Its going to be a track weapon but no reason wy it can't all be laid out tidy. I'm a firm believer that if something is neat and tidy its easier to work on.
Definately not back into my show ways! lol Didn't touch a polishing cloth all weekend lol
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Its going to be a track weapon but no reason wy it can't all be laid out tidy. I'm a firm believer that if something is neat and tidy its easier to work on.
Definately not back into my show ways! lol Didn't touch a polishing cloth all weekend lol
So to update this then.
Not much has actually happened on the nova. It was put back in the shed after Billing and tucked away. The carbs have come back off and are with Larndersport to have the spacers made. The rest of the time has been spent looking & acquiring parts.
The porsche was stripped last weekend tho and this is what I'm working with...
The short bell housing. Its only 150mm deep.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/09-08-09.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../09-08-092.jpg
This then goes onto the torque tube.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../09-08-098.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../09-08-093.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../09-08-094.jpg
At the end of the torque tube as you can see in the above pics is another bellhousing that mates up the box. (The black tube is what the gear linkage rod passes through).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../09-08-095.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../09-08-096.jpg
Here is an XE clutch on the end of the torque tube - that was a nice bit of luck :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../09-08-099.jpg
Need to sort the bellhousing to work with the XE now. Its a fair bit out but I have a few ideas on the subject.
:cool:
http://www.titan.uk.net/products/8.37/gm/bellhousings
get on the dog a bone and find out, i can always pick it up for you if they can sort you out x
SBD prices look cheaper than titan. They do a 150mm vertical version. I just need to mod the end to fit the torque tube.
http://www.sbdev.co.uk/Gearbox/Bellh...iew-edited.gif
This weekend work had to be turned away from the nova and onto my daily the vectra. I was in need of 4 new tyres (205/55 16s) but didn't really want to part with £200+ without upgrading something! lol
Seeing as the nova isn't going anywhere I decided to fit the turbo rims off that as they had really good tyres albeit they are 195/45 16s meaning the speedo would be 8% out at 60mph. So on they went anyway...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...3082009208.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...5082009210.jpg
The car did sit a little lower but the arch gap was greater. It drove SOOOOO much better tho!! It turns in so much sharper and the firmer ride is a lot more positive. However, I had just saved myself around £200 not buying the tyres so bought a set of coilovers instead lol
I'm really happy with how it sits now and drives really nice. Just need to get the tracking done in the morning. I may drop the front a little more slightly to give a little nose dive as I do carry a lot in the boot so should level it out a little. I may also fit some 10mm spacers to push them out a little.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...3082009212.jpg
Ref: the nova I'm just gather lots of different parts at the mo and trying a few different ideas before I commit to chopping out anymore of the floor! Update maybe at the end of bank holiday week, we'll see.
top work,and the veccy looks cool
So after this mighty steak saturday nite....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...mps/Steak2.jpg
...I was ready for some car action today!
Starting out by working on a friends engine out of her mk3 astra GSi turbo. Just after a full rebuild she melted piston no.1. My diagnosis was that she was running evo5 chips but hadn't upped the fuel pressure. The head came off first and got that checked and bar a light skim amazingly survived. All valves are now lapped in. Onto the bottom end and I'm fairly confident the block is scrap! lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Badbores2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...s/Badbores.jpg
Fortunately I've got a spare block she can have off me and a spare piston. Need to get the crank checked for her next as its slightly scored.
So onto the nova.
The f28 came out and the engine swung round...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../13-09-092.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../13-09-093.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../13-09-094.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../13-09-095.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../13-09-096.jpg
As you can see its tight up against the rack at the moment but room to move another 10-15mm back which will give enough room at the front. There's also plenty of room side to side.
