My Nova Rebuild Thread...

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Originally Posted by NOVABIKECARBED

Good work Pete :thumb:

Cheers for the rep BTW. It's all coming together nicely now. Nice shiny bits on the engine, when do think your going to start to fit the engine then. Anymore plans????

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Well...few more jobs to do, then can go for paint. Once the car is away i can paint and tart up the other bits in the empty garage. When the car comes back, no stopping me. It can all be built back up and driven. HARD!!! Cant fookin wait!!!!

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Originally Posted by Jay

Get some pics up pete :thumb:

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Of my front end?? Will take some pics next week. Going to make a real effort next week. Been abit down in the dumps and seriously unmotivated this week after a few things pissed me off...but hey ho!! Onwards and upwards. :thumb:

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Originally Posted by Pete_58

Well...few more jobs to do, then can go for paint. Once the car is away i can paint and tart up the other bits in the empty garage. When the car comes back, no stopping me. It can all be built back up and driven. HARD!!! Cant fookin wait!!!!



Of my front end?? Will take some pics next week. Going to make a real effort next week. Been abit down in the dumps and seriously unmotivated this week after a few things pissed me off...but hey ho!! Onwards and upwards. :thumb:

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Yes pictures are always good. :)

looking good Pete.
When are you shifting it for pain bud.

**Hopefully** sometime in march. Need to get the last few jobs done then it can go. Getting a quote for the work next wee with any luck. Being done at my old work, still on good terms with my old boss so ;) should get a deal.

cool.
If you need a hand let me know.

Looks like it's coming along now Pete, just wondering, whats them holes in the pillar for? dead locks??

Scott

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Originally Posted by scott.parker

Looks like it's coming along now Pete, just wondering, whats them holes in the pillar for? dead locks??

Scott

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No one else noticed or questioned them!! I have purchased some pop out rear windows from Dec.

Cheers Ernie. I could do with a few pointers on the wiring TBH. Have removed what i think is all of the SRi loom but not 100% sure.

Ah i see! lol Thought might of been some overly mad security, dead locks in the door frames lol

Pop out windows should be cool!

Scott

Weren't they bronze tint? what are your plans for the rest of the glass?

They have a slight tint yes. Havent even unwrapped them to check TBH lol. Will leave the door glass, front screen is a heated one (cheers Spanishfly for sorting the bo' group buy!) and rear is standard.

How have i never seen this before??

Looks likke a good build dude.

lol Cheers Benn. Its because i hardly ever do anything to it!! All this time off work, have to use it wisely!

So did abit more tinkering in the garage today...

Finished taking out my sunroof as the masking tape has gone all nasty after it got damp in the garage fire last year...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0676.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0677.jpg

Horrible sticky residue all around the rubber/furry edge.
Started to clean it but then got bored!

Welded the hole up in my rear panel where the wires for the number plate light would have exit. Dont need this anymore. Lights will be else where.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0680.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0681.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0682.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0683.jpg

Gave it a skim of filer then primed it. Wasnt too fussed about how it looked as it will be painted and the bumper will cover it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0684.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0687.jpg

I then welded up the holes in my wings and fillered them. Also cleaned the insides as i will slap some hammerite on them before fitting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0674.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0675.jpg

First skim..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0685.jpg

Second skim..the lads at the bodyshop will finish these off to get them perfect. My bodywork skills are limited.

I then finished smoothing my grab rail..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0686.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0689.jpg

Filler primed. Will wet flat when dryed.

I then trimmed (read hacked and bashed fook out of!) my headlight panel as this was the cause of my poor fitment of wings.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0678.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0688.jpg

They now fit pretty much as Vauxhall intended!

That was about all for today. Then pushed it back in its bed. The silver thing is my cover, which ironically was purchased after the fire!! My seats are going to need a good clean!

Looks good Pete. Wings will look awesome when done, i was very pleased with mine. Makes such a difference.

looking good mate looks like you put some hard work into it lol

i've been having the same problem this week as you did
(getting front wings/lights and grille to line up, after fitting a new front panel)

had to chop the bits of that stick up on each top corner

shame really all that hard work to fit it then butcher it with an angle grinder
good thread mate, keep up the great work :thumb:
+rep

Thanks for the comments guys. lol yeah is a shame to butcher it, but if it means it fits then so be it!

coming along nice mate, some good progress :)

Nice, think it will be out this year?

I would like to think so, it was my intention.... But work situation isnt great. Spending nearly £1000 on a paintjob might not go down too well. lol trying to sort something though.

Went and did some more work today.

