackered? It obviously hit the mount extremely hard. Stupid Apex shocks are hard as fook.

[16v Nova Kev]

might have bent that too. is your crosmember ok

[ian.sutton]

Sounds nasty.

I know how it feels.

Hopefully you can fix her up

[Jcb]

It doesn't look promising.

I'll keep an eye out for tidy smaller engined (I'm 17 so insurance companies will rape me) Nova's on here and elsewhere. Since I've got a fair few bits for it I may aswell stick with the Nova! Maybe this time a saloon? :P

[Big_Chap]

How can you buy a new top mount? It's part of the body.
ah, you mean turret? fook me, what did you hit and at what speed!?

got pics? try placing a thick piece of metal or wood ove the holes with shock absorber removed and persuade it back with a big fcuk off hammer

[Jcb]

Sounds like something I would do so don't tempt me!! In reality though i'm not sure you would be able to get it back like that?

It was an angled kurb i hit at a diagnol with full lock turning away from it with the wheels locked up under braking on a wet road. At around ~30mph?

[Big_Chap]

strip it down, you may find its just a bent shock absorber top mount, 50 for gm ones iirc and 80 for fancy aluminium ones. pics of the turret would really help

[Jcb]

I'll try to get some but the car isnt with me. The paint on the top of the turret has visably cracked and you can see the center ring of the turret is pushed up slightly.

[Matt2107]

How much work is it to change an inner wing Matt?

And I will certainly try to get pictures asap Dan.

Thank you.

Know any welders? lol

Essentially you would need to cut the turrets from a doner car... cut yours from you shell. Re-weld the doner parts onto your shell in the right place.

I'm no welder but it's possible.

It might not feel the same again though.

[Jcb]

Unfortunately I don't know any welders. And I'm guessing for something like that you have to take the engine out? It's looking more and more like I should just break it and get another. Oh well, at least finding a new Nova should be fun.