ok, time for an intro

[jay72nova]

Hi, guys and gals, I have been lurking here for a while and actually started posting a few questions so figured I 'd stop being rude and post an intro.
I am a stay at home dad who just got out of the army to help raise my daughter, my wife and I were career military and when our first daughter was born two years ago it was time to make a change and make family a priority so I got out to stay at home, I had 9 deployments in ten years..and when you add military schooling in that doesnt really leave room for anything else...I got out because my job had me gone all the time and my wife though working a million hours a week didn't deploy much(for you army/military people.. I did 5 years in 101st ABN 3/327inf as an 11A and then did 5 years in 1stSFG as an ODA commander "32" as an 18A)...
so now I am a stay at home dad with a 2 year old girl and another girl due here anyday!!

SO NOW I HAVE TIME FOR HOTROD PROJECTS !!...kinda
I have a bunch going but the one that applies here is my "lowbuck back yard" 72 Nova which I picked up from sitting in a barn for the past ten years, so far I have gutted the rat infested moldy interior, replaced the floor pans, installed solid body mounts, replaced every steering and suspension component with new and poly stuff, conducted the Gmod.. maximizing caster and camber gain as much as I could...GW offset shafts, helwig bars front to rear, and 84 transam steering box, rebent steering arms to correct bump. hotchkis from 600lb front springs, 5 leaf rear leafs, kyb gas shocks(for now), seam welded the floor and the frame. and reinforced the transcross member with 1/4inch plate to stiffen that sucker up..
I am currently installing front struts/handlebars I got from Chris Alston, and I have a rollbar on the way..I plan on incorporating the rollbar flush to the roof and sides of the car, possibly disecting the tubing into a halfmoon to maximize the rear seating..it will be more of a chassis reinforcement than an actuall roll bar. I will incorparate down tubes that link up the roll bar with the rear spring mounts and I will be tieing into the front struts with some bars that run really low from the rollbar to the rockers and then up to the firewall.

I have replaced the entire braking minus the the rear drums with OEM manuual front discs, new lines, master, etc, and rear drum slave cylinders..

the car had a SBC 350 and a BOP350 in it when i got it...thank god I pulled that trans!!!. it had only two bolts holding it on!!!

I currently have installed a t5 from that very same 84 transam I pulled the steering out of....hydraulic clutch and all.

the sbc 350 in it now is a dog...which is fine I have replaced everything on it to get it to run but the block and heads..
once I get the whole thing going down the road with the body work done and the chassis done I would like to get an LS and t56 but thats a long way off....I have alot of rust and rot to still deal with!

what else? I put in a new radiator and some red leather buckets from a porche 911 from the 70's!!!

here are some pics from when got it home and washed...they are pretty old

Jason

[CruizinKev]

welcome aboard Jason! cool Nova project!

[SparkyRnD]

nice looking 2nd gen!

[jay72nova]

Thanks guys!! thanks for the welcome, it actually a dog of a car currently but we are working on it!...I am sure I will get some help here!

[solarguy09]

Welcome Jay.... It always takes more time and money than we think.....Keep at it...Our cars are a great hobby and fun to drive hard....

[RUSTY57]

Thank you Jay for your service to protect our freedom and liberty while we still have it! You will always be honored in this forum for your sacrificial service. In due time, you'll be driving your Nova proudly with your girls!

[jay72nova]

Thanks guys for the warm welcome!!, I got the rollbar in with the rear stuts and a nice heavy duty crossmemebr tying in the subframe connectors with the bar and floor....I nee to get out an take some new pics!