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My fire burned rebuild
Thought I would whack up my recent nova rebuild. For all those that don't know mine is the Nova that caught fire at TOTB VII.
If you want to see how it started (oct 2006) please see http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/proje...ckday-car.html on mig.
Just going to copy and paste from Mig...
Ok here goes.
This is what greeted me this morning... It wasn't all a bad dream!
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8...mage001bb8.jpg
Look awful!
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1...mage002lv1.jpg
Although I found the culprit! Mofo!
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8...mage004pk0.jpg
New t/linkage req'd, unless I can remove the spring and replace it.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1...mage007we5.jpg
Bodies stripped down, cleaned with carb cleaner. Each one is FINE NO DAMAGE! TPS = Dead. Need a better clean.
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/6...mage008jk0.jpg
Arches off, all ok!!!! Coilover on passenger side seems ok! But i will remove it and inspect it properly, if in doubt rebuild!
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7...mage009uv9.jpg
Seats removed and soaked with a bucket to get majority of dust off, going to hose down and then go to Traci's dad, he has a wet vac:)
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3...mage013wx8.jpg
Head off due to 'might as well do it'... as you can see, no det marks no nothing, apart from it seems head to valve contact once upon a time! The gasket was starting to go between 3 and 4 and 2 and 3... It didn't look a genuine one. On the whole the engine was happy as pie! It actually said, FFS I want more nitrous and power now!
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7...mage016dx3.jpg
The head came off and was perfect too! Maybe these early 13mm guided coscasts are the ones to have! It looked seductive!
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7...mage015qo0.jpg
Looms all removed, it felt like it was a car in the breakers and not a beloved toy! Sort of pretending your misis is a ho!
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/2...mage021oy1.jpg
Starter to alternator wire was intact, good sign that it didn't go down the bottom of the bay.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8...mage020ph0.jpg
Hmm luckily the chap who owns the garage opposite was a nice guy and said not to worry about going in front of his garage as he removed his car and parked it outside! lmao
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/3...mage026gt8.jpg
What was left of the dash!
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1...mage024dt5.jpg
All in all I think apart from cosmetics I've got away lightly! I've had Beardy at VOX-ALL offer to JIG the car for me if needed and paint the front end! Thats the sort of scene the vauxhall scene is! Still getting texts and pms today offering help! Really am speachless by the response! I reckon the car will be up and running again quicker than first thought for this very reason! The car is obviously well known and quite respected, which makes these minor set backs a challenge. Will now comply a list of what is needed.
P.S.: Strut brace is staying like that but lacquered to remind me of the day!
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Finished work at 2 today, so spent a few hours before I go to JR to collect my new engine!
Bit more progress! Going to take complete engine out tomorrow. Then get the rack of and dissemble.
Random green rust gel applied! Worked well to get surface rust off!
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5...airs048ov5.jpg
Gel removed.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/193...airs050qp5.jpg
A bit of primer... just to keep the car from rusting! Also removed some extra un-needed weight! lmao
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...repairs056.jpg
Rumour had it that my head had been 'ported'. Now I looked into the ports, and the valve guides on the inlet have been ground away, the inlets are quite smooth. It's an early Coscast, with 13mm guides. Any gen!?
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3...airs061uj9.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...repairs064.jpg
Now I need a generator that will power my Compressor, angle grinder and drill. Even better would be if it could do my MIG too! off to JR's more update soon!
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So todays lil bit of work so far!
First thing was to clear up the garage and sort out what to keep and what to throw.
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/1...lean001ss6.jpg
Generator and compressor behind the car...you never know!
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/5...lean003xg1.jpg
Rack out...
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5...lean004ty2.jpg
Slam panel modified.
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7...lean007wg1.jpg
Scuttle panel painted.
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6...lean009hb9.jpg
Just as I got home to have some lunch, this turned up :beer: Quick rack by Quaife.
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/1...lean010ru8.jpg
So may have some fun this evening playing with it!
Few more bits to my 'I need list'.
Windscreen rubber surround
Bearings for top mounts.
Headlights
clear front indicators
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Todays update...
One engine in good cond...Need to get new bearings and things.
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1...uild001ey1.jpg
One corsa pedal...
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/3...uild003fw3.jpg
Gearbox cleaned and re painted...
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3...uild006mt0.jpg
One clean battery tray.
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3...uild007dh8.jpg
One fitted corsa pedal...
http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/7...uild015us3.jpg
Which meant I could lose this weight and play in the pedal.
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9...uild014ve0.jpg
I wasn't sure that I used the disc enough.
http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/3...uild008nq3.jpg
Pedal needs bending and shortening.
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3...uild017lm3.jpg
I then made some plates to cover the holes left by old brake setup. I used metal as if the unthinkable happens again, like the last metal panel it will stop fire getting in the car:D
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5...uild019vb4.jpg
All primed..got some 2k to do it in tomorrow, just need to find a mask as been told I really shouldn't paint without one!
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/8...uild021qr5.jpg
I got pissed off with losing my angle grinder thing so...
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/933...uild020ks0.jpg
Got home and this turned up.
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/593...uild027pb9.jpg
The inside is still a horrible site. I can't really get in well enough to clean it out. I will do soone though and start on making a new wiring loom with wires I need only.
