top work fella , wish i had access to facilities like that :(
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top work fella , wish i had access to facilities like that :(
Top Skills Nick. Your attention to minor detail is superb. One of the wifes friends has (i think) some sort of modified works cooper, the sound is superb!
awesome as ever nick
Wow. Top notch work.
Fantastic out of the gun finish there dude, looks stunning with a flat and polish. Awesome work.
Cheers for all above comments guys. Its always a pleasure to hear positive comments especially when its not the nova! lol
Nick.
Awesome work as usual Nick, Looks Stunning!
Nick, please do the engine removal and fitting yourself.
Imo, its something you have to do, same as if you paint the bay, and they scratch it putting it back in?
Just go for it in the garage nick, plenty of people will be willing to help.
great work on the mini nick. my mrs has just had a brand new cooper and its ace ive borrowed (pinched) it a few times and i love it!
when you have filled the stonechips have you used knifing putty/stopper or just normal body filler?
great work and i look forward to seeing progress on the nova.
If Im honest I like to stick with what Im good at Matt...... I know my boys wont let me down and it will be perfect once finished. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by MattBrown
Andy B....... cheers pal!
Ben....... Thanks, I use a bmw stopper for all stone chips and small repairs etc.
Nick.
i wont be getting any of that from my local body supplies then lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick J
similar to other stoppers i presume then buddy.
also i see why you keep to what your good at, why remove the engine etc yourself just for the bragging rights of "ive done it myself" if your more comfortable to let your friends/work buddies do it for you. then so be it. nothing wrong with that.
Ben.
Yes pal just like the majority of normal stoppers but remember to buy a decent product then its less likely to sink and not show all your chips again in six months. On the above I like to do as much as I can with my car using my ideas/skills and knowledge to the best of my ability however I do like everything to be to a high standard so If I feel Its something Im not capable of then yes I'll let someone else suitable for the job take it on. Pretty much how many are with the bodywork side of things when it comes to the better standard of novas out there Im just the other way around! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ben doodar
Nick.
Looks stunning Nick!
With regards your engine, your right to just freshin it up, standard parts etc. It'll be great to see it finally at billing 2011!
The Mini is awesome.... Just don't go adding anything stupid like stickers saying The Mini adventure starts here
Oh, your ebay feedback says you bought one!! lol lol lol lol lol
I have 3 words for you! .................. "MADE IN SPAIN" ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by novacabrio
Nick.
Factory fitted...... :thumb:Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick J
As are the Mini adventure stickers!!! hence why I wanted one to go with other dealer spec items recently fitted. Originality is the way forward. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by novacabrio
Nick.
my car still has the made in spain sticker in the windscreen :)
Everyone points and says its a german car lol
Any updates nick? I see you've bought a nice new strut brace. lol
Ben.
Nothing to report at the moment Im afraid.... Coming weeks should change that though with a bit of luck! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by ben doodar
Nick.
hope there are a few updates to the nova!! i want to see it get evn beter than it is!! that must be a hard task though making that nova beter lol
Cheers Wudgey, However I am hoping I can improve it in a few areas. Whats below is the start of just that!
Update time then guys...........
I know its been sometime but progress has now begun. I dropped the car off the other week for engine removal and strip down. A day or so later we got the call to go collect the car minus its engine and gearbox. I wanted the car at home as I intend on doing some engine bay and sundries paintwork. Myself and one of the guys from work headed up to collect the car the other saturday morning. Here's what greeted us............
One c20let awaiting stripping.......
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...bowip001-1.jpg
One sccr removed.........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...bowip003-1.jpg
One nova looking rather sorry for itself.........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...bowip005-1.jpg
Loaded up and ready for home..........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...bowip007-1.jpg
Once home and unloaded it was time for a quick wash as the weather wasnt so good when I dropped it off and it really needed a quick spruce........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...bowip008-1.jpg
Empty engine bay..........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...bowip010-1.jpg
Engine stripping and inspection will commence shortly with a bit of luck. My immediate plans are to strip the front end down and prepare the bay and some other items for paint as I may as well whilst the motors out etc. Plans are to paint the block,gearbox,shafts,mounts and a couple of other bits in the semi matt grey finish Ive used throughout the car as I think it will really suit it when its all back together. Big thanks go to Mike and Craig for removing the motor without a mark anywhere and to Jeffo for trailoring the car home for me. Hopefully now things are in motion it wont be long until another update is possible! cheers for reading.
Nick.
Nick I've said so many times but your nova rocks!!!
Have you decided what your doing about the gearbox? The work shop in the above pictures look so nice, ah what we would do to have a garage like that at home!! Lol. Really glad of an update mate will really look forward to more updates.
good progress daddy
Have you got much planned for the engine bay while the lump is out?
