1600 T40 - Track/Road car

Thought i'd jump on the band-wagon, and post a Project/WIP thread up.

Some people will be familier with the car (i've been around a while). I guess this is more of Report, to help and inform people who are looking to do a similar thing. Also, i hope to do a serious Body orientated rebuild this winter !

Started life as a 1.2 Carb. 56k on the clock. Solid Shell.

Excuse the Mesh, a wood pigoen has an incident with my grill.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_0938.jpg

After building up No claims and Waiting to finish 6th form, i began to start doing the ground-work for a track/road car.

As this was intended to be used as a daily drive. I opted for a very clean GSi interior - from a nice chap in cumbria. I also fitted a Digidash, and OMP Wheel. Also fitted Central locking and electric windows.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_0820.jpg


Bought these From Skoob (IIRC) Off of here...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_0761.jpg

Purchased the other Essential T40 Items.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_0751.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_0752.jpg

Then purchased some also essential parts. Like, the actual engine.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_0796.jpg

I was bored and excited.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_0801.jpg

Popped the engine in, sometime around september 05
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_0969.jpg

This was done on quite a tight budget. The 40's set me back around ?500 after buying the manifold. The engine was something like ?60 from riggy, this Is Seans old engine ! The 1200 Ignition was retained for cost purposes. I Stripped the engine and had a Kent NVO Camshaft and a top-end rebuild (new valves e.t.c). All in-all it was done for under 1k.

After being scared ****less of ruining the engine. I decided to buy some filters.

After saving for a while, and utilising my student loan on more exciting things... I had a bit of work done :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2035.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2039.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2042.jpg

I had a new Lower front panel. The engine bay was Stitch welded and a few plates (i.e Strut tops e.t.c). I personally don't see the point in Deciding to start thrashing an old engine around on track, especially with uprated parts like Cam, 40's e.t.c. So i focused my money on having a Solid Bottom end. The rebuild was done by a local chap who's primarily involved with bulding Race/competition engines for single seaters (forumlae ford style stuff) - In short i had everything lightened and balanced, all the usual stuff like ARP's. I also had some considerable headwork done, retaining valves.

Had it RR'd and Jetted. Jetting gave me about 15/16hp ! It ran 140bhp/142 on two seperate occasions. I think it's too high, but who cares.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2067.jpg

Some New wheels, Painted by a friend @ a local bodyshop.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2179.jpg

And fitted.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/j829nick/2-1.jpg

Fitted a much needed Limiter
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2227.jpg

Got some Custom Wound Rear Springs
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/j829nick/1-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/j829nick/4-2.jpg

Progress then went a little slow. I Spent most of my time this year skiing, partying, doing lots of uni work, Riding bicycles over jumps, buying guitars,

Then i decided to get my **** in gear with the nova.

A custom made Tank, was fed up of oily residues going everywhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ick/car005.jpg

Then i went to croft.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...c66c0852_b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...826c3579_b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2a3865ed_b.jpg

Overall it performed well. very pleased with it's versatility for track and road use. here's the good points and bad points.

Stiffness - The Stitch welding e.t.c had made the front end really responsive and reactive. Just kind went where i pointed it !
Power - Engine performed well all day, especially pleased with the amount of low-down torque.

Bad points..

Interior - For track use, the lack of bucket seats and harnesses was a pain in the ****
Suspension - It's on -60mm front, and -80mm Rear springs, on uprated dampers. All well and good for road. but not fantastic on track.
Anti-roll bars - I don't have any, so it recieved a fair bit of roll.

Here's how it stands now.

http://www.btinternet.com/%7Eblack.richard/DSC_0823.JPG
http://www.btinternet.com/%7Eblack.richard/DSC_0836.JPG
http://www.btinternet.com/%7Eblack.richard/DSC_0830.JPG

The trackday brought to my attention , that i need to do some changes. Mainly Coilovers, and some stripping. It needs some cosmetic work, and i'm currently deciding on a colour so i can bare-shell rebuild it.

Got Oulton Park at the End of june.
Llandow end of August.

So might have the Coilovers/Anti Roll bars sorted for Oulton. Then maybe Buckets/Cage for Llandow.

Great Thread nick.. always liked this car.. same colour as my 2nd nova i think

nice 'story' mate, im gonna be having t40s now but on a 1300

as for colour id leave it that colour :thumb:

Yer the colour is ok, Mr.Lotus Elise wasn't happy when he was getting outpowered by a skanky coloured nova !

However, if i build it from a bare-shell, i'd rather go for something with the "wow factor" or prehaps a metallic version of this colour, as found on the Cav GSi's/Turbos !

or astra champion burgandy (sp)

Yer i think that's the same colour as on the Cavs, If not, it's very very similar !

I'm also having a filthy urge to Mk1 it !

