He loves fiddling with shimage...should handle superb at Brands. Don't break the gearbox or engine for that matter as you have more than enough 'repair' pictures in your diary.
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He loves fiddling with shimage...should handle superb at Brands. Don't break the gearbox or engine for that matter as you have more than enough 'repair' pictures in your diary.
Monday I ventured down to Brands Hatch and stayed with House, for a MSV-run trackday on the Tuesday. Superb accomodation, 5/5 would stay again.
Well, the trackday. My first time at Brands, nice little circuit, good facilities and pit garages. The weather wasn't ideal, but you can't win them all.
Got there in the pouring rain.
Sound test... Wet.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/421.JPG
Chucked it in the garage with Housy. The garage was wet.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/422.JPG
Caught up with Jezz on the day. Sneak shot of his car in the wet.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/423.JPG
Now incase you were wondering, it was very wet. Because of this my 1960s style ignition system had some damp ingress and caused some horrific misfires. Cap and leads off and dried out, coil module out and wired in a better earth - the blue wire was kindly cut out of House's car so I could extend it to the chassis leg earthing point. I cable tied it up behind the slam panel for some protection...
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/424.JPG
...And thoroughly waterproofed that corner of the car with gaffa tape to stop water getting to it all lol
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/425.JPG
Which only bloody worked! Ran perfectly for the rest of the day.
House found a weigh bridge, so I chucked mine on with half a tank of fuel in. About what I expected @ 822kg no driver.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/426.JPG
Track action was fun. Wet was a bit slow and slippy, but towards the end of the day we managed 2-3 dry sessions where I could actually try and learn the circuit.
Rear camber actually was spot on, the rear outside tyre is now seeing 38 degrees outside edge and middle and 45 degrees inside edge. That's a lot better than Rockingham and should give more contact, grip and better tyre war.
All in all a jolly day out, no records broken, I didn't really get much dry time to learn the circuit but it was an enjoyable drive while out there.
Mandatory video. With only a few dry sessions to try and learn the lines it's not the tidiest but it'll serve as a reference point for when I go back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v8mqHWtt4s&t=30s
822kg...fatty!!!
looks, awesome. I'd like to do the full circuit at brands.
Good luck!! About 1-2 a year and they're always fully booked and bloody expensive!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by brucer
Quote:
Originally Posted by House
Thanks for the heads up, I want to do the full Silverstone track too, just to say i've done them really.
I've had enough breakdowns to put me off spending £450 booking onto a trackday lol It's not going to be better than three Cadwell days.
Damp start/ignition sealer is good for electrical connections.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iain
I suppose you do give it death, compared to what i'd be like, tootling round like an old man in a sports car with a pipe and slippers.
Nothing on this planet is better than 3 days at CadwellQuote:
Originally Posted by Iain
So that must have been where you were off to on Tuesday.. spotted a lovely off white Nova on the back of a trailer, however that was near Donnington so put 2 and 2 together and thought you'd been there!
I believe Mr GSI has just mugged you off like some fucking yank buying London Bridge.Quote:
Originally Posted by NovalutionGSi
Off white nova?!? it's yellow!!
I didn't notice the sly 'off' comment first time I read that. Not cool. Not cool.
To be fair, it was getting dark and it still looked White... plus it wasn't parked next to my glacier white sting!
I'd of waved but as I only clocked the trailer you had past the rear of my Astra by then!
Don't make excuses. Grey, cream, off white, piss yellow and hearing aid beige are all acceptable.
Any further developments Mr E?
Righto. A few improvements, a few repairs and a trackday.
First off, I robbed the electric fan for my daily so I've fitted a nice 9" Spal puller
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/427.JPG
The throttle cable frayed and stuck, so a new cable and better direct routing:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/428.JPG
With a nicely cut and crimped end:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/429.JPG
Drivers chassis leg is getting worse for wear, I think rust has fatigued it:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/430.JPG
Repair section includes the dented area, might as well while I'm there:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/431.JPG
Repaired:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/432.JPG
Stonechipped:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/433.JPG
Took it to Blyton Park on 24th Sept, great day with the Mk2 Astra lads. There's some videos if I can be bothered but it was all fairly ueventful!
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/434.JPG
Great to see you updating this again, always enjoy your updates. :thumb:
such stronk!
Few improvements. I've ditched the electric windows and refitted the polycarbs I fitted when I first built it all those years ago. With the glass, motors and window nets I save 7kg.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/435.JPG
I've also bought a gizmo to check my fueling on the carbs, as I am considering going to mappable ignition. AEM X-Series UEGO 4.9 wideband:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/436.JPG
Nice bit of kit:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/437.JPG
Handily many years ago I welded in a bung, so the lambda fitting was easy. I'd even done it properly and angled it upwards a bit:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/438.JPG
It is only temporarily installed, the wiring comes through the bulkhead and the wiring sits on top of the dash.
