Looking forward to seeing the mag, well done liam ;-)
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Looking forward to seeing the mag, well done liam ;-)
Thanks again for the positive comments.
I've had a fair few people ask me about the colour of the inside. It was made up of some left over paint that was then mixed with other paints to get the colour we achieved, so isn't an 'off the shelf' colour.
Can't wait the professional pictures :)
Was the feedback good from the magazine feature then Liam?
Anything else been done to this recently ?
he did a track day at brands and did the head gasket again so he just literally yesterday had head skimmed reground and seated all values, done some port and polishing himself etc, he should put some pics up soon but should be all back together tomorrow hopefully :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Southie
Ermm, OK. I would have liked to update this myself but oh well.. :roll::p
Anyway, I spoke to Jamie the other day from Total Vauxhall and spoke about the car and history etc and he confirmed that it will be in the next issue of TV (so 27th August I think!).
As people on my Facebook will know, I wasn't able to attend Billing unfortunately as I finished off the engine during a Brands Hatch 'taster' session. Once I got home and got the Nova out after a couple of days it was stuttering very very badly and very gutless. I had a look at it and replaced the crank sensor, coil pack, leads, checked the timing etc and the problem was still there. I then got my dad to have a look and he diagnosed it as the head gasket or something related to that as the water hoses were getting very hard etc etc.
Now, I have always planned to rebuilt the engine/head at some point so now would be the perfect time! I had originally planned to get the head professionally rebuilt by a friend of mine with cams etc so the Nova would be off the road until next year. But, a friend of mine offered me another x16xe for next to nothing so the plan changed slightly. I would stick another head gasket on mine for the time being and get the 'new' engine rebuilt and swap them over when the time came.
But this soon changed when I took the head to work for skimming and we noticed that the valves hadn't been closing properly. So, a head rebuild was in order. The head was stripped, exhaust valves reseated/lapped but the inlet ones needed recutting/grinding as they were quite badly pitted. Once it was all apart I decided to give the head a mild port/polish as I have nothing to loose as I have another good head if something went/goes wrong. I think it turned out OK for a first attempt and I should hopefully see something out of it. The head was then cleaned out, skimmed and new valve stem oil seals were fitted and then head was put back together.
This brings us to today where the head is all back together and ready to be refitted and back running tomorrow.
Whilst the head was all apart I have been looking for a set of mild road/rally cams to stick in it but couldn't find any second hand. I then contacted Phillip Nichols who is going to sort me out with a set of Newman PH1 264 cams at a VERY reasonable price! I should hopefully get these sometime next week so I can then get them fitted next weekend. It would have been nice to fit them when it was all apart but I want to get it back for the Summer Wednesdays meet at Brands on Wednesday! Plus, it will be nice to see what power differences there are since the head rebuild and then again with the addition of cams.
Anyway,enough talking and onto the pictures...
A couple of pics from the session at Brands:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...65744101_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...59210571_o.jpg
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...39341035_o.jpg
Head removed:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...59825256_o.jpg
Semi stripped head:
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...36327164_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...29549381_o.jpg
You can see where the valves haven't been closing properly:
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...46744779_o.jpg
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...32417375_o.jpg
Removed valves:
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...20211836_o.jpg
Cleaning/cleaned valves:
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...06323797_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...13819394_o.jpg
Head cleaned:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...31468794_o.jpg
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...65032170_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...68523315_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...36492024_o.jpg
<sarcasm>Lapping valves is sooo much fun!!!</sarcasm>
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...48660773_o.jpg
All done:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...76726090_o.jpg
Inlet ports semi ported/polished:
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...19363324_o.jpg
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...35267801_o.jpg
And exhaust ports:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...48469738_o.jpg
Being skimmed:
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...70330096_o.jpg
All back together and ready to be fitted tomorrow:
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...75362819_o.jpg
Looks good Liam on the track day, shame about it going tits up but maybe for the better. ;)
These engines aren't the best somehow unless they've had a decent rebuild in the first place, fingers crossed you've got a good one now.
I'm not on Facebook do didn't see anything if you've posted on there, I was just interested how your build was going.
Conza, stick to your own wip lol
Haha cheers! Looking at it, it's a very good engine and there's not much signs of any wear seeing as its done over 100k and I don't know the history of it.
As you say, now I've sorted it, it should hopefully be sorted for a long while!
Think id better take a day too read this thread haha....oh and try lapping in 5/6 16v heads in a day arms feel like there gona fall off. Lol. Screaming 16 next year? ;)
Get facebookQuote:
Originally Posted by Southie
and haven't started my track car whip yet so can realy post anything on here about it and the sr is just a standard car with differnet wheels onit so not much to post realy :/
Why jump down my throat lolQuote:
Originally Posted by conza123
I've lived without Facebook this long so think I'll still give it a miss ;)
:pQuote:
Originally Posted by Southie
Why it's full of sh*te.Quote:
Originally Posted by conza123
mmmm Tasty go faster bits.... get it rebuilt for retro rides mate, c'mon!!
Ok, I suppose I should update this a little...