In this position I could check the clearance on my current custom manifold setup and all looks good!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../13-09-098.jpg
From underneath the sump will be above the line of chassis, just, in this position. I will be using an SBD westfield sump with a 100mm height which will be similar to the bottom right of the sump in the picture. I plan on running a sump guard plate aswell on this car just to be cautious.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../13-09-097.jpg
I then laid out the gearbox and torque tube to see where they come to with the driveshafts level with the wheel centres. With the help of a couple of pieces of would theres' approximately 280mm gap. The bellhousing I'll be using is 150mm. Hmmm.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/13-09-09.jpg
The options I've currently thought of are to:-
- Move the engine further back into the bulkhead which will have better handling characteristics with the weight further back but I was hoping to keep the engine within the current bay and infront of the smoothed bulkhead.
- The torque tube and box are joined with a coupling which I could extend by 130mm and make a sandwich plate.
I'm leaning towards the latter as it will also mean less tunnell chopping!
The bonnet will also need some form of bulge towards the front for clearance.
That was it for the nova today as a new project rolled into the shop...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...evyPickup3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...hevyPickup.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...evyPickup2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...evyPickup4.jpg
Chevy 1949 sidestep with small block 5.7 v8. Mustang front suspension setup and 9" shortened rear end. Boxed chassis and smoothed cab. Its very much a big lego set! Most parts were included. Just needs brakes, lines, wiring and the finishing touches. Sadly its not mine but Shaun Larnder's new project after selling his Skyline & Nova. I'll put a seperate project thread up at a later date.
Mmmmm right way round engine porn lolQuote:
Originally Posted by The Simps
As said on Mig, looking damn good dude... Now just gonna build it rwd then?
yeah, no point wasting anymore time with fwd. Was hoping to get a year out of it doing trackdays before putting it under the knife this autumn/winter but time was just against me.
Cool, get cutting!
Getting a jig made up to weld it to first then welding in the main parts of the cage (main hoop, front feet and dash bar). Then I can start cutting :D
Good plan, combe yet year? I wanna come out in it.
combe is quite a treck for me tbh but we'll see. gotta lot of work and ££ss to spent ahead. I think time could be against me again but oh well, I enjoy building it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benn
What can you say to that but WOW! After what Shaun was saying to us I certainly didnt expect him to roll up with that! Looks like a hell of a project and it will be good to see what happens with it! Top work on the coupe as per usual fella. :thumb:Quote:
Originally Posted by The Simps
looks very good buddy :thumb:
what you doing with the F28 lol
Yeah Nick, just wanted somthing abit different tbh, been a fan of the old pick ups for a while now, just didnt think i would be able to get one as they arent all that cheap now. should be a good bit of fun when done, the chap said its a freshly rebuilt race spec chevy 350 small block. Might take a little while to get it together tho as you know the baby is almost here, good thing tho is that most things just bolt on, about 8 bolts and all the front is back on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by djbrowney
Could be for sale... text me with an offer.
i cant be the buyer and the seller, you text me your offer lolQuote:
Originally Posted by The Simps
Looking good Mr.Simps, what sort of power you hoping for with the bike carbs?
Its a standard XE lump so realistically 170-180bhp wouldn't be too unexpected. I will be running megajolt (mapable ignition) to get the best from it. That should be enough power to begin with while I get used to the car and its charateristics.
lolQuote:
Originally Posted by The Simps
lol very much so! driven & owned a few rwd cars so should be ok. Will need to perfect my drifting technique tho :cool:
Looking awesome mate! My favourite active build on here ATM.
Fettle the steering lock too so it turns further! A drifting Nova Coupe will be epic! lol
Quality work, looking forward more progress. Engine looks nice sitting that way round :d
Spent a few hours on the car this weekend, first time in weeks!! Was good to be up there getting dirty again!
First job was to get the car on the floor for the ride height I want. I was going to set it up with the front chassis being 3" off the floor but seeing as I had 2 railway sleeper cut offs that were 4" thick I'd see where that left me first.
So down it went...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../25-10-092.jpg
Car didn't look too low tbh then I put a wheel into the arch...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../25-10-094.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../25-10-095.jpg
If I keep these 16s and the 195/50 A048s I will need to cut away some of the inner arch to make more room.
