74 Nova Build with pics

[huffhinesce]

I finally got some pics transferred from my camera so I can post them.
Here is the car before I got started.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/SANY0005-1.jpg

Here is one of us tearing the car down. Everything came out. The car was takin down to bear metal.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/SANY0011-1.jpg

As you can see the floor pans had to go.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/SANY0016-1.jpg

Another one of the inside. Showing front of floor pans and dash.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0002-1.jpg

The quarters were gone. I got new ones from Goodmark that will be on it soon.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0009-1.jpg

Another pic after it was media blasted.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0017-1.jpg

You can see the rusted out hatch floor as well. I have plans of making my own floor here. A fuel cell will go in as well as relocating the battery. This will all go under the stock panel that came with the car hiding it underneath it.

I just got these put in the car about two weeks ago.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0026-1.jpg

I have more pics of the floor pan installs but can't get them off of my camera at the moment. Hopefully I will get them posted soon.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0028-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0027-1.jpg

Next I moved to the rear tubs. I cut the factory quarter off to get it out of the way. I am making my own wider tubs by placing a one and a half inch strip of sheet metal down the center of the stock tub.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0030-1.jpg

I cut out that nasty hatch floor. I have also drilled out the spot welds and took out the bracing for the tubs.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0032-1.jpg

Next I cut out the factory tub.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0038-1.jpg



Here I got rid of the shock mount. I'm going with a triangulated four link kit with coil overs so it wasn't needed.


Here is a pic after I put in the sheet metal strip. I also patched the floor over the brace where it had been rusted through. The tub was also rusted through so I made a small patch for it.



I still have some patches on this tub inside behind where the rear seat is at the floor. I ran out of gas for my MIG though so I had to put it on hold. I am getting more this week and will continue this weekend. More pics are sure to follow. There are also more pics posted on photo bucket. Just do a search for cehuffhines and click to view my album. I will post more pictures there than on here. It takes so long to post them over to here. I welcome any criticism and advise. MORE TO COME!!!

[huffhinesce]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0036-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0040-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0039-1.jpg

[grump]

Good job :twothumbs Keep posting pictures i'd like to watch your progress.

[Young Gun]

pictures wont show up for me...ugh

[91blkstpsd]

no pics. :( I wanna see these

[huffhinesce]

pictures wont show up for me...ugh

Which site do you use Young Gun to post your pictures and then put them on here. I used photo bucket but if there is another one that works I could use it. Maybe then more people could view the pictures.

[SaturnVUEguy]

Just check the links to make sure they're linked right. Did you move the pictures to another album or delete them after posting here?

[huffhinesce]

Just check the links to make sure they're linked right. Did you move the pictures to another album or delete them after posting here?

Now that you mention it I did move them to a new album on the site. I can't access it from work though so I will have to when i get home tonight. I will have the problem fixed today so that everyone can view them again.

[SaturnVUEguy]

Yeah, when you get home, just edit the original post, and copy over the new url for each picture, should work fine. Photobucket is very sensitive to things like that when you move a picture to another album

[huffhinesce]

Everyone should be able to see the pics now. I can pull them up just fine. Let me know if you guys can/can't.

[huffhinesce]

Here's a couple more pics of the floor pan install.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0023-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0024-1.jpg

Here's the floor with the braces and seat brackets welded back in. I also welded up the drain holes that were cut in the new floor pans.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0042-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0050-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0051-1.jpg

Here is a pic of a metal break I fabricated this weekend as well.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/IMGP0043-1.jpg

[nekkidhillbilly]

that a nova or appollo or what i cant tell

[SaturnVUEguy]

I like what you've done so far

[huffhinesce]

I appreciate it Saturn. I will hopefully get the tubs finished this weekend. Don't know for sure though. I'm supposed to pick up my engine from getting it balanced and dynoed and also go to a swap meet. Hopefully there will be some stuff worth getting there.

[SaturnVUEguy]

There's going to be an over night flea market pretty close to my house, this upcoming Sat night to Sun morning. I hope to stop by to check it out, I doubt it but maybe someone will have some car stuff there.

Hope you find something useful at the swap meet.

[huffhinesce]

Finally got some more photos on here. Here is one of the new quarter panel on the passenger side getting welded on.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMGP0063-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMGP0061-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMGP0067-1.jpg
I got tired of working on the quarter panels and wheel tubs so I switched to the dash. I decided to make my own dash panel for my gauges.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMGP0068-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMGP0069-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMGP0070-1.jpg
Here was the finished peice. The trial fit wasn't bad. Still needs a little work, holes for gauges and the steering column cut out but I think it will work. Let me know what you think.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMGP0073-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMGP0074-1.jpg

[twosaturns]

cool. I like the hatchback novas. I love the big SS decals from the '74 also!

