985cc Turbocharged Nova Sprint Car

Still mocking up the fitting of the CAE shifter;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...shtsulshh.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...s5zx0ci1j.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...sk9elilzg.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...shdrjessq.jpeg

I've just had some new gear cables made up (not those shown in these photos), which allow me to move the lever back just a touch more. The same (amazing!!) company also made me a new throttle cable.

I shall soon take the car up to my ace welder Ollie in Bicester (ex-Prodrive) for him to fabricate the new turret for the gear lever to sit on. In the meantime Ollie has been doing some pretty engineering;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...su6drey6j.jpeg

Good work Colin. What gear kit is in there?

I am getting on really well with the Hockley linkage now, ever since I got rid of the SCCR.

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Originally Posted by 8valve-craig

Good work Colin. What gear kit is in there?

I am getting on really well with the Hockley linkage now, ever since I got rid of the SCCR.

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Mine is an SCCR (F10). I haven’t used anything else in any of my Novas, as far as I can remember. Yours is a dog ‘box?

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Originally Posted by totalnova

Where do you normally compete? as I'm not a million miles from you and I'd love to get to some hill climb events.

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Come to wiscombe park for the nationals on the 28th 29th july awsome hill and ill be there and its not far from hampshire to be fair

Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk

Let me know when your up in Bicester Colin, I’m only up the road... would love to have a look over the car again... and feel the CAE....

love the mods your doing, looks great!

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Originally Posted by novarally

Mine is an SCCR (F10). I haven’t used anything else in any of my Novas, as far as I can remember. Yours is a dog ‘box?

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What issue are you trying to solve? Yours has had a few linkages in now hasn't it?

Mine is a 5sp Dog kit yes. I don't update my build any more but it went in recently. I couldn't get the SCCR to behave on a direct to turret linkage but with the dog engagement it's flawless.

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Originally Posted by 8valve-craig

What issue are you trying to solve? Yours has had a few linkages in now hasn't it?

Mine is a 5sp Dog kit yes. I don't update my build any more but it went in recently. I couldn't get the SCCR to behave on a direct to turret linkage but with the dog engagement it's flawless.

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Just endless problems with joints/rods in linkages. I’m happy with the cables (subject to testing in anger), as you’ve got gentle curves to get around all the obstacles in the engine bay.

A dog ‘box was once the plan, but now I think I’d go straight to a sequential, as we’re not subject to penalty for it in hillclimbing.

It’s immaterial anyway as I have no cash left for cars!

Hoping to get to a Gurston for some spectating tomorrow, and maybe Mallory Park on Monday.

After selling a few bits from the car I decided that new wheels would be a good way to regenerate enthusiasm for the rebuild, (plus I justified it as I need some fresher tyres anyway);

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psiefmwv80.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps7ya4dnhy.jpg

I got the wheels from a chap who was good friends with Jeff Chambers. For all the (really) old school Nova owners, anyone remember him? We'd be going back at least 15 years I think.

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Originally Posted by boffer8

Let me know when your up in Bicester Colin, I’m only up the road... would love to have a look over the car again... and feel the CAE....

love the mods your doing, looks great!

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Thanks Ben.

I should be headed up to Bicester with the car within the next week or so. I'll keep you posted.

The new wheels fit fine on the back, but the front ones are too wide on the inner section of the split rim, so fouling on the steering arm knuckle. Not a great surprise really, 10" wide wheels in 13" diameter on the front was a bit optimistic.

Probably need to drop down to a 4" inner rim section, instead of the 6" they came as. Which of course means a different tyre will also be needed.

That shifter is porn. Love the alloy guides too.

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Originally Posted by novarally

Thanks Ben.

I should be headed up to Bicester with the car within the next week or so. I'll keep you posted.

The new wheels fit fine on the back, but the front ones are too wide on the inner section of the split rim, so fouling on the steering arm knuckle. Not a great surprise really, 10" wide wheels in 13" diameter on the front was a bit optimistic.

Probably need to drop down to a 4" inner rim section, instead of the 6" they came as. Which of course means a different tyre will also be needed.

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10mm spacer and they should fit Colin, they look nice btw but a bit heavier than the old ones ?

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Originally Posted by toymex

10mm spacer and they should fit Colin, they look nice btw but a bit heavier than the old ones ?

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I haven’t tried with a spacer yet Jezz, I wasn’t especially keen on that route. Is that how you’re running your 10” fronts?

The wheels haven’t been on the scales yet, as I was on 15” fronts before I don’t think there’ll be a huge difference.

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Originally Posted by novarally

I haven’t tried with a spacer yet Jezz, I wasn’t especially keen on that route. Is that how you’re running your 10” fronts?

The wheels haven’t been on the scales yet, as I was on 15” fronts before I don’t think there’ll be a huge difference.

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Yes, I have never had any issues using them

The Nova heads off to Bicester Heritage tomorrow, with a list of welding/fabrication jobs to be done.

I will update as soon as I can.

Dropped the car off on Monday, looking a bit daft on some spacesaver front wheels;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psvrwval4w.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps0qsztkuu.jpg

First job was to replace the coolant pipes with something more professional, and a good deal lighter too;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psskaubo18.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...sm3sahslk.jpeg

And more lightweight replacement, the exhaust tailpipe has been remade in Titanium;

Before http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psi2ked4aw.jpg

After http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...pstoxqzfey.jpg

More to follow as things progress.

