Project 66 Nova
 

Don't see much of this type of post on classracer, but I enjoy seeing them on other boards I frequent, so here goes. Project is a 66 Nova...327/275 stick combo...bought it in '02 out of a barn:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/...dd5237fc_o.jpg

Tore it apart, hung new quarter skins...then made a little room for tires:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/...095b89e2_o.jpg

Blasted the underside...made subframe connectors...installed rollbar:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2316/...7942dd5c_o.jpg

That was all by the end of '03. Slacked on the car, got divorced, moved, etc. etc.
Fast forward to this fall...epoxy primed the underside, POR-15 on the floor and trunk, assembled rearend (thanks, Larry!) and as of last night, it's off the rotisserie!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/...7bb4c5d0_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/...d8d21e8606.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/...8a21d24b16.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/...a344b0d11a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/...fd583815f6.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/...60d2b6771e.jpg

Re: Project update
 

Looks like you are doing it right. Please post more pictures as the project comes along. Good combination the 327-275 stick but then I'm biased!

Re: Project update
 

Thanks, Bob. Next up is the front subframe - blow it apart, blast it, rebuild it, paint it. I'll keep the pictures coming if there's interest...on the land racing forum, they have an entire subforum called, "Build Diaries". Maybe drag racing's different since it seems like most guys these days just make a phone call and get out the checkbook.

Re: Project update
 

Please keep the progress photos comming.

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I,too would like to see you post more pictures of your project. Keeps the interest up in the off-season.

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did you buy the car from dale rice in sd saw the wagon in the back round and it looked familiar, good luck lynn engels

Re: Project update
 

Lynn - Yes, I did...small world, huh? I tried to get him to sell that wagon, but he wasn't having any of it! Said he was going to put it together someday. We had to pull at least 3 cars out of there to get the Nova out. You know Dale?

Re: Project update
 

Paul great project keep the updates coming. Of course I'm bias with the 327/275 stick combo. Good luck. Ed

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Nice car. Wish I had the foresite to leave mine stock 30 years ago. Got a feeling the current economy may take care of the "credit" racers. Many of us may have to go back to doing work ourselves. Since you have a couple, am sure you know where to get parts for these cars. There's an outfit down by Louisville, Ky that can get nearly anything. Chevy II's Only. PM me if you don't have information on them.

Robert Swartz

Re: Project update
 

Nice car project, congradulations.

I'm mostly a chrysler guy, but if I was to buy a chevy it would have
to be a 66/67 nova stick car.

Thanks again for sharing.

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Cool pics, Paul. Keep them coming. Good luck!!!!!

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Enjoyed your "Work In Progress Shots". I am sure they will serve as inspiration for others.
Keep them coming.
Great job.
Jimmie C.

Re: Project update
 

Thanks for the replies, fellas...and if you see me scewing something up in the pics, give me hell about it! Robert, yes I've bought from Chevy 2 Only before - they have everything.

Re: Project update
 

\
Nice project post, I love it!
I went with Robert down there to Chevy II Only, I was amazed at what all they carried. Several old cars and front ends around as well.
When Robert acquired that old Deuce back in the seventies it was white with a hand applied flame job running down the side...As I recall we were looking for a post car at the time because it fit a class better.

Re: Project update
 

Ive got a pretty good supply of 62-67 Nova stuff also. Plus Im offering 20% off of any thing that Trim Parts makes ( emblems, weatherstrips,bezels,etc.) for the rest of the month. thanks Lyn Smith 815 844 7852

Re: Project update
 

paul, my brother doug bought the 55 dale used to race, so we were at his farm place, quite an experience. when people talk about barn find this is really it. i was amazed at the no. of cars he had laying around back then, most are probably gone by now, but you never know. when i get a little more computer illiterate im going to try to post some pictures of my 67 vette that im doing for a,b, and top stock, im pretty excited to have it out next summer anyway keep up the good work novas were the first love of my car life ive always got a soft spot for them. lynn

Re: Project update
 

Sounds like it will be a very nice car. Glad to see ya go with the stick too.

Re: Project update
 

Time to revive this old thread, since I finally have some good pics to add. I tore apart the front subframe...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/...0f11240b_o.jpg

Somehow didn't get any 'bare metal' pics of the subframe, but here it is after some epoxy primer...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/...d99752e8c0.jpg

I went with the del-a-lum bushings from Global West...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/...820b269dc0.jpg

I can definitely tell you...front end parts for these cars are not cheap! More commentary: this front end design makes my first-gen Camaro look like a Z06!!
OK, back to the story...lower control arms, spindles, strut rods:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/...8dc70d815b.jpg

And, finally, the brakes:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/...cdcbdcc14d.jpg

More to come soon, as I'm going to finish building my spring compressor today and put the springs in. Then it can sit on all fours.

Re: Project update
 

Looks really nice Paul! Looks like your paying attention to every detail. What color are you going to paint it?

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Thanks! Viper red, black vinyl top, red guts.

