Old skool 1.2 runabout > 2.0 8v

nova-myth · 24-04-2008, 21:11

After the sale of my 1600 I can now concentrate on finishing the 2.0 8v off.

Originally it was bought as my daily driver with 28,000 miles on it.

Heres how it started:

nova-myth · 24-04-2008, 21:12

Originally it was just going to be a run around but even still, anything standard on novas mean its crap so I got a cheap gmax 60mm kit for it:

And then got a gsi interior for free to go in it:

nova-myth · 24-04-2008, 21:14

Then along came the donor car, 1990 cavalier 2.0 8v sri130

Only 103,000 miles on it so the engine and box are in great condition.

Thanks to my mate lee who was carrying out the conversion we loaded it onto his trailer and headed back to his lockup.

Disaster struck as one of his trailer wheels tried to fly off down the motorway as the bolts loosened themselves, but after a 'quick' roadside fix we were back on our way.

nova-myth · 24-04-2008, 21:15

Didnt get many pics of the build as I only had my camera phone but, here it is with the 1200 out:

And the 2.0 sitting snuggly:

Anyway got it running fine, but only briefly as it was too noisy with only the downpipe on.

And seeing as I had to drive from bristol to kent lee sold me his custom 2.0 16v nova exhaust, stainless steel and made by powerflow it sounds all good.

Anyway, no engine swap is ever that easy as we were about to find out, went for a test drive and besides the fact that we didnt have time to change the 1.2 brakes and that with the extra weight plus all the cav parts I had loaded in the back it was grounding out quite easy!

Got back from the test drive getting ready for the long drive back, and we noticed that the water pump was leaking! quite rapidly with the engine running!

So the only option we had was to bung in some rad weld hoping that it would stop it... which it didnt! >

So we had no other choice but to drive it and stop and check every so often that there was still some water in there, easy enough??

No, the gearbox decided to pee oil out everywhere down the M4, and I thought it had seized up as it got real stiff all of a sudden.

So there we were at the services at about 8pm in the pitch black trying to figure out what was going on.. Turns out lee had cut a small notch of the end of the gearbox as otherwise it fould the tie bar but had cut a tad too much and the gearbox was emptying itslef in front of us!!

So, carefully drove it back to the lockup where he gave me a lift back to his place and borowed his backup car to get me home.

One week later, I popped back up after he had changed the cambelt/ water pump and a good old bit of chemical metal had sorted out the gearbox.

Had a set of 2.0 16v brakes fitted so it now stops, and the next upgrade will be to sort out the suspension as its way to bouncy on 1.2 springs!

Only other upgrade was the sparco strut brace, which, in my opinion, looks more effective than it actually is!

Final bit for now is my old sr clocks as the std clocks didnt have a rev counter.

nova-myth · 24-04-2008, 21:17

I then realised that gmax were useless for the conversion so I got some bilstein shocks

Before refurb:

And courtenays sports 2.0 front springs

A couple of random pictures

Then by chance I found an early sr valance on performance nova group for £20

And all straightened out and fitted:

Then did the side in grey primer (for now)

rwdmad · 25-04-2008, 17:00

looking nice mate keep up the good work

outlaw · 25-04-2008, 17:37

ideal m8 i love sleepers

gez_lewis · 27-04-2008, 17:01

What kind of performance do you get using the 8v?

looks like a real sleeper!

Steve! · 27-04-2008, 17:48

Go rat look with it

nova-myth · 27-04-2008, 23:05

Cheers people, not alot else to do on it now, change the steering wheel over for the mountnay 3 spoke ive got and tidy up the odd bit of rust. Also needs better pads as the ebc stuff its got on at the moment sucks!

The performance is still quite good, its an sri 130 lump but was rr'd at 110bhp last month,

still got loads of torque though and has the edge over my mates starlet gt turbo

Also needs the tank changing for a gte one which should be done next weekend

**CraigGreen** · 28-04-2008, 10:00

Lovin the stance. Bet the 8v goes nicely.

