G4MBS' C16XE Nova

[G4MBS]

Basically, it all started with a copy of Total Vauxhall and the stunning green Nova GSi in this months mag. Id always fancied a Nova and was looking for some fast road/trackday/second car fun.

Cue Ebay, which turned up this:



J reg with a mere 53000miles from new, with MOT until November this year and a couple of months tax, plus it was selling with a few other bits and bobs including 2.0 16v front struts and rear disc beam.

The words 'this is a lovely little car with plenty of potential. The shell (though a bit dented here and there) is solid and would suit a big block conversion' sold it to me and I stuck a £301.20 bid in. Sold to me, winning it by the odd 20pence. Get in.

So today saw a roadtrip with the Astra Van and A-Frame.
Arrived in sunny Rochdale thinking, 'what have I bought,' seeing as Id just essentially bought the car blind.
But, in a rare stroke of luck, it turned out to be mint!



Add the C16XE motor, box, loom and ECU that Id just bought for £150 and a plan was starting to hatch....

[G4MBS]

Made a good start the following day, firstly taking some pics to show how mint the shell really is:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2200005.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2200004.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2200006.jpg

Then into the garage where the team made a start

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/Image003.jpg

Lunchtime and the engine bay was empty:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2200019.jpg

The afternoon saw a timing belt and tensioner kit and new clutch get fitted while the engine and box was still on the floor and early evening the engine bay looked something like this:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2200023.jpg

On the wiring side, it was decided that the loom would be fitted down into the cabin next to the battery, using the original grommet so it looked like it was meant to be there

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2200021.jpg

Token end of the day shot:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2200027.jpg

[peester]

wow.. nice story all the best

[G4MBS]

Also managed to bag these from the same home as the Nova:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2200001.jpg

Not sure what they are off, all I know is they are Vauxhall fitment, ultra lightweight and I gave £40 for them!!

Currently being re-furbed ready for fitment when the car hits the road!

[G4MBS]

Day after collection and it was a runner!!

Couple of issues that we had to get around, like the lack of fuel pump (we havent used a GSi setup) but that was cured by a fuel pump mounted in the engine bay. Also needed a different alternator belt to take into account the modified alternator bracket thats had to be fitted.
Oh and an 11th hour dash to the motor factors to pick up a Corsa GSi throttle cable!!

Got to say a big thanks to the team at 'TwoHats Tuning' aka Kie, Mike and Pete, a job well done I think.

[G4MBS]

Got the conversion finished as said, but sadly the fuel pump that we fitted gave up the ghost (being a 10yr old Metro Turbo item, it was to be expected) so day 3 saw a major effort trying to source a new replacement.
I think we tried every motor factors, parts supplier and some 'specialists' but still to no avail with the standard response being, 'sorry we dont stock them, can get you one for Monday.' No good for me being the impatient type!

Cue the 'bay and this was sourced Friday night:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ova/c671_2.jpg

New Bosch fuel pump with the required 5 bar rating and part number corresponding to a Ferrari Mondial item
Quick trip to Warwickshire Saturday morning to collect and the car was a runner again!

Engine bay shot:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...a/P2240003.jpg

Been using the car over the weekend and can honestly say Im impressed, even running it on standard 1.2 brakes, suspension and steel wheels; sleepertastic!!

Next job this week is to get the alloys refurbed so that the 2.0 brakes can be fitted, and also find some decent suspension

[G4MBS]

And a quick few pics of the 'support van' my everyday driver. Not enough to justify a full project diary so Il stick it in here!!

2.0 DTi van, bought like this:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...8/P1250001.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...8/P1250003.jpg

Few hours with a mop and G3 got it looking like this:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...8/P1260005.jpg

After a few days in the bodyshop and some other bits added:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...2100004_01.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...2100003_01.jpg

[Fow16v]

recognise the van mate, seen you around a few times, you were waiting to pull off on recem on sat morning when i went past you.

Novas looking good mate didnt hang about getting the lump in, gonna be seeing this on the roads then?

[GDN16v]

Nice work there!!

Just one thing, i'd be moving that high pressure fuel pump, from behind the engine to the rear of the car closer to the tank! Especially as its sitting right above the exhaust!!

[G4MBS]

Originally Posted by Fow16v

recognise the van mate, seen you around a few times, you were waiting to pull off on recem on sat morning when i went past you.

Novas looking good mate didnt hang about getting the lump in, gonna be seeing this on the roads then?

Fair play to the boys they didnt hang about getting it all done; they had the advantage of having done one before tho
Its on the road and useable and has managed to embarrass a few things but its a case of resisting the urge when Ive got a sensible diesel van outside!

[CraigGreen]

Great little read. Should be a nice car out on the road. Rev happy engine & smallblock qualities when pushing it through the twisties.

Probably taken you a 20th of the time its taking me to build my C16XE Nova.

[ChrisXR]

Quality mate, nice stroke of luck with the decent shell too

[G4MBS]

Originally Posted by CraigGreen

Probably taken you a 20th of the time its taking me to build my C16XE Nova.

It has yeah, but only purely due to the fact the car is MOT'd till November so I wanted to make the most of that MOT what with the trackday season etc; no corners have been cut when doing the conversion!
Plan is to run it until November, adding the essentials as needed then take it off the road for winter in November for a full proper rebuild.

[CraigGreen]

Sounds like a plan. I'm sure its well built mate. Cant go far wrong with a smallblock anyway.

Keep us updated. Any track days in mind?

[G4MBS]

Llandow is already booked for May with Sw-cc, but Im itching to do one or two before that!

Also, picked up my Koni adjustable fronts and springs this afternoon

[LongLiveTheNova]

Nice car mate. Good engine choice

[rc]

looks good mate, super fast progress! van looks smart too!

[G4MBS]

Everything seemed to come together so quickly with the Nova, it all fell into place in that one week; decent shell + long MOT + cheap engine = maximum fun!

Hopefully getting the Konis fitted on the weekend, along with the 2.0 front brakes, bigger steelies and my bargain £20 Sparcos. Pics as it all happens

On the van front, its nearly finished, just a boot spoiler, dark headlights and Irmy steering wheel to get fitted.

[Benn]

Looks good dude, like it.
If you use the img codes the pics with open direct to the page,

[G4MBS]

Used links cos the pics seem massive and cant resize them even tho they are in photobucket!

[CraigGreen]

I ran KONI's on mine. Best shocks I've found so far. Llandow is a mint little circuit.

[donvaux]

good work mate another local vauxhall owner

[G4MBS]

Another afternoons work and it just gets better!!

Few hours spent this afternoon and got the 2.0 16v brakes and the Konis fitted, plus its now running on Astra Van 14" steelies
Got a few pics, will post them later

Also, had an interesting 'run' against a 2.0 8v Nova and there really wasnt much between them....

[donvaux]

where too in ponty are you from mate?

[G4MBS]

Wainfelin way m8, whys that? The Nova is garaged most of the time as Im normally in the van, trying to keep the Nova for minimal use