Nova build by Chris Astley Motorsport

[Chris Astley]

Im finally getting on with building my next nova, this is the shell which i started to use for the VXR engine transplant a while back, i decided against that project due to lack of time and as a competition car it would be unpractical and inelligible for some forms of motorsport.

Any way, i have just had the shell professionally cleaned prior to commencing welding later this week.



























The shell has got some small areas of rust but nothing major. I have a weld-in cage to fit, seat rails, gearbox mount which was kindly donated by Simps from his saloon as i removed the one on this during the previous VXR attempt.

Im planning to build something special for under the bonnet which i dont think has been done before, all im saying for now is its small block aspirated which is the best way for any Nova

Will get some more pics up as i go through the welding.

[steve jordan]

make sure you keep us posted chris.

[Chris Astley]

Will do mate, gonna try and get on here a bit more now, hard with work,baby and everything else though.

[steve jordan]

what happend to the vxr engine? can you not give us a clue as to what the spec of the nova will be?.

[Chris Astley]

what happend to the vxr engine? can you not give us a clue as to what the spec of the nova will be?.

Well it will be a semi-stripped shell, welin cage, carbon seats, 6 point belts, gsi bumpers, Compomotive TH 15" wheels, Bilstein B16 kit, F20 box with big shafts and hubs e.t.c, 4 pots up front.

possibly a corsa bias pedal box??

Also i need to work out the motor i want to build as its a mix of bits to make an engine that vauxhall never made....

I sold the VXR engine to ChrisR, not sure what he is doing with it though...

[chip]

Interesting project

[djivesp]

subd

[Paul]

Take it the shell has been for an acid bath?

[The Simps]

Shell looks to be in cracking condition mate.

Look forward to seeing this move on.

[KeithRobinson]

Did you have the shell sent to SPL? or was it soda blasted?

[alistairolsen]

shell looks awesome bare! will look forward to this one

[flatout]

This is gonna be good! good luck with it mate

[Paul]

Did you have the shell sent to SPL? or was it soda blasted?

SPL are ace

[EY]

That's what i call a bare shell strip down! Looks solid

[humbucker]

hi what do you mean you had the shell professionally cleaned? acid dipped? shot blasted? interested as im weighing up the options when it comes to my cav project

[Rick Draper]

Looking good chris.

I am also interested as to what you had done to the shell and where did it?

[Jack]

Ooooh!

[Chris Astley]

The shell was done by a local company called ribble technology ltd in preston, they have also recently setup a website www.paint-strip.co.uk, on the site there is a video that guides you through there process. It is basically put in a large oven to heat the shell so all the paint/sealer e.t.c falls off, then is removed and jet washed, then put in a tank of chemicals to remove the rust, then jet washed again with an additive which prevents the metal from flash rusting. Prices start from £545+VAT depsnding on size of shell and amount of rust to remove e.t.c.

[Chris Astley]

Did you have the shell sent to SPL? or was it soda blasted?

Who is SPL?

[phunky monkey]

cool!!!

[jav786]

Looks good mate

[Ste L]

*subcribed*

should be a good project, im intrigued as to what the engines gonna be

[The Simps]

is that bare metal chris or coated in anything?

[Chris Astley]

is that bare metal chris or coated in anything?

it is bare metal, there is slight discolouring from the heat of the oven. Gonna get some done on it on saturday hopefully as missis is workin so gonna go into work for a couple of hours.

[Chris Astley]

*subcribed*

should be a good project, im intrigued as to what the engines gonna be

Well im hoping to mate a C16SE head with a X18XE bottom end, but i want to offset grind the crank and overbore, not sure what size it will end up yet and depends what steel rods i can find, im aiming for 200bhp for a 8v small block