The shell looks a bit tired for 28k, but thats part of its charm IMO. Keep it up!

nova-myth · 28-04-2008, 17:11

Shell is a bit tired, it was previously an oap special and probably got battered sitting in sainsburys car park most of the time as thats all it was used for!

Looks a bit better now its t-cut and had the spraying done, but all the dents just adds character imo. Its just a nova at the end of the day!

Mitch2.0 · 29-04-2008, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by nova-myth

The performance is still quite good, its an sri 130 lump but was rr'd at 110bhp last month,

still got loads of torque though and has the edge over my mates starlet gt turbo

Nice one matey, just out of interest what power is the starlet running? Seems like many starlet owners way overdo their true bhp, I'm sure your mates sound though.

Jack · 29-04-2008, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by nova-myth

all the dents just adds character imo. Its just a nova at the end of the day!

Looks so dodgy, but awesome at the same time. Love it!

nova-myth · 29-04-2008, 13:18

Thanks jack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch2.0

Nice one matey, just out of interest what power is the starlet running? Seems like many starlet owners way overdo their true bhp, I'm sure your mates sound though.

Not sure but it was std, he said he stripped the engine and did a few upgrades but I doubt it as he is known to talk a fair bit of crap!

My nova was quicker off the line due to it being a very torquey engine but he caught me up in the high revs when he came on boost, and then I changed to 2nd and pulled away again etc..
Was alot funnier as I hadnt seen him for a couple of months and he was assuming it was still a 1200.

Mitch2.0 · 29-04-2008, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by nova-myth

Thanks jack.

Not sure but it was std, he said he stripped the engine and did a few upgrades but I doubt it as he is known to talk a fair bit of crap!

My nova was quicker off the line due to it being a very torquey engine but he caught me up in the high revs when he came on boost, and then I changed to 2nd and pulled away again etc..
Was alot funnier as I hadnt seen him for a couple of months and he was assuming it was still a 1200.

Good man, I would have loved to see the look on his face. As standard I think the Starlet limits boost in 1st and 2nd gear, but you can de-restrict it.
Got someone who claims to have a 230bhp starlet who wants a race. The most I can hope is he's lying or just overestimated. Wish me luck - need the new clutch first though!

Edit - If I lose I'll just take him round the twisties... starlet's are meant to handle like buses from what I've heard.

G4MBS · 29-04-2008, 21:17

Quality, dont go too overboard on sorting the rust though

SKoob · 30-04-2008, 21:54

looks awesome that does, even got the proper old skool rear bumper with out the bottom swage line

srb · 07-05-2008, 14:10

get that resprayed to bring the yellow back up and get the faded plastic bits done black along with the alloys and it will look incredible. those wheels suit it to the ground

*Jen* · 07-05-2008, 14:38

ace sleeper, me likes a lot

nova-myth · 08-05-2008, 14:57

Not really gonna bother spending anymore money on her, did that with the last one. Its been t-cut and the paint is as good as it should be now as its down as beige on the log book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKoob

looks awesome that does, even got the proper old skool rear bumper with out the bottom swage line

Cheers dude, you still got the yellow sr? I remember it from pvg when I had my jamaica yellow sr running a std gte lump.

**CraigGreen** · 08-05-2008, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by expression.4

get that resprayed to bring the yellow back up

Its Gazelle Beige.

If a Starlet keeps coming back for more, just keep at it. Being an import it'll melt sooner or later.

nova-myth · 18-05-2008, 19:46

Possibly up for sale now, i'll put up a for sale ad once my minds made up.

Just gauging some interest for now.

bigwillie2000 · 19-05-2008, 17:59

nice car mate but poor old cav

nova-myth · 21-06-2008, 19:51

Been meaning to update this, well after alot of hassle ive got the mountenay wheel fitted, and with the weather being ok the tank has now been swapped for a gte one.

Don't think there's much of a to-do list now so I am quite happy with it. Looking forward to the rr feature in tv mag next month.