** Lee's Barn ** Current status 'OPERATION PIKEY VAN'

Welcome to Lee's Barn. Where bodgery is an artform, and cheap is always best lol

We begin with the reshell of my beloved track car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...94146416-M.jpg

..so the mission starts here! Got the new car back with zero hassle and had a good poke around inside and out. Verdict? Bodywork is pretty amazing for a nova, and any problems with the chassis have been sorted properly, so all in all a good buy methinks. Heres the first of the pics...

Boot floor..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00005.jpg

Arches..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00006.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00007.jpg

Doors..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00008.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00009.jpg

Battery tray (bit dirty but solid as the day it saw the light of spain...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00010.jpg

Inner wings (a few repairs done here but had my mate who used to be a beater look at them and theyre top notch)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00011.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00012.jpg

And a few more..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00014.jpg

(the blue one looks nervous)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00016.jpg


Now for the shopping list which is getting scary!

Weld in 6 point FIA approved cage
Polycarb windows
Fiberglass Bonnet, tailgate, and if we can get them made.. Wings :biggrin:
LSD
Quaife box if money allows it
Cav linkage
Passenger footrest
Rear diffuser courtesy of Dar (thatll be the first buy to get it out of his garage :-)
Manifold and exhaust (again undecided)
New front brakes, possibly 4 pots (but again im not decided even whether to bother or what to go for, probably Wilwoods from N-TR if I do)


Everything else will be robbed from the poor blue one, eg Suspension, seats, harnesses, bumpers, skirts and spoiler, wheels and, of course, My XE

If the money allows it, i'd like to add some new cams and steel rods to it and get the bitch revving properly, but this might have to wait till next winter as that there shopping list aint cheap!

There might be a months gap before the next update as my unit isnt ready yet, but with a bit of luck, once it is, we'll push on with it and get it done!

nice catch you got there mate
cant wait to see the progress

looks like a good wee shell there so work on, good find worse:thumb:

should be great when its finished

any target dates yet?

shane

Keep the stickers! lol

Tidy.
Will it be staying that colour?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by novamadman

any target dates yet?

---

lmfao you got to be joking, stage 1, finding a shell has taken forever

stage 2, pull finger from backside, now that will prob take just as long lol lol lol

Shell does look just ripe for the transformation tho, good find matey :thumb:

that colour is for girls lol

did you drive it home, i bet it was boatarific, mine scared the crap out of me, getting it home

And the poverty spec steering wheel punishes the hands!

Good little find that, looks solid enuff.

not a bad find that mate, can't wait to see the progress you'll make with it, what is exactly wrong with the old shell, is it just terminal rot?

yup, went round the blue one properly with a screwdriver yesterday, poked more holes in it than a chunk of leerdammer lol. Rear arches are only just holding on too!

Didnt drive it home, used the trailer!

I want it finished bt the fast show next year, that kind of marks the start of the season. It wont be a problem keeping my finger out of my bum, its more getting the money availiable to complete each stage lol

Yup, will be staying this colour, bumpers wheels skirts spoiler will be either anthrecite or black. Stickers are hanging off anyway so theyre definately being removed lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bottlethroddy

Stickers are hanging off anyway so theyre definately being removed lol

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Bugger! lol ive just got hold of a corsa merit badge for the back of my SR! Lmfao!

That shold be one immense track tool once its done BT :thumb:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bottlethroddy

Didnt drive it home, used the trailer!

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get it insured and taxed and take it for a drive lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by General Baxter

get it insured and taxed and take it for a drive lol

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i did take it round the block once and thought the door handles were going to scrape on the floor lol

The Blue one is definately aweare something is up. Most of the sump bolts were either loose or half hanging out, the rads sprang a leak and the clocks have packed up!

Spit and glue for Combe methinks lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bottlethroddy

i did take it round the block once and thought the door handles were going to scrape on the floor lol

The Blue one is definately aweare something is up. Most of the sump bolts were either loose or half hanging out, the rads sprang a leak and the clocks have packed up!

Spit and glue for Combe methinks lol

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lol my old white shell went strange after i bought the replacement shell, the damn thing refused to start lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bottlethroddy

I want it finished bt the fast show next year

---

Ready for a record breaking 1/4 mile time :p

hmm so i have to wait a whole year for my 20 quid ;) lol lol lol

Quote:

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I want it finished bt the fast show next year, that kind of marks the start of the season. It wont be a problem keeping my finger out of my bum, its more getting the money availiable to complete each stage

---

I'm aiming for Trax next year for my rebuild - might see you there if you go!

know what you mean about the cash aswell - pain in the anus fecking car rebuilds - especially if you want something slightly different

Yep, I hear ya Ade!

Anyhoo, Today, I finally got started and made a lot of progress!! On Friday, i came to the end of my tether waiting for the previous owner of the barn to remove his stuff, so i moved all his ****e from the back to the front, leaving enough room for two cars :biggrin:

So this morning i loaded the blue one on the trailer and trundled off to the barn, but on the way, I picked up Dar, as the mention of a bit of spannering gets him moist to say the least! Blue one dropped off, it was back to Newbury for the meany greeny, still looking mint as ever!

