Nova Merit 150 Mk2

loggyboy · 20-02-2007, 17:35

Those of you who frequent RB or NL may know both the old and the new versions of this car, but for those who dont know the old you can find it here.
That got written off and i received a princely sum of £450 for it from tesco insurance (after stripping it bare), so a new shell was sourced and the Merit 150 Mk2 started.
£100s worth of mot failure (1 rusty sill and dodgy brakes) but in pretty good nick thoughout the rest of the car:

Stripped inside:

bye bye hairdryer

No need for a dash

Welding and chassis leg mods

No need for this:

Making room for a corsa servo.

Now theres a man hard at work - nice curtains!

Fits nicely...

loggyboy · 20-02-2007, 17:36

While we are adding corsa parts, might as well add some more.

ahh... i nice straight driving position at last.

and a few extras:

Polyurathane reinforced mounts

stupid race mirror that you can see fcuk all out of

and the barryboys wet dream:

An S2 Elise 111s splitter, which will be accompanied by full under body paneling.

loggyboy · 20-02-2007, 17:36

As I am on a mission to have the car road legal for March I thought it was time to sort the 1 item I knew was an MOT failure (other than being half finished & not having an engine etc!)
It failed on a hole in the sill, but the arch was bubbling, so i decided to do the whole lot, which im glad i did as it was falling to bits under the paint.

Sill panel was cut down (only need the back 12 inches of it so if any1 needs the front end of a drivers sill PM me!)

and spot welded in place:

As i had been left with so little of the inner skin there was little i could do to save it, and to save fabricating a new one, on the sill, I spot welded it to the inner face of the chassis/sill, on the arch I spot welded it to the 2 skins together.

Then placed the new panel (which i didnt use much of) over the top of that and welded it to both the outer and inner faces of the original arches.

Once i was happy it was sound n secure i slapped on some filler and left it to dry.

loggyboy · 20-02-2007, 17:37

Had a few days off last week so spent a few solid days on the car, including my birthday! :roll:
Finished off all the welding and metal work around the bay, sand blasted a few awkward areas, wire drilled the easier areas and treated it to some hammerite (99p a tin in the 99p store!), its a bit dark but not at a bad match.

That was only the 1st coat so its more even after the 2nd.
New water pump as the old one was leaking and thought I might as well do the whole thing. Belt and tensioners are only a few K old so just retensioned to suit.

loggyboy · 20-02-2007, 17:38

Then it was out with the heavy machinery (on loan from Bro - cheers dude)

Up went the car

Time for the gearbox

and after some wiggling n jiggling:

- welcome home baby

loggyboy · 20-02-2007, 17:38

I was bored

mk2novakid · 20-02-2007, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by loggyboy

retensioned to suit.

lookin good so far,hope that belt wernt tensioned in that pic as it looks way to loose

steve

vxlgsi · 20-02-2007, 18:50

Nic project fella, love motor like this...

Drizz · 20-02-2007, 19:22

looking good!

**Benn** · 20-02-2007, 19:36

very cool,
even if i have seen it before...lol

love the lil engine in gif,

loggyboy · 21-02-2007, 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by mk2novakid

lookin good so far,hope that belt wernt tensioned in that pic as it looks way to loose

steve

lol

- your second to mention that, but yes that pic was onnly after the pump was fitted, the belt was done after, its a late spec XE with the auto tensioner pulley, so was easy to get right.

loggyboy · 22-02-2007, 23:53

After the minor error on the corsa colunn i extended the bracket and its now lovely and straight

Got the brake setup all sorted out, it just needs the pedal to be rewelded to the right length which I will do once all the clutch etc is adjusted so i can match the right levels for them both.

ALso found a neat way to secure the existing nova clutch pivot bar:

I was really hoping to get the engine running last weekend. but first of all, 2 bolts sheered when tightening this lil fukker,

then 3rd sheered when i was tryin to remove it, to cap it off the screw extractor i tried to use simply spread the bolt and split the housing. Luckily I found a replacement on Mig so should have it for this weekend.

I also thought i had lost a few essentials like the Fuel pump relay and the ignition module, but these were found tonight so with some hard graft it could well be running this weekend and maybe MOT'd in time for the Autosolo Competition in March.

Also heres a close up of the airfilter position.

wayne85 · 23-02-2007, 00:52

what air feed is the fillter going get there

loggyboy · 23-02-2007, 10:01

Well the skuttle panel vents are only just above it and I may well add a bonnet vent just above it. Its also further away from the heat of the engine and manifold so the air it does get should be cooler than if it was in the standard 'behind the headlight' position.

Dai G · 23-02-2007, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by loggyboy

I was bored

loggyboy · 24-02-2007, 01:22

Another new arrival.

This leaves me with the heart wrenching decision:

Which wheels do I use

I have: 2 sets of Mos, all in need of refurb, I was thinking 1 set white, 1 set anchracite.
But then I have 2 Fan blade cav rims in Grey and 4 in silver, which look cool..
then just to add one more in to the mix, i have a set of 4 stud 15" steels, for the ultimate sleeper look, which i love, but do i love the MOs more??
argh..........

Drizz · 24-02-2007, 06:18

**spanishfly** · 24-02-2007, 07:41

***dreams of a straight steering wheel***

Nice project.

loggyboy · 26-02-2007, 13:34

Installed the Cav Shifter:

When I put it in the 1st Merit I tried to get away without welding then shaft, which ment I had to hack the bulkhead to pieces to get it lined up right, this time I decided to cut the shaft and make a neater hole in the tunnel.

Once I was happy with the position I wanted it I welded the Base in place.

Then Its was just a matter of welding the Shaft together at the right angle.

When you have done the job once before it just makes it easier.

Drizz · 26-02-2007, 13:35

Nice job!

**CraigGreen** · 27-02-2007, 11:29

Cant beleive Ive missed this.

Nice project.

vxlgsi · 27-02-2007, 15:48

gotta be MO's they always win..

Colonel K · 27-02-2007, 19:59

cool project. Loving the steering wheel re-alignment