oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
Jun 13, 2010 16:13:08 GMT
|
Hi first up my daily driver Nova spin (base spec special edition, actually laughable for a special edition) This thing has certainly seen better days, 104,000 miles the lifters are tapping like god knows what and its starting to rot badly, will be stripped and scrapped when I finish my SR (sorry about the christmas pics I don't have many pics of this car)    As you can see, its in a sorry state but not bad for a first car, its lasted me nearly 2 years now (that racing harness is now gone too, only had that in as the standard belt was frayed and it failed the test) Now this is my project, I'm cleaning it up and going to drop a decent spec 1.6 16v into it.  Some of the welding and zinc priming done so far, not brilliant but will be hidden by seam sealer anyway  this side is now seam sealed, aint worked on her for a couple of weeks now so no new pics  clean chassis legs (under the dirt)    SR   rear arches    Low mileage considering its 18  Expensive bits 79.5mm pistons (standard is 79mm)   Steel conrods, I'm not taking any risks  Inlet manifold, the standard inlets are quite restrictive and some people have seen big gains from just an inlet manifold and exhaust system on these engines  The engine I'm putting in is an X16XEL I did have a C16XE but I decided to sell that as I heard the bottom ends are a bit weak when going for high power, probably not true but either way it was £200 in my pocket to go towards bits. Also the X16XEL responds better to head work (I.E port and polish) due to internal shape according to SBD (although they also say the C16XE block goes best with the X16XEL head  ) |
| |
|
|
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
Jun 13, 2010 23:08:15 GMT
|
I'm not feeling much Nova love on this website not retro enough? lol |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm not feeling much Nova love on this website not retro enough? lol It can take a while for people to take interest if it's not OLD tin (like the plethora of ancient Vauxhalls on the forum and less ancient VWs). I'm actually quite happy that someone is taking on a Nova, especially since they've *almost* shaken off the stigma of being a boy-racer-chavmobile-shopping-cart. They're a smart little car, plenty of opportunity for modification and certainly old enough now! I'm just catching up on new posts, so I'll bookmark you and see how you go, could be quite an interesting build. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I used to run a 1600 8v nova on twin webers with a blydenstein head and 285 piper cam.. drank like a fish but went like a rocket.. Great fun car that. P'raps it would be considered a chav chariot by some but I really liked it and had some great times in it.   Good luck with the project pal - keep at it  PS:My new project  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P'raps it would be considered a chav chariot by some but I really liked it and had some great times in it. PS:My new project The Nova isn't a chav chariot, it isn't covered in plastic and you can't see or feel the sound system in the picture  As for the new project... where's the rust? Where do you people keep finding these apparently rust-free bits of old British tin? |
| |
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
|
|
Lol I did expect people not to be too arsed about a Nova as its not really that old or that cool (cooler than the new scene curse word that's going on around us in my opinion which is a shame as I love MK1/2 Golf's) Yeah they've long been known to be the chariot of charvas but thankfully they're nearly out of that phase (although I fear its starting to come back, a few are appearing with body kits and big engines C20XE/LET's, which isn't as bad as a 1.2 with a kit and 12" back box but still not good) Phil, My mate had a 1.6 8v on twin 40 weber's uprated cam and a blydenstien head when he was younger and jesus wept it was quick for such a small engine and sounded awesome (not as good as his massive spec 2.1 on jenvey throttle bodies mind lol) yours looks nice in that pic I hope its still alive, also I'm ashamed to say I don't know what your new project car is lol I've seen one before but the name evades me Progress on this will probably be slow due to funds although it should be out on the roads soon with a standard 1.6 16v in it, it wont be to the standard I want as it just needs to be out of my mates garage so he can extend it so just a quick tidy up and finish the welding and some painting. Sorry for the essay lol. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The nova is long since gone.. the engine went bang and then tinworm was rampant.. Shame really as it's one of those things that I feel never fulfilled its potential properly. The small block motor made more than enough horsepower to make a Nova an entertaining and properly quick car on the backroads, plus it had the "it's only a 1.6 mate" factor... great fun  The new project is a Triumph 1500TC, although you will likely be trying to remember Dolomite, which shares the same shell and drivetrain as this model, but has a differing interior |
| |
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
|
|
Lol yeah the Dolomite is what I was trying to think of, nice car though and I really need to open my mind to some of the proper old skool stuff (hence why I joined here) these modern cars do nothing for me, they have no character. Shame it blew up, if you'd still like a Nova my red one will be for sale as a bare shell in a few months, may even have some wheels a bit of interior and spares with it lol I don't want to scrap it but I cant keep it  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some of us love Novas, don't worry!
