My Nova Build -WIP-

[nova ian]

Well unsuccessful day today, all my hard work on the main graphics didn't pay off! Had my first attempt at applying such a big graphic using wet application as I knew doing it dry would be a nightmare.

Started off well, but the awkward curves around the arch got the better of me! Ended up with some creases Me being the perfectionist I am though, wasn't happy, so it got screwed up and binned! Its a learning curve though and I think I would have been better off layering the colours on the car, as the vinyl would have been thinner and more maneuverable. Got to learn from my mistakes! So eventually I'll have another go at it. Did really like the design mind, thought it transformed the look of the car. (Big thanks to Ste for the help with these aswell )

Still made a few other little stickers up and got them on, here's a few pics



Some touring car style numbers, but with a subtle twist, actually my initials instead of a number!

[nova ian]

Final preparations done for this weekends rolling road session and up and coming trackday done last night.

First thing was looking at my front coilovers, which appeared to have naff all travel. I had put some bumpstops on when I first got them, but I have a feeling they were too big! As Avo don't recommend them anyway. So binned them. Also noticed a step at the top of the piston which my trusty sidekick with his wrongly spelt version of my name (Cheers for the help and advice Iain (And Karl seeing as your a member on here too now!)) and I thought could do with a spacer to stop the spring top hat getting caught in the gap.

So got someone local I knew to knock me up a couple on his lathe.



Said step at the top of the piston



Top hat, new spacer and previously made spacer followed by top mount locating spacer. Job done, and ready to be refitted to the car.



Next I moved on to the trailer which needed a few tweaks. Firstly winch needed swapping to the opposite side and moving further back.

Winch Gone



And in its new posistion, also fitted the stabliser bracket





Followed by a new jockey wheel as this one looks a bit sorry for it's self. The previous owner of the trailer left it down and drove off!



Shiney new one all fitted



Next up I moved back to the coilovers. Bolted back in the top mount.



Next up I compressed them to check clearance of the oil cooler lines. Looks all good to me, plenty of room, anyone think it'll be a problem having them routed here?



Fitted a D-link to front tow eye to make getting the winch hook on easier



And last of all noticed a new job that had appeared on my list, as added by Iain!



So other than strap the car on the trailer I'm good to go

[Benn]

Coming on well. Graphic look cool.

[Iain]

Do you still need that other spacer between the gold step and the new one now you've got the new one?

Glad to see you've kept my addition to the list, its not too late to cancel your carb setup

[RobC20LET]

Nice work mate, actually like the graphics too! Shame they got creased yet its all good practice.
I had the cooler pipes run like that on a corsa let and they were fine but mine was cabletied together every two inch to make abit more ridgid and help stop movement. Good luck with the RR.

Rob.

[nova ian]

Well what a weekend! The nova went to have the carbs setup at a local tuning/rolling road garage. Thankfully all went well and it didn't blow up on the rollers, thank god!

The guy that set it up really knew his stuff as he has been setting up autograss cars for over 25 years varying from twin carbs to bike carbs etc. His rollers are an odskool setup with two big gauges that show the power etc. So no fancy digital printout! Not that I wanted one to be honest. Although I was interested in the power it would make (who wouldn't be!?) the whole purpose of it going there was to have it setup properly and make sure it runs at its best regardless of BHP.

So all loaded and ready to go, nice sunny day for a change aswell!


All strapped on the rollers and ready to go! My god was I nervous at this point


He began with a base run, getting all the info he needed to go forward and tune the carbs. This didn't happen straight off though. After taking it up only a couple of thousand revs he said he didn't want to go any further and load it up as it was pinking very badly. The ignition timing was massively out and this had to be sorted first. He pointed out that if I had continued to run it as it was, it was only a matter of time before it blew up! Eventually the ignition timing was sorted after a few tweaks and the initial base run was done. From here it was just a case various different tweaks to the carbs to achieve the optimum performance and balanced air/fuel ratio through the rev range. Once he was happy with it he gave it two final power runs and got me a figure. It made 172bhp at 6500rpm which I was more than happy with.

Now I know there are bound to be doubters out there that would argue the figure, but as said in the beginning, I wasn't fussed what it made aslong as it was above the standard 150bhp and that it was running at it's best. After test driving it around the industrial estate believe me it certainly does feel 110% better. The power delivery is just there instantly where as before it was alot flatter (And I thought it was quick then!) Its evident now that a LSD is needed and I'm pretty sure one will be in it soon!

Only two problems from the day were that the gearlinkage has gone sloppy again, but has been diagnosed as a loose pin on the linkage assembly (Cheers Iain, well spotted!) and secondly I still have oil leak issues All be it not anywhere near as bad as before, but still needs investigating.

I took one video whilst I was there, might not be brilliant as it was only off the phone. All in all though I am a happy bunny, and really pleased with the car. The guy said he was impressed with how well turned out it was and that I had a very strong engine. So good feedback. I'll leave you with the video.

Cheers
Ian

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=26491c03.mp4

[Harvey]

Fantasic dude and I bet your well pleased, shame about the ikle oil leak.

[nova ian]

Fantasic dude and I bet your well pleased, shame about the ikle oil leak.

Yes I'm really pleased, didn't think it'd do aswell as it did!

Got the linkage pin secured again and now have a positive shifter again! Also started taking the exhaust off as I'm going to take the kink out as is rattling on the tunnel and annoying me.

[Benn]

Sounds lovely in the vid.

[~~joycey~~]

Of course it leaks oil its a red top