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I've been hitting it hard this week, getting ready to go to "body shop jail" Friday....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2604/...91460620_o.jpg

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Keep up the good work

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Have you made anymore progress Paul?

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That reminds me of a magazine article back in the day. Was it Super Stock Magazine? I think it's awsome.

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Not much, Glenn. I won't be expecting the car back from the body shop till spring, so I'm planning my attack...making a list, gathering parts. Here's the short list: bellhousing, clutch, linkage, driveshaft, shifter, rear wheels, fuel system, water pump, ignition, carb, interior, wiring......
I've got the engine partially apart taking some measurements, and need an oil pan and valve covers to put it back together. Thanks for the interest - it keeps me on track.

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I'd like to se more of this ! Very cool job you have going on there! Good work !

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Paul,

I have a couple of oil pans if you're looking. . . I have a steel Moroso and an aluminum Hamburger. The Hamburger pan needs a drain plug bung welded into it, but has never been on an engine. Let know if you're interested. I'll take $75.00 for the moroso and $150.00 for the hamburger.

JR

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PM sent....

Re: Project update
 

Love this post keep the updates coming!!! I wish there were more posts like this, and excellent work on the car it looks phenomenal!

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I haven't had much to add for awhile, but here's an update...first pic is from last Sat.....roof, hood, and decklid are in primer and ready for blocking.

Attachment 2551

I finally found a pic of what the finished product will look like - the problem was the giant hoodscoop on the car in the pic. So I did some "3rd grade photoshop" work and took it out. This pic is a cellphone shot of my laptop screen, but it gets the point across:

Attachment 2548

My wife got me some cool presents for Christmas...sorry about the cheesy cellphone pic:

Attachment 2550

Last but not least, here's my safety-wiring job from August:

Attachment 2549

Re: Project update
 

I don't have pics, but I'll try and take some this weekend of the assembled engine. I ended up using steel shim head gaskets from Mr. Gasket...I also learned the hard way that ALL Milodon pans use the later model "thick" front seal. I put it together the first time with the 1-pc. blue oil pan gasket (best invention in gaskets) that had the thin front section. Then I noticed that I could still see inside the pan after it was all torqued down! Good thing I saw it...that would've been a mess. Anyhow, next up is water pump, distributor, carburetor and etc. In the next couple weeks I'm planning on buying a repop passenger door and heading down to help out with sanding. Progress! Anyone looking to throw out the following items, contact me before heading to the dumpster: Quicktime bell w/ window, Long shifter, Advanced clutch, 66 Nova headlight bezels, SS rocker mouldings, SS decklid moulding, fast Quadrajet, and, and, and...;)

Re: Project update
 

Where is the car at?

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It's at my buddy Wayne's house / shop in Macon, MO....home of Val Hedworth, former home of Chuck Norton!

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Great project Paul,,,,makes me miss my 66 I had 30 years ago,,,,maybe I should look for another one. You mentioned in your original post "other boards I frequent" where car builds are shown. If you don't mind,,what sites would those be? I'm sure lots of us would like to check them out. Thanks for any info,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Danny Durham

Re: Project update
 

Lots of projects/builds at www.camaros.net , if you go there just click on the 'forums' button and then go into the body shop forum....there are 4-5 complete builds going on there now of first generation camaros.

Chevelles.com is another site with builds.

Re: Project update
 

Thanks Michael,,,,,,,,,,,I appreciate the tip.
Danny Durham

Re: Project update
 

You're welcome Danny. If you go into the Body Shop forum at Team Camaro (camaros.net) and do a thread search going back about 75 days you will find about 5 current builds going on.

Here is mine, a '68 RS that I cut apart to rebuild it into an RS/SS street/strip car. It has been a pile of work, and I still have a long way to go. Once I get this one done in the spring or early summer I will get my project SSer (69 camaro) under way and then I have a '69 X-55 (SS-350 4 speed AC Hugger orange) project lined up. Most of the metal work is complete on both the '69s, I will probably post them at TC as well.

BTW-you can search around on the main page at Team Camaro and you will find 'sister' sites for chevelles, novas, and other Chevrolet muscle car forums.

The '68 street/strip build-

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=164396

Re: Project update
 

Michael suggested some good ones, but I was referring to www.landracing.com and www.jalopyjournal.com/forum

Re: Project update
 

Thanks also, Paul. I've been to jalopyjournal before,,,theres a lot of stuff on there, not to mention a crazy photo thread. You could spend all day on that one. Take care and good luck on your project,,I know you'll keep us updated as time goes along.
Danny Durham

Re: Project update
 

Just a little new progress to report this time...last weekend I went to Macon and helped with the car a bit. I scuffed the dash and other interior sheet metal so it can be primed. Then I hit the rollbar with some 150 to remove the surface rust and mill scale, and shot a coat of etching primer on it. Meanwhile, Wayne worked on the passenger side quarter, which is just about ready for primer. In the pics it looks like a ton of filler, but it's mainly a skim coat.