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9...uild010ui0.jpg
Picked up some 2k paint, and brand new tie rods/ends and gaitors ready to rebuild the rack. Looking forward to getting it back now!
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Ok so, did more to the nova today. First of, sprayed the bay. Hurricane grey again.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/924...ting001rz5.jpg
Then sanded down and re painted. I was going to leave it as it was above, but Barry (flatout) said I would regret it. Which is true, it will never be perfect or close, as the fire created alot of pitting, if I wanted it mint I would be there 2 years. It's a track car, so looks don't bother me too much. Still, looks alright.
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7...ting015jh4.jpg
Finished building the steering rack, quiafe quick rack greased, and booted.
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/6...ting013ad9.jpg
Although I said I was going to lacquer the strut brace as it was, I couldn't slowly it just turned into a brown rusty bar. So it's going to get painted too! Barry did a good job:)
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/1...ting016db2.jpg
Valves out of head, that was the funniest part of the day. Looks as though the head has a bit of work. Going to clean it all and see.
http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9...ting007th3.jpg
Said valves, nice and black!
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9...ting014su4.jpg
Tomorrow, finish off the bay painting. Paint a few other bit and pieces for the bay. Sort the block ready for some paint (still undecided on colour) Start re fitting engine bay pieces.... can't wait.
Thanks to Barry for his help today:)
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Today was a good day as for as the engine bay is concerned! I believe i'm now on the slope back down (re fitting parts:D)
So here goes with todays update:
Holes drilled ready for the pedal strenthening plate to be bolted in.
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1...lbox001bi4.jpg
Loads of tiger seal to try and give a seal.
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7...lbox003xd6.jpg
Then I plumped it on, bolted it up, and used more tiger seal to stop the channel. In reality I don't really use the car in the wet, but it's worth doing!
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/551...lbox004gq3.jpg
Pedal box on, looking hardcore, I can't wait to drive it again!!!!!!
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3...lbox005no1.jpg
Now it's time to make the brake lines and bleed etc...
Then I moved on to playing with the head. I'm going to do it myself. Used the die grinder and the drill. First things were to match the ports to the gasket/(inlet) manifold. Going up to Lee's tomorrow evening to see some of there work, and get some ideas/pointers.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/810...lbox006xw9.jpg
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/999...lbox011sk6.jpg
Then I noticed this f**ker, oh it was an ugly c**t, I took this pic (check it's hair:() Unlike Lee303 who named and kept his spider, I carb cleanered it to death as <cockney accent> I f**king 'ate spiders!!! After I killed it, me and Barry kept having random attacks from other spiders and maggots, I had obviously killed the Don of the spider habitat in my garage!
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1...lbox013sr8.jpg
Whilst I killed spiders, and played with things, Barry (flatout) got on with a bit of painting. We had gone to Halfords to look at a good colour combo to do the engine bay. I loved how it was before, it looked great. This time things will be a bit more subtle... or maybe not. I've had an urge to paint the mirrors etc in an illuminous colour, but we've decided it would be a bit crap looking. So although I know some people won't like it, I think it looks great.
Sand blasted L...
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7...lbox014vn8.jpg
Part of the brace, notice the RAC van in the back ground... It's brighter than the van!
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/315...lbox020ok2.jpg
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/3/pedalbox023wz9.jpg
A few bits in the bay will go this colour. The RC is still being considered but I think we have the plan. Hopefully it'll look good! If you've seen a 'Dynorod' van, it's that colour.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/135...lbox028tq5.jpg
Placed to see how the contrast is, I think I must have had the shakes, as all 3 pics i've taken are blurry! Notice the ally slam panel and rad are in! The colour represents fire lmao
We also cleaned the bodies and linkage... looking loads better, no snags and all line up perfectly! Yippee!!
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/449...lbox019gu1.jpg
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A few pics from yesterday...
A better representation of how the orange and grey look! I love it!!!
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4...ange017xe4.jpg
I painted the whole steering column, no longer a rust red.
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/1...ange007lg0.jpg
My tow hook...
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6...ange015bx7.jpg
Coil pack mount, had lovely melted plastic everywhere, best I could get it was how it is. Looks ok though, better than before.
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/5...ange004ky4.jpg
'Slam panel' is now bolted in with an allen bolt and nut. Need to make a rad fixing, and get a grille to see how far faorward it can go.
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3...ange005xd9.jpg
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Yesterdays update:
I got bored and had the hole cutter, and a very heavy bumper.... went a bit mad and created a silly roundish square thing, so going to get a new front bumper today! Even with that removed material the bumpers must weigh 2kg!
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/17/wings002kg2.jpg
De-stickered wing
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4509/wings005in8.jpg
Burnt
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/394/wings006fs3.jpg
Then Barry file the arch lips off, should give me more space for the +4 deg castor.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2292/wings010aj1.jpg
Then D/A'd back to metal where it was needed.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/5862/wings017oj5.jpg
And zinc primered. I like the colour too!!!
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3747/wings021ny3.jpg
Smoooooooth
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/4907/wings026il3.jpg
I was also lowering my sisters boyfriends polo, that was until I took the assembly apart and the prings they supplied pigtails were too small. So of to german sweedish for a standard spring, took loads longer than I wanted!!! Oh well not in a rush with nova. Cheers again to Barry!
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