Back at the end of August the engine was put back together and a set of Newman 264 degree cams were fitted. It went OK but the air leak/hesitation I had before was still there unfortunately. But that was the least of my worries as after driving it around for a while I noticed that it was using an alarming amount of oil and was smoking all the time. I've put this down to either piston rings or valve stem oil seals not seated correctly. Either way, the engine was coming out over the winter anyway for a full bottom end rebuild and I shall also fit new valve stem oil seals just to be on the safe side.
Que where we are now... The Nova has been sitting outside my house untouched for the past 3-4 months waiting for room in my workshop as I've been making a bit of extra money buying and breaking a few cars. I'm hoping to have it in there though in the coming weeks where the engine will be removed and rebuilt, the engine bay will be repainted the same colour as the inside and a few touches here and there ready for summer and hopefully a fair few track days!
The plan with the engine is to rebuild it using ARP rod bolts, solid auto cambelt tensioner and polished oil relief valve to allow me to raise the rev limit to 7,500rpm to make full use of the Dbilas inlet and cams...
As the Nova's nowhere near being a decent road/daily car I decided to give up on my trusty old 306 HDi and went out and bought a Bora PD150. I lowered it, changed the wheels for Audi S3 ones, decatted it and "straight through'd" it. I had a bit of fun in it but it just wasn't for me so I sold it and went and bought a Mk6 Fiesta Zetec S TDCi. It was nowhere near as quick as the Bora with only 88bhp over 150+bhp but that's what the Nova is for!!
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...83&oe=55604965
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...a941911de039f3
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...47&oe=556E0A52
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...b1&oe=556A57C6
My old man also came across and bought a bloody mint, rust free Nova with only 1 owner from new. He had/has no use for it so has given it to my 16 year old sister for her first car when she turns 17 (lucky bitch!)...
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...ccba284f10e7d9
Anyway, back onto the Nova...
Even though I haven't touched it for over 3 months, I have been buying a fair few parts...
Full stainless Powerflow exhaust system with 3" outward rolled tip that I'll take to my local Powerflow dealer to mate it up to my manifold..
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...d9db3cf78c64f5
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...dc&oe=555FEBCF
Brand new carbon door cards (still waiting for the rears!)
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...9a&oe=554F0978
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...17&oe=55583670
A new set of polycarbonate windows with front sliders...
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNj...UbQxK/$_57.JPG
Corsa 2.7 turns lock to lock (Over the Novas 4 turns) non power steering rack...
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...b0&oe=555B444E
Dbilas Dynamics vernier pulleys (they have the cam sensor lugs to allow me to still run on standard management)...
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...8e4547b1ef5f7d
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...c3caadd81f8ea9
I've also been collecting a load of other bits for the engine rebuild including:
Solid engine/gearbox mounts
ACL bottom end bearings, MAHLE piston rings and ARP rod bolts (Thanks to Shaun Mint at Part-Box for doing me a crazy cheap price on those bits!)
Full engine gasket sets
LUK clutch kit
Gates cambelt kit + water pump
Solid auto tensioner pulley
Oil pump
Rose jointed gear linkage parts
+ loads of other little bits
Now, I came across a guy on Facebook selling an X16XE Corsa Sport with some goodies (full stainless exhaust, 4-2-1 manifold, Dbilas inlet, morettes, suspension etc) but what caught my eye was the less than a month old Dbilas mapped ECU (which makes use of the Dbilas inlet) with raised rev limit to 7.5k. Now I knew I HAD to have this as it would benefit the Nova greatly without going all out on standalone management. He wouldn't sell the ECU separately sooo... on Saturday just gone I traveled 280 each way to go and buy the complete car for £600. lol lol
The plan is to break the car, put the ECU in the Nova and keep the engine which i'll rebuild into an all out forged engine (long term for when i eventually purchase some throttle bodies!). I've worked out I would easily be able to recoup all of my money by breaking the rest of the car so in theory i'll end up with a free engine and Dbilas ECU!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...7183cb18be5354
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...80e988b359ecab
And the all important ECU
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...14&oe=5552AA87
So that's it pretty much up to date. I'll try and keep the thread updated as i'll be back working on the old girl in the coming weeks hopefully!! All in time for the summer shows, various track days and (hopefully) a trip to The Ring...
Nice collection of parts
In there a way of identifying the corsa 2.7 turn rack? I need one, thinking of a trip to the scrap yards
Thanks.
Now, I heard it was just the electric power steering racks that were 2.7 turns (which is what I bought) but the Corsa Sport i've just bought is also 2.7, but its hydraulic power steering so has the lines going into it.
My friend with an M reg Corsa SRi with manual steering also assures me his is 2.7 turns as well. So based on that, I'd say all Corsa B's are the same?
Nice buy on the Corsa, very good way to get the bits you wanted too...
Looking forward to seeing this come together, great deal on the Corsa!
Cheers guys.
Got a few more pieces to the puzzle the other day. Mega thanks to Shaun at Part-Box for sorting me them out.
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/...62&oe=555CB602
I'm also in the middle of purchasing a VERY special (and expensive!) upgrade that should really transform the car greatly. Unfortunately, it isn't a set of throttle bodies at the moment but nonetheless I can't wait to get it fitted!
