Mk1 Nova project

[mk1nova_rich]

I have finally started a project thread for my Mk1 Nova. I bought this car nearly 6 months ago from a mate and it has not been on the road since 2004 and has only covered 73K. The shell is very solid and 99% original (only a section of boot floor has been replaced). The only other welding the car has seen is stitch-welding around the engine bay and chassis legs. The main downside to the car is it is badly faded and has a couple of small dents along the drivers side.



I bought it with the intention of using it for motorsport, fast road and maybe a couple of trackdays. It came with a non-running C20SEH and F16 box, but with no shafts and several other conversion bits missing.

Along with the hassle of finishing this conversion and for insurance reasons, i made the decision to remove the engine and box and sell them.

When i bought this Nova i already had a K-reg 1.2i Spin runabout which got stolen, recovered and then stripped for parts as the shell had seen far better days.

This car donated its hubs, bearings, driveshafts, doors and bootlid, interior, rear beam and drums as well as various other bits and pieces.

[mk1nova_rich]

The interior was rancid and full of crap as it used to belong to a builder so was completely stripped barring the wiring loom.





I set about removing the sound deadening, mainly because i didn't want it but also to check for rot

[Fangers]

Looks like a good shell and ideal for a project, like the ECU mounted in the door pocket, keep the updates coming.

[mk1nova_rich]

The interior as it stands now with seats, doortrim and doors all swapped over from the Mk2, doorpockets removed and replaced with webbing straps. no carpets or heater

[mk1nova_rich]

Looks like a good shell and ideal for a project, like the ECU mounted in the door pocket, keep the updates coming.

yep, pretty solid, just a few rust issues at minute but are getting sorted asap. the ECU has now gone with the C20SEH. Now has a 1300 SR engine instead, mainly cos im only 19.

[mk1nova_rich]

Front end has been sorted with Astra GTE brakes, polybushed tie bar brackets, GTE tie bars, polybushed and plated TCAs, and a Spax/KW -60mm spring and shock combination.

[mk1nova_rich]

This left a perfect gap between tyre and arch, although it is slightly bigger now due to the smaller profile tyres which have now been fitted.



Any lower than 60mm will be too much hassle when it gets its sump guard, but should handle well with the other mods. Front and rear strut braces are also on the "to do list" and will be fabricated in the near future.



I love Novas on a set of clean Astra GTE alloys, personally i wouldn't have a Nova on anything else. Tyres are fairly budget jobbies for now until funds allow for Yoko 539s all round.

[jack_8vt]

looks clean

[mk1nova_rich]

thanks, it is very solid but faded, doesnt look too bad in the pics. could also do with some new doors but these will do for now. its going to be a road rally car not a show car so im not too bothered what it looks like

[mk1nova_rich]

Rear end has been polybushed throughout and is just sat on -40mm springs until i can afford some uprated shocks. seems a bit high so may go to -60mm but i like to keep some weight over the front with it being a small block.

[mk1nova_rich]

was working on the car one weekend and a bloke came by and said he had some nova bits i could have as he had no use for them. he turned up a week later with some SRi seats (minus passenger seat) and GTE front and rear anti-roll bars. I tried giving him some money for them but he wasnt interested.

The seats were very dirty and had been in storage for a while, i tried cleaning up the drivers seat as it would offer more support than the 1.2i seats. Cleaned it several times but never came clean so chucked the seats. Stuck the rear ARB on the car and the front ARB on ebay and it did £26 so was quids in

[w88rdy]

I recognise that area, is it rothwell?

[turbojolt]

looking good mate are you going to mop the faded red

is the engine in and running

[mk1nova_rich]

I recognise that area, is it rothwell?

no mate, gildersome near J27

[mk1nova_rich]

looking good mate are you going to mop the faded red

is the engine in and running

yeh i will see what i can do with it but think a respray is on cards for next year. engine is in and starts but needs exhaust and radiator hoses putting on.

i will get some pics of engine bay up soon

[w88rdy]

Dont know if your after any parts but ive got a set of sr type seats in the checkered style let me know if you need owt.

[mk1nova_rich]

need to get the welding done asap before it gets worse. Rear bumper is now on quick release pins and the exhaust system has been fitted. 4 branch manifold mated to a Sportex 2" competition system on Flo-flex mounts. Will get some pic updates soon.

[bluecorsab]

how you getting on with the bike carbs mate?

[mk1nova_rich]

flange is drilled now so I'm getting on with the runners at work. Only tube i can find is thick wall stuff. 37mm I/D and 47mm O/D something like that. Gona bore it out to 40mm and turn ends down to 45mm to suit the hoses to carbs. Will also need to make a water outlet from the block to water rail and drill a take-off for servo vacuum in one of the runners. Can do all that next week cos my Boss is on holiday lmao. Shame i can't get a cheap manifold on ebay it would be so much easier. No money now i have just agreed to buy my mates Spax kit which im very excited about but might mean some top mounts will need machining from scratch

[mk2astraturbo]

what model is this nova ? you havent got centre blowrs and i thought my blk s basic

[mk1nova_rich]

its a 1.0. It did have centre blowers if you look through the pics but has now been removed as all heater components have gone. What is your Nova?

[mk2astraturbo]

oh yeah sorry my mistake ... mine is a also a 1ltr but my other is a 1.2L and there is loads of stuff my other one hasnt got. ive also got gte rims on for the winter (incase i hit a kirb not wanting to damage my other rims) i do like the gte rims on the nova looking good bud

[mk1nova_rich]

cheers, progress just a bit slow at minute. dont have a garage so its dark when i get home from work and weather is always **** on a weekend so i find it hard to get the enthusiasm. Working on a bike carb conversion which better work as i've just chopped up my standard inlet manifold

[mk2astraturbo]

bike carbs on a 1ltr , anyways bud ive got the 1ltr engine sat in my drive as ive got a 1.8 in mine now so just give us a shout if you need the inlet.

[mk1nova_rich]

its a 1300 SR engine