To me they're thankfully dropping off the radar of people who fit snow plough bumpers, daft kits and Runcorn bridge lookalike/Meccano rear spoilers.
Subtle is the way to go with Novas I think, slight drop, some tasty old skool alloys and a decent engine.
The X16XEL engine is a pretty good lump tbh and parts etc for them are everywhere, plus they should take a reasonable amount of tuning before they become unreliable/self imploding.
Keep us updated with the build please.
|
| |
Corsa Apology Champion 2014.
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
Jun 14, 2010 13:25:05 GMT
|
Yeah these engines have had over 200 bhp put through them (240ish by one guy with an Eaton M45 supercharger) but I'm aiming for 150 bhp. Well I should have some updates over the weekend, thanks for the comments |
| |
|
|
|
|
jaytee
Part of things
Posts: 18
|
|
Jun 14, 2010 13:59:56 GMT
|
|
nova's are cool little retro projects, my everyday hack is a 1.2 4dr nova saloon in brick red on a F plate, i am contemplating a sleeper rebuild of some sort, good project you got there mate
|
| |
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
Jun 14, 2010 14:08:34 GMT
|
Thanks mate drop a C20XE in yours, yeah its common but its common because its easy to do and fun to drive. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 14, 2010 16:09:05 GMT
|
|
I reckon an 8V 130 lump would be a hoot in a Nova. They were toquey and fast enough to haul a Cavalier round at a decent speed and they're pretty bullet proof lumps.
What power does the X16XEL lob out as standard by the way, I seem to recall someone saying they were about 130-ish?
|
| |
Corsa Apology Champion 2014.
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
Jun 14, 2010 16:14:37 GMT
|
|
The blue one had an SRi 130 engine in it (its the engine in one of the pictures) which was taken out when I bought it. The X16XEL is 100-105 BHP in standard form certainly not 130, the C16XE (Corsa B GSi engine incase you're unsure) is 109 BHP and that is (I think) the most powerful N/A 1.6 16v Vauxhall engine from back in the day (although I'm not sure what power the big block Cav 1.6 16v put out).
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 15, 2010 17:11:58 GMT
|
|
Nova's are great little cars. Ive had four of them, best was 1.2i sleeper with 1.6 8v, had trick cam-head work etc. The ones which are left are only going to get better IMO as they become more retro. Thats why I'm hunting for one again!
|
| |
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
Jun 26, 2010 23:19:08 GMT
|
Finally some progress ;D As I mentioned more welding had been done, til we ran out of gas     Pulled the sound proofing off  Well I say pulled, I mean cut  Weighs a ton that **** Attacked the inner wing/arch with a cup wheel (today the extension lead decided to stop working after a while) created a hole see if you can spot it  Rear arch  Inside  Dash out & loom pulled back  Dash to go in  Big round spiky metal thing  that's it so far, the heat was taking it out of me and my mate wanted a hand. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 27, 2010 19:53:30 GMT
|
|
ooh, progress! Not looking too shabby either.
|
| |
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
Jun 28, 2010 14:28:40 GMT
|
Everything seems fine except that rear arch, inside and out. That's really bugging me |
| |
|
|
qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,410
Club RR Member Number: 52
|
|
Jun 28, 2010 18:43:24 GMT
|
|
How bads the Rot on your red one? I've always wanted a Nova.
I was determined to have a Nova as my 1st car and then I ended up getting into Polo's haha.
|
| |
|
|
oldskoolmule
Part of things
Nova SR 1.6 16v coming soon :)
Posts: 88
|
|
Jun 28, 2010 23:26:39 GMT
|
How bads the Rot on your red one? I've always wanted a Nova. I was determined to have a Nova as my 1st car and then I ended up getting into Polo's haha. There is a hole in the pass side sill (the same place the blue one is starting to rot in the above pics) engine bay would need some tlc rear arches are actually better on the red one than the blue one but require tlc doors are ruined. If you're seriously interested in it I can take some pics of the worst areas for you and send them via email/pm as once my blue one is done I don't want to scrap this one as its my first car so would rather sell it and see it get used, just pm me if you would like me to. And when I do sell it, it will be cheap and come with plenty of spares/some interior (possibly full interior for a bit more) but will need wheels/front brakes as I will be keeping them alloys and the 2.0 calipers. Edit: I've just noticed you're also from Co.Durham, if you would like to take a look at it yourself I can meet you up the Arniston centre or Gilesgate some time. |
| |
|
|
|
|
)
As for the new project... where's the rust? Where do you people keep finding these apparently rust-free bits of old British tin?