With the bumper on there's 5" clearance in the middle 4 1/2" on the corners...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../25-10-096.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../25-10-097.jpg
I then started playing around with the bottom arms, hubs etc. My 1st choice is omega hubs and run vectra bottom arms to mock up with (will then make my own to those dimensions). I can then keep a normal strut but its mounts slightly lower on the omega hub so I can get more shock travel. The bottom arms fowl on the chassis sadly so will be looking at a little bit of spaceframing which with having to trim in the inner arch would make sense just to space frame the whole front end. It then leaves me with the option of ditching the macpherson strut setup and go with the manta hubs that use double wishbone then I can mount a coilover at 45deg.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../25-10-098.jpg
The problem with the manta hubs is that they are 4 stud which means a change of wheels unless I can find a bearing to fit the omega/senator hubs. But thinking about change of wheels I have been thinking about it and running a much fatter rear like a 225/235, nothing crazy, just a little wider to give it a bit of stance. I've always wanted to fit some Azev As to a nova..
http://www.carshine.com.au/Pictures/...to%2018x10.jpg
Decisions, decisions.
I then dropped the engine back in to look at what room I have to run chassis rails etc. You can see from the pics too how I will have to bulge the bonnet a "wee" bit!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../25-10-099.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/25-10-09.jpg
Gonna order my cage sometime mid november after payday the get that in place. Then I can start cutting away!!
:)
looking good mate :thumb:
finally an update :d
Good times, really looking forward to seeing this take shape!
Woosing out at the mo making the first major incision! lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Simps
Funking awesome! She's comming on, are you gonna make a cradle for the engine like Johnny? Or mounts like RC?
Ive never really been a 'loon' man,but this looks like it will be something special:thumb:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benn
The main plan was as below.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...roposedBay.jpg
First off is to chop front crossmember in favour of a straight piece of box (still keep the valance tho). Then weld in the 2 bars to the bulkhead. The engine can then be mounted to that along with the bottom wishbones. Kind of like a subframe but permanent.
The shaded bits have ultimately got to be removed to let the bellhousing through. I'm hoping the bellhousing will fit in the recessed part of the bulkhead that you can see in the pic.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...25-10-0910.jpg
All the side chassis bits are coming out. I'll then frame it as needed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...07-06-0912.jpg
I don't want to start doing too much metal removal until I've got the cage in place so the shells a bit more rigid and it has less chance of moving about.
Thanks for the comments. Easy to lose enthusiasm especially when you don't get much free time and the car is 20min drive away. Its not like I can just pop out to the garage in the evenings.
i really do need to some over and see this car lol
also come give you some money lol
Ok, so I'm after some wheel & tyre guidance!
At the moment I have 3 sets of turbo rims with the idea being that I have a set of a048s/888s, set of wets, set of road tyres. I could possibly double up on the last 2 to save dosh if I'm honest. But with having to do some outer arch work to get the wheels to fit and run the height I want I thought why not go wider.
As I posted a few pages back I'd always wanted a set of Azev As on my red nova but never got round to it. Now is my chance. With being rwd it would actually make more sense to have the chunkier rear.
In 15s they only do 7" & 7.5" which is too small. In 16s they do 7.5" & 9" - thats better!
Using this calculator (Wheel Offset Calculator) it tells me that from running the 6" turbo rim at et49 and going to a 9" rim and no protruding into the arch I need to run an offset of et11 which will give an extension of 76mm.
First question is how can I expect this to alter the characteristics of the car? I'm sure I've read somewhere that going outwards and not inwards ie evenly, will make it handle like a bag of nails - any gen?
On the subject of tyres. Ideally I'd want to run a048s or 888s. The fronts can be as now and run 195/50s and the largest rears they do are 225/45s which come out at very close diameter specs. Only thing is the maximum recommendation for the width is 8.5". I know a lot of people stretch tyres but whats the view of using a stretch on a track tyre for track use when the loads are likely to be greater?
Thanks in advance.
**** me you think to much lol
I've been off work all week with flu - I've got nowt else to do! lol