My Projects thread

Hey guys,

Small update then, Checking the novas docs the other day I noticed the mot was due on the 24th of this month. I thought it best to get it booked in early then If there was any problems (which I couldnt find any) but you know what some testers are like! I could get it sorted before then etc. Anyhow I was pleased to hear it did indeed pass with no issues. Tester did comment that one of the exhaust clamps could do with turning round slightly as it was very close going up onto the four poster but at least it went on unlike the red one that was a chore to get up there! So at least thats one thing I dont have to worry about until next year. On route home I dropped in to see a mate who's made me up some black vinyl protectors to suit my cage door bars. Once home I got the door bars back in and added the protectors to the door bars and used some small off cuts to add to the lower sections of the front half of the cage were your feet will sit. (You can just make these out on the pass side in the first shot) Hopefully this will keep the paintwork from being battered by feet etc......


http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1278259140
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1278260285


They look really well I think plus you can hardly see they are their which is a bonus!

On the downside I have noticed a very slight coolant leak on the garage floor. Pretty sure Ive never noticed it before so must look into that before setting off on friday..... As many of the pipes were off last week hopefully it will just be something that needs nipping up/threadlocking etc. Lastly I retrieved my tent from the loft got it up and gave it a wipedown ready for billing. Here's to a top weekend! See you there :)

Nick.

Liking the wrap on the door car, will keep scuffing down.

You Tart! lol

But good idea, i just when for practical padding my self.

I'll look forward to a chat and casting my eye over this next weekend mate.

Scott

Hey guys,

Small update then....... After getting the car back recently from having the sump/rocker gasket done I was a little miffed to find a small patch of something on the garage floor. This turned out to be coolant which was leaking from the lower stat housing. A quick call to autovaux saw the gasket on the stat and lower stat housing were replaced on the thursday just in time for my proposed billing set off on the friday. I gave the car a final clean and put the scuttle cover which had recently been painted in the same matt grey as everything else back on the car for the first time to complete the look of the engine bay...............


http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1278936279
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1278936321


I then loaded the car up and set off for billing on the friday morning around 9am. Unfortunatly approx 30 miles from home the car started smoking under boost. Due to the quaife box ratios when your at motorway speeds the engine/turbo are always on boost so as you can imagine there was a fair bit of smoke! So I made the decision to return home with the car and make the journey in another motor for the weekend. After speaking to a fair few of you many seem to be of the opinion that the turbo seals may have given up which is a bit annoying as Shaun only put the practically brand new aet hybrid unit on it a short time before I bought it so It cant have seen many miles at all. However the same did happen with Keiths last year so it does show that it is a possibly regardless of mileage. With a bit of luck it may just be a blocked breather but theres also the chance the rings may have failed too. A compression test will be carried out within the next few weeks to see what that shows and I guess I'll have to go from there. It may have to wait a while as I dont have huge funds available for it at the moment to be quite honest. Anyhow as gutted as I was as I really wanted the car to make the show It didnt stop me going. The missus needed the mini over the weekend but my dad didnt need his golf so he let me borrow that and I made the trip down to northampton for billing which even though I was bitterly dissapointed my car didnt make it Im glad I still went. Id like to say a big thanks to all members I chatted to from Jov,png,mig and especially Keith,Andy and both their missus Terri Ann and Emily who kept my spirits up by helping me have a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. Any flash thoughts I had of breaking should the damage be terminal have dissapeared and as soon as I have the funds available I will be straight onto sorting out whatever issue the car has. cheers for reading and again thanks to those who who gave nothing but postive comments all weekend. :)


Nick.

Sorry to here this Nick, i did see you over on our stand quickly, but i was cooking food on the loonaque, so i didn't actually speak to you, although i did wonder where your car was, as i didn't see it, dam shame, and i hope it's and easy fix too mate, good luck.

Scott

No worries at all fella, gutted for you that the car wasn't there, but glad you had a good time anyway. If you need help at all give us a shout!

Gutted for you mate, I kept running between the arena and flying past the jov stand but didn't see it there. I assumed you missed the show, but Scott later told me you was around. Due to the kids and slightly unhappy wife didn't get the chance to wander over and look for you.

