1972 nova build

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140145Hey new here! been working on this thing for a while now and figured i would get on here and show it off a little. started working on it a little over a year ago replacing body panels and starting the body work. Ive never built a car always been into trucks and building off road rigs so it was time for a change. Never done a lick of body work or rust repair either so there was a learning cure and something i wish i would of done different along the way but happy with they way it has turned out so far. ill try and post picture in order but I'm sure they will get mixed up.
Overall goal for the car is to build a driver, and occasional track/autocross car eventually.
Power and drive train-
Ls7 rebuilt with steel rods and forged pistons
T56 out of a camaro
narrowed dutchman 9in with detroit locker and 4.11 gears
4 link and coil overs
front QA1 coilovers
wilwood brakes all around.

rest of it is in the funding process haha

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The start

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some of the rust repair. Im bad at taking progress pictures so there is a lot missing.
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back from the blaster
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home brew mini tubs should be able to fit some 315s
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smoothing the fire wall and rear 4 link pictures

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lots and lots and lots of blocking and blocking and blocking. like i said its my first go with body work so i ended up missing some things and redoing work a few times over but it was worth it
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I was a little nervous going with black but it was the only color i REALLY wanted so I said screw it and went with it. Couldn't be happier.
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[focused313]

good work

[Oregon]

Looking good!

Hard to say no to black on a Nova...

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Thanks! ill be ordering a cam from Schwartz next week and sending the ECU in for tunes hopefully have the motor ready next month. Schwartz said should be able to get 650 crank HP with cam tunes and headers, that should get my goal of 500RWHP no problem. that my main goal to fund right now so working on some of the little things now.

got the FBW pedal bracket built yesterday
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[Bossed]

Nice project. Best friend's family had a 72 Rally Nova that color when we were kids, car had a factory sunroof, have never seen another one with that option.

Bossed

[phaf]

Reading this thread and seeing the fresh black paint takes me back to my high school days when my Nova was freshly painted black. I've owned a black car of some sort ever since. Looks great!

[Kiquee71]

Nice work on your Nova, the black looks killer. Keep the photos coming.

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Haven't done much work to the car lately. We moved into a new house and shop with a LIFT! Also made some headway with the motor, all the parts are here and its at the machine shop starting to come together.
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[68Birdy]

Sweet nova!! Looking forward to progress on it!

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Anyone have picture of their 3rd gen with doug's LS swap mounts and 1"7/8 headers? looking to see the ground clearance on them before i order a set. I would rather swap out motor mounts now and get other headers with more clearance if needed.

currently i have it set up with Doug's ls adapters and the Gforce crossmemeber, with stock steering box for the time being. (eventually go to rack and pinion) everything fits just the way i want it right now but just need to find the right headers. was originally think about running hookers but i started reading everyone saying you need to run their adapters and x-member, and at that point i could buy a really nice set of headers for the cost of replacing parts i already have.
put a post up in the exhaust board also but thought i would try here, been searching all over for pictures but haven't found any yet.
anyways i was hoping to keep the header budget close to 600 or less if possible.

[bs46488]

That garage with the lift looks like a major upgrade.

I did an LS swap on a 3rd gen. I used some ebay headers that are knock off Dynatech headers. The collectors hang majorly low! I am in the process of swapping my 4l60 over to a t56 and am seriously debating getting rid of the long tube headers and using mid-length header so that I can tuck the exhaust up better.

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Making some more progress slowly but surely. Motor is back finally and sitting in its home. still need lots of parts and lots of work but making progress
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put a deposit on some wheels but can't decide on the finish.
All polished or brushed centers?
Or??

[slimjim]

I'm all about the brushed!

[medbali76]

Nice build! I like the black color. Probably I will go that way also with my 72 Nova. My wheels have satin black center and gloss black rims. However the brushed wheels would look awesome to the black car I think. My wheels are pretty much the same that you show on your post.
Could you tell me what is your original color code on your Nova? I like that brownish/goldish color. I would like to use that color on my 32 ford.

[Moabdude]

Nice build. I am a follower now!

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sorry i don't know what the factory color code is.

Nice build! I like the black color. Probably I will go that way also with my 72 Nova. My wheels have satin black center and gloss black rims. However the brushed wheels would look awesome to the black car I think. My wheels are pretty much the same that you show on your post.
Could you tell me what is your original color code on your Nova? I like that brownish/goldish color. I would like to use that color on my 32 ford.

[ragz]

Awesome build,you are flying, took me about 13 years to get to where you are now , keep it going.

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Thanks guys, hoping to have it running by this summer!
More parts showed up, got the ricks tank resto mod and I’ll be dropping a zl1 pump in and then time to finally plumb the fuel lines.

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The goods! And the vintage air showed up today as well. Just need some gauges to get the whole dash wired up but i think I've spent most of my play money for a while.

also making some progress on the wiring...slowly. Its my weak side by far, my brain can only take a little bit at a time haha.

[796spdbu]

Good looking Nova!

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been a while sense I've had anything worth posting. Finished wiring the car(I hate wiring) and installing the vintage air, and ECU, installed fuel tank and plumbed. picked up a set of auto meter gauges and classic dash bezel, and a 12:1 turn one quick ratio steering gear. Finally got my front brake kit in and installed.
Killing time wet sanding the body while i stash some more cash away for driveline, accessory drive, radiator and exhaust then it will be time to fire this beast!
least picture should be close to ride height, I'm going to bring the back down a little to level it out. really hoping to have this thing driving this summer and start working the bugs out and have it dyne tuned. In a perfect world I would want it done this summer for some autocross action. Ultimate goal is to enter into one of the optima ultimate street car challenges, long road to go but some day!
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[Ben@SpeedTech]

Nice project, I always like to see Nova builds!

[OregonianNova]

This is going to be awesome when it’s done. Subscibed

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Progress! lots of little time consuming things getting done. Not as much as i would like but getting there slowly. all the body panels back on the car, power steering lines built, wiring behind the dash is almost complete. not very happy with how the new dash pad fits but guess ill try another brand later on. Radiator also showed uo from entropy, and the thing looks awesome! stoked for that. Need to build the exhaust and button up a few things and plumb the cooling systems and should be able to test fire it!
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A LOT of progress has happened since i last posted and still making headway! she runs drives and hauls ass! still have all the glass, trim, interior, and final polish to do but i can't help but to take it for short drives and give the motor a little break in time before it hits the dyno for tuning.

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[OregonianNova]

Looking really good! And it is giving my motivation to go work on my ride.

[slimjim]

very clean intake piping, did you fab it yourself?

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Finally got it on the dyne for some tuning and she ended up putting 502HP and 460ft-lbs to the ground. couldn't be happier, I'm going to enjoy the rest of summer and finish the interior the winter!

[Bobbywracing]

Project is turning out Bitchin , a lot of hard work pays off. Good Job.