Cowboi

driving about the other night and i heard a crunch as i changed into 2nd and then had no drive.

first looked under the car to see if fluid was pouring out but nothing.

then kind of hoped it was the linkage had broke and i was going to stick the car in first and limp it home to sort it out the next day.

but linkage is fine. so looks like its an internal of my poor f20 gearbox.


now i have a few options and dont know what to do.
i can buy a new box for 50 quid pull the engine out fit and and put it back in. should be done and driving in a day and im only 50 quid plus some gearbox oil worse off.

or i could take it off the road fo a few months finish a few jobs on it that i have been meaning to do and save a grand up for a turbo engine for it.

i dont think its much harder to change a 2ltr nova into a 2ltr turbo but the engine is £1000 to buy normally.

what would you do?

JonnyBravo

Put another F20 in it or even better a F18

I found the F18's to always be a nicer gearbox, maybe as there not so old these days.

LET maybe a grand but putting one in a nova costs a shit load more.

Coilovers and BIG brakes are a must if you dont already have them.

6 Speed
Intercooler and pipework
Fuel Pump
Fabrication of 6 speed mount

Thats just some of the essential things you'll need let alone a load more I know I have forgotten about

Cowboi

i was going to use the f20 box with the turbo engine. (i was told you could do that)

Ive got coilovers and 256mm brakes.
I'd be willing to spend the time on it but if its going to vost a fortune that i'd rather put the money into the zetec turbo im building.
if it was between 1000 to 1200 all done then i'd be quite tempted.

what does the f18 come from? any ideas how much they are to pick up?

XRT_si

iTrader: (2)

F18 from 1.8 Cavs etc... i;d imagine.

Personally id stick with the other idea you had of nitrous and go from there. It was never meant to be an expensive car was it?

Kep building a Zetec turbo and just get the nova running nice

Cowboi

might be the way forward tbh si.

but i need to buy another car for the zetec and i already have 2. and angis got hers.

7 cars, 1 house might be takin the piss on the neighbours. lol

i'll look for a gearbox and if one come up cheap and close i'll just get it and throw it in next weekend.
at least she'll be driving again.


anyone know if the mounting for the f18 is the same as the f20?

JonnyBravo

Yes F18 is same as F20

Gearing is identical too, although I think they did do a wide geared box.

Mine came from a late Astra Gsi.

Standard Let on a F20 is do able, but chips are cheap these days and we are all greedy so your WILL up the power and I done 5 boxes before I got seriously pissed off.

My xe on gas was much more fun for the money.

Always reliable, always cheap to fix no matter what you broke mainly due to my poor gearchanges or ropey 200k old F20's.

The F18 I had in mine is now in another powerfull nova and still going strong.

silky16v

iTrader: (1)

F18 is a diesel gearbox outta a vectra and such like

JonnyBravo

F18 is not just a diesel gearbox

that is probably the long ratio box.

The F18 used in the Gsi is identical to the F20 except there is no clutch removal plate on the underside

Cowboi

cheers for that mate!

i'll keep an eye out for the f18 box and do that.

ive got a new job now and a few extra quid each month.
what mods would you reccomend to an xe nova that will add to the fun and the power.
i know nitrous is good on them. but is it worth getting a chip and a decent set up on a rolling road first so the every day driving of the car is better?

or is something like a set of cams a better route?

JonnyBravo

TBH mate I would leave it alone.

Cams would make it slightly snappier but not a lot.

Chips will work against the Nitrous really due to the ignition advance they give and you ideally wanting the opposite on gas iirc

TBH best money you can spend if you already have coilovers is a LSD.

Will be the best £500 you have ever spent.

I still have a minimax for sale if you get yourself a WON kit too

Cowboi

ok. i'll look at either buying an lsd box of a nitrous kit when i get a few of the better pay slips.

cheers for the advice again mate

JonnyBravo

Dan Cossie

TURBO IT COWBOY!!!!!

fix up lol, you know you want to really, whack it on Angies Credit card

Mr Shannon

Turbo it, it wont cost you much over a grand if you do it right

JonnyBravo

Much over a grand

Is that if everything is stolen

Your not going to get far building a half reasonable let nova for 2k let alone 1k[/i]

Cowboi

is that 2k on top of everything ive already spent?
ive got the engine mounts and adaptor. its welded up and everything.

i know its a grand for the let engine or there abouts. what else is there i would need to do it propably.

would my 2" exhaust need up grading further?

im pretty sure im not going to turbo it. for now anyway.

just pick up a f18 and get it on the road again.
nitrous sounds fun but i can see me needing to fill the bottle up quite often