My Nova (road/track project kind of thing)

[2 Wycked]

Right, this is the build thread for my Nova.

As it stands it's a 1.2L 2dr with a four speed manual 'box that already has a Safety Devices weld-in roll cage and some cheapo coilovers. I was originally on the lookout for another E36 to use as a track car but when someone offered me this plus £600 for my Vento I couldn't resist and kindly took their items and cash away from them.

I'll make no claims that it's perfect but it's a solid base and not something I've had/worked on before so should be a bit of fun.

My plans are simple:

Bodywork and interior
Keeping it clean and mostly original is the name of the game here. It could do with two new front wings, one of the rear arches would benefit from attention and an area of the n/s/r sill that has already been repaired needs smoothing and some paint. After a hefty inspection it's totally solid underneath and there are no horror stories hidden beneath the - missing in action - carpets. I'll also be getting all the plastics black and fitting the original amber indicators on the front and side, and probably fitting a Euro n/s/r light cluster with a second rear fog wired in. 15" alloys will be fitted once I've found some in a suitable style in order that I can fit slightly bigger brakes; it came with some TSW Venoms (innit) that I may use for track until I can gather some more funds for some lightweight jobbies. The inside will benefit from a good clean up, a couple of bucket seats/harnesses and other little bits as I go along I'm sure - You may notice my home-made-out-of-an-old-pink-bag-strap door pulls, necessitated by the door not closing with the originals in place because of the roll cage.

Stopping and turning
The brakes I use will be from a Cavalier - initially I'll use whatever comes from the donor car for the engine but I'd like V6 stoppers given time. If anybody has any tips on which brake upgrades I can use from here that'd be greatly appreciated; ie. EBC/Ferodo etc? A rear disc conversion from the donor car will be fitted with uprated discs/pads too. I'll see how the coilovers currently fitted cope for now but may well upgrade to Gaz/Avo items. I need to look further into anti-roll bars, but I'm hoping the Whiteline ARBs for a Corsa B will fit.

Fit a bigger engine
Three choices here: 130bhp 20NEH, 150bhp C20XE or 134bhp Ecotec. It basically depends which rotten Cavalier/Calibra turns up first that I can take it out of. It's a pretty simple swap based on what I've read, so once all else is done and I have the donor I'll book a week off work to get it done.

Enjoy it
Track days and maybe a trip to ye olde Nordschleife next year I hope! Will get it to the Retro Rides show and maybe a couple of others too.

I'm in no rush to complete so instead of rushing and buying things at great cost I'll be waiting for bargains to come along. I'll be starting the bodywork next weekend due to no time in between but I have some pics below of how it currently is for you all to take a gander at.

[dufusmuppet]

You are serious arent you............

[davepoth]

That is a fairly unlikely choice of track car. Cool though.

[2 Wycked]

dufusmuppet said:

You are serious arent you............

Haha. I'm not entirely sure how to take that...

[Janosh]

This is either utter madness or complete genius, lol

Good luck with the project - looking forward to seeing the updates...

[2 Wycked]

Janosh said:

This is either utter madness or complete genius, lol

I'm suprised at this sort of response as I really didn't think I was doing anything new. Still, we'll see how it goes; it might be rubbish when it's finished but I'm sure I can forward it onto a Nova fanboy if it disappoints.

[Adz The Rat]

Brilliant, I do love a Nova when they are done properly.

[MrMoonyMan]

Just thinking out loud here but..

How similar are the engine mounting points and those of the Mk3 Astra? Reason I mention it is that seeing as you're planning on dropping a 2.0 ~Vauxhall unit from a Cavalier into it you may be able to put the 2.0 turbo engine from a GM Saab 900 into it. It has been done a few times now into the Astra with lots of success. This would give you a reliable 220hp pretty much 'out the box' with nearly 300 fairly easily attainable..

Just an idea.

[2 Wycked]

MrMoonyMan said:

Just thinking out loud here but..

How similar are the engine mounting points and those of the Mk3 Astra? Reason I mention it is that seeing as you're planning on dropping a 2.0 ~Vauxhall unit from a Cavalier into it you may be able to put the 2.0 turbo engine from a GM Saab 900 into it. It has been done a few times now into the Astra with lots of success. This would give you a reliable 220hp pretty much 'out the box' with nearly 300 fairly easily attainable..

Just an idea.

As I understand it they're basically a family of engines with the same mounting points; The only difference with the Cavalier engine into a Nova swap is that the mounts themselves need to be slightly shorter in order to lower the engine and clear the bonnet and there's an extended rear gearbox mount.

Do you have any links or further info on the Saab-Astra swap? It sounds like a potentially fantastic option. 220bhp in a 750kg car'll do nicely thank you very much!

ETA: Just done some research. Seems as though the Saabs and Vauxhalls have the same bellhousing for certain years, so that area's covered (maybe with an F28 6-speed gearbox), just depends on the actual mounting points. Although if they don't match up I may be tempted to knock up my own anyway. I'll continue to look into it.

Edited by 2 Wycked on Saturday 25th September 18:04

[MrMoonyMan]

No probs, have a little look at these;

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=35&am...

And this rather quick Astra van;

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=35&am...

The engines are very easily tuned too..

[2 Wycked]

MrMoonyMan said:

No probs, have a little look at these;

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=35&am...

And this rather quick Astra van;

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=35&am...

The engines are very easily tuned too..

Cheers buddy.

[dufusmuppet]

2 Wycked said:

dufusmuppet said:

You are serious arent you............

Haha. I'm not entirely sure how to take that...

.


Sorry 2Wycked ive never seen a nova saloon track toy before but good luck with the project,prove me and any other doubters that it can be done....

[2 Wycked]

Ah I get you. This seems to be a fairly common view so we'll see how it goes.

After looking into the Saab engine swap a little more it seems that the Mk3 Astra swap is easy because of the GM900 using the same front subframe (or a variant of), so whilst I'm sure it can be done with a little more work, I'll be sticking with my Cavalier options as a safe bet.

[Le Mans Visitor]

That Nova looks familier to me. Are you on MIGWEB?

Edited by Le Mans Visitor on Saturday 25th September 20:22

[martin mrt]

Ace i look forward to watching this progress, i do love a Nova and i cant help but praise you for doing this to a 2door

I remember a 2 door from years ago with either a 16v Redtop or a LET, and it was a beast, im sure the guy used it as a track car for the hot hatch days at Knockhill or something

[2 Wycked]

Thanks chaps.

I am on MIGWEB although I've used it mostly as reading material and never posted, although I dare say the previous owner may have at some point. I honestly couldn't tell you!

[fridaypassion]

Love it. I'm a closet Nova fan having had a 1.3 SR back in the day. Would love a really tidy standard SR or GTE if such a thing still exists??

[Car Mad Craig]

Nice project you have here, Ive always been interested in Nova saloons, there are much nicer than the hatchbacks, they are also harder to get hold of

If you are interested I have a C20NE engine going ?

[2 Wycked]

Car Mad Craig said:

Nice project you have here, Ive always been interested in Nova saloons, there are much nicer than the hatchbacks, they are also harder to get hold of

If you are interested I have a C20NE engine going ?

I have emailed you regarding this.

[2 Wycked]

The Crack Fox said:

With some real power, decent brakes and suspension tweaks this could be fun in a budget trackslag kinda way. The 1.2 must be the weediest lump known to man. Good luck with the project !

Not quite the weediest, they did a 1.0 too... In all seriousness though, whilst it's very slow it can hold its own at 0.7-0.8 leptons on my 20 mile M42/M6 commute and it's getting around 45mpg as well.

But yeah; more stopping, going and turning power wouldn't go amiss.