My New Nova

[Sharon SR]

As some of you know I've bought a new Nova.

I got a text from Benn yesterday while at work saying he'd seen a car I might like, along with a pic. He'd already taken my husband (Astra Dan) to have a look and he seemed to like it.
So we popped down there when I got home, by this point it was well after 7pm so no-one was around to ask for keys etc. But from the look of her she was just what I've been looking for for the last 2 years. Popped up there again today and had a word with the guy in the office. Turned out it actually belonged to his mechanic, but he manage to find the key so we could run it up and have a poke about,although by this stage it was pretty much sold, it was just a matter of price. No way was I paying the full £395, despite the new MoT. With a bit of bartering over the phone I got him down to £325. Tempcover.com to the rescue again and £13 later it was insured for 24 hrs. Smiling manically, I was behind the wheel of a Nova again! The engine is whisper quiet and pulls very well for a 1.2, thankfully it's 5 speed so is very usable on my daily commute. It's got 84k miles and a bit of history and not too much rust. So perfect for a few choice mode. I still have the seats, wheels and clocks from my old SR, and already have fitted smoked indicators and side repeaters.

Heres a few pics:















Also found the surround on the driver's door lock missing:



But had one in stock:

[Steve!]

Should be a good journal this...

[Pitstoppete]

needs pics ere

[Sharon SR]

A little update...

Friday (14-08-09)

First a trip to the local scrap yards to pick up a few little bits. Amazingly all three of our local favourite places had Novas in, so we gotquite a horde of spares:



First up all the grab handles had been broken:



Now they can be a bit of a pain to get out as you always loose the rivet plug in the roof linning but Dan had a plan to save and reuse them:





Next up, a new grear gaiter, as the old one had a big hole in it:



Took the stereo out as the previous owners had lost the front to it (shame as it looks OK, so if anyone has a front panel to a Panasonic CQ-C1313NW spare, get in touch!), but was very happy to find none of the wires had been cut:



Last to go in was the boot tidy I still had from my old nova. Which is awesome.

[Steve!]

And so it starts...

[Benn]

Good work.

[Sharon SR]

Saturday 15-08-09:

Whilst I was stuck in work, the boys got to work. I had told them they couldn't do too much without me; after all it's my car. So dan did changed the oil, fitted an under bonnet light and replaced the clutch cable, as the old one was a little tired to say the least:



Then a big thank you to Benn who gave her a damn good clean:



Hmmmm shiney:



Even sorted the number plates that had gone a little clouded:



Looking like new:

[Benn]

Theres a good pic of the roof i sent you..

[Steve!]

Bloody awesome... you don't hang around.

[Sharon SR]

Sunday 16-08-09

Some of you may remember my old SR Nova from a few years back, that unfortunately had to be writen off, well I still had few bits left over, not just the boot tidy!







Also have the old back box. but on close inspticon she needs a whole system



Started on the front first, it's been a long time since I lowered a Nova, forgot just how easy it is...



Off with the old leg, on with the new:



Mmmm,Bilstiens....

On to the back:





At this point I wanted to try my old rims, only to remember we sold them but still had Dan's set left from his Mk3 Astra. Not in as good a nick as mine were, but after a good clean and spot of Wonder Wheels they seemed to come up alright, will get them refurbed at a later date. The front tyres are almost new but the wrong profile (195/50/R15), would be happier with 195/45/R15.

Now last time on the SR I had to roll the rear arches with a hammer as we were on our way to the VBOA at Billing, so I was quite surprised when, after taking the car down off the stands we found a far bit of room under each arch. Just goes to show not every Nova is the same!





Took her for a run up and down the road just to make sure there was no rubs and to check out the clutch cable fitted the day before; now lovely and light.



Got her back in the garden and decided to give the engine bay a clean:





With a little help form Dave:



...who also cleaned out my washer bottle with dishwasher salt:



Started fitting the SR clocks, after swapping the speedos over to keep the mileage correct:



After a clean up by Benn again



But found we need to run a new wire from the coil and oil pressure sender, which we'll do later in the week.

[GTE 16v]

Happy Days

[Fow16v]

looking good so far, looks like a nice solid shell

[TINTIN]

And so it begins..... looking good so far

[Benn]

Good work.

[Steve!]

I love it already, just goes to show the simple things count.

[digidashcorsa]

nice very nice

[coupe22]

nice little project u got their! good to see a girl gettin stuck in!

[rc]

very nice little project, express progress too

[Jack]

I love it already, just goes to show the simple things count.

Most sensible thing you've ever said. lmao

[Steve!]

Thanks jack

[Melv]

nice wee project there Sharon. What are the rest of your plans?

[Kev_G]

totally cracking work - this thread is now at the top of my favourites that boot tidy is fantastic. Wish they did a mk3 one

[Johnny A]

Wow that shell looks very clean! Love it

[Sharon SR]

Just a little update tonight;

Finished off putting in the SR clocks. Needed to run a wire from the coil for the rev counter and one from the oil pressure sender:



Up through the bulk head and in behind the glove box:





Gave them a test run, and found the oil pressure and fuel gauges not working, then found this:



So fixed that:



But we think it's already killed the guage, (anyone got one spare PM me please!)

All back together, waiting to be driven:



Fitted a period stereo for now:



And thats it for tonight!

[Johnny A]

sharon I have spare dials, PM me