Oh, and i missed out bodywork. it's had none. Except for a Jazz Rear Wiper, Brand new GM GSi Skirts/Front Bumper. I've got spoiler somewhere.

cars looking stunning :thumb: to the point i quite like that colour so something simple like a metallic version of that or similar on the respray would be about as far as i would go personally.

The antiroll bars are negligable once you go to coilovers so i wouldnt worry about the current roll, i still refuse to run a front one (and when i had no diff it was defo a nono for me) The only antiroll bar a few of us run is the rear one

looks amazin that mate, nice 1!!

Cheers Dan !

oh and During my anti-nova period 06/07, i even went as far as buying a ford ! I wish my Nova was in this condition :(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...9nick/gti1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2158.jpg

Nice, that colur is Satin red.. thats the colour my nova was.. scrubed up well


Fezzas tidy dude... stil got it?


i'm debatin a 1600 8v on carbs or 1600 16v on Tbs atm..

1600 16v ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Novalicious

Nice, that colur is Satin red.. thats the colour my nova was.. scrubed up well


Fezzas tidy dude... stil got it?


i'm debatin a 1600 8v on carbs or 1600 16v on Tbs atm..

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Yer still got it, gotta get back to a few people regarding it's future. Don't have anywhere to store it at the moment. Do i sell it ? Do i use it as a daily drive ?. it's a tough one.

Also got a Renault Laguna :) Does it's job !

Looks sweet nick, the cav rims really finish the exterior off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Long Live The Nova

Looks sweet nick, the cav rims really finish the exterior off.

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Much better than the god awful wheels that used to be on it

Still looks clean, engine looks a belter too!

looks sweet, if you do paint it tho: astra champion burgandy or BMW e46 M3 red - bit flashy tho.

Quite funny looking though your photos...

Both have red 1.6 T40 novas which started as a 1.2 carb
Both have black wheels
and we both have an azonic evo DS2 (assuming thats yours)
lol

also where is this? looks very familier but can't name it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/j829nick/1-2.jpg

Car looks mint there.

Erm that's Hest bank @ Morecambe Bay. The very same place where all those Chinese Cockle pickers died, prehaps you remember it from the news ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...IMG_2606-1.jpg

The Evo is mine...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2607.jpg

Got this the other day. Broke it, fixed it. Fcking Hopes. Porsche style Floating disk :)

this is the only photo i have of mine, when i first built it, now running 24" DMR wheels, Shimano Disc brakes, RS Pylso SL's (TFT) and single speed

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2...0038imgfx8.jpg

Thoses hopes are wicked when they work, they just don't seem to want to work all the time lol

Can't say i've ever been to that beach, lol its 300 miles away. looks every similar to one down here tho.

*End of hi-jack*

Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing it at some shows.

Ash

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Novalicious

Nice, that colur is Satin red.. thats the colour my nova was.. scrubed up well

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Ahh, according the the Vin plate, mine is Toscana Red. It's a funny colour. When polished it goes a really vibrant deep red. When Dirty it's bloody horrible.

Just noticed the colour only ran from 92-96, so it's probably a bit of an odd one !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nova_pilot

Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing it at some shows.

Ash

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haha, We've even both got Nokian Gazza's ! Please don't tell me your doing a "design" orientated degree at university ?

I was Extremely pissed off with the hope, but it turned out to be incorectly seated copper washers. Just crimped them up and re-bled it.

Probably won't be at any shows. the only thing i get time to show is the XR2, it's a bit cleaner than the nova . However the nova will be at various trackdays this summer, and some hill climbs depending on wether i send away for the liscence !

LMFAO - just finishing a BA Hons in Visual Coms, before that a HND and BND in Graphic Design lol lol slightly scary. luckly i dont own a XR2 tho.

I did have Gazza's, now running DMR Moto RT on 24" DMR wheels.

I think one of us should leave... lol

This town aint big enough for the both of us....

... i'll get my coat on the way out...:( lol

cars looking great nick:thumb:

love the car mate keep it the same colour matalic or solid either would keep it looking good! your not colouor codeing the bumpers are you??
stu

looks sweet mate, i'm dropping a 1.6 engine in mine soon and want to do something like that. And agree with everyone else about keeping the colour, metallic might be interesting though.

Bit of an update...

I've done a few things to get the car suitable for track, but still good on the road.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/j829nick/n17.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/j829nick/n18.jpg

Freshened up my ATE 256mm calipers with new Disks, and Mintex M1155 "track" Pads ! Very very very impressed with the pads, well worth ?80 - But they don't half produce carbon dust.

I then Fitted a Facet Silver top 200hp Electric Fuel pump and Sytec Proflow Regulator. This should definetly help my "boderline" fueling issue.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2665.jpg

I also Fitted a Kent ASt2 Camshaft. and a OMP Strutbrace
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/IMG_2664.jpg

So the Spec stands at...