Nice work on those hoses and wiggins clamps Colin. I need to do something like that as I have just moved my rad into a similar position.

Looks much better.
Is there any benefit by positioning the radiator like that?

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Originally Posted by prs

Looks much better.
Is there any benefit by positioning the radiator like that?

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Lots of race cars angle the radiator, so I assume there are cooling and/or aerodynamic benefits.

To to be honest I mainly thought it looked good. And probably gives me more options for placing an intercooler should I be able to afford to go back to the turbo engine.

Lots of other jobs on the car are now finished, I shall be collecting the car on Monday so more photos and information when it’s back at home.

One of the the major jobs still to be sorted is the throttle linkage on the throttle bodies. Anyone who has Jenvey throttle bodies (mine are the SF type), especially on a 16v smallblock, I’d be very keen to see some pictures of what you’ve done with yours. Thanks

It’s mainly for space and reduces the overall height of the rad which helps in some installations.

You could argue its an aerodynamic aid with horizontal fins, but probably not noticeable.

It's back from the fabrication shop;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...snl4bofob.jpeg

Some photos to detail areas that have received attention;

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...sakyotaur.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...smdj2w9vc.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...syy8g9o5o.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...shl6ekjac.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...stdklnzob.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...sdkm8qzwm.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...sb5goqzwb.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...soc3qrejp.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...s8fdgfl3g.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...styvocgc1.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...sn31ks1u2.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...sgifygwc3.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...swr4whkrc.jpeg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...saxdtcyer.jpeg

Crumbs Colin :)

Impressive Colin. I dread to think how many hours work must have gone into that front end.

Scrumptious Colin, simply yummy fabrication.

Looks good colin, have you got the CAE fully plumbed in? i took the plunge and bought one and fitted it, feels amazing compared to the Quaife linkage

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Originally Posted by boffer8

Looks good colin, have you got the CAE fully plumbed in? i took the plunge and bought one and fitted it, feels amazing compared to the Quaife linkage

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Mine’s not final-fitted yet Ben, but I’m looking forward to it, especially now you’ve given it the thumbs up on yours.

Its a little fiddly to set up but once its in, its lovely...

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Originally Posted by boffer8

Its a little fiddly to set up but once its in, its lovely...

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Did you get any instructions with yours Ben?

I didn't.

I've managed to find .PDF files for some of CAE's installation instructions, but I can't track down the one for the Corsa A.

Nothing lol

Had to make it up as i went along from pictures online and my own idea of how i wanted it...

Was easy enough but the cables are very heavy duty and makes it tough to get everything to sit as per what i want

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Originally Posted by boffer8

Nothing lol

Had to make it up as i went along from pictures online and my own idea of how i wanted it...

Was easy enough but the cables are very heavy duty and makes it tough to get everything to sit as per what i want

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It's fairly shocking that they don't give you instructions, given how expensive they are.

Can you post some pictures up of yours Ben?

I don't know if you picked it up on this thread, but I've had some higher-quality, and much more flexible cables made up for mine.

Yea i thought so, but it allowed me to fit it how i wanted i suppose instead of where they said...

Yea im home in a couple of weeks so will get some then....

I saw they were a different colour and looked to be smaller... was this to aid your length or just weight?

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Originally Posted by boffer8

I saw they were a different colour and looked to be smaller... was this to aid your length or just weight?

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I don't think they are any lighter, but I wanted them just a little longer so I could get the shifter back a bit, but I also needed more flexibility as I have a bracing bar up to the bulkhead, which is right where the cables really wanted to run, so I had to route around that.

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Originally Posted by novarally

It's fairly shocking that they don't give you instructions, given how expensive they are.

Can you post some pictures up of yours Ben?

I don't know if you picked it up on this thread, but I've had some higher-quality, and much more flexible cables made up for mine.

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i have the fitting instructions with mine. they are in german but nothing google translate cant fix.
i will try to upload them this weekend

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Originally Posted by prs

i have the fitting instructions with mine. they are in german but nothing google translate cant fix.
i will try to upload them this weekend

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Thanks :)

Really loving the fab work on this.

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Originally Posted by Iain

Really loving the fab work on this.

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Thanks Iain.

I can only claim claim credit for the ideas of how I want it to be, not really the execution of those concepts.

Hard to believe its approaching 9 years I've owned this car, it's seen out a few relationships in that time!

Once again I’m back to looking at the possibility of having centrelock wheels. I’ve found someone with the engineering capability do it at a sensible price, just need to borrow one of the appropriate size wheels and check that I can get it to clear everything.

These are the wheels in mind;

https://www.motorsport-tools.com/evo...-lock-set.html

Is there a significant weight saving if you switch to centrelock wheels?

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Originally Posted by stt

Is there a significant weight saving if you switch to centrelock wheels?

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No, not really, it’s more about the challenge of doing it, and a choice of very trick looking wheels.

My throttle bodies are now being shipped off to Jenvey, as they've accepted none of their off-the-shelf throttle linkages will work with my combination of inlet manifold, fuel rail and bodies.

Mine's a bit unusual in that it uses an SBD manifold which is slightly angled, and has the injectors firing into the manifold, not within the bodies themselves.

This gives all sorts of clearance issues, so Jenvey are going to come up with a custom solution.