Back to the Barn again (4 and a half hours driving for both cars!!!!), we got them parked up!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...94_800x600.jpg

We got busy emptying the Green one of all the PVG show stuff where its lived for a while, and started fiolling the shelves with all the crap i cart around in the transit

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...95_800x600.jpg

Then we each grabbed a tool (oo err) and attacked the bitch!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...96_800x600.jpg

Dar dispensed of the innards like a man possesed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...97_800x600.jpg

While i stripped the front end and started prepping the engine for removal. Notice the front panel and inner wings, Solid as hell. Was very chuffed when it all came to bits.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...02_800x600.jpg

Note how far I have to bend down to reach the engine!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...98_800x600.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...99_800x600.jpg

The only bolt on the car so far to give trouble was one of the fan coweling bolts. Out came the hacksaw!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...00_800x600.jpg

Blue ones got a flatty due to my off at combe last month. oh well, like i care :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...01_800x600.jpg


Big thankyou to Dar, thats a brill start since we were only up there for 4 hours, not including fag breaks and F1 qualifying.

Cups of tea = None (no lead for the kettle or water supply yet. Need to get some bottles of Evian
Cigs = 5
Eaten = 3 Tunes (im dying of a cold), sausage roll, think Dar had a sandwich.
Quote of the day = WHERE THE HELL IS ALL THIS LOOM COMING FROM???

Back up there monday, I intend to have the dash out, and the shafts out and the engine ready for removal.

start of a hectic winter then ?? wish i had somewhere like that to work on mine instead of my mates mum and dads drive lol

how long do you reckon it will take you then ??

hard to say. The strip down and prepping for welding wont take long at all. Then its getting it welded and getting the money for the cage etc...

Its going to be dictated by bank balance rather than time. I want it to be useable for next season!!

^^ i know that feeling - got a cage in mind ??

Possibly, i like Dave Marshall's Safety Devices cage, might get a weld in version of his.

looks like a good start on the new beast lee. I'm amazedat how much of the interior has paint on it, most shells just have a light bit of overspray, urs seems fully painted! bah just makes it heavier :p

I know, the boot floor rang alarm bells with me when i bought it, as it was so clean in there that it could only have had a shunt (plus a shiney new backbox) as well as brand new looking nuts holding the bumper on, but its like that inside everywhere! Its quite astonishing how mint it is!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bottlethroddy

I know, the boot floor rang alarm bells with me when i bought it, as it was so clean in there that it could only have had a shunt (plus a shiney new backbox) as well as brand new looking nuts holding the bumper on, but its like that inside everywhere! Its quite astonishing how mint it is!

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yeah yeah yeah blah blah blah :p

i had one like mint nice and clean all over then come picki stole it.looks good mate good luck with the build

break it
scrap it

have it crushed!
:thumb:




Good work mate! :)

Nice work, looks a very tidy shell.

I'm sure its misleading but, in the pics that lock up looks warm & cosy to work in?
Good progress.

All lookin good, poor old nova, its like gettin a new dog, the other one feels like its bein replaced.

Good find tho mate, lookin 4wad to seein progress.

L

Quote:

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Originally Posted by craig green

I'm sure its misleading but, in the pics that lock up looks warm & cosy to work in?
Good progress.

---

Its very misleading lol. The end that i declined to take photos of doesnt have a door, and its lacking most of the wall, its just a gaping hole, and the wall behind that rear half of the lorry is completely missing lol

I have to wait for the bloke to get his finger out and remove all his crap, and then i can practise my brickying of which im very rusty!

ORR if its not to far, get a friend who works around various parts of the trade to give you a hand :thumb:

Your very kind my love, i will definately bear that in mind. Your expertise will come in very handy actually as i have to get rid of a bit of asbestos too!

We now have the shell completely stripped to nothing, bar the steering rack and column, rear beam, and front hubs :biggrin:

Next job is to remove the last bit of sound deadening and start prepping the seams for welding, as well as try to scrape enough money for the cage together!

Heres some more pics anyway..

Dash out revealing even more loom (cant believ how much wiring an SPi engine needs, there was less on the GTe loom i stripped out of the blue one!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...05_800x600.jpg

Engine oot no thanks to my useless engine crane which wouldnt lift it high enough, so the front panel chop happened earlier than expected! I would have dropped it on the floor but i decided, as I was on my own at that particular time, i reasoned it was easier and less risky of damaging anything to lift it out the top.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...03_800x600.jpg


Even more gone
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00019.jpg

Dar did a blinder with the heat gun and disposed of all the sound deadening from inside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00022.jpg

Pedals out
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00020.jpg

And a nice bare engine bay
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P/DVC00021.jpg


Im pleased to say that after a day mostly under the car removing the tank, brake and fuel lines, i discovered no horrors, and its as solid underneath as it is on top!

Cups of tea = 3
Eaten = 1 Bounty bar, sausage roll, Packet of Doritos
Ciggies = Too Many
Quote of the day = 'Dont bounce up and down too much, its a bit tight down here'

Comin on nicely there! ;)

L

nice one Lee looking like some good progress coming on. I enjoyed building mine that much last year that I have stripped it to a bare shell again and starting all over again. Rebuilds rock

Chris

lookin good BT, you dont f**k around do ya lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chris

nice one Lee looking like some good progress coming on. I enjoyed building mine that much last year that I have stripped it to a bare shell again and starting all over again. Rebuilds rock

Chris

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Cheers chris, im looking forward to posting juicy pics of the rebuild lol

No point mucking about Novadex lol. The blue ones getting the sharp end of my spanner soon :)

Looking nice and light there Lee :eek: Thats the only time yours will be lighter than mine lol

Seriously tho, fair play for cracking on with it, make the rest of us look lazy :thumb: