Project Danger Mouse

[B's Nova]

Hey Everyone,

I had some delays but I am finally going to start my project. The car is a 73 Chevy Nova that is going to go through a few transformations, worn stock, to street fighter to eventually a PT car.

The parts that I have accumulated is as follows:

All new Moog steering components
Hotchkis lowering springs, rear leafs, and bilstein shocks for front and rear
Hotchkis front swaybar
Kore3 C5 brakes
AGR steering box
Fatman Customs tubular upper and lower control arms (I know, but I got a deal from a local guy that had to sell off their project car and parts)

I have not made my wheel purchase yet as I need to measure the clearance when the brakes are installed. I am looking at a set of black Soft 8s with some good rubber.

Once I have it installed I will move to the motor. The reason why I called this project danger mouse is that I want to tweak the 307 that is under the hood now. I know the responses I am going to get on this but the parts will be pretty much free from my inlaws as they have a ton of chevy engine parts laying around, and what I do need to purchase for the exception of the cam should transfer over to any SBC motor.

I have the frontend torn down and while I am installing the parts, along with performing the G-mod I will begin to post pics of my progress.

[Part Time]

Sounds very similar to the direction I am going with my 73. I'd love to build my car up to the quality of some of the builds here but money is tight, skills are short, and it is only a 73 Nova.

I like the streetfighter idea more and more, especially with this particular car. It seems like it will be easier to pull off without trying to make it something it isn't or never will be.

There is another Nova build here (Only it is not a big bumper car) that is running the soft 8's. It looks pretty good IMO. Yes they are heavy but for a street car and a super low budget like mine I think they are fine.

We should compare notes via a few pm's. It could save us a lot of head aches and time researching parts ect.

[B's Nova]

Sounds very similar to the direction I am going with my 73. I'd love to build my car up to the quality of some of the builds here but money is tight, skills are short, and it is only a 73 Nova.

I like the streetfighter idea more and more, especially with this particular car. It seems like it will be easier to pull off without trying to make it something it isn't or never will be.

There is another Nova build here (Only it is not a big bumper car) that is running the soft 8's. It looks pretty good IMO. Yes they are heavy but for a street car and a super low budget like mine I think they are fine.

We should compare notes via a few pm's. It could save us a lot of head aches and time researching parts ect.

That sounds like a plan. Because once these parts are installed the motor will be next. I also need to perform some body work as well, dented rear quarter and rust spots on the driver side door. But I may leave the body as is and catch people by surprise when the nova can keep up with them in the twisties.

[Tiny]

Guys,
I have a '74 with some different ideas. I'm looking forward to this build.

[B's Nova]

Thus far I have installed the hotchkis front swaybar, springs, upper and lower control arms as well as the AGR steering box. I have started on the brakes on the passenger side. I know you all heard this before but Tobin is the man! Below are pics of the brake install on the passenger side. I still need to install the pads and brake lines. I also picked up a set of 17x8 crager soft 8s that I will roll with until I decide on a paint scheme. I need to buy another camera as my daughter mis-placed mine so I had to use my phone.

[B's Nova]

Below is some of the work I was able to accomplish thus far:

[SRD art]

Sounds like a cool project. My son and I just started something similar, a 73 hatch - https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...teenager-build

What brakes are those? I have the LS F-body brakes on my wagon and just picked up a set for our 73 Nova. They look similar, but they don't have that many ribs on them. Are they 'Vette calipers?

My first Nova I bought when I was 17 had a 307, TH350, and 2.73 gears. I had the 307 in there for a couple years and did some work to it. If you're not that acquainted with them, I found that the motor wasn't very torquey and had to rev it up to get things really moving. My 307 had the factory bottom end, and I eventually added 64cc camel hump heads, a Crane "260" cam, matching valve springs, true roller timing chain, dual point distributor, Performer intake, Holley "1850" 600 carb, and a nice dual exhaust. Best it ever ran with a stock converter and the 2.73 gears was 16.0 @ 87 mph at sea level. From a 30 mph roll I could hang with a then new (around '87) stock fox body 5.0 Mustang through 1st and second gear, but when I shifted into 3rd they'd walk away from me. They also smoked me every time off the line. I then swapped in a .030 327 short block and put all my 307's bolt ons on it. No other changes the car ran a 15.0 @ 94 spinning the right tire off the line.

As a teenager new to the hot rod scene I learned how to swap parts on the 307 but it left a lot to be desired in the long run. I got sick of getting whipped while out cruising on Friday nights and after I slipped in the 327 I had a lot more big grin opportunities. Not saying the 307 was a total waste to build, but I'm guessing you'll get bored with it pretty quick like I did. I say build it with the free parts for fun if you want, but keep your eyes peeled for a decent bigger motor to swap in later. BTW, after the 327 I went with a well built 400 SBC and set the car up to run 11.90's as a daily driver. Unless you're adding boost, there's really no substitute for cubic inches, except more of 'em.

[SRD art]

...and it is only a 73 Nova.

Shame on you! ;) I've owned "big bumper" 73 and 74 Novas since 1987, I currently have an 11 second street/strip 74 and my son and I are beginning a build of a pro-touring 73 hatch for him. I say they're just as good looking as a 68-72. Trouble is that the majority of hot rodders can't think for themselves and have to gravitate towards something (say a 69 Camaro, 67 fastback Mustang, or in our case either a 67 or the 68-72 Novas) only because the magazines say those are the nice cars or because the masses say those are the cool ones. Bull cacka on that. The best thing a hot rodder can do is think outside the box and build something that isn't the same cookie cutter car as half the other cars at the show or race track. With our cars you'll never hear, "[yawn] oh, it's just another Nova (insert also 69 Camaro, Mustang, Cuda, ...)." If you build it right what you will hear is "wow, that's a 73 [or maybe big bumper] Nova and it looks pretty killer!"

Back in the day I heard "you shouldda bought a 68-72 Nova" all the time. Now they're mostly gone or too pricey and look what everyone's building, 73-74 cars. Kinda annoys me more now because the prices for them have gone up a great deal so it's hard to find good deals on parts cars. Mark my words, in 10 years when all the "big bumper" 73-74 cars are all bought up, the hot ticket will be the now often laughed at disco Novas (75-79).

Keep your chin up and walk proudly knowing simply that you own a member of the Nova family, which has always been labeled as a kick tail sleeper/family/muscle car.

OK, I'm off my soap box now, lol!

PS, if you still think your car is "just a 73 Nova" send it to Acworth GA, I'd be happy to take that burden off your hands. Lol!

[B's Nova]

Hey Everyone,

It has been awhile. I had to stop the project as it was in the middle of the economic downturn and I had to focus on keeping the family stable. I will post more information this weekend as its off of jack stands and it moves now No where near done so opportunity for pics as well.

Take Care

Brian