[SaturnVUEguy]

Guage pod looks nice! What kind of guages you have planned?

[Motown 454]

Nice work , I can't wait for more>

[Code Red]

not to shabby man

[huffhinesce]

I appreciate the comments guys. I plan on putting 5in Auto Meter tach and speedo. Thats all in the dash. I'm thinking of making my own pod to replace the stock one in the console to hold round Auto Meter guages as well. I know you can buy this piece for like 45 bucks but I figured I might give it a shot since the dash piece came out alright.

[huffhinesce]

Finally got some more pics transferred from my camera to computer. Heres some of the other tub and driver side quarter.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP00261-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0020-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP00281-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP00291-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0049-1.jpg

Here are some of the new stance in the rear. I still have to lower the front though.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0052-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0053-1.jpg

Here is one of the bumper, this is how I plan to have it. Sucked up to the car rather than sticking out with those 5mph crash shocks.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/SANY00122-1.jpg

[huffhinesce]

Here are some of the subframe connectors I fabbed up and installed. At just $20, actually less but I gave my brother some gas money for going to get them, they can't really be beath IMO.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP00391-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP00321-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP00331-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP00351-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP00371-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0043-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0042-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0044-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0045-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/IMGP0048-1.jpg

[CruizinKev]

very nice!!

[1971CHEVELLE]

nice:)

[XLexusTech]

A plus nice to see you Building and not mail ordering Nice Job!

[novaracer_2000]

Looking good!I have a 74 and tucked the rear bumper.I narrowed it about 1 inch per side and shortened the sides to make it look right.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/140-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/070-1.jpg

[huffhinesce]

I appreciate the comments guys. As far as building everything myself I'm trying to. It saves me tons of money and really just costs some sheet metal. I plan on cutting the bumper and shortening it just like you did novaracer. Yours looks really good. Question, where did you get your roll cage? or did you bend it up yourself? I have been wanting to get a bender and do mine myself that way I can make it hug the inside of the vehicle. All of them I have found such as Comp Eng and such seem like they are not that great of a fit. Besides bending a cage for the Nova I could also use it to bend cages and such for my 4X4 I have been working on and friends of mines as well.

[XLexusTech]

For a roll cage check S&W

[novaracer_2000]

I got my basic 8 point from a place called bears performance in canada basically like s&w racecars etc.I sent them the measurement and they bent it up.When I upgraded to the full cage I bent the bars at a buddies shop .

[cornerblade]

huffin, what are you planning on doing for the interior in the hatch area? I have a '73 hatchback and the interior pieces are toast. Great build, Love the rear bumper. I took mine off to build a roll pan, but I have always been worried about not having a sturdy umper back there.

[huffhinesce]

huffin, what are you planning on doing for the interior in the hatch area? I have a '73 hatchback and the interior pieces are toast. Great build, Love the rear bumper. I took mine off to build a roll pan, but I have always been worried about not having a sturdy umper back there.

My plastic interior pieces are fine still. I do not have a hatch floor right now though. I cut it out because of a few rust spots. I am just going to build a simple one, but can't figure out the exact way to do it yet because I can't figure out what I'm going to do about a fuel tank. I would like to do a fuel cell because of the cheap price and safety factor but can't since it is a hatchback. I will probably end up having to get a steel tank made. I would check out the junk yards for an old nova to get the plastic pieces. I have seen a few nova's with some decent parts in my local yards.

[huffhinesce]

Got some more work done over the last couple of weeks. I started on the firewall here. I cut out the area in the middle where my father had knocked it in a bit to give more room for the HEI. I'm trying to decide whether to fill in the heater hole and if I put it back in, then put it under the dash.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/04/IMGP00651-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/04/IMGP00661-1.jpg

I also got the front subframe all torn down and sanded. I welded up some of the areas where the factory had done a horrible job. These are after I painted it.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/04/IMGP00631-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/04/IMGP00641-1.jpg

[Motown 454]

Nice work it looks great.

[1badchevelle]

WOW nice work love all the pics to show the amount of work you are doing.

[chvy74nova]

Looking good!I have a 74 and tucked the rear bumper.I narrowed it about 1 inch per side and shortened the sides to make it look right.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/140-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/070-1.jpg
hey there, i just tucked the bumper on my 74 nova tonight, what did you do with the license plate frame that wont open once its tucked?

[ponjohn]

Bringing this back from the dead.

Wanted to know if the plastic in the back covered the mini tub?

[cornfedbill]

Bringing this back from the dead.

Wanted to know if the plastic in the back covered the mini tub?

I am also curious to know how well the rear hatch supports lined up and if you tried to install the back seat again. I am thinking about mini-tubbing my hatchback and would like to know if it will work with the stock interior and rear seat.

[SRD art]

Cool project, keep the photos coming!