First Build: '71 Nova

[RayTx]

Hey everyone! I picked up this 1971 Nova (base) in June.

Rough plan is LS3/T56Magnum/DSE TCAs w/ JRi coilovers/DSE Multileaf/(275/40/r18) front and rear. Autox-able and roadtripable ride, ETC is roughly 2yrs

Here we go!

[rchaskin]

Go for it!!!!

[MrQuick]

let the madness begin. welcome to the site.

[NvrDun71]

Out of curiousity did you buy this car out of Austin? I think I remember seeing it on Craigslist?

[RayTx]

The wheels are c5 front spec 18x9.5 7.02" back space/45mm offset. I have a set of spacers designed to run c5 spec on an s10 which I think are 45 and 55mm. I mounted a wheel in the rear with the 45mm spacer and that's a bit too thick. There is plenty of clearance on the inside (wheel well/shock) to fit my 275/40 tires with probably a 30mm spacer. It's nice to have something available for mock-up. I won't really get an idea for front clearance till I get the suspension and fenders mounted. In the meantime, I just put the wheels on my s10. Ideally, I'd like to run a set of wheels with little to no spacers, but availability of a wheel that's not run of the mill is slim till you get into custom forging.
The corvettes use staggered wheel sizes in both diameter and width, but I want to keep all the wheels the same for the sake of rotation and general practicality...and possibly carry a full size spare for road trips.

[Buryingthesun]

Get mad at it!

Nice build, I love all novas and chevy II's

[RayTx]

Hey all,

Time for an update! I picked up a welder (miller211), removed the dash wiring harness, door panels, shoulder belts, package tray, windlace, visors and mirror. I bought a low (4)cfm RO sander a while back and finally got to test it out. It works pretty well but my little compressor will be running constantly during use. The running twin piston motor equalizes input/output psi at around 55. In the mean time, here's a partially refined wish list of interior items. Pics when I get some actual work done. I have The right side floor pan, dash top panel and kick panel supports that will go in shortly.

Sparco r505 seats (black w/grey stitching) with sliding tracks
3 point retractable belts (black)
Lokar Handbrake (black)
Custom reupholstered rear bench (w/bucket style bolstering)
Momo Gotham steering wheel and shift knob (black leather w/ black chrome trim)
Flaming River tilt steering column (black)
Clayton Machine Works pedal assembly
American Autowire Classic Update full car wiring harness
Dakota Digital VHX instrument panel (carbon w/ red numbers)
Black carpet, door panels, package tray, and dash pad
Buckskin (light tan) Headliner, a/b pillars
New OE style window cranks w/ black knobs
Full Dynamat roof and floor

[rustomatic]

Was this car buried for some period of time?

[RayTx]

Okay, finally got back in the garage. First, moved the car in to the garage (this is when Texas winter starts getting nasty) Cut out the crusty part of the left kick panel support and replaced it. The patch was (as expected) a little different than original, so some modifications were necessary. Cold galvanizer (weld-through), plug welds. Smoothed out the welds pretty nice, but I'll get a shot after its all smoothed out.






Here's the prime time drama cliffhanger for the next entry (cue the urgent violins)

[DCx]

i would clear coat that surface rust! looks so bad ass.

wish my project was surface rusted like that. the previous owner primered it to hide the crappy paint and now i have to deal with it.

[rickpaw]

i would clear coat that surface rust! looks so bad ass.

I'd do the same, if everything is solid. Then you'll have that sleeper look, and not have to worry about damaging the paint.

[BLACKLIST]

i would clear coat that surface rust! looks so bad ass.

wish my project was surface rusted like that. the previous owner primered it to hide the crappy paint and now i have to deal with it.

anyways..

nice project. id get rid of the rust and not be cheap.

[AusMarty]

Yep.
Then surface rust becomes body rust, then that becomes chassis rust.
Rust = bad.

[83tb]

New here also, go for it!

[Buryingthesun]

Rust is a Honda / Volkswagen / Child look, Real men have paint

[RayTx]

Ok back in the garage. Decided to skip the passenger kick panel support for now (the pocket bottom inside the KPS is pretty crusty and will have to be rebuilt. Plans are to use what I need from the other patch panels and utilize the scraps with optimum shapes) So on to the dash panel.

I popped the WS reveal moldings off the front and rear glass to find some more holes :l The windshield came out in one piece, luckily, as it has a top to bottom crack on either side. I feel like this spot can be replaced fairly easily with sheet metal. I've also decided on flush mounting the new windshield.



After the dash panel spot welds were ground out, I found that the upper cowl panel was still in good shape.




Here's the panel all tacked in. I'm gonna cut the speaker grille out and put a solid patch in there. Also, the passenger side of the dash was broke loose (spot weld) at the a-pillar, so I gotta sew that up when It's time to finish welding the patch.

[rchaskin]

Nice Work!!!

.......I've also decided on flush mounting the new windshield....

I am really interested in seeing this done to a Nova.

Nice work on the rotisserie as well.
The 30 inch lift would let you pick the car right up off the body, and give plenty of room to get the chassis out from under the body.
Mcmaster carr has 3d drawings of casters if you need them.

[RayTx]

It's getting full body work and paint. I didn't wanna bore people with that. Lots of DA work will go down.

[RayTx]

Tackled as much of the floor pan as possible before it got too cold. Looks like a soda was spilled on this side of the car. I know modern sodas will eat through egg shells, plus the window crank knobs are all sticky. So if you spill a soda in your car, pull the carpet up and clean it out real good or you'll be lookin like Fred Flintstone #protip

After the second picture, I laid a tape line and cut the flange back to about 1.25", lapped the panel in, and fixed it down with sheet metal screws to keep it square for welding. I guess I could have cut it flush and butt welded it, or even pulled the entire floor side out, but I felt like separating the floor from the rocker etc would be a mess and I didn't want to risk tweaking the cab. I also didn't want to pull the old floor out and find that the new panel doesn't fit right. I think this will be a nice solid repair. I'll go in with a body hammer and knock the panel down flush to the braces and tunnel before I get to spot welding.

[brownz]

I say who cares about paint right now. That doesn't get the car down the road or make it handle better or faster. Mine is rusted and I like it. Im still a man lol. Glad to see another nova. keep the updates coming