The gauge is installed in a Stack roll bar pod mount which keeps it nice and secure:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/439.JPG
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/440.JPG
I've also bought a new gearbox which I should be picking up at the end of the week - it's hybrid of F18 casing, F20 internals, Quaife 4.2 final drive and Quaife ATB diff. Just like my old one that nuked itself. lol
Wideband looks the bees knees mate.
Also just incase your intrested on ebay you can get alloy mount clamps ment for 4x4 spotlights ect but work mint on cages and they come with rubber shims for diffrent tubes I used them on my roof bar switch pannel about £6 from china and look spot on .
Nice idea with the spotlight brackets, the Stack mount is meant for 40mm tube so as you can see I've improvised with gaffa tape lol
Well the gearbox was a bit of a mixed bag. It is a 4.2 Quaife FD, Quaife ATB, F20 cluster and a long fifth in an F18 housing. When I bought it:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/441.JPG
The internals were known good but the build was unfortunately questionable so it ended up getting stripped and inspected, cleaned and fixed.
The F18 casing was binned as it doesn't have a clutch inspection hole. The speedo drive is blanked, but that is just a core plug that can be knocked out.
The gearset had a tight spot in one place which is very concerning.
The fifth gear was removed and replaced with a standard F20 one, which handily fixed the tight spot too. Upon removing the fifth I found the input shaft wasn't even fitted properly, missing the bolt and circlip that retains it. This was corrected.
Upon inspecting the rest of the box, it turns out the input shaft was absolutely full of metal swarf so the box would have eaten itself it used as-is anyway. And every bolt was tightened up unnecessarily tight, I'm surprised there's any threads left.
Stripped and cleaned parts ready for installation:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/442.JPG
I went a little unorthodox, instead of building it into a new box and swapping release bearing guide, clutch arm, mounts, etc etc I simply removed the gearset from my current box:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/443.JPG
Crownwheel was removed to set the preload on the taper bearings, so re-installed with loctite and torqued to 90nm
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/444.JPG
Rubber-seal gaskets came with the box so re-used them, I've not seen an end plate one before so that was a nice touch:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/445.JPG
The original metal diff cover plate was heavily scored, so I made a new one using an M12x1.5 sump bolt, threaded insert and a welder:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/446.JPG
Finished article:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/447.JPG
Whilst I was in the area I've done a few more improvements. Pro-tec solid rack mounts:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/448.JPG
Fitted:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/449.JPG
Custom bottom brace, apparently this really helps tighten things up by stopping flex along the chassis legs. Whilst it was made for a Nova, with my custom crossmember and tolerances it was never going to just fit.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/450.JPG
So I hacked it up. The main difference was the bend on the drivers side was flipped - it was previously made for a smallblock but flipping it over nicely clears an XE sump as if it was designed for it.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/451.JPG
Rear part mounted to the car, then I tacked it all together and welded it off the car.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/452.JPG
Finished product, pretty pleased with it.
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2b/453.JPG
Looking good bud!
Where did you get the bottom brace from? :eek:
Hangar 30 who is doing heds drag car makes them. This was the one off his car I’ve butchered to fit mine but he would normally build it on your car for a perfect fit.
Nice work mate :thumb:
Top work as always :thumb:
Thought it looked very similar... lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Iain
It was very nicely finished, I did feel bad hacking it to pieces lolQuote:
Originally Posted by boffer8
Love the new climbing frame, makes engine/box removal even more of a darn faff.
Can we all place bets on how long the new box will last, my first guess is 187.32miles exactly. Let's just hope it's longer than the last few!!!
Preload? Is that set able on all diffs?Quote:
Originally Posted by Iain
I'm referring to setting up the taper bearings, like a rear wheel bearing. Not a configuration setting of the diff. With no crownwheel fitted, it's a lot easier to feel for movement in the bearings to set by feel.
Oh ok. Thank you.
First 2018 outing is Mallory Park this Saturday, 27th January.
I have some R888s on some Cesaros to try out if I get a dry session - the idea being I can move away from the slicks which mask any fault in skill, line and car setup and make things a little more fun.
I also have a rosejoint-linked rear beam to try on the car, however won't have time to get this on before the day.
I’d be keen to know more on this please Iain.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iain
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...884642f57d.jpg
Here’s a sneak preview Colin. It’s one of Ben’s (Hanger 30). Nylon bushes, beefed up coilover mounts and rose jointed link bars to ensure the geometry does not change due to flex. All nicely powder coated.
I plan to fit a Saab 93 rear anti roll bar, which handily can be bought in different thicknesses (22 & 25mm). I was going to have a bid on your bladed one on eBay as this beam has mounts welded to it for that style already!
nice looking rearbeam!Quote:
Originally Posted by Iain
i had the same plan but the listing ended before the end of the action??Quote:
Originally Posted by Iain
I was going to bid on that too. Thought it was a safe bet that Colin wouldn't sell early, I'm sure he normally lets them run.