I had a couple more little bits turn up today...
MAHLE piston ring set.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...0bc569216fab40
And a Roose Motorsport crankcase breather hose (the last one I need for the collection)!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...6147a06982d3bc
Quaife SCCR Gearbox then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Liam
Maybe one day! But for the time being on my current wage packet i'll be getting either a Quaife ATB or plate diff.Quote:
Originally Posted by 8valve-craig
I was set on a Quaife ATB but I've been offered an F13 box with 4.18 final drive with a plate diff fitted for a good price. It's a tough choice to make and i've been reading up all evening on the pros and cons of each also taking into account the driving I shall be doing (the odd track day, trip the The Ring, B road drives etc etc).
Cool. ATB for road, Plate diff for track.
Sooo... A nice little valentines present arrived for the Nova yesterday..
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...3a&oe=558B6CEF
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...71df62598bbe32
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...45c8e34bd6921a
Only a quick one. Will update more tomorrow...
https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.ne...47a10d6d2e66ee
Time for a proper update...
Finally, I had room to get the Nova into the workshop so a couple of weekends back me and my old man decided to get cracked in and get the engine and gearbox out.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...42b6b4bd163783
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...65&oe=55B7F736
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...1c&oe=5587FEB0
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...e47ef91429ae3f
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...3170ecb67a2ea4
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...fa&oe=5572240C
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...2d&oe=5587D16D
The head needed to come off anyway so we decided to remove it before removing the engine to make everything a little less bulky once it was out. I took the head to work with me and when I had a spare couple of minutes I stripped it down for further inspection. All seemed OK except for a slight bit of play in a couple of the valves/valve guides.
I wasted no time in sending the head off to a professional to get the valve guides replaced, new stem seals, valves and seats cut etc etc. I'm still waiting for it to be finished but once it's back I can get everything put back together.
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...50&oe=55755179
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...2dedbdfa9588f9
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...fee538b2d689cf
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...0e&oe=5588800A
It was then time to get started on the bottom end. Last weekend I had a spare couple of hours so got everything stripped off the block and stripped it right down. Luckily, everything seems to be as it should with no wear to the crank, rods etc etc.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...f8079445b9704c
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...65162cf4441744
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...9d&oe=55858BD9
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...1a&oe=55741890
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...22c4ced25c4d01
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...7cf29c73a92923
Now onto the fun bit... Cleaning the pistons up.
Everything was loaded into my daily car and taken to my work ready for a nice hot jetwash and general de-grease.
I'd read a few ideas on how to get the pistons cleaned up nicely so a little trip to Tesco was called for..
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...30&oe=55B6618D
So, the idea was to spray the pistons in Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner for half hour and then leave them in a bucket of Coca Cola overnight. To my surprise this actually worked quite well and after a small amount of scrubbing to get the burnt on carbon off I ended up with the following.
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...be&oe=557256CB
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...db&oe=55BB7912
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...dfe8ffb51bbc06
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...f12606487b86f2
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...1e6401974b1898
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...53&oe=55B7CB2E
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...d9&oe=55896E3C
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...59&oe=557D3B1C
The next task was to get the block all cleaned up using a super hot jetwash and touch in a couple of places where the paint had chipped off..
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...621e9c61d1baa8
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...a0&oe=55793CEB
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...8ea16dd41509d2
(Finished article after refitting my oil cooler sandwich plate.)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...af94620a87136d
I also decided to rub the sump down and give it a new lick of paint.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...1ecdceec7bb997
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...42cd257c1d7d4a
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...7330ca24c8fb19
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...cd&oe=55B8F8D5
I had to pop to work quickly yesterday so quickly fitted a freshly powder coated eBay bargain engine mount and also cut down and trimmed my cambelt cover so the top part can stay exposed.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...1c6d9dd4c40951
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...70&oe=55B9B1F2
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...e04d8186f9897b
That pretty much brings me up to date where I'm waiting for my head to be finished. I'm also taking the rods and ARP's down the engineering guy at work tomorrow so he can chamfer the rod bolt holes to accept the ARP's.
Meanwhile, I've been collecting a few extra parts...
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...20&oe=5588FEF6
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...9a230cdf6cfea5
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...29&oe=55BBA532
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...1fd200fe729ab8
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...07e3a34c3a9acf
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...85&oe=5586839A
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...764cc3046b3eff
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...9c&oe=5578AE97
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...a5c0cd81adf196
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...60ace5800d529d
https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...9c&oe=55835C0C
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...293f9c74f21685
Plenty of goodies there! Can't wait to see it done mate ;)
Cheers Mark, neither can I! I'm hoping it'll all be back together so I can start running it in within the next 2-3 weeks!
I Managed to get my rod caps chamfered to accept the ARP's. Just waiting for the head to come back so I can then get the engine all together.
Also managed to source a pair of doors as mine are far from mint along with a front ARB to play with and a GSi brake servo.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...7a3b9b26fec5b8
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...15aff96e967351
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...a829991cfe2154
Coming along well.
Doing it properly mate!! Keep it up!!