Twin DHLA Dellorto 40s
Ashley "Grp A" 4-1 Manifold and Full exhaust
Kent AST2 Camshaft
Headwork
L&B Flywheel, Crankshaft.
Shotpeened Rods
Uprated Bearing/Shells
Facet Silver Top Fuel pump + Regulator

Got a Rolling Road Setup with Protec Performance on tuesday, so keep your eyes peeled for some Figures and a few photos. Unfortunatly they only offer a approximate Power figure (but i'm not bothered about that). So asap it will be going to a local Dastek place to get a proper Print-out, Torque/power Curve blah blah

Good stuff, get some vids of the RR :)

Bit of an update...

Rolling Road no 1

Took the car to Protec Performance. Despite their helpfull attitude over the phone, i was very displeased with the service i was given.

From the outset, their attitude was poor. Subsequently, they did a poor job.. If anyone is thinking about having a car setup there, PM me first :thumb:

Rolling road No 2

They said it was making 105 @ The wheels @ 5000rpm. But it drives like a bag of ****, so i took it to a local place (known to be quite accurate/realistic) to have a print out and a fuel/air ratio graph done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...nick/graph.jpg

It's making a unsatisfactory 120hp @ Flywheel, with some rather funky fueling issues. :wtf::mad:

Anyway, it went to llandow, and despite a very annoying flatspot at key RPMS i had a good day !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ick/Mycar3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ick/Mycar1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ick/Mycar7.jpg

So.. the saga continues, i've found another contact for an RR and i'l hopefully have a better result coming soon !

Hmm, you can see the bad flat spots/drop in power/torque on the graph too.
Whats the axis on the left? BHP and? Must relate to the very wavy other line on the graph(fuel/air?)

On the left is Air-Fuel, it just about reached the correct stachiometric point @ peak power, but as you can see is running very rich untill then.

It's **** under 3k - Which is reflected by the fueling, and the wierd power and torque curve.

And it gets a stupid flat spot , which is showin in the stupid wiggly air-fuel ration !

grrrrr

Just read though the whole thread again. Great little car, I think I even perfer the colour to my flame red :confused: lol

Nice to see how its progressed rather than all the mincing that seems to happen these day :roll:

Advance Warning - I Bloody hate Camera Phone Pictures. Unfortunatly it's all i had at the time

First time i've properly seen the car since october last year ! It's not looking too bad for itself, it spends all it's time outside !

Primed and Sprayed the Tow eye Cover in Hurricane Grey, not the greatest match... but it'l do for the time being.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/Image046.jpg

Note the "Emergency" front wheels on it ... Still there from the PNG LLandow Day last August haha :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/Image042.jpg

I bunged it on straight after i made it, so took the Catch tank off and gave it a good clean/Empty/Polish. I Heart Autosol.

On a less loving note, it contained 1/2 Litre of Watery oil ! eek !

All Refitted, Cleaned around the Drivers Inner Wing, Stitch welding looking pretty good still !

Now here come the bad Bits... Erm, pretty fooked. I'm guessing this would be an MOT failure ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/Image047.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/Image048.jpg

And Battery tray isn't looking too happy !


Ontop of that, it needs Rear Arches at some point in the future, probably a rear panel, Sills, Front Arches, one of the Splash gaurds repairing and the Welding to the Strut-tops wasn't sealed from the underneath ! ARGH.

So, i'm deciding wether to re-shell, Anyone in their right mind probably would IF a minter was available, but this holds great sentimental value to me as it was my first car !

gutted about the shell nick lad , but you cant leave nova's outside lol

hope you decide to fix it rather then re-shell as i do love this car too ...

I'm probably being a bit over-Dramatic ! But here's the list... non of it is as bad as alot of novas i've seen but i'd want it to be right.

Drivers Full Rear 1/4
Passenger Arch Repair
Passenger Rear inner arch
Both Sills
Both Front Arches
Drivers Splash Guard
Slam Panel
Battery Tray
Strut Tops Sorting

And that's about it really hahah :).

I was in the same boat nick, my red one was first car, etc. Took me well over a year to ditch it and get this 'new' one - and then I had to be pushed. Kind of regret it, kinda don't. I wouldn't of got this far if I kept the red one, but I did 'know' every inch of that shell and most of it was mint, seemed like a bit of a waste TBH.

Depends what you want the car for really - once you know that it becomes an easy decision ;)

PS. If you do decide to keep it, I have a GM drivers 3/4 :)

I'l be in touch :)

I've basically got 9 weeks left of my Degree.. then i'm on a placement for next year, and then back to uni for my diploma.

So, This summer and next year is going to be full-on rebuild/reshell . So i've gotta make the decision unless i decide to Buy all the parts first !