Mine did exactly the same thing last year on the way to PVS, for some unknown reason it dumped what seemed like all the oil out of the exhaust. Strangly it vanished 30 mins after it started and never did it again.

I got a secondhand hybrid for around £250 on mig, which is not bad if its that. I even brought the big camera

Was gonna say, when did you wide arch itlol

As i said, bad luck dude, sure you can get it fixed soon. Gutter you couldn't bring the car, dieing to see it.

~Looks awesome in the pics above.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andybishop

No worries at all fella, gutted for you that the car wasn't there, but glad you had a good time anyway. If you need help at all give us a shout!

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Thanks Andy I appreciate it!

Scott.... yeah I thought word would get round but it didnt so eveyone who came over was asking the same "where is the car" :(

Jeff... No worries fella there's always next year, I take it by wide arch you mean the yellow mk1 that was on the jov stand etc?

Benn.... cheers but seriously their was no one more gutted than myself. The only show I wanted the car to be spot on for was this one and it didnt happen. I saw Keith pull along side me on my way in and my heart sank..... His motor just looked stunning and he looked proud as punch as he drove in (which he should). At that moment I just wanted to turn round and go home. After all the hard work that was the proud feeling I wanted on my way in but it wasnt to be. :(

Nick.

time for a big spec rebuild old boy?

Shame the car wasn't there Nick, I was looking forward to seeing it

Nice to catch up with you though :)

Shame hey nick!

Seems faulty blowers were on Joffs mind aswell:(

But, it can always be fixed, and the paint etc is alot more time consuming than a turbo swap!

Car looks fantastic!

Keep ya chin up fella:thumb:

bad news nick,is really shame after the work you have put into it over the last 6/7 months,hope it's nothing too serious:)


Joe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matthew172

time for a big spec rebuild old boy?

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If it is the motor mate It will be thoroughly rebuilt but to the same more or less standard spec..... Its quick enough on phase two for me as it is! :)

Vaughan..... Thanks and good to see you also.

Matt.... cheers fella. Only thing is the mechanical will cost me substantially more if its something major. :(

Joe.... cheers pal Im keeping my fingers crossed!

Nick.

A heartfelt post Nick. When you told me about it on Sat, I had to stop you from explaining your story, yet again! I totally understand how you feel. Mine just wouldnt make it to PV, 3 years on the trot like it was jinxed or something.

Glad you have your chin up.

Gutted for you Nick especially after the hard work you put it, good to catch up with you mate and I'm sure it'll be a easy fix

Gutted it didnt make it Nick.
Had a look around JOV for it quite a few times, didnt spot it. Now i know why.

What box is on it? Quaiffe SCCR?

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Originally Posted by Adam

Gutted it didnt make it Nick.
Had a look around JOV for it quite a few times, didnt spot it. Now i know why.

What box is on it? Quaiffe SCCR?

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yes adam its an sccr

Yeah nick, meant the other jov one.
Agree that ph2 is plenty enough for a nova, it'll be worth the wait to see it I'm sure. You've helped me enough, if there is anything I can do to help, let me know.

Jeff

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Originally Posted by discoinferno

yes adam its an sccr

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Probably worth just fitting a standard F28 and lsd then

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Originally Posted by Adam

Probably worth just fitting a standard F28 and lsd then

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Thats something we were discussing, for what Nick wants from the car it might be the best option, the gearbox is only putting a strain on the turbo with it constantly being on boost, it's a shame, my mate only sold a F28 with Diff a couple of months ago..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick J

Benn.... cheers but seriously their was no one more gutted than myself. The only show I wanted the car to be spot on for was this one and it didnt happen. I saw Keith pull along side me on my way in and my heart sank..... His motor just looked stunning and he looked proud as punch as he drove in (which he shoud). At that moment I just wanted to turn round and go home. After all the hard work that was the proud feeling I wanted on my way in but it wasnt to be. :(

Nick.