Sorted the rot on my n/s inner arch..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0692.jpg

Made some cardboard templates, then cut out metal. Found it easier to do it in 3 sections.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0693.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0694.jpg

And another small plate in the top of the arch. I then cleaned it all up slapped some sealer in there and primer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0695.jpg

Once the dealer has skinned off i will trim the lumpy bumpy bits. Yeah doesnt look pretty but once it is painted and the wheels are on and it is slammed on its nice new GAZ coilovers who will see!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0696.jpg

I then put a skim of filler where i had patched the outer arch. Left this till last because of the heat from welding the inner arch. Will tidy this up next week.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0691.jpg

I then flatted and re primed my boot grab rail. Happy with it now.

Keep up the good work Pete. :thumb:

I may have to do something similar to my rear arch as I had a look last night and it's starting to go corroded :(

Cheers mate. I had been putting it off, but it wasnt too much of a chore to sort. Catch it early and should be fine.

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Originally Posted by Pete_58

I had been putting it off.

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Exactly as I have, thing is with it being metallic paint I'm a bit paranoid about the colour not matching and it looking cack.

Future plans then fella??? :D

looking good fella im glad to see you kept at it after a fire and all that top man good luck for the future.

Thanks.

NBC, get it finished lol Want to get it painted ASAP so then i can get it road worthy!

Nothing major done today, lack of motivation really....

Swapped my suspension over to a standard setup (cheers Ernie)...

Fronts..how high??!! lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...0032009094.jpg

Rear..decked FTW!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...0032009095.jpg

Just did abit of general tinkering really. Nothing exciting to report TBH lol

Today was STOP...Hammer and Hammerite time!!! lol

Started sorting my wings...Hammerited the insides, more for protection than to look pretty.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0705.jpg

Baking in the sun after 2 coats..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0711.jpg

I also touched up both upper members and the front panel after butchering it to get the wings fitted.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0709.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0710.jpg

Whilst this was drying i fitted my drivers side mount plate to the block (cheers Ernie!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0707.jpg

I also fitted my fancy nancy strut brace...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0706.jpg

...which looking at it, i reckon will be a tight fit once my XE is in??!!

I then set about playing with my nice new GAZ coilovers....

Nice looking strut brace - What kind is it ?

some nice work mate.
I will have to stop letting you have time off lol.

..Coilover time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0701.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0700.jpg

Started fiddling with the fronts to get the mounts sorted..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0702.jpg

Fitted correctly? I have left this part off...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0703.jpg

I then sorted the rears. This meant Hammertime lol

Take one coilover..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0712.jpg

A selection of hammers and knocking tool..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0713.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0715.jpg

I did both sides. Scrapped off the sealer as this was just bouncing and preventing me from making the room needed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0716.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0722.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0723.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0724.jpg

I then fitted the rears to check for clearance...and it was all gooood!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0721.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0718.jpg

It probably looks closer because of the shadows. I jacked up the beam and checked again.

I then removed the coilovers, dropped the beam and rubbed down the newly modded areas and more Hammerite was applied...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0726.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0725.jpg

Also painted my repaired rear inner arch..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0708.jpg

Whilst doing all this i couldnt help but notice this...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0728.jpg

Which is being caused by the handbrake cable mounts on my rear beam..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/IMGP0727.jpg

..are they in the wrong place??

All in all a productive day really. Next on the list is to fit the wings, check headlight/indicator fitment then last few jobs and off for paint!

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Originally Posted by vaughanmc

Nice looking strut brace - What kind is it ?

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God knows lol like alot of the parts for this car! After the fire i sorted through soggy boxes and found parts i had forgot i had! This along with my VX220 dash was one of them!!! I bought it ages ago.

you tart.
when is it of to the sprayer ?

Looking really good Pete - How many coats of Hammerite did you give the inner arches/underside of the car ?

I think we're going to do this to the orange Nova :D

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Originally Posted by Ernie

you tart.
when is it of to the sprayer ?

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Soon as i pull my finger out and get last few jobs sorted....oh and rob a bank to pay for it lol

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Originally Posted by vaughnmc

Looking really good Pete - How many coats of Hammerite did you give the inner arches/underside of the car ?

I think we're going to do this to the orange Nova :D

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lol you dont want to know! It was a labour of love. Car on stands, led on my back, took what seemed forever! I used mini foam rollers, primed and hammerite. About 2 coats of each. Same for the arches. Smooth blue is an almost spot on colour match so happy days....

lol I think we're going to clean it all up underthere and brush white Hammerite on (proper rally car look)

Should 3 coats of white do it over the original Underseal stuff ?

I got a wire brush attatchment for my angle grinder. Used a wire brush for the hard to reach places. 2 coats should do it TBH. Its quite thick stuff. I was very generous when applying it. Allow good time to dry and you'll be on to a winner!

bank job tomorrow then pete.
I will have to ask you to practice getting in the nova quick over the cage as there is no way we could get away quick in eather of the astra's. As for the kangoo your having a laugh lol.

Cheers mate

Have some rep for that :D