Dmaxed
06-17-2013, 09:32 PM
Well I have been on here for a while but haven’t beenposting, just lurking and learning. Iwas finally able to buy the project car of my dreams, a 1972 Nova. This Nova will be my second pro touring/ autocross style vehicle I will have built, the first being my 98 S10. The S10 is not finished though. I don’t have a build on here for it but do onS10forum. Here is the link to thatbuild, http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f30/98-s10-roadwarrior-513281/ (http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f30/98-s10-roadwarrior-513281/)
There are also a ton of pics on photobucket because I loveshowing off photos so I can spread all that I have learned as I go through theproject. Anywho, back to the Nova. I have been looking for a solid car to startwith and finally found this one which I paid $9,250. I think I got a deal just because most peoplewere wanting $5000 for 1968-1972 Nova’s with rusted quarters, wheel houses andhorrible interior, most of which were non running cars. The car already has some pretty niceupgrades. The wheels are TSW 18x8 frontand 18x9.5 rear I think (not %100 on the width.) The front has 13” drilled and slotted rotorswith 2 piston calipers (I think that is correct on the pistons). The rear has 11” drilled and slotted rotorswith 1 piston calipers. The previous ownersaid the brakes were off a Vette, I just can’t remember the year oranything. The front has QA1 singleadjustable coil over shocks and the rear has QA1 single adjustable shocks withmulti leafs. There is a Wilwoodproportioning valve. Front also hastubular control arms. I’m not sure whatit’s called but there is what seems to be a half leaf on the bottom that goesfrom about the rear end toward the back of the leaf springs to help keep themfrom bending like an S under load. Themotor is a 350 that is basically stock from what I can tell. The trans is a TH350 that has been rebuiltand beefened up recently. The rear is a12 bolt with 4.1 gears that is supposed to have an eaton locker. The only real rust that I could find was atthe passenger corner of the trunk and along the inner trunk seal in the middle,the rest seems to be cancer free. Theprevious owner said he autocrossed the Nova at Goodguys back in March and thereis a vid of it on youtube.
My short term plans for the Nova are to swap the 350 out fora 512hp 350 I already have that is sitting in my project auto cross S10. I am trying to find the best deal on a Tremec6 speed trans and full conversion kit from automatic to manual. I also think I am going to go ahead and ripall the wiring out and put in a Painless full harness. Some of the wiring has seen better days (gofigure for being 41 years old) and some electronics are not working such astail lights when the headlights are on and no turn signals. I can’t stand people driving without turnsignals so that is a must fix, besides the safety factors. If I can get these few things done soon maybeI can get out and start doing some events finally this summer. I’m pretty pumped since I have yet to do any.
Later plans will be dse mini tubs, some sort of subframeconnectors and some love to the body and cleanup. I have also been eye balling speedtechssubframe and rear torque arm setup but will probably do some stuff similar so Idon’t have to drop that much coin. Iwould like to change to 3.50 or so gears when I do change up the rearsuspension. I think my preference inpaint would be some sort of gray with the black wheels and black hood. Also black out all of the chrome. I prefer the gray metallic paints on myvehicles (my 05 Duramax is this color and my fiancé bought a gray ZL1). I may have influenced my future wife’s carchoice;)
The first photo is my inspiration for my build,which will have a build thread once I start the motor swap, etc. This is “Tony’s 69 Nova” on Speedtech’swebsite.
77688
And here is what I’m starting out with.
77689
77690
77691
77692
77693
77694
77695
77696
77697
77698
77699
77700
I love feedback on everything whether it’s good or bad, that’s how I learn, so let me know what you think.
My photobucket link. It has a ton of my pics from the S10 and will have pics of the Nova once that project gets going. I am up in the Sacramento area so if anyone is local and needs help/wants to help me just let me know sometime.
http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/chuffhines/slideshow/
There are also a ton of pics on photobucket because I loveshowing off photos so I can spread all that I have learned as I go through theproject. Anywho, back to the Nova. I have been looking for a solid car to startwith and finally found this one which I paid $9,250. I think I got a deal just because most peoplewere wanting $5000 for 1968-1972 Nova’s with rusted quarters, wheel houses andhorrible interior, most of which were non running cars. The car already has some pretty niceupgrades. The wheels are TSW 18x8 frontand 18x9.5 rear I think (not %100 on the width.) The front has 13” drilled and slotted rotorswith 2 piston calipers (I think that is correct on the pistons). The rear has 11” drilled and slotted rotorswith 1 piston calipers. The previous ownersaid the brakes were off a Vette, I just can’t remember the year oranything. The front has QA1 singleadjustable coil over shocks and the rear has QA1 single adjustable shocks withmulti leafs. There is a Wilwoodproportioning valve. Front also hastubular control arms. I’m not sure whatit’s called but there is what seems to be a half leaf on the bottom that goesfrom about the rear end toward the back of the leaf springs to help keep themfrom bending like an S under load. Themotor is a 350 that is basically stock from what I can tell. The trans is a TH350 that has been rebuiltand beefened up recently. The rear is a12 bolt with 4.1 gears that is supposed to have an eaton locker. The only real rust that I could find was atthe passenger corner of the trunk and along the inner trunk seal in the middle,the rest seems to be cancer free. Theprevious owner said he autocrossed the Nova at Goodguys back in March and thereis a vid of it on youtube.
My short term plans for the Nova are to swap the 350 out fora 512hp 350 I already have that is sitting in my project auto cross S10. I am trying to find the best deal on a Tremec6 speed trans and full conversion kit from automatic to manual. I also think I am going to go ahead and ripall the wiring out and put in a Painless full harness. Some of the wiring has seen better days (gofigure for being 41 years old) and some electronics are not working such astail lights when the headlights are on and no turn signals. I can’t stand people driving without turnsignals so that is a must fix, besides the safety factors. If I can get these few things done soon maybeI can get out and start doing some events finally this summer. I’m pretty pumped since I have yet to do any.
Later plans will be dse mini tubs, some sort of subframeconnectors and some love to the body and cleanup. I have also been eye balling speedtechssubframe and rear torque arm setup but will probably do some stuff similar so Idon’t have to drop that much coin. Iwould like to change to 3.50 or so gears when I do change up the rearsuspension. I think my preference inpaint would be some sort of gray with the black wheels and black hood. Also black out all of the chrome. I prefer the gray metallic paints on myvehicles (my 05 Duramax is this color and my fiancé bought a gray ZL1). I may have influenced my future wife’s carchoice;)
The first photo is my inspiration for my build,which will have a build thread once I start the motor swap, etc. This is “Tony’s 69 Nova” on Speedtech’swebsite.
77688
And here is what I’m starting out with.
77689
77690
77691
77692
77693
77694
77695
77696
77697
77698
77699
77700
I love feedback on everything whether it’s good or bad, that’s how I learn, so let me know what you think.
My photobucket link. It has a ton of my pics from the S10 and will have pics of the Nova once that project gets going. I am up in the Sacramento area so if anyone is local and needs help/wants to help me just let me know sometime.
http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/chuffhines/slideshow/