Liam's Nova X16XE Project

OK, an update seeing as I actually have a small amount of free time!

Firstly, I finally found somewhere that managed to lathe the inside of my Comps down to accept centre caps like they should be! Only the spare has been done at the moment so I'll get the tyres off the rest and then get the wheels painted bronze once they've all been done.

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I also got my suspension bits powder coated so got the poly bushes fitted...

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Next up, it was finally time for some paint! The Nova was taken down the bodyshop on Monday and once I had sorted a couple of bits and finalized the prep work it got painted on Saturday.

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On the Sunday I went and got the wiring sorted inside and a couple of other bits...

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I was then at the BHP on Monday but my dad kindly got the engine running and got the oil cooler primed etc. He also fitted my grip tape to the floor for me...

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I got the powdercoated parts fitted with the help of Connor. We also fitted the new brake cylinders and when bleeding the brake system the brake pedal stayed spongey! So i've ordered a new master cylinder which will be here tomorrow!

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Then on Thursday I had the day off work to go and prep my bumpers for paint (staying gloss black but decided to give them a fresh coat of paint!)...

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I also got the roll cage painted whilst I was there. I got it painted the same colour as the inside but with a matte lacquer so it contrasts a little...

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Once it had tried I brang it home and got the rear section in the car so it didn't get damaged..

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That then brings us to yesterday where I got the rest of the cage in and got it all bolted up. I also started getting the dashboard in and various other little bits...

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Then today was full steam ahead and I managed to get all of the dash etc fitted..

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nice colour used on the inside, great choice for parts on the interior. Looks well.

Love that grey on the cage and insides. You should do your bumpers in that colour.
Insides look great! Love the flocking.

Looking great this, as benn said that interior colour would be smart for the bumpers. Can't wait to see it finished.

Looks great! Soo jelous of how its comming on and looking lol!!

Looking very good :thumb:

Looking good liam love the interior colour and the flocking

Cheers for the comments guys! I really am pleased with the interior and it's much better than what I thought it was going to turn out like which is ever better!!

Benn, I was thinking of going that colour with the bumpers but then though against it. People know the car with the gloss black bumpers so I'll leave it this year. You never know, the outside may even be a different colour next summer... ;)

Ok, I'll give a little update too whilst I'm here!!

Since the last update i've done a fair few small updates including fitting a remote central locking kit with remote boot popper etc and harness eye bolts/spreader plates.

As you'll be able to see from the pictures below, I decided to sell the Sparco Pro2000's and purchase myself a set of brand new Corbeau Club Sport seats. I didn't actually intend on getting new seats but after sitting in them at a local car show with a Corbeau stand I fell in love with them. They're new compared to the Sparco's so I don't have to worry about the fabric ripping due to wear and they are also more suited to the way I like to sit etc and are easier to get in and out of!

Luckily, the Nova sub frames didn't need modifying and after a little elongating of the side mount holes, I got them fitted to the sub frames. I decided to put runners on the drivers seat in case other people want to drive and mount the passenger seat side mounts directly to the sub frame so it doesn't move.

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The seats fit an absolute treat and just about miss the side bars of the cage!

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After fitting the seats I decided to get the old girl out and give her a gentle drive around the private roads, which is why I remembered why I done all of this and how it was/is all worth it!!

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All I am waiting on now is for my bumpers to be painted and the rear strut brace too. I can then get it MOT'd and start using it!!

P.S. My fiberglass doors and carbon interior panels are also nearly finished so I should have them soon hopefully. I'm not sure whether I could have them fitted and painted for PVS in time so I may be turning up with some slightly rusty doors. Oh well!!

P.S.S. I'm also thinking of getting some polycarbonate windows for when I get the doors which should bring the weight down a little nicely!

Right, tomorrow is the day! I've booked it in for an MOT at 1pm and then having it 4 wheel aligned on a hunter system straight after.

i went yesterday and picked my bumpers up from being painted. They've been painted Mercedes metallic black, but only slightly metallic. They look sweet! I'll get them fitted this evening and get some pictures!

i also picked up my rear strut brace too. It hasn't been painted yet but I'll fit and mount my harnesses to it just to get it MOT'd.

ill be taking the Nova to work in the morning so I can put it on the ramp to sort my exhaust leak and make sure everything is tight and nothing is leaking.

