Pro-Touring Nova pics

[73novaguy]

Well here it is the ole girl slammed down in the front. I went through and cut out one full coil out of my Hotchkis coils and it dropped 2 and a 1/4 inches from where the new coils already dropped it. I am thinking about bringing down the rear an inch or so, maybe one like 1/2. I still like the raked look! Headlight is missing due to my new Halogen lights and wiring not being here yet! (hopefully today) Let me know what you guys think! I have posted a few of the car a month or so ago, but thought this drop should get some pics posted up. Oil pan clearance, 2", header clearence 2 1/2", frame clearence 4", the right look, PRICELESS!!

http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.php?u=25890UpQIZ&i=166004

[Roger Poirier]

You need a better side picture. From what I can see, I would not touch a thing. It is always good to live with something a while to determine if you like it or not. Somethings grow on you. R.P.

[nitrovette]

i agree ,need a better side view but it looks pretty good to me.

[dhardison]

Looks great Justin! Definitely need a side pic.

Dan

[69Nova]

Looks awsome better pictures would be nice. The car looks great. Also some info on the headlights would be great.

Andrew Petty

[73novaguy]

Alrighty I have a few side pictures, still not the greatest pics, but they are more of a side view than what you have before! I just put the car down two nights ago and haven't really had any good time to wash it all up and take some good pics! I have the perfect spot for a picture as far as backgrounds go, but I am waiting til I get it where I want it and then I will go out and get some good pics with the camera!
Anyways! The lights will be from Clasic Industries! They offer either a convex (curved like the original) or a flat style in both Xenon and Halogen bulbs. I think pricing is around 38 bucks for one light, but then you don't have to go out and buy the glass and the hassle of taking it all out everytime, you can just replace the bulb. They also offer an upgraded wireing kit for the headlights with a buiult in relay, no splicing or cutting required! It basically take place of the stock wiring harness but with heavier wire and the relay to make sure you don't melt your old wiring with two much draw from the new bulbs. I went with the Xenon flat lights. I wanted the Xenon convex, but they didn't have any in stock and I need a light(s) so I opted for the flat light! They are supposedly more like the new white lights you see on some more expensive cars. As long as they are brighter and safer, Iam game! Also ordered the trim rings, trim ring screws, light screws, and the springs for the adj. part of the light.
The more I look at the car the more I like the way it sits, but the springs must have seated all of the way and now I have like 1 1/2" clearence from oil pan (7quart) to the ground! Yikes! Holy rusted metal Batman! Gonna look into getting a Miloden or cutsom made pan to retain the capacity but get some more ground clearence.
Just for laughs the other pic is what the car started as. I added the wheels that were on it in that pic, it came with 14" Cragar pizza cutters


pic 1 http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.php?u=25890UpQIZ&i=166738
pic 2 http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.php?u=25890UpQIZ&i=166745

[dhardison]

Wow Justin, your Nova has REALLY come a LONG way! Let us know how the headlights work out. I expected them to be much more expensive. Do you have the CI part numbers for the lights, wiring harness, etc.? Also are you running a high-amp alternator?

Careful with that ground clearance (or lack thereof). I had 2.75" of clearance with my headers (lowest point on the car) and dented the crap out of them a couple times on the Power Tour.

Dan

[Steve Chryssos]

Nice transformation. After seeing the rear 3/4 pic, I'd bring the back down 1/2".
/Steevo

[69Nova]

You should lower the car a 1/2" in the back. I will definitely be getting those headlights for my car. Does it matter if the light is convex or flat.

Andrew Petty

[JLM]

Wow, what a transformation. The car looks very well.

I agree with the rear end. bring it down about 1/2 and inch and that car will have a killer stance.

[CAMAROBOY69]

I also would bring it down 1/2" in the rear but it still looks really really good just the way it sits. :seizure:

[73novaguy]

Hey guys, thanks for all of the compliments! The front end is growin on me, but I think I will like the front 10 times better when the rear goes down another 1/2". Where would a fella get 1/2 lowering blocks? Could I get them with a 4 degree shim already built in to it? That way I am not stacking parts between axle and leafs. I would imagine there are a few places out there that have them, but if someone has already done the leg work... Give me a heads up will ya! I through in another side pic of the car plus another starter pic!

Andrew. No. The only difference in the convex and flat is your own personal preferance. I wanted to keep it half original looking (boy that went out the window awhile ago huh?) by using the convex, but they were out of stock of them!

Dan. Sorry my Classic Industries catalog is in my locker at work, so I don't have any part numbers til like Monday. I would imagine you could get on there web site???

It doesn't show it in the original car picture, but they ole girl had purple window tint!!! It had to have been on there for like 20 years cause it was a real pain in the ars to get it off. Had to razor blade the whole thing. I have another older picture here that shows the small wheels and purple tint! That thing was bling back then!!!! hahahhha You can see where someone took the original side body trim off and just through some bondo in the holes to fill em. Here it is!

Pic 1 http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.php?u=25890UpQIZ&i=167658
Pic 2 http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.php?u=25890UpQIZ&i=167664

[69Nova]

Thanks for the help. I will defintly be getting those lights for my car. Also how does your car ride with the suspension and big wheels.

Andrew Petty

[73novaguy]

Andrew. It is quite a bit stiffer than it used to be, but that is a good thing, you don't get that wallowing all over the road feel like you used to. I havent had a good chance to take it out on a twisty road and let her open up, but from what I have driven it so far! I love it. The rear end isn't as stiff, but I also don't have the Bilstein shocks installed on the rear yet! I still have drag shocks in it. So once I put the Hotchkis valved Bilsteins in the back, it will tighten up some more. If you have any other questions along the way, don't be afraid to drop me a private message!

[69Nova]

Did cutting a coil out of the front springs ride any diffrent. Also the shocks from Hotchkis made my car more composed as compared to my crappy old shocks with the stiff springs. Thanks for the help I was curious bucause soon I will be buying a set of CCW 18' wheels for my Nova.