Glad the engines out.
glad your making progress and looking to improve her further still!! i love this car to bits have done for many years now since the first time i saw it at pv years back! it was nice enough then but you managed to make it better!! i cant help but save every pic that gets posted off it lol
Whats the plan for the engine Nick?
Cheers Ben! After a fair bit of thought Ive opted to stick with the sccr box.
Matt..... cheers old boy!
Mark..... Bay will get a quick flat/paint and thats it really. Everything is in good order and all strengthening/welding/plating work has been carried out to a good standard so no need for any alterations their etc.
Benn.... Me too!
Wudgey..... cheers pal.
Rick..... Mainly a stock rebuild fella with just a few choice uprated parts such as tensioners,oil pump,arp's and the like.
Nick.
Get some new rack mounts before engine goes back in
You can get solid or poly ones
Hi guys,
Update time it is then. This week Ive removed some front end parts and checked the bay over to make sure it was all sound and areas that have had the plating kit added or have been cutout and boxed such as the alternator/intercooler cutouts etc had been done well. Im pleased to report all is good and all the work has been carried out to a high standard. So it is just a simple re paint for the bay. The car now currently sits like this awaiting a good degrease/cleaning session before I start preparation for paint etc...........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291474680
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291474786
Ive also been busy preparing quite a few other parts ready for paint......
One gearbox degreased/rubbed and masked up........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291474897
That went into the booth and was painted along with all the other items Id prepared over the course of the week in the same colour as whats all over the rest of the car.........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475049
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475049
Engine front/gearbox rear mount and spacer.......
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475127
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475175
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475175
Weber fuel regulator and bottom pulley face......
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475175
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475175
Anti roll bar/bracketary and gearbox inspection plate.......
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475175
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475175
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475175
And last but not least my recently acquired genuine early fearless brace......
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475484
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475484
top top work as allways matey!! i wish i could paint like you!!
Top work as per!...
Nice work Nick,will be nice when all the bay is painted the same standard as the outside of the car :thumb:
Very nice Nick, more stuff looking minted !!!!
That brace looks nice, see why you sold the Sparco one to me now lol
damn right it will joe its a stunning car has been for many years before nick had it but its even beter now!!
Boxed demasked...........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291475484
Painted parts pile.........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291476136
Due to the weight and strength of the roll bar it would have been very hard to drill to mount so as I used the ends to mount it I'll have to paint them a little later along with the linkage that I intend on doing matt black along with the clutch lever arm on the gearbox for a more standard look etc.
Fuel reg looks real well!............
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291476390
Impressed with what Ive achieved this week I finished up this morning and headed off to speak to the guys sorting the engine to see If it was stripped down as yet. It indeed had been but the news wasnt good.
One coscast head............
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291476390
And one bottom end.......
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291476390
My mechanical knowledge isnt huge but even I can see the problems here........
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291476390
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291476390
All pistons are burnt and all have damage to the edges as you can see. Pistons from cylinders two/three being the worst. Rings are damaged/broken across the board and two are stuck to the pistons. The head is also damaged and a suspected write off............
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291476390
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1291476390
You can just make out the damage to two/three at the top of the cylinders in this picture. Due to how bad the condition is their opinion is it will need too much material removing to repair via skimming meaning its probably going to need another head. But it will be checked by a local expert first to confirm this. The bottom end/bores however doesnt look bad and will go again fine with a rebore.
Its not what they expected to find. Initially we thought the rings may be worn due to general wear and tear or they may just be damage to one cylinder inparticular however due to it being all four substantially damaged their opinion is that it could be a map/fuelling issue which has caused it to run lean and lead to this.
So as said via text to some of you this morning. Id like your opinions on cause also. Could it be down to the eds phase two software having a bad map? Im sure I read Dayle over on corsasport with the white c20let removed his phase two chips and replaced them due to them having just that. Could the Weber fuel reg be adjusted incorrectly? Also I was told the engine had an xe inlet cam however their is no vernier pulley to retard the timing which could also cause issues so Im told. However I have a spare inlet cam to check the part numbers on so I can check if it does indeed have an xe item or not. Obviously their is an issue which needs to be sorted out as I cant have a freshly rebuilt engine going the same way. Maybe I could run it in on a stock ecu and then go for a chipset from Beardy as everyone seems to give good feedback on his items? Opinions and advice needed guys please as it certainly is not my speciality!
Regards,
Nick.
Id put it all standard as you say and go from there mate.
Least you know exactly where you are then
Top work on the other stuff.Looks really well.
IMHO thats been running lean.
If i was you i would be on to SBS and get a LET off him. He has ones that have been freshened up with new rings, gaskets etc and sure he would put a set of ARP's in one for you and do the other bits you wanted doing.