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they didnt use a cavi rear axle, they used a complete calibra front subframe, that cars not true 4wd either as its 2x FWD boxes working in parralel to each other.
Getting bored of this now really, less talk more work!
believe it when i see it, running properly
I don't see what the problem with doing a 4x4 nova is as a concept.
The problem with using a cally/cav 4x4 setup is twofold:
1. The std cally/cav 4x4 running gear is not very well packaged & doesn't appear to be very strong.
2. Apart from looking good, the benefit of using a gm 4x4 running gear will not be that great compared to a decent 2wd system with lsd/traction control,
The answer in my view is to look at maybe a 2.0 16v lump mated to a sierra 4x4 trans (bellhousing kits readily available) with ford 4x4 diffs front & rear. The std front suspension can remain, & at the rear use a narrowed cally/cav subframe. the driveshafts can easily be modified by going to a lorry driveshaft repair shop. the only problems I foresee are the transmission tunnel, exhaust route, how far back the engine goes, etc. A good hotrodder would be a help.
My exact thoughts but yet they still keep dreaming
Fair play and I hope you win with this one. Well impressed with the ammount of money your going to be spending. The engine alone will cost more than my whole car:eek:
I hope that it does get done as it would be nice to see someone actually building one and not just talking about it. You have to understand that this question has popped up every other week for years an years with no outcome. People get to it an then realise they dont have a clue what they are doing lol.
If you "X" out these pipe dreams of a 300bhp XE, the 4x4 set up aint that hard tbh.
Once you figured out how to fit a Cav 4x4 floor pan into a nova, and the rear sub frame, mount up the rear diff, get some Cav shafts shortened down, shortened prop shafts, XE conversion shafts up front and use Cav 4x4 suspension on rear, adeqaute XE/LET suspension on the front, and TBH the rest shouldnt be too hard for a seasoned mechanic.
Saying all that, GM 4x4s systems are poop, youll need to learn how to weld.....PROPERLY, and get real friendly with your local steel stock holder.
Im very quitely confident that i could prep a shell to take a 4x4 setup, however im not confident with the whole fitting the 4x4 setup onto it, hence why ive never tried this, but contemplated it a lot.
Out of all the 4x4 hatchs ive measured up, the Es'cos will be the easiest to fit into a Nova. Pulsar are to wide along with Cav's (8inchs odd to wide) Land Rover 90 is again to wide and too long etc etc
also another thing about the novas is you will need to move the suspension mounting points on the rear which basically means you may as well do away with the whole cav floor as thats half of what you use. If done dont use cav stuff, it will need space framing other wise your making to much hassle for yourself for something that isnt going to be that good.
Nah, small jap is the way forward in terms of dimensions. Suzukis (Grand Vitara, Wagon R, etc) and Daihatsus (Applause, MIra Gino, Gbox, Scirion, Sonica) are a lot closer to the Nova measurements than the Escort. In fact the Sonica 4WD is very almost bang on the Nova track and wheelbase dimensions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Last Of The Nova SR'S
Ahh, Jack the Es'cos is around an Inch out width & 2 in lenght :thumb:
Phil,Quote:
Originally Posted by Philsutton
In those photo's I pressume the red pannels are from the cav/cally?
Do you have anymore photo's? I was thinking of just using the rear cav/cally swing arms and not bothering with the whole subframe but wandered how this would handle? It would cut down on a lot of weight. There's a couple of companies doing rear trailing arms for nova now with no arb etc.