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I bet, but there's always next year. Dont feel to bad dude, these things happen to all of us.

chin up nick, i would consider an f28 if sticking with the kkk they are not very reliable turbos at the best of times and if yours is on boost most of the time then i 'd say the new turbo (if you get one) would go the same way!!!

at 80mph mine sits at 3,000rpm and is in vacuum no strain at all on the turbo yours would be up into the 4-5k region (my brothers is the same no good on carbs way to loud for long journeys) you can sell your sccr buy and f28 with diff for half the price well worth doing imo

SCCR does seem a bit pointless on a relatively low revving LET engine.

Get a diff'd F28 in, and have fun driving down to next years shows in 6th gear :)

Shame it didn't make it Nick, but it's always better to return than do further damage. Like others have said, f28 :) Trax?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by discoinferno

chin up nick, i would consider an f28 if sticking with the kkk they are not very reliable turbos at the best of times and if yours is on boost most of the time then i 'd say the new turbo (if you get one) would go the same way!!!

at 80mph mine sits at 3,000rpm and is in vacuum no strain at all on the turbo yours would be up into the 4-5k region (my brothers is the same no good on carbs way to loud for long journeys) you can sell your sccr buy and f28 with diff for half the price well worth doing imo

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Cheers Gary, At approx 75mph in fifth your around 3700 rpm so it is constantly on boost. The box is cracking for acceleration and strong enough to take the 280bhp too but I probably would benefit from having a diff'd F28 for what I want from the car as Andy said above. If I was one for the dragstrip or track days it may be different. I know Mark beeson has used his sccr with a let brutally over the years and its coped well from what Ive heard.

Graeme,Adam,Jeff,Benn,Gary .......... Thanks guys.

John...... I'll get it checked over soon but I imagine there will be no chance of trax to be quite honest unless it did by chance come down to a breather problem.

Nick.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick J

I know Mark beeson has used his sccr with a let brutally over the years and its coped well from what Ive heard.

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Not without problems... he had a problem on the way back from the Nurburgring a few years ago, gradually loosing gears on the way back, eventually putting a gear shaped hole in the side of the gearbox on the M25..

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Originally Posted by andybishop

Not without problems... he had a problem on the way back from the Nurburgring a few years ago, gradually loosing gears on the way back, eventually putting a gear shaped hole in the side of the gearbox on the M25..

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I stand corrected their then Andy.... We'll see what happens as if its an engine problem and that has to come out then it may be time to change the box for the six speed too.

Nick.

Don't get rid of the sccr if it adds to the enjoyment of the car, but consider replacing fifth gear with a standard fifth to make cruising on the motorway more bearable for your ears and your turbo. Ask Richard, novasport as his new sport has a straight cut gearbox with a standard fifth for comfortable motorway cruising to and from events.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick J

At approx 75mph in fifth your around 3700 rpm so it is constantly on boost.

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Really? At 75 in fifth in mine is about 3700/3800 but i'm at about -7 psi..

c20let and f28 are the only way to go if you intend on doing road miles imo

they are stronger than the f20

as said earlier today at 80-85mph all the way home from billing i used 20 litres of fuel - 163miles - 40mpg :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PaulW

Don't get rid of the sccr if it adds to the enjoyment of the car, but consider replacing fifth gear with a standard fifth to make cruising on the motorway more bearable for your ears and your turbo. Ask Richard, novasport as his new sport has a straight cut gearbox with a standard fifth for comfortable motorway cruising to and from events.

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I know what your saying Paul and I can appreciate it.... however the fifth gear has already been changed. John shield of courtney sport built the box for his xe on tb's only to later change the fifth gear as it didnt suit him either for the motorway drive to shows/dragstrip. Apparantly its not straightcut nor is it stock. I guess Id have to call him for specifics really as Im only going on what I was told by the previous owner etc.

Benn.... I guess that must be down to the different box ratios and the different turbos also? Shaun apparantly went through two stock turbos before buying this aet hybrid it currently has.

Nick.