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I wouldnt want to mount harnesses to the rear brace, it is not secure enough IMO. If you do and bolt the brace on I would plate the arch tubs behind where it bolts.

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Originally Posted by Novasport

I wouldnt want to mount harnesses to the rear brace, it is not secure enough IMO. If you do and bolt the brace on I would plate the arch tubs behind where it bolts.

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I understand where you are coming from but I shall be using harness spreader plates on the inside of the arch which should be good enough i'd of thought, especially as the top of the arches are slightly reinforced anyway.

Why not go straight to the seat belt bolt points in the floor (rear seat pan) as they are right in the right place....

I've seen them mounted this way lots of times in rally cars and they pass scrutineering so can't be all that bad. The bloke who done my cage made me the brace and said it should be perfectly fine to mount the belts there, and he's been building rally and rallycross cars for over 20+ years.

Anyway, managed to fit the bumpers, grill, rear brace and harnesses. It's now nearly ready for it's MOT tomorrow!!

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It looks brilliant Liam, only thing to me I'm not keen on is the mk2 spoiler but that's me being pedantic, well done anyway ;)

Mounting the belts on that brace with no spreaders will be fine, there's a few layers of steel there.

Fitting fiberglass doors isn't a 5 Minute job, just make sure you properly mock fit them before paint as they will 100% need altering.

Cheers guys! I'm leaving the doors to the pro's! lol Will probably end up leaving them until after PVS as I don't have any old doors to get the hinges off, so it's better to be safe!

Some more pictures...

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I took the Nova to work on Friday and got some bits sorted. I then took it for an MOT and passed with flying colours. I then took it to get the tracking done on a hunter system but they couldn't do it as the front was too low! Opps lol

I then got it taxed and have been enjoying it over the past couple of days. It really does put a smile on my face again which makes all of this work worth it so much!!

Some pictures when it was on the ramp...

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I've not been doing too much to the Nova but I have done some small bits in time for PVS. I'm a little annoyed as I was hoping for it to be finished, being as I'm on the Total Vauxhall stand. But, it won't be and that's that lol

Anyway, I got the bumper tape fitted to the bumpers, got the rear brace painted and fitted. I also fitted some clear vinyl to it to stop the harneses wearing the paint away.

I've also been out enjoying it too and my friend managed to get some decent shots of it too..

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Oh, and I washed it tonight too for the first time since about October! I shall be clay baring it on Thursday and my friend will be giving it a little detail/polish in time for PVS!!

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Looking really well now liam

Tidy car, only thing letting it down is the exhaust imo (stick out too much)

Looks great will be spot on on TV stand

what's left to finish now ?

Cheers!

The exhaust is on my list of things to do. I've got a 3" outward rolled tip ready to be welded on but just need the time to do it!

It won't look too bad lol There's not really a huge amount but things like fiberglass doors as mine are rusty, polycarb windows, exhaust (as above), paint wheels bronze, get wheels sorted for centre caps etc etc.

Plenty of time for all that lol looks great regardless

looks excellent Liam. Wish I had the time and freedom of my younger days to play with them. Looking forward to seeing the PV pics.

Looking great, lovely shine to it.

Look forward to seeing it at PVS Liam ;)

Sooo... This evening this happened! Very, very excited and absolutely over the moon with the photos just from looking at them on the photographers camera!! Should hopefully be featuring in a Total Vauxhall magazine near you soon...

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Well done Liam, looking forward to reading the feature in TV at some point ;)

Congrats mate I bet you're chuffed. :thumb:

Well done liam was it a long day the one I went to with Chris d took ages

Cheers guys!

DGB, I met the photographer at 5pm this evening and was all done at around 8:30pm so wasn't too bad. Got a fair few pictures at different angles and different areas around the car park/promenade too plus some rolling shots etc.

Think we went at about 8am and finished around 5pm was a 2 car shoot but god it was long could be wrong and just felt that long

Well done liam looking forward to seeing it in the magazine

what grey have you used on the inside bud ?