My Let gets better mpg than my Xe's ever did..lol 300+ round trip on one tank (40lts worth)

Get a trailer, be a proper bufty lol

Hope you get it resolved without to much hassle, real shame it didnt make it after all that hard work

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Originally Posted by hybridturbo

Get a trailer, be a proper bufty lol

Hope you get it resolved without to much hassle, real shame it didnt make it after all that hard work

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Never Joe!! I enjoy driving the car to shows even if the weather was pouring Id still go regardless! ;)

Nick.

Good man^

A new custom ratio from Quaife is just over £250 for 2 gears ! Not cheap but does what it says on the tin. I dont like F28's as its hard to find a decent one, they are heavier and you have to modify the car to fit it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark Beeson

A new custom ratio from Quaife is just over £250 for 2 gears ! Not cheap but does what it says on the tin. I dont like F28's as its hard to find a decent one, they are heavier and you have to modify the car to fit it.

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they are not that bad one mount needs changing and you get a gearbox that is stronger than any f20 variant, you can fit the f28 with a diff for about half the price of the f20 sccr

for what nick uses the car for the f28 is the only real option they are basically fit and forget items:d

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PaulW

Don't get rid of the sccr if it adds to the enjoyment of the car, but consider replacing fifth gear with a standard fifth to make cruising on the motorway more bearable for your ears and your turbo. Ask Richard, novasport as his new sport has a straight cut gearbox with a standard fifth for comfortable motorway cruising to and from events.

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This works in principle and has its benefits but it also has its downsides. It is great I can cruise at 80 mph +(On a track of course:roll:) in fifth relatively quietly with the engine revs at a suitable level. Unfortunately the change from fourth to fifth is not so good as the drop in revs is so great if you dont let the revs drop after depressing the clutch or double de-clutch it crunches into fifth. Also If you are giving it some beans its great upto about 60-70 from 1st through to 4th then you run out of gearing and have to jump to 5th. Its like changing from 2nd to 5th on a normal box!
I would like to have all 5 gears straight cut but my ears would bleed when driving to shows and would be doing 7k rpm at motorway speed, mmm great fuel consumption!
I think I may need to put in a 5th cog from an F13CR and different final drive. Was worse on the 13's as they had a smaller rolling radius giving it even lower gearing!

Anyway Nick, whatever you do I am sure you will do a great job as you have elsewhere on the car. Me personally I think an F28 may be better for a better more pleasant drive. SCCR gears sound great but not when you are doing 100's of miles.
Sorry your car didnt make it, was looking forward to seeing it. Wanted to have a chat at Billing but it didnt seem to happen, weekend was far too short!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Novasport

This works in principle and has its benefits but it also has its downsides. It is great I can cruise at 80 mph +(On a track of course:roll:) in fifth relatively quietly with the engine revs at a suitable level. Unfortunately the change from fourth to fifth is not so good as the drop in revs is so great if you dont let the revs drop after depressing the clutch or double de-clutch it crunches into fifth. Also If you are giving it some beans its great upto about 60-70 from 1st through to 4th then you run out of gearing and have to jump to 5th. Its like changing from 2nd to 5th on a normal box!
I would like to have all 5 gears straight cut but my ears would bleed when driving to shows and would be doing 7k rpm at motorway speed, mmm great fuel consumption!
I think I may need to put in a 5th cog from an F13CR and different final drive. Was worse on the 13's as they had a smaller rolling radius giving it even lower gearing!

Anyway Nick, whatever you do I am sure you will do a great job as you have elsewhere on the car. Me personally I think an F28 may be better for a better more pleasant drive. SCCR gears sound great but not when you are doing 100's of miles.
Sorry your car didnt make it, was looking forward to seeing it. Wanted to have a chat at Billing but it didnt seem to happen, weekend was far too short!

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Ive ran a sccr box for approx 6 years. I used to run the short 5th and it did rev on the motorway . So I got a longer 5th. Yes the revs do drop but the power is still there its not like 2nd to 5th at all. SC gears only get loud with load. So at normal motorway speeds they quiet down. Put your foot down anf they get louder win win situation. F28 is the cheaper option only if you can get a good one. SCCR boxes are alot